Digital device capable of communication and broadcast reception and method for processing digital broadcast

• US 20070091832A1
• Filed: 12/12/2005
• Published: 04/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Chul
• Granted Patent: US 7,675,877 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/310
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/27 Arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for performing a time shift function according to a current call connection state are disclosed. If a user enters a call connection mode with another party while viewing digital broadcast signal, received digital broadcast signal is recorded. If the call connection mode is terminated, the digital broadcast signal stored from a start time of the call connection mode is reproduced and displayed. Therefore, although the user loses specific broadcast signal received during a call connection time, the user can continuously view the lost broadcast signal without any loss after the lapse of the call connection time.

Claims

1. A method for processing digital broadcast signal comprising the steps of:

a) receiving digital broadcast signal, and displaying the received digital broadcast signal;

b) if a call connection mode begins, storing the received digital broadcast signal; and

c) if the call connection mode is terminated, reproducing the digital broadcast signal stored from a start time of the call connection mode.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step b) further includes the step of:

if the call connection mode begins, preventing the received digital broadcast signal from being displayed.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step b) further includes the step of:

if the call connection mode begins, displaying video signal received at the start time of the call connection mode in the form of a still image.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the step b) further includes the step of;

if a start state of the call connection mode is detected, displaying the received digital broadcast signal, and

the step c) further includes the step of;

if a termination state of the call connection mode is detected, reproducing the stored digital broadcast signal or displaying currently-received digital broadcast signal according to predetermined setup condition information.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein:

audio signal of the digital broadcast displayed at the step b) is outputted without any change, a volume of the audio signal is adjusted such that the audio signal is outputted with the adjusted volume, or the audio signal is muted.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein:

audio signal of the digital broadcast displayed at the step b) is converted into caption data, such that the caption data is displayed.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step b) further includes the step of:

if the call connection mode begins, displaying specific information indicating whether the digital broadcast signal is stored.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step b) includes the step of:

upon receiving a call request signal from a caller party, determining a specific time at which a user presses a “

Call”

button to be a start time of the call connection mode.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step b) includes the step of:

if a user sends a call request signal to a called party, determining a specific time at which the called party answers the call request signal to be a start time of the call connection mode.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the call connection mode is terminated at a specific time at which a user presses an “

End”

button indicative of a call end button.

11. A method for processing digital broadcast signal comprising the steps of:

a) receiving digital broadcast signal, and displaying the received digital broadcast signal;

b) determining whether a time shift mode is established;

c) if the time shift mode is established, starting a call connection mode, and at the same time storing digital broadcast signal received from a start time of the call connection mode; and

d) if the call connection mode is terminated, reproducing the stored digital broadcast signal on the basis of a time shift mode setup time.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the time shift mode is previously established/released, is established/released when a communication sound is generated, or is established/released during an actual call connection time between a user and another party.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the time shift mode is established/released using at least one of a menu image and a predetermined button assigned for the time shift mode.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the step c) includes the step of:

if the time shift mode is pre-established or is established when a communication sound is generated, starting the call connection mode, and at the same time storing the received digital broadcast signal.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein the step c) includes the step of:

if the time shift mode is established during a call connection mode, storing the digital broadcast signal received from a setup time of the time shift mode.

16. The method according to claim 11, wherein the step d) includes the step of:

if the time shift mode is pre-established or is established when a communication sound is generated, determining a reproduction start time of the stored digital broadcast signal to be a start time of the call connection mode.

17. The method according to claim 11, wherein the step d) includes the step of:

if the time shift mode is established during the call connection mode, determining a reproduction start time of the stored digital broadcast signal to be a setup time of the time shift mode.

18. The method according to claim 11, wherein the step c) includes the step of:

if a button assigned for the time shift mode is pressed upon receiving a call request signal, starting the call connection mode, and at the same time storing the received digital broadcast signal.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the step c) includes the step of:

if a Call button is pressed upon receiving a call request signal, only performing the call connection mode without storing the received digital broadcast signal.

20. The method according to claim 11, wherein the step c) includes the steps of:

if the time shift mode is released, providing a specific situation in which the time shift mode can be established; and

if the time shift mode is not established, performing the call connection mode without storing the received digital broadcast signal.

21. The method according to claim 11, wherein the step c) further includes the step of:

if a current mode is determined to be the call connection mode, preventing the received digital broadcast signal from being displayed.

22. The method according to claim 11, wherein the step c) further includes the step of:

if a current mode is determined to be the call connection mode, displaying video signal received at the start time of the call connection mode in the form of a still image.

23. The method according to claim 11, wherein:

the step c) further includes the step of;

displaying the received digital broadcast signal although the current mode is determined to be the call connection mode, and

the step d) further includes the step of;

if a termination state of the call connection mode is detected, reproducing the stored digital broadcast signal or displaying currently-received digital broadcast signal according to display setup condition information.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein:

audio signal of the digital broadcast displayed at the step c) is outputted without any change, a volume of the audio signal is adjusted such that the audio signal is outputted with the adjusted volume, or the audio signal is muted.

25. The method according to claim 23, wherein:

audio signal of the digital broadcast displayed at the step c) is converted into caption data, such that the caption data is displayed.

26. The method according to claim 11, wherein the step b) further includes the step of:

displaying specific information indicating whether the digital broadcast signal is stored, during the call connection mode.

27. A method for processing digital broadcast signal comprising the steps of:

a) receiving digital broadcast signal, and displaying the received digital broadcast signal;

b) determining whether a time shift mode is established;

c) if the time shift mode is established, beginning a call connection mode, and at the same time storing the received digital broadcast signal;

d) if the call connection mode is terminated, selecting one of the stored digital broadcast signal and currently-received digital broadcast signal; and

e) reproducing the stored digital broadcast signal or displaying the currently-received digital broadcast signal according to the selection result.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein the time shift mode is established/released using at least one of a menu image and a predetermined button assigned for the time shift mode.

29. The method according to claim 27, further comprising the step of:

if the time shift mode is pre-established or is established when a communication sound is generated, starting the call connection mode simultaneously with storing the received digital broadcast signal, and determining a reproduction start time of the stored digital broadcast signal to be a start time of the call connection mode if the call connection mode is terminated.

30. The method according to claim 27, further comprising the step of:

if the time shift mode is established during the call connection mode, storing the digital broadcast signal received from a setup time of the time shift mode, and determining a reproduction start time of the stored digital broadcast signal to be a setup time of the time shift mode.

31. The method according to claim 27, wherein the step b) includes the step of:

displaying specific information indicating whether the digital broadcast signal is stored, during the call connection mode.

32. A method for processing digital broadcast signal comprising the steps of:

a) receiving digital broadcast signal, and displaying the received digital broadcast signal;

b) if a predetermined button (i.e., a time shift button) assigned for a time shift mode is pressed, starting a call connection mode, and at the same time storing the received digital broadcast signal; and

c) if the call connection mode is terminated, reproducing the stored digital broadcast signal on the basis of a time shift button entry time.

33. The method according to claim 32, wherein the time shift button establishes or releases the time shift mode according to a toggle method.

34. A method for processing digital broadcast signal comprising the steps of:

a) receiving digital broadcast signal, and displaying the received digital broadcast signal;

b) determining whether a simultaneous viewing/recording mode for a time shift mode is established;

c) if the simultaneous viewing/recording mode is established, starting a call connection mode, storing the received digital broadcast signal received from a start time of the call connection mode, and at the same time displaying the stored digital broadcast signal;

d) if the call connection mode is terminated, selecting any one of the stored digital broadcast signal and currently-received digital broadcast signal; and

e) reproducing the stored digital broadcast signal or displaying the currently-received digital broadcast signal according to the selection result.

35. A digital device capable of communication and broadcast reception comprising:

a broadcast receiver for receiving digital broadcast signal;

a storage unit for storing the digital broadcast signal received in the broadcast receiver;

a transmission/reception unit for receiving or transmitting a communication signal; and

a controller for detecting start and end times of a call connection mode, storing the digital broadcast signal received in the storage unit when the start time of the call connection mode is detected, and reproducing the digital broadcast signal stored in the storage unit from the start time of the call connection mode when the end time of the call connection mode is detected.

36. The digital device capable of communication and broadcast reception according to claim 35, wherein the controller displays video signal of the digital broadcast signal when the call connection mode begins, and reproduces the stored digital broadcast signal or displays currently-received digital broadcast signal according to user setup condition information when the call connection mode is terminated.

37. A digital device capable of communication and broadcast reception comprising:

a broadcast receiver for receiving digital broadcast signal;

a storage unit for storing the digital broadcast signal received in the broadcast receiver;

a transmission/reception unit for receiving or transmitting a communication signal; and

a controller for detecting start and end times of a call connection mode, determining whether a time shift mode is established if the call connection mode begins such that the received digital broadcast signal is stored in the storage unit, and reproducing the digital broadcast signal stored in the storage unit on the basis of a setup time of the time shift mode when the call connection mode is terminated.

38. The digital device capable of communication and broadcast reception according to claim 37, wherein the received digital broadcast signal is not displayed if the call connection mode begins.

39. The digital device capable of communication and broadcast reception according to claim 37, wherein the controller displays video signal of the digital broadcast received at the start time of the call connection mode in the form of a still image.

40. The digital device capable of communication and broadcast reception according to claim 37, wherein the controller displays video signal of the digital broadcast if the call connection mode begins, and reproduces the stored digital broadcast signal or displays currently-received digital broadcast signal according to user setup condition information if the call connection mode is terminated.

41. The digital device capable of communication and broadcast reception according to claim 37, wherein the controller, if the time shift mode is pre-established or is established when a communication sound is generated, starts the call connection mode simultaneously with storing the received digital broadcast signal, and determines a reproduction start time of the stored digital broadcast signal to be a start time of the call connection mode if the call connection mode is terminated.

42. The digital device capable of communication and broadcast reception according to claim 37, wherein the controller, if the time shift mode is established during the call connection mode, stores the digital broadcast signal received from a setup time of the time shift mode, and determines a reproduction start time of the stored digital broadcast signal to be a setup time of the time shift mode.

43. The digital device capable of communication and broadcast reception according to claim 37, wherein the controller,

if a predetermined button assigned for the time shift mode is pressed by a user when the user receives a call request signal from a caller party, starts the call connection mode, and at the same time stores the received digital broadcast signal, and

if a “

Call”

button is pressed by the user, performs only the call connection mode without storing the received digital broadcast signal.

44. The digital device capable of communication and broadcast reception according to claim 37, wherein the controller, if a predetermined button assigned for the time shift mode is pressed by a user when the user sends a call request signal to a called party, stores digital broadcast signal received from a specific time at which the called party answers the call request signal of the user.

45. The digital device capable of communication and broadcast reception according to claim 37, wherein the controller, if the time shift mode is released, provides a specific situation in which the time shift mode can be established, and controls a record operation of the received digital broadcast signal according to mode setup condition information.

46. The digital device capable of communication and broadcast reception according to claim 37, wherein the controller, if the time shift mode is released, displays the received digital broadcast signal or does not display the received digital broadcast signal according to display setup condition information.

47. A digital device capable of communication and broadcast reception comprising:

a broadcast receiver for receiving digital broadcast signal;

a storage unit for storing the digital broadcast signal received in the broadcast receiver;

a transmission/reception unit for receiving or transmitting a communication signal; and

a controller for detecting start and end times of a call connection mode, determining whether a simultaneous viewing/recording mode is established if the call connection mode begins such that the received digital broadcast signal is stored in the storage unit and at the same time is displayed, and outputting the digital broadcast signal stored in the storage unit or currently-received digital broadcast signal according to user setup condition information if the call connection mode is terminated.