Digital broadcast receiver and input switching method

• US 20080005773A1
• Filed: 06/22/2007
• Published: 01/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Ikeda, Shingo
• Application Number:
  US11/812,935
• Publication Number:
  US 20080005773A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/131
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4135 external recorder interface circuits between an apparatus for recording television signals and a television receiver H04N5/775
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43622 Interfacing an external recording device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43632 involving a wired protocol, e.g. IEEE 1394 high-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus H04L12/40052
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a digital broadcast receiver includes one or more first connecting terminals that connect one or more pieces of digital equipment, operation of which can be controlled by a remote control, one or more second connecting terminals that connect one or more pieces of external equipment, operation of which cannot be controlled by the remote control, and a selecting unit that selects, in turn, one piece of the digital equipment connected to the one or more first connecting terminals, the external equipment connected to the one or more second connecting terminals, the broadcast receiver, based on a switching instruction from the remote control. When the digital equipment connected to the first connecting terminal is selected by the selecting unit, a list of a plurality of video contents stored in the selected digital equipment is shown, and reproduction of a content selected from the list is controlled.

Claims

1. A digital broadcast receiver capable of connecting with a plurality of pieces of external equipment including digital equipment capable of communicating information based on a communication protocol, comprising:

a receiver that receives a digital broadcast;

an operation unit that is used for inputting an instruction from the user to the digital broadcast receiver;

one or more first connecting terminals that connect one or more pieces of digital equipment, operation of which can be controlled by the operation unit, with the digital broadcast receiver;

one or more second connecting terminals that connect one or more pieces of external equipment, operation of which cannot be controlled by the operation unit, with the digital broadcast receiver;

a selecting unit that selects, in turn, one piece of the digital equipment connected to the one or more first connecting terminals, the external equipment connected to the one or more second connecting terminals, and the receiver, based on a switching instruction from the operation unit; and

a reproduction control unit that controls reproduction of a video content stored in the external equipment when the selecting unit selects the external equipment connected to the first connecting terminal, reproduces a video signal input from the external equipment when the selecting unit selects the external equipment connected to the second connecting terminal, and reproduces a video signal input from the receiver when the selecting unit selects the receiver.

2. The digital broadcast receiver according to claim 1, wherein

when a plurality of pieces of IEEE 1394 equipment are connected to one of the first connecting terminals, operation of which can be controlled by the operation unit, via a link of a daisy chain system, and the one of the terminals is selected by the switching instruction from the operation unit, the reproduction control unit shows an equipment selecting list of the plurality of pieces of IEEE 1394 equipment, and when the IEEE 1394 equipment to be controlled is selected by the input of instruction from the operation unit from the list, the reproduction control unit shows a recording list of the IEEE 1394 equipment, and

when a single piece of the IEEE 1394 equipment is connected to one of the first connecting terminals and the one of the first connecting terminals is selected by the switching instruction from the operation unit, the reproduction control unit skips showing of the equipment selecting list of the IEEE 1394 equipment and presents the recording list of the IEEE 1394 equipment.

3. The digital broadcast receiver according to claim 1, wherein

when a plurality of pieces of LANHDD equipment are connected to one of the first connecting terminals, operation of which can be controlled by the operation unit, via a network, and the one of the first connecting terminals is selected by the switching instruction from the operation unit, the reproduction control unit shows an equipment selecting list of the plurality of pieces of LANHDD equipment, and when the LANHDD equipment to be controlled is selected from the list by the input of instruction from the operation unit, the reproduction control unit shows a recording list of the LANHDD equipment, and

when a single piece of the LANHDD equipment is connected to one of the first connecting terminals and the one of the first connecting terminals is selected by the switching instruction from the operation unit, the reproduction control unit skips showing of the equipment selecting list of the LANHDD equipment and shows the recording list of the LANHDD equipment.

4. The digital broadcast receiver according to claim 1, wherein

when a plurality of pieces of DLNA equipment are connected to one of the first connecting terminals, operation of which can be controlled by the operation unit, via a network, and the one of the first connecting terminals is selected by the switching instruction from the operation unit, the reproduction control unit shows an equipment selecting list of the plurality of pieces of DLNA equipment, and when the DLNA equipment to be controlled is selected from the list by the input of instruction from the operation unit, the reproduction control unit shows a recording list of the DLNA equipment, and

when a single piece of the DLNA equipment is connected to one of the first connecting terminals and the one of the first connecting terminals is selected by the switching instruction from the operation unit, the reproduction control unit skips showing of the equipment selecting list of the DLNA equipment and shows the recording list of the DLNA equipment.

5. A digital broadcast receiver capable of connecting with a plurality of pieces of external equipment including a digital equipment capable of communicating information based on a communication protocol, comprising:

a receiver that receives a digital broadcast;

an operation unit that is used for inputting an instruction from the user to the digital broadcast receiver;

one or more first connecting terminals that connect one or more pieces of the digital equipment, operation of which can be controlled by the operation unit, with the digital broadcast receiver;

one or more second connecting terminals that connect one or more pieces of external equipment, operation of which cannot be controlled by the operation unit, with the digital broadcast receiver;

a unit that shows a list of all pieces the external equipment including the digital equipment connected to the digital broadcast receiver in accordance with a first instruction from the operation unit;

a unit that selects, in turn, one piece of the external equipment shown in the list in accordance with a second instruction from the operation unit;

a setting unit that sets the external equipment selected by the selecting unit as external equipment to be reproduced in accordance with a setting instruction from the operation unit; and

a reproduction control unit that controls reproduction of a video content stored in the external equipment when the setting unit sets the external equipment connected to the first connecting terminal as the external equipment to be reproduced, reproduces a video signal input from the external equipment when the setting unit selects the external equipment connected to the second connecting terminal as the external equipment to be reproduced, and reproduces a video signal input from the receiver when the setting unit selects the receiver as the external equipment to be reproduced.

6. An input switching method that switches an input from external equipment in a digital broadcast receiver, having a receiver receiving a digital broadcast and an operation unit, connected to a plurality of pieces of the external equipment, comprising:

selecting, in turn, one of one or more pieces of external equipment, operation of which can be controlled by the operation unit, one or more pieces of external equipment, operation of which cannot be controlled by the operation unit, and the receiver; and

when the external equipment, operation of which can be controlled by the operation unit, is selected, controlling reproduction of a video content stored in such external equipment, when the external equipment, operation of which cannot be controlled by the operation unit, is selected, reproducing a video signal input from such external equipment, and when the receiver is selected, reproduces a video signal input from the receiver.