Digital broadcast reception apparatus, information content printing method in the apparatus, print apparatus communicating with the apparatus, and control method thereof

• US 8,312,498 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2006
• Issued: 11/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Oida, Jun, Kanai, Eri
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheleheda, James R
• Application Number:
  US12/065,030
• Publication Number:
  US 20090288128A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,269 Days
• Field of Search: 725/112, 725/136
• US Class Current: 725/112
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00291 with receiver circuitry television receiver circuitry per se H04N5/44
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00294 for printing images at a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4117 for generating hard copies of the content, e.g. printer, electronic paper interfaces to printers G06F3/12; printing data G06K15/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/433 Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request, caching operations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44008 involving operations for analysing video streams, e.g. detecting features or characteristics in the video stream arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of video in broadcast systems H04H60/59
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8153 comprising still images, e.g. texture, background image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/4448 for frame-grabbing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence

Abstract

A digital television (101) which allows the user to view a digital broadcast program receives a digital broadcast signal, and outputs it on the display screen. The digital television sequentially stores print information of the broadcast program in response to a predetermined output instruction during viewing of the broadcast program. The digital television transmits the stored print information to a printer in response to a print start instruction after the predetermined output instruction. In this way, the digital television sequentially saves print data of the broadcast program that the user is viewing, allows the user to select required data later, and can print the selected data all together.

Claims

1. A digital broadcast reception apparatus which allows a user to view a digital broadcast program, the reception apparatus comprising:

an output unit configured to receive and output a digital broadcast program on a display screen;

a storage unit configured to store printing data in response to a predetermined output instruction during viewing of the broadcast program;

a processing unit configured to generate still image data to be transmitted to a printer using print information stored in said storage unit; and

a transmission unit configured to transmit, to the printer, a print request JOB including the print information stored in said storage unit, in response to a print start instruction after the predetermined output instruction,

wherein when the predetermined output instruction is issued, (a) said storage unit stores URI information of a print content as the printing data if the broadcast program output by said output unit is a print content screen which is printable, (b) said storage unit stores captured data from a video frame as the printing data if the broadcast program output by said output unit is a video broadcast program which is not printable, and (c) when a recording apparatus which records the broadcast program is connected to the digital broadcast reception apparatus and is recording the broadcast program, then said storage unit stores EPG and time information of the digital broadcast program recorded in the recording apparatus as the printing data instead of the URI of the print content or the captured data of the video frame, and

wherein said transmission unit (a) transmits the print request JOB in a PULL transfer type print method appending the URI information when the URI information of the print content is stored as the printing data, (b) transmits the print request JOB in a PUSH transfer type print method and the printing data when the captured video frame is stored as the printing data, and (c) transmits the print request JOB in a PUSH transfer type print method and still image data generated from the broadcast program recorded in the recording apparatus as the printing data when the EPG and time information of the broadcast program is stored as the printing data.

2. The reception apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said storage unit saves reduced-scale image data corresponding to the printing data in association with the printing data upon storing the printing data.

3. The reception apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the captured data from the video frame is stored as the printing data and the display screen is copy-protected so as not to be captured, then said storage unit stores information which includes text extracted from broadcast program information included in a digital broadcast signal.

4. The reception apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined output instruction is issued by an operation from a remote controller.

5. An information content printing method in a digital broadcast reception apparatus which allows a user to view a digital broadcast program, the method comprising:

an output step of receiving and outputting a digital broadcast program on a display screen;

a storage step of storing printing data in response to a predetermined output instruction during viewing of the broadcast program;

a processing step of generating still image data to be transmitted to a printer using print information stored in said storage unit; and

a transmission step of transmitting, to the printer, a print request JOB including the print information stored in said storage unit in response to a print start instruction after the predetermined output instruction,

wherein when the predetermined output instruction is issued, (a) URI information of a print content is stored as the printing data in said storage step if the broadcast program output by said output unit is a print content screen which is printable, (b) captured data from a video frame is stored as the printing data if the broadcast program output by said output unit is a video broadcast program which is not printable, and (c) when a recording apparatus which records the broadcast program is connected to the digital broadcast reception apparatus and is recording the broadcast program, EPG and time information of the digital broadcast program recorded in the recording apparatus are stored as the printing data in said storage step instead of the URI of the print content or the captured data of the video frame, and

wherein the print request JOB in a PULL transfer type print method appending the URI information is transmitted in said transmission step when the URI information of the print content is stored as the printing data, the print request JOB in a PUSH transfer type print method and the printing data are transmitted in said transmission step when the captured video frame is stored as the printing data, and the print request JOB in a PUSH transfer type print method and still image data generated from the broadcast program recorded in the recording apparatus are transmitted in said transmission step as the printing data when the EPG and time information of the broadcast program is stored as the printing data.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein in said storage step, reduced-scale image data corresponding to the printing data is saved in association with the printing data upon storing the printing data.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein when the captured data from the video frame is stored as the printing data and the display screen is copy-protected so as not to be captured, then information which includes text extracted from broadcast program information included in a digital broadcast signal is stored in said storage step.

8. The method according to claim 5, wherein the predetermined output instruction is issued by an operation from a remote controller.