Television receiver and method for receiving broadcast signal

• US 7,301,581 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2001
• Issued: 11/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Katoh, Yukiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Trang U.
• Application Number:
  US10/069,521
• Publication Number:
  US 20020113906A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,332 Days
• Field of Search: 348/500, 348/553, 348/725, 348/555, 348/554, 348/461, 348/467, 348/462, 348/473, 348564-565, 348/563
• US Class Current: 348/473
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/18 Arrangements characterised by circuits or components specially adapted for receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/90 specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4221 Dedicated function buttons, e.g. for the control of an EPG, subtitles, aspect ratio, picture-in-picture or teletext
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4263 involving specific tuning arrangements, e.g. two tuners
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4383 Accessing a communication channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44016 involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for substituting a video clip
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6162 involving terrestrial transmission, e.g. DVB-T
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6193 involving transmission via a satellite arrangements for data linking, networking or transporting, or for controlling an end to end session in a satellite broadcast system H04B7/18526
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/858 Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object, by creating a hotspot
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44 Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/46 for receiving on more than one standard at will deflecting circuits of multi-standard receivers H04N3/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/08 Systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal, e.g. additional information signals, the signals occupying wholly or partially the same frequency band , e.g. by time division H04N7/007 takes precedence

Abstract

A ground wave video signal is extracted by a ground wave video decoder from a ground wave broadcast signal received by a ground wave tuner. A BS program link information signal is extracted by a BS program link information decoder from a BS broadcast signal received by a BS2 tuner. An AM radio sound signal is extracted by a radio sound decoder from an AM radio broadcast signal received by an AM radio tuner. The extracted ground wave video signal and BS program link information signal are displayed as videos by a display device, while the extracted AM radio sound signal is output as a sound from a speaker.

Claims

1. A television receiver, comprising:

a first selector that selects a broadcast signal for display of a video;

a second selector that selects a broadcast signal for output of a sound independently from the broadcast signal for display of a video;

a third selector that selects a broadcast signal for display of program link information independently from the broadcast signal for display of a video and the broadcast signal for output of a sound, wherein the program link information is displayable information that relates to a program and is included in the broadcast signal together with a video signal and a sound signal for said program;

a receiver that receives the broadcast signals selected by said first selector as a first broadcast signal, selected by said second selector as a second broadcast signal and selected by said third selector as a third broadcast signal;

a signal extractor that extracts a video signal from the first broadcast signal, a sound signal from the second broadcast signal and program link information from the third broadcast signal received by said receiver;

a combiner that combines the video signal and program link information signal extracted by said signal extractor with each other and outputs the combined video signal;

a display device that displays as a video the combined video signal output from said combiner; and

a sound output device that outputs as a sound the sound signal extracted by said signal extractor.

2. A television receiver comprising:

a first selector that selects a broadcast signal for display of a video;

a second selector that selects a broadcast signal for output of a sound independently from the broadcast signal for display of a video;

a third selector that selects a broadcast signal for display of program link information, wherein the program link information is displayable information that relates to a program and is included in the broadcast signal together with a video signal and a sound signal for said program;

a receiver that receives the broadcast signals selected by said first, second and third selector as first, second and third broadcast signals, respectively;

a signal extractor that extracts a video signal, a sound signal and program link information, respectively, from the first, second and third broadcast signals received by said receiver;

a combiner that combines the video signal and program link information signal extracted by said signal extractor with each other and outputs the combined video signal;

a display device that displays as a video the combined video signal output from said combiner; and

sound output device that outputs as a sound the sound signal extracted by said signal extractor,

wherein said receiver includes

a first receiver that receives the broadcast signal selected by said first selector as the first broadcast signal,

a second receiver that receives the broadcast signal selected by said second selector as the second broadcast signal, and

a third receiver that receives the broadcast signal selected by said selector as the third broadcast signal; and

said signal extractor includes

a video signal extractor that extracts the video signal from the first broadcast signal received by said first receiver,

a sound signal extractor that extracts the sound signal from the second broadcast signal received by said second receiver, and

a program link information signal extractor that extracts the program link information signal from the third broadcast signal received by said third receiver.

3. The television receiver according to claim 2, wherein

said first receiver includes a plurality of first tuners that receive broadcast signals of the same or different broadcast systems,

said second receiver includes a plurality of second tuners that receive broadcast signals of the same or different broadcast systems, said

third receiver includes a plurality of third tuners that receive broadcast signals of the same or different broadcast systems,

said video signal extractor includes a plurality of first decoders that extract video signals, respectively, from the broadcast signals of the same or different broadcast systems, received by said plurality of first tuners,

said sound signal extractor includes a plurality of second decoders that extract sound signals, respectively, from the broadcast signals of the same or different systems, received by said plurality of second tuners, and

said program link information extractor includes a plurality of third decoders that extract program link information signals, respectively, from the broadcast signals of the same or different broadcast systems, received by said plurality of third tuners.

4. The television receiver according to claim 2, wherein

said first receiver includes at least one of a ground wave broadcast tuner that receives a ground wave broadcast signal and a satellite broadcast tuner that receives a satellite broadcast signal,

said second receiver includes at least one of a ground wave broadcast tuner that receives a ground wave broadcast signal, a satellite broadcast tuner that receives a satellite broadcast signal, and a radio broadcast tuner that receives a radio broadcast signal,

said third receiver includes at least one of a ground wave broadcast tuner that receives a ground wave broadcast signal and a satellite broadcast tuner that receives a satellite broadcast signal,

said video signal extractor includes at least one of a ground wave broadcast video decoder and a satellite broadcast video decoder provided corresponding to the ground wave broadcast tuner or the satellite broadcast tuner,

said sound signal extractor includes at least one of a ground wave broadcast sound decoder, a satellite broadcast sound decoder or a radio broadcast sound decoder provided corresponding to the ground wave broadcast tuner, the satellite broadcast tuner and the radio broadcast tuner, and

said program link information signal extractor includes at least one of a ground wave broadcast program link information decoder and a satellite broadcast program link information decoder provided corresponding to the ground wave broadcast tuner or the satellite broadcast tuner.

5. A television receiver, comprising:

a first selector that selects a broadcast signal for display of a video;

a second selector that selects a broadcast signal for output of a sound independently from the broadcast signal for display of a video;

a third selector that selects a broadcast signal for display of program link information, wherein the program link information is displayable information that relates to a program and is included in the broadcast signal together with a video signal and a sound signal for said program;

a receiver that receives the broadcast signals selected by said first, second and third selectors as first, second and third broadcast signals, respectively;

a signal extractor that extracts a video signal, a sound signal and program link information, respectively, from the first, second and third broadcast signals received by said receiver;

a combiner that combines the video signal and program link information signal extracted by said signal extractor with each other and outputs the combined video signal;

a display device that displays as a video the combined video signal output from said combiner;

a sound output device that outputs as a sound the sound signal extracted by said signal extractor;

a program information storage that stores program information of a program to be broadcast; and

a same-content-program searcher that searches for programs of the same content on the basis of the program information stored in said program information storing means.

6. The television receiver according to claim 5, further comprising:

a same-content-program display controller that displays on said display device the programs of the same content searched by said same-content-program searcher.

7. The television receiver according to claim 6, further comprising:

a same-content-program selection controller that controls the selecting operation to be carried out by said first, second and third selectors on the basis of the programs of the same content displayed by said same-content-program searcher.

8. A television receiver comprising:

a first selector that selects a broadcast signal for display of a video;

a second selector that selects a broadcast signal for output of a sound independently from the broadcast signal for display of a video;

a third selector that selects a broadcast signal for display of program link information, wherein the program link information is displayable information that relates to a program and is included in the broadcast signal together with a video signal and a sound signal for said program;

a receiver that receives the broadcast signals selected by said first, second and third selectors as first, second and third broadcast signals, respectively;

a signal extractor that extracts a video signal, a sound signal and program link information, respectively, from the first, second and third broadcast signals received by said receiver;

a combiner that combines the video signal and program link information signal extracted by said signal extractor with each other and outputs the combined video signal;

a display device that displays as a video the combined video signal output from said combiner;

a sound output device that outputs as a sound the sound signal extracted by said signal extractor; and

a broadcast signal coincidence controller that controls for controlling said first and second selectors so that the first broadcast signal and the second broadcast signal received by said receiver become coincident with each other when the program based on said first broadcast signal or said second broadcast signal changes to a commercial break.

9. The television receiver according to claim 8, further comprising:

a setter that sets the television receiver in a mode that a video and a sound of the commercial break are output or a mode that a video and a sound of the program are output when the program based on said first or second broadcast signal received by said receiver changes to the commercial break,

wherein said broadcast signal coincidence controller controls said first and second selectors so that said first and second broadcast signals become coincident with each other in accordance with said set mode.

10. A method of receiving a broadcast signal, comprising the steps of:

selecting a broadcast signal for display of a video;

selecting a broadcast signal for output of a sound independently from the broadcast signal for display of a video;

selecting a broadcast signal for display of program link information independently from the broadcast signal for display of a video and the broadcast signal for output of a sound, wherein the program link information is displayable information that relates to a program and is included in the broadcast signal together with a video signal and a sound signal for said program;

receiving said broadcast signal for display of the video as a first broadcast signal, said broadcast signal for output of the sound as a second broadcast signal and said broadcast signal for display of the program link information as a third broadcast signal;

extracting a video signal from the first broadcast signal, a sound signal from the second broadcast signal and program link information from the third broadcast signal;

combining said extracted video signal and said program link information signal with each other and outputting the combined video signal;

displaying said combined video signal as videos; and

outputting said extracted sound signal as a sound.

11. A method of receiving a broadcast signal, comprising the steps of:

selecting a broadcast signal for display of a video;

selecting a broadcast signal for output of a sound independently from the broadcast signal for display of a video;

selecting a broadcast signal for display of program link information, wherein the program link information is displayable information that relates to a program and is included in the broadcast signal together with a video signal and a sound signal for said program;

receiving said broadcast signal for display of the video, said broadcast signal for output of the sound and said broadcast signal for display of the program link information as first, second and third broadcast signals, respectively;

extracting a video signal, a sound signal and program link information, respectively, from said received first, second and third broadcast signals;

combining said extracted video signal and said program link information signal with each other and outputting the combined video signal;

displaying said combined video signal as videos;

outputting said extracted sound signal as a sound;

storing program information of a program to be broadcast; and

searching for programs of the same content on the basis of said stored information.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of displaying said searched programs of the same content.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of controlling the selecting operation of said broadcast signals on the basis of said displayed programs of the same content.

14. A method of receiving a broadcast signal, comprising the steps of:

selecting a broadcast signal for display of a video;

selecting a broadcast signal for output of a sound independently from the broadcast signal for display of a video;

selecting a broadcast signal for display of program link information, wherein the program link information is displayable information that relates to a program and is included in the broadcast signal together with a video signal and a sound signal for said program;

receiving said broadcast signal for display of the video, said broadcast signal for output of the sound and said broadcast signal for display of the program link information as first, second and third broadcast signals, respectively;

extracting a video signal, a sound signal and program link information, respectively, from said received first, second and third broadcast signals;

combining said extracted video signal and said program link information signal with each other and outputting the combined video signal;

displaying said combined video signal as videos;

outputting said extracted sound signal as a sound; and

controlling the selecting operation of said broadcast signals so that the received first and second broadcast signals become coincident with each other when a program based on said first or second broadcast signal changes to a commercial break.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of setting the television receiver in a mode that a video and a sound of the commercial break are output or a mode that a video and a sound of the program are output when the program based on the received first or second broadcast signal changes to the commercial break,

wherein said step of controlling the selecting operation of said broadcast signals includes the step of controlling the selecting operation of said first and second broadcast signals so that said broadcast signals become coincident with each other in accordance with said set mode.