BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a typical example of a system implementing the present embodiment;
FIG. 2 is another typical example of a system implementing the present embodiment;
FIG. 3 is a further typical example of a system implementing the present embodiment;
FIG. 4 is yet another typical example of a system implementing the present embodiment;
FIG. 5 is an example of a flow of program deleting operations of a program deleting device 1 shown by FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is an example of a flow of program deleting operations of a program deleting device 1 shown by FIG. 2;
FIGS. 7A to 7C show examples of flows of keyword/program information registering/program deleting operations of the program deleting device 1 shown by FIGS. 2 and 3;
FIG. 8 is an example of a flow of program deleting operations of a program deleting device 1 shown by FIG. 4;
FIG. 9 is an exemplary conceptual view of program deletion if the program deleting device 1 shown by FIG. 1;
FIG. 10 is an exemplary conceptual view of program deletion of the program deleting apparatus 1 shown by FIG. 3 or 4;
FIG. 11 is another exemplary conceptual view of program deletion of the program deleting apparatus 1 shown by FIG. 3 or 4;
FIG. 12 is a further exemplary conceptual view of program deletion of the program deleting apparatus 1 shown by FIG. 3 or 4;
FIG. 13 is yet another exemplary conceptual view of program deletion of the program deleting apparatus 1 shown by FIG. 3 or 4;
FIG. 14 shows a specific arrangement of a program data processing apparatus;
FIGS. 15A to 15C show display screens for displaying a list of delete program candidates extracted by an unnecessary program extractor;
FIGS. 16A to 16C show display screens when extracted unnecessary programs are deleted;
FIGS. 17A to 17C show display screens when ‘no view designation’ is set; and
FIGS. 18A and 18B show display screens when an unnecessary program is extracted after the ‘no view designation’.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
Embodiments of the present invention will be explained with reference to the attached drawings.
FIG. 1 is a typical example of a system implementing the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is an example of a flow of program recording operations in the system of FIG. 1.
In a program recording system 1 of the present embodiment, a recorder 2 receives program information 100, and a storage 3 stores program data 101. An unnecessary program extractor 4, on the basis of program recording information 102 obtained from the recorder 2, extracts “program data A having unviewed durations of N hours or larger after the program in the storage 3 is recorded”. Symbol N denotes a predetermined time. The unnecessary program extractor also extracts “program data B associated with the program data A from the already-recorded program data”. The unnecessary program extractor further automatically deletes the extracted program data A and B from the storage 3.
FIG. 9 shows a conceptual view of extraction of unnecessary program data in the program recording system 1 shown by FIG. 1. The already-recorded program data include stories 1 to 3 in a teleplay or TV drama A, stories 10 and 11 in a drama B, one baseball program, one soccer program, and one cooking program. Among these recorded programs, programs having unviewed durations of N hours or larger are a story 1 in the drama A, the baseball program, and the soccer program. In this case, the unnecessary program extractor extracts, in addition to story 1 in the drama A, the baseball program, and the soccer program, story 2 in the drama A, and story 3 in the drama A as program data associated with the story 1 of the drama A; and deletes these 5 program data as unnecessary data. Thereafter, the unnecessary program extractor still judges the drama A as information associated with unnecessary data, judges story 4 and subsequent stories in the drama A as objects to be deleted, and thus can eliminate the need for recording these programs.
The program data judged previously as necessary can be excluded from unnecessary data extraction targets by applying a protection designation to the necessary program data. For example, when the protection designation is previously applied to the drama A, the drama cannot be extracted as unnecessary data even when the unviewed duration exceeds the N hours after recorded. In the example shown in FIG. 9, programs extracted as unnecessary data correspond to two of the baseball and soccer programs.
FIG. 2 is another typical example of a system implementing the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is an example of a flow of program recording operations in the system of FIG. 2.
In a program recording system 1 of the present embodiment, a recorder 2 receives program information 100 and a storage 3 stores program data 101 therein. On the basis of program recording information 102 obtained from the recorder 2, an unnecessary program extractor 4 extracts “program data A having unviewed durations of N hours or larger after the program in the storage 3 is recorded”. N denotes a predetermined time. The unnecessary program extractor also extracts “program data B associated with the program data A from already-recorded program data”. The unnecessary program extractor outputs the above extracted program data A and B, that is, information 200 about a list of unnecessary programs to a display device 6. The display device 6 outputs the unnecessary program list information 200 to display 201 the information on the monitor 7.
The user selects program data to be actually deleted from the unnecessary program list information shown in the display device 7. Selected unnecessary program information 202 is input to the unnecessary program extractor 4, and the associated program data is deleted from the storage 3 under control of an unnecessary program data deletion instruction 103.
FIG. 3 is a further typical example of a system implementing the present embodiment. FIG. 7C is an example of a flow of program recording operations in the system of FIG. 3.
In a program recording system 1 of the present embodiment, a recorder 2 receives program information 100 and a storage 3 stores program data 101 therein. An unnecessary program extractor 4, on the basis of program recording information 102 obtained from the recorder 2, extracts “program data C conforming to a set keyword or program information”. The unnecessary program extractor also extracts “program data D associated with the program data C from already-recorded program data”. The unnecessary program extractor further automatically deletes the above extracted program data C and D from the storage 3. A keyword/program information register 5 temporarily previously records keyword/program information 104 instructed by the user therein.
FIG. 7A is an example of a keyword recording unit. In this case, the user can confirm already-recorded keyword/program information. For keyword/program information not recorded yet, it is recorded as new information. The user may also select part of the already-recorded keyword/program information and be applied for program deletion.
The number of pieces of keyword/program information is limited. In this case, such information piece number is increased with time passage through recording of the keyword/program information, and eventually exceeds a limit of record number in the keyword/program information register.
An example of how to avoid the above situations is shown in FIG. 7B. In this case, the record is deleted at a time point when a continuous or accumulated no-use time for keyword/program information reaches a predetermined time M or larger. A limited number of records can be effectively used by canceling the record of information on a program which has been frequently used but is not lately used at all (such a drama as have not been viewed in past).
FIG. 4 is an embodiment of a system wherein the unnecessary program data in the embodiment of FIG. 3 is not automatically deleted but a list of extracted unnecessary program data is displayed so that the user can designate program data to be actually deleted on the basis of the displayed list data. FIG. 8 is an example of a flow of program recording operations in the system of FIG. 4.
FIG. 10 shows an exemplary conceptual view of extraction of unnecessary program data in the program deleting apparatus of FIG. 3 or 4. For example, when the user decides not to again view the story 1 of the drama A in the future during view of the drama because its contents is not interesting and when the user records the program during the view in the keyword/program information register 5 as the keyword/program information 104, the program recording system 1 extracts the stories 2 and 3 of the already-recorded drama A as unnecessary program data and automatically deletes them under control of an instruction signal 105. Further, an instruction signal 300 causes a list of unnecessary program data to be displayed on the monitor 7, thus prompting the user to decide deletion of the program data.
In the present embodiment, the recorded keyword/program information can also be used in future decision of a record.
FIG. 12 shows an exemplary conceptual view of extraction of unnecessary program data in the present embodiment. For example, when the user decides not to again view the story 1 of the drama A in the future during its view because its contents is not interesting and when the user records the program during the view in the keyword/program information register 5 as the keyword/program information 104, the program recording system 1 extracts the stories 2 and 3 of the already-recorded drama A as unnecessary program data and automatically deletes them. In addition to it, when the story 4 and subsequent stories of the drama A are broadcast in the future, the system may decide not to record such drama stories. The system also may record such a program and the user may decide whether or not to actually delete the recorded program in a program deletion mode.
FIG. 11 shows another exemplary conceptual view of extraction of unnecessary program data in the present embodiment. For example, when the user records (1) the drama B and (2) the cooking program in the keyword/program information register 5 as the keyword/program information 104, the program recording system 1 extracts the stories 10 and 11 of the drama B and the cooking program already-recorded as unnecessary program data and automatically deletes them. Or a list of the unnecessary program data is displayed on the monitor 7 so as to prompt the user to decide the deletion of the program data. In addition to it, when the story 12 and subsequent stories of the drama B are broadcast in the future, the system may decide not to record such a drama. Or the system records such a drama but the user can decide whether or not to actually delete it in the program deletion mode.
The embodiment shown in FIG. 3 or 4 can add a keyword designated by the user to a program and can record the program. Program data having a specific keyword added thereto can be collectively deleted by extracting unnecessary program information with use of this keyword information as the above specific program data or information.
FIG. 13 shows a further exemplary conceptual view of extraction of unnecessary program data in the program deleting apparatus shown by the present embodiment. In this case, there are present data about recorded programs each having a keyword added thereto prior to recording of the program. Among these programs, 3 of the already-recorded programs, that is, the drama B (of story 10), the drama B (of story 11), and the cooking program have a keyword of “Mr. or Mrs. ◯◯” added thereto. Consider a case where already-recorded programs relating to Mr. or Mrs. ◯◯, which have once become a topic of considerable interest, were recorded with a keyword added thereto, but the user wants to delete these programs because user's interest in the topic was lost and user will not view the already-recorded programs associated with ‘Mr. or Mrs. ∘∘’. The program data associated with ‘Mr. or Mrs. ∘∘’ can be easily deleted by extracting unnecessary programs having the keyword of “Mr. or Mrs. ∘∘” as the above specific program data or information. Even when the user wants not to view any programs associated with “Mr. or Mrs. ∘∘” in the future, this is valid.
Explanation will next be made as to a specific arrangement of the program data processing apparatus according to the aforementioned embodiment.
FIG. 14 shows a specific arrangement of a program data processing apparatus. In the arrangement, a tuner 1401 receives a plurality of broadcast programs, extracts a specific program from the plurality of received programs, and outputs the extracted program to a demux (demultiplxer) 1403 as an input stream (including the program data).
The tuner also receives an EPG (program information) and outputs it to the demux 1403. A CPU 1402 receives the EPG (program information) or control information demultiplexed by the demux 1403, or performs predetermined control over circuits under control of a signal received from an operating device (not shown). More specifically, the predetermined control includes, for example, EPG (program information) management, HDD contents management, and unnecessary program extracting operation. Such operations are carried out by a program stored in a ROM (not shown). The demux 1403 demultiplexes predetermined information from the input stream issued from the tuner 1401, and outputs the demultiplexed information to a predetermined circuit. More in detail, the demux demultiplexes a stream or management information to be recorded in a HDD 1404, outputs the demultiplexed information to the HDD 1404, or demultiplexes the EPG (program information) or control information and outputs it to the CPU 1402. The demux also outputs to an A/V decoder 1405 a stream to be reproduced from the stream received from the tuner 1401 or HDD 1404. The HDD 1404 records the stream or management information issued from the demux 1403 therein to reproduce such a stream or management information. The A/V decoder 1405 decodes the stream (to be reproduced) issued from the demux 1403 into a video signal and a voice signal, and outputs these signals to a monitor 1407 and to a speaker 1406 respectively.
Explanation will then be made as to a display screen of the program data processing apparatus.
FIGS. 15A to 15C show display screens for displaying a list of program candidates to be deleted extracted by the unnecessary program extractor.
FIG. 15A shows a first display screen for displaying the list of program candidates to be deleted extracted by the unnecessary program extractor. Displayed in the display screen are check boxes for the user to select whether or not to delete the corresponding programs, an attribute item, a title item, a record date item, and a deletion level item. And a comment saying “select a program or programs to be deleted” appears on the screen. FIG. 15B shows a display screen when the user selected programs which the user wants to delete through an operating device (not shown). A comment saying “delete checked programs?” appears. FIG. 15C shows a display screen when the user selected a YES button in FIG. 15B.
FIGS. 16A to 16C shows display screens when extracted unnecessary programs are deleted.
FIG. 16A shows a display screen in the course of deletion of the unnecessary programs, in which a comment saying “while being deleted, wait a minute” appears. FIG. 16B shows a display screen when the deletion is completed, at which time a comment saying “the deletion completed” appears. And the programs selected by the user in FIG. 15B disappear from the list of program candidates to be deleted, and the remaining program alone is displayed. In this case, when the program (baseball program in this example), which is included in the list of programs to be deleted and is not checked to be deleted, is set to have viewed one time by initializing its unviewed duration to 0 hours, the program will not appear next time in the list of programs to be deleted. Or such a program may be included in the program candidates to be deleted but its deletion level may be lowered.
In this connection, the aforementioned items of the attribute, title, record date, and deletion level in the above display screen may be rearranged, or ones of the items may be rearranged. FIG. 16C shows a display screen when the record date item is rearranged.
FIGS. 17A to 17C show display screens when the user specifies “no view designation”. The “no view designation” is used, when the corresponding program is not interesting to the user during view of the program or after the user viewed the program, to set the corresponding program as an unnecessary program by the user who operates a button (which may be a software button operated by operating a menu button, a crossed key, a decision button, etc.) of “no view” provided on an operating device (not shown). In the next-time unnecessary program extraction mode, this program and programs associated therewith are extracted. FIG. 17A shows a display screen when the “no view button” is depressed during view of a program. In this case, a comment saying “‘no view designation’ set?” appears. FIG. 17B shows a display screen when the user selects a “YES” button for the comment. This causes the “no view designation” to be applied to the program. FIG. 17C is a display screen showing a list of programs having the “no view designation” applied thereto. In FIG. 17B, the program having the “no view designation” applied by the user is displayed. In the list display screen, the “no view designation” may also be released.
FIG. 18A shows a display screen when the unnecessary program extraction mode is set after the “not view designation” is set in FIGS. 17A to 17C. The program set at the “not view designation” in FIGS. 17A to 17C and programs associated therewith are displayed. FIG. 18B is a display screen showing a keyword when the associated programs are deleted. The title of the program set at the “not view designation” in FIGS. 17A to 17C is extracted as the keyword, and the other associated programs having the keyword are extracted.
The title, performer, etc. of a program and information associated with the program are included in the EPG (program information). Such a keyword is extracted from the aforementioned information, and used to search for a program to be deleted.
For a drama or the like, dramas associated therewith can be extracted by using information about the drama. When the user views the story 1 of a drama program, feels not interesting, and then the user applies a delete designation of the program thereto; even programs of story 2 and subsequent stories and programs associated therewith can be extracted as deletion targets and can be easily deleted.
Further, with regard to a baseball program, when “which baseball team?”, “live?”, “where baseball ground?”, etc. are extracted from the title of the program and information on the program; the user, who are not interested in any baseball teams other than, for example, baseball team A, can extract baseball programs satisfying a condition of “baseball team is not the team A” as deletion targets. Further, when the system judges statistically from a so-far view history that the user is not interested in any baseball teams other than the beam A, the system can extract sports programs or special programs associated with the baseball teams other than the team A as deletion targets.
In accordance with the embodiments explained above, since unnecessary program data are extracted from all the recorded program data and deleted, there can be provided a system, a method and an apparatus, in which the user can easily find necessary or seemingly-necessary program data and the capacity of a storage such as a hard disk or an optical medium can be effectively used.
Although the above explanation has been made in connection with the above embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the examples but various alterations and modifications may be changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention and the scope of the attached claims, which will be obvious to those skilled in the art.
Patent Application
20080040751
