Patent Application
20130179922
This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-001074, filed Jan. 6, 2012, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Embodiments described herein relate generally to the technique for displaying related information on television broadcast programs in cooperation with an electronic program guide (EPG).
In recent years, portable, battery-powered, and user-friendly electronic devices have been widely used. Electronic devices of this type have been getting more and more multifunctional and sophisticated. Most of them are provided with a communication function, such as wireless communication with another electronic device. Use of this function enables this type of electronic device to function as a remote controller for operating another electronic device, such as a television receiver or a video recorder.
A television receiver and a video recorder usually provide a graphical user interface (GUI) for searching for a television broadcast program. Typically, user support has been provided in such a manner that, for example, a broadcast schedule for television broadcast programs is displayed or related information on television broadcast programs is displayed.
To process these pieces of information, for example, various mechanisms for efficiently displaying related information on television broadcast programs have been proposed.
Here, for example, suppose a case where related information on television broadcast programs shown on a broadcast schedule is browsed on an electronic device that functions as a remote controller for operating a television receiver or a video receiver. In browsing the related information, suppose either simplified information browsing or detail information browsing can be selected. That is, suppose the amount of related information to be displayed can be switched.
In this case, if the user can switch between simplified information display and detail information display according to, for example, the degree of interest by an intuitive operation on television broadcast programs shown on a broadcast schedule (by an operation enabling the user to imagine simplicity or detail easily), this can improve the user friendliness of the electronic device.
A general architecture that implements the various features of the embodiments will now be described with reference to the drawings. The drawings and the associated descriptions are provided to illustrate the embodiments and not to limit the scope of the invention.
Various embodiments will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In general, according to one embodiment, an electronic device includes a touchpanel display and a program information display module. The program information display module is configured to display, while a first screen is displayed on the touchpanel display, a second screen on the touchpanel display if a first touch operation is recognized in an area on the touchpanel display where an object representing a television broadcast program is displayed. The first screen presents an electronic program guide on which the object representing the television broadcast program is arranged. The second screen presents first information on a television broadcast program represented by the object. The program information display module is further configured to display, while the first screen is displayed on the touchpanel display, a third screen on the touchpanel display if a second touch operation is recognized in the area on the touchpanel display where the object is displayed. The third screen presents second information on the television broadcast program represented by the object.
As shown in
The CPU 11, which is a processor that controls the operation of the electronic device 1, executes an operating system (OS) 100 and various application programs including a program guide application program 110, loaded from the flash memory 19 into the main memory 13. The program guide application program 110 is software for causing the electronic device 1 to operate as a remote controller for operating an audio-and-visual (AV) device, such as a television receiver or a video recorder. The CPU 11 also executes the BIOS stored in the BIOS-ROM 17. The BIOS is a program for controlling hardware.
The MCH 12 operates as a bridge that connects the CPU 11 and ICH 14 with each other, and as a memory controller that performs access control of the main memory 13. In addition, the MCH 12 includes the function of communicating with the GPU 15.
The GPU 15 is a display controller that, using a video memory 15A, displays images on a liquid-crystal display (LCD) 161 incorporated in the touchpanel display 16. In addition, the GPU 15 includes an accelerator that, in place of the CPU 11, draws images various programs are to display.
The ICH 14 operates as a memory controller that performs access control of the BIOS-ROM 17 and EEPROM 18. In addition, the ICH 14 incorporates an Integrated Device Electronics (IDE) controller for controlling the flash memory 19. Moreover, the ICH 14 includes the function of communicating with the LAN controller 20, wireless LAN controller 21, USB controller 22, sound controller 23, and EC 25.
The EEPROM 18 is a storage medium for storing, for example, identification information on the electronic device 1. The LAN controller 20 is a wire communication device that performs wire communication complying with, for example, the IEEE 802.3 standard. On the other hand, the wireless LAN controller 21 is a wireless communication device that performs wireless communication complying with, for example, the IEEE 802.11 standard. The USB controller 22 is a wire communication device that communicates with an externally connected USB in a way conforming to, for example, the USB 2.0 standard.
The sound controller 23, which is a sound source device, outputs audio data to be reproduced to the speaker 24.
The EC 25 is an embedded controller for managing the power of the electronic device 1. The EC 25 incorporates an input controller for controlling data input by a touch operation on the touchpanel display 16.
The touchpanel display 16 incorporates not only the LCD 16 but also a touchpanel 162. The touchpanel 162 laid on top of the LCD 161, which is a multitouch-compatible touchpanel, includes a sensor 162a and a microcontroller unit (MCU) 162b. When a touch operation has been performed at an n number of places on the touchpanel 162, all the n number of places are sensed by the sensor 162a. The MCU 162b outputs timing information indicating input timing to the touchpanel 162 and position information indicating the input positions on the touchpanel 162. The input information output by the MCU 162b is directed to the EC 25. The EC 25 stores the input information in its own register and then generates an interrupt, thereby giving notice to the CPU 11 to cause the CPU 11 to read the input information stored in the register. As a result, the generation of an event of the touch operation on the touchpanel 162 is notified to the OS 100. The OS 100 informs the program guide application program 110 of the generation of the event.
The electronic device 1 which includes the wireless LAN controller 21 and includes the program guide application program 119 installed in it is capable of operating as a remote controller for an AV device 2. The AV device 2, which is, for example, a television receiver or a video recorder, receives television broadcast program data broadcast from a broadcasting station 3.
The program guide application program 110 acquires EPG data for an EPG from an EPG metadata server 4a via the Internet A. The program guide application program 110 is a module that provides a user support so as to display a broadcast schedule for television broadcast programs or related information on television broadcast programs on the touchpanel display 16 using the EPG data. Hereinafter, of various pieces of information displayed on the basis of EPG data, a broadcast schedule for television broadcast programs may be particularly referred to as an EPG.
In addition, the program guide application program 110 can cause the electronic device 1 to receive, for example, television broadcast program data on the television broadcast program selected from the broadcast schedule of television broadcast programs displayed on the touchpanel display 16 and display the data on the touchpanel display 16. That is, the user can not only use the electronic device 1 as a remote controller for the AV device 2 but also watch a television broadcast program on the electronic device 1.
The EPG data includes metadata indicating the broadcast time and contents of a television broadcast program. As for the function of displaying related information on television broadcast programs, firstly, the program guide application program 110 includes the function of displaying information on television broadcast programs obtained from the metadata as simplified information on the touchpanel display 16. Secondly, the program guide application program 110 includes the function of creating a query to search for information on television broadcast programs from metadata, transmitting, via the Internet A, the query to a Web site 4b that provides information search service, and displaying the search result sent back from the Web site 4b as detail information on the touchpanel display 16. The program guide application program 110 is configured to enable the user to switch between simplified information display and detail information display according to, for example, the degree of interest, that is, switch the information amounts of related information on television broadcast programs to be displayed by an intuitive operation (on the touchpanel 162). Hereinafter, this will be explained in detail.
The program guide application program 110 can acquire detail information on television broadcast programs using a plurality of Web sites 4b. The program guide application program 110 creates a query according to the specification of each Web site 4b.
As shown in
As shown in
The attribute switching area b2 is an area provided for performing a touch operation to specify the filtering of program cells displayed in the program guide area b4. Since “ALL” has been selected in
The date switching area b3 is an area provided for performing a touch operation to specify the shift of a time range of a television broadcast program to be displayed in the program guide area b4 backward or forward in days. For example, when EPG data includes metadata on two weeks of television broadcast programs, flicking the date switching area b3 horizontally enables the displayed contents of the program guide area b4 to be scrolled in a time range of two weeks from today.
The program guide area b4 is a main area of the EPG screen 200 that presents an EPG. Flicking the program guide area b4 vertically enables the area b4 to be scrolled to switch channels to be displayed. Flicking the program guide area b4 horizontally enables the area b4 to be scrolled to shift a time range of a television broadcast program to be displayed (in the range of the date selectable in the date switching area b3) backward or forward. In addition, flicking the program guide area b4 obliquely enables the area b4 to be scrolled to move a channel to be displayed and a time range simultaneously. Moreover, performing a click operation on a program cell displayed in the program guide area b4 enables the user to browse related information on the television broadcast program shown in the program cell. An object with reference symbol a2 put on a program cell indicates that the television broadcast program shown in the program cell is to be subjected to programmed recording or programmed watching. For example, programmed recording and programmed watching are differentiated by color.
Here, suppose the user who has browsed the EPG screen 200 shown in
As described above, the program guide application program 110 includes two related information display functions: (1) the function of displaying information acquired from metadata as simplified information, and (2) the function of creating a query from metadata and displaying the search result at Web site 4b as detail information. When browsing simplified information, the user performs a touch operation (tap operation) whose period of contact with the touchpanel display 16 is within a period determined to be a threshold value in the area where program cell a1 is displayed. When browsing detail information, the user performs a touch operation (a long tap operation) whose period of contact with the touchpanel display 16 exceeds the period determined to be the threshold value in the area.
That is, the electronic device 1 realizes the switching of the amounts of related information displayed about a television broadcast program shown in a program cell by an intuitive operation that makes it easy to imagine simplicity and detail in such a manner that a short touch causes only basic information to be displayed and a long touch causes detail information to be displayed by linking a contact period to the amount of information.
When program cell a1 has been tapped, the program guide application program 110 displays the simplified program screen 201 so that the simplified screen 201 may be laid on a part of the EPG screen 200 as shown in
In addition, the program guide application program 110 arranges two operation buttons c1, c2 for screen transition on the simplified program screen 201. Operation button c1 is a button for specifying the display of detail information when the user wants to browse detail information. Therefore, the user can browse detail information on the television broadcast program shown in program cell a1 in the following two procedures: (1) perform a long tap operation on program cell a1 on the EPG screen 200; and (2) perform a tap operation on program cell a1 on the EPG screen 200 (to display the simplified program screen 201), and then perform a touch operation on operation button c1 on the simplified program screen 201. Operation button c2 is a button for specifying the erasure of the simplified program screen 201 from the EPG screen 200. That is, when operation button c2 is operated, the EPG screen 200 in the state shown in
Moreover, the program guide application program 110 further arranges three operation buttons c3, c4, c5 on the simplified program screen 201. Operation button c3 (“Watch” button) is a button for watching the television broadcast program shown in program cell a1. When operation button c3 is operated, the program guide application program 110 instructs the AV device 2 to display a television broadcast program currently on air on the same channel as that of the television broadcast program shown in program a1. If the television broadcast program shown in program cell a1 is a program currently on air, the television broadcast program is displayed. If the television broadcast program shown in program cell a1 is a program scheduled to be broadcast, a television broadcast program currently on air on the same channel as that of the television broadcast program is displayed.
Operation button c4 (“Remind” button) is a button for programming the watching of the television broadcast program shown in program cell a1. When operation button c4 is operated, the program guide application program 110 instructs the AV device 2 to program the watching of the television broadcast program shown in program cell a1. If the television broadcast program is a program currently on air, the television broadcast program is displayed immediately. If the television broadcast program is a program scheduled to be broadcast, the television broadcast program will be displayed when broadcast time shown in metadata on the television broadcast program has been reached. When the broadcast time shown in metadata on the television broadcast program has been reached, the program guide application program 110 displays the arrival of the broadcast time on the touchpanel display 16, thereby informing the user of the arrival.
Operation button c5 (“Rec” button) is a button for programming the recording of the television broadcast program shown in program cell a1. Operation button c5 is enabled when the AV device 2 is provided with a recording function. When operation button c5 is operated, the program guide application program 110 instructs the AV device 2 to program the recording of the television broadcast program shown in program cell a1.
When a long tap operation is performed on program cell a1 on the EPG screen 200, the program guide application program 110 displays the detailed program screen 202 in place of the EPG screen 200. On the detailed program screen 202, there is provided information obtained from metadata on the television broadcast program shown in program cell a1 included in EPG data, that is, a simplified information area d1 for displaying information equivalent to what is presented on the simplified program screen 201.
In addition to the simplified information area d1, a plurality of mini-socket areas d2 are provided on the detailed program screen 202. The mini-socket areas d2 are areas where the result of a reply from Web site 4b to the aforementioned query (created from metadata on the television broadcast program shown in program cell a1 included in EPG data), that is, detail information on the television broadcast program, is displayed. The mini-socket areas d2 may be provided for each Web site 4b. For example, they may be provided for each query on the assumption that a plurality of queries are created and transmitted to a Web site 4b. The mini-socket areas d2 can be expanded vertically in display size (so as to overlap with simplified information area d1).
Of (1) the mini-sockets of the simplified program screen and (2) metadata, mini-sockets for more detail information (e.g., cast or series) not displayed on the simplified program screen are present in addition to the reply from Web site 4b. An area including the upper half (d1, d3, d4, d5) of
On the detailed program screen 202, too, operation buttons d3, d4, d5 corresponding to operation buttons c3, c4, c5 of the simplified program screen 201 are arranged. Therefore, the watching, programmed watching, recording, and programmed recording of the television broadcast program shown in program cell a1 can be performed.
In addition, at the lower left of the detailed program screen 202, operation button d6 for returning to the preceding screen is arranged. Operation button d6 is a common button arranged on all the screens by the OS 100. When operation button d6 is operated while the detailed program screen 202 is being displayed, the EPG screen 200 in the state shown in
Therefore, the program guide application program 110 controls screen transition between the EPG screen 200, simplified program screen 201, and detailed program screen 202 as shown in
Control can return from the simplified program screen 201 to the EPG screen 200 (by erasing the simplified program screen 201 from the EPG screen 200) or proceed to the detailed program screen 202. Control can return from the detailed program screen 202 to the EPG screen 200. In addition, on either the simplified program screen 201 or detailed program screen 202, the watching, programmed watching, recording, and programmed recording of a television broadcast program can be performed.
When a touch operation has been performed on a program cell on the EPG screen 200 (YES in block A1), the program guide application program 110 determines whether the period of contact with the touchpanel display has exceeded a threshold value (block A2).
If the contact period is within the threshold value (NO in block A2), that is, a tap operation has been performed, the program guide application program 110 displays simplified information on a television broadcast program corresponding to the touched program cell so that the simplified information may be laid on a part of the EPG (block A3).
If the contact period has exceeded the threshold value (YES in block A2), that is, a long tap operation has been performed, the program guide application program 110 switches the display to a detailed program screen that displays detail information on a television broadcast program corresponding to the touched program cell (block A4).
As described above, the electronic device realizes the switching of the amounts of related information displayed about a television broadcast program by an intuitive operation performed in such a manner that tapping a program cell on the EPG enables simplified information on a television broadcast program corresponding to the program cell to be browsed and tapping a program cell for a longer time enables detail information to be browsed.
In the above explanation, as shown in
When the simplified program screen 201 or detailed program screen 202 is displayed as a result of a program cell having being tapped or tapped for a longer time on the EPG screen 200, the program guide application program 110 checks whether a television broadcast program corresponding to the program tapped or tapped for a longer time is a program currently on air (block B1). Whether the program is on air or not can be checked by comparing, for example, the broadcast time shown in metadata with the system time of the electronic device 1. If the program is currently on air (YES in block B1), the program guide application program 110 then checks whether the AV device 2 is provided with a recording function (block B2). If the AV device 2 is provided with a recording function (YES in block B2), the program guide application program 110 displays “Watch” button and “Rec” button (block B3). If the AV device 2 is not provided with a recording function (NO in block B2), the program guide application program 110 displays only “Watch” button (block B4). Whether the AV device 2 is provided with a recording function can be checked by making inquiries by, for example, wireless communication.
If a television broadcast program corresponding to the program cell is a program scheduled to be broadcast (NO in block B1), the program guide application program 110 then checks whether the AV device 2 is provided with a recording function (block B5). If the AV device 2 is provided with a recording function (YES in block B5), the program guide application program 110 displays “Remind” button and “Rec” button (block B6). If the AV device is not provided with a recording function (NO in block B5), the program guide application program 110 displays only “Remind” button (block B7).
This procedure enables three operation buttons, “Watch” button, “Remind” button, and “Rec” button, to be arranged dynamically according to the situation.
While the method of displaying program information has been explained on the assumption that the electronic device 1 operates as a remote controller for the AV device 2, the method is not limited to this and, of course, may be applied to a case where the electronic device 1 is provided with a TV function.
Since the operation control process of each embodiment can be realized by software (programs), the software is installed in an ordinary computer via a computer-readable storage medium that has stored the software and run on the computer, thereby enabling the same effect as that of each embodiment to be realized easily.
The various modules of the systems described herein can be implemented as software applications, hardware and/or software modules, or components on one or more computers, such as servers. While the various modules are illustrated separately, they may share some or all of the same underlying logic or code.
While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-001074 | Jan 2012 | JP | national |
