MOBILE COMMUNICATION TERMINAL AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING BROADCAST PROGRAM

Abstract

A mobile communication terminal and method of controlling a broadcast program are disclosed, by which the inability to view or record a reserved broadcast program is prevented and by which information related to the availability of a reserved broadcast program for viewing or recording with reference to a battery capacity can be provided to a user in real time.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention Features, elements, and aspects of the invention that are referenced by the same numerals in different figures represent the same, equivalent, or similar features, elements, or aspects in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the display of remaining battery capacity in a conventional mobile communication terminal.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a conventional method for displaying broadcast program information in a mobile communication terminal.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a mobile communication terminal having a broadcast program control function according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method of controlling a broadcast program in a mobile communication terminal according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates displayed information related to a battery according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates displayed information related to viewing availability of a reserved broadcast program according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates displayed information related to a battery according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates displayed information related to recording availability of a reserved broadcast program according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a broadcast program in a mobile communication terminal, the method comprising: calculating an estimated battery consumption related to a broadcast program;calculating a current remaining battery capacity;comparing the estimated battery consumption to the current remaining battery capacity; andgenerating a control signal according to a result of the comparison.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving guide information related to the broadcast program; andcalculating the estimated battery consumption using the guide information.

3. The method of claim 1I wherein the estimated battery consumption is calculated using a previous average broadcast time of the broadcast program.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the estimated battery consumption is calculated using battery consumption information related to characteristics of the mobile communication terminal.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: outputting information related to battery capacity according to the result of the comparison.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: setting at least one of a viewing reservation and a recording reservation for a broadcast program; andcalculating the battery consumption related to at least one of viewing and recording the reserved broadcast program.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising: determining if reservation priorities are set among a plurality of reserved broadcast programs; andoutputting information related to battery capacity according to the reservation priorities and the result of the comparison.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising: displaying the information related to battery capacity according to an increasing sequence of the reservation priorities.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising: calculating the estimated battery consumption related to at least one of a currently viewed broadcast program and a currently recorded broadcast program.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising: determining that the current remaining battery capacity is equal to or smaller than a reference capacity; andoutputting information related to battery capacity for at least one of the currently viewed broadcast program and the currently recorded broadcast program.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising: outputting information related to battery capacity according to the control signal when the current remaining battery capacity is equal to or smaller than the estimated battery consumption.

12. A mobile communication terminal having a broadcast program control function, the mobile communication terminal comprising: a battery adapted to supply power necessary for operation of the mobile communication terminal;a memory adapted to store information related to a broadcast program; andcontrol unit adapted to calculate an estimated battery consumption related to the broadcast program, calculate a current remaining battery capacity using the information stored in the memory, compare the calculated estimated battery consumption to the calculated current remaining battery capacity and generate a control signal according to the comparison.

13. The mobile communication terminal of claim 12, further comprising a transceiver unit adapted to receive guide information related to the broadcast program wherein the control unit is further adapted to calculate the estimated battery consumption using the received guide information.

14. The mobile communication terminal of claim 12, wherein the control unit is further adapted to calculate the estimated battery consumption using a previous average broadcast time of the broadcast program.

15. The mobile communication terminal of claim 12, wherein the control unit is further adapted to calculate the estimated battery consumption using battery consumption information related to characteristics of the mobile communication terminal.

16. The mobile communication terminal of claim 12, further comprising: a display unit adapted to output information related to battery capacity according to the result of the comparison.

17. The mobile communication terminal of claim 16, further comprising an input unit adapted to receive information related to setting at least one of a viewing reservation and a recording reservation for a broadcast program and wherein the control unit is further adapted to calculate the estimated battery consumption related to at least one of viewing and recording the reserved broadcast program.

18. The mobile communication terminal of claim 17, wherein the control unit is further adapted to: determine if reservation priorities are set among a plurality of the reserved broadcast programs; andgenerate the control signal to output information related to battery capacity according to the reservation priorities and the result of the comparison.

19. The mobile communication terminal of claim 18, wherein the control unit is further adapted to generate the control signal according to an increasing sequence of the reservation priorities.

20. The mobile communication terminal of claim 12, wherein the control unit is further adapted to generate the control signal to output information related to battery capacity when the current remaining battery capacity is equal to or smaller than the estimated battery consumption.

21. The mobile communication terminal of claim 12, wherein the control unit is further adapted to calculate the estimated battery consumption related to at least one of a currently viewed broadcast program and a currently recorded broadcast program.

22. The mobile communication terminal of claim 21, wherein the control unit is further adapted to: determine if the current remaining battery capacity is equal to or smaller than a reference capacity; andgenerate the control signal to output information related to battery capacity for at least one of the currently viewed broadcast program and the currently recorded broadcast program.