TV signal receiving apparatus and channel scanning method

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a TV signal receiving apparatus includes a plurality of tuners which receive TV signals and an auto scan controller. The controller executes an auto scan function of scanning an entire range of a frequency band, which is receivable by said plurality of tuners, by scanning a predetermined unit of a frequency and of detecting a channel viewable at an area located therein at the time of scanning, in parallel by using the plurality of tuners.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is an exemplary diagram showing the schematic configuration of an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exemplary block diagram showing the scan function of a TV application program which operates in the information processing apparatus of the same embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an exemplary diagram for explaining a basic principle of auto scan executed by the TV application program which operates in the information processing apparatus of the same embodiment;

FIG. 4 is an exemplary flow chart showing the operation procedure of the auto scan executed by the TV application program which operates in the information processing apparatus of the same embodiment;

FIG. 5 is an exemplary diagram for explaining a first modification of the auto scan executed by the TV application program which operates in the information processing apparatus of the same embodiment; and

FIG. 6 is an exemplary diagram for explaining a second modification of the auto scan executed by the TV application program which operates in the information processing apparatus of the same embodiment.

Claims

1. A TV signal receiving apparatus comprising: a plurality of tuners to receive TV signals; andscan control means for executing an auto scan function by each of said plurality of tuners in parallel in order to (i) scan an entire range of a frequency band, which is receivable by said plurality of tuners, at a scan interval of a predetermined unit of a frequency, and (ii) detect a channel viewable at an area located therein at the time of scanning.

2. A TV signal receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the scan control means executes the auto scan function being a first auto scan function for scanning within the frequency band starting from a first frequency at a low frequency side of the frequency band and progressing toward a second frequency at high frequency side and a second auto scan function, operating in parallel with the first auto scan function, for scanning within the frequency band starting at the second frequency and progressing toward the first frequency side.

3. A TV signal receiving apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the scan control means unifies management of the frequencies scanned in the first and second auto scan functions, and when an already scanned frequency turns to be scanned, terminates the auto scan function.

4. A TV signal receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the scan control means divides the frequency band by a number of the plurality of tuners in order to produce a plurality of divided frequency bands, and executes the auto scan functions for scanning an entire range of each divided frequency band in parallel.

5. A TV signal receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the scan control means executes the auto scan functions each associated with one of the plurality of tuners for collectively scanning the entire range of the frequency band where by scanning a predetermined unit of frequency in parallel by shifting a starting point by the unit of frequency.

6. A TV signal receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the scan control means allots frequency to be scanned in the entire range of the frequency band to the plurality of tuners by dynamically allocating the frequency not yet scanned to one of the tuners which has terminated the scanning at a frequency.

7. A TV signal receiving apparatus comprising: a plurality of turners which receive TV signals;a channel table which stores a frequency of a channel that is receivable by each of said plurality of tuners; andscan control means for executing an auto scan function of scanning an entire range of a frequency band, which is receivable by said plurality of tuners, by scanning a predetermined unit of a frequency and of detecting a channel viewable at an area located therein at the time of scanning, in parallel by using said plurality of tuners.

8. A channel scanning method of a television (TV) signal receiving apparatus having a plurality of turners which receive TV signals, the method comprising: receiving TV signals via said plurality of turners; andexecuting an auto scan function of scanning an entire range of a frequency band, which is receivable by said plurality of tuners, by scanning a predetermined unit of a frequency and of detecting a channel viewable at an area located therein at the time of scanning, in parallel by using said plurality of tuners.

9. A channel scanning method according to claim 8, wherein the auto scan function of scanning within the frequency band from a low frequency side to a high frequency side and the auto scan function of scanning within the frequency band from the high frequency side to the low frequency side are executed in parallel with each other.

10. A channel scanning method according to claim 9, further comprising: unifying management of the frequencies scanned by the auto scan functions; andterminating the auto scan function when an already scanned frequency turns to be scanned.

11. A channel scanning method according to claim 8, wherein the frequency band is divided into the number of the tuners and the auto scan functions of scanning an entire range of each divided frequency band are executed in parallel.

12. A channel scanning method according to claim 8, wherein the auto scan functions are executed in a way of scanning the entire range of the frequency band by scanning a predetermined unit of frequency in parallel by shifting a starting point by the unit of frequency.

13. A channel scanning method according to claim 8, further comprising: allotting frequency to be scanned in the entire range of the frequency band to said plurality of tuners by dynamically allocating the frequency not yet scanned to one of the tuners which has terminated the scanning at a frequency.