DE102011011350A1 - TV for playback of TV program from e.g. internet, has filter unit that restricts available programs on subset, such that TV programs of subset are accessed by operating unit only - Google Patents

Abstract

The TV (10) has control device (12) to supply signals of TV program based on selection made over operating device, to display screen (11). The control device includes a list of TV programs that are carried out to internal program places. The control device calls desired TV program or internal program place, and displays called TV program or TV program associated with called internal program place on screen. A filter unit restricts available programs on a subset, such that the TV programs of subset are accessed by operating unit only and displayed on screen. An independent claim is included for method for restriction of selection of TV program.

Description

The invention relates to a television set for the reproduction of television programs, with screen, control device and operating device, the control device supplying the signals of at least one television program depending on the selection made via the operating device to the screen, wherein via the control device preferably also an assignment of television programs to internal Program slots is feasible, and wherein via the operating device, a desired television program or a desired internal program slot can be called and thus the television program or the program called the selected program television program is displayed on the screen.

Televisions with cable, and in particular satellite, offer a rich selection of national and international programs. The least programs are actually of interest. Programs in foreign languages are in most cases not understood anyway. By appropriate setting is therefore usually on your own TV, the program selection reduced to interesting programs according to their own ideas. Preferably these are placed on fixed program selection buttons of the remote control. The adjustment thus made remains in most cases for years.

The situation is different for travelers in hotels. There is also regularly a very large program available. The hotel guest must painstakingly put together the programs he desires, especially those in his own language. He can use the compilation but only for a short time.

The object of the invention is to provide a television with which the selection of programs likely to be of interest to the user can be greatly simplified.

To achieve the object, the television apparatus according to the invention is characterized by a filter device for limiting the available television programs to a subset, such that only the television programs of the subset with the operating unit can be called and displayed on the screen. With the filter device, it is possible to reduce the total existing television programs on the basis of predetermined or adjustable criteria to a subset. Preferred is a subset of 5 to 10, a maximum of 20 programs.

The control device is to be understood in the broadest sense. Components thereof are preferably interfaces for the acceptance and conversion of the external audio and video signals, antenna signals, data streams, etc., a tuner for transmitter selection and further processing of the signals and provision of the same for the screen, means for providing the required voltages, other electronic components for processing and generating the data and signals and for processing the signals coming from the service device. The related technique is known and need not be explained.

As a control device, a remote control is provided for most TVs. Also possible is an operating device on the television itself. Finally, a television set can also have both types of operating devices.

Advantageously, only the television programs of the subset formed by the filtering internal program slots are assigned. Conventional operating devices have so-called arrow keys, which can be used to jump to the respectively adjacent internal program location of the total numbered program locations. Usually the first nine internal program stations program selection buttons are assigned to the numbers 1 to 9 at the control device. After effective filtering and generation of the subset of television programs, these are consistently at the lowest internal program slots, starting from the program slot no. 1. Accordingly, all television programs of the subset of the program selection buttons 1 to 9 can be reached, if the subset contains a maximum of nine television programs.

The filter device is preferably assigned to the control device or part thereof. Alternatively, the filter device may be an independent component of the television or integrated into the operating device as part of the same.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the filtering device performs the filtering on the basis of an identifier transmitted with the television programs, in particular on the basis of a country code, sender identification or voice code. Satellite programs are sometimes sent with a country code. This is preferably recognized by the filter device and can be used for filtering. Analogously, this applies to a voice tag of broadcast television programs or other identifiers used. The sender identification can also be used for filtering.

It is also possible to filter based on the content of a program. For example, algorithms for processing the image and / or sound of a broadcast TV program could Which topic concerns the current program and then a classification according to certain criteria, for example, as a sports program or news program or music program, etc.

According to a further aspect of the invention, filter criteria can be combined with one another, both cumulatively for reducing the subset, and additive for enlarging the subset. For example, a restriction to German news channels or to all stations from France or Germany is possible.

Advantageously, the filtering can be activated and / or deactivated via the operating device. Alternatively or additionally, menus for selecting filter criteria can be displayed on the screen, wherein the menus and / or the filter criteria can be selected via the operating device. The operating device preferably has one or more keys for calling menus for the selection of filter criteria.

According to a further aspect of the invention, one or more buttons for selecting filter criteria are provided on the operating device. At the touch of a button results in an immediate filtering or restriction of the received television programs on the subset with the properties corresponding to the filter. A combination of filters is also possible, if different keys consider different criteria, for example a country selection on the one hand and a topic selection on the other hand. Preferably, a button for clearing the set filtering on the operating device is also provided.

Advantageously, the television set is suitable for reproducing television programs from various sources, in particular from one or more of the following sources: satellite, terrestrial, cable, internet and other data via network cable, internet and other data via WLAN or other radio services, data via media players with appropriate sources standardized interfaces, each encrypted or unencrypted, analog or digital (eg DVB-T, DVB-S, DVB-C). The control device has the necessary circuits and components.

• a) am Bildschirm und/oder an der Bedienungseinrichtung werden ein oder mehrere Kriterien zur Bildung von Teilmengen aus den insgesamt wiedergebbaren Fernsehprogrammen angezeigt,
• b) in Abhängigkeit von der Auswahl mindestens eines Kriteriums durch einen Benutzer werden die durch die Bedienungseinrichtung einstellbaren Fernsehprogramme beschränkt auf die dem Kriterium entsprechenden Fernsehprogramme und nur diese Fernsehprogramme werden durch die Steuereinrichtung internen Programmplätzen zugewiesen, welche anhand der Bedienungseinrichtung anwählbar sind.

The invention also provides a method for limiting the selection of television programs which can be displayed on a television set with a screen, control device and operating device. According to the invention, the following features are provided:

• a) one or more criteria for the formation of subsets of the total reproducible television programs are displayed on the screen and / or on the operating device,
• b) depending on the selection of at least one criterion by a user, the television programs which can be set by the operating device are limited to the television programs corresponding to the criterion and only these television programs are assigned by the control device to internal program stations which can be selected by means of the operating device.

Further features of the invention will become apparent from the description, moreover, and from the claims. Embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to drawings. Show it:

1 a schematic diagram of a television with control device, screen and interfaces for the input of program signals,

2 an operating device with different pushbuttons,

3 a screen view with a filter selection menu,

4 another screen view with a filter selection menu.

A TV 10 has a screen 11 for displaying the television program and a control device 12 with all other necessary for the operation of the TV components. In the illustration according to 1 are screen 11 and control device 12 arranged one above the other. It is only a schematic representation. Actually, the controller is 12 not visible. In addition, an operating device 13 provided as a remote control. The operating device has the usual functions for the operation of televisions and some additional functions, which will be explained in more detail below.

On the TV 10 are according to 1 also exemplified several interfaces 14 to 18 for incoming signals and / or data. The interfaces 14 to 18 are to the controller 12 connected. Other components, such as power supply, housing as usual components of a television are available but not shown.

The operating device 13 according to 2 the usual nine program choices 19 with the numbers 0 to 9 not shown here. Right next to it are usual arrow keys 20 . 21 to jump to reaching or selecting the next higher or next lower program slot. additionally is using the arrow keys to move within one of the screen 11 displayed menus, see 3 and 4 , To accept a function displayed in the menu is below the arrow key 20 a receipt button 22 intended. With the under the arrow key 21 arranged menu button 23 a change from the playback of a television program in a menu mode or the display of an additional menu is possible.

In the lower part of the operating device 13 two vertical rows of keys are arranged side by side, namely four keys on the left 24 to 27 to select TV programs from fixed preset countries. Preferably, the keys are 24 to 27 provided with the relevant country flags, z. From Germany, Great Britain, France and Turkey. When you press the button 24 a signal is sent to the controller 12 transmitted, which leads to the filtering and limitation on television programs from Germany. By pressing the button 25 the filtering is changed, so that only TV channels from France with the program selection buttons 19 and arrow keys 20 . 21 are selectable. The button's 24 to 27 preferably act only as an alternative. But it is also possible an additive function, such as for filtering on television programs from France or Germany.

The right row of buttons 28 . 29 . 30 refers to other filter criteria, which may also apply cumulatively. For example, key refers 28 on television programs in HD quality, button 29 on sports programs and button 30 on news programs. An operation of the keys 24 . 28 and 29 leads for example to a limitation of the television programs to German-language sports programs in HD quality. A menu does not have to be called for this. The button's 29 and 30 should preferably act only alternatively. But it is also possible an additive function.

Between the program selection buttons 19 and the lower left row of keys with the keys 24 to 27 is a delete key 31 provided that any filtering is canceled. As a result, incorrect entries can also be corrected.

Top right, the operating device has a button 32 to turn on and off the TV and / or at least the screen 11 on.

The following are based on the 3 and 4 Examples of on-screen menus are explained. Intended are two different menus. When you press the button 23 the menu appears according to 3 on the screen 11 , Visible are several, for example nine fields 33 to 40 , which can be provided with national symbols (country flags). Between the fields 33 to 40 can with the arrow keys 20 . 21 be jumped back and forth. The selection of a jumped field is made with the acknowledgment key 22 , Subsequently, the control device performs 12 a filtering according to the selected field 33 to 40 by. The filtering can be withdrawn by activating and acknowledging an erase field 41 ,

From the menu according to 3 can be reached by continuing to press the arrow key 21 in the menu of 4 , There are more selectable fields 42 to 46 provided, preferably with the following meaning:
By starting and acknowledging the field 42 The selectable TV programs are limited to programs in HD quality.

By selecting the field 43 The selectable television programs are limited to sports programs.

By selecting the field 44 The selectable television programs are limited to news programs.

field 45 corresponds to field 41 , All filters will be deleted.

field 46 terminates the menu function. The previously selected TV program is displayed again. If this is no longer available because of a filtering performed, the first selectable television program is displayed.

For reasons of clarity and simplification are at the operating device 13 Usually existing keys are not shown, such as buttons for adjusting the volume, for calling teletext and possibly other functions.

In simplified versions, the TV 10 either on the screen menu possible setting of the filter on or only on the keys of the operating device 13 , In the latter case, the buttons on the remote control 22 . 23 omitted. If only filtering via the on-screen menu is possible, the keys can 24 to 31 omitted.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

TV

11

screen

12

control device

13

operating device

14

interface

15

interface

16

interface

17

interface

18

interface

19

Program selection buttons

20

arrow

21

arrow

22

acknowledgment key

23

menu button

24

Filter Keys

25

Filter Keys

26

Filter Keys

27

Filter Keys

28

Filter Keys

29

Filter Keys

30

Filter Keys

31

Clear key

32

On-off button

33

field

34

field

35

field

36

field

37

field

38

field

39

field

40

field

41

erase field

42

HD box

43

Sports program field

44

News program field

45

erase field

46

Menu exit field

Claims (13)

A television set for the reproduction of television programs, comprising a screen, a control device and an operating device, wherein the control device feeds the signals of at least one television program into the screen as a function of the selection made via the operating device, wherein an assignment of television programs to internal program positions can preferably also be carried out via the control device, and wherein via the operating device, a desired television program or a desired internal program space can be called and thus the television program or the program slot called television program is displayed on the screen, characterized by a filter device for limiting the available television programs to a subset, such that only the Television programs of the subset with the operating device can be called up and displayed on the screen. Television apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that only the television programs of the subset are assigned to internal program slots. Television apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the filter device is part of the control device or the operating device. Television apparatus according to claim 1 or one of the further claims, characterized in that the filtering device performs the filtering on the basis of a transmitted with the television programs identifier, in particular on the basis of a country code, station identification or voice recognition. Television apparatus according to claim 1 or one of the further claims, characterized in that the filter means performs the filtering on the basis of a transmitted with a transmission identifier or on the basis of a content of a program. Television apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that filter criteria can be combined with each other. TV according to claim 1 or one of the further claims, characterized in that the filtering via the operating device can be activated and / or deactivated. Television apparatus according to claim 1 or one of the further claims, characterized in that on the screen, a menu for the selection of filter criteria can be displayed, which can be selected via the operating device. Television apparatus according to claim 1 or one of the further claims, characterized in that a remote control is provided as operating means. Television apparatus according to claim 1 or one of the further claims, characterized in that the operating device has one or more keys for calling menus for the selection of filter criteria. Television apparatus according to claim 1 or one of the further claims, characterized in that the operating device has one or more keys for selecting filter criteria. Television apparatus according to claim 1 or one of the further claims, characterized in that the television set is suitable for reproducing television programs from different sources, in particular from one or more of the following sources: DVB-T, DVB-S, DVB-C, Internet and others Data, analogue, satellite analogue, terrestrial analogue, each encrypted or unencrypted. Method for limiting the selection of television programs which can be displayed on a television set with a screen, control device and operating device, characterized by the following features: a) one or more criteria for forming subsets of the total displayable television programs are displayed on the screen and / or on the operating device, b Depending on the selection of at least one criterion by a user, the television programs which can be set by the operating device are limited to the television programs corresponding to the criterion and only these television programs are assigned by the control device to internal program stations which can be selected on the basis of the operating device.

Images