Source selecting method and apparatus

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

0001The present invention relates to a selecting apparatus and a selecting method adapted for use with a receiving apparatus capable of receiving content data from a plurality of sources.

0002A user of a receiving apparatus capable of receiving TV broadcasts may sometimes switch channels randomly in what is known as zapping before deciding on a particular channel that attracts the user's interest. The zapping operation is typically executed by the user manipulating a channel selection key.

0003If the receiving apparatus is compatible only with a single category of broadcast wave, zapping is performed conventionally by use of a single channel selecting element making up part of the channel selection key.

0004In recent years, the terrestrial wave analog broadcasts have been supplemented with BS (broadcast satellite) and CS (communication satellite) broadcasts gaining widespread acceptance. The additional categories of broadcast waves are addressed by the increasingly popularized use of receiving apparatuses each having a plurality of tuners for receiving the newly introduced broadcast waves. With these receiving apparatuses, zapping within one category of broadcast wave is done using the same single operating element as before. However, zapping across different categories of broadcast waves requires operating an additional element or elements for the switching.

0005The additional operation on the elements for changing broadcast wave categories translates into increased burdens on the user. That is, the user cannot perform zapping across different broadcast wave categories as easily as within the same wave category.

0006A solution to the disadvantage above is proposed by some of the multiple-wave-category receiving apparatuses resorting to the channel selection key alone for zapping. These apparatuses are arranged to switch channels starting from the first or the last channel within the currently selected wave category before moving on to channels of another broadcast wave category. In other words, the channels across different categories of broadcast waves are chained sequentially so that the channel selection key alone may be operated to zap channels across different wave categories. Some relevant aspects of the related art are discussed illustratively in <patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="JP2000324412A"><text>Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2000-324412</text></patcit>.

0007However, the proposed solution above requires zapping through all channels within the currently selected broadcast wave category before reaching any one channel of another broadcast wave category. As the number of receivable channels is increasing today along with the number of broadcast wave categories, the number of times the channel selection key needs to be operated conventionally for zapping can become inordinately large.

0008In <patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="EP0477754A"><text>EP-A-0 477 754</text></patcit>, a television receiver including a plurality of radio frequency input terminals, each of which having a respective scan list is disclosed. The channel numbers of respective scan list is disclosed. The channel numbers of respective scan lists are displayed in respective colors to indicate to the viewer which radio frequency input terminal and associated scan list is selected. In one embodiment the radio frequency input terminals and the antenna selection keys of a keyboard are color-coded to correspond to the color-coded channel numbers.

0009<patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="US6359580B1"><text>US-B1-6359580</text></patcit> discloses a system and method allowing a television viewer to select a channel without having to pre-select the source of the television signal received. If a conflict occurs in that multiple sources such as a satellite system, high definition television, or cable TV all utilize the desired channel, then the system informs the viewer on the television display of the conflict and prompts the viewer for the desired source for the selected channel.

0010<patcit id="pcit0004" dnum="US6473135B"><text>US6473135</text></patcit> discloses an input signal selector which allows switching between active input ports and skips ports which do not provide a signal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

0011The above-mentioned problems are solved by a selecting apparatus according to claim 1 and a selection method according to claim 4.

0012The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances and provides.

0013If the plurality of sources constitute a plurality of categories of broadcast waves representative of different television broadcasts and if the content data is formed by broadcast data from each of a plurality of television broadcast channels, then the operating unit alone may be used to switch broadcast channels as well as to select a desired broadcast wave category (i.e., tuner).

0014If the operating unit is an arrow key designed to give specific commands when operated in the upward, downward, leftward, or rightward direction, then the arrow key may be operated illustratively upward or downward to switch broadcast channels and leftward or rightward to select the broadcast wave category.

0015The inventive arrangements above enable the user to change input sources without running through all content data within the currently selected input source (i.e., through all broadcast channels within the same broadcast wave category). This feature eliminates the need for going through unnecessary channel switching operations before getting to the selection of a broadcast wave category, as has been the case with conventional arrangements. The new scheme translates into a significant reduction in the number of times zapping needs to be performed across different broadcast wave categories (i.e., different sources) before a desired channel is reached.

0016Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent upon a reading of the following description and appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

0017<ul id="ul0001" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li><figref idref="f0001">FIG. 1</figref> is a block diagram showing a typical internal structure of a receiving apparatus including a selecting apparatus that embodies this invention;</li><li><figref idref="f0002">FIG. 2</figref> is a tabular view depicting a typical data structure of a channel setting table held in the selecting apparatus according to the invention;</li><li><figref idref="f0002">FIG. 3</figref> is a tabular view giving another data structure of the channel setting table stored in the selecting apparatus of the invention;</li><li><figref idref="f0002">FIG. 4</figref> is a tabular view indicating a typical data structure of. a tuner setting table held in the inventive selecting apparatus;</li><li><figref idref="f0003">FIG. 5</figref> is an external view of a remote commander furnished for the inventive selecting apparatus;</li><li><figref idref="f0004">FIG. 6</figref> is a flowchart of steps carried out by the inventive selecting apparatus primarily to switch broadcast channels; and</li><li><figref idref="f0005">FIG. 7</figref> is a flowchart of steps carried out by the inventive selecting apparatus primarily to switch broadcast wave categories.</li></ul>

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

0018Preferred embodiments of this invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

0019<figref idref="f0001">FIG. 1</figref> is a block diagram showing a typical internal structure of a receiving apparatus 1 including a selecting apparatus that embodies this invention. The selecting apparatus of this embodiment is constituted at least by a switch SW, a user interface (U/I) controller 9, an external device control command transmitter 13, a CPU 14, a ROM 15, a RAM 16, and a remote commander 20 as illustrated.

0020The receiving apparatus 1 is shown furnished with a tuner block 3 including tuners (first tuner 3a, second tuner 3b) addressing a plurality of broadcast wave categories covering terrestrial wave digital broadcasts and BS digital broadcasts.

0021The receiving apparatus 1 is further equipped with an external input interface (I/F)) 8 that is connected to an external device 50. The external device 50 has a tuner 50a illustratively for receiving and selecting CS broadcasts that are input to the receiving apparatus 1 through the external input interface 8.

0022The receiving apparatus 1 is also provided with an external device control command transmitter 13 that may be called an AV mouse. The transmitter 13 is used to give various control commands to the external device 50.

0023In <figref idref="f0001">FIG. 1</figref>, an antenna block 2 is assumed to include both a terrestrial wave digital broadcast receiving antenna and a BS digital broadcast receiving antenna. The broadcast waves received by the antenna block 2 are input to the tuner block 3 via a mixer, not shown.

0024In the tuner block 3, the first tuner 3a receives the terrestrial digital broadcast wave, and the second tuner 3b admits the BS digital broadcast wave. The first and the second tuners 3a and 3b tune in to the received broadcast channels under control of the CPU 14 connected to the tuner block 3 via a bus 17.

0025It should be noted that the received broadcast waves are not limited to the terrestrial and BS digital broadcast waves; they may include wired broadcast waves and terrestrial analog broadcast waves as well.

0026The external input interface 8 admits received data over the CS broadcast channel captured by an antenna 51 and selected by the tuner 50a in the external device 50 which, as mentioned above, is a CS broadcast-compliant receiver. The broadcast wave that can be received by the external device 50 is not limited to the CS broadcast wave alone; other broadcast wave categories may be covered by the external device 50 as well.

0027The switch SW admits output data from the first tuner 3a, second tuner 3b, and external input interface 8. Of the output data coming from these three components, the data from one of them is selected under control of the CPU 14 connected to the switch SW via the bus 17. The output data thus selected is output to a demodulator 4.

0028The demodulator 4 demodulates the digitally modulated data coming from the switch SW and forwards the demodulated data to a decoder 5. In the case of BS digital broadcasts, the digital data demodulated by the demodulator 4 forms a transport stream wherein AV data compressed by MPEG-2 and data broadcast data are multiplexed. The AV data is made up of video and audio information constituting broadcast content, and the data broadcast data is data attached to the broadcast content (e.g., electronic program guide (EPG) data).

0029The decoder 5 splits the transport stream from the demodulator 4 into the AV data compressed by MPEG-2 and the data broadcast data. The decoder 5 also separates real-time AV data compressed by MPEG-2 into compressed video data and compressed audio data.

0030The separated audio data is decoded by PCM (pulse code modulation) criteria and overlaid on any added sounds before being output to speakers 7 through a mixer (MUX) 6. The separated video data is expanded and output to a display 12 via a composer 11.

0031The speakers 7 output audio signals supplied from the mixer 6. The display 12 displays (i.e., reproduces) video signals fed from the composer 11.

0032The decoder 5 also sends the data broadcast data separated from the transport stream to the CPU 14 over the bus 17. Given the data, the CPU 14 performs necessary processes by running relevant applications so as to create an EPG table or to provide other features.

0033The user interface (U/I) controller 9 is a module that processes the user's input operations. Illustratively, when the user operates the remote commander 20 made up of control buttons and/or switches, a corresponding operation signal (IR signal) is emitted by an infrared radiation emitter (not shown) of the commander 20 and received by a radiation receiver 9a of the controller 9. The received signal is converted to an input operation signal in the form of an electrical signal that is output to the CPU 14.

0034Alternatively, a control panel may be furnished on the enclosure of the apparatus and equipped with operation switches for the user to operate on. The user's. operation on the control panel will be detected by the user interface controller 9 which furnishes corresponding operation information to the CPU 14.

0035A graphic processing controller 10 is a dedicated controller for generating screens under control of the CPU 14. As such, the controller 10 has high-resolution drawing function compatible with SVGA (Super Video Graphic Array) or XGA (extended Graphic Array).

0036Illustratively, the graphic processing controller 10 renders GUI (Graphical User Interface) operation screens and EPG table screens. The rendering screen data is overlaid on broadcast images by the composer 11 or is switched and output unmodified to the display 12 for viewing by the user.

0037Under control of the CPU 14, the external device control command transmitter 13 transmits control commands indicating the external device 50 to perform necessary operations. This control command transmitter 13 may be formed integrally with the external input interface 8 inside the same module.

0038The CPU 14 is a main controller that controls the receiving apparatus 1 as a whole. The CPU 14 carries out diverse applications on a platform provided by its operating system (OS).

0039Illustratively, the CPU 14 executes controls for switching broadcast channels as well as the terrestrial digital broadcast wave, BS digital broadcast wave, and CS digital broadcast wave on the basis of table information shown in <figref idref="f0002">FIGS. 2 through 4</figref>, to be discussed later, and in accordance with operation signals entered through the remote commander 20 and user interface controller 9.

0040Given the operation signals through the remote commander 20 and user interface controller 9, the CPU 14 generates command information for indicating the external device 50 to perform necessary operations such as channel switchover, and causes the generated command information to be forwarded to the external device control command transmitter 13.

0041The ROM 15 is a read-only memory that accommodates self-diagnostic and initialization programs to be executed upon power-up of the receiving apparatus 1 as well as control codes for use in hardware operations. In particular, the ROM 15 of this embodiment holds programs that bring about processes to be discussed later with reference to <figref idref="f0004">FIGS. 6</figref> and <figref idref="f0005">7</figref>. The ROM 15 may also store table information (<figref idref="f0002">FIGS. 2 through 4</figref>) for switching broadcast channels and broadcast wave categories. Preferably, the ROM 15 may contain a rewritable nonvolatile area.

0042The RAM 16 is a writable volatile memory into which executable programs of the CPU 14 are loaded or to which work data for use with the executable programs is written.

0043The table information, stored illustratively in the ROM 15 and used for switching broadcast channels and broadcast wave categories, typically has data structures shown in <figref idref="f0002">FIGS. 2 through 4. FIGS. 2 and 3</figref> indicate channel setting tables that contain information for setting broadcast channels across different broadcast wave categories. More specifically, <figref idref="f0002">FIG. 2</figref> gives a typical channel setting table for setting the broadcast channels in the terrestrial digital broadcast wave category, and <figref idref="f0002">FIG. 3</figref> shows a typical channel setting table for setting the broadcast channels in the BS digital broadcast wave category.

0044In the channel setting tables of <figref idref="f0002">FIGS. 2 and 3</figref>, the column "display channel" denotes display-ready channel numbers which are set on the receiving apparatus 1 and to which the user may assign broadcast channels as desired. In the example of the terrestrial digital broadcast wave category shown in <figref idref="f0002">FIG. 2</figref>, 12 channels numbered 1 through 12 are shown established, and the user may assign desired broadcast channels to these channel numbers.

0045In the channel setting tables of <figref idref="f0002">FIGS. 2 and 3</figref>, the column "receiving channel" indicates the channel numbers set to correspond with available broadcast channels on a one-to-one basis. In the example of <figref idref="f0002">FIG. 2</figref>, a receiving channel "1" is shown corresponding to a display channel "1." Illustratively, when the user gives a command to select the display channel No. 1, the correspondence causes the receiving apparatus 1 to select the broadcast channel whose frequency is associated with the receiving channel "1."

0046In the fields of the "receiving channel" column, a diagonal line indicates the absence of an established receiving channel.

0047In <figref idref="f0002">FIGS. 2 and 3</figref>, the column "channel skip" indicates settings specifying whether or not to skip a particular channel. Illustratively, a channel set for "0" in a field of the column "channel skip" is a channel not selected during zapping; a channel set for "1" is a channel selected during zapping. It should be noted that zapping refers to the user's operation of switching channels randomly without any particular channel in mind, especially in ascending or descending order of the channel numbers available.

0048<figref idref="f0002">FIG. 4</figref> shows a typical data structure of the tuner setting table necessary for switching broadcast wave categories. In <figref idref="f0002">FIG. 4</figref>, the column "tuner ID" indicates ID's assigned in advance to the tuners tuning in to the broadcast waves that can be received by this receiving apparatus 1.

0049The column "received broadcast wave" contains settings denoting broadcast wave categories received by the tuners that are assigned the tuner ID's in the "tuner ID" column. In the "received broadcast wave" column, "0" is set illustratively to indicate the terrestrial digital broadcast wave that is received; "1" is set to denote the BS digital broadcast wave that is received; and a "2" is set to represent the CS broadcast wave that is received.

0050In <figref idref="f0002">FIG. 4</figref>, the column "device" has settings indicating whether each tuner is located inside or outside the receiving apparatus 1. Illustratively, a tuner set for "0" is located inside the receiving apparatus 1; and a tuner set for "1" is located outside.

0051As with the "channel skip" column in <figref idref="f0002">FIGS. 2 and 3</figref>, the column "tuner skip" in <figref idref="f0002">FIG. 4</figref> has settings specifying whether or not to skip a particular tuner during zapping. Illustratively, a tuner set for "0" in the "tuner skip" column is not subject to zapping. In other words, the broadcast channels received by the tuner set for "0" in the "tuner skip" column are not selected during zapping.

0052In this example, the tuner having the tuner ID "0" (i.e., tuner 3a for dealing with terrestrial digital broadcasts) is not applicable to the skip in zapping. That is, the broadcast channels received by the tuner 3a are always subject to zapping.

0053<figref idref="f0003">FIG. 5</figref> is an external view of the remote commander 20 included in <figref idref="f0001">FIG. 1</figref>. As illustrated, the face of the remote commander 20 has a plurality of operating elements mounted allowing the user to make various input operations on the receiving apparatus 1. Particularly noticeable among the operating elements of the commander 20 is an arrow key 21 operated mainly to give directional commands to the receiving apparatus 1.

0054The arrow key 21 is made up of four operating elements: an upward operating element 21a, a downward operating element 21b, a rightward operating element 21c, and a leftward operating element 21d as indicated. The four directional operating elements 21a through 21d constitute an integral operating block designed to issue directional commands.

0055In <figref idref="f0003">FIG. 5</figref>, the arrow key 21 appears as a single operating element. In this context, however, the arrow key 21 is considered to be formed by the four directional operating elements 21a through 21d. That is, the operating elements are distinguished not by appearance but by type of input operation.

0056With this embodiment, some of the directional operating elements 21a through 21d are assigned the operation of switching broadcast channels; the other elements are assigned the operation of changing broadcast wave categories.

0057More specifically, the upward operating element 21a and downward operating element 21b are assigned the operation of switching broadcast channels. In this example, the upward operating element 21a and downward operating element 21b are used to switch display channels in ascending and descending orders of their channel numbers, respectively. On the other hand, the rightward operating element 21c and leftward operating element 21d of the arrow key 21 are used to switch broadcast wave categories.

0058In the manner described, the switching of channels and the changing of broadcast wave categories are executed using a single integral operating block as the arrow key 21. This arrangement provides a user interface that is appreciably easer to use than before in zapping across different broadcast wave categories.

0059<figref idref="f0004">FIGS. 6</figref> and <figref idref="f0005">7</figref> are flowcharts of steps to be carried out by the CPU 14 in <figref idref="f0001">FIG. 1</figref> to implement the zapping operation with this embodiment. In step S101 of <figref idref="f0004">FIG. 6</figref>, the CPU 14 monitors continuously to see if the arrow key 21 in <figref idref="f0003">FIG. 5</figref> is operated. If any one of the upward operating element 21a, downward operating element 21b, rightward operating element 21c, and leftward operating element 21d is found being operated, the CPU 14 goes to step S102.

0060In step.S102, the CPU 14 determines whether or not viewing mode is in effect. That is, a determination is made to see if the receiving apparatus 1 is causing the received data on the currently selected broadcast channel to appear all over the screen of the display 12.

0061If the result of the determination in step S102 is negative, i.e., if the receiving apparatus 1 is currently not in its viewing mode, then the CPU 14 proceeds to carry out another process that corresponds to the input operation on the arrow key 21 with regard to the receiving apparatus 1 in its current status. Out of its viewing mode, the receiving apparatus 1 may be displaying an EPG screen, an interface screen on which to make settings, or some other screen. With such a screen on display, the arrow key 21 is interpreted illustratively as been operated to move the cursor.

0062If the result of the determination in step S102 is affirmative, i.e., if the receiving apparatus 1 is found currently in its viewing mode, then step S103 is reached.

0063In step S103, a determination is made to determine whether the input operation on the arrow key 21 as detected in step S101 is oriented in the vertical or in the horizontal direction. If the input operation detected in step S101 is found to be performed on the rightward operating element 21c or leftward operating element 21d and thus oriented in the horizontal direction, then control is passed on to step S201 in <figref idref="f0005">FIG. 7</figref>.

0064If in step S103 the input operation detected in step S101 is found to be carried out on the upward operating element 21a or downward operating element 21b and thus oriented in the vertical direction, then step S104 is reached.

0065In step S104, a determination is made to determine whether or not the currently selected tuner is located outside. More specifically, the CPU 14 first recognizes the tuner ID of the tuner currently selected by the switch SW in <figref idref="f0001">FIG. 1</figref>, the tuner being one of the first tuner 3a, second tuner 3b, and the tuner 50a of the external device 50 indicated in <figref idref="f0001">FIG. 1</figref>. The CPU 14 then references the tuner setting table in <figref idref="f0002">FIG. 4</figref> to verify the setting in the "device" column which corresponds to the recognized tuner ID. The corresponding setting in the "device" column indicates whether or not the currently selected tuner is located outside.

0066If the result of the determination in step S104 is affirmative, i.e., if the currently selected tuner is located outside, then control is passed on to step S113, to be described later. If in step S104 the currently selected tuner is not found located outside, then step S105 is reached.

0067In step S105, a determination is made to determine whether the input operation on the arrow key 21 as detected in step S101 is oriented in the upward or in the downward direction. If the input operation detected in step S101 is found being made on the upward operating element 21a, then step S106 is reached. In step S106, the CPU 14 references the channel setting table of the currently selected tuner so as to recognize the display channel number immediately upward of the currently selected display channel number. Since the upward operating element 21a is being operated for upward channel change, the CPU 14 recognizes the display channel number immediately upward of the currently selected display channel number.

0068In step S107, a determination is made to determine whether or not the recognized display channel number is set for a channel skip. More specifically, in the channel setting table of <figref idref="f0002">FIG. 2 or 3</figref>, a determination is made to see if, say, a "1" is set in the "channel skip" column for the display channel in question to be skipped.

0069If the result of the determination in step S107 is affirmative, i.e., if the recognized display channel is found set for a channel skip, then step S108 is reached. In step S108, the CPU 14 recognizes the next display channel number. That is, the display channel number immediately upward of the currently selected display channel number is recognized in the channel setting table.

0070With the next display channel number thus recognized, step S107 is reached again. In step S107, a determination is again made to determine whether or not the recognized display channel number is set for a channel skip.

0071If the result of the determination in step S107 is negative, i.e., if the recognized display channel is not found set for a channel skip, then step S112 is reached. In step S112, the CPU 14 controls the relevant components to tune in to the broadcast station based on the recognized display channel number. More specifically, the CPU 14 first recognizes the receiving channel number corresponding to the recognized display channel number in the channel setting table. The CPU 14 then controls the currently selected tuner (i.e., first tuner 3a or second tuner 3b) recognized in step S104 so as to select the broadcast channel whose frequency corresponds to the receiving channel number thus recognized.

0072With the above steps carried out as described, the upward channel change is executed in response to the input operation being made on the upward operating element 21a of the arrow key 21. At the same time, with steps S107 and S108 carried out, zapping is performed in accordance with the channel skip settings discussed above with reference to <figref idref="f0002">FIGS. 2 and 3</figref>.

0073If in step S105 the input operation detected in step S101 is found being made on the downward operating element 21b, then step S109 is reached. In step S109, as in step S106, the CPU 14 references the channel setting table of the currently selected tuner so as to recognize the display channel number next to the currently selected display channel number. Because the downward operating element 21b is being operated on the arrow key 21, the CPU 14 recognizes the display channel number immediately downward of the currently recognized display channel number.

0074In step S110, as in step S107, a determination is made to determine whether or not the recognized display channel number is set for a channel skip. More specifically, in the channel setting table, a determination is made to see if, say, a "1" is set in the "channel skip" column for the display channel in question to be skipped. If the recognized display channel is found set for a channel skip, then step S111 is reached. In step S111, the CPU 14 recognizes the next display channel number. Because the downward operating element 21b is being operated for downward channel change, the CPU 14 recognizes the display channel number immediately downward, not upward, of the currently recognized display channel number.

0075With the next display channel number thus recognized, step S111 is reached again. In step S111, a determination is again made whether or not the recognized display channel number is set for a channel skip.

0076If the result of the determination in step S110 is negative, i.e., if the recognized display channel is not found set for a channel skip, then step S112 is reached. In step S112, the CPU 14 controls the relevant components to tune in to the broadcast station based on the recognized display channel number.

0077The downward channel change is thus executed in response to the input operation being made on the downward operating element 21b of the arrow key 21. At the same time, with steps S110 and S111 carried out, zapping is performed in accordance with the channel skip settings discussed above.

0078If the result of the determination in step S104 is affirmative, i.e., if the currently selected tuner is located outside, then step S113 is reached. In step S113, as in step S105, a determination is made to determine whether the input operation on the arrow key 21 as detected in step S101 is oriented in the upward or in the downward direction.

0079If in step S113 the detected input operation is found being made on the upward operating element 21a, then step S114 is reached. In step S114, the CPU 14 performs a relevant process to issue a channel up command.

0080In the case above, the tuner currently selected by the switch SW is the tuner 50a of the external device 50 connected via the external input interface 8. With the external tuner in use, the external device control command transmitter 13 under control of the CPU 14 sends a channel up command signal to the external device 50 so that the latter will execute an upward channel change.

0081If in step S113 the detected input operation is found being made on the downward operating element 21b, then step S115 is reached. In step S115, the CPU 14 performs a relevant process to issue a channel down command. In this case, the external device control command transmitter 13 under control of the CPU 14 sends a channel down command signal to the external device 50 so that the latter will execute a downward channel change.

0082As described, with the external tuner currently selected, a suitable channel change command is transmitted from the external device control command transmitter 13 to the external device 50 for a channel change operation. Either the upward or the downward channel change is executed depending on the input operation being made on the upward operating element 21a or on the downward operating element 21b.

0083Described below with reference to <figref idref="f0005">FIG. 7</figref> is what takes place in step S201 and subsequent steps to which control is transferred if the input operation detected in step S101 is found being made on the rightward operating element 21c or leftward operating element 21d.

0084In step S201 of <figref idref="f0005">FIG. 7</figref>, the CPU 14 references the tuner setting table in order to recognize the tuner next to the currently selected tuner. That is, the: CPU 14 first recognizes the tuner ID of the tuner being selected by the switch SW, and then detects the tuner ID adjacent to the recognized tuner ID in the tuner setting table of <figref idref="f0002">FIG. 4</figref>.

0085In step S202, a determination is made to determine whether the currently selected tuner is located inside or outside the receiving apparatus. In step S202, as in step S104 of <figref idref="f0004">FIG. 6</figref>, the CPU 14 references the corresponding setting in the "device" column of the tuner setting table to determine whether the currently selected tuner is located inside or outside.

0086If the recognized tuner is found located inside, then step S203 is reached. In step S203, the CPU 14 performs a suitable process to set the recognized internal tuner as the data input source to the demodulator 4.

0087In that case, the recognized tuner is either the first tuner 3a or second tuner 3b located inside the receiving apparatus. The switch SW is then controlled in such a manner as to let the received data be input from the tuner corresponding to the recognized tuner ID.

0088If in step S202 the recognized tuner is found to be located outside, then step S204 is reached. In step S204, the CPU 14 performs a necessary process to set the external input interface 8 as the data input source to the demodulator 4. More specifically, the CPU 14 controls the switch SW to select the data coming from the external input interface 8 in order to admit the input data over the broadcast channel received selectively by the tuner 50a of the external device 50.

0089As described, if the input operation performed on the arrow key 21 was found oriented in the horizontal direction in step S103 of <figref idref="f0004">FIG. 6</figref>, then the switch SW is controlled in step S203 or S204 to change broadcast wave categories. That is, the broadcast wave categories are switched by operating the rightward operating element 21c or leftward operating element 21d of the arrow key 21.

0090In that case, with step S203 or S204 carried out, the last channel in effect following the broadcast wave category switch is displayed. Illustratively, steps S203 and S204 may each be followed by an appropriate process for channel switching whereby a predetermined channel may be selected by the tuner following the switch.

0091With this embodiment, as described, the input operation on the upward operating element 21a or downward operating element 21b of the arrow key 21 effects the changing of channels in the same broadcast wave category. The input operation on the rightward operating element 21c or leftward operating element 21d of the arrow key 21 brings about the switch of broadcast wave categories. When it is possible to switch both the channels and the broadcast wave categories by operating the single integral operating block alone (i.e., arrow key 21), this feature provides a user interface that is significantly easier to use than ever during zapping across different broadcast wave categories.

0092When zapping of the above type specific to this embodiment is carried out, broadcast wave categories can be changed without going through the entire range of broadcast channels within the same broadcast wave category. That means there is no need to change unnecessary channels preparatory to switching from the current broadcast wave category over to another category. This makes it possible to lower the number of zapping operations to be performed across different broadcast wave categories.

0093This embodiment is equipped with the external device control command transmitter 13 that allows input operations on the receiving apparatus 1 to be reflected on the external device 50. This feature makes it easy to carry out zapping across an extensive selection of broadcast wave categories including the wave received by the external device 50.

0094If zapping across the different broadcast wave categories including the one received by the connected external device 50 were to be carried out without recourse to the external device control command transmitter 13, the procedure involved would be much more complicated: first it is necessary to switch to the data input from the external device 50. Once the external device 50 is selected, more operations need to be performed to change channels on the external device 50.

0095By contrast, with the external device control command transmitter 13 in use, zapping across the broadcast waves including the one received by the external device 50 is achieved by operating the arrow key 21 alone. The procedure is far easier to accomplish with the external device control command transmitter 13 than without it.

0096Although the arrow key 21 was indicated as the preferred operating block for zapping in the foregoing description, this is not limitative of the invention. Alternatively, a so-called joystick or other suitable directional operating block may be adopted instead.

0097Apart from the above-described single operating block that is integral by itself in appearance, it is also possible to assign mutually related operations to a plurality of discrete operating elements so that these elements may be used in combination to function as a single operating block.

0098In the foregoing description, the arrow key 21 was shown mounted on the remote commander 20. Alternatively, if similar operating elements are furnished on the control panel of the enclosure housing the receiving apparatus 1, input operations performed on these elements may also be interpreted as the operations for executing the steps in <figref idref="f0004">FIGS. 6</figref> and <figref idref="f0005">7</figref>, whereby zapping of this embodiment may be carried out.

0099Although the embodiment above was shown assigning the operations for ordering the switching of channels and broadcast wave categories to the directionally oriented operating elements, this is not limitative of the invention. It is not mandatory to assign all of these operations to the directional elements.

0100Illustratively, another operating element may be provided in the middle of the upward, downward, rightward and leftward operating elements on the operating block. The centrally positioned operating element, used illustratively to make a finalizing operation, may also serve to switch the broadcast wave categories while the upward and downward operating elements are used to change the channels. In other words, the operations for switching the channels and broadcast wave categories need not be assigned solely to the directional operating elements.

0101Although the operations for switching the channels and broadcast wave categories were shown assigned to the physically discrete operating elements in the foregoing description, this is not limitative of the invention. Alternatively, some of the operations may be taken over by a common operating element. Illustratively, holding the upward operating element 21a down longer than a predetermined time period may be interpreted as the operation to switch the broadcast wave categories. That is, in addition to its initially assigned operation of switching the channels, the same physical operating element may take on the operation of changing the broadcast wave categories.

0102The embodiment above was shown switching television channels and TV broadcast wave categories coming from the internal tuners of the receiving apparatus 1 as well as from an externally connected tuner. Alternatively, another embodiment of the invention may be practiced to switch input sources other than the TV broadcast waves and to change content data within each of these input sources.

0103Illustratively, content data input from servers connected to the receiving apparatus 1 over a network may be received and switched selectively by the apparatus 1 for data reproduction on a streaming basis. In such a case, the arrow key 21 may be operated to select the input data from the connected servers as well as to switch the above-mentioned content data.

0104As another alternative, a hard disk drive (HDD) attached internally or externally to the receiving apparatus 1 may be used to accommodate content data for selective reproduction. In this example, the arrow key 21 may be operated to select the input data retrieved from the hard disk drive as well as to switch the above-described content data.

0105That is, the expression "sources" in the context of this invention refers not only to TV broadcast stations but also to a wide range of content data sources, suppliers and providers.