[0022] As shown in FIG. 1 , it is a flow chart of the first embodiment of the method for automatically switching TV channels of the present invention. After the method starts in step 101, that is, in step 102, the switching channel and the channel switching time are set. The set switching channel may be the current channel or any channel selected by the user. Because some TV stations have begun to launch humanized prompts, that is, when advertising and some information are being played, a countdown of the ongoing program will be displayed in the upper right corner of the TV screen to indicate how many minutes are left for the advertisement or related program. Therefore, when setting the channel switching time, you can refer to the countdown of the on-air programs given by the TV station, and set the channel switching time to the same time value. After that, the user can watch other channel programs or do other things with confidence. In addition, the broadcast time of almost all TV programs can be collected from the program preview in the digital TV and/or the program schedule in the TV newspaper, etc., so the user can directly enter the channel switching menu according to the acquired program schedule to set the switch Channel and channel switching time. Of course, the channel switching time may also be any time value set by the user. In addition to setting the switching channel and channel switching time, the user can also set the name of the program to be watched corresponding to the switching channel.
[0023] This setting step can be done on the remote control or on the TV body. Once set, the remote control or the TV body determines in step 103 whether the set channel switching time has been reached, and if so, automatically switches to the set switching channel in step 104, otherwise continues to wait. Finally, in step 105, the automatic switching process is ended.
[0024] The method can be used to automatically switch between ordinary analog TV programs or digital TV programs. After the channel switching time has not yet arrived or after the automatic switching, the user can switch the channel at will.
[0025] Before the automatic channel switching, the user may be notified by sound or subtitles displayed on the TV screen that the switching is about to start. In addition to the information informing the user that the user is about to switch, the prompt content may also inform the user which channel to switch to. If the name of the program to be watched has been set before, the user may also be informed of the name of the program to be switched to at the same time. In this way, the humanization of switching is greatly improved. The user can switch or cancel the switch according to the prompt. As shown in FIG. 2 , in the second embodiment of the present invention, the handover process starts at step 201 . In step 202, the user sets switching channels and channel switching time. The setting process is the same as that of the first embodiment. In step 203, when there is still a period of time before the channel switching time, in this embodiment, when the channel switching time is 10 seconds, the user is prompted by voice and/or subtitles displayed on the TV screen to start switching channels. According to the content of the prompt, if the user wants to switch the channel, he does not need to take any action, and the automatic switching will be realized once the channel switching time is reached. If the user does not want to switch the channel immediately, for example, the current program may be more attractive, the user can cancel or stop the switching. In step 204, it is judged whether the user cancels the handover, if so, cancel the handover in step 205, otherwise go to step 206. In step 206, it is judged whether the channel switching time is reached, if yes, go to step 207, otherwise, go back to step 205. In step 207, automatically switch to the set channel. Finally, in step 208, the handover process is ended.
[0026] For the convenience of users, multiple switching channels and channel switching time can be set at the same time. As shown in FIG. 3 , in the third embodiment of the present invention, the handover process starts at step 301 . In step 302, the user can set switch channel 1, channel switch time 1 and switch channel 2, channel switch time 2. In step 303, the channel switching time 1 and the channel switching time 2 are sorted according to their size. In this way, the switching can be performed according to the switching time value from small to large. If different channels happen to set the same time value, they will be switched according to the sequence of setting operations. In the third embodiment, it is assumed that the channel switching time 1 is smaller than the channel switching time 2 . Therefore, in step 304, it is first judged whether the channel switching time 1 is reached, and if so, go to step 305, otherwise continue to wait. In step 305, automatically switch to the set switching channel 1. After switching, it will enter into the judgment of the next channel switching time. In step 306, it is judged whether the channel switching time 2 is reached, if yes, go to step 307, otherwise continue to wait. In step 307, automatically switch to the set switching channel 2. Finally, the process ends at step 308 . If multiple switching channels and channel switching times are set, they will be sorted according to the value of the channel switching time, and then switched in sequence. The maximum settable value of each channel switching time can be set according to requirements.
[0027]As shown in FIG. 4 , in the fourth embodiment of the present invention, the user sets two switching channels and channel switching time, and at the same time prompts the user through sound and/or subtitles before switching. The process starts at step 401 . In step 402, the user can set switch channel 1, channel switch time 1 and switch channel 2, channel switch time 2. In step 403, the channel switching time 1 and the channel switching time 2 are sorted according to their size. In this way, the switching can be performed according to the switching time value from small to large. If different channels happen to set the same time value, they will be switched according to the sequence of setting operations. In the fourth embodiment, it is assumed that the channel switching time 1 is smaller than the channel switching time 2 . In step 404, when there is a certain time left before the channel switching time 1, the user is prompted to start switching to the channel 1 by means of sound and/or subtitles displayed on the TV screen. In the fourth embodiment of the present invention, the time is selected to be 10 seconds. If the user wishes to switch to channel 1, no action is required, and automatic switching will be achieved once the channel switching time 1 is reached. If the user does not want to switch to channel 1 immediately, for example, the current program may be more attractive, etc., the user can cancel or stop the switching. In step 405 , it is judged whether the user cancels the handover, if so, cancel the handover in step 406 , otherwise go to step 407 . In step 407, it is judged whether the channel switching time 1 is reached, if yes, go to step 408, otherwise, go back to step 406. In step 408, automatically switch to the set channel 1. In step 409, when there are 10 seconds left before the channel switching time 2, the user is prompted to start switching to the channel 2 by means of sound and/or subtitles displayed on the TV screen. If the user wishes to switch to channel 2, no action is required, and the automatic switch will be implemented once the channel switching time 2 is reached. If the user does not want to switch to channel 2 immediately, for example, the current program may be more attractive, the user can cancel or stop the switching. In step 410 , it is judged whether the user cancels the handover, if so, cancel the handover in step 411 , otherwise go to step 412 . In step 412, it is judged whether the channel switching time 1 is reached, if yes, go to step 413, otherwise, go back to step 410. In step 413, automatically switch to the set channel 2. Finally, it ends in step 414 .
[0028] As shown in FIG. 5 , it is a schematic structural diagram of the system for automatically switching TV channels according to the present invention. The core part of the system is the central processing unit CPU, and its input part is connected with a setting button, a timer and a remote control connected to it through an infrared receiver. Through the setting button, you can start to set the channel switching and channel switching time. The setting button may be arranged on the remote control and/or the TV body. The setting process can also be performed on the remote control and/or the TV body. The channel switching time can be based on the remaining time of the on-air program indicated by the TV station and/or the time value obtained according to the known program schedule. Of course, the channel switching time may also be any time value set by the user. In addition, the name of the program to be watched corresponding to the switching channel can be set at the same time. Subsequently, parameters such as the set switching channel and channel switching time are transmitted to the CPU. The CPU stores these switching parameters after receiving them, and arranges the switching time in ascending order. Next, the sorted channel switching time is sent to the timer, and the timer is responsible for judging whether the channel switching time arrives or not. Before the set channel switching time reaches a certain time, such as 10 seconds, the timer can send a prompt command to the CPU, so that the CPU can send a command to display subtitles to the TV screen connected to it or make a sound to remind the user that it is about to start to switch. The prompt content may include informing the user that the switch is about to start and the channel to be switched and/or the name of the program to be switched. This prompt action is optional. When the channel switching time arrives, the timer informs the CPU, and the CPU performs the channel switching operation according to the previously stored switching channel and channel switching time, and then displays the result on the TV screen. If the same channel switching time is set for two different channels at the same time, the CPU switches according to the sequence of operations, such as the storage location or storage time.
[0029] The method and system for automatically switching TV channels of the present invention can set one or more switching channels and channel switching time on the remote control or the TV body, and then automatically switch to the set channel. The present invention is easy to implement and simple to operate, and meets the needs of users who do not need to watch annoying advertisements or miss their favorite TV programs. In addition, the user can also be prompted to start the switching by means of sound or subtitles, and the user can perform the switching or cancel the switching, so that the automatic switching is more user-friendly.
