CZ331599A3 - Development and testing process of supervisory program - Google Patents

Abstract

The digital television system (1000) transmits to receivers / decoders (2020) also management information (management programs, tojest application) to enable such tasks to be performed TV program reporting, operation settings home banking, and giving answers to quiz questions associated with the programs being broadcast. Development of such control programs is done on the workstation (4003). Working the station (4003) is connected by a type union (2021) a receiver / decoder that is essentially the same a receiver (2020) to which a television is connected equipment (2023). The method consists in developing controllers programs including command responses to signals from the attestation command workstation (4003) that it returns signals to the workstation (4003). The program is passed to a receiver / decoder type unit (2021) is generated a synthetic broadcast digital television signal (in a generator (4045)), which is supplied by type (2021) receiver / decoder. This control program is then run on a receiver / decoder type unit (2021), the program operates on control the signal of the workstation (4003) and return the test signals.

Description

Technical field

The present invention relates to TV (radio) or radio control systems, and more particularly to the development and testing (tuning) of such systems. The invention finds particular application in a transmitting and receiving system for use in a digital interactive satellite television system. It will be understood, however, that the present invention is not limited to such a system or systems of this type, but is more generally applicable to various TV and / or radio systems, including, for example, those systems capable of transmitting software.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A TV control system has been developed which is transmitted via satellite or cable. Each end user has a receiver / decoder that receives control information that can then be used for various tasks such as creating television program overviews, setting up interactive home banking resources, passing quiz questions in conjunction with broadcast programs, and the like.

A digital TV system is an interactive system using the DVB / MPEG-2 technique that involves compressing audio signals, data, and video images that are broadcast. The MPEG system can also accommodate a considerable amount of information of a private nature, i.e. not directly associated with the main program being transmitted. This private sub-channel may be used by the broadcaster to broadcast information such as TV program overviews.

• · ··· · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·

A receiver / decoder may potentially require a large number of control functions or programs that would require a large amount of memory to store them. The broadcaster may also wish to incorporate other control programs and may want to update existing control programs, so the system is designed to allow control programs to be retransmitted by the broadcaster (using a private sub-channel). The receiver / decoder has a built-in initial control program that performs an initialization or self-loading procedure, but then extracts from the transmitted signal any certain additional control programs it needs to respond to certain user requests.

This means that the broadcaster can extremely easily update existing control programs and introduce _the · "Fresh control programs; resulting in improved and new services automatically available to all users. However, such modification or development or improvement of services (management programs) entails certain problems and dangers. A particular problem or danger is errors

0 (defects). It is very important that the occurrence of errors is kept at an extremely low level, as any defect will be transmitted to all users and can therefore quickly cause widespread discontent and irritation.

The main aspect of the present invention is concerned

5 by developing control programs with fast and efficient fault detection.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus, the present invention proposes a method of developing, on a computer workstation, a transmitter control program 4 444 444 4 4

4444 44 «4 digital or radio system in which a receiver / decoder extracts broadcast control programs from the broadcast television or radio signal and controls the television or radio equipment in response to those control programs, said method comprising: connecting a workstation to a receiver / a decoder that substantially reproduces the receiver / decoder with the television or radio equipment connected; developing a control program on the workstation; passing the program to a receiver / decoder type;

supplying an MPEG digital television or radio signal to a receiver / decoder type unit; running a program on a receiver / decoder type; forwarding control signals from the workstation to a receiver / decoder-type unit for controlling program run on the unit; wherein the receiver / decoder type and program respond to these control signals and return test signals to the workstation.

In the following description, preferred features of the present invention will be described, purely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 shows the overall architecture of a digital television system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 shows the architecture of an interactive digital television system;

Giant. 3 illustrates the arrangement of files within a module downloaded to the memory of an interactive receiver / decoder;

• · · fe ·

Giant. 4 is a more detailed block diagram of the functional arrangement of the creative tool; and

Giant. 5 is a block diagram of parts of a system used to develop and test an application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An overview of the digital television system 1000 of the present invention is shown in Fig. 1. The invention includes a mostly conventional digital television system 2000 that uses the known MPEG-2 compression system to transmit compressed digital signals. More specifically, the MPEG-2 compressor 2002 at the broadcast center receives a digital signal stream (usually a video signal stream). The compressor 2002 is coupled to the multiplexer and encoder 2004 via a link 2006. The multiplexer 2004 receives a plurality of additional input signals, assembles one or more broadcast streams, and sends compressed digital signals to the broadcast center transmitter 2008 via a link 2010, which of course can. be represented by a large number of different forms including telecommunications lines. Transmitter 2008 transmits electromagnetic signals via uplink 2012 to satellite transponder 2014, where these signals are electronically processed and transmitted via theoretical downlink 2016 to terrestrial receiver 2018, typically in the form of a parabolic antenna owned or rented by the end user. The signals received by receiver 2018 are transmitted to an integrated receiver / decoder 2020 owned or rented by the end user and associated with the end user television equipment 2022. Receiver / Decoder 2020 ·· · ··· • · «

decodes the compressed MPEG-2 signal into a television signal for the television device 2022.

The conditional access system 3000 is coupled to the multiplexer 2004 and receiver / decoder 2020 and is located partly in the broadcast center and partly in the decoder. This system allows the end user to access digital television broadcasts from one or more broadcasters. A smart card capable of decoding commercial bidding messages (i.e., one or more television programs that are sold by the broadcaster) can be inserted into the receiver / decoder 2020. Using the decoder 2020 and the smart card, the end user can purchase commercial offers either subscription or pay-per-view mode.

Also connected to the multiplexer 2004 and the receiver / decoder 2020 is an interactive system 4000, which is again located partially in the broadcast center and partly in the decoder, and which allows the end user to interact with various applications via the modem return channel 4002.

Giant. 2 illustrates the general architecture of the interactive television system 4000 of the digital television system 1000 of the present invention.

For example, this interactive system 4000 allows end users to purchase items from on-screen catalogs, consult local news and weather maps on demand, and play games through their television devices.

· · · «« • • «

In summary, the interactive system 4000 includes four main elements: a creative tool 4004 in the broadcast center or elsewhere to enable the broadcaster to create, develop, debug and test applications;

application and data service channel 4006 in the broadcast center, coupled to the creative tool 4004 to enable the broadcaster to prepare, validate, and format applications and data for delivery to the multiplexer and encoder 2004 for inclusion in the MPEG-2 transport stream (typically its private portions), to be broadcast to the end user;

a virtual machine including an execution means (RTE) 4008, which is executable code installed in a receiver / decoder 2020 owned or rented by the end user to allow the end user to receive, verify, decompress and download (load) applications to the work memory 2024 of the decoder 2020 for execution. This execution means 4008 also implements resident general purpose applications. The execution means 4008 is hardware and operating system independent;

a modem return channel 4002 between the receiver / decoder 2020 and the application and data server 4006 to enable signals instructing the application and data server 4006 to load data and applications to the MPEG-2 transport stream at the request of the end user.

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The interactive television system operates using applications that control the functions of the receiver / decoder and the various devices contained therein. Applications are represented in executing means 4008 as source files. A module is a collection of source files and data. The receiver / decoder memory volume is the memory space for the modules. The modules may be downloaded to the receiver / decoder 2020 from the MPEG-2 transport stream.

The elements described in the previous paragraph will now be described in somewhat more detail.

For the purposes of this description, the application is a machine code section for controlling high-level functions of preferably the receiver / decoder 2020. For example, when the end user directs the focus of the remote control 2026 at the button object 5 seen on the screen of the television device 2022 and presses the acknowledgment key, the instruction sequence associated with that button is triggered.

The interactive application offers menus and executes q commands at the end user's request and provides data related to the purpose of the application. The applications may be either resident applications, that is, they are stored in ROM (or FLASH or other non-volatile memory) of the receiver / decoder 2020, or they may be transmitted and downloaded to the RAM (or FLASH) of this decoder 2020.

Examples of applications are: Initialization applications. The receiver / decoder 2020 is equipped with a resident initialization application, which is an adaptable set of modules (this term is defined in more detail below), enabling the receiver /

• Decoder 2020 to work instantly in MPEG-2 environments.

This application provides essential features that can be modified by the broadcaster if desired. This app also provides an interface between resident apps and downloaded apps.

• Startup application. The startup application allows any application, whether downloaded or resident, to operate in the receiver / decoder 2020. This application acts as a bootloader executed upon entering the service to run the application. The startup application is downloaded to RAM and can therefore be easily updated. It can be organized so that the interactive apps available on each channel can be selected and launched either immediately after download or pre-download. In the case of pre-download, the application is downloaded to memory 2024 and activated by the on-demand launcher.

• Program guide. Program Guide is an interactive application that provides comprehensive information about programs. For example, it can provide information, say, about one week TV programs that will be featured on each channel of a digital TV file. By pressing a key on the remote control 2026, the end user enters an additional screen overlaying the event (s) shown on the television screen 2022 This added screen is a browser providing information about current and subsequent events (s) on each channel of the digital television file. By pressing another key on the remote control 2026, the end user enters another application that displays a list of event information within a week.

The end user can also search and sort events according to simple and customized criteria.

The end user can also directly access the selected channel.

• Pay per view application. The pay-per-view application is an interactive service available on each PPV channel of a digital television file in conjunction with a conditional access system 3000. The end user can access this application using a program guide or channel finder. In addition, the application will start automatically as soon as the PPV event is detected on the PPV channel. The end user can then purchase an ongoing event either through his daughter smart card 3020 or through a communication service channel 3022 (using a modem, telephone and DTMF codes, a MINITEL system, or the like). This application can be either resident in ROM receiver / decoder 2020 or downloadable to RAM receiver / decoder 2020.

• PC download applications. Upon request, the end user may download computer software using this PC download application.

• Magazine search application. This magazine search application includes cyclic video broadcasting of images with end user navigation through the buttons shown on the screen.

• Quiz application. The quiz application is preferably synchronized with the transmission of the quiz program. For example, questions with several ί are displayed on the screen of the television device 2022

• · · · ίο

responses, and the end user can select a response using the remote control 2026. The quiz application can inform the user whether the answer is correct or not and can calculate the user score.

Teleshopping application. In one example of this teleshopping application, offers of goods for sale are transmitted to receiver / decoder 2020 and displayed on television 2022. Using remote control 2026, a user can select a particular item to purchase. The order for this item is sent via modem return channel 4002 to application and data service channel 4006 or to a standalone sales system whose phone number has been downloaded to the receiver / decoder 2020, possibly with a credit card debit command that has been inserted into one device 4036 for reading smart cards in receiver / decoder 2020. Telebanking application. In one example of this telebanking application, a user inserts a bank card into one of the smart card reader 4036 at the receiver / decoder 2020. The receiver / decoder 2020 calls the user's bank using a phone number stored in the bank card or stored in the receiver / decoder 2020, and then this application provides a number of options that can be selected using the remote control 2026, such as downloading via an account balance telephone line, transferring items between accounts, requesting a checkbook, and the like.

Application internet search engine. In one example of this web search application, the instructions from the user, such as a request for tracking, are requested by the user.

AND

web pages having certain URLs are inputted using remote control 2026 and these instructions are transmitted via modem return channel 4002 to application and data service channel 4006.

The respective web page is then incorporated into the broadcast from the broadcast center, received by the receiver / decoder 2020 via the uplink 2012, the transponder 2014 and the downlink 2016, and displayed on the television device 2022.

Applications are stored in receiver / decoder memory locations 2020 and are represented as source files. Source files include graphic object description unit files, variable block unit files, instruction sequence files, application files, and data files.

Graphic object description unit files describe the screens, the human-computer interface of the application.

Units of variable block units describe data structures,.

processed application. Instruction sequence files describe application processing operations. Application files provide entry points for applications.

Applications created in this way can use data files such as icon library files, image files, character font files, color table files, and ASCII text files. Interactive applications can also obtain direct (on-line) data by performing inputs and / or outputs.

Executing means 4008 loads only 30 of its source files into its memory at a given time. These · · · · · · · · · · ·

Source files are read from graphic object description unit files, instruction sequence files, and application files; the variable block unit files are stored in memory after the module download procedure is called and remain there until a specific module removal procedure call is made.

Referring to Fig. 3, a module 4010, such as a purchase module described in more detail below, is a source file and data assembly that includes the following:

one application file 4012;

an undetermined number of graphic object description unit files 4014;

an unspecified number of variable block unit files 4016;

an unspecified number of instruction sequence sets 4018; and, where appropriate, 4020 data files, such as library icon files, image files, character font files, color table files, and ASCII text files.

In the MPEG data stream, each module includes a group of MPEG tables. Each MPEG table can be formatted as a number of slices. In an MPEG data stream, each section is up to 4 bytes in size. For data transmission over a serial and parallel port, for example, the modules are similarly divided into tables and slots, the size of the slice varying with the transmission medium.

The modules are transported in the MPEG data stream in the form of data packets typically 188 bytes in size within corresponding types of data streams, for example video data streams, audio data streams and teletext data streams.

• · ♦ · (

Each packet is preceded by a 13-bit packet identifier (PID), one PID for each packet transported in

MPEG bitrate. The program mapping table (PMT table) lists various data streams and defines the contents of each data stream according to the corresponding PID. The PID may alert the device of the presence of applications in the data stream, the PID being identified using a PMT table.

Creative tool 4004 includes a fully integrated application development kit, typically implemented through software, run on a UNIX computer workstation at the broadcast center. As shown in FIG.

4, this creative tool includes:

a user interface generator 4030 that includes a multi-window graphics tool for creating and modifying an application that may include sets of graphic object description units and create them as buttons, input fields, and icons;

4032 icon editor to create and modify icons and

^EXAMPLE their storage libraries;

an image editor 4034 for creating and modifying image files;

a palette editor 4036 for creating and modifying a color palette;

a compiler 4038 for writing application instruction sequences in a machine language forming a pseudocode;

a bundle editor 4040 for creating a bundle (download unit) from one or more modules 4010 produced by compiler 4038;

a decoding debugger for defining and controlling the execution of instruction sequences; and a documentation tool 4044 for providing easy access to describe all functions that can be used to program instruction sequences for application reverse procedures.

As shown in Figure 5, the application is developed using part 4001 of interactive system 4000. The relevant part of interactive system 4000 is for the purposes of the present invention a UNIX workstation 4003 having a VDU 4005 (video display unit) attached thereto, a keyboard

4007 and mouse 4009. Once the application has been developed, it is stored in application memory 4011 in the workstation.

The pseudocode that is generated by the compiler 4038 is a binary code (binary code). This code is interpreted by the receiver / decoder, that is to say more precisely by the execution means 4008 in the receiver / decoder. This code is hardware independent, so it will work on different receiver / decoder designs implemented by different manufacturers using different hardware (although of course meeting the same functional specifications). A full download of this code is not required to run the application.

Once an application has been created and developed using the authoring tool 4004, it can be partially or fully tested so that errors can be detected and modifications and corrections can be easily made and checked.

• 99

As shown in FIG. 5, this is implemented on a system that includes a portion 4001 of an interactive system 4000 that is connected to a television device 2023 via a receiver / decoder type 2021. A relevant part of the interactive system for the purposes of the present invention is

The UNIX workstation 4003 along with the VDU 4005, the keyboard 4007, and the mouse 4009. The receiver / decoder 2021 type is similar to the receivers / decoders used by the end users of the broadcast system, but may have some additional functionality as discussed below; the television device 2023 is identical to the television devices 2022 used by the end users.

In many cases, the new application will be designed to operate on existing television broadcasts. Unit 2021

Ί 5 of the receiver / decoder type is therefore associated with tuner 2019 (tuner), which is further connected to the television, outdoor parabolic antenna 2017. (Tuner 2019 and parabolic antenna 2017 may be exactly the same as what the end users of the broadcast system use). The full MPEG-2 bitstream is

0 is received in the parabolic antenna 2017 and is demodulated in tuner 2019 and passed through the receiver / decoder unit 2021 to the television device 2023.

To test an application for operation on an existing broadcast, the application is downloaded to the unit

5

Receiver / decoder type 2021 from application memory 4011 via channel 4031-1 to a port (which can be either a serial or parallel port) in receiver / decoder type 2021. The receiver / decoder type 2021 extracts any data signals from the MPEG bit stream and processes them in accordance with any application contained in the 2021 type unit

receiver / decoder; which is a new, tested application in this case.

In some situations, the application being developed may require additional control signals in the MPEG bit stream that are not present in the bit stream that is currently being transmitted. In this case, an MPEG bit stream generator 4045 is used that is connected to the interactive system 4000. This generator 4045 can be completely controlled by the workstation 4003, which workstation generates an artificial video signal as well as the desired control signals. Alternatively, a signal from the parabolic antenna 2017 may be fed to the generator 4045, and suitable control signals may only be input to the received bit stream (or it may be suitably modified existing control signals in the received bit stream).

If a generator 4045 is used, then the application may, if desired, be loaded into the MPEG bitstream instead of being passed to the receiver / decoder type 2021 via link 4031-1.

Workstation 4003 includes a test or monitoring (debugging) tool 4013. To test an application after downloading it to the receiver / decoder type 2021, the monitoring tool 4013 monitors the progress of the application in the receiver / decoder type 2021. as discussed above, the receiver / decoder type unit 2021 includes a compiler that interprets commands in applications, the applications being written in a suitable form for that interpreter. The monitoring tool 4013 may transmit control signals to the receiver / decoder type 2021 via link 4031-2 and receive signals therefrom back via link 4031-3. (These 4031-1, 4031-2, and 4031-3 connections are logically separate,

9 «··

But all can share a common physical channel.) The receiver / decoder type 2021 and the monitoring tool 4013 actually function as a service channel. respectively client.

The monitoring tool 4013 can monitor variables in the application, for which a list of variables to be monitored is defined. The values of the defined variables may be displayed at defined times when the application is being executed, and / or these variable values may be displayed (together with the names of these variables) at any value change. Further, a tester may be used to introduce the desired variable values to the receiver / decoder unit 2021, giving the operator the ability to see almost immediately what effect variable settings will have on other values. Of course, these variable control functions can also be deleted by the monitoring tool 4013 (as all monitoring functions can be deleted).

Similarly, the monitoring tool may set the decoder to signal when other types of entities, such as modules, variable block unit files, and objects, are checked during application startup.

The monitoring tool can also control application execution by inserting breakpoints (and deleting them). More specifically, the execution of the application may be allowed to proceed without interruption, to proceed to the interruption of the interruption, and to stop to proceed to the interruption point and jump (restart) when desired to call a subroutine or return from a subroutine; to run step by step (that is, stepping from each command only in response to the operator), either between defined points and / or defined subroutines or throughout the application . (A subroutine can be an instruction sequence that is a sequence of commands that can be called or executed through an application.)

The monitoring tool may perform a tracking function that detects and signals one or more of a variety of operations, such as resuming, loading, returning, or jumping to, commencing or terminating execution, or interrupting one or more specified subroutines or their types.

The monitoring tool may also monitor and report the status of the receiver / decoder type and the application at the desired times while executing the application. Among the elements whose status can be monitored and reported are the following: memory size, free memory, buffer area properties, system version number, and the like; contents of memory (memory dump) for all or specified parts of memory (for example, RAM, FLASH, and ROM);

installed volumes, downloaded modules (and current module), and variable block drive files (number, memory used, variable block drive file list); the status of the instruction sequence (number, run and / or break number, memory used, and the like); and the contents of the return stack (that is, the list of subroutines to return to).

When developing an application using the authoring tool, control commands and test commands can be incorporated into the application. To this end, the receiver / decoder type unit 2021 will include control signal receiving means for receiving control signals supplied directly from the workstation, and the application will include control commands responsive to such control signals. For example, such control commands may temporarily stop the operation of the receiver / decoder type 2021. This unit also includes a response means that generates test signals in response to control commands in an application that is triggered by the unit. These test signals are routed directly back to the workstation, for example, through a parallel port. Thus, the workstation can monitor the operation of the application through its control signals and test signals. In addition, of course, the operator can monitor the effects of the application directly on the screen of the television 10 device 2023.

To this end, the operator constructs the application to include commands responsive to control signals from the workstation, starts the application on the receiver / decoder type 2021, and the television device 2023, and monitors application operation via the television device 2023 and the workstation. If there are any faults in the application, that is, if it does not behave exactly as required, the operator changes the relevant parts of the application and tests it again. Eventually the application will work correctly. The application is then ready

0 for proper use on the broadcast system.

It should be noted that such control commands and test commands can advantageously be left unchanged in the application when used in a broadcast system.

End user receivers / decoders will not have circuits for responding to these commands and generating test signals.

Execution of these commands by actual receivers / decoders will therefore be only partial and will not adversely affect these devices. However, receivers / decoders will run applications in a manner that closely mimics the way these 30 applications were run by the 2021 type • 000 · * ·· 00 • · · 0 0 0 • «· 9 · • · ··· 00 0 · · ··· · «·« receiver / decoder, especially regarding timing of various operations. Thus, the proper operation of such applications in the test system shown in FIG. 5 will almost certainly guarantee that the application will operate correctly when used in a true broadcast system.

It should be understood that the present invention has been described above purely by way of example, and that modifications of particular details may be made within the scope of the invention.

For example, the present invention need not be limited to a television or radio system, but may include any form of digital broadcasting system.

Each feature described in the description and (where appropriate) in the 15 claims and drawings may be formed independently or in any suitable combination.

In the aforementioned preferred embodiments, certain features of the present invention have been implemented using computer software. However, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that any of these features can be realized using hardware. Moreover, it should be understood that functions performed by hardware, computer software and the like are performed on or using electrical and similar signals.

"

At this point reference is made to co-pending patent applications of the same applicant having the same filing date and the following titles: Generation and Transmission of Signals (Representative Mark: 73142 / PT), Smart Card for Use with Coded Transmitter Receiver and Receiver (Representative Mark: 73143 / PT), Transmitting & Receiving System ·

• · 4

4 4

444 «44

4

44 conditional access (representative mark: 73145 / PT), downloading a computer file from a transmitter via a receiver / decoder to a computer (representative mark: 73146 / PT), broadcasting and receiving TV programs and other data (representative mark:

73147 / PT), Method of Downloading Data to MPEG Receiver / Decoder a

MPEG broadcasting system for its implementation (representative mark: 73148 / PT), Computer memory organization (representative mark: 73149 / PT), Method of development and testing of the control program (representative mark: 73150 / PT), Selection of slots from the transmitted data stream ( Representative Mark: 73151 / PT), Access Control System (Representative Mark: 73152 / PT), Data Processing System (Representative Mark: 73153 / PT), Transmitting and Receiving System, Receiver / Decoder and Remote Control Unit (Representative Mark: 73154 / PT). Descriptions of these documents are incorporated herein by reference. The list of applications contains the present application.

Represented by:

Claims (6)

PATENT CLAIMS A method for developing and testing a control program for an application device, comprising the steps of: developing a workstation control program; passing a control program to the device emulating the application device; running a control program on the emulation device; and generating test signals with the control program; characterized in that: developing and testing a control program for a receiver / decoder of a broadcast digital television or radio system; an MPEG digital television or radio signal is supplied to the emulation device; control signals are generated by the workstation; and 15,,, are fed to the emulation device while the master program is run on the emulation device; at least a portion of the test signals are generated in response to said control signals; and the test signals are returned by the emulation device to the workstation. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the MPEG digital television or radio signal is received directly from the broadcast signal receiving apparatus. 2 c. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the MPEG digital television or radio signal is received from the receiving device of the transmitted signal and the data and / or control signals associated with the control program are incorporated into the signal. ·· 44 '44 »· 4 4 4 4 * 4 * 4 4 4 4 4444 · 4 44 444 * The method of claim 1, wherein the MPEG digital television or radio signal is a synthetic signal generated under the control of a workstation to match a control program. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the application program comprises control commands responsive to signals from the workstation and test commands that return the signals to the workstation. 6. A method of developing and testing a control program for an application device substantially as described herein. Represented by: