KR100348703B1 - Satellite broadcasting receiver having a selective recording function and selective recording method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a satellite broadcast receiver having a selective recording function and a selective recording technique for selectively reducing the compression rate of a broadcast program to be recorded or scheduled recording, thereby reducing the occupation of memory space. When the satellite broadcasting receiver records or reserves a broadcast program of a specific channel selected by the user, the broadcast program, which is compressed and coded, is decoded in memory space as it is. Since the decoded broadcast program is compressed and re-recorded in the memory space according to the compression rate selected by the user among a plurality of preset compression rates, the limited memory capacity can be used very efficiently. Same program You can record in memory space.

Description

SATELLITE BROADCASTING RECEIVER HAVING A SELECTIVE RECORDING FUNCTION AND SELECTIVE RECORDING METHOD THEREOF}

The present invention relates to a digital satellite broadcast receiver (also called a set-top box), and more particularly, to a satellite broadcast receiver and a selective recording method suitable for effectively recording a broadcast program selected by a user in consideration of its storage space. .

As is well known, digital satellite broadcasting receivers, which are rapidly expanding in popularity, have many advantages over general analog television, such as maximizing channel usage, improving video and audio signal quality, and facilitating the transmission of additional service data. .

At this time, the satellite broadcasting system is different from the transmission system used in general analog television in the broadcasting system transmission system. That is, the satellite broadcasting receiver receives a broadcast program of a transport stream of a packet encoded and encoded according to the MPEG algorithm, decodes (restores) the original signal before encoding, and reproduces it. Receive and play.

In addition, the satellite broadcast receiver employs a function of recording or scheduling recording of a specific broadcast program of a specific channel selected by a user, similarly to the method of using V-Cal in general analog television. These are compressed coded forms and stored in a memory space such as a hard disk.

Considering this, it is possible to record or schedule recording more broadcast programs by increasing the memory capacity. However, considering the general fact that the storage capacity of memories such as a hard disk is increased or decreased in proportion to the price, it is adopted in a satellite broadcast receiver. Increasing the amount of memory capacity that can be used will be less realistic in terms of price competitiveness.

Therefore, the emergence of a technique that can record a relatively large number of broadcast programs without increasing the memory capacity that hinders the cost competitiveness of satellite broadcasting receivers, but there is no suggestion for such a technique at present. .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above, and provides a satellite broadcasting receiver having a selective recording function that can selectively reduce the occupancy of the memory space by selectively adjusting the compression ratio of a broadcast program to be recorded or reserved. Its purpose is to.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a selective recording method of a satellite broadcasting receiver which can reduce the occupancy of the memory space by selectively adjusting the compression ratio of a broadcast program to be recorded or reserved.

According to one aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object, there is provided a means for tuning a broadcast channel of a satellite broadcast signal received through a satellite, and separating the audio packet and the video packet in the broadcast program of the tuned broadcast channel Means for decoding the audio signals of the separated audio packet into the original signal, means for decoding the video signals of the separated video packet into the original signal, and control means for performing various function control including viewing and recording functions. A broadcast receiver comprising: audio switching for switching an encoded audio signal separated in a selected broadcast program tuned for recording or scheduled recording to a recording path in response to a switching control signal from the control means in a recording or reserved recording mode. Way; Video switching means for switching the decoded video signal of the selected broadcast program output from the decoding means to another recording path in response to a switching control signal from the control means in the recording or reserved recording mode; Means for encoding a decoded video signal of the selected broadcast program transmitted through the other recording path to a selected compression ratio among a plurality of preset compression ratios based on a compression ratio selection signal provided from the control means in response to a user selection; And means for storing the encoded audio signal transmitted through the recording path and the video signal encoded at the selected compression rate in a memory block.

According to another aspect of one aspect for achieving the above object, the present invention provides a variety of functions including a tuner, a demultiplexer, first and second broadcast channel processing means each including an MPEG audio and video decoding block, and a viewing and recording function. A satellite broadcast receiver comprising control means for performing control, comprising: an encoded signal separated from a selected broadcast program tuned for recording or scheduled recording in response to a switching control signal from the control means in a recording or scheduled recording mode; First audio switching means in said first broadcast channel processing means for switching an audio signal to a recording path; First video switching means in said first broadcast channel processing means for switching a decoded video signal of a selected broadcast program to another recording path in response to a switching control signal from said control means in a recording or reserved recording mode; The second broadcast channel processing means for switching the encoded audio signal separated in the selected broadcast program tuned for recording or reserved recording to the recording path in response to a switching control signal from the control means in the recording or reserved recording mode. Second audio switching means within; Second video switching means in said second broadcast channel processing means for switching a decoded video signal of a selected broadcast program to another recording path in response to a switching control signal from said control means in the recording or reserved recording mode; Based on the compression rate selection signal provided from the control means in response to a user selection, the decoded video signal of the selected broadcast program transmitted through the first or second video switching means is selected to be selected from among a plurality of preset compression rates. Means for encoding; And means for storing the encoded audio signal transmitted through the first or second audio switching means and the video signal encoded at the selected compression rate in a memory block. .

According to another aspect of the present invention, a tuned broadcast channel of a satellite broadcast signal received through a satellite, and separate the audio packet and the video packet in the broadcast program of the tuned broadcast channel, separated audio A method of recording a broadcast program selected by a satellite broadcast receiver for decoding a signal and a video signal into an original signal, wherein a specific broadcast program of an arbitrary broadcast channel is recorded or scheduled recorded, and one of a plurality of preset compression ratios is recorded. Selecting at the compression rate of the selected broadcast program; Tuning a channel for which recording or scheduled recording is set at the time of recording and separating the selected broadcast program data into an encoded audio signal and a video signal; Decoding the separated input video signal into an original signal before encoding; Encoding the decoded video signal based on the selected compression ratio among a plurality of preset compression ratios; And storing the separated encoded audio signal and the video signal encoded at the selected compression rate in a memory space.

1 is a block diagram of a satellite broadcast receiver having a selective recording function according to an embodiment of the present invention;

2 is a block diagram of a satellite broadcast receiver having a selective recording function according to another embodiment of the present invention.

<Description of the code | symbol about the principal part of drawing>

102, 210: control block

104, 221, 231: tuner and demodulation block

106, 222, 232: Demultiplexer

108, 223, 233: Audio Switching Blocks

110, 224, 234: MPEG audio decoding block

112, 225, 235: MPEG video decoding blocks

114, 226, 236: video switching blocks

116, 240: MPEG video encoding block

118, 250: memory block

220: first broadcast channel processing means

230: second broadcast channel processing means

The above and other objects and various advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the preferred embodiments of the present invention described below with reference to the accompanying drawings by those skilled in the art.

First, a key technical aspect of the present invention is that when a satellite broadcast receiver records or reserves a broadcast program of a specific channel selected by a user, the compressed and encoded broadcast program is stored in the memory space as it is, as in the conventional method (that is, recording). And decodes (restores) the compressed and coded broadcast program, and compresses and decodes the decoded broadcast program according to a compression rate selected by the user (that is, at least a higher compression rate than the received broadcast program) among a plurality of preset compression rates. By storing in the memory space, it is easy to achieve the object of the present invention through this technical means.

In particular, in the present invention, by selectively adjusting the compression ratio of a video signal that occupies a large amount of data, it is possible to efficiently use limited memory resources (that is, record relatively many broadcast programs in the same memory space).

In this case, increasing the video compression ratio of a broadcast program to be recorded means that the quality of the reproduced video is reduced, which is to reduce the amount of memory space by reducing the amount of data of the broadcast program to be recorded. At this time, a broadcast program (for example, a quiz program, a game program, a bold program, a news program, etc.) that does not require particularly high quality image quality is preferable as an object to degrade the image quality of the reproduced video.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Example 1

1 is a block diagram of a satellite broadcast receiver having a selective recording function according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the satellite broadcast receiver includes a control block 102, a tuner and a demodulation block 104, and a demultiplexer (DMUX) 106. , Audio switching block 108, MPEG audio decoding block 110, MPEG video decoding block 112, video switching block 114, MPEG video encoding block 116, and memory block 118.

Referring to FIG. 1, the control block 102 performs overall operation control of a satellite broadcast receiver, including, for example, a microprocessor, for example, generates a tuning control signal on a line L11 to be selected or reserved by a user. Control of the tuned channel, and generate a decoding control signal on the line L13 to control decoding (restoration) of the compression-encoded audio and video signals.

Further, the control block 102 generates a switching control signal on the line L12 when recording or reserve recording a broadcast program of a specific channel according to the present invention, and the encoded audio signal and the decoded video signal ( That is, the control of the output of the audio and video signals of the broadcast program to be recorded is controlled, and the encoding control signal and the compression ratio selection signal (for example, 80%, 60%, 40%, 30% compression ratio selection signal on the line L14). Etc.) to control the decoded video signal to be encoded (compressed encoding) according to the selected compression rate, and to store the video signal and the audio signal of the broadcast program encoded at the selected compression rate in the memory block 118.

Here, the user can select a broadcast program to be recorded or scheduled recording by using a keypad or a remote controller (not shown), and can arbitrarily select a compression ratio of the selected broadcast program. (I.e., channel information, broadcast program information, recording or scheduled recording start information, recording or scheduled recording end time information, optional compression ratio information, and the like), the control block 102 selects an internal memory or a memory block 118. Save it in the area.

The tuner and demodulation block 104 then tunes a particular channel selected or reserved by the user, i.e., not shown, in response to a tuning control signal provided from the control block 102 via line L11. Extract audio and video packet data for a broadcast channel of a selected channel from a satellite broadcast signal received through a satellite reception antenna (e.g., a satellite reception antenna, etc.), and convert, demodulate and After restoring the transport stream through error correction or the like, the data is transmitted to the demultiplexer 106.

The demultiplexer 106 then separates the audio packet data and the video packet data in the transport stream, passes the separated audio packet data to the MPEG audio decoding block 110 through the contact ab of the audio switching block 108, and separates. The video packet data to the MPEG video decoding block 112.

Here, the audio switching block 108 switches its contact in response to the switching control signal provided from the control block 102 via the line L12, and maintains the contact ab state when the satellite broadcast receiver is in the viewing mode, The contact ac state is maintained in the recording mode or the scheduled recording mode. At this time, the output via the contacts a-b is passed to the MPEG audio decoding block 110, and the output via the contacts a-c is sent to the control block 102 for recording (or storing).

The MPEG audio decoding block 110, on the other hand, is digitally compressed and coded according to the prescribed MPEG audio algorithm (i.e., MPEG-2 audio algorithm) in response to the decoding control signal provided from the control block 102 via the line L13. The audio signal is decoded (restored) to the original signal before encoding through a conventional audio decoding technique and delivered to the speaker side, not shown, and the MPEG video decoding block 112 is a decoding provided from the control block 102 via the line L13. In response to the control signal, the digital video signal that has been compression-coded according to the prescribed MPEG video algorithm (i.e., MPEG-2 video algorithm) is decoded (restored) into the original signal before encoding through a conventional video decoding technique, and then the video switching block ( 114).

At this time, the video switching block 114 switches the contact in response to the switching control signal provided from the control block 102 through the line L12, and maintains the contact ab state when the satellite broadcast receiver is in the viewing mode, and records the contact. In contact mode or scheduled recording mode, contact ac status is maintained. At this time, the output via the contact ab is delivered to the display side, not shown, and the output via the contact ac is the MPEG video encoding block 116 for selective compression (that is, encoding according to the selected compression ratio) for recording (or storing). Is passed).

In addition, the MPEG video encoding block 116 may include an encoding control signal and a compression ratio selection signal (for example, 80%, 60%, 40%, and 30% compression ratio selection signals) provided from the control block 102 through the line L14. In response, the decoded video signal transmitted through the contact ac of the video switching block 114 is encoded at a selected compression rate using encoding techniques such as motion compensation, DCT, quantization, variable length coding, and the like (compression coding). The encoded video signal is then passed to the control block 102. To this end, the MPEG video encoding block 116 includes a plurality of compression rate processing paths or processes (eg, 80%, 60%, 40%, 30% compression rate processing paths or processes).

Therefore, in the control block 102, the compressed coded audio signal transmitted through the contact ac of the audio switching block 108 and the compressed video transmitted from the MPEG video encoding block 116 in the recording mode or the reserved recording mode. The encoded video signal is stored (recorded) in a predetermined space of the memory block 118.

For example, if the user selects a compression rate of 80% because the broadcast program to be recorded or scheduled to record is a program that does not require high quality image quality, the MPEG video encoding block 116 decodes for recording (storage). If you encode a video signal at a compression rate of 80%, and you choose a compression rate of 40% for the broadcast program you want to record or schedule, MPEG video encoding block 116 uses the 40% decoded video signal for recording. Encode at compression.

Therefore, since the amount of data of the recording broadcast program stored in the memory block 118 is reduced by that much (that is, by the compression ratio), the occupation width of the memory is reduced efficiently.

That is, according to the present embodiment, after decoding (restoring) a video signal of a broadcast program to be recorded or scheduled recording, it is recompressed at an arbitrary compression rate selected by the user (that is, at least higher than the received broadcast program). Because of this, the limited memory capacity can be used very efficiently, and a larger amount of broadcast programs can be recorded than the conventional method, assuming the same memory capacity.

Example 2

2 is a block diagram of a satellite broadcast receiver having a selective recording function according to another embodiment of the present invention. The satellite broadcast receiver according to the present embodiment has a structure capable of receiving two satellite broadcast channels. The control block 210, the first broadcast channel processing means 220, the second broadcast channel processing means 230, the MPEG video encoding block 240 and the memory block 250 are included.

Referring to FIG. 2, each of the first and second broadcast channel processing means 220, 230 is a control block 102, an MPEG video encoding block 116, and a memory block 118 in the satellite broadcast receiver illustrated in FIG. 1. Are substantially the same in structure and function as the rest of the components, except that the control block 210, the MPEG video encoding block 240, and the memory block 250 correspond to the corresponding respective blocks shown in FIG. 102, 116, and 118 substantially the same function. Therefore, since detailed functions of the respective blocks have been described in detail in the above-described first embodiment, the description thereof will be omitted to avoid unnecessary duplication.

That is, since the satellite broadcast receiver according to the present embodiment includes two broadcast channel processing means, one broadcast channel processing means 230 is viewed while watching one broadcast channel through one broadcast channel processing means 220 or 230. Alternatively, through 220, a program of the same broadcast channel or another broadcast channel may be recorded (or scheduled recording) or watched through other display means.

For example, when the user is watching a specific channel through the first broadcast channel processing unit 220, the user intends to perform recording (or scheduled recording) of a specific channel or another channel through the second broadcast channel processing unit 230. In this case, the control block 210 generates a corresponding control signal (ie, a tuning control signal on line L24, a switching control signal on line L25, a decoding control signal on line L26, and an encoding control signal on line L27). The broadcast channel processing unit 230 is controlled to a recording (or reserved recording) mode. At this time, since the first broadcast channel processing unit 220 is performing the viewing mode, the first audio switch block 223 and the first video switching block 226 are contacted according to the control from the control block 210. Maintain ab state respectively.

Accordingly, according to the tuning control from the control block 210, the second tuner and the demodulation block 231 tune the broadcast channel in which recording (or reserved recording) is selected, and the second audio switching block 233 and the second video switching are performed. Blocks 236 each maintain a contact ac state.

As a result, the compressed coded (encoded) audio signal separated from the recorded selected broadcast program is transferred to the control block () via the contact ac of the second audio switching block 233, and the second MPEG video decoding block 235 The video signal of the recorded selected broadcast program decoded through is transferred to the MPEG video encoding block 240 via the contact ac of the second video switching block 236.

Subsequently, in the MPEG video encoding block 240, an encoding control signal and a compression ratio selection signal (for example, 80%, 60%, 40%, and 30% compression ratio selection signals) provided from the control block 210 through the line L17. In response, the decoded video signal transmitted through the contact ac of the second video switching block 236 is encoded (compressed) using a coding technique such as encoding at a selected compression rate, that is, motion compensation, DCT, quantization, variable length coding, or the like. Encoding), where the encoded video signal is passed to the control block 210. To this end, the MPEG video encoding block 240 includes a plurality of compression rate processing paths or processes (eg, 80%, 60%, 40%, 30% compression rate processing paths or processes).

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the control block 210 is controlled from the compressed coded audio signal and the MPEG video encoding block 240 transmitted via the contact ac of the second audio switching block 233 in the recording mode or the reserved recording mode. By storing (recording) the transmitted compressed encoded (encoded) video signal in a predetermined space of the memory block 250, the second broadcast channel processing means simultaneously watching an arbitrary channel through the first broadcast channel processing means 220. In operation 230, a broadcast program of a specific channel may be recorded (or scheduled recording).

Unlike the above, another broadcast channel may be recorded (or reserved recording) through the first broadcast channel while watching a specific broadcast channel through the second broadcast channel processing means, and the flow control process is substantially the same as described above. Do.

Of course, in the satellite broadcast receiver according to the present embodiment, the broadcast signals of the two channels respectively received through the two broadcast channel processing means may be viewed using the two monitors, respectively.

Therefore, the satellite broadcast receiver according to the present embodiment can not only obtain the same result (effect) as in the above-described first embodiment, but can also record (or reserve) the other broadcast channel while watching one broadcast channel. Phosphorus effect can be obtained.

Meanwhile, the present invention has been described in which the compression rate selective recording technique is applied to a satellite broadcasting receiver. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and a person skilled in the art can use the compression rate selective recording technique according to the present invention. It will be readily understood that it can be applied sufficiently to a broadcast receiver or a digital satellite / cable broadcast receiver.

As described above, according to the present invention, when a satellite broadcasting receiver records or reserves recording of a broadcast program of a specific channel selected by a user, the compressed and encoded broadcast program, as in the conventional method, is not directly recorded in the memory space, but is compressed. By decoding the encoded broadcast program and compressing and decoding the decoded broadcast program according to a compression rate selected by the user (that is, a higher compression rate than at least the received broadcast program) among a plurality of preset compression rates, recording the memory space in a limited memory, The capacity can be used very efficiently, allowing a larger amount of satellite broadcast programs to be recorded compared to conventional methods, assuming the same memory capacity.

Claims (3)

Means for tuning one broadcast channel of satellite broadcast signals received through a satellite, and for separating audio and video packets in a broadcast program of the tuned broadcast channel, means for decoding audio signals of the separated audio packet into an original signal, and separation A satellite broadcast receiver comprising: means for decoding video signals of a processed video packet into an original signal, and control means for performing various function control including a viewing and recording function, Audio switching means for switching the encoded audio signal separated in the selected broadcast program tuned for recording or reserved recording to the recording path in response to a switching control signal from the control means in the recording or reserved recording mode; Video switching means for switching the decoded video signal of the selected broadcast program output from the decoding means to another recording path in response to a switching control signal from the control means in the recording or reserved recording mode; Means for encoding a decoded video signal of the selected broadcast program transmitted through the other recording path to a selected compression ratio among a plurality of preset compression ratios based on a compression ratio selection signal provided from the control means in response to a user selection; And And means for storing the encoded audio signal transmitted through the recording path and the video signal encoded at the selected compression rate in a memory block. A satellite broadcast receiver comprising a tuner, a demultiplexer, first and second broadcast channel processing means each including an MPEG audio and video decoding block, and control means for performing various function control including viewing and recording functions. The first broadcast channel processing means for switching the encoded audio signal separated in the selected broadcast program tuned for recording or scheduled recording to a recording path in response to a switching control signal from the control means in the recording or reserved recording mode. First audio switching means within; First video switching means in said first broadcast channel processing means for switching a decoded video signal of a selected broadcast program to another recording path in response to a switching control signal from said control means in a recording or reserved recording mode; The second broadcast channel processing means for switching the encoded audio signal separated in the selected broadcast program tuned for recording or reserved recording to the recording path in response to a switching control signal from the control means in the recording or reserved recording mode. Second audio switching means within; Second video switching means in said second broadcast channel processing means for switching a decoded video signal of a selected broadcast program to another recording path in response to a switching control signal from said control means in the recording or reserved recording mode; Based on the compression rate selection signal provided from the control means in response to the user selection, the decoded video signal of the selective broadcast program transmitted through the first or second video switching means is selected as the selected compression ratio among a plurality of preset compression rates. Means for encoding; And And means for storing said encoded audio signal and said video signal encoded at said selected compression rate in a memory block delivered through said first or second audio switching means. In the satellite broadcasting receiver which tunes one broadcasting channel among the satellite broadcasting signals received through the satellite, separates the audio packet and the video packet from the broadcast program of the tuned broadcasting channel, and decodes the separated audio signal and the video signal into the original signal. In the method for recording the selected broadcast program, Recording or reserved recording of a specific broadcast program of an arbitrary broadcast channel, and selecting one of a plurality of preset compression rates as the compression rate of the recorded selected broadcast program; Tuning a channel for which recording or scheduled recording is set at the time of recording and separating the selected broadcast program data into an encoded audio signal and a video signal; Decoding the separated input video signal into an original signal before encoding; Encoding the decoded video signal based on the selected compression ratio among a plurality of preset compression ratios; And And storing the separated encoded audio signal and the video signal encoded at the selected compression rate in a memory space.