KR100820825B1 - Television Receiver and Method of watching a Broadcasting Program in a Television Receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of watching a broadcast program in a television receiver and a television receiver is proposed. The controller wirelessly requests a broadcast program selected from the last electronic program guide (EPG) to the corresponding broadcast station, and the wireless interface unit performs two-way wireless communication with the broadcast station to receive the selected broadcast program from the broadcast station. The broadcast program wirelessly received from the broadcast station through the interface unit is processed to be displayed by a signal processor, the display unit displays the processed broadcast program on the screen, and the storage unit stores the wirelessly received broadcast program. .

Electronic program guide, wireless interface, display, download

Description

Television Receiver and Method of watching a Broadcasting Program in a Television Receiver}

1 is a diagram showing a method of watching past broadcast programs through the website of the terrestrial broadcasting station.

2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a television receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a process of receiving a desired last broadcast program using a past electronic program guide in a television receiver.

4 and 5 are flowcharts illustrating a process of receiving a desired broadcast program including a past electronic program guide and a current electronic program guide in a television receiver.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

10: digital broadcast satellite station, 11: digital communication satellite station,

12: first digital terrestrial broadcast station, 13: second digital terrestrial broadcast station,

14: signal receiving unit, 15: air interface unit,

16: signal processor, 17: controller,

18: display unit, 19: storage unit,

101: LAN, 102: modem,

103: satellite tuner, 104: terrestrial tuner,

105: descrambler

The present invention relates to a television receiver and a method of watching a broadcast program in a television receiver.

According to the prior art, there are usually two methods for watching past broadcast programs. First, most terrestrial broadcasters own one or more cable broadcasting channels, each of which is a separate cable broadcasting, and re-broadcast previous broadcast programs by wire or wirelessly through these cable broadcasting channels or channels. A broadcaster owning several cable channels re-broadcasts past broadcast programs through different channels according to broadcast program types. Although slightly different for each broadcasting station, for example, these broadcasting programs are re-broadcasted to the previous broadcasting programs through different professional channels distinguished by sports, drama, documentary, culture, and entertainment programs. However, this method has the disadvantage that the viewers cannot watch the desired program at a desired time because the re-broadcasted programs are not only selected by each broadcasting station but also the re-broadcasting time is determined by the broadcasting station.

As another method, the user can watch the past broadcast program of each terrestrial broadcasting station or a part of the unbroadcast future broadcast program through the owned personal computer. Most terrestrial broadcasters have their websites, and users can visit these websites to check past broadcast programs and to request the desired broadcast programs through the Internet. In this case, after the user selects a desired broadcast program from the past broadcast programs, the user must proceed with a billing process for watching the selected past broadcast program. When the payment process is made, the user can watch the desired last broadcast program in real time through the monitor of the computer or download the selected broadcast program.

1 is a diagram showing a method of watching past broadcast programs through the website of the terrestrial broadcasting station. As shown in Fig. 1, each personal computer 5 is connected to all terrestrial broadcasting station websites 1, 2, 3 via an internet connection terminal 4. On the other hand, this method allows you to watch past broadcast programs, but only through a personal computer, so the quality is not good and the screen size is also smaller than that of a general television set. And also the inconvenience of having to watch the last broadcast program using a personal computer.

On the other hand, each terrestrial broadcasting station provides viewers with an Electronic Program Guide (EPG) that shows a broadcast program by time zone. In addition, the electronic program guide may be provided integrated by broadcasting station, broadcasting program and broadcasting time. The electronic program guide (EPG) may be provided through each cable channel or each terrestrial broadcasting station, or may be integrated and provided through a separate terrestrial broadcasting channel or a separate cable channel.

Typically, viewers can use this electronic program guide to check broadcasting programs provided by each terrestrial broadcasting station by type and time, and select and watch a desired program. However, the current electronic program guide provides only broadcast information for the next 7 days or 8 days based on the current time. Thus, the viewer can obtain only information about broadcast programs that are currently being broadcast or to be broadcast within the next seven or eight days through this electronic program guide information. Accordingly, the electronic program guide is used to recognize and select a broadcast program that is currently broadcast through the electronic program guide or to recognize only a program to be broadcast in the near future.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a television receiver capable of watching a past broadcast program without limitation of time and screen size and a method of watching a broadcast program on a television receiver.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a television receiver capable of selecting and viewing a past broadcast program using an electronic program guide (EPG) and a method of watching a broadcast program on a television receiver.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, each terrestrial broadcasting station, each satellite broadcasting station, and data broadcasting station, as described above, can transmit not only the electronic program guide (EPG) information corresponding to the present, but also the previous broadcasting programs. It also provides information on past electronic program guides (EPGs).

Each viewer television receiver is provided with a radio interface unit for bidirectional communication for bidirectional communication with the broadcasting stations. This air interface allows each viewer to receive and store each station and past electronic program guides in advance or to receive them on a real-time request, and select the desired past broadcast program from the past electronic program guides. In addition, the billing process may be performed through the air interface unit, and then the desired program may be downloaded.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a television receiver includes a control unit for wirelessly requesting a broadcast program selected from a previous electronic program guide (EPG) to a corresponding broadcast station, and the control unit configured to receive the selected broadcast program from the broadcast station. An interface unit for performing two-way wireless communication with a corresponding broadcasting station, a signal processing unit for processing the broadcast program wirelessly received from the broadcasting station through the interface, a display unit for displaying the processed broadcast program on the screen, and And a storage unit which stores the broadcast program wirelessly received by the air interface unit.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for watching a broadcast program in a television receiver comprises wirelessly receiving an electronic program guide (EPG) from a corresponding broadcast station via the wireless interface for bidirectional communication by user selection and displaying it on a screen. Performing a payment process for the corresponding broadcast station and the selected broadcast program through the wireless interface when a broadcast program is selected from the past electronic program guide information by the user; and the fee And wirelessly receiving the selected broadcast program from the broadcast station when the payment process is completed.

Preferably, the last electronic program guide (EPG) information may be provided at all times by each broadcasting station or may be provided at the request of each viewer. In addition, electronic program guide (EPG) information about broadcast programs of each terrestrial broadcaster, satellite broadcasters, and data broadcasters may be integrated and provided through a separate channel.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5.

2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a television receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In Fig. 2, the television receiver is composed of a signal receiving unit 14, a radio interface unit 15, a signal processing unit 16, a control unit 17, a display unit 18, and a memory 19. Meanwhile, in FIG. 2, reference numeral 10 denotes a digital broadcasting satellite (BS) broadcasting station, reference numeral 11 denotes a digital communication satellite (CS) broadcasting station, and reference numeral 12 (13) denotes two terrestrial broadcasting stations. Instruct. Here, although four stations are illustrated, there may be more terrestrial stations, digital communication satellite stations, and digital broadcast satellite stations by country or region, as is well known. Here, the digital communication satellite stations and digital broadcast satellite stations are a kind of data broadcast channels.

The broadcasting satellite may broadcast directly to a home television receiver. The difference from SB (Setellite Broadcasting) means that the BS broadcasts the broadcast machine itself and the SB broadcasts through a communication satellite. The communication satellite (CS) is an artificial satellite used for a communication service and is often in orbit about 36,000 km over the equator. The satellite covers one-third of the earth per planet, and is now the leader of international communications. Furthermore, there is an advantage in that it is resistant to an earthquake or typhoon disaster and that data can be simultaneously transmitted to a plurality of points by one data transmission. Hereinafter, each component of FIG. 2 will be described in detail.

First, the controller 17 controls the radio station to request a broadcast program selected by the user from the electronic program guide (EPG) that has passed by the user. The control unit (CPU or Microprocessor) 17 may also control to perform a payment process with the corresponding broadcast station after selecting the desired broadcast program by the user's selection after viewing the electronic program guide (EPG) information. do.

The air interface unit 15 performs two-way wireless communication with the corresponding broadcast station by the controller 17 to receive the selected broadcast program from the corresponding broadcast station. The wireless interface unit 15 is composed of at least one of a wireless LAN and a modem. In this embodiment, an example in which all of them are used is illustrated. However, the wireless interface unit 15 may be configured with only one of them. On the other hand, the local area network (LAN) may be a bus type LAN (LAN). This bus type LAN is a wireless LAN, in which data can be transmitted in both directions. Meanwhile, the modem is also used as an interface device for bidirectionally communicating with the broadcasting stations, and when both of them are used, the LAN is mainly used for processing high-capacity data. It can be used mainly for processing a small amount of data, such as when making a request to a broadcast station or when performing a billing process with the broadcast station. Accordingly, the air interface unit 15 uses them to perform a desired broadcast program request and billing using the electronic program guide (EPG) and also download data for a desired broadcast program from the broadcast stations.

The signal processor 16 may process the broadcast program downloaded wirelessly from the corresponding broadcast station through the air interface unit 15 or may display an image corresponding to the selected last broadcast program received directly from the broadcast station. Process the signal so that it can be displayed.

The display unit 18 displays the processed broadcast program on the screen. On the other hand, if the user wants to watch the desired last broadcast program in real time upon request, the broadcast signal receiving unit 14 directly receives the broadcast program from the corresponding broadcast station without passing through the air interface unit 15. It serves to transfer to the signal processor 16.

As shown in FIG. 2, the signal processor is a terrestrial tuner 104 which receives a broadcast program from terrestrial broadcasters 12 and 13 of the broadcast stations, and broadcasts from the satellite broadcasters 10 and 11 of the broadcast stations. A satellite tuner 103 for receiving a program, and a descrambler for descrambling a desired broadcast program directly received wirelessly through the terrestrial tuner 104 and the satellite tuner 103. In general, since the last broadcast program can be viewed for a fee, the corresponding broadcasting station scrambles and transmits all the past broadcast programs, so that only viewers who have completed the payment can descramble and watch the scrambled broadcast program. On the other hand, the storage unit 19 stores the desired last broadcast program wirelessly downloaded through the air interface unit 15 by the control unit 17.

As such, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a viewer receives an electronic program guide (EPG) from broadcast channels wirelessly through a conventional television receiver, selects the last broadcast program using the same, and selects the wireless interface unit. By performing the wireless billing process through (15), it is possible to directly receive and display a desired broadcast program directly from a corresponding broadcasting station, or to download and store it in the storage unit 19 for future viewing.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a process of receiving a desired last broadcast program using a past electronic program guide in a television receiver.

According to FIG. 3, the user checks whether the user wants the past electronic program guide information and displays the past electronic program guide information on the screen if desired. In this case, the past electronic program guide information may be stored in the storage unit 19 the electronic program guide received in the past in advance, or in real time to request the broadcast station through the air interface unit 15 It may be. In addition, the electronic program guide may be provided through a separate data broadcast channel or terrestrial broadcast channel. On the other hand, if the user does not want the last broadcast program guide, this flowchart ends immediately.

When one past broadcast program is selected from the past electronic program guide information by the user, the television receiver performs a billing process for the corresponding broadcast station and the selected broadcast program through the air interface. On the other hand, if the desired broadcast program is not selected, the process returns to the process of displaying the past electronic program guide again, and if the fee payment process is not completed, the process of checking for cancellation is performed. If the user wants to cancel the flowchart, the flowchart ends, and when the billing process is completed, wirelessly receiving the selected last broadcast program from the corresponding broadcasting station.

Subsequently, the user checks whether the user wants to watch the selected broadcast program in real time, and if the user wants to watch in real time, directly receives the broadcast program from the broadcasting station through the signal receiving unit 14, and then the signal processor 16 and The received broadcast program is displayed through the display unit 18.

On the other hand, if the user does not want to watch the selected broadcast program in real time, it ends after performing the process of downloading the selected last broadcast program through the air interface unit 15. The downloaded last broadcast program is stored in the storage unit 19 by the control unit 17.

4 and 5 are flowcharts illustrating a process of receiving a desired broadcast program including a past electronic program guide and a current electronic program guide in a television receiver.

According to FIG. 4, first, a user checks whether the user wants the electronic program guide information, and if so, displays the electronic program guide information on the screen. Here, the electronic program guide is an electronic program guide (EPG) including the last broadcast program. In this case, the electronic program guide information may be previously received by the television receiver and stored in the storage unit 19, or may be information requested to a corresponding broadcasting station through the wireless interface unit 15 in real time. In addition, the electronic program guide may be provided in real time through a separate data broadcasting channel or a terrestrial broadcasting channel.

On the other hand, if the user does not want the last broadcast program guide, this flowchart ends immediately.

Then, it is checked whether the user selects a desired broadcast program from the electronic program guide. If selected, the desired broadcast program is compared with the current date and time to check whether the selected broadcast program is the last broadcast program or the current and subsequent broadcast programs.

If a broadcast program after the current is selected by the user from the electronic program guide, the program terminates after performing a reservation process for the program.

The reservation process is a viewing reservation or a recording reservation according to a user's selection.

When one past broadcast program is selected from the electronic program guide by the user, the flowchart checks whether the user wants to watch or download the selected past broadcast program in real time. In this case, a payment process for receiving the selected broadcast program is performed regardless of the route desired by the user.

If the fee payment process is incomplete or incomplete, the flow chart returns to the process of displaying the electronic program guide.

First, if the user wants to watch in real time, when the payment process with the corresponding broadcast station is completed through the air interface unit 15, the user selects the last broadcast program from the corresponding broadcast station through the air interface unit 15. Channel information for real time broadcasting is received and displayed on the screen. That is, when the fee payment process is completed, the broadcastable channel information and the payment code received from the broadcasting station are displayed on the screen.

Then, the flowchart shown in FIG. 5 is performed. That is, a process of checking whether one broadcast channel is selected by the user among the displayed channel information is performed. If selected, the screen switches to the selected channel. Subsequently, it is requested on the screen to input the payment code displayed together with the channel information to be broadcasted on the screen. The flowchart then checks whether the payment code entered by the user is correct. If it is not the same, a process of asking whether the user wants to re-enter the payment code after performing the display of the selected broadcast program on the screen is performed.

If the user wants to input the screen, the screen returns to the selected channel screen, and if the user does not want to input again, the screen ends. On the other hand, if the input payment code is the same as the actual payment code, the selected last broadcast program is received through the signal receiving unit 14 and displayed on the screen of the selected channel.

On the other hand, if the user wants to download the selected broadcast program, after performing a billing process with the corresponding broadcast station through the air interface unit 15, the selected broadcast program is downloaded wirelessly from the broadcast station. Subsequently, the downloaded broadcast program is stored in the storage unit 19 by the controller 17. Meanwhile, when the fee payment process is completed, a process of checking whether the air interface 15 is wirelessly connected to the corresponding broadcasting station is performed. As such, when the wireless interface is properly connected for the download, the selected broadcast program is downloaded and stored in the storage unit 19.

As described above, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the past electronic program guide is provided through broadcast channels, and when a user selects a desired broadcast program from the past electronic program guide, the user selects the desired broadcast program through a television receiver on a channel for data broadcasting. You can watch in real time or download via LAN or modem. In addition, payment is performed through the LAN or modem. Therefore, the disadvantage of being able to watch the last broadcast program only through the conventional personal computer can be viewed on a large screen, and it is possible to always watch and record the desired broadcast program in real time.

Claims (19)

A control unit for wirelessly requesting a broadcasting program selected from an electronic program guide (EPG) past by a user, and an interface unit for performing two-way wireless communication with the broadcasting station by the control unit to receive the selected broadcasting program from the broadcasting station. A signal processor for processing the broadcast program wirelessly received from the broadcast station through the interface unit, a display unit for displaying the processed broadcast program on the screen, and the wirelessly received broadcast according to a command of the controller; And a storage unit for storing a program, wherein the broadcasting station includes at least one of a digital terrestrial broadcasting station, a digital broadcasting satellite broadcasting station, and a digital communication satellite broadcasting station. The method of claim 1, And a signal receiving unit which receives the broadcast program directly from the broadcasting station without passing through the interface unit, and provides the received broadcast program to the signal processing unit. The method of claim 1, The wireless interface unit comprises at least one of a wireless LAN (LAN) and a modem (Modem). The method of claim 3, wherein The LAN is a television receiver, characterized in that the bus LAN. delete The method of claim 1, The broadcasting station includes a terrestrial broadcasting station and a satellite broadcasting station; The signal processor comprises a terrestrial broadcast tuner for receiving a broadcast program from the terrestrial broadcast station, a satellite broadcast tuner for receiving a broadcast program from the satellite broadcast station, and a descrambler for descrambled the received broadcast programs. . CLAIMS What is claimed is: 1. A method of watching a broadcast program in a television receiver having an interface for performing two-way wireless communication, comprising the steps of: displaying on a screen an electronic program guide (EPG) received from the broadcast station via the wireless interface by user selection; When a broadcast program is selected from the past electronic program guide information by the user, performing a billing process for the corresponding broadcast station and the selected broadcast program through the interface; And wirelessly receiving the selected broadcast program from the broadcast station when the billing process is completed. The method of claim 7, wherein And wirelessly receiving the selected broadcast program, directly receiving the broadcast program from the broadcast station through a signal receiver to enable real-time viewing of the received broadcast program. The method of claim 7, wherein And wirelessly receiving the selected broadcast program is downloading the selected broadcast program via the air interface. The method of claim 9, And storing the downloaded broadcast program in a memory. The method of claim 7, wherein And the wireless interface unit comprises at least one of a wireless LAN and a modem. The method of claim 11, The LAN (LAN) is a bus type LAN (LAN), characterized in that for watching a broadcast program in a television receiver. The method of claim 7, wherein And the broadcasting station comprises at least one of a digital terrestrial broadcasting station, a digital broadcasting satellite broadcasting (BS) broadcasting station, and a digital communication satellite broadcasting (CS) broadcasting station. CLAIMS 1. A method of watching a broadcast program in a television receiver having an interface for performing two-way wireless communication, the method comprising: displaying an electronic program guide (EPG) including a past broadcast program on a screen; Performing a reservation process for the program when a broadcast program after the current is selected from the electronic program guide by a user; If one last broadcast program is selected from the electronic program guide by the user, checking whether to select a current viewing or a download; If the user selects the current viewing, performing a fee payment process with the corresponding broadcasting station through the air interface, and then displaying the broadcast program on the screen; And when the user selects downloading, performing a charge payment process with the corresponding broadcasting station through the interface, and then downloading the broadcasting program wirelessly from the broadcasting station. How to watch. The method of claim 14, And the reservation process is a viewing reservation or a recording reservation. The method of claim 14, The displaying of the broadcast program may include: displaying broadcastable channel information and a payment code transmitted from the broadcasting station on the screen when the fee payment process is completed; Checking the payment code on a screen of the selected broadcast channel when one broadcast channel is selected from the broadcastable channel information by the user; And displaying the broadcast program on the screen when the payment code is confirmed to be correct. The method of claim 14, The downloading of the broadcast program may include: checking whether the interface is wirelessly connected to the broadcast station when the billing process is completed; And when the interface is properly connected, downloading the broadcast program. The method of claim 14, And the electronic program guide information is received in advance and pre-stored in a storage unit. The method of claim 14, And the electronic program guide information is received in real time from the broadcasting stations through the air interface unit.

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