KR100896435B1 - Method of data processing for digital broadcasting receiver, and apparatus for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided are a method and apparatus for processing digital broadcast data providing a fast channel switching function. For fast channel switching, not only video data of the current channel selected by the user among digital broadcast data, but also video data of a candidate channel which is likely to be selected by channel switching is simultaneously decoded. After that, if the candidate channel is selected by channel switching, the time required for channel switching can be shortened by providing the decoded image data to the display unit.

Candidate channel, channel switching, digital broadcast data processing device, decoding, candidate channel mode

Description

 Method and apparatus for processing digital broadcasting data {Method of data processing for digital broadcasting receiver, and apparatus for the same}

1 is a block diagram showing a conventional digital broadcast receiving system.

2 is a block diagram illustrating a digital broadcast reception system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a digital broadcast data processing process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a channel switching process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a process of determining candidate channel setting criteria according to an embodiment of the present invention.

6 to 10 are diagrams illustrating a digital broadcast data processing process according to an embodiment of the present invention, respectively.

The present invention relates to a digital broadcast data processing method and apparatus, and more particularly, to a digital broadcast data processing method and apparatus for a fast channel switching function.

Digital broadcasting provides clearer picture quality than analog broadcasting, and accordingly, digital broadcasting receivers are becoming more popular. Among the digital broadcasting standards, DMB in Korea, ISDB-T in Japan, DVB-H in Europe, and Media Flow in North America are the standards that can receive digital broadcasting on the go. Currently, the spread of mobile phones and navigation devices capable of receiving mobile TV broadcasts is exploding.

1 shows a configuration of a digital multimedia broadcasting receiving system disclosed in Korean Patent No. 630086.

The switching unit 110 provides the S-DMB broadcasting signal to the first tuner of the tuning unit 120 and the second tuner of the tuning unit 120 so that the switching unit 110 may receive the S-DMB broadcasting signal and the T-DMB broadcasting signal. Sends a T-DMB broadcast signal.

The DMB processor 130 demodulates and decodes the DMB broadcast signal received through the tuning unit 120 for each channel. The codec 140 decodes the audio signal and the video signal received from the DMB processor 130 into an MPEG standard signal under the control of the controller 150. The decoded audio signal is provided to the audio processor 170, and the decoded video signal is provided to the image processor 180. The key input unit 160 includes various mode setting keys for processing the DMB signal.

Such a digital multimedia broadcasting reception system may be implemented in a mobile phone.

The spread of mobile TV broadcasting, called TV in the hand, allows users to watch TV programs anywhere. However, unlike analog TV broadcasting, it takes a lot of time to switch channels. Long channel switching times can be an obstacle to the spread of mobile TV broadcasting.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a digital broadcast data processing method for fast channel switching and an apparatus therefor.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a low power digital broadcast receiving system suitable for mobile broadcasting.

The digital broadcast data processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object comprises the steps of selecting from the received digital broadcast data image data of the current channel and the image data of the candidate channel set according to the candidate channel setting criteria; Decoding the image data of the selected current channel, decoding the image data of the candidate channel while decoding the image data of the selected current channel, and providing the image data of the decoded current channel to a display unit. Steps.

When the candidate channel mode is switched to inactive, program decoding of the set candidate channel may be stopped.

The candidate channel setting criterion may include at least some of an up channel, a down channel of a current channel, a previous channel selected by a user before a current channel, and a picture in picture (PIP) channel.

The candidate channel setting criterion may be determined according to a channel mainly watched by a user or by a user's selection.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital broadcast data processing apparatus including a demultiplexer for selecting video data of a current channel and video data of a candidate channel set according to candidate channel setting criteria among digital broadcast data; And a multimedia processor that decodes the image data of the selected current channel and the candidate channel and provides the decoded image data of the current channel to the display.

The digital broadcast reception device stops program decoding of the set candidate channel when the candidate channel mode is changed to inactive.

The candidate channel setting criterion may include at least some of an up channel, a down channel of a current channel, a previous channel selected by a user before a current channel, and a picture in picture (PIP) channel.

The candidate channel setting criterion may be determined according to a channel mainly watched by a user or by a user's selection.

The digital broadcast receiving system according to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object is a digital broadcast receiving unit for receiving a digital broadcast signal and demodulating the digital broadcast data from the received digital broadcast signal, and when the candidate channel mode is activated Demultiplexing to select video data of the current channel and video data of the candidate channel set according to the candidate channel setting criteria among the digital broadcasting data, and to select video data of the current channel among the digital broadcasting data when the candidate channel mode is inactive. A multimedia processor for decoding the video data of the selected current channel and the candidate channel when the candidate channel mode is active, and decoding the video data of the selected current channel when the candidate channel mode is inactive; Take image data It includes a display for play.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

2 is a block diagram illustrating a digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. For convenience of description, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus will be described based on the T-DMB receiving apparatus.

In the present specification, the current channel refers to a physical or logical channel through which image data to be displayed through the current display unit is transmitted. Typically there is one current channel at a particular time, but there may be multiple channels. For example, when the picture in picture (PIP) function of the digital broadcasting reception system is activated, both channels displayed may be referred to as current channels. On the other hand, one channel displayed when the PIP function is deactivated is the current channel, and the channel to be displayed when the PIP function is activated is not the current channel because it is not displayed. In the specification, the latter is referred to as a PIP channel to distinguish it from the general channel described below.

In the specification, the candidate channel refers to a physical or logical channel through which image data, which is not currently displayed through the display unit but is decoded by the multimedia processor, is transmitted. In the specification, a generic channel refers to a physical or logical channel through which image data is transmitted which is not currently decoded by a multimedia processor.

The digital broadcast receiver includes a digital broadcast receiver 210, a demultiplexer 220, a multimedia processor 230, a display 240, a controller 250, a candidate channel controller 260, and a user interface 270. do.

When the candidate channel mode is activated, the digital broadcast receiver 210 receives a broadcast signal including image data of the current channel and the candidate channel. The digital broadcast receiver 210 demodulates a broadcast signal to obtain digital broadcast data. For this purpose, the digital broadcast receiver 210 may include an RF tuner and a baseband processor. At present, domestic T-DMB broadcasting has a channel for transmitting one video program and a channel for transmitting two video programs. Accordingly, in order to receive a digital broadcast signal including a program of a current channel and a candidate channel, the digital broadcast receiver 210 needs to include an RF tuner and a baseband processor capable of multichannel reception.

The demultiplexer 220 receives digital broadcast data from the digital broadcast receiver 210 and selects and outputs image data of a current channel and image data of a candidate channel.

The multimedia processor 230 decodes input image data of the current channel and image data of the candidate channel. The display unit 240 receives image data of the current channel decoded from the multimedia processor 230 and displays a program of the current channel.

The controller 250 controls the digital broadcast receiver 210, the demultiplexer 220, and the multimedia processor 230 to decode the video data of the current channel and the candidate channel and display the video data of the current channel.

The candidate channel controller 260 allows the controller to determine the candidate channel according to the candidate channel setting criteria.

According to some versions of the embodiment, the candidate channel setting criteria may include one of the up channel and the down channel of the current channel, or may include both channels. If the multimedia processor 230 can decode two image data at the same time, the candidate channel can be an up channel or a down channel, but if the multimedia processor 230 can decode three or more image data at the same time, Both the channel and the down channel can be candidate channels. For example, if the channel is CH1, CH2, CH3, CH4, CH5, CH6, CH7, CH8, CH9, CH10, and the current channel is CH6, the up and down channels, CH7 and CH5, can be candidate channels. have. If the user changes the current channel to CH8, CH9 and CH7 become candidate channels.

According to another version of the embodiment, the candidate channel setting criteria may include the previous channel. For example, when the current channel is reset from CH6 to CH9, the previous channel CH6 becomes a candidate channel. The candidate channel is reset to CH9 when CH9 is reset to CH8 again. In other words, when the current channel is reset, the candidate channel is also reset according to the candidate channel setting criteria.

According to another version of the embodiment, the candidate channel setting criteria may include a PIP channel. For example, when the current channel is CH3 and the user selects the PIP channel as CH6, the multimedia processor 230 decodes not only CH3 but also image data of CH6.

The up channel, down channel, previous channel, and PIP channel described above are frequently used by the user. The digital broadcast reception system pre-decodes video data of some channels that are not currently displayed but frequently used to enable fast channel switching for a user's channel switching request.

In some versions of the embodiment, the candidate channel setting criteria are not changed, but in other versions, the candidate channel setting criteria may be changed.

For example, the candidate channel controller 260 allows the controller to determine a candidate channel according to a candidate channel setting criterion mainly viewed by a user. For example, the candidate channel controller 260 collects information on the viewing frequency or the viewing frequency of the channel viewed by the user, and determines the ranking for each channel. Assume that the ranking is CH1, CH2, CH3, CH4, CH5, CH6, CH7, CH8, CH9, CH10, and the multimedia processor 230 can decode the video data of four channels. If the current channel is CH8, the candidate channels are CH1, CH2, and CH3. If the user switches the current channel to CH2, the candidate channel is reset to CH1, CH3, CH4 according to the rank.

As another example, the user may set the candidate channel setting criteria or the candidate channel using the user interface 270. If the user selects CH3, CH4, and CH8, CH3, CH4, and CH8 become candidate channels. The user may select a channel that he or she primarily watches as a candidate channel for fast channel switching.

When the candidate channel mode is deactivated, the digital broadcast receiver 210 receives a broadcast signal including image data of the current channel. The demultiplexer 220 receives digital broadcast data from the digital broadcast receiver 210 and selects and outputs image data of a current channel.

The multimedia processor 230 decodes the image data of the current channel to be input. The display unit 240 receives image data of the current channel decoded from the multimedia processor 230 and displays a program of the current channel.

According to some versions of the embodiment, the user may activate or deactivate the candidate channel mode using the user interface 270. According to another version of the embodiment, the candidate channel mode is deactivated when the remaining battery power of the digital broadcast receiving system is low.

Each component of FIG. 2 may be implemented in dedicated hardware or a general purpose processor and software. For example, the multimedia processor 230 may be implemented to include dedicated hardware for video processing, and may be implemented to include a general purpose digital signal processor (DSP) and software for video processing. Each component of FIG. 2 may be implemented by dividing into detailed sub-components, and a plurality of components may be integrated into one component. For example, a digital broadcast receiving apparatus may be implemented such that the demultiplexer 220 is integrated with the digital broadcast receiving module 210, and the digital broadcast receiving apparatus may be implemented so that the demultiplexer 220 is integrated with the multimedia processor 230. It may be. Also, those skilled in the art should note that the multimedia processor 230 can be easily implemented by separating the multimedia processor 230 into a codec, an audio processor, and an image processor as in the conventional technology of FIG. 1.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a digital broadcast reception process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The digital broadcast reception system operates differently depending on whether the candidate channel mode is activated. Therefore, it is first determined whether the candidate channel mode is activated (S1).

When the candidate channel mode is activated, the digital broadcast reception system receives a broadcast signal including image data of the current channel and the candidate channel (S2). The digital broadcasting system selects current channel and candidate channel image data from the received broadcast signal (S3). The digital broadcast reception system decodes image data of the selected current channel and the candidate channel (S4). The digital broadcast reception system displays the decoded program of the current channel (S5).

When the candidate channel mode is deactivated, the digital broadcast reception system receives a broadcast signal including image data of the current channel (S6). The digital broadcasting system selects image data of the current channel from the received broadcast signal (S7). The digital broadcast receiving system decodes image data of the selected current channel (S8). The digital broadcast reception system displays the decoded program of the current channel (S5).

The candidate channel mode may be set to be active or inactive by the user. In addition, the candidate channel mode may be set according to the power supply state of the digital broadcast reception system. For example, when the digital broadcasting reception system is installed in the mobile phone, the candidate channel mode may be activated or deactivated according to the battery level.

The reason for decoding the video data of the candidate channel while decoding the video data of the current channel when the candidate channel mode is activated is to shorten the channel switching time required when the channel is switched to the candidate channel. On the other hand, when the candidate channel mode is inactive, typically only image data of the current channel is decoded and displayed.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a channel switching process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

When a switch command to channel A comes in (S11), the digital broadcast reception system determines whether channel A is a candidate channel (S12).

If channel A is a candidate channel, the candidate channel is reset according to the candidate channel setting criteria (S13). For example, assume that the candidate channel setting criteria include an up channel and a down channel. Since channel A has been switched from the candidate channel to the current channel, the channel A + 1 and channel A-1, which are the up channel and the down channel of channel A, are reset to the down channel.

The digital broadcast reception system displays the pre-decoded image data of the channel A converted to the current channel (S14).

If the channel A is not a candidate channel, the digital broadcast reception system receives a broadcast signal including the image data of the channel A (S15). In order to receive a broadcast signal including image data of channel A, various processes including RF tuning process are required, and this process takes a lot of time.

The digital broadcast reception system selects video data of channel A from the received broadcast signal, and decodes the selected video data (S16). Currently used video decoders decode video from I frames. Therefore, decoding of the selected image data starts from the I frame. Therefore, time is required until an I frame is selected from the selected image data.

When the selected video data is decoded, the digital broadcast reception system displays the video data of the decoded channel A (S17).

5 is a flowchart illustrating a process of determining candidate channel setting criteria according to an embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment describes a case where the candidate channel setting criteria is determined according to a channel mainly watched by a user.

The digital broadcast reception system collects channel information viewed by the user (S21). Then, the digital broadcasting reception system accumulates the time or number of times (called 'viewing frequency for each channel') of the channels that the user mainly watches (S22).

The digital broadcast reception system determines the candidate channel setting criteria according to the viewing frequency, and sets the candidate channel according to the candidate channel setting criteria (S24).

6 to 10 are views illustrating a digital broadcast reception process according to an embodiment of the present invention, respectively. In the drawing, a frame represented by a solid line is a frame to be decoded, and a frame represented by a dotted line means a frame which is not decoded. For convenience of explanation, it is assumed that the image data includes only I frames and P frames.

Referring to FIG. 6, CH1 is the current channel and CH2 and CH3 are candidate channels. Frames of the current channel are decoded and displayed. Frames of the candidate channel are decoded but the decoded frame is not displayed. The frame of the normal channel CH4 is not decoded.

Referring to FIG. 7, from the fourth frame, the current channel is reset from CH1 to CH2. Since the current channel is reset, CH1 is not decoded because it is a normal channel. Meanwhile, since CH2 was already a candidate channel at the time of channel reset, decoded frames of CH2 may be displayed from the channel switching time.

Meanwhile, CH4 becomes a candidate channel at the time of channel switching according to the candidate channel setting criteria. Frames of CH4 are not decoded immediately from the time CH4 becomes a candidate channel, but frames are decoded from the time I frame starts.

Referring to FIG. 8, from the fourth frame, the current channel is reset from CH1 to CH4. Since the current channel is reset, CH1 is not decoded because it is a normal channel. Meanwhile, since CH4 was a normal channel at the time of channel reset, no decoded frames of CH4 exist at the time of channel switching. Therefore, decoded frames of CH4 can be obtained after a certain delay time from the channel switching point. Although FIG. 8 does not consider the RF tuning time for receiving a broadcast including the image data of CH4, the delay time may be further longer considering the RF tuning time.

Referring to FIG. 9, the current channel is reset from CH1 to CH2 from the fourth frame. Since the current channel is reset, CH1 is not decoded because it is a normal channel. Meanwhile, since CH2 was already a candidate channel at the time of channel reset, decoded frames of CH2 may be displayed from the channel switching time.

Meanwhile, since the candidate channel mode is set to inactive before the eighth frame starts, decoding is stopped from the eighth frame of the candidate channel CH3.

Referring to FIG. 10, since the candidate channel mode is set to inactive before the fourth frame starts, each of the candidate channels stops decoding from the fourth frame.

From the eighth frame on the other hand, the current channel is reset from CH1 to CH2. Since the current channel is reset, CH1 is not decoded because it is a normal channel. On the other hand, since CH2 was a candidate channel at the current channel reset time, but the candidate channel mode is inactive, a frame delay of CH2 requires a constant delay time as shown in FIG. 10.

As described above, the method and apparatus for receiving digital broadcasting according to an embodiment of the present invention decode not only a program of a current channel but also a program of a candidate channel that is likely to be selected when switching channels in the digital broadcast signal. Therefore, when the candidate channel is selected, the channel can be quickly switched using a program that is already decoded. In addition, since it is possible to determine whether to decode the candidate channel according to the setting value of the candidate channel mode, the method and apparatus for receiving digital broadcasting according to an embodiment of the present invention can change the normal channel according to the charge level of the battery and change the normal channel with low power consumption. Can optionally be used.

The detailed description and the accompanying drawings are easily expressed by those of ordinary skill in the art, and the actual digital broadcast reception system may be different from the described forms. That is, the above description should be understood as illustrative.

Claims (17)

Selecting the image data of the current channel and the image data of the candidate channel set according to the candidate channel setting criteria from the received digital broadcast data; Decoding image data of the selected current channel; Decoding image data of the candidate channel while decoding image data of the selected current channel; Providing image data of the decoded current channel to a display unit; Setting the candidate channel mode to inactive; And Stopping decoding of image data of the candidate channel when the candidate channel mode is set to inactive. delete The method of claim 1, The candidate channel setting criterion comprises at least one of an up channel and a down channel of a current channel as a candidate channel. The method of claim 1, And the candidate channel setting criterion includes a previous channel selected by a user before the current channel as a candidate channel. The method of claim 1, The candidate channel setting criterion comprises a picture in picture (PIP) channel as a candidate channel. The method of claim 1, Collecting channel information mainly viewed by a user; And And determining the candidate channel setting criteria according to the viewing frequency. The method of claim 1, And determining the candidate channel setting criteria according to a user's selection. The method according to any one of claims 1 and 3 to 7, If the user selects channel switching to the candidate channel, Resetting the selected candidate channel to the current channel; Resetting a candidate channel based on the reset current channel according to the candidate channel setting criterion; And And providing the decoded image data of the selected candidate channel to the display unit. A demultiplexer for selecting image data of a current channel and image data of a candidate channel set according to candidate channel setting criteria among digital broadcast data; And A multimedia processor which decodes the video data of the selected current channel and the candidate channel, provides the decoded video data of the current channel to the display unit, and stops decoding the video data of the candidate channel when the candidate channel mode is set to inactive. Digital broadcast data processing apparatus comprising a. The method of claim 9, The candidate channel setting criterion comprises at least one of an up channel and a down channel of the current channel as a candidate channel. The method of claim 9, And the candidate channel setting criterion comprises a previous channel that was previously selected by a user before the current channel as a candidate channel. The method of claim 9, The candidate channel setting criterion includes a picture in picture (PIP) channel selected by a user as a candidate channel. The method of claim 9, And a candidate channel control unit for collecting channel information mainly viewed by a user and determining the candidate channel setting criteria according to the collected channel information. The method of claim 9, And a candidate channel control unit for determining the candidate channel setting criteria by a user's selection. delete delete A medium having recorded thereon a computer readable program for performing the method of any one of claims 1 and 3.

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