KR20040008553A - Epg display method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A program guide display method is provided to offer detailed information about data broadcasting programs as well as detailed information about video/audio broadcasting programs. CONSTITUTION: Information data related with a broadcasting program is received through a predetermined path. Program and system information protocol information that provides detailed information about video/audio broadcasting program and detailed information about data broadcasting program is extracted from the received information data. It is judged whether or not a data broadcasting program related with the broadcasting program with reference to the program and system information protocol information exists. When the related data broadcasting program exists, detailed information about the related data broadcasting program is provided together with the broadcasting program as a program guide.

Description

How to display program guide {EPG DISPLAY METHOD}

The present invention relates to a method of displaying a program guide, and more particularly, to a method of providing detailed information on a data broadcast program to a user through a program guide.

In general, digital television refers to a general term for television broadcasting transmitted digitally. In the United States, we decided to adopt digital for the next generation of televisions called ATV (Advanced television). In Europe, many projects such as HD DIVINE such as Swedish broadcasting, SPECTRE of the UK and DIAMOND of French broadcasting are in progress. Research is being actively conducted in each country in the next generation television system linked with ISDN or computer network.

1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a conventional digital broadcast transmission system.

Referring to FIG. 1, the conventional digital broadcast transmission system 100 includes a plurality of single program encoders 110 for encoding and multiplexing each single program consisting of video / audio / data signals; A PSIP generation unit 120 for generating a program and system information protocol (PSIP) for providing detailed information on a video / audio broadcast program multiplexed by the single program encoder 110; A plurality of program multiplexers (130) for multiplexing signals transmitted from the plurality of single program encoders (110) and the PSIP generation unit (120); And a transmitter 140 for transmitting the multiplexed signal from the multiple program multiplexer 130.

Here, the single program encoder 110 includes a video signal encoder 111 (for example, an MPEG-2 encoder) for encoding a video signal, and a voice signal encoder 112 (for example, an AC-3 encoder) for encoding a voice signal. And a single program multiplexer 113 for receiving and multiplexing a signal transmitted from the video signal encoder 111, a signal transmitted from the audio signal encoder 112, and a data signal for the video / audio broadcast.

In this case, the information on the video / audio broadcast can be displayed on the screen of the digital television through the PSIP generated by the PSIP generation unit 120 in a program guide method. The digital broadcasting program information edited and displayed by the program guide is used for detailed information on the video / audio broadcasting program (broadcast channel number, current time, broadcasting station name, broadcasting start time / end time, program title, program grade, stereo / mono classification). , Caption service presence / absence, voice multiservice presence / absence, conditional access information, program progress status, additional text message, etc.) to the user, but data broadcasting program presence / absence information Offering only the bay.

However, more than one data broadcast program may exist in one general video / audio broadcast program, and each data broadcast is broadcast without a certain rule in the general video / audio broadcast program.

Accordingly, in a digital broadcasting environment through a conventional digital broadcasting transmission system, before a digital television or a digital television viewer starts a broadcasting program including a data broadcasting program, several data broadcasting programs are included in the broadcasting program. There is a disadvantage in that detailed information about data broadcasting such as when each data broadcasting program starts and how long is broadcasted within the entire broadcasting program time is not known.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide not only detailed information on a video / audio broadcast program but also detailed information on a data broadcast program through a program guide.

1 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of a conventional digital broadcast transmission system.

2 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of a digital broadcast transmission system according to the present invention;

3 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed by providing detailed information on data broadcasting according to the present invention as a program guide.

4 is a diagram of detailed information items of a program provided as a program guide shown in FIG. 3, and is related to a reservation recording;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing brief information items of a program provided as a program guide shown in FIG. 3; FIG.

6 is a view showing a parental control method according to the grade of data broadcasting.

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

100, 200 ... Digital Broadcast Transmission System

110, 210 ... single program encoder

111, 211 ... Video Signal Encoder

112, 212 ... Voice Signal Encoder

113, 213 ... Single Program Multiplexer

120, 220 ... PSIP generator

130, 230 ... Multiple Program Multiplexer

140, 240 ... transmission

221 Video / Audio Broadcasting PSIP Processing Unit

222. Data broadcasting PSIP processing unit

In order to achieve the above object, the program guide display method according to the present invention includes a first step of receiving information data related to a broadcast program through a predetermined path, detailed information on a video / audio broadcast program from the received information data, and A second step of extracting Program and System Information Protocol (PSIP) information that provides detailed information about the data broadcast program, a third step of determining whether a data broadcast program related to the broadcast program exists by referring to the PSIP information, and related information And if the data broadcast program exists, a fourth step of providing detailed information of the data broadcast program associated with the broadcast program as a program guide.

More preferably, the PSIP information may include at least one of the number, title, start time / end time, stable reception time, rating, conditional access information, and summary information of a data broadcast program associated with one broadcast program. It is configured to include.

More preferably, the program guide provided in the fourth step is configured to enable reservation viewing or reservation recording for each data broadcasting program when the number of data broadcasting programs related to the broadcasting program is plural.

More preferably, when the number of data broadcast programs related to the broadcast program is plural, the program guide provided in the fourth step may restrict viewing of each data broadcast program by using the rating information of each data broadcast program. Is configured to.

According to the present invention, by providing the user with detailed information on the video / audio / data broadcasting program through the program guide, the user can obtain the detailed information about the video / audio / data broadcasting even before the broadcast start, the program The guide has the advantage of allowing convenient selection of reservation viewing, reservation recording, selective recording, and the like.

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

2 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of a digital broadcast transmission system according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the digital broadcast transmission system 200 according to the present invention includes a plurality of single program encoders 210 for encoding and multiplexing each single program consisting of video / audio / data signals, and the single A PSIP generation unit 220 for generating a program and system information protocol (PSIP) for providing detailed information on a video / audio / data broadcasting program multiplexed by the program encoder 210, and the plurality of single program encoders 210. A multiplexing multiplexer 230 for multiplexing the digital broadcast transport stream transmitted from the PSIP and the PSIP transmitted from the PSIP generation unit 220, and a transmission unit for transmitting the digital broadcast signal multiplexed by the multiplex program multiplexer 230. 240.

Here, the single program encoder 210 includes a video signal encoder 211 (for example, an MPEG-2 encoder) for encoding a video signal, and a voice signal encoder 212 (for example, an AC-3 encoder) for encoding a voice signal. And a single program multiplexer 213 for receiving and multiplexing a signal transmitted from the video signal encoder 211 and a signal transmitted from the audio signal encoder 212 and a data signal for the video / audio broadcast. .

The PSIP generation unit 220 includes a video / audio broadcast PSIP processor 221 for processing a PSIP for a video / audio broadcast program and a data broadcast PSIP processor 222 for processing a PSIP for a data broadcast program. .

Next, the PSIP including information on a video / audio / data broadcast program transmitted from a digital broadcast transmission system having such a configuration will be described.

The digital broadcast transmission protocol according to the present invention includes the following information.

1. PSIP for video / audio broadcast programs.

The PSIP for the video / audio broadcast program includes the following information.

-Broadcast channel number

-Current time

-Station name

-Broadcast start time / end time

-Program title

Program Grade

Stereo / mono

-With or without caption service

-Voice multiple service

-Conditional access information (paid information, etc.)

-Information about program progress

-Additional text messages

2. PSIP for data broadcast programs.

The PSIP for the data broadcast program includes the following information.

-Number of data broadcasting programs in one broadcasting program

-Title of each data broadcast program

-Start time / end time of each data broadcast program

-Reliable reception time of each data broadcasting program

-Rating of each data broadcast program

-Conditional access information (paid information, etc.) of each data broadcasting program

-Summary of contents of additional data broadcasting programs;

On the other hand, according to the digital broadcast transmission protocol that provides information on the video, audio, and data broadcasting programs as described above, the digital television interprets the received digital broadcast transmission protocol and displays a program guide for the video, audio, and data broadcasting programs. It can be displayed in.

3 to 6 are diagrams illustrating a method for displaying a program guide for data broadcasting on a digital television by the digital broadcasting transmission system according to the present invention.

First, FIG. 3 shows an example of a program guide displaying information on a broadcast program on a screen of a digital television for each broadcasting station. It should be noted that simple information of the data broadcast program for each broadcast program is displayed together with the broadcast program information.

In FIG. 3, general broadcast program information such as a broadcast station name, broadcast start time / end time, program title, title of a data broadcast program, conditional access information of a data broadcast program, and the like are expressed. In this case, if you want to know the detailed broadcast program information about the LG World War, you can obtain the detailed information as shown in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 4, the viewer may obtain detailed broadcast program information as follows about the LG Baegi World War through the program guide displayed on the screen.

First, general broadcast program information such as broadcast channel number, broadcast station name, broadcast start time / end time, program title, program grade, stereo / mono information, caption service presence / absence information, and voice multiplexing service are displayed.

Second, it indicates that a total of three data broadcasting programs are included in the LG Baekje World Broadcasting Program. In other words, the profile of Lee Chang-ho and Cho Hoon-hyun from 9:10 am to 9:30 am, and the record until the 2002 Finals of Lee Chang-ho and Cho Hoon-hyun from 9:40 am to 10 am At 10:50 am, paid information indicates that two people's numbers are being broadcast.

Third, the above information is displayed on the screen so that viewers can make reservation viewing and reservation recording.

On the other hand, it may be configured to simply display the information as shown in FIG. 5, and may be configured to allow the viewer to select and provide a broadcast grade for each data broadcast provided in relation to one broadcast program as shown in FIG. .

As described above, according to the digital broadcast transmission system according to the present invention, through the program guide displayed on the digital television, the viewer can obtain detailed information about the data broadcast program as well as general video / audio broadcast program information.

Therefore, the viewer can fully know the detailed information about the data broadcasting program that he / she wants to watch before starting broadcasting, and can also use an additional function to help the user fully utilize the data broadcasting program. That is, the viewer can utilize various functions (reservation viewing, reservation recording, selective reservation recording) through the program guide.

Here, the selective reservation recording refers to a general video / audio broadcast program alone recording, a data broadcast program alone recording, a general video / audio broadcast program and a data broadcast program simultaneously recording, and a desired data broadcast program portion recording.

As described above, according to the digital broadcasting transmission system according to the present invention, the detailed information on the data broadcasting program as well as the detailed information on the video / audio broadcasting program can be provided to the user through the program guide.

Claims (4)

A first step of receiving information data related to a broadcast program through a predetermined path, A second step of extracting program and system information protocol (PSIP) information which provides detailed information on the video / audio broadcast program and detailed information on the data broadcast program from the received information data; A third step of determining whether a data broadcasting program related to the broadcasting program exists by referring to the PSIP information; and And a fourth step of providing, as a program guide, detailed information of a related data broadcasting program together with the corresponding broadcasting program when the related data broadcasting program exists. The method of claim 1, wherein the PSIP information, Program guide display method comprising at least one of information, number, title, start time / end time, stable reception time, rating, conditional access information and summary information associated with one broadcast program . The method according to claim 1 or 2, The program guide provided in the fourth step is configured to enable reservation viewing or reservation recording for each data broadcasting program when the number of data broadcasting programs related to the broadcasting program is plural. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The program guide provided in the fourth step is configured to enable viewing restriction on each data broadcasting program by using the rating information of each data broadcasting program when the number of data broadcasting programs related to the broadcasting program is plural. How to display the program guide.