KR20040079104A - Method for deciding favorite channel of digital broadcast receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A method for determining a preference channel of a digital broadcasting receiver is provided to previously designate preference channels using multiple identifiers to conveniently select a preference channel. CONSTITUTION: Preference channels are designated using respective identifiers in a preference channel designation mode(S201,S202). Automatic channel search is executed to compare the identifier of a searched channel with the identifiers input in the preference channel designation step(S203,S204,S205). When the identifier of the searched channel is identical to one of the identifiers input in the preference channel designation step, the number of the searched channel is stored in a preference channel buffer(S206). The comparison and storing steps are repeated until the final channel is searched by the automatic channel search(S207,S208).

Description

Method for deciding favorite channel of digital broadcast receiver

The present invention relates to digital broadcast reception, and more particularly, to a method for determining a preferred channel of a digital broadcast receiver which improves convenience of selecting a preferred channel by specifying a desired channel list in advance by searching for a plurality of identifiers prior to channel search. .

The spread of satellite set-top boxes or cable set-top boxes allows viewers to watch more channels than previous analog TVs.

At this time, the viewer is habitually watching his favorite program or surfing the channels, and in order to correspond to these channels in other ways, the prior art provides a list of preferred channels.

For example, the favorite channel list is a list of channels or programs that a viewer frequently watches or likes.

However, this is cumbersome for viewers to add or remove channels or shows.

And the current set-top box has a built-in function that allows you to specify the channel you want to watch according to the viewer's preference.

In the case of functions in the set-top box of the prior art, the viewer can designate a preferred channel after a channel search or an auto program.

However, the conventional digital broadcast receiver described above has the following problems.

In the prior art, viewers can specify a favorite channel after a channel search or auto program. This method requires a lot of time for the user to specify a favorite channel when the number of channels searched is hundreds. It may cause discomfort.

The present invention is to solve the problems of the conventional digital broadcast receiver as described above, prior to channel search by dividing the desired channel list by a plurality of identifiers (identifier) in advance to increase the convenience of the preferred channel selection digital broadcasting It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for determining a preferred channel of a receiver.

1A and 1B are configuration diagrams of a designated menu for determining a preferred channel according to the present invention.

2 is a flow chart for determining a preferred channel according to the present invention

3 is a flowchart illustrating a process of updating preferred channel information to a channel information DB according to the present invention.

In order to achieve the above object, a method of determining a preferred channel of a digital broadcasting receiver according to the present invention comprises entering into a preferred channel designation mode and using a identifier capable of identifying each channel of channels to be designated as a preferred channel. Comparing the channel identifier of the searched channel with the channel identifier input in the preferred channel designation step by performing an automatic channel search; comparing the currently searched channel number to the preferred channel buffer Storing; repeating the comparing and storing process up to a final channel searched by automatic channel searching.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments.

A preferred embodiment of a method for determining a preferred channel of a digital broadcast receiver according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1A and 1B are configuration diagrams of a designated menu for determining a preferred channel according to the present invention.

The present invention improves the viewer's designation of a favorite channel after a channel search or an auto program, so that the preferred channel can be designated before the channel search.

The channel list is composed by simply selecting the channel that the user prefers before searching for the channel, and the grouping is performed by using a plurality of identifiers (values that can distinguish each channel) by the user's selection. do.

To do this, use channel number as a preferred channel designation menu during channel search or auto program, or user specified network id (network_id), transport id (transport_id), service id (service_id) Store the channel number corresponding to the favorite channel buffer.

After completing the channel search, only the favorite flag of the channel data corresponding to the channel stored in the buffer among the searched channels is set to TRUE.

In this way, the user can select the preferred channels selected by the user and show them on the menu.

As described above, the present invention can designate a preferred channel before performing a channel search. When designating a preferred channel, a value for identifying each channel should be specified.

The value that can distinguish each channel can be selected by the user among data that can be received from SI (Service Information) data.

For example, in case of Korea, it may simply be a physical channel number, in case of a terrestrial file for UK, it may be a logical channel number, and in case of a DVB satellite. It can be network_id, transport_id, service_id.

In addition, it may be classified by a service name.

FIG. 1A illustrates an input menu for a case in which an identifier for distinguishing each channel is a physical channel number.

After entering the channel number value for a channel, press the Next key to save the channel number value for the current setting channel, and then enter a new channel number value for the channel that you want to specify as your preferred channel. do.

And using the Back key, you can check or modify the ID value for the previously designated channel.

When you have finished specifying your favorite channels, use the Complete key to exit the menu.

FIG. 1B shows a preferred channel designation menu for the case where the identifier for identifying each channel is network_id, transport_id, service_id.

After inputting network_id, transport_id, service_id value for one channel, and pressing Next key, the corresponding value for the current setting channel is saved, and then the new value for the channel to be designated as a new favorite channel is entered. You can do it.

And using the Back key, you can check or modify the ID value for the previously designated channel.

Referring to the preferred channel determination method of the digital broadcast receiver according to the present invention having such a menu configuration as follows.

2 is a flowchart for determining a preferred channel according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a process of updating preferred channel information to a channel information DB according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a preferred channel designation procedure when an identifier (value that can distinguish each channel) is network_id, transport_id, and service_id during channel search.

First, the channel search is started after designating the preferred channel in the menu shown in FIG. 1B.

After obtaining network_id, transport_id, and service_id values from the service description table (SDT) of the channel belonging to the MUX (or transponder) being searched, these values are compared with the network_id, transport_id and service_id values in the preferred channel DB specified by the user. If all three values match, the channel is recognized as a user-defined channel, and the channel number is stored in the favorite channel buffer.

If this process is performed until the channel search is completed, only the preferred channels designated by the user can be filtered and stored in the buffer.

First, the system enters the preferred channel designation mode (S201), and sets network_id, transport_id, and service_id of n channels to be designated as the preferred channel (S202).

In operation S203, network_id, transport_id, and service_id values are obtained from a service description table (SDT) of a channel corresponding to the MUX being searched (S204).

Next, the values are compared with the network_id, transport_id, and service_id values in the preferred channel DB designated by the user (S205).

As a result of the comparison, if all three values of network_id, transport_id, and service_id match, the channel is recognized as a user-designated channel, and the number of the channel is stored in the preferred channel buffer (S206).

Comparison Result When the three values of network_id, transport_id, and service_id do not match, or when storing the channel number in the preferred channel buffer is completed, the number value NUM is increased (S207) and it is determined whether the final number value is determined (S208). ), Do the same until the channel search is completed.

After completing the channel search and the preferred channel storage as described above, the preferred channel is determined and updated.

As shown in FIG. 3, the channel data update is started (S301) to obtain the channel information DB, that is, the channel number stored in the flash memory (S302).

The channel number stored in the process of FIG. 2 is taken from the preferred channel buffer (S303) and compared with the channel number of the flash memory (S304).

If the result of the comparison is matched, the channel's preferred flag is set to TRUE (S305). If the result is not matched, the index value of the preferred channel buffer is increased and it is determined whether it is the final value (S306).

If the result is not the final value or the setting is completed, the next channel number is taken from the preferred channel buffer, and if it is the final value, the index value of the flash memory is increased and the final value is determined (S307). )

If it is not the final value, the process proceeds from the step of retrieving the stored channel number from the flash memory to complete the entire favorite channel update process.

The method for determining a preferred channel of the digital broadcast receiver according to the present invention can improve designation of a preferred channel after a channel search or an auto program, thereby designating a preferred channel before channel search. .

Such a method for determining a preferred channel of a digital broadcast receiver according to the present invention has the following effects.

First, since the preferred channel is specified before the channel search, the desired channel can be simultaneously stored and saved.

Second, since a plurality of identifiers are provided to distinguish the preferred channel, the user can designate the preferred channel by using a desired identifier.

This has the effect of satisfying user convenience and various needs.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention should not be limited to the contents described in the embodiments, but should be defined by the claims.

Claims (4)

Entering into a preferred channel designation mode and designating by using an identifier for identifying each channel of channels to be designated as a preferred channel; Executing a channel search to compare the channel identifier of the found channel with the channel identifier input in the preferred channel designation step; Storing the currently retrieved channel number in the preferred channel buffer when the comparison result has a matching value; And repeating the comparing and storing process up to the last channel searched by automatic channel search. The method of claim 1, wherein the channel separation value for specifying a preferred channel, A method of determining a preferred channel of a digital broadcast receiver, characterized by using a physical channel number or a logical channel number or a network_id, transport_id, service_id or service name. 2. The digital broadcasting as claimed in claim 1, wherein the channel identification value of the searched channel is performed by performing an automatic channel search in a service description table (SDT) and compared with the channel discrimination value input in the preferred channel designation step. How to determine the preferred channel of the receiver. The method of claim 1, wherein after completing the channel search and the storing in the preferred channel buffer, the channel information DB is updated. Setting and comparing the channel number stored in the channel information DB and the channel number of the preferred channel buffer to match each other; If it does not match, increasing the index value of the preferred channel buffer and determining whether it is the final value; If it is not the final value, performing the step of obtaining the next channel number from the preferred channel buffer again; in the case of the final value, increasing the index value of the flash memory and determining whether it is the final value; If it is not the final value, the method of determining a preferred channel of the digital broadcast receiver further comprising the step of performing again from the step of obtaining the stored channel number in the flash memory.