KR20040098988A - Digital broadcasting receiver for providing electronic program guide information and controlling method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A digital broadcast receiving device for supplying program guide information and a controlling method therefor are provided to automatically obtain EPG(Electronic Program Guide) information on overall broadcast channels by using plural tuners, and to supply image information corresponding to broadcast programs of each broadcast channel to the EPG information, thereby servicing more improved EPG information. CONSTITUTION: The first tuber(110) selects a broadcast channel selected by a user. The second tuner(145) selects overall broadcast channels including broadcast signals. An image extractor(160) extracts predetermined images corresponding to broadcast programs received through each broadcast channel. An EPG decoder(170) extracts EPG data corresponding to each broadcast channel. An EPG storage(175) separately stores the predetermined images and the EPG data by broadcast channel. A controller(198) controls the second tuner(145) to perform the selection, controls the extractor(160) and the decoder(170) to extract the images and the data, and processes the images and the data to be stored in the storage(175).

Description

Digital broadcasting receiver for providing electronic program guide information and control method thereof

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital broadcasting receiver and control method for providing electronic program guide (EPG) information. The present invention relates to a digital broadcasting receiver and a control method thereof.

Features of digital broadcasting include multi-channelization, high quality, and multifunction. Among them, the multifunctionalization of digital broadcasting means that various services using data channels can be provided in addition to video and audio. However, in such a digital broadcast, broadcast programs are provided through dozens or hundreds of channels, thereby increasing the choice of viewers and at the same time complicated selection of broadcast programs.

In order to solve such a problem, digital delivery provides an EPG service that provides title information about broadcast programs or detailed information about broadcast programs as one of data services. The EPG service is a service that provides detailed information of a broadcast program through an unused frequency band or through a channel for transmitting a broadcast signal.

Such EPG information is included in data of a Resource and Subscriber Management System (hereinafter referred to as "RSMS"), and this RSMS data is referred to as Program Specific Information (hereinafter referred to as "PSI"). And additional information. The PSI is transmitted in a packet in the form of a transport stream (hereinafter referred to as "TS"). The PSI packet transmitted in the form of TS packet includes a program map table (PMT) and a program association table (PAT). The PAT includes a PID (Packet Identifier) such as a Network Information Table (NIT), a Service Description Table (SDT), a Time Data Table (TDT), and a PMT, and the NIT includes a PID of an Event Information Table (EIT). Doing.

Here, the SDT includes information on a provider that provides a broadcast signal, such as broadcasting station information, and the TDT includes information about an absolute time of a broadcast program. The EIT includes EPG information such as an identification number, a start time, a broadcast time, a program grade, a tie, and a program content of the program.

The digital broadcast receiving apparatus decodes the EPG information included in the EIT and displays the same on the screen of the display unit in a set display pattern. However, the conventional digital broadcasting receiver implements the EPG screen only in text form as shown in FIG. 1. Therefore, in order to check the broadcast program information provided in each channel, it is necessary to check the text information displayed on the EPG screen, which causes inconvenience.

This EPG information is transmitted for each channel. Therefore, as in the conventional digital broadcast receiver having a single tuner, it is not easy to obtain EPG information for all broadcast channels. That is, although EPG information about a channel that has been selected once can be obtained, EPG information about a channel that has not been selected once cannot be obtained. In particular, in digital broadcasting having a larger number of broadcasting channels than analog broadcasting, it is not easy to obtain EPG information for all broadcasting channels. In this case, in order to obtain EPG information on all broadcast channels, there is an operational inconvenience in that the user must change the entire broadcast channel.

The technical problem to be achieved by the present invention is to automatically obtain EPG information for all broadcast channels using a plurality of tuners, and to provide the EPG information with image information corresponding to the broadcast programs included in each broadcast channel. The present invention provides a digital broadcast receiver and a control method thereof that can provide improved EPG information.

1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an EPG screen provided by a conventional digital broadcasting receiver;

2 is a block diagram of a digital broadcast receiving apparatus for providing EPG information according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a diagram illustrating an example of an EPG screen displayed when an EPG screen request signal is received through the infrared receiver shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of the digital broadcast receiver shown in FIG. 2.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

100: digital broadcasting receiver 110: first tuner

145: second tuner 150: second channel decoder

155: second demultiplexer 160: image extraction unit

165: Image Scaler 170: EPG Decoder

175: EPG storage unit 180: graphics engine

198: control unit

In order to solve the above technical problem, the digital broadcast receiver according to the present invention includes a first tuner for tuning a broadcast channel selected by a user, and a second tuner for tuning all broadcast channels including a broadcast signal. And an image extractor for extracting a predetermined image corresponding to a broadcast program received through each broadcast channel tuned by the second tuner, and an EPG for extracting EPG data corresponding to each broadcast channel. A decoder, an EPG storage unit for separately storing the predetermined image and the EPG data for each broadcasting channel, and controlling the second tuner to perform the tuning operation at predetermined intervals, and extracting the predetermined image and the EPG data. The extraction unit and the EPG decoder are controlled, and the extracted predetermined image and the EPG data are stored in the storage unit. A control unit for locking processing is provided.

Preferably, the image extractor further comprises an image scaler for generating a thumbnail image by scaling the predetermined image extracted by the image extractor to a predetermined size, wherein the predetermined image stored in the EPG storage unit is the thumbnail image. It is characterized by that.

The display apparatus may further include a graphic engine configured to output an EPG screen based on the thumbnail image and the EPG data stored in the EPG storage unit under the control of the input unit and the controller. When the EPG screen request signal is received, the EPG screen generated by the graphic engine is processed to be displayed on the display unit, and the display unit overlaps the broadcast program corresponding to the broadcast target broadcasting channel being displayed on the display unit.

In addition, the controller controls the second tuner and the image extractor so that the thumbnail image stored in the EPG storage unit is updated in correspondence with a start / end time point of a broadcast program for any one broadcast channel. .

On the other hand, in order to solve the above technical problem, a control method of a digital broadcast receiver having a plurality of tuners according to the present invention and providing broadcast program guide information, when power is applied to the digital broadcast receiver, Setting the broadcast channel to be viewed through the first tuner among a plurality of tuners, and setting the entire broadcast channel to be sequentially tuned at a predetermined time interval through the second tuner, and tuned by the second tuner. Extracting a predetermined image corresponding to the EPG data corresponding to each broadcasting channel and a broadcast program received through each broadcasting channel, storing the extracted EPG data and the predetermined image, and a user When the EPG screen request signal is received from the EPG, the EPG is based on the stored predetermined image and the EPG data. And a step of displaying the implement side.

Preferably, the method may further include generating a thumbnail image by scaling the predetermined image extracted in the extracting step to a predetermined size.

The display may include displaying the EPG screen when the EPG screen request signal is received, wherein the EPG screen is overlapped with a broadcast program corresponding to the target broadcast channel.

Preferably, the extracting step and the storing step are repeated at predetermined intervals to update the stored thumbnail image, and the thumbnail image is displayed at a start / end time point of a broadcast program for any one of the broadcast channels. It is updated accordingly.

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

2 is a block diagram of a digital broadcast receiving apparatus providing EPG information according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the digital broadcast receiver 100 according to the present invention includes a first tuner 110, a first channel decoder 115, a first demultiplexer 120, an audio decoder 125, and a video decoder. 135, the second tuner 145, the second channel decoder 150, the second demultiplexer 155, the image extractor 160, the image scaler 165, the EPG decoder 170, and the EPG storage unit 175, a graphics engine 180, a main storage unit 185, and a controller 198.

The first tuner 110 receives a video / audio signal transmitted from various image sources. The image source may include an external signal providing device such as a terrestrial television antenna, satellite broadcasting, a local cable, and a digital broadcast source (DBS). The first tuner 110 according to the present embodiment tunes a signal for a selected broadcast channel according to a tuning control signal of the controller 198 among a plurality of broadcast channels tuned through the antenna 105.

The first channel decoder 115 generates a data bit string by channel decoding a signal transmitted from the first tuner 110 in the form of a TS (Transport Stream) packet.

The first demultiplexer 120 classifies data transmitted from the first channel decoder 115 into video data and audio data. The audio data classified by the first demultiplexer 120 is output to the audio decoder 125, and the video data is output to the video decoder 135.

The audio decoder 125 decodes the audio data input from the first demultiplexer 120 according to a predetermined standard (for example, the MPEG standard or the Dolby AC-3 standard) and then performs a predetermined signal processing. Output through the speaker 130.

The video decoder 135 decodes the video data input from the first demultiplexer 120 according to a predetermined standard (for example, the MPEG standard) and performs a predetermined signal processing to output the signal through the display unit 140.

The second tuner 145 sequentially tunes a plurality of broadcast channels received through the antenna 105 at predetermined intervals at predetermined intervals under the control of the controller 198.

The second channel decoder 150 generates a data bit string by channel decoding a signal input from the second tuner 145 in the form of a TS packet.

The second demultiplexer 155 classifies data transmitted from the second channel decoder 150 into PSI packets including video data, audio data, and program additional information such as PAT, PMT, and EIT. The video data classified by the second demultiplexer 155 is output to the image extractor 160, and the PSI packet is output to the EPG decoder 170.

The image extractor 160 extracts a predetermined image among frames continuously input corresponding to the video data from the second demultiplexer 155 under the control of the controller 198. The image extractor 160 may extract an intra frame from among frames output from the second demultiplexer 155 to implement a thumbnail image.

The image scaler 165 generates the thumbnail image by scaling the I frames extracted by the image extractor 160 to a predetermined size. The generated thumbnail image is stored in the EPG storage unit 175.

The EPG decoder 170 decodes the PSI packets classified by the second demultiplexer 155 and extracts EPG data which is electronic program guide information for each channel. The extracted EPG data is stored in the EPG storage unit 175.

The EPG storage unit 175 stores thumbnail images output from the image scaler 165 and EPG data extracted by the EPG decoder 170. Since the EPG information is transmitted for each channel, the EPG storage unit 175 may classify and store the EPG data and the thumbnail image for each channel. Here, the thumbnail image and the EPG data for each channel stored in the EPG storage unit 175 may be separately stored in a separate storage medium.

The graphics engine 180 records a predetermined program for generating an EPG screen. The graphic engine 180 generates a EPG screen based on the EPG data and the thumbnail image stored in the EPG storage unit 175 by executing a predetermined program under the control of the controller 198. As an example, the graphics engine 180 generates the EPG screen as a GUI screen provided for user convenience. The generated EPG screen is displayed through the screen of the display unit 140.

The main storage unit 185 is a non-volatile memory device (ROM) that stores a program of the controller 198 that controls the overall operation of the digital broadcasting receiver 100, and data according to program execution of the controller 198. RAM, which is a volatile memory device for temporarily storing the data, and an EEPROM for storing various reference data.

The infrared receiver 195 receives a user manipulation signal transmitted from the remote controller 190 which is a remote controller and outputs it to the controller 198.

The remote controller 190 is provided with a plurality of function keys (not shown) for selecting or performing a function supported by the digital broadcasting receiver 100.

When power is applied to the digital broadcast receiver 100, the controller 198 loads a program stored in the main storage 185 and according to a user manipulation signal received through the infrared receiver 195, the digital broadcast receiver 100 Control the overall behavior of the.

In more detail, when power is applied to the digital broadcasting receiver 100, the controller 198 sets the target broadcasting channel selected by the user to be tuned through the first tuner 110, and the second tuner 145. Through the above, all broadcast channels are set to be sequentially tuned at a predetermined time interval. At this time, the controller 198 controls the second tuner 145 to tune the entire broadcast channel at predetermined intervals. In addition, the controller 198 may control the entire broadcast channels tuned by the second tuner 145 to be tuned in ascending or descending order. Alternatively, the controller 198 may control to tune frequently selected channels with priority. have.

The controller 198 controls the image extractor 160 to extract a predetermined image among frames continuously input in response to the video data output from the second demultiplexer 155. Preferably, the controller 198 processes the thumbnail image stored in the EPG storage unit 175 to be updated at a predetermined period, but is updated to correspond to the start / end time of the broadcast program for any one of all broadcast channels. The second tuner 145 and the image extractor 160 are controlled.

The image scaler 165 is controlled to generate the thumbnail image by scaling the image extracted by the image extractor 160 to a predetermined size. In addition, the controller 198 controls the EPG decoder 170 to decode the PSI packet output from the second demultiplexer 155 to extract EPG data.

Meanwhile, when the EPG screen request signal is received through the infrared receiver 195, the controller 198 controls the graphic engine 180 to generate an EPG screen based on the thumbnail image and the EPG data stored in the EPG storage unit 175. . The EPG screen generated by the graphics engine 180 is displayed through the screen of the display unit 140. In this case, the controller 198 may process the EPG screen to be displayed on the full screen of the display unit 140. Alternatively, the controller 198 may process the EPG screen to be displayed on a predetermined portion of the screen of the display unit 140. Of course, the display may overlap the broadcast signal being displayed.

The EPG screen displayed on the screen of the display unit 140 lists broadcast programs for each channel based on the broadcast time and the broadcast channel. The EPG screen 200 as shown in FIG. 3 is displayed on the screen of the display unit 140. FIG. 3 illustrates a mini program guide screen as an example of an EPG screen. As shown in FIG. 3, a thumbnail image and detailed information corresponding to a broadcast program for each channel are displayed on the EPG screen 200. The thumbnail image displayed on the EPG screen 200 is an image extracted by the image extracting unit 160 in correspondence with the screen currently being broadcast. In addition, the thumbnail image displayed on the EPG screen 200 is updated at predetermined intervals. For example, the thumbnail image displayed on the EPG screen 200 may be implemented such that any one of the broadcast programs received through each broadcast channel is terminated and updated every time a new broadcast program is started. It can be implemented to update every hour.

Hereinafter, a control method of a digital broadcast receiver for providing EPG information according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of the digital broadcast receiver shown in FIG. 2.

First, when power is applied to the digital broadcasting receiver 100 (S300), the controller 198 controls the tuning operation of the first tuner 110 and the second tuner 145 (S310). That is, the controller 198 controls the first tuner 110 to tune the broadcasting channel selected by the user, and the second tuner 145 to sequentially tune all broadcasting channels in which the broadcasting signal exists at predetermined time intervals. ).

The controller 198 controls the EPG decoder 170 and the image extractor 160 to extract EPG data and images included in the broadcast channel tuned by the second tuner 145 (S320). The EPG decoder 170 decodes PG packets output from the second demultiplexer 155 to extract EPG data, and the image extractor 160 corresponds to the video data from the second demultiplexer 155. A predetermined image frame is extracted from the output frames.

When a predetermined image is extracted by the image extractor 160 in operation S320, the controller 198 controls the image scaler 165 to generate a thumbnail image by scaling the extracted image to a predetermined size in operation S330. The controller 198 processes the EPG data and the thumbnail image to be stored in the EPG storage unit 175 (S340). Here, steps S320 to S340 are repeatedly performed at predetermined time intervals until EPG data and thumbnail images of all broadcasting channels are extracted.

Meanwhile, the controller 198 determines whether the EPG screen request signal is received through the infrared receiver 195 (S350). If it is determined that the EPG screen request signal has been received, the controller 198 implements the EPG screen based on the EPG data and the thumbnail image stored in the EPG storage unit 175 and displays the graphic engine 180 on the screen of the display unit 140. (S360). Accordingly, the EPG screen as shown in FIG. 3 is displayed on the screen of the display unit 140.

As described above, in response to the EPG screen 200 request signal, the EPG information for each broadcast channel may be embodied as text and an image corresponding to the broadcast program, thereby providing a more improved EPG screen 200 to the user. . The user can easily grasp the program broadcast in each broadcasting channel through the image displayed on the EPG screen 200.

Although the present invention has been described in detail through the representative embodiments, those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains can make various modifications without departing from the scope of the present invention. Will understand. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments, but should be defined by the claims below and equivalents thereof.

As described above, according to the digital broadcasting receiver and control method for providing EPG information according to the present invention, a plurality of tuners can be provided to automatically acquire EPG information for all broadcasting channels, and the EPG screen request is made. By providing the thumbnail image extracted corresponding to the broadcast program included in each channel together with the time EPG data, it is possible to provide improved EPG information to the user.

Claims (9)

A first tuner for tuning the broadcast channel selected by the user; A second tuner for tuning all broadcast channels including broadcast signals; An image extraction unit which extracts a predetermined image corresponding to a broadcast program received through each broadcast channel tuned by the second tuner; An EPG decoder for extracting EPG data corresponding to each broadcast channel; An EPG storage unit for separately storing the predetermined image and the EPG data for each broadcasting channel; And And control the image extractor and the EPG decoder to control the second tuner to perform the tuning operation at a predetermined period and to extract the predetermined image and the EPG data, and the extracted predetermined image and the EPG data And a control unit for processing to be stored in the storage unit. The method of claim 1, And an image scaler configured to generate a thumbnail image by scaling the predetermined image extracted by the image extracting unit to a predetermined size. And the predetermined image stored in the EPG storage unit is the thumbnail image. The method of claim 2, A display unit; An input unit; And And a graphic engine configured to output an EPG screen based on the thumbnail image and the EPG data stored in the EPG storage unit under the control of the controller. When the EPG screen request signal is received through the input unit, the controller processes the EPG screen generated by the graphic engine to be displayed on the display unit, and the broadcast program corresponding to the viewing target broadcast channel being displayed on the display unit; A digital broadcast receiver providing program guide information, characterized in that the display is superimposed. The method of claim 2, The control unit controls the second tuner and the image extractor so that the thumbnail image stored in the EPG storage unit is updated in correspondence with a start / end time point of a broadcast program for any one of the broadcast channels. Digital broadcast receiver for providing program guide information. In the control method of a digital broadcast receiving device having a plurality of tuners and providing broadcast program guide information, When power is applied to the digital broadcast receiver, the broadcast target broadcasting channel is tuned through a first tuner of the plurality of tuners, and the broadcast channels are sequentially tuned through a second tuner at predetermined time intervals. Doing; Extracting EPG data corresponding to each broadcast channel tuned by the second tuner and a predetermined image corresponding to a broadcast program received through each broadcast channel; Storing the extracted EPG data and the predetermined image; And And when the EPG screen request signal is received from a user, realizing and displaying the EPG screen based on the stored predetermined image and the EPG data. Control method. The method of claim 5, And generating a thumbnail image by scaling the predetermined image extracted in the extracting step to a predetermined size. The control method of claim 1, further comprising program guide information. The method of claim 5, In the displaying step, when the EPG screen request signal is received, the EPG screen is displayed, and the EPG screen is displayed so that the EPG screen is superimposed with the broadcast program corresponding to the broadcast target broadcasting channel. Control method of receiver. The method of claim 6, And the extracting step and the storing step are repeatedly performed at predetermined intervals to update the stored thumbnail image. The method of claim 8, The thumbnail image is a control method of a digital broadcasting receiver for providing program guide information, characterized in that the update is updated corresponding to the start / end time of the broadcast program for any one of the broadcast channel.