KR20070056710A - Apparatus and method for adaptive transmitting oob data in bidirectional digital tv system - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for adaptively transmitting OOB(Out Of Band) data according to data transmission quantity in a digital TV(TeleVision) system are provided to expand a transmission channel and quickly transmit data when there is a lot of data to be transmitted to a head end. A key input part(228) receives a data transmission instruction from a user. A transmission channel control part(222) decides a reverse transmission channel for adaptive data transmission according to an amount of data to be transmitted to a head end(210) by the data transmission instruction inputted to a main control part(224) through the key input part(224). An OOB channel transmission/reception part(221) transmits the data to the head end through the decided reverse transmission channel.

Description

Apparatus and method for adaptive transmitting OOB data in bidirectional Digital TV system according to data transmission volume in digital TV system

1 is a view for explaining a method for transmitting and receiving OOB data in a two-way data broadcasting system according to the prior art

2 is a view for explaining a variable out-of-band data transmission apparatus according to the amount of data transmission in the interactive digital TV system according to the present invention

3 is a flowchart illustrating a variable out-of-band data transmission method according to the amount of data transmission in the bidirectional digital TV system according to the present invention.

4 is a diagram illustrating an additionally allocated out-of-band reverse transport channel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a diagram illustrating an additional out-of-band reverse transport channel according to another embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a diagram illustrating an additional out-of-band reverse transport channel according to another embodiment of the present invention.

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

210: head end 220: digital TV

221: out-of-band channel transceiver 222: transmission channel control unit

223: DCR processing unit 224: main control unit

225: signal processing unit 226: output unit

227: storage unit 228: key input unit

The present invention relates to a variable out-of-band data transmission apparatus and method according to the amount of data transmission in a two-way digital TV system.

Digital data broadcasting refers to a service that transmits text, pictures, graphics, voice, video, program packages, and other multimedia data to terminals such as set-top boxes, computers, and mobile phones at high speed. Provides TV program and its related information, life information, internet access, e-commerce, and interactive entertainment using communication media such as satellite waves.

Such digital data broadcasting is a one-way service that provides information such as TV programs, stocks, weather, etc. according to the subscriber's needs, and an interactive service in which the subscriber participates in purchasing goods, quiz shows, etc. through a terminal. Can be divided into

In general, digital TV, which adopts DCR (Digital Cable Ready) method, is currently performing unidirectional communication as UDCP (UniDirectional Digital Cable Products).

On the other hand, unlike a general broadcast that broadcasts over the air, the cable TV is provided so that only the subscriber can watch when the broadcast signal is transmitted through the cable to the subscriber. In particular, the two-way cable TV not only receives a broadcast signal from the broadcasting station. It allows subscribers to participate directly in the program and even provide information services such as phone calls, information retrieval and e-mail. In this case, when using the interactive service, the subscriber executes an application (application) installed in the terminal, connects to a web server such as an interactive service provider, participates in the purchase of goods, a quiz show, and the like. Accordingly, the content referred to is transmitted to the subscriber terminal.

Therefore, the two-way cable TV receiver should be provided with a function to process digital signal for VOD (Video On Demand) in addition to the high frequency broadcast signal and transmit it to the broadcasting station. Also, data such as service information or e-mail can be loaded. It should be configured to process signals other than broadcast signals separately from broadcast signals.

The high-frequency broadcast signal is transmitted to the TV receiver through an in-band channel, and data such as service information or e-mail of a broadcaster and user data signal by user manipulation are transmitted and received through an out-of-band channel ( It is transmitted and received through Out-Of-Band Channel (OOB Channel).

1 is a view for explaining a method for transmitting and receiving OOB data in a bidirectional data broadcasting system according to the prior art.

As shown in FIG. 1, the interactive data broadcasting system according to the related art includes a headend 110, which is a transmission / reception device of a broadcaster, and a subscriber station 120, such as a digital TV 120.

The headend 110 includes an application server 111 for managing a function of encoding data according to application and content management, application signaling, and transport protocol protocol.

The subscriber station 120 is transmitted through an out-of-band (OOB) channel and a broadcast signal transmitted from the headend 110 through an in-band channel. Subscriber's host 121 for decoding the control signal and the additional information of the broadcast signal through pre-installed middleware, and the control signal, additional information and limited data received through the out-of-band channel from the host 121. Including a display unit 123 for outputting the broadcast signal and the additional information and the application execution screen decoded by the host 121 and the limited reception module 122 implemented as a smart card or cable card to analyze the It is composed.

In the interactive data broadcasting system according to the related art, the application server 111 of the headend 110 encodes video, audio, data, etc. supplied by a content provider and subscribes to a digital data broadcasting service. It manages the information of one subscriber, restricts paid services, etc. according to the subscriber, and configures the TV program and its related information, life information, Internet access, e-commerce, and interactive entertainment as a broadcasting signal to the subscriber terminal device 120. send.

In addition, the application server 111 analyzes the data transmitted from the subscriber station 120 through the out-of-band data channel (OOB RDC) from the subscriber station 120 to request the subscriber. The data processing result is transmitted to the subscriber station 120 in real time.

In the bidirectional data broadcasting system according to the related art, when the subscriber needs to transmit data to the headend 110 by using the subscriber station 120, the subscriber station at the headend 110 ( Only channels that have been unilaterally allocated for 120 can be used.

Therefore, even when the amount of data to be transmitted from the subscriber station 120 to the headend 110 is large, since the subscriber station 120 must use only the allocated channel, a large amount of time must be consumed to transmit a large amount of data. The problem arises.

According to the present invention, when the amount of data to be transmitted to the headend is large by using the out-of-band transmission channel used for data transmission other than image information in the two-way digital TV, the two-way digital can transmit data quickly. An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for out-of-band data transmission in accordance with the amount of data transmission in a TV system.

In addition, the present invention, if the amount of data to be transmitted to the headend using the out-of-band transmission channel used for data transmission other than the image information in the two-way digital TV requires the transmission channel extension to the headend side, and transmit Provides a variable out-of-band data transmission apparatus and method according to the data transmission amount in a two-way digital TV system that can extend the reverse transmission channel using a channel allocated additionally by the headend for the channel expansion request to transmit data quickly The purpose is to do that.

In addition, the present invention extends the transmission bandwidth in addition to allocating a plurality of transmission channels when a large amount of data to be transmitted to the headend using an out-of-band transmission channel used for data transmission other than image information in a two-way digital TV. It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for variable out-of-band data transmission according to the amount of data transmission in a two-way digital TV system capable of improving data transmission speed by improving reverse transmission speed.

In the bidirectional digital TV system according to the present invention for achieving the above object, the variable out-of-band data transmission apparatus according to the amount of data transmission, the key input unit for receiving a data transmission command from the user, the main control unit through the key input unit A transmission channel control unit for determining a reverse transmission channel for variable data transmission according to the capacity of data to be transmitted to the headend by a data transmission command input to the headend; It characterized in that it comprises an out-of-band channel transceiver for transmission.

The transport channel controller may determine the uplink transport channel according to bandwidth extension information of the uplink transport channel transmitted from the headend or additionally allocated channel information.

In addition, the variable out-of-band data transmission method according to the amount of data transmission in the two-way digital TV system for achieving the object of the present invention, the step of switching to the transmission mode when the user's data transmission command, and in addition to the currently allocated channel Determining whether a transport channel extension is necessary; requesting additional allocation of a transport channel to a headend if the transport channel extension is necessary; and receiving a response from the headend in response to the transport channel addition allocation request; And transmitting data using the additionally allocated out-of-band transmission channel when there is an additionally allocated transmission channel as a result of the response reception.

The determining of whether the transport channel extension is necessary may be performed according to the size or type of data to be transmitted.

The additional transmission channel assignment may include transmitting information to the headend to request additional transmission channel including data information to be transmitted and currently allocated channel information.

In the step of requesting additional transport channel allocation, the transport channel additional allocation may be any one or more of transmission bandwidth extension or additional channel additional allocation.

According to the apparatus and method for variable out-of-band data transmission according to the amount of data transmission in the two-way digital TV system according to the present invention configured as described above, the data to be transmitted to the headend using the out-of-band data transmission channel in the two-way digital TV In the case of a large amount, the headend side needs to expand the transmission channel, and the headend side additionally allocates a separate multiple channel or transmission bandwidth to the headend side in order to improve the reverse transmission speed. Since the data can be exchanged, there is an effect that the user can quickly transmit the data of the high capacity to be transmitted.

Hereinafter, a variable out-of-band data transmission apparatus and method according to data transmission amount in a bidirectional digital TV system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

2 is a view for explaining a variable out-of-band data transmission apparatus according to the data transmission amount in the bidirectional digital TV system according to the present invention, Figure 3 is a data transmission amount in the bidirectional digital TV system according to the present invention A flowchart for explaining a variable out-of-band data transmission method.

As shown in FIG. 2, the bidirectional digital TV system to which the variable out-of-band data transmission device according to the data transmission amount according to the present invention is applied includes a head end 210 and a digital TV 220 which are broadcast reception and reception devices of a broadcaster. Include.

The headend 110 is a control unit 211 for controlling data transmission and reception with the digital TV 220 according to application and content management, application signaling and transmission protocol protocol, and a broadcast data storage module for storing the application and content. 212, an encoding module 213 for encoding applications and contents stored in the broadcast data storage module 212 into MPEG-2 transport stream packets according to a transport protocol, and an application encoded by the encoding module 213. And a multiplexing module 214 for multiplexing the content into video / audio / data, and applications and contents in the form of MPEG-2 transport stream packets multiplexed in the multiplexing module 214 are transmitted through an in-band channel and Transmitting control signals and additional information through out-of-band channels and transmitting to digital TV 220 It is configured to include a transport module 215.

In general, the transmission module 215 uses 70 to 130 MHz as a forward out-of-band data transmission channel (FDC) when using an out-of-band data channel for data transmission, and uses 54 to 130 MHz when using an in-band channel. 864 Mhz band is divided by 6 Mhz.

The digital TV 220 includes a head end according to a control command of a key input unit 228 for receiving a data transmission command from a user and a main control unit 224 that has received a data transmission command through the key input unit 228. DCR processing unit 223 for performing user authentication with 210, and transmission channel control unit 222 for determining a variable reverse transmission channel for data transmission according to the capacity of data to be transmitted according to the input data transmission command And an out-of-band channel transceiver 221 for transmitting data to the headend through the reverse transport channel determined by the transport channel controller.

When the user data is transmitted to the headend 210, the out-of-band channel transceiver 221 divides 5 to 54 MHz bands by 1-3 MHz as a reverse data channel (RDC).

An in-band channel receiver 222, which is an unexplained code, receives an application and content in the form of an MPEG-2 transport stream packet transmitted from the headend 210 and transmits the service data authenticated by the DCR processor 223 to the signal processor 225. )

The signal processor 225 processes and outputs the received service data in a form suitable for the output unit 226 for each video / audio / data signal.

The storage unit 227 stores application programs and user data required by the digital TV 220.

A method of transmitting a high capacity data to a headend by a user in a two-way digital TV system using a variable out-of-band data transmission apparatus according to the data transmission amount configured according to the present invention will be described.

Referring to FIG. 3, when a user needs to transmit a large amount of data to the headend 210 by the user while watching a service transmitted from the headend 210 during a digital TV operation, the user inputs a key input unit 228. In step S310, a data transmission command is input.

In response to the data transmission command input, the main control unit 224 of the digital TV applies a control signal to the transmission channel control unit 222 to transmit data to the headend 210 through the out-of-band channel transmission / reception unit 221. The transport channel controller 222 converts the out-of-band channel transceiver 221 to an operation state in a transmission mode (S320).

In this case, the transmission channel controller 222 transmits user-specified data or extends out-of-band reverse transmission channel using only the transmission channel already allocated from the headend 210 for transmission of the out-of-band channel of the current digital TV. It decides whether to transmit the data.

To this end, the transport channel controller 222 determines a data state to be transmitted to the headend 210. That is, it determines whether to extend the transmission channel according to the size or type of data to be transmitted. As shown in FIG. 3, according to an embodiment of the present invention, whether to extend the transmission channel may be determined according to the amount of data to be transmitted to the headend 210 (S330).

As a result of the determination, when the amount of data to be transmitted to the headend 210 does not exceed the preset capacity by the user, the data is transmitted to the headend using only the current out-of-band reverse transmission channel already allocated from the headend 210. 210 is transmitted to (S340)

However, if the amount of data to be transmitted exceeds the preset capacity by the user, it is determined that the out-of-band reverse transport channel needs to be extended, and the headend 210 requests additional allocation of the out-of-band reverse transport channel. The data is transmitted using the out-of-band reverse transport channel allocated to (S350).

The requesting of additional allocation of the out-of-band reverse transport channel may include transmitting and receiving out-of-band channel information for requesting additional allocation of the out-of-band reverse transport channel together with information on data to be transmitted and information currently allocated out-of-band reverse channel. The data is transmitted to the headend 210 through the unit 221 (S351).

The transmission module 215 of the headend 210 adds an out-of-band reverse transport channel including information about data transmitted from the digital TV 220 through the out-of-band channel transceiver 221 and currently allocated channel information. After receiving the allocation request information, the demultiplexer (not shown) of the multiplexing module 214 extracts each piece of information and outputs the information to the control unit 211 of the headend 210.

The control unit 211 of the headend 210 analyzes channel information currently allocated to a plurality of digital TVs, and then may additionally allocate the corresponding digital TVs 220 requesting the out-of-band reverse transmission channel extension. Check whether there is a reverse transport channel. If there is an out-of-band reverse transport channel that can be additionally allocated to the digital TV 220 as a result of the check, the out-of-band reverse transport channel that can be additionally allocated to transmit the data through the corresponding channel. The response signal including the information is transmitted to the digital TV 220 through the transmission module 215 of the headend 210.

The response signal including the additionally allocated out-of-band uplink transport channel information may include transmission bandwidth extension information based on the center frequency of the out-of-band uplink transport channel or the center frequency of the previously allocated out-of-band uplink transport channel. It may be additional allocation information of an out-of-band reverse transmission channel having another separate center frequency.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an additionally allocated out-of-band reverse transport channel according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an additionally allocated out-of-band reverse transport channel according to another embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a diagram for describing an additional out-of-band reverse transport channel according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, when the predetermined bandwidth (1.544Mhz) is the bandwidth of the out-of-band reverse transmission channel allocated to the digital TV 220 based on the reference frequency A, the control unit 211 of the headend 210 A predetermined bandwidth (1.544Mhz) may be additionally allocated to the out-of-band reverse transmission channel of the digital TV 220 so that the digital TV 220 may transmit data around another center frequency B.

Referring to FIG. 5, when a predetermined bandwidth (1.544Mhz) around the reference frequency A is a bandwidth of an out-of-band reverse transmission channel allocated to the digital TV 220, the control unit 211 of the headend 210 An out-of-band reverse transmission channel of the digital TV 220 has an extended bandwidth (3.08Mhz) so that the digital TV 220 can transmit data using a predetermined bandwidth (1.544Mhz) around the same center frequency A. Can be allocated additionally.

Referring to FIG. 6, when a predetermined bandwidth (1.544Mhz) is a bandwidth of an out-of-band reverse transmission channel allocated to the digital TV 220 based on the reference frequency A, the control unit 211 of the headend 210 Extended bandwidth (3.08Mhz) so that the digital TV 220 can transmit data using a predetermined bandwidth (1.544Mhz) around the same center frequency A, and extends around another center frequency A A bandwidth (3.08Mhz) may be additionally allocated to the out-of-band reverse transport channel for the digital TV 220 so that the digital TV 220 can additionally transmit data.

When the response signal including the out-of-band reverse transmission channel information additionally allocated to the digital TV 220 is transmitted to the digital TV 220 through the transmission module 215 of the headend 210, the digital TV 220 ) Receives the corresponding response signal through the out-of-band channel transceiver 221 (S352).

The response signal including the transmission channel addition allocation information received through the channel transceiver 221 is output to the transmission channel controller 222. The transport channel controller 222 analyzes the received response signal to determine whether a further usable out-of-band reverse transport channel is allocated (S353).

If the result of the determination (S353), the response signal transmitted from the headend 210 does not include the bandwidth extension of the out-of-band reverse transmission channel or additionally allocated channel information, the out-of-band channel transceiver 221 is controlled In step S340, data is transmitted using only an out-of-band reverse transport channel allocated.

However, when the determination result (S353), the response signal transmitted from the head end 210 includes the bandwidth extension of the out-of-band reverse transmission channel or additionally allocated channel information, using the out-of-band reverse transmission channel The data may be transmitted to the headend 210 (S354).

That is, when there is an out-of-band reverse transport channel additionally allocated as a result of receiving the response signal, data is transmitted using an out-of-band reverse transport channel allocated previously and an out-of-band reverse transport channel allocated additionally, and bandwidth extension information is If present, data is transmitted using all of the extended bandwidth, and if there is bandwidth expansion and additional out-of-band reverse channel assignment, data is transmitted using all allowed bandwidth and channels. As such data is transmitted from the digital TV 220 to the headend 210 using all of the extended out-of-band reverse transport channels, the user can transmit data desired by the user much faster than in the related art. .

When data transmission using the out-of-band reverse data transmission channel is performed (S340 and S354), the transmission channel controller 222 determines whether all transmission of data to be transmitted is completed (S360: S361 and S362).

As a result of the determination (S361), if the transmission is not completed, data transmission is continued using the allocated out-of-band reverse data transmission channel until the corresponding data transmission is completed (S340, S354), and if the transmission is completed, the data transmission mode Terminate (S370).

In the above description, the variable out-of-band data transmission apparatus and method according to the data transmission amount in the interactive digital TV system according to the present invention have been described in detail. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and many variations are possible by those skilled in the art within the spirit of the present invention. Therefore, changes and modifications are included in the present invention without departing from the spirit of the invention, such facts will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

According to the present invention, when the amount of data to be transmitted to the headend is large by using the out-of-band data transmission channel used for data transmission other than the image information in the two-way digital TV, an additional backward transmission channel can be used. By extending the out-of-band transmission channel for transmission, there is an effect that the user can quickly transmit the high-capacity data to be transmitted.

In addition, the present invention provides a transmission bandwidth in addition to the allocation of a plurality of separate transmission channels when a large amount of data to be transmitted to the headend using an out-of-band data transmission channel used for data transmission other than image information in a bidirectional digital TV. By extending the out-of-band transmission channel to improve the reverse transmission speed has the effect of enabling high-speed data exchange.

Claims (6)

A key input unit for receiving a data transmission command from a user; A transmission channel controller for determining a reverse transmission channel for variable data transmission according to a capacity of data to be transmitted to the headend by a data transmission command input to the main controller through the key input unit; An out-of-band channel transceiver for transmitting data to the headend through a reverse transport channel determined by the transport channel controller; Variable out-of-band data transmission apparatus according to the amount of data transmission in a two-way digital TV system comprising a. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmission channel control unit, The variable out-of-band data transmission apparatus according to the data transmission amount in the bidirectional digital TV system, characterized in that for determining the reverse transmission channel according to the bandwidth extension information or additionally allocated channel information of the reverse transmission channel transmitted from the headend. Switching to a transfer mode when a user's data transfer command is input; Determining whether a transport channel extension is required in addition to the currently allocated channel; Requesting additional allocation of a transport channel from the headend if the transport channel is required to be expanded as a result of the determination; Receiving a response from the headend in response to the transport channel addition allocation request; Transmitting data using the additionally allocated out-of-band transmission channel when there is an additionally allocated transmission channel as a result of receiving the response; Variable out-of-band data transmission method according to the amount of data transmission in a two-way digital TV system characterized in that it comprises a. The method of claim 3, wherein the determining of whether the transport channel extension is necessary comprises: A variable out-of-band data transmission method according to the amount of data transmission in a two-way digital TV system characterized in that it is determined according to the size or type of data to be transmitted. The method of claim 3, wherein the request for additional transport channel allocation comprises: A variable out-of-band data transmission method according to the amount of data transmission in a two-way digital TV system, characterized in that for transmitting to the headend information to request additional transmission channel, including data information to be transmitted and currently allocated channel information. The method of claim 3, wherein the additional transport channel allocation, The additional transmission channel allocation is any one or more of transmission bandwidth extension or additional allocation of a separate channel.

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