KR20070057458A - Method for providing application data management in digital broadcasting system - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for managing application data in a digital broadcasting system is provided to remove time delay and enhance use convenience by indexing application data when storing a broadcasting stream, separately storing the indexed application data in a database, and immediately executing the stored application data when a user requests application execution. If a broadcasting signal is received in a digital broadcasting system(S200), a control unit stores a broadcasting stream from the received broadcasting signal(S202). The control unit extracts application data from the broadcasting signal(S204). The control unit classifies the extracted application data by an object unit, and extracts version information about each object(S206). The control unit judges whether the object is a new object on the basis of the extracted version information(S208). If the object is the new object, the control unit configures index information for the object by a time unit and stores the configured index information in a table(S210). The control unit stores the object in a database(S212).

Description

Application data management method in digital broadcasting system {METHOD FOR PROVIDING APPLICATION DATA MANAGEMENT IN DIGITAL BROADCASTING SYSTEM}

1 is a schematic structural block diagram of a digital broadcasting system for performing an application data management method according to the present invention;

2 is a flowchart of a process of storing application data in a digital broadcasting system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3 is a flowchart of an application data execution process in a digital broadcasting system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

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

100: tuner 102: TP Demux part

104: A / V decoder 106: display unit

108: stream storage DB 110: application data storage DB

112: control section 114: index table

116: key input unit

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an application data management technique in a digital broadcasting system, and more particularly, to a method of managing application data in a digital broadcasting system suitable for improving the execution efficiency of application data and enhancing the ease of use.

Recently, with the development of digital technologies such as digital image compression and digital modulation / demodulation, the standardization and commercialization of digital television broadcasting is rapidly progressing. Also, in the conventional terrestrial, satellite, and cable broadcasting, MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) Based on this trend, digitalization is on the rise.

In digital broadcasting, a plurality of broadcast programs encoded on the basis of MPEG are multiplexed and transmitted in the form of a transport stream, which is received by a digital broadcast receiver such as a set-top box (STB) installed on the receiving side. The multiple broadcast programs included in the transport stream are demultiplexed.

Therefore, only one broadcasting program desired by the user can be selected. Also, in a digital broadcasting receiver such as a set-top box, the selected broadcasting program is restored to the original audio and video signal using an MPEG decoder provided in the receiver, The output is sent to the same A / V output device.

In addition, a large-capacity hard disk (HDD) is additionally provided in a digital broadcast receiver such as a set-top box, and a program stored in the hard disk is stored on a hard disk after being transmitted to an A / V output device such as a television. Digital broadcast recording / reproducing functions for reproducing and outputting a broadcast program recorded on a disk, for example, a digital broadcasting system having an additional 'PVR' function have been developed and released and are widely spread.

In general, a PVR is a personal recording / playback apparatus, and has a large storage medium (for example, a hard disk driver (HDD), etc.) internally for storing recorded data (ie, broadcast program data). Has the function of reproducing the data stored in the storage medium.

In this case, in order to increase the utilization of the storage space, the broadcast program data stored in the storage medium is encoded (compressed) and stored in the MPEG2 method. Therefore, the PVR can record a large amount of broadcast program data on a storage medium.

On the other hand, a time-shift function means that a stream buffer input signal of a broadcast program received through a tuner is stored in the above-described storage medium and a desired portion of the stored broadcast program data is stored after a predetermined time. This function allows you to watch randomly. When the time shift mode is started, a progress bar is displayed at the bottom of the screen to display the current progress of the entire playback capacity. In other words, the cursor on the progress bar gradually moves from left to right to represent the recording or playback process.

In a digital broadcasting system such as a PVR, the broadcast signal stored includes a data broadcast called application data in addition to the broadcast stream. Application data is information for providing a user with more various types of data services, and allows a user to view various screens such as broadcast information or educational information while watching a recorded broadcast screen.

However, in the conventional digital broadcasting system, since the data broadcasting receiving and reproducing method of the stored broadcasting stream is processed in the same manner as the real time broadcasting, there is a problem that a lot of inconvenience comes from the user's point of view.

For example, when downloading application data, it takes a short time of 20 to 30 seconds and a length of 2 to 3 minutes. When watching a stored broadcast, trick play such as fast forwarding and rewinding in time shift mode is performed. Since it occurs frequently, there is a problem that it is necessary to spend the above time to download the application each time. This time is sufficient to feel frustrating from the user's point of view, and may be inconvenient in watching a broadcast program or downloading application data.

The present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, by indexing the application data when storing the broadcast stream to separate the database, and to execute the stored application data immediately when the user requests to run the application, time delay The object of the present invention is to provide a method for managing application data in a digital broadcasting system that can be eliminated and improved in usability.

According to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object, a method for storing application data in a digital broadcasting system, the method comprising: storing a broadcast stream in a broadcast signal received when a broadcast signal is received by the system, and the broadcast signal Extracting the application data from the data, dividing the extracted application data into object units, extracting version information of each object, and determining whether the object is a new object based on the extracted version information And if the object is a new object, constructing an index on a time basis for the object, and then tabulating the configured index, and databaseting the object. do.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of executing application data in a digital broadcasting system in which at least one or more application data and version information of an object of the application data are indexed and stored in units of time. Retrieving the stored application data and extracting version information of the object of the application data if requested; retrieving a position of the object in the index using the extracted version information and time; Retrieving the most recently stored object among the objects stored before the execution request time of the application data when at least two objects with version information exist, and reading the object to execute the application data. It provides application data management method in a digital broadcasting system, comprising.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

1 is a schematic block diagram of a digital broadcasting system for implementing a method according to the present invention. The tuner 100, the TP demux 102, the A / V decoder 104, the display 106, A stream storage DB 108, an application data storage DB 110, a control unit 112, an index table 114, and a key input unit 116 are included.

First, the tuner 100 tunes a broadcast signal transmitted from the outside, and the TP demux 102 performs a function of selecting only a broadcast stream with a user's request among the broadcast streams tuned by the tuner 100.

The A / V decoder 104 converts the broadcast stream selected by the TP demux 102 into a video signal, and the display 106 performs a function of displaying the video signal converted by the A / V decoder 104. do.

The stream storage DB 108 performs a function of selectively storing a broadcast stream corresponding to a predetermined broadcast program among the broadcast signals tuned by the tuner 100 under the control of the controller 112 to be described later.

The application data storage DB 110 extracts and selectively stores application data from the broadcast signal tuned by the tuner 100 under the control of the controller 112.

The controller 112 performs an overall function of controlling the tuner 100, the display 106, and the like in response to the key input signal of the key input unit 116. The controller 112 extracts the application data from the broadcast signal received by the tuner 100 and extracts version information for each object of the application data and stores it in the index table 114. The index information stored as described above is used as a reference for selectively reading application data stored separately in the application data storage DB 110 without reading an application from the broadcast stream when an application data execution request is made.

In the index table 114, index information of newly received objects is tabulated in units of time, and the tabled index information is read by the controller 112.

The key input unit 116 is a key input means formed on a main body or a remote controller of a digital broadcasting system. The key input unit 116 generates a key signal corresponding to a key button input action of a user and applies it to the controller 112.

Hereinafter, the application data management method in the digital broadcasting system according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

First, FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a process of storing application data in a digital broadcasting system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, in steps S200 and S202, the controller 112 separates a broadcast stream from a broadcast signal received through the tuner 100 and stores the broadcast stream in the stream storage DB 108.

Thereafter, the controller 112 proceeds to step S204 and extracts application data from the broadcast signal and stores the application data in the application data storage DB 110.

At this time, the controller 112 extracts the version information for each object of the application data as in step S206 and proceeds to step S208.

In step S208, the control unit 112 determines whether the current object is a new object, and if it is not a new object, feeds back to step S204 to extract application data, but if it is a new object, proceeds to step S210. do.

In step S210, the control unit 112 configures an index on a time basis for the corresponding object, and stores the configured index information in the index table 114. The index information indicates a location where the object is stored in the application data storage DB 110, and the time information is a relative value in the stored broadcast stream.

The reason for using time for index information like this is that in real time broadcasting, it is necessary to configure the latest data while monitoring the version of the object. In the stored broadcast stream, when the request for the object and the time of the stored object are known, This is because it knows whether an object should be returned.

After storing the index information in step S210, the controller 112 proceeds to step S212 to store the object in the application data storage DB 110 and ends the process.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a process of executing application data in a digital broadcasting system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, in step S300, the controller 112 determines whether an application execution is requested through the key input unit 116, and proceeds to step S302 when the application execution is requested.

In step S302, the control unit 112 searches for the requested application through the application data storage DB 110 and proceeds to step S304.

In step S304, the controller 112 extracts version information on the object of the requesting application through the index table 114.

Thereafter, in step S306, the controller 112 determines whether the object is the most recent object among the objects stored before the execution time of the requesting application, with reference to the version information about the object. That is, when there are several objects having the same version information in the index information, the latest stored object is found among the objects stored before the requested time.

If the object is detected by the result of the step S306, the controller 112 proceeds to step S308 to read the application data corresponding to the object from the application data storage DB 110 and to read the application data. By executing, this process ends.

As described above, the present invention enables to immediately read and execute the stored data without monitoring the object for 2 to 3 minutes.

According to the present invention, since the stored data can be immediately read and executed for a desired object in the digital broadcasting system without monitoring for 2 to 3 minutes, the time required to execute the application data can be greatly reduced, and the ease of use Can be maximized.

As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated concretely based on the Example, this invention is not limited to such an Example, Of course, various deformation | transformation are possible for it within the technical idea and the scope of a claim mentioned later.

Claims (4)

Application data storage method in a digital broadcasting system, Storing a broadcast stream in the received broadcast signal when the broadcast signal is received by the system; Extracting application data from the broadcast signal; Dividing the extracted application data by object units and extracting version information of each object; Determining whether the object is a new object based on the extracted version information; If the object is a new object, constructing index information in units of time for the object and then tabulating the configured index information; Database the object Application data management method in a digital broadcasting system comprising a. The method of claim 1, And the index information indicates a storage location where the object is databased. A method of executing application data in a digital broadcasting system in which at least one application data and version information of an object of the application data are indexed and stored in units of time. Retrieving stored application data and extracting version information for objects of the application data when an application is requested to run, Searching for a location of a corresponding object in an index using the extracted version information and time; Reading the object to execute application data Application data management method in a digital broadcasting system comprising a. The method of claim 3, wherein The method, Searching for the most recently stored object among the objects stored before the execution request time of the application data when at least two objects having the same version information exist in the index. How to manage.

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