KR20090075427A - Method for searching channels in a stb - Google Patents

Abstract

A channel searching method in a satellite broadcast receiver for searching the channel by using a broadcast data channel is provided to reduce a time for satellite broadcast channel search by downloading the broadcasting program through the broadcast data channel. A broadcasting program information is inputted(S200, S202). It detects whether the broadcasting program is in the preexistence channel(S204). The broadcasting program is not in the preexistence channel. The satellite supplying the corresponding broadcasting program is selected by moving the current channel into the update channel. The channel information of the satellite is received through the update channel and the broadcasting program is displayed.

Description

How to Search for Channels in a Satellite Broadcast Receiver {METHOD FOR SEARCHING CHANNELS IN A STB}

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a set top box (STB), and more particularly, to a satellite broadcast receiver capable of reducing the time required for searching for a satellite broadcast channel using a broadcast data channel. Channel search method.

In general, a satellite broadcasting receiver (set top box) is a device configured with a TV receiver to receive a variety of TV image data of a multi-channel transmitted through a network (network) or satellite, which is transmitted through a network or satellite Moving picture experts group (MPEG) receives compressed digital broadcast data to decompress the compressed data, decodes the encoded data, and converts it into a standard NTSC (national television standards committee) signal for display on a TV receiver.

These satellite broadcast receivers are rapidly increasing as the digital TV receivers are increasing and the digital broadcast contents are gradually increasing. In recent years, not only the reception and decoding of digital broadcast data but also various functions such as VCR function and home network host function are available. There is a trend that is being developed as a multi-function satellite broadcast receiver with additional functions.

On the other hand, in the case of the satellite broadcasting as described above, the number of TPs (transponders) allocated to each satellite is limited to several hundreds to hundreds, and each of the TPs is allocated from several to many hundreds of channels. There is a channel, and accordingly, a search may be performed for 10 minutes or more to search for a satellite broadcasting channel.

For example, there is a hotbird, one of the most famous satellites in Europe or the Middle East. The satellites typically have dozens or hundreds of TPs, and typically have more than 1000 channels, with a few dozens or dozens of channels per TP.

Therefore, there is a problem in that it takes a lot of time to search the channels of each satellite as described above, and if the user changes the satellite to watch the channel broadcast from another satellite, the channel of the satellite is searched every time the satellite changes As a result, too much time is spent on the satellite broadcasting channel, which causes inconvenience in use.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a satellite broadcasting channel in a method for searching for a satellite broadcasting channel, a satellite providing the corresponding broadcasting program through a broadcast data channel when the broadcast program requested by the user does not exist in the channel currently searched for by the satellite and By downloading the channel information of the satellite, to provide a channel search method that can reduce the time required for satellite broadcast channel search.

The present invention for achieving the above object is a method for searching for a channel using a broadcast data channel in a satellite broadcasting receiver, receiving a program information to be watched, and checking whether the broadcast program is in an existing channel And selecting a satellite providing a corresponding broadcast program by moving to an update channel if the broadcast program is not in an existing channel, and receiving channel information of the satellite through the update channel to display the broadcast program. Steps.

According to the present invention, a satellite broadcast channel is searched for in a satellite broadcast receiver. When a broadcast program requested by a user is not present in a channel currently searched for by a satellite, a satellite providing the corresponding broadcast program through a broadcast data channel and the corresponding broadcast program are provided. By downloading the channel information of the satellite can be reduced the time required for searching has the advantage of greatly increasing the convenience of use.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail the operating principle of the present invention. In the following description of the present invention, when it is determined that a detailed description of a known function or configuration may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. Terms to be described later are terms defined in consideration of functions in the present invention, and may be changed according to intentions or customs of users or operators. Therefore, the definition should be made based on the contents throughout the specification.

According to a specific technical aspect of the present invention, in the method for searching a satellite broadcast channel in a satellite broadcast receiver, if the broadcast program requested by the user does not exist in the channel searched by the current satellite, the broadcast program is performed through the broadcast data channel. It is possible to easily achieve the purpose of the present invention through the technology of downloading the satellite and the channel information of the satellite provided.

1 is a detailed block diagram of a satellite broadcast receiver to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

Referring to FIG. 1, the satellite broadcast receiver 10 includes a tuner unit 100 for receiving a digital broadcast signal, a demodulator 102 for demodulating the received digital broadcast signal, and the demodulated digital broadcast. De-multiplexer 104 for separating signals into video, audio and data, and descrambler for descrambled scrambled video and audio (de-scrambler) 106 is configured to include.

In addition, the A / V decoder 108 for decoding the descrambled video and audio and outputting a video and audio signal, and the conditional access system module (CAM) 120 for performing the descrambling processing operation. And a central processing unit (CPU) 110 for controlling the operation of each component in response to a user's key input from the key input unit 114, and storing information necessary for controlling the operation of the control unit 110. The memory unit 112 is configured to be included.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, when the user requests a broadcast program that does not exist in a channel currently searched by a satellite, the controller 110 implements a broadcast data channel to provide only channel information of a plurality of satellites as text. After selecting a satellite that provides the broadcast program through the updated update channel, the channel information is downloaded by performing channel search by downloading channel information of the satellite, thereby controlling the time required for channel search.

2 illustrates an operation control flow for performing a channel search using a broadcast data channel in a satellite broadcast receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

First, when the power is turned on by the user, the control unit 110 of the satellite broadcasting receiver turns on the power of the receiver set in step S200, enters the standby mode, and displays the broadcast of the previously watched channel. Wait for key input of.

In the above state, the user requests viewing of a desired broadcast program through the remote controller or the key input unit 114. In this case, the broadcast program requested by the user may exist in the existing channel searched in the satellite currently held by the receiver set, or may be a broadcast program not currently provided by the satellite.

Accordingly, the controller 110 of the satellite broadcasting receiver receives the broadcast program information input by the user in step S202, and then searches for the existing channel of the satellite currently being received by the broadcast program requested for viewing in step S204. Check if it is my existing broadcast program.

In this case, if the requested broadcast program is a broadcast program existing on an existing channel of the satellite currently being received, the controller 110 proceeds to step S206 to search for a channel providing the broadcast program and display the broadcast program. do.

On the contrary, if the requested broadcast program is not a broadcast program existing in the existing channel of the satellite currently being received, the controller 110 proceeds from step S204 to step S208 and moves to the update channel. In step S210, a satellite providing the broadcast program is selected from a plurality of satellites existing in the update channel.

The update channel is a broadcast data channel that provides only channel information provided by a plurality of satellites as text information, and refers to a channel newly defined for the service of the present invention between a satellite broadcaster and a receiver set operator. At this time, the updated channel information becomes information such as pid, vid, aid, symbolrate, and the like. The above channel information is transmitted as a text file through the update channel or a network server. Accordingly, if only the channel information is updated as a text file and stored in the receiver set, the channel can be easily searched without searching the entire broadcast program of each satellite.

Subsequently, the controller 110 checks whether to receive the full channel information provided by the satellite for the selected satellite or only the channel information of the TP including the corresponding broadcast program.

3 illustrates an example of a satellite channel existing in a satellite A. Each satellite includes a plurality of TPs, and each TP includes a plurality of satellite broadcast channels. Thus, for example, in the case of satellite A satellite providing the requested broadcast program, it is checked whether channel information of all TPs included in satellite A is received or only channel information of a specific TP in which the broadcast program exists. The range of satellite broadcast channel information received through the update channel may be preset by the user.

At this time, if it is set to receive only the channel information of the TP including the broadcast program information of all the channels of the satellite selected to provide the broadcast program requested by the user, the control unit 110 proceeds to step (S214) and the update channel The TP including the requested broadcast program is selected from all the channels of the satellite, and only the channel information of the corresponding TP is selected, and the channel information of the receiver is updated in step S216.

On the other hand, if it is set to receive the full channel information of the selected satellite by providing the broadcast program requested by the user, the control unit 110 proceeds directly to the step (S216) to receive the full channel information of the satellite channel Update the information. Subsequently, when the update of the channel information is completed as described above, the controller 110 proceeds to step S218 and displays the requested broadcast program.

As described above, the present invention provides a method for searching for a satellite broadcast channel in a satellite broadcast receiver. By downloading the satellite and channel information of the satellite can reduce the time required to search.

Meanwhile, in the above description of the present invention, specific embodiments have been described, but various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the invention should be determined by the claims rather than by the described embodiments.

1 is a detailed block diagram of a satellite broadcasting receiver to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied;

2 is a flowchart of a channel search process using a broadcast data channel in a satellite broadcast receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3 is a satellite channel structure diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention;

<Brief description of the major symbols in the drawings>

100: tuner unit 102: demodulation unit

104: demultiplexer 106: descrambler

108: A / V decoder 110: control unit

112: memory unit 114: key input unit

116: PCMCIA 120: CAM

Claims (3)

Receiving broadcast program information to be watched; Checking whether the broadcast program is on an existing channel; If the broadcast program is not in an existing channel, moving to an update channel and selecting a satellite providing the broadcast program; Receiving the channel information of the satellite through the update channel and displaying the broadcast program; Channel search method in a satellite broadcast receiver comprising a. The method of claim 1, Channel information of the satellite, The channel search method in the satellite broadcasting receiver characterized in that it is transmitted as text information through the updater channel. The method of claim 2, Channel information of the satellite, And channel information of a corresponding TP (transponder) including the broadcast program among all channel information of the satellite.

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