CN100531300C - Set-top box and method for generating feedback signal - Google Patents

Abstract

This set-top box (SB) communicates with the video server (VS). SB consists of the user port (UP), the broadcast group administrating module (BGA), the decoding module (DE), the TV signal testing module (TST), the timing module (TM) and the feedback signal generating module (FSG). UP receives the user info (UI). BGA adds SB into the broadcast group (BG) according to UI. DE decodes codes according to the BG residing SB. TST tests whether SB receiving the TV signal. TM counts time according to the preset timing period and generates interruption instruction (II) while time exceeded. FSG generates a feedback signal (FS) depending on II and sends FS to VS. This SB and the FS generating method use timer to generate FS and sends FS back to VS. This makes the service supplier using flexibly the FS to meet user's various requirements.

Description

Set-top box and method for generating feedback signal thereof

technical field

The invention relates to a network device and its signal processing method, in particular to a set-top box and its feedback signal generation method.

Background technique

With the rapid development of communication technology, using a set-top box to watch TV has gradually become the main direction of cable TV development. The interaction between end users and service providers is increasingly important.

At present, different service providers often adopt different solutions to problems encountered by end users in the process of watching TV programs. And with the gradual development of video services, the service provider's solution to the problems that occur during the viewing process of the user terminal is also gradually improved.

However, because different service providers adopt different solutions, the set-top box needs to feed back different signals to each service provider, so the existing set-top box cannot timely feed back the problems that occur during the viewing process to different service providers. business. On the other hand, if the user terminal changes the service provider and cannot transmit the signal to the new service provider in time, it is inconvenient.

Therefore, the set-top box needs to quickly feed back the problems that occur during the viewing process to different service providers in a unified manner in a timely manner, so as to facilitate different processing by the service providers.

Contents of the invention

In view of this, it is necessary to provide a set-top box to generate multiple feedback signals so that different service providers can flexibly use each feedback signal to meet user needs.

In addition, it is also necessary to provide a method for generating feedback signals to generate multiple feedback signals so that different service providers can flexibly utilize each feedback signal to meet user needs.

A set-top box is communicated with a video server. The set-top box includes: a user interface, a broadcast group management module, a decoding module, a TV signal detection module, a timing module and a feedback signal generation module. The user interface is used for receiving user information. The broadcast group management module is used for adding the STB into the broadcast group according to the user information. The decoding module is used for decoding according to the broadcast group joined by the set-top box. The TV signal detection module is used to detect whether the set-top box receives a TV signal in the broadcast group. The timing module includes a first timer and a second timer, respectively used for timing according to the first timing period and generating the first or second interrupt instruction, and timing according to the second timing period and generating the third interrupt instruction. The feedback signal generating module is used for generating different feedback signals according to the interrupt instruction.

A method for generating a feedback signal, used in a set-top box, the set-top box communicates with a video server, the method: receiving user information; adding the set-top box to a broadcast group according to the user information; starting a decoding module to decode the broadcast group ; Respectively start the first timer of the timing module to count according to the set first timing cycle to generate the first interrupt signal or the second interrupt signal, and start the second timer to count according to the set second timing cycle to generate The third interrupt signal; judging whether the interrupt command generated by the timing module is received; and if the interrupt command is received, generating different feedback signals according to the interrupt command, and sending the feedback signal to the video server.

In the set-top box and its feedback signal generation method provided by the embodiments of the present invention, different timers generate a variety of feedback signals, which can quickly feed back the problems that occur in the viewing process to different service providers in a unified manner, so that different Service providers can flexibly use each feedback signal and perform different processing to meet the various needs of users.

Description of drawings

FIG. 1 is an application environment diagram of a set-top box of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a set-top box in an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a flowchart of a method for generating a feedback signal in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart after node A in FIG. 3 .

FIG. 5 is a flowchart after node A in FIG. 3 .

FIG. 6 is a flowchart after Node B in FIG. 3 .

Detailed ways

Referring to FIG. 1 , it shows an application environment diagram of the set-top box 10 of the present invention. The video server 20 transmits the TV signal to the TV 30 through the STB 10 .

Referring to FIG. 2 , it is a block diagram of the set-top box 10 in the embodiment of the present invention.

The set-top box 10 includes a user interface 101 , an initialization module 103 , a broadcast group management module 105 , a decoding module 107 , a TV signal detection module 109 , a timing module 111 , an interrupt command detection module 113 and a feedback signal generation module 115 .

The user interface 101 is used for receiving user information. In this embodiment, the user information includes: boot information, broadcast group joining information, and broadcast group leaving information.

The initialization module 103 is used to initialize the set-top box 10 according to user information. In this embodiment, the initialization of the set-top box 10 includes: setting the media playing type, setting the display area, etc., wherein the media playing type includes: Moving Picture Experts Group (Moving Picture Expert Group, MPEG), H.264, etc.

The broadcast group management module 105 is used to enable the STB 10 to join or leave the broadcast group according to user information. The broadcast group management module 105 can be an Internet Group Management Protocol module (Internet Group Management Protocol, IGMP module).

The decoding module 107 is configured to decode the TV signals in the broadcast group after the set-top box 10 joins the broadcast group.

The TV signal detection module 109 is used to detect whether the set-top box 10 receives a TV signal. In this embodiment, the TV signal detection module 109 judges whether the set-top box 10 has received a TV signal according to whether the decoding module 107 is working. If the decoding module 107 works normally, the set-top box 10 has received the TV signal; TV signal.

The timing module 111 is used for timing according to a set timing period and generating an interrupt command. The timing module 111 includes at least one timer, and in this embodiment, includes a first timer 1110 and a second timer 1112 .

The first timer 1110 is used for timing according to the first timing cycle, and generates a first interrupt instruction or a second interrupt instruction when timeout occurs. In this embodiment, the first timing period may be 6 seconds. The first interrupt command is an interrupt command generated when the first timer 1110 times out and does not receive a TV signal before the first timer 1110 is started and the second timer 1112 is started. The second interrupt command is an interrupt command generated when the first timer 1110 times out and does not receive a TV signal after the first timer 1110 and the second timer 1112 are started simultaneously.

The second timer 1112 is used for timing according to the second timing period, and generates a third interrupt instruction when the second timer 1112 times out and does not receive a TV signal, wherein the second timing period is greater than the first timing period. In this embodiment, the second timing period may be 60 seconds.

The interrupt command detection module 113 is used to detect the interrupt command generated by the timing module 111 and transmit the detection result to the feedback signal generation module 115 .

The feedback signal generation module 115 is used to generate different feedback signals according to the detection results generated by the interruption instruction detection module 113 , and send the feedback signals to the video server 20 .

In this embodiment, if the interruption instruction detected by the interruption instruction detection module 113 is the first interruption instruction, the feedback signal generating module 115 generates the first feedback signal and transmits the feedback signal to the video server 20 . In this embodiment, the first feedback signal is a feedback signal with no signal at the beginning of playing.

If the interrupt command detected by the interrupt command detection module 113 is the second interrupt command, the feedback signal generation module 115 generates a second feedback signal and sends the feedback signal to the video server 20 . In this embodiment, the second feedback signal is a feedback signal with no signal during the first timing period (eg, 6 seconds).

If the interrupt command detected by the interrupt command detection module 113 is the third interrupt command, the feedback signal generating module 115 generates a third feedback signal and sends the signal to the video server 20 . In this embodiment, the third feedback signal is a feedback signal with no signal during the second timing period (eg, 60 seconds).

In this way, different service providers may make different processing according to the feedback signals. For example, for the feedback signal of no signal at the beginning of playback, service provider A can provide a prompt character of no signal to the end user, and service provider B can provide this information to the end user by controlling the TV to display a black screen, However, regardless of service provider A or service provider B, although they use different information display methods, the user terminal can use the same set-top box without replacement.

Referring to FIG. 3 , it is a flowchart of a method for generating a feedback signal in an embodiment of the present invention.

In step S300, the user interface 101 receives user information.

In step S302, the initialization module 103 initializes the set-top box 10 according to user information. In this embodiment, the initialization includes setting the display area of the set-top box 10 and the media playing type, wherein the media playing type includes MPEG-2 and H.264.

In step S304, the broadcast group management module 105 adds the STB 10 to the broadcast group according to the user information.

In step S306 , the decoding module 107 performs decoding according to the broadcast group joined by the broadcast group management module 105 .

In step S308, the first timer 1110 starts timing according to the first timing period.

In step S310 , the TV signal detection module 109 detects whether the set-top box 10 receives a TV signal. In this embodiment, the television signal detection module 109 judges whether the set-top box 10 receives the television signal according to whether the decoding module 107 works normally, and if the decoding module 107 works normally, it means that the set-top box 10 receives the television signal; No TV signal is received.

If the set-top box 10 does not receive the TV signal, then go to step S312, and the interruption instruction detection module 113 detects whether the first interruption instruction is received. In this embodiment, the first interrupt command is generated when the first timer 1110 does not receive a TV signal after the first timer 1110 is started.

If the interruption instruction detection module 113 receives the first interruption instruction, it will go to step S314, and the first timer 1110 will stop timing.

In step S316 , the feedback signal generation module 115 generates a first feedback signal according to the first interruption instruction detected by the interruption instruction detection module 113 , and sends the feedback signal to the video server 20 . In this embodiment, the first feedback signal is a feedback signal with no signal when the device is turned on and played. Then, go to step S320.

In step S320, the broadcast group management module 105 determines whether the set-top box 10 needs to leave the broadcast group. In this embodiment, the broadcast group management module 105 determines whether the set-top box 10 needs to leave the broadcast group by judging whether the user interface 101 receives user information leaving the broadcast group.

If the set-top box 10 does not need to leave the broadcast group, it transfers to node A, and the flow after node A will be described in detail in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 .

If the set-top box 10 needs to leave the broadcast group, it transfers to Node B, and the flow after Node B will be described in detail in FIG. 6 .

In step S310, if the set-top box 10 receives the TV signal, then go to step S318, the first timer 1110 stops timing, and then go directly to step S320.

Referring to FIG. 4 , it shows a flow chart after node A in FIG. 3 .

In step S400, the first timer 1110 is started according to a first timing period. In this embodiment, the first timing period is set to 6 seconds, and may also be other seconds.

In step S402, the TV signal detection module 109 detects whether the set-top box 10 receives a TV signal. In this embodiment, the TV signal detection module 109 detects whether the set-top box 10 receives a TV signal by detecting whether the decoding module 107 works normally.

If the set-top box 10 does not receive the TV signal, then go to step S404, and the interruption instruction detection module 113 detects whether the second interruption instruction is received. In this embodiment, the second interrupt command is generated when the first timer 1110 does not receive a TV signal after the first timer 1110 times out after starting the first timer 1110 and the second timer 1112 at the same time.

If the second interrupt command is received, the process goes to step S406, and the first timer 1110 stops timing.

In step S408 , the feedback signal generating module 115 generates a second feedback signal and sends the feedback signal to the video server 20 . In this embodiment, the second feedback signal is a feedback signal with no signal in the first timing period. Then, return to node C.

In step S404, if the set-top box 10 receives the TV signal, then go to step S410, and turn off the first timer 1110. Then go back to node C in Figure 3.

Referring to FIG. 5 , it shows the flow chart after node A in FIG. 3 .

In step S500, the second timer 1112 is started according to the second timing period, and the second timer 1112 is started simultaneously with the first timer 1110 in FIG. 4 . The second timing period is greater than the first timing period. In this embodiment, the timing period of the second timer can be set to 60 seconds, or other number of seconds.

In step S502, the TV signal detection module 109 detects whether the set-top box 10 receives a TV signal. In this embodiment, the TV signal detection module 109 detects whether the set-top box 10 receives a TV signal by detecting whether the decoding module 107 works normally.

If the set-top box 10 does not receive the TV signal, then go to step S504, and the interruption instruction detection module 113 detects whether the third interruption instruction is received. In this embodiment, the third interrupt command is generated when the second timer 1112 does not receive a TV signal after the second timer 1112 is started.

If the third interrupt command is received, the process goes to step S506, and the second timer 1112 stops timing.

In step S508 , the feedback signal generating module 115 generates a third feedback signal and sends the feedback signal to the video server 20 . In this embodiment, the third feedback signal is a feedback signal of no signal in the second timing period when the first timer 1110 and the second timer 1112 are started at the same time. Then, return to node C.

In step S502, if the set-top box 10 receives the TV signal, then go to step S510, and turn off the second timer 1112 . Then go back to node C in Figure 3.

Referring to FIG. 6 , it shows the flow chart after Node B in FIG. 3 .

After the STB 10 needs to leave the broadcast group, in step S600, the decoding module 107 is released.

In step S602 , the initialization module 103 de-initializes the set-top box 10 . In this embodiment, de-initializing the set-top box 10 includes canceling the setting of the display area and media playing type of the set-top box 10 .

In the set-top box 10 and the feedback signal generation method provided by the embodiment of the present invention, different timers generate a variety of feedback signals, and the feedback signals are sent back to the video server 20 at different time points, so that each service provider can flexibly utilize each Feedback signals to meet the various needs of users.

Claims (9)

1. a set-top box communicates to connect with video server, it is characterized in that, described set-top box comprises:

User interface is used to receive user profile;

The broadcasting group management module is used for according to this user profile described set-top box being added broadcasting group;

Decoder module is used for decoding according to the broadcasting group that described set-top box adds;

The TV signal detection module is used to detect described set-top box and whether receives TV signal in described broadcasting group;

Timing module comprises first timer and second timer, is used for according to the timing of setting time-count cycle, and when described timing module is overtime, produces interrupt instruction, wherein:

Described first timer is used for according to timing first time-count cycle, and produce first interrupt instruction or second interrupt instruction, described first interrupt instruction be described first timer started and described second timer initiation before, the instruction that described first timer expired is produced when not receiving described TV signal, described second interrupt instruction is that described first timer and described second timer are when starting simultaneously, the instruction that described first timer expired is produced when not receiving described TV signal, and, then close described first timer if produce second interrupt instruction; And

Described second timer is used for according to timing second time-count cycle, and produce the 3rd interrupt instruction, described the 3rd interrupt instruction is the instruction that described second timer expired is produced when not receiving described TV signal, and if produce the 3rd interrupt instruction, then closes described second timer; And

The feedback signal generation module, be used for producing different feedback signals respectively according to described interrupt instruction, and described feedback signal is sent to described video server, wherein if receive first interrupt instruction, then the feedback signal generation module produces first feedback signal, and described first feedback signal is the feedback signal of no signal when beginning to play; If receive second interrupt instruction, then the feedback signal generation module produces second feedback signal, described second feedback signal be first time-count cycle no signal feedback signal; If receive the 3rd interrupt instruction, then the feedback signal generation module produces the 3rd feedback signal, described the 3rd feedback signal be second time-count cycle no signal feedback signal.

2. set-top box as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, more comprises the interrupt instruction detection module, is used to detect the interrupt instruction that described timing module produces, and testing result is offered described feedback signal generation module.

3. set-top box as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, more comprises initialization module, is used for according to the described set-top box of described user profile initialization.

4. a method for generating feedback signal is used for set-top box, and described set-top box and video server communicate to connect, and it is characterized in that, described method comprises:

Receive user profile;

According to described user profile described set-top box is added in the broadcasting group;

Starting decoder module decodes to described broadcasting group;

Start timing module according to the timing of setting time-count cycle, wherein said timing module comprises first timer and second timer;

Judge whether to receive the interrupt instruction that described timing module produces, comprising:

First timer that starts described timing module is according to timing first time-count cycle, judge whether described set-top box receives described TV signal, if described first timer started and described second timer initiation before, the instruction that described first timer expired is produced when not receiving described TV signal, then judge whether to receive first interrupt instruction, if receive described first interrupt instruction, then first timer stops timing, and producing first feedback signal, the feedback information that is used for no signal when beginning to play is to described video server;

Judge whether described set-top box need leave described broadcasting group, if described set-top box need not left described broadcasting group, then start described first timer and described second timer simultaneously, start described first timer according to described timing first time-count cycle, judge whether described set-top box receives TV signal, if described set-top box does not receive described TV signal at first timer expired, then judge whether to receive second interrupt instruction, if receive second interrupt instruction, then close first timer, and produce second feedback signal according to described second interrupt instruction, be used for first time-count cycle no signal feedback information to described video server; And

In described first timer initiation, start second timer according to timing second time-count cycle, judge whether described set-top box receives TV signal, if described set-top box does not receive described TV signal at second timer expired, then judge whether to receive the 3rd interrupt instruction, if receive the 3rd interrupt instruction, then close second timer, and produce the 3rd feedback signal according to described the 3rd interrupt instruction, be used for second time-count cycle no signal feedback information to described video server.

5. method for generating feedback signal as claimed in claim 4 is characterized in that, more comprises the step according to the described set-top box of described user profile initialization.

6. method for generating feedback signal as claimed in claim 5 is characterized in that, more comprises according to the step of the described set-top box of described user profile initialization:

According to described user profile the viewing area is set; And

The media play type of described set-top box is set according to described user profile.

7. method for generating feedback signal as claimed in claim 6 is characterized in that, described second time-count cycle is greater than described first time-count cycle.

8. method for generating feedback signal as claimed in claim 7 is characterized in that, more comprises:

If described set-top box need be left described broadcasting group, then discharge described decoder module; And

The described set-top box of anti-initialization.

9. method for generating feedback signal as claimed in claim 8 is characterized in that, the step of the described set-top box of anti-initialization comprises that more the viewing area of cancelling described set-top box is provided with and the media play type setting of described set-top box.

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