JPH0856204A - Transmission reception system for broadcast signal and its device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the interruption of the reception of a broadcast program due to the increase/decrease in the number of programmed channels by including the classification information of a software content to identification data of each program, sending the resulting data and allowing a viewer to detect and decode classification information in the selected data the same as or similar to the classification information of the programmed channel. CONSTITUTION:A PID is made up of an ID representing a genre (e.g. sport, news, drama and weather forecast) of a programmed channel and an ID representing the number of the programmed channel. When the programmed channel ID designated by a viewer is not in existence in the PAT, the ID representing the genre in the programmed channel stored and designated by the viewer is detected. Then whether or not the programmed channel having the same genre ID as that of the programmed channel designated by the viewer is in existence is detected, As a result, even when the programmed channel expected and commanded by the viewer is not broadcast, the programmed channel of the same genre is automatically selected.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital broadcast transmission / reception system and apparatus relating to control of broadcast programs and control of received programs in a digital broadcast system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, in recent years, the technology of digitizing various information signals such as video and audio and processing the signals has made remarkable progress, and along with this, digital broadcasting systems and digital broadcasting and digital communication Development of digital broadcast transmission / reception systems has been actively carried out in various countries around the world in order to realize integrated systems and the like. By the way, one of the most important factors in developing such a digital broadcast transmission / reception system is a technique of compressing a digitized video signal / audio signal and other information data.

As a standard of this data compression processing technology,
MPEG (Moving Picture Image Coding Experts Grou
p), JPEG (Joint Photographic Coding Experts
Group) and H.H. 261 was the mainstream, but now I
SO (International Organization for Standardization) / IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission)
13818 [ISO / IEC JTC (Joint Technical Committee)
1 / SC (Subcommittee) 29 / WG (Working Group) 11] is a method proposed for global standardization across a wide range of technical fields such as broadcasting, communication, and storage media. is there.

According to ISO / IEC13818, not only the above-mentioned data compression method is specified, but also the broadcasting station performs a compression process on each digital video / audio data and other information data which form a program. The system is also established for a control part for a digital broadcast transmission / reception system in which the above-mentioned bit streams are multiplexed and broadcast, and a receiver receives a desired program.

Here, FIG. 10 shows ISO / IEC138.
18 schematically shows a means for multiplexing a bitstream for broadcasting and a bitstream for communication, which are obtained by respectively compressing digital video / audio data based on the regulations of 18.

First, the digital video data is compressed by the video encoding circuit 11 to obtain a video ES (Elementa).
ry stream), and is then supplied to the packetizing circuit 12 and divided into packet units of one frame P
It is formed as an ES (Packetized Elementary Stream) and supplied to the multiplexing circuit 13.

Further, the digital audio data is compressed by the audio encoding circuit 14 to be an audio ES, and then supplied to the packetizing circuit 15 to be an audio PES divided into packet units of one frame, and multiplexed. Is supplied to the digitization circuit 13. Then, this multiplexing circuit 13
Then, the video PES and the audio PES are time-division multiplexed, so that a multiplexed signal is generated in units of 188-byte packets in the TS (Transport Stream) system.

As shown in FIG. 11, the multiplexed signal is divided into units of frames for both video and audio, and a header is added to the divided signals to form a PES. This PES has a variable length. The PES generated in this manner is basically divided into 184-byte packets for time-division multiplexing of video and audio, and a 4-byte header is attached to each PES to provide a 188-byte TP. (Transport
Packet) is formed. Although FIG. 10 describes multiplexing of video and audio, actually, various information data such as additional information data of programs and program information may also be converted into TP and time-division multiplexed with video and audio. become.

Next, FIG. 12 shows a means for forming a bit stream for broadcasting. That is, FIG.
2, the program 1 shows one program,
By the multiplexing circuit 161, two systems of video data, two systems of audio data, one system of other information data and PMT (Prog
ram Map Table) 1 line is multiplexed. In this PMT, PID (Packet Identify) for identifying video data, audio data, and information data, a description about a program, and the like are put.

As shown in FIG. 12, n multiplexing circuits 1 are provided.
By preparing 61, 162, ..., 16n, n
Individual programs 1, 2, ..., N can be set. The program for which n pieces are set in this way is multiplexed by the multiplexing circuit 17
Thus, each data is time-division multiplexed. In this case, the multiplexing circuit 17 uses a PAT (Program Association) as comprehensive program information for extracting the PMT of each program.
application table), CAT (Conditional Access Table) for controlling scrambling, and NIT (Network Info) indicating information on the network used.
rmation Table) etc. are also time division multiplexed.

As described above, according to the standard of ISO / IEC13818, PMT, PAT, CA regarding program information are provided.
Four types of tables, T and NIT, are set.
The PID of these tables is PAT "00", CA
When T is "01", PMT and NIT can be freely specified.

Therefore, in order to specify the program, the receiving side first decodes the PAT to detect the PID of each PMT, and specifies the detected PMT PID. afterwards,
Various types of data can be decoded by detecting the PID of each of the video data, audio data, and information data of the designated program and designating the PID to be decoded.

That is, when the viewer designates a program, the channel is not designated as in the conventional analog broadcasting, but the program is designated after the channel is designated. The problem here is that when the program specified by the viewer has ended and the viewer has not specified the next program, the receiver does not know which program to decode. In order to solve this problem, the Japan Broadcasting Corporation has decided to use Program A
B and B are defined as organization channels, and they are set like those of conventional analog broadcasting channels. That is, the above P
When the PID of MT is fixed for each organization channel and the viewer specifies one organization channel, even if the program changes, the program of the organization channel will be continuously viewed (while receiving the program). be called).

This state is shown in FIG. Now, when the viewer selects the organization channel A, the PMT of PID = a specified in the PAT is referred to, and the PID = b of the video signal and the PID = of the audio signal described therein.
c, the packet of PID = d of the data signal is selected, and the operation of decoding each signal is obtained. It is assumed that the program is A and that programs A2 and A3 are broadcast over time. At this time, P shown in PAT
ID = a does not change, and the PID of video, audio, and data in the PMT changes. Then, the viewer can receive the data as described above as long as the organization channel A is designated.

[0015]

As described above, in the above-mentioned digital broadcast receiving system, once the viewer selects the composition channel, the composition channel can be received, but the composition channel to be broadcast depends on the time of day. May increase. This is because the capacity of the Transport Stream that is broadcast at the same frequency shown in FIG. 12 is constant, but it depends on how many channels of the video signal are broadcast in the Program (composition channel) or how much the bandwidth of the video signal is. Depending on the situation, the capacity of each organization channel may be different. Furthermore, in such a case, it may be necessary to cancel the broadcasting of some of the organization channels that have been broadcast so far. That is, the number of composition channels to be broadcast may change.

When such a situation occurs, the reception system may not be able to handle the reception as described above. This is because the broadcast of the organization channel selected until now may be canceled.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a digital broadcast transmission / reception system and apparatus capable of preventing the interruption of reception by increasing or decreasing the number of composition channels and effectively utilizing the increased composition channels. To do.

[0018]

According to the present invention, on the transmitting side, when a plurality of programs (composition channels) are multiplexed and transmitted by a multiplexed broadcast signal, classification information of software contents is included in identification data of each program. When the receiver receives the multiplexed broadcast signal and selects a program, if the program (organization channel) selected by the viewer is not multiplexed, the other program (organization program) is transmitted. The same classification information of the channel) and the classification information of the program (organization channel) selected by the viewer are detected, and the detected program (composition channel) is automatically selected and decoded. is there.

[0019]

By the above means, when the viewer gives an instruction to receive the organization channel A in expectation of news, for example,
Even when the organization channel A is not broadcast, the organization channel B of the same genre is automatically selected.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, ISO / IEC13818-
It will be described as a system conforming to 1. (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 schematically shows a PMT (Program Map Table) as program additional data included in a TS packet (transport stream packet). The PMT has a header section and a payload section, and the PID is in the header section.
(Packet Identify) is included. In this system,
This PID is an ID that further indicates the genre of the organization channel (for example, sports, news, drama, weather forecast, etc.)
And an ID indicating the number of the organization channel.

FIG. 2 schematically shows an apparatus for generating the above-mentioned PMT packet to generate a broadcast signal. In this example, one video signal system and one audio signal system are set as one organization channel, and broadcasting of four organization channels is set.
In the figure, the configuration for two composition channels is shown, but the configuration for the other two composition channels is shown by blocks surrounded by a chain line.

Video signals are input to the terminals 100, 120, 140, 160, respectively, and the terminals 101, 121, 1
Audio signals are input to 41 and 161 respectively. Here, it is assumed that the signals input to the terminals 100, 101, 120 and 121 belong to the genre of news, and the terminals 14
The signals input to 0 and 141 belong to the sports genre, and the signals input to terminals 160 and 161 belong to the movie genre.

The video signal input to the terminal 100 is compressed and encoded by the video encoder 102, and the variable rate output is buffered in the FIFO memory 104. The data output from the FIFO memory 104 at a fixed rate is packetized by the packetizing circuit 106 and input to the memory 108. At this time, a unique packet ID is attached to the packet of this video signal. Similarly, the audio encoder 103, the FIFO memory 105, and the packetizing circuit 107 also process the audio signal input to the input terminal 101 by the system, and the audio signal packet is stored in the memory 109. The packet of this audio signal is also given a unique packet ID. The packet multiplexing controller 110 controls the memories 108 and 109 to control the read timing and the like. In addition, by controlling the PMT generation circuit 111,
It controls the output timing of the program map table. The PMT generation circuit 111 creates data indicating the PID genre of the PMT shown in FIG. In the case of this system, specifically, the ID of the news genre is generated. For example, a PID in which a plurality of bits indicating the genre (for example, 4 bits in this example) are set to "0000" and other bits are set to "0000100000"
Is set.

The packetized signal created as described above is adjusted by the packet multiplexing controller 110 to match the video and audio encoding speeds (memory 108, 1).
It is read as a time-multiplexed signal in units of packets from the memories 108 and 109 (depending on the occupied amount of 09). At this time, the PMT packetized signal is also read from the PMT generation circuit 111 at an appropriate timing and time-multiplexed. The packetized signal in which one set of video, audio, and PMT signals is time-multiplexed in this way is input to the memory 180. Here, the packet group input to the memory 180 is referred to as the organization channel A.

Other video signals, audio signals and PMT signals are processed in the same manner. That is, the video encoder 12
2. The system of the FIFO memory 124, the packetizing circuit 126, and the memory 128 packetizes the second video signal, and the system of the audio encoder 123, the FIFO memory 125, the packetizing circuit 127, and the memory 129 packetizes the second audio signal. Then, the PMT generation circuit 131 generates the PMT signal having the ID of the news genre. And
The packet multiplexing controller 130 adjusts the video and audio encoding speeds (memory 128, 129).
(According to the occupancy amount), it is read as a time-multiplexed signal from the memories 128 and 129 in packet units. PM at this time
The PMT packetized signal is also read from the T generation circuit 131 at an appropriate timing and time-multiplexed. Like this one
A packetized signal in which a set of video, audio, and PMT signals is time-multiplexed is input to the memory 181. Here, the packet group input to the memory 181 is set as the organization channel B.

In the case of this organization channel B, a plurality of bits indicating the PID genre of the PMT shown in FIG.
00 ”(news) and other bits are“ 00001 ”
The PMT to be 0001 "is set.

Similarly, in other systems, the packet group of the organization channel C is supplied to the memory 182, and the packet group of the organization channel D is supplied to the memory 183.

In the PMT generation circuit (not shown) of the organization channel C, a plurality of bits indicating the PID genre of the PMT shown in FIG. 1 are "0001" (sports) and the other bits are "00010010". Is set.

Further, in the PMT generation circuit (not shown) of the organization channel D, a plurality of bits indicating the genre of the PMT PID shown in FIG. 1 are "0010" (movie) and the other bits are "00010011". The PMT is set.

Next, in the PAT (program association table) generation circuit 184, the PID for the PMT indicating each composition channel is described in accordance with the program (composition channel) number and packetized. The total packet multiplexing controller 185 detects the occupancy of each of the memories 180, 181, 182, 183 and outputs a signal in packet units to the extent that the respective memories do not overflow or underflow. At this time, the packetized signal obtained from the PAT generation circuit 184 is also time-multiplexed as necessary.

The signal packetized into a bit stream as described above is broadcast through an error correction circuit and a modulation circuit. FIG. 3 shows a receiver that receives a signal that is packetized and broadcast as described above. The signal from the antenna 200 is input to the tuner 201, where the tuner 201 selects the instructed frequency and performs demodulation processing.
An error correction process is performed and a bit stream is output (frequency selection means for the tuner 201 is not shown). Output of tuner 201 (bit stream)
Is the depacket controller 208, the FIFO memory 2
02, 203, PMT memory 206, PAT memory 20
7 is supplied. The depacket controller 208 first determines that the packet of PAT (packet ID = “0”) is PAT.
Memory control is performed so that the data is stored in the memory 207.
The data captured in the PAT memory 207 is the MPU.
(CISC or RISC or DSP) 210. The MPU 210 detects the PMT packet ID of each organization channel described in the PAT. On the other hand, the packet ID of the organization channel designated by the viewer is stored in the memory 209. The packet ID of the designated organization channel is analyzed by the microcomputer 215 for remote control operation, and the operation information is transmitted to the MPU 2 via the bus.
10, the MPU 210 analyzes the operation information, confirms the packet ID of the designated organization channel, and stores it in the memory 209.

When the organization channel designated by the viewer is A, it is understood from the information read from the PAT memory 207 that the genre designated by the viewer is "news". The MPU 210 uses the same packet I as the packet ID of the organization channel specified by the viewer.
The PMT of the organization channel having D is the PMT memory 20.
6, the depacket controller 20
Give instructions to 8. This allows the depacket controller 2
08 controls the PMT memory 206 to take in the PMT of the organization channel specified by the viewer.

When the PMT of the organization channel designated by the viewer is loaded into the PMT memory 206, the MPU 210
Reads and analyzes the PMT from the PMT memory 206,
The PIDs of the video and audio signals of the organization channel A are detected. The PID of the detected video and audio signals is given to the depacket controller 208 so that the video and audio signals having this PID are loaded into the FIFO memories 202 and 203, respectively. As a result, the depacket controller 208 controls the FIFO memories 202 and 203, respectively, to capture the video signal and the audio signal. FIFO
The video signal and the audio signal taken in the memories 202 and 203 are input to the video decoder 204 and the audio decoder 205 and decoded in accordance with a synchronization signal (not shown). The decoded video signal is sent to the D / A converter 2
The screen switching circuit 214 is converted into an analog signal at 11
Is supplied to. The audio signal decoded by the audio decoder 205 and converted into analog is supplied to the speaker 218. In the screen switching circuit 214, the MPU 210
The decoded video signal according to the instruction of the monitor 217
Supply to.

As described above, there is no problem if the organization channel A is being broadcast when the viewer designates the organization channel A, for example. However, when the broadcast format is, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, there is a time zone in which the organization channel A does not exist. If the viewer specifies the organization channel A in such a time zone, the following operation is performed. First, the broadcast format of FIG. 4 will be described.

The organization channel A (news) is PM
7:00 to PM 7:00, PM 9:00 to PM 10: 0
0 is the broadcast time zone and organization channel B (news)
Is the broadcast time zone from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM, and the organization channel C (sports) and organization channel D
In (movie), the broadcast time zone is from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Now, it is assumed that the viewer designates the viewing of the organization channel A through the remote controller during the time period from 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM.

Then, the MPU 210 makes the PAT memory 2
I of the organization channel A from the PAT stored in 07
It tries to detect D, but it does not exist. Here, the PPU 210 detects an ID (see FIG. 1) indicating the genre in the IDs of the organization channels designated by the viewer stored in the memory 209. (This genre I
D may be included in the data of the specified organization channel given from the viewer side, or the ID of the genre previously received may be reused). Then, again, the header of each composition channel (composition channels B, C, and D in this time zone) stored in the PAT memory 207 is read, and I indicating this genre is read.
Analyze D. Then, the same genre ID as the genre ID (news) of the organization channel specified by the viewer
Detect whether there is a knitting channel with
In this embodiment, the organization channel B (news) corresponds. Therefore, the MPU 210 confirms the PID of the composition channel B, and next, the PMT sent in the composition channel B is loaded into the PMT memory 206.
The depacket controller 208 is instructed. In response to this instruction, the depacket controller 208 controls the PMT memory 206 so that the PMT of the composition channel B is fetched. After the PMT of the organization channel B is loaded into the PMT memory 206, the PIDs of the video signal and the audio signal are known. This finding is the MPU210
Are obtained by analyzing the data in the PMT memory 206. After the PID of the video signal and the audio signal transmitted on the organization channel B is detected, the MPU 210
Gives the PID to the depacket controller 208. Then, the depacket controller 208 outputs the video signal and the audio signal to the FIFO memories 202 and 203, respectively.
The memory is controlled so that

As a result, when the viewer gives an instruction to receive the organization channel A in anticipation of news, even if the organization channel A is not broadcast, the organization channel B of the same genre is automatically selected. It will be.

Here, when the time is PM 9:00 and the broadcasting of the composition channel A is restarted, this device
The reception of the composition channel B may be continued as it is, or the composition channel A may be received.
When shifting to the reception of the organization channel A, for example,
It is necessary to search whether or not the same PID as the designated PID of the organization channel A designated by the viewer stored in the memory 209 exists in the PAT memory 207,
This processing is performed, for example, by interrupt processing at regular intervals. Then, when it is determined that the broadcast of the composition channel A is restarted, the control for loading the PAT into the PAT memory 206 is performed, and then the PAT memory 2
The PID of the video and audio signals is analyzed and detected from the PAT of 06. As a result, it is possible to shift to reception of the composition channel A.

In the above embodiment, the PAT for obtaining the PMT of the organization channel of the same genre is detected by referring to the PAT of the PAT memory 207, and then the PMT is set to PM.
The PMT was fetched into the T memory 206, and with reference to this PMT, hierarchical processing for detecting the PID of the video and audio signals in the organization channel was performed. However, depending on the broadcasting system,
In the case of a system in which the organization channel selection itself directly selects a program, the process of loading the PMT may be omitted. (Second Embodiment) A case where the present invention is used in an ISO / IEC13818-1 system will be described.

In ISO / IEC13818-1, PA
The format of T is defined as shown in FIG. 5, and the format of PMT is about to be defined as shown in FIG. The PAT and PMT must be used so that the genre of the program on the organization channel can be known. Therefore, as the genre information, a plurality of bits out of 16 bits of the program number (arrow A shown in the figure), for example, 4 bits are used. Genres include sports, news, drama,
It is a weather forecast or the like, and if 4 bits are used, 16 types of genres can be represented.

The same genre information as this genre information is inserted in the PMT. In the format of Figure 6
Of the 16 bits of the program number (arrow A in the figure), 4 bits are used.

A broadcasting system for transmitting the above-mentioned broadcasting signals (PAT, PMT, video signal, audio signal, data, etc.) is
It can be realized by the configuration shown in FIG. Further, the receiving system can be realized by the configuration shown in FIG.

That is, the PMT generation circuit 111 creates data indicating the genre of the organization channel A. In the case of this system, specifically, the ID of the news genre is generated. 4 bits indicating the genre is "0000"
(News), the other bits are "001 (He
x) "and the PMT signal is packetized in the same manner as the video and audio signals. In the case of organization channel B, the 4 bits indicating the genre are" 0000 "(news),
The PMT is set such that the other bits are “002 (Hex)”. In the organization channel C, the PMT is set such that the 4 bits indicating the genre are "0001" (sports) and the other bits are "003 (Hex)". In the organization channel D, 4 bits indicating the genre are “0010” (movie) and other bits are “00”.
4 (Hex) ”is set. PAT is set.
In the generation circuit 184, the PA of each organization channel is
Program number that indicates each channel number to T (including genre ID)
Is described and packetized and transmitted.

Next, a receiver for receiving the signal broadcast as described above will be described. The PAT corresponding to each composition channel fetched in the PAT memory 207 is MP
It is analyzed by U210. MPU210 is the program of the organization channel described in each PAT.
detect number. The memory 209 stores the ID of the organization channel (for example, A) designated by the viewer. The MPU 210 reads the PAT of the organization channel A stored in the PAT memory 207 and analyzes it to determine the genre (news) of this organization channel A.
You can know. Further, the MPU 210 confirms the PID of the composition channel A, and then instructs the depacket controller 208 so that the PMT sent by the composition channel A is loaded into the PMT memory 206.
In response to this instruction, the depacket controller 208
Is set so that the PMT of organization channel A is taken in.
The MT memory 206 is controlled. In the PMT memory 206,
After the PMT of the organization channel A is taken in, the PIDs of the video signal and the audio signal are known. This finding is M
It is obtained by the PU 210 by analyzing the data in the PMT memory 206. After the PIDs of the video and audio signals sent on the organization channel A are detected, M
The PU 210 notifies the depacket controller 208 of the P
Give an ID. Then, the depacket controller 208
Is a FIFO memory 20 for video signals and audio signals.
The memory control is performed so that the data can be loaded into the memory 2, 203. The subsequent processing is the same as that described in the previous embodiment.

As described above, there is no problem if the organization channel A is being broadcast when the viewer designates the organization channel A, for example. However, when the broadcast format is, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, there is a time zone in which the organization channel A does not exist. When the viewer specifies the composition channel A in such a time zone PM 8:00 to PM 9:00), the PMT genre of the composition channel currently specified by the viewer is shown, as in the previous embodiment. The organization channel of the same genre ID as the genre ID will be detected. In this example, MP is the same as before.
The U 210 confirms the PID of the composition channel B, and then instructs the depacket controller 208 so that the PMT sent by the composition channel B is loaded into the PMT memory 206. In response to this instruction, the depacket controller 208 causes the PMT of the organization channel B to
The PMT memory 206 is controlled so that
After the PMT of the organization channel B is loaded into the PMT memory 206, the PIDs of the video signal and the audio signal are known. This finding is that the MPU 210 uses the PMT memory 2
It is obtained by analyzing the data of 06. PI for video and audio signals sent on composition channel B
After D is detected, the MPU 210 gives the PID to the depacket controller 208. Then, the depacket controller 208 performs memory control so that the video signal and the audio signal are loaded into the FIFO memories 202 and 203, respectively. In this way, when the viewer expects news and gives an instruction to receive the organization channel A,
Even when the organization channel A is not broadcast, the organization channel B of the same genre is automatically selected.

Further, in the above embodiment, the following functions are added. When the viewer gives an instruction to receive the organization channel A in anticipation of news, there are cases where the organization channel A is not broadcast, and further, an organization channel of the same genre is not broadcast. In such a case, the above system automatically shifts to the reception state of the composition channel which is always broadcast. For this purpose, the memory 209 is used to store a plurality of PIDs of composition channels that are constantly broadcast. The organization channel that is constantly broadcast is preset, for example, on the broadcast station side, and when the PID is detected, it is stored in the memory 209 at an initial stage.

Further, in the above embodiment, the following functions may be added. When the viewer gives an instruction to receive the organization channel A in anticipation of news, there are cases where the organization channel A is not broadcast, and further, an organization channel of the same genre is not broadcast. In such a case, the system automatically shifts to the reception state of the composition channel previously selected by the viewer. For this purpose, the memory 209 is used to store a plurality of PIDs of the previously selected composition channel. In this case, the viewer can store the PIDs of the organization channels to be received by prioritizing them in advance. Furthermore, in this embodiment, if the PID of the previously selected composition channel does not exist, the composition channel that is always broadcast is selected. (Third Embodiment) FIG. 7 shows the PM according to the present invention.
It is an example of another format of the genre ID of the organization channel used in T.

In this embodiment, the genre ID of the organization channel is composed of a large classification and a small classification and is hierarchical. If the genre ID has a large classification representing sports, for example, a small classification has baseball, soccer,
It represents tennis, golf, etc. The broadcasting system for transmitting the broadcasting signal having the genre ID of the organization channel as described above can be realized by the configuration shown in FIG. Further, the receiving system can be realized by the configuration shown in FIG.

In this example, one video signal system and one audio signal system are used as one organization channel, and broadcast signals of four organization channels are set. In FIG. 2, the signals input to the terminals 100, 101, 120, 121 of the first and second systems are sports and belong to the genre of soccer, and the signals input to the terminals 140, 141 of the third system. Is in the genre of sports baseball, and the signals input to the terminals 160 and 161 are in the genre of movies.

The video signal input to the terminal 100 is compression-encoded by the video encoder 102, and the variable rate output thereof is buffered in the FIFO memory 104. The data output from the FIFO memory 104 at a fixed rate is packetized by the packetizing circuit 106 and input to the memory 108. At this time, a packet of the video signal is given a unique packet ID. The audio signal is an audio encoder 10 as well as the video signal.
3, the FIFO memory 105, the packetizing circuit 107, and the memory 109 are encoded and packetized. Also, a unique packet ID is attached. PM
The T generation circuit 111 generates and outputs the PMT packet shown in FIG.

In this embodiment, the PMT shown in FIG. 7 is used.
A plurality of bits (for example, 3 bits) indicating the large classification of the genre of PID is "000" (sports), and a plurality of bits (for example, 3 bits) indicating the small classification of the genre is "000"
(Soccer) and other bits are set to "00100000" to set the PMT. This PMT is also packetized like the video signal and the audio signal. Then, the PMT packet is time-multiplexed by the packet multiplexing controller 110 with the packet read from the memories 108 and 109 in packet units in accordance with the video and audio encoding speed at an appropriate timing.
The packetized signal in which one set of video, audio, and PMT signals is time-multiplexed in this way is input to the memory 180. Here, the packet group input to the memory 180 is referred to as the organization channel A.

Other video signals, audio signals and PMT signals are processed in the same manner. That is, the video encoder 12
2. The system of the FIFO memory 124, the packetizing circuit 126, and the memory 128 packetizes the second video signal, and the system of the audio encoder 123, the FIFO memory 125, the packetizing circuit 127, and the memory 129 packetizes the second audio signal. Then, the PMT generation circuit 131 generates a PMT signal having an ID of a genre that represents baseball in sports in the major and minor categories. Then, the packet multiplex controller 130 reads out as a time multiplex signal in packet units from the memories 128 and 129 in accordance with the encoding speed of video and audio (depending on the occupied amount of the memories 128 and 129). At this time, the PMT packetized signal is also read from the PMT generation circuit 131 at an appropriate timing and time-multiplexed. In this way, one set of video, audio, PM
The packetized signal in which the T signal is time-multiplexed is stored in the memory 18
Input to 1. Here, the packet group input to the memory 181 is set as the organization channel B.

In the case of this organization channel B, 3 bits of the large classification indicating the PID genre of the PMT shown in FIG. 7 are "000" (sports) and 3 bits of the small classification are "00".
0 ”(soccer), other bits are“ 0000100 ”
The PMT is set to "01".

Similarly, in other systems, the packet group of the organization channel C is supplied to the memory 182, and the packet group of the organization channel D is supplied to the memory 183.

In the PMT generation circuit (not shown) of the organization channel C, the major classification 3 bits showing the PMT genre shown in FIG. 1 are "000" (sports) and the minor classification 3 bits are ". The PMT is set such that 001 ”(baseball) and other bits are“ 0010010 ”.

Further, in the PMT generation circuit (not shown) of the organization channel D, 3 bits of the major classification indicating the PID genre of the PMT shown in FIG. 1 are "001" (movie),
The PMT is set such that the 3 bits indicating the small classification are “000” and the other bits are “0010011”.

Next, in the PAT (program association table) generation circuit 184, the PID for the PMT indicating each composition channel is described according to the program (composition channel) number and packetized. The total packet multiplexing controller 185 detects the occupancy of each of the memories 180, 181, 182, 183 and outputs a signal in packet units to the extent that the respective memories do not overflow or underflow. At this time, the packetized PAT signal obtained from the PAT generation circuit 184 is also time-multiplexed as necessary.

The signal packetized into a bit stream as described above is broadcast through an error correction circuit and a modulation circuit (not shown). Next, a receiver that receives the signal broadcast as described above will be described.

The PAT corresponding to each composition channel loaded in the PAT memory 207 (FIG. 3) is the MPU 210.
The MPU 210 detects the program number of the organization channel described in each PAT. The memory 209 stores the ID of the organization channel (for example, A) designated by the viewer. MPU
By reading and analyzing the PAT of the organization channel A stored in the PAT memory 207, the 210 can know the genre (sports and soccer) of this organization channel A. Further, the MPU 210 confirms the PID of the composition channel A, and next,
The depacket controller 208 is instructed so that the PMT sent in step 1 is loaded into the PMT memory 206. In response to this instruction, the depacket controller 20
8 controls the PMT memory 206 so that the PMT of the knitting channel A is fetched. PMT memory 206
After the PMT of the organization channel A is captured, the PIDs of the video signal and the audio signal are known. This clarification is obtained by the MPU 210 analyzing the data in the PMT memory 206. After the PID of the video signal and the audio signal transmitted in the organization channel A is detected, the MPU 210 gives the PID to the depacket controller 208. Then, the depacket controller 208 performs memory control so that the video signal and the audio signal are loaded into the FIFO memories 202 and 203, respectively. The subsequent processing is the same as that described in the previous embodiment.

As described above, there is no problem if the organization channel A is being broadcast when the viewer designates the organization channel A, for example. However, when the broadcast format is configured as shown in FIG. 8, there is a time zone in which the composition channels A and B do not exist. When the viewer specifies the organization channel A in such a time zone (PM 8:00 to PM 9:00), the PMT of the organization channel currently specified by the viewer is the same as in the previous embodiment.
The organization channel having the same genre ID as the genre ID indicating the genre is detected.

In the case of this example, the organization channel B, which should have the same major classification and minor classification, is also in the time zone PM.
It is not being broadcast from 8:00 to 9:00 PM. In such a case, in this embodiment, the organization channel having the next large classification ID match is searched. In the case of this example, the organization channel C is sports, and the major classifications match.

Then, the MPU 210 confirms the PID of the composition channel C, and then instructs the depacket controller 208 so that the PMT sent by the composition channel C is loaded into the PMT memory 206. In response to this instruction, the depacket controller 208 controls the PMT memory 206 so that the PMT of the composition channel C is fetched. After the PMT of the organization channel C is loaded into the PMT memory 206, the PIDs of the video signal and the audio signal are known. This finding is MPU2
10 is obtained by analyzing the data in the PMT memory 206. After the PID of the video signal and the audio signal sent on the organization channel B is detected, the MPU2
10 gives the PID to the depacket controller 208. Then, the depacket controller 208 outputs the video signal and the audio signal to the FIFO memories 202 and 2 respectively.
The memory control is performed so that the data is loaded into the memory. In this way, even when the viewer instructs the reception of the organization channel A in the expectation of sports soccer, even if the organization channel A is not broadcast or the organization channel B of the same genre is not broadcast. The organization channel C common to the same genre of sports is automatically selected. (Fourth Embodiment) This embodiment is basically the same as the first embodiment, but, for example, program information (also called the genre of program information) is broadcast by the fourth system. ing. Here, the program information is information for introducing a program broadcast on each organization channel. The program information is also packetized and time-multiplexed with a packet of a video signal or an audio signal and sent out, which shows what kind of program is currently being broadcast on each organization channel.

Also in this embodiment, the broadcasting system is
It can be realized by the configuration shown in FIG. Also, the receiving system is
It can be realized by the configuration shown in FIG. Also in this example, the video signal 1
System, one audio signal system as one organization channel,
Set the broadcast signals for the four organization channels. In FIG. 2, the signals input to the terminals 100 and 101 of the first system belong to the genre of news, and the signals input to the terminals 120, 121, 140 and 141 of the second system and the third system. Is in the genre of sports, and the signals input to the terminals 160 and 161 are in the genre of program information.

The broadcast signal transmitted from the above system is received by the receiver shown in FIG. 3 based on an instruction from the viewer. Here, it is assumed that the broadcast format is, for example, the broadcast format shown in FIG. That is, the organization channel A is news (PM7: 00-PM8: 00, PM
9:00 to PM 10:00 broadcast), organization channel B is sports (PM 7:00 to PM 10:00 continuous broadcast),
The organization channel C is also sports (PM7: 00-PM1
0:00 continuous broadcasting), organization channel D is also program information (P
It is assumed that the broadcast was from M7: 00 to PM 10:00).

Now, it is assumed that the viewer designates the reception of the composition channel A between PM 8:00 and PM 9:00. The designated PID of the organization channel A is temporarily stored in the memory 209. The MPU 210 has a PAT memory 207.
Specified PI for PAT of each organization channel stored in
Determine if there is a PAT with the same PID as D. In this example, since the composition channel A is not broadcast during this time period, the PAT of the composition channel A does not exist. After this determination, the MPU 210
ID of the same genre (news) as the specified PID
Search whether there is a PAT with. In the example of this broadcasting form, P having the same genre ID
There will be no AT.

Here, the MPU 210 analyzes the PAT of the program information (composition channel D) considered to be most useful to the viewer, and detects the PID of the PMT designated by the PAT. And the MPU 210
Control information is given to the depacket controller 202 so that the PMT of the program information is loaded into the PMT memory 206. This causes the depacket controller 202 to
Control is performed so that the PMT for program information is loaded into the PMT memory 206. After the PMT for the program information is loaded into the PMT memory 206, the MPU 210 detects the PID of the program information and gives the PID information to the depacket controller 208. As a result, the depacket controller 208 causes the FIFO memory 202, 2
03 is made to take in the packet of program information.

As a result, on the monitor 217, information such as what is currently being broadcast as the organization channel and what program is being broadcast on each organization channel are indicated by symbols, characters or figures. Will be displayed. The viewer can select a desired program by viewing this screen. Here, time is PM 9: 0
0, and when the broadcast of composition channel A is restarted,
The reception of the currently selected composition channel may be continued as it is, or the composition channel A may be received.

In the above example, the program information is displayed as a video. However, the program information is code information and, for example, it is fetched by the MPU 210 via a buffer memory (not shown) and subjected to code conversion processing, and then the video memory ( VRA
M) 213, the digital-analog converter 212, and the screen switching unit 214 may be displayed on the monitor 217. (Fifth Embodiment) The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. In the above embodiment, when the viewer designates the organization channel that he / she desires to receive, and if the designated organization channel is not being broadcast, the organization channel of the same genre is searched and received, or the program information is displayed. The display method was adopted. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the genre information of the organization channel that the viewer has viewed in the past may be accumulated, and the organization channel to be received may be determined by referring to this history data.

Also in this embodiment, the broadcasting system is
It can be realized by the configuration shown in FIG. Also, the receiving system is
It can be realized by the configuration shown in FIG. Also in this example, the video signal 1
System, one audio signal system as one organization channel,
Set the broadcast signals for the four organization channels. In FIG. 2, the signals input to the terminals 100 and 101 of the first system belong to the genre of news, and the signals input to the terminals 120, 121, 140 and 141 of the second system and the third system. Is in the genre of sports, and the signals input to the terminals 160 and 161 are in the genre of movies.

The broadcast signal transmitted from the above system is received by the receiver shown in FIG. 3 based on a viewer's instruction. Here, it is assumed that the broadcast format is, for example, the broadcast format shown in FIG. That is, the organization channel A is news (PM7: 00-PM8: 00, PM
9:00 to PM 10:00 broadcast), organization channel B is sports (PM 7:00 to PM 10:00 continuous broadcast),
The organization channel C is also sports (PM7: 00-PM1
0:00 continuous broadcast), organized channel D is a movie (PM
It is assumed that it is a continuous broadcast from 7:00 to PM 10:00) (the program information of the previous embodiment is shown in the figure, but it is a movie in this embodiment).

Now, it is assumed that the viewer designates reception of the composition channel A between PM 8:00 and PM 9:00. The designated PID of the organization channel A is temporarily stored in the memory 209. The MPU 210 has a PAT memory 207.
Specified PI for PAT of each organization channel stored in
Determine if there is a PAT with the same PID as D. In this example, since the composition channel A is not broadcast during this time period, the PAT of the composition channel A does not exist. After this determination, the MPU 210
ID of the same genre (news) as the specified PID
Search whether there is a PAT with. In the example of this broadcasting form, P having the same genre ID
There will be no AT.

Here, the MPU 210 is, for example, the memory 20.
The genre ID of the designated organization channel that was viewed in the past and is stored in No. 9 is detected. That is, the memory 209 stores the genre IDs of the organization channels that have been viewed in the past (for example, the IDs for the past three times). Where MPU2
10 is genre I of the most recently watched organization channel
PA that reads D and has the same genre ID as this
It is determined whether T exists in the PAT memory 207. If there is a PAT having the same genre ID, the PMT of the organization channel designated by this PAT will be loaded into the PMT memory 206. Then, the PMT recognizes the PID of the video and audio signals, and decodes the video signal and the audio signal corresponding to this PID.

In the above example, the organization channel having the same genre ID as the organization channel of the most recently viewed organization channel among the genre IDs of the organization channels viewed in the past was broadcast, but the PAT having the same category ID is broadcast. If it does not exist, the MPU 210 reads the genre IDs of the composition channels that have been viewed one after another in the past from the memory 209 and determines whether or not there is a PAT having the same genre ID.

In the above example, the genre ID of the organization channel that was viewed in the past and stored in the memory 209 is the past three.
Although the storage method is batch, the storage method is not limited to the above example, and various methods are possible. For example, statistics of genre IDs of organization channels viewed by past viewers are collected, and genre IDs with a high frequency are prioritized.
It is also possible to search whether or not there is a PAT having the same genre ID as the genre ID having the higher priority and select the one having the higher priority.

According to each of the above-described embodiments of the present invention, even if the organization channel selected by the viewer is not being broadcast, if a program of the same genre is being broadcast, the process shifts to the reception of that organization channel. It is possible to receive while receiving. Further, even when the number of composition channels is increased, the automatic search function as described above can be provided, and the increase of composition channels and programs can be effectively used.

[0076]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By increasing or decreasing the number of composition channels, it is possible to prevent interruption of reception, and to effectively utilize the increased composition channels.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a PMT (program map table) according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a transmission side encoder used in the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a receiving side decoder used in the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram shown for explaining an operation example of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a PAT (program association table) in the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is also a PMT in the second embodiment of the present invention.
Explanatory drawing of (program map table).

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a PMT (program map table) according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram shown for explaining an operation example of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram also shown for explaining an operation example of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a basic configuration diagram of a multiplexing device.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a process of forming a multiplexed signal.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a multiplexer for obtaining a broadcast bitstream.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory view of a process for selecting a program.

[Explanation of symbols]

102, 122 ... Video encoder, 103, 123 ... Audio encoder, 104, 105, 124, 125 ... FI
FO memory, 106, 107, 126, 127 ... Packetizing circuit, 108, 109, 128, 129, 180-
183 ... Memory, 110, 130 ... Packet multiplexing controller, 111, 131 ... PMT generation circuit, 184 ... P
AT generation circuit, 185 ... Total packet multiplex controller, 201 ... Tuner, 202, 203 ... FIFO memory, 204 ... Video decoder, 205 ... Audio decoder, 2
06 ... PMT memory, 207 ... PAT memory, 208 ...
Depacket controller, 209 ... Memory, 210 ... M
PU, 211, 212 ... D / A converter, 213 ... VRA
M, 214 ... Image switching unit, 215 ... Microcomputer, 217
... monitor, 218 ... speaker.

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. On the transmitting side, when a plurality of composition channel information are multiplexed and transmitted by a multiplexed broadcast signal, a step of transmitting classification data of each composition channel information by including classification information of software contents is transmitted. When the receiving side receives the multiplexed broadcast signal and selects the composition channel information, if the composition channel information selected by the viewer is not multiplexed, the classification information of other composition channel information is included. And a step of detecting what is the same as or similar to the classification information of the organization channel information selected and instructed by the viewer, and further another organization channel information determined based on the result of this step is automatically selected and decoded. And a step of transmitting and receiving a broadcast signal. 2. The classification information includes at least large classification information and small classification information, and the classification information of the other organization channel information is the same as or similar to the classification information of the organization channel information selected and instructed by the viewer. In the step of detecting an item, first, the same item is detected using both the large classification information and the small classification information, and if there is no same, the same item is detected using the large classification information. The method according to claim 1, further comprising steps. 3. In the step of detecting the same or similar to the classification information of the other organization channel information and the classification information of the organization channel information selected and instructed by the viewer, the same or similar one is detected. If not, when automatically selecting and decoding the other composition channel information, the step of automatically selecting and decoding the other composition channel information which is set by the transmitting side and which is constantly broadcast. The broadcasting signal transmitting / receiving system according to claim 1, wherein 4. The same or similar one is detected in the step of detecting the same or similar to the classification information of the other organization channel information and the classification information of the organization channel information selected and instructed by the viewer. If not, when automatically selecting and decoding the further organization channel information, the step of automatically selecting and decoding the other organization channel information for which the viewer has set the priority in advance. The transmission / reception system of the broadcast signal according to claim 1, further comprising: 5. The transmitting side, when multiple programs are multiplexed and transmitted as a multiplexed broadcast signal, includes identification information of each program including classification information of software contents, and the receiving side transmits the same. When the program selected by the viewer is not multiplexed when the multiplexed broadcast signal is received and the program is selected, the classification information of other programs and the classification information of the program selected by the viewer are the same or A broadcast signal transmission / reception system characterized by detecting similar programs and automatically selecting and decoding the detected programs. 6. The transmission / reception system of a broadcast signal according to claim 1, wherein the multiplexed signal of the plurality of organization channels is a multiplexed signal according to the ISO / IEC13818-1 standard. 7. The broadcast signal transmitting / receiving system according to claim 1, wherein the classification information included in the identification data is identification information of a genre of a program. 8. The identification data of each of the plurality of composition channel information includes classification information of software content, and at least the plurality of composition channel information packets and each of the identification data packets are multiplexed. In a device for receiving a multiplexed multiplexed broadcast signal, first memory means for fetching a packet of each identification data (hereinafter, reception identification data) of the plurality of composition channel information, and a specified composition channel information desired by a viewer A means for fetching identification data (hereinafter designated identification data) and detecting whether or not the same reception identification data as the designated identification data exists, and if the same reception identification data as the designated identification data does not exist, the designated identification The detection is performed to detect whether or not there is reception identification data that contains the same or similar classification information as the classification information included in the data. And means for selecting and decoding other organization channel information corresponding to the received identification data when there is received identification data including the same or similar classification information as the classification information included in the designated identification data. A receiver for a broadcast signal, comprising: 9. The classification information includes at least large classification information and small classification information, and the detection means has reception identification data including classification information that is the same as or similar to the classification information included in the designated identification data. When detecting whether or not it is, first, both the large classification information and the small classification information are used to detect the same, and if there is no same, the same classification is detected using the large classification information. 9. The broadcast signal receiving apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising: 10. When the detection means detects that there is no reception identification data including the classification information that is the same as or similar to the classification information included in the designated identification data, another organization channel information is automatically selected. 9. The broadcast signal according to claim 8, further comprising means for automatically selecting and decoding still another broadcast channel information set by the transmission side, which is always broadcast, when the broadcast signal is decoded. Receiver. 11. When the detection means detects that there is no reception identification data including the classification information that is the same as or similar to the classification information included in the designated identification data, another organization channel information is automatically selected. 9. When decoding is performed, the broadcast signal according to claim 8, further comprising means for automatically selecting and decoding other organization channel information for which the viewer has set priorities in advance. Receiver. 12. The broadcast signal receiving apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the multiplexed signals of the plurality of organization channels are multiplexed signals according to the ISO / IEC13818-1 standard. 13. The classification information included in the identification data is
9. The broadcast signal receiving apparatus according to claim 8, which is identification information of a genre of a program.