KR0185839B1 - A method of searching program information in a digital bs receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for retrieving program guide information of a digital satellite broadcasting receiver. The program guide information can be stored in a memory in an input order to efficiently utilize the memory, and also required by the program guide request from the outside. Find the sections that contain the requested program guide information by finding the sections in memory that match the channel number in, then compare the start time of these sections with the start time of the requested program, and then again By comparing the start time of each program with the start time of the required program, the desired program guide information can be found and displayed on the screen, thereby quickly searching for desired program guide information.

Description

A method of and searching program information in a digital BS receiver

1 is a schematic diagram of a general digital satellite broadcasting receiver.

2 is a structural diagram of a memory according to the present invention.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for searching program guide information of a digital satellite broadcasting receiver according to the present invention.

* Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

2: broadcast satellite 4: reception antenna

6: tuner 8: A / D converter

10: QPSK demodulator 12: Channel decoder

14 transport stream demultiplexer 16 memory

18: audio / video decoder 20: control unit

The present invention relates to a method for retrieving program guide information of a digital satellite broadcasting receiver. In particular, the program guide information can be stored in a memory in order of input, so that the memory can be efficiently utilized and the start time of each section of the program guide information stored in the memory. And a program guide information retrieval method for quickly searching for program guide information to be displayed on a screen by comparing and searching a start time of a program to be displayed on a screen.

In general, the DBS system is composed of three main components: a transmitting earth station, a resource and subscriber management system (RSMS), and a DBS receiver. The transmitting earth station processes the externally provided program data to broadcast the program. And the resource and subscriber management system control subscriber access of the program and collect usage information of the subscriber, and the DBS receiver receives a signal transmitted from a broadcast satellite to transmit a television or VCR or data terminal. Output via

In this case, the broadcast signal transmitted to the DBS receiver through the broadcast satellite includes program specific information (PSI), which is part of service information, and the program, resource, and management system data stream selected by the receiver using the program specified information. The program guide information is demultiplexed and decoded automatically.

The service information includes, in addition to the program designation information, an additional information table for service information in a digital video broadcasting system called a program guide message (PMM).

The program guide message includes a network information table (NIT) that provides information on the physical structure of the multiplex / transport stream transmitted through the DBS network, and the DBS network or within a specific transport stream. Service Description Table (SDT) which defines service included, Event Information Table (EIT) which provides information about satellite channel event (EVENT) in chronological order, and date information. A time data table (TDT) is included.

In the above, the event information table (EIT) stream is a descriptor having a start time, a period, a transmission interval, a condition control mode, and detailed information (title, content, person, etc.) of each program for the purpose of program guidance. (descripter)

As described above, the event information table stream included in the broadcast signal transmitted through the satellite broadcast is separated from the transport stream in the transport stream demultiplexer and stored in the memory.

That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the digital satellite broadcast receiver includes: a satellite broadcast reception antenna 4 for receiving an analog transport stream transmitted from the broadcast satellite 2; A tuner (6) for selecting and receiving a desired transport stream by matching a frequency with a transponder of the broadcast satellite (2); An A / D converter 8 for converting an analog transport stream received through the tuner 6 into a digital signal and outputting the digital signal; A QPSK demodulator (10) for demodulating and outputting the digital signal outputted from the A / D converter (8); A channel decoder 12 for error correcting and outputting the digital signal output from the QPSK demodulator 10; It is a transport stream that separates audio data, video data, and program guide message that a viewer wants to see from the digital signal output through the channel decoder 12, and performs program guide and channel frequency switching using the program guide message. Neutralizer 14; A memory 16 for storing the program guide message; An audio / video decoder (18) for decoding and outputting audio data and video data output through the transport stream demultiplexer; In addition to controlling the tuner 6, the A / D converter 8, the QPSK demodulator 10, the channel decoder 12 and the audio / video decoder 18 according to a control signal input from the outside, the transport stream Controlling the demultiplexer 14 to store the program guide message in the program guide message area of the memory 16, and then retrieving the memory according to a viewer's request input from the outside to display the program guide information through the receiving pipe. It is configured to include a control unit 20.

That is, when the broadcast and program guide information related thereto are received in the form of a transport stream transmitted from the broadcast satellite 2, the satellite broadcast reception antenna 4 receives the tuner 6 and the A / D converter ( 8) converted to a digital signal through the QPSK demodulator 10, and then output. The digital signal is QPSK demodulated and output. Send to).

The transport stream demultiplexer 14 demultiplexes the incoming stream multiplexed in the form of a packet according to a viewer's request and then sends audio data and video data to the audio / video decoder 18, respectively. The audio / video decoder 18 then decodes each piece of data and displays it through the receiving tube.

In addition, the transport stream demultiplexer 14 stores program guide information in the transport stream in the program guide information area of the memory 16 under the control of the control unit 200, and according to the viewer's request, the program guide information area. Search for it and display it on the screen of the award.

In this case, when the amount of program guide information to be stored is large, the memory 16 needs to have a very large capacity.

For example, assuming that the number of broadcasting stations is 4, the program guide time is 48 hours from the current time, the number of programs per station is 100 programs in 48 hours, and the size of one program guide information is 100 bytes. Since the memory size is 4 (number of channels) * 100 (number of programs) * 100 bytes, 4 KByte memory is required.

Therefore, there is a problem that the capacity of the memory 16 for storing program guide information must be very large.

In addition, conventionally, when searching for the program guide information stored in the memory 16, there is a problem that the search time takes a lot by using a method of sequentially searching from the first address of the memory 16.

Accordingly, the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and the program guide information is stored in the memory in the input order so that the memory can be efficiently utilized and the start time of each section of the program guide information stored in the memory. It is an object of the present invention to provide a program guide information retrieval method for quickly searching a program guide information to be displayed on a screen by comparing and searching a start time of a program to be displayed on a screen.

The program guide information retrieval method of the digital satellite broadcasting receiver according to the present invention for achieving this object is to find sections matching the channel number of the program guide information required by the program guide request from the outside and then start the sections. Compare the time to the start time of the required program to find the section containing the required program guide information, and again compare the start time of each program start time of the requested program with the required program guide information to the required program As the program guide information is found and displayed on the screen, the desired program guide information can be quickly searched.

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

FIG. 2 is a structural diagram of a memory according to the present invention, and stores program guide information for each channel received from the broadcast satellite 2 in order from the start address of the memory 16 in the received order.

That is, if program guide information of station A is inputted first, the program guide information is stored from the start address of the memory, and then the program guide information of the station B entered is stored in the memory from the next address. The program guide information of the and D stations may be stored in the memory in order to increase the efficiency of the memory.

3 is an operation flowchart of a method for searching program guide information of a digital satellite broadcasting receiver according to the present invention, in which three types of program guide requests are exemplified, and request 1 is a program displayed on one screen. In the case of requesting the guide information, request 2 is a case of requesting the program guide information displayed on the screen additionally when moving the program guide information displayed on one screen by the request 1 on the screen by one space per hour, Requirement 3 is for requesting detailed information of a program.

That is, in accordance with a program guide request from the outside, sections matching the channel number of the requested program guide information are found from the memory 16, and then the required program guide information is obtained by comparing the start time of these sections with the start time of the requested program. The section including the program is searched for, and each program start time of the section including the requested program guide information is compared with the start time of the requested program to find and display the requested program guide information on the screen.

In the above, when the program guide request input from the outside requests the amount of program guide information displayed on one screen, the channel number of the requested program is compared with the channel number of the program guide information stored in the memory 16. If it does not match, a first step (SI) of jumping to the next section and then repeatedly comparing; When the channel number of the program requested in the first step (SI) and the channel number of the program guide information stored in the memory 16 coincide, the initial program start time of this section is compared with the start time of the requested program. A second step S2 of jumping to the previous section of the same channel if the start time of the first program of the section is greater than the start time of the requested program; When the start time of the first program of the section in the second step is less than or equal to the start time of the requested program, when the start time of the requested program minus the start time of the first program is larger than the offset time. It includes a third step (S3) to perform the first step (SI) after the jump to the next section; When the value obtained by subtracting the start time of the first program from the start time of the program required in the third step S3 is less than or equal to the offset time and jumps to the previous section of the same channel in the second step S2. In one case, a fourth step S4 of comparing the program start time with the start time of the required program and jumping the memory by one program and then repeatedly comparing if the program start time does not match the start time of the requested program; If the start time of the program coincides with the requested start time of the program in the fourth step S4, after reading and transmitting the program guide information for the requested program from the program, it is determined whether the read program guide information is a predetermined amount. After jumping to the next section of the same channel, the program guide information for the requested program is read and transmitted again, and when the read program guide information is a predetermined amount, the operation is sequentially performed in the fifth step S5.

In the above, the offset time is set with reference to the amount of the program in which the guide information is contained in the section, and is preferably 5 hours.

In addition, when the program guide request input from the outside requests the program guide information additionally displayed on the screen when the program guide information displayed on one screen is moved on the screen one space at a time, the channel number of the requested program and A first step S'1 of comparing the channel numbers of the program guide information stored in the memory 16 and jumping to the next section if it does not match; When the channel number of the requested program in the first step S'1 and the channel number of the program guide information stored in the memory 16 coincide, the initial program start time of this section is compared with the start time of the requested program. A second step S'2 of jumping to the previous section of the same channel if the start time of the first program of this section is greater than the start time of the requested program; When the start time of the first program of the section in the second step is less than or equal to the start time of the requested program, when the start time of the requested program minus the start time of the first program is larger than the offset time. A third step (S'3) which repeats the first step (S'1) after jumping to the next section; When the value obtained by subtracting the start time of the first program from the start time of the program requested in the third step S'3 is less than or equal to the offset time, and in the second step S'2, When jumping to the previous section, the program start time is compared with the start time of the required program, and if the start time of the program does not match the start time of the required program, the memory 16 is jumped by one program and then repeatedly compared. 4 steps S'4 and; If the program start time coincides with the start time of the requested program in the fourth step S'4, the operation proceeds sequentially to the fifth step S'5 of reading and transmitting the program guide information of the requested program from the program.

When the program guide request input from the outside requests the guide information of one program, the channel number of the requested program is compared with the channel number of the program guide information stored in the memory. A first step S'1 for comparing; When the channel number of the requested program in the first step S'1 and the channel number of the program guide information stored in the memory 16 coincide, the initial program start time of this section is compared with the start time of the requested program. A second step S'2 of jumping to the previous section of the same channel if the start time of the first program of this section is greater than the start time of the required program; When the start time of the first program of the section in the second step is less than or equal to the start time of the first program, the value obtained by subtracting the start time of the first program from the requested program start time is offset ( If greater than OFFSET time, the third step (S3) to repeat the first step (S1) after jumping to the next section; the start of the first program at the start time of the program requested in the third step (S3) When the value obtained by subtracting the time is less than or equal to the offset time and when jumping to the previous section of the same channel in the second step S2, the program start time is compared with the start time of the required program. A fourth step S4 of jumping and then repeatedly comparing the memory 16 by one program if the time does not match the start time of the required program; If the program start time coincides with the requested start time of the program in the fourth step S4, the program operation is sequentially performed in the fifth step S5 of reading and transmitting the program guide information of the requested program from the program.

That is, the sections matching the channel number of the requested program guide information from the outside are found from the memory 16, and then the required program guide information is obtained by comparing the start time of these sections with the start time of the requested program. Quickly search for desired program guides by locating sections that contain them, and comparing each program start time of the section that contains the requested program guide information with the start time of the required program to find and display the required program guide information on the screen. You can do it.

As described above, according to the present invention, not only the program guide information is stored in the memory in the input order, but also the memory can be efficiently utilized, and the start time of each section of the program guide information stored in the memory and the start of the program to be displayed on the screen. By comparing and searching the time, you can quickly search for program guide information to be displayed on the screen.

Claims (4)

A method for retrieving program guide information for each channel sequentially stored from the start address of the memory 16 in the order received from a broadcast satellite, comprising: a section corresponding to a channel number of program guide information requested by a program guide request from the outside; A first step of finding them from memory; A second step of finding a section including the requested program guide information by comparing the start time of the sections found in the first step with the start time of the requested program; And a third step of comparing the program start time of the section including the requested program guide information found in the second step with the start time of the requested program to find and display the requested program guide information on the screen. Program guide information retrieval method of a digital satellite broadcasting receiver characterized in that. The method according to claim 1, wherein when a program guide request input from the outside requires a quantity of program guide information displayed on one screen, the channel number of the requested program is compared with the channel number of the program guide information stored in the memory. Otherwise, jumping to the next section and then repeatedly comparing the first step (S1); When the channel number of the program requested in the first step S1 and the channel number of the program guide information stored in the memory coincide with each other, the first program start time of this section is compared with the start time of the requested program. A second step (S2) of jumping to the previous section of the same channel if the start time of the program is greater than the start time of the requested program; When the start time of the first program of the section in the second step is less than or equal to the start time of the requested program, when the start time of the requested program minus the start time of the first program is larger than the offset time. It includes a third step (S3) to repeat the first step (S1) after jumping to the next section; When the value obtained by subtracting the start time of the first program from the start time of the program required in the third step S3 is less than or equal to the offset time and jumps to the previous section of the same channel in the second step S2. In one case, a fourth step S4 of comparing the program start time with the start time of the required program and jumping the memory by one program and then repeatedly comparing if the program start time does not match the start time of the requested program; If the start time of the program coincides with the requested start time of the program in the fourth step S4, after reading and transmitting the program guide information for the requested program from the program, it is determined whether the read program guide information is a predetermined amount. After the jump to the next section of the same channel and reads again the program guide information as much as the required program, and transmits, the digital satellite broadcasting characterized in that it operates in the fifth step (S5) to terminate when the predetermined amount of the program guide information Program guide information retrieval method of receiver. The program according to claim 1, wherein when the program guide request input from the outside requests the program guide information additionally displayed on the screen when the program guide information displayed on one screen is moved on the screen one space at a time, A first step (S′1) of comparing the channel number of the program information with the channel number of the program guide information stored in the memory and if not identical, jumping to the next section and repeatedly comparing the channel number; When the channel number of the program requested in the first step S'1 and the channel number of the program guide information stored in the memory coincide with each other, the first program start time of this section is compared with the start time of the requested program. A second step (S'2) of jumping to the previous section of the same channel if the start time of the first program is greater than the start time of the requested program; When the start time of the first program of the section in the second step is less than or equal to the start time of the requested program, when the start time of the requested program minus the start time of the first program is larger than the offset time. A third step (S'3) which repeats the first step (S'1) after jumping to the next section; When the value obtained by subtracting the start time of the first program from the start time of the program requested in the third step S'3 is less than or equal to the offset time and the second channel S'2, When jumping to the previous section, the program start time is compared with the start time of the required program, and if the start time of the program does not match the start time of the required program, the memory 16 is jumped by one program and then repeatedly compared. 4 steps S'4 and; If the program start time coincides with the start time of the requested program in the fourth step (S'4), the operation is sequentially performed in the fifth step (S'5) of reading and transmitting the program guide information of the requested program from the program. Program guide information retrieval method of a digital satellite broadcasting receiver characterized in that. The method according to claim 1, wherein when a program guide request input from outside requests guide information for a program, the channel number of the requested program is compared with the channel number of the program guide information stored in the memory, and if it does not match, the next section is entered. A first step (S1) of repeating comparison after jumping; When the channel number of the program requested in the first step S1 and the channel number of the program guide information stored in the memory coincide with each other, the first program start time of this section is compared with the start time of the requested program. A second step (S2) of jumping to the previous section of the same channel if the start time of the program is greater than the start time of the requested program; When the start time of the first program of the section in the second step is less than or equal to the start time of the requested program, when the start time of the requested program minus the start time of the first program is larger than the offset time. It includes a third step (S3) to perform the first step (S1) after the jump to the next section; When the value obtained by subtracting the start time of the first program from the start time of the program required in the third step S3 is less than or equal to the offset time and jumps to the previous section of the same channel in the second step S2. In one case, a fourth step S4 of comparing the program start time with the start time of the required program and jumping the memory by one program and then repeatedly comparing if the program start time does not match the start time of the requested program; When the program start time coincides with the requested start time of the program in the fourth step (S4), the program guide information search of the digital satellite broadcasting receiver is sequentially performed in the fifth step (S5) of reading and transmitting the program guide information. Way.