KR100188203B1 - Apparatus and method for upgrading control program of television by running network communication - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for upgrading a program through network communication of a television and a method thereof, wherein a television broadcast signal is selected through a tuner (2) so that a television broadcast signal through an image / audio IF unit (4, 6) is transmitted through an image / audio signal processor (8). And control program data for controlling functions of the OSD signal processor 18 for OSD display and the teletext signal processor 20 for display processing of the teletext signal. In the old television, time-measuring means (22) for indicating a program update period for receiving updated supply of up-versioned control program data, data storage means (24) capable of repeatedly storing the up-versioned control program data; In order to perform transmission / reception data by performing network communication connection for supplying the up-versioned control program as the program update period elapses by the timekeeping means 22. When the program update period due to the data modulation / demodulation means 26 and the timing means 22 is elapsed, the data modification / demodulation means 26 is connected to the manufacturer of the corresponding television on the network through the data modulation / demodulation means 26. And control means (28) for receiving the updated control program data and updating and storing the data in the data storage means (24). The data modulation / demodulation means (26) of the television includes network server means (30) and Connected with the manufacturer of the television via network communication to enable the supply of up-versioned control program data; A first step of indicating a program update period for receiving an update supply of the up-version control program data through the counting means 22; and a change / demodulation of the data changing / demodulating means 26 when the program update period elapses. A second step of establishing a communication connection with the network server means 30 through the operation to connect with the manufacturer of the television, and the version data of the up-versioned control program data transmitted from the manufacturer by the network server means 30. A third step of receiving and comparing a version of control program data stored in advance, and if it is determined that the received version data is an up-version than the version data of control program data stored in advance, the data modulation / demodulation means 26 is executed. A fourth step of transmitting upgrade request information to the manufacturer through the up-versioned control program data transmitted according to the upgrade request; Verification characterized by comprising a fifth step of storing in the data storage means (24).

Description

Program upgrade apparatus and method through network communication of television

The present invention relates to an apparatus for upgrading a program through a network communication of a television and a method thereof, and more particularly to an up-versioned data of a program for controlling according to a functional operation of a television through a network communication. The present invention relates to a program upgrade apparatus through a network communication of a television that can be periodically updated and supplied, and a method thereof.

Currently, in a television which is generally used, a medium channel amplification operation, a luminance / color signal separation, and a luminance adjustment are performed on a video signal by selecting and receiving a predetermined channel among a plurality of television broadcast signals transmitted from a plurality of television broadcasting stations. The screen is formed by scanning on the CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) screen through the color signal processing and the synthesis of the separated luminance / color signals, and the voice signals such as the audio intermediate frequency amplification and stereo signal processing or voice multiple processing Through the processing, the voice can be output through the speaker.

In a conventional television, the user directly operates the channel by adjusting the channel frequency of the rotary channel for multiple channel selection, and adjusts the desired volume by directly operating the rotary volume switch in the case of the volume adjustment for the audio signal. Currently, the frequency of broadcasting channels is memorized in advance, and the channel shortening operation by the up / down buttons can be used to quickly navigate to the broadcasting channels except for the non-broadcasting channels. In the volume control, the volume control can be made by generating a predetermined PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) signal corresponding to the key value according to the operation state of the up / down button and supplying it to the voice control means. In the voice multi mode set by the user Based on the control program, voice multiple operation is possible.

In addition, such a television is provided with various various functions in addition to the video / audio playback function for a television broadcast signal, for example, the amount of video analog amounts such as contrast, brightness, or color amount of a video signal. Control function, the function of adjusting the audio surround mode for the audio signal, the OSD (On Screen Display) display function for displaying the adjustment status when the volume or video analog value is adjusted, and the vertical blanking period of the television broadcast signal Various functions such as a teletext character display function for receiving and displaying the transmitted teletext character data and an on / off timer reservation function for reserving and setting the wake-up time and sleep time are employed.

On the other hand, in the execution of various functions provided in such a television, a video analog adjustment signal value which can be adjusted by an image adjustment IC and a sound adjustment IC that can be adjusted by a control program set in a control unit made of a microcomputer (Micom). The adjustment signal value of the audio surround mode is not only programmed as data having respective parameters, but also the OSD processing means for performing the OSD display function or the teletext signal processing means for performing the display function through decoding and data storage of the teletext signal. Control data for control are programmed and stored in a programmable memory such as, for example, EEPROM to act as the brain means for basic control by the control means.

However, in the case of control program data stored for control of various functional operations in the control means of such a television, control program data having a version corresponding to the mass produced functional operation at the time of television production at the factory is written into the programmable memory. In order to up-version the control program according to the addition of functions or the addition of new functions, the main body of the television itself must be developed and produced as a new model. The drawback is that you will have to repurchase it.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a program upgrade apparatus through a network communication of a television which allows a television to be regularly connected with a manufacturer through network communication to receive new up-versioned program data. The purpose is to provide.

In addition, another object of the present invention is to provide a program upgrade method through a network communication of the television to be connected to the manufacturer through a network communication in the television on a regular basis to receive a new up-version program data.

According to the program upgrade apparatus through the network communication of the television according to the present invention in order to achieve the above object, it is tuned through the tuner so that the television broadcast signal through the video / audio IF unit to adjust the video / audio by the video / audio signal processing unit And a television having an OSD signal processor for displaying an OSD and a control program data for controlling a teletext signal processor for displaying a teletext signal. Time-receiving means for recognizing a program update period, a data storage means for repeatedly storing the up-versioned control program data, and an up-versioned control program for supplying the program update period by the time-receiving means. Data that modulates / demodulates transmission / reception data through network communication Receiving the up-versioned control program data by connecting with the manufacturer for the corresponding television on the network through the data modulation / demodulation means when the program update period by the time of the time of the demodulation and the time-keeping means has passed. And control means for updating and storing the means, wherein the data modulation / demodulation means of the television is capable of supplying up-versioned control program data connected to the manufacturer of the television via network communication with a network server means. Provided is a program upgrade apparatus through network communication of a television set.

In addition, the data storage means in the present invention is preferably characterized in that consisting of a flash ROM (Flash ROM).

In addition, according to the program upgrade method through the network communication of the television according to the present invention in order to achieve the above object, the TV / broadcast signal through the video / audio IF unit is tuned through the tuner video / audio signal processing unit In a television equipped with a control program data for controlling a OSD and an OSD signal processing unit for OSD display and a control function for a teletext signal processing unit for display processing of a teletext signal, control of an up-version through a time display means. A first step of indicating a program update period for receiving and supplying program data, and performing communication connection with the network server means through a data change / demodulation means of the data modification / demodulation means after the program update period has elapsed. The second step of connecting with the manufacturer, the up server transmitted from the manufacturer by the network server means A third step of receiving the version data of the transmitted control program data and comparing it with a version of the control program data stored in advance; and if the received version data is determined to be an up-version than the version data of the control program data stored in advance, the data A fourth step of transmitting upgrade request information to the manufacturer through the modulation / demodulation means, and a fifth step of verifying and storing the up-versioned control program data transmitted according to the request of the upgrade in a data storage means. It features.

According to the present invention configured as described above, when the program update period for up-versioning the control program data of a version corresponding to the functional operation of the television by elapsed for a predetermined period of time on the television, the communication connection is made through the network and the television is connected. By connecting to the manufacturer of the controller, if it is determined that the version data according to the control program data of the predetermined version is up-version compared with the version of the control program data stored in advance, the upgrade request is made to the latest version of the control program data. Received to remember to receive.

1 is a block diagram showing a program upgrade apparatus through a network communication of a television according to the present invention;

2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the program upgrade method through the network communication of the television according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

2 --- tuner, 4 --- picture IF section,

6 --- Voice IF section, 8 --- Video signal processing section,

10 --- video output section, 12 --- audio signal processing section,

14 --- voice output section, 16 --- function setup section,

18 --- OSD signal processor, 20 --- teletext signal processor,

22 --- timer, 24 --- data storage (Flash ROM),

26 --- data modulation / demodulation unit, 28 --- control unit,

30 --- Network server means.

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

1 is a block diagram showing a program upgrading apparatus through network communication of a television according to the present invention. In the apparatus of the present invention, reference numeral 2 denotes a channel selecting station for selecting a predetermined channel from the control unit 28, which will be described later. 4 shows a tuner which receives data VT and tunes a broadcast RF signal of a corresponding channel and generates an intermediate frequency signal mixed with an oscillation frequency signal generated by the channel tuning data VT. An audio IF section for amplifying a voice intermediate frequency of the tuned television broadcast signal, and 6 denotes a video IF section for a video intermediate frequency amplifying the video signal of the tuned television broadcast signal.

In addition, reference numeral 8 denotes a signal amplified by the image intermediate frequency-amplified image signal to separate the luminance signal and the color signal, and then synthesized and outputted in the form of a composite image signal through luminance adjustment and color signal processing. A video signal processing unit for adjusting the video analog amount such as contrast, brightness and color amount of the video signal according to the control signal VC for controlling the video analog amount generated in (28), and 10 denotes the An image output unit for amplifying and outputting a composite image signal to enable image reproduction.

In addition, reference numeral 12 denotes a volume control and a sound quality control of the voice intermediate frequency amplified voice signal, and outputs the voice signal such as voice multiplexing or surround processing in accordance with the voice control signal AC by the controller 28 described later. An audio signal processing unit for performing audio processing is shown, and 14 denotes an audio output unit for amplifying and outputting the audio signal processed audio signal so as to reproduce audio.

Reference numeral 16 is composed of a remote control for remote control or a matrix key provided in a predetermined portion of the control panel of the main body, so that broadcasting channel tuning, video / audio analog level adjustment, audio multiple mode or surround mode adjustment, and on / off timer reservation function are provided. A function setting section comprising a plurality of function keys for performing key setting operations for the present invention.

Also, reference numeral 18 denotes OSD display characters for various function operations that can be adjusted by the television (i.e., switching of broadcast channels, adjusting video / audio analog levels, audio mode setting, on / off timer reservation function, etc.). An OSD signal processing section for performing signal processing for a display function is shown.

Further, reference numeral 20 extracts a teletext signal superimposed on the vertical blanking period of the video signal according to the selected television broadcast signal, performs signal processing such as level slice processing, etc., and displays the teletext character through data decoding and temporary storage processing. A teletext signal processing section for performing signal processing for display is shown.

Reference numeral 22 denotes a timer for incorporating an oscillation frequency generating means such as a crystal oscillator and having a plurality of clock channels to time a program update period for upgrading the up-versioned control program data.

Also, reference numeral 24 denotes a data storage unit comprising a flash ROM for updating and storing control program data according to an up-version transmitted through network communication.

Further, reference numeral 26 denotes a data modulation / demodulation unit comprising a modem for performing modulation / demodulation processing of transmission / reception data for supplying control program data according to up-version through network communication. The demodulator 26 performs data transmission / reception processing through a connection network such as a PSTN, an ISDN, a cable, or the like.

Reference numeral 28 denotes a control unit which controls the overall function operation of the television, and the control unit 28 changes or restores the data when the program update period through the clocking operation of the timer 22 elapses. Communication with the manufacturer through the grandfather 26 receives the version data for the latest version of the control program data received by comparing the version data of the control program data previously stored in the data storage unit 24 is higher than the version data If it is determined that the version is transmitted by the upgrade request information via the network communication and the latest version of the control program data received data is verified and updated and stored in the data storage unit 24.

Reference numeral 30 denotes a network server means for operating a service so as to communicate with the manufacturer of the television through network communication with the data modulation / demodulation section 26 of the television.

Next, the operation of the present invention made as described above will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 2.

First, in step 40, when the television is supplied with standby power, the standby time is received by the timer 22, which is operated by the timer 22. It is determined whether the program update period for upgrading the stored control program data has passed.

As a result of the determination in step 41, if it is determined that the clock time by the timer 22 has elapsed as the program update period, the control proceeds to step 42 to operate the data modulation / demodulator 26 to operate the network server means 30. ) To be connected to the manufacturer of the television.

Then, in step 43, the version data informing the control program data of the latest version developed by the manufacturer connected via the network server means 30 is transmitted through the data modulation / demodulation unit 26. The control unit 28 compares the received version data with the version data of the control program data stored in the data storage unit 24 and determines whether the received version data is a higher version.

As a result of the determination in step 44, if it is determined that the version data received from the manufacturer is a lower version than the version data for the control program data of the data storage unit 24, the control proceeds to step 45 to change / restore the data. The grandfather 26 transmits the upgrade rejection information.

However, if it is determined in step 44 that the controller 28 determines that the version data received from the manufacturer is a higher version, then the control proceeds to step 46 and the network server means 30 through the data change / auxiliary unit 26. The upgrade request information is transmitted to the connected manufacturer.

Accordingly, by transmitting the control program data of the up-version according to the result of receiving the upgrade request information from the manufacturer in step 47, receiving the control program data transmitted through the data modulation / demodulator 26 to verify the data Then, the data is stored in the data storage unit 24 for each of the verified data.

In that state, the process proceeds to step 48, and the control unit 28 determines whether or not data verification of the received control program data has been completed.

As a result of the determination of step 48, when it is determined that the data verification of the received control program data is completed, the control proceeds to step 49 to disconnect the network connected through the data modulation / demodulation unit 26 and to enter the standby state. You will enter.

According to the present invention made as described above, by receiving and storing the control program data according to the up-version periodically through the network communication in the television to upgrade the operation control program, the development of a new model according to the replacement of software In addition, the burden on the purchase of new models by the consumer side is not only canceled, but also has the advantage that semi-permanent use is possible only with the first purchased TV.

Claims (3)

Tuned through the tuner (2) to adjust the video / audio signal through the video / audio IF section (4, 6) by the video / audio signal processing section (8, 12), OSD signal processing section for OSD display 18 and a television provided with control program data for a control function for a teletext signal processing unit 20 for display processing of a teletext signal, Time-measuring means (22) for indicating a program update period for receiving an updated supply of up-versioned control program data; Data storage means (24) capable of repeatedly storing the up-versioned control program data, Data modulation / demodulation means 26 for converting / demodulating / transmitting / receiving data by performing a network communication connection for supplying an up-versioned control program as the program updating period elapses by the timekeeping means 22; When the program update period by the time of the clock means 22 has elapsed, the control program data is up-versioned by connecting with the manufacturer of the corresponding television on the network through the data modulation / demodulation means 26 to receive the data. And a control means 28 for updating and storing the storage means 24, The data modulation / demodulation means 26 of the television is connected to the manufacturer of the television via network communication with the network server means 30 to supply the up-versioned control program data. Program upgrade device through network communication. 2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said data storage means (24) preferably comprises a flash ROM. Tuned through the tuner (2) to adjust the video / audio signal through the video / audio IF section (4, 6) by the video / audio signal processing section (8, 12), OSD signal processing section for OSD display 18 and a television provided with control program data for a control function for a teletext signal processing unit 20 for display processing of a teletext signal, A first step of displaying a program update period for receiving an update supply of the up-version control program data through the counting means 22, A second step of making a communication connection with the network server means 30 through a data change / demodulation means 26 and a connection with the manufacturer of the television when the program update period has elapsed; A third step of receiving version data of the up-versioned control program data transmitted from the manufacturer by the network server means 30 and comparing it with a version of control program data stored in advance; A fourth step of transmitting upgrade request information to a manufacturer through the data modulation / demodulation means 26, if it is determined that the received version data is an up-version than the previously stored version data of the control program data; And a fifth step of verifying data and storing in the data storage means (24) the up-versioned control program data transmitted in response to the request for the upgrade.