KR100426102B1 - Method for switching a broadcasting service in digital broadcasting receiver and method for providing a digital broadcasting service information - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A method for converting a broadcasting service in a digital broadcasting receiver and a method for providing a digital broadcasting service are provided to record and manage information for being converted into the broadcasting service corresponding to each sub-picture and perform a broadcasting service converting operation using a mosaic EPG(Electronic Program Guide) image. CONSTITUTION: Information necessary for tuning a digital broadcasting service is recorded in a device through an automatic tuning operation or an interface operation with an external device. Recorded information is linked with sub-pictures in a mosaic EPG image. If a certain sub-picture is selected in a state in which the mosaic EPG image is displayed on a screen(S10), information linked to the selected sub-picture is retrieved and read from the device and a corresponding service is tuned(S20,S30).

Description

Method for switching a broadcasting service in digital broadcasting receiver and method for providing a digital broadcasting service information}

According to the present invention, when any one subpicture is selected and designated among a Mosaic Electronic Program Guide (EPG) image in which a plurality of subpictures are displayed in one screen, the present invention corresponds to the subpicture. The present invention relates to a broadcasting service switching method and a digital broadcasting service information providing method in a digital broadcasting receiver for switching to a broadcasting service.

Recently, an electronic program guide, that is, an EPG service, which provides various broadcast program information has been commercialized, and in a digital broadcast receiver such as a set top box (STB), after receiving the information, By outputting the display through a screen of an external connection device such as a television, it is possible to easily search for broadcast program information desired by a user.

Meanwhile, some mosaic EPG services are provided to allow a user to more easily search and select various broadcast programs that are provided through different broadcast services, which will be described in detail. The explanation is as follows.

FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a transmitting side and a receiving side for transmitting / receiving a general mosaic easy fiji service. The transmitting side 100 includes a mosaic screen generator 10, an encoder 11, a mux, and a modulator ( 12), uplinker 13, and mosaic information generator 14 may be included.

Meanwhile, in the mosaic screen generator 10, various broadcast programs BS 1 to BS k provided through different broadcast services generate a mosaic screen image in which sub-pictures of a small size are displayed on one screen. In the encoder 11, the mosaic screen image is encoded into an MPEG data stream suitable for digital broadcasting.

In addition, the mux and modulator 12 muxes and modulates the mosaic information generated by the mosaic information generator 14 and the encoded MPEG data stream, and then through the uplinker 13 through a broadcast satellite ( 200, the digital broadcast receiver 400 such as a set-top box outputs and displays a mosaic easy-video image received through the broadcast satellite 200 through a screen of the television 500.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the mosaic episode image includes first through fifth corresponding to first through ninth broadcast programs Program 1 through 9 that are provided through different broadcast services. Nine sub-pictures 1 to 9 can be output and displayed within the same screen.

On the other hand, in the digital broadcast receiver 400, a cursor is placed on any one subpicture of the mosaic easy image, for example, while the user places the cursor on the first subpicture. When a selection button provided on the remote controller or the like is clicked on, after searching and referring to mosaic information provided through the mosaic easy service, a broadcast service provided with a first program corresponding to a first subpicture is selected, and then the broadcast is performed. The first broadcast program received through the service is displayed on the main picture screen.

Accordingly, a user having the digital broadcast receiver can search and confirm various broadcast programs provided in different broadcast services simultaneously through the mosaic easy image, and can also easily select and designate any one broadcast service. It becomes possible.

However, in order for the above operation to be performed, various information necessary for switching to a broadcast service corresponding to each subpicture, for example, a service name, a service ID, a network ID, In addition, since various additional information such as RF frequency must be provided in association with each sub-picture, the extended application is practically applied to all digital broadcasts provided through various networks such as various satellite broadcasts or terrestrial broadcasts and cable broadcasts. There is a problem that becomes impossible.

In addition, since the LNB (Low Noise Blackdown) frequency and the LNB control voltage of the satellite broadcasting reception antenna connected to and connected to the digital broadcasting receiver are preset to different values according to each satellite broadcasting reception antenna, the mosaic There is a problem in that the transmitting side providing the EPI service cannot provide control information suitable for each satellite broadcasting antenna.

Accordingly, the present invention has been created to solve the above problems, and provides additional information for switching to each broadcast service corresponding to subpictures in a mosaic easy fiji image on a transmitting side providing a mosaic easy fiji service. Even if not, the digital broadcast receiver records and manages information for switching to a broadcast service corresponding to each subpicture, so that the broadcast service switching operation using a mosaic easy image can be performed. To provide a broadcast service switching method, the purpose is to.

In addition, according to the present invention, even if the broadcasting service for each subpicture included in the mosaic easy image is changed, the user can easily check the information, and then update and associate the service entry and the sub picture indicator previously stored in the device to display the mosaic easy image. It is an object of the present invention to provide a broadcasting service switching method and a digital broadcasting service information providing method in a digital broadcasting receiver for performing a broadcasting service switching operation.

1 illustrates a configuration of a transmitting side and a receiving side for transmitting / receiving a general mosaic easy fiji service,

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment in which a single subpicture is selected and selected from a general mosaic image.

3 illustrates a configuration of a digital broadcast receiver to which a broadcast service switching method according to the present invention is applied.

4 illustrates a list of service entry information recorded and stored in a digital broadcast receiver to which the present invention is applied;

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of an OSD image superimposed and displayed on a mosaic effigy image according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment of an OSD image superimposed and displayed on a mosaic effigy image according to the present invention.

7 illustrates an embodiment in which link service information is linked and stored in service entry information according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates a process in which one broadcast service is selectively switched by a broadcast service switching method in a digital broadcast receiver according to the present invention.

9 shows syntax for a recorded mosaic information section including an update flag and new service information data according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 illustrates an OSD image in which broadcast service update information is output and displayed according to the present invention.

※ Explanation of code for main part of drawing

100: mosaic parchment transmitter 200: broadcast satellite

300: satellite antenna 400: digital broadcast receiver

500: television 40: tuner

41: Demux 42: Audio Buffer

43: video buffer 44: data buffer

45: MPEG decoder 46: control unit

47: OSD generator 48: memory

49: interface unit

In the method of switching a broadcast service in a digital broadcast receiver according to the present invention for achieving the above object, information required for tuning a digital broadcast service is recorded in an apparatus through an automatic tuning operation or an interface operation with an external device. Step 1 to save; Associating the recorded stored information with subpictures in a mosaic easy image; And a step of searching for and reading information associated with the subpicture in the device and selecting a corresponding broadcast service when an arbitrary subpicture is selected and specified while displaying the mosaic phiji image on the screen. The method may further include outputting and displaying the corresponding OSD image by searching and referring to broadcasting service change information for each sub picture included in the mosaic information section received through digital broadcasting.

In addition, the method for providing digital broadcast service information according to the present invention may include: a step of confirming whether a broadcast service for each subpicture included in a mosaic easy-video image is changed to a new broadcast service; And when the broadcast service corresponding to the subpicture is changed, two steps of transmitting identification information indicating the fact in association with the subpicture.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of a broadcasting service switching method and a digital broadcasting service information providing method in a digital broadcasting receiver according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

3 illustrates a configuration of a digital broadcast receiver to which a broadcast service switching method according to the present invention is applied. For example, in order to tune a digital broadcast channel to a digital broadcast receiver 400 such as a set top box (STB), FIG. A tuner section 40 and a demux 41 for parsing an MPEG transport stream received through any one of the broadcast services multiplexed on the broadcast channel into audio, video and data. ), An audio buffer 42, a video buffer 43, a data buffer 44 for temporarily storing the audio, video, and data, and the original audio by decoding the temporarily stored audio, video, and data. And an MPEG decoder 45 for restoring and outputting the video signal.

In addition, the digital broadcast receiver 400 displays an overlay of a cursor on a mosaic easy-video image, and outputs and displays an OSD image of a user key input window or a user selection menu. A control unit 46 for controlling the operation of each component means, data necessary for the operation control, information for switching to each broadcast service corresponding to the sub picture in the mosaic image, for example, a sub picture indicator (Sub And a memory 48 for cooperatively storing a picture indicator and a service entry, and an interface unit 49 for connecting and connecting an external device.

In the meantime, when the automatic tuning operation is performed, the controller 46 sequentially scans a broadcast channel and a broadcast service and searches for service information (SI) provided through each broadcast service. As shown in Fig. 4, unique information required for tuning the broadcast service, for example, a service index (Service_Index), a service ID (Service_id), a service name (Service_name), a transport stream ID (Transport_stream_id), and a network ID (Network_id), original network ID (Original_network_id), RF frequency, symbol rate (SymbolRate), FEC (Forward Error Correction) information is extracted and managed as one service entry (Service Entry),

When the broadcast service is a broadcast service that is received through satellite broadcasting, the controller 46 additionally records the LNB frequency and the LNB control voltage of the satellite broadcasting reception antenna in the service entry. The service index is a service ID changed by the digital broadcast receiver to a value corresponding to the service number, and the service ID and service name are extracted by service description table (SDT) information included in service information (SI), The transport stream ID, network ID, original network ID, RF frequency, symbol rate, and FEC information are extracted by network information table (NIT) information included in the service information (SI).

Accordingly, in the memory 48, as shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of service entries (Service Entry # 1 to #m) can be recorded and managed in a list form, and also recorded and managed in the service entry. Information may be collectively downloaded from an external connection device such as a personal computer (PC) connected and connected through the interface unit 49. In the service entry, other information may be additionally recorded in addition to the information, Or unnecessary information may be omitted.

On the other hand, the controller 46, when the user requests a mosaic easy service, as shown in Fig. 5, the mosaic easy image provided through digital broadcasting, the output is displayed, any one sub-picture For example, after positioning the cursor on the first subpicture, the cursor is moved to the position of the subpicture corresponding to the key input of the user.

When the user clicks the selection button provided in the remote controller or the like, for example, when the user clicks the selection button while the cursor is positioned on the first sub-picture, the controller 40 determines the first button. The (X1, Y1) position coordinate value corresponding to the sub picture is detected and confirmed by a first sub picture indicator (Sub-Pic 1 Indicator), and the first sub picture indicator is a service entry stored in the memory 48. Search and check if it is recorded in association.

On the other hand, when it is confirmed that the first subpicture indicator is not recorded in association with the service entry, the control unit 40 controls the OSD generating unit 47 to operate as shown in FIG. 5. Similarly, a message indicating that there is no link service number (Service Number) for switching to the corresponding broadcast service is displayed and displayed, and a user is requested to input a service number corresponding to the first subpicture. The OS input window will be displayed.

In addition, when the user inputs any one service number through the above process, for example, selects and inputs '0011', the controller 46 corresponds to the service number corresponding to the '0011'. After retrieving the service entry whose service index is recorded as '0011', the first subpicture indicator is cooperatively recorded as the link service information in the corresponding service entry.

In addition, according to another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 6, the controller 40 may provide a guide message indicating that there is no link service name for switching to the corresponding broadcast service. In addition to displaying the output, the user is requested to select and specify a service name corresponding to the first sub-picture from the list menu of the OS video.

The controller 46 records a service name corresponding to the 'MBC' when the user selects and designates an arbitrary service name through the above process, for example, selects and selects 'MBC'. After retrieving the service entry, the first sub picture indicator is cooperatively recorded as the link service information in the corresponding service entry.

Accordingly, the service entries recorded and stored in the memory 48 through the above-described series of processes are based on the service name or service number selected or input by the user as shown in FIG. 7. Picture indicators are recorded in association.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8, when the user moves the cursor to the eighth subpicture included in the mosaic easy image, as shown in FIG. S10), after detecting and confirming (X8, Y8) position coordinate values of the eighth subpicture (S20), any one service entry in which the eighth subpicture indicator corresponding to the position coordinate value is cooperatively recorded is stored in the memory. Search at (48).

When the eighth subpicture indicator is co-recorded with, for example, a second service entry (Service Entry # 2), the information corresponding to the information recorded in the second service entry, that is, the broadcast corresponding to the eighth subpicture is used. After reading the unique information necessary for tuning a service from the second service entry (S30), the tuner 40 and the demux 41 are operated to control the broadcast service corresponding to the eighth subpicture. By switching to, the eighth broadcast program corresponding to the eighth subpicture desired by the user can be normally output to the main picture screen.

Meanwhile, as illustrated in FIG. 9, mosaic information information provided through digital broadcasting includes mosaic information session (Mosaic_information_section) information, which is transmitted from the transmitting side 100 as described above with reference to FIG. 1. In the information generator 14, when the broadcast service for each subpicture is changed to another broadcast service, for example, broadcast services for each subpicture previously broadcasted and broadcast services for each service to be broadcasted are described above. In the case where it is determined that the broadcast service corresponding to a specific subpicture has been changed to another broadcast service by comparing with each other in the EPI information generator 14, it indicates that the broadcast service corresponding to the subpicture has been changed and updated in the mosaic information session. To predetermine identification information to be issued, for example 'renewal_flag' having an 8-bit recording size. The value (eg renewal_flag = '0000 1111') will be recorded and transmitted.

In addition, in the easy information generator 14, a broadcast service corresponding to a specific sub picture is referred to, for example, by referring to the easy information or control information input from providers that provide broadcast services for each sub picture. If it is determined that the broadcast service has been changed to another broadcast service, a 'renewal_ flag' to indicate that the broadcast service corresponding to the subpicture has been changed and updated within the mosaic information session is assigned a specific value (for example, renewal_flag = '0000 1111'). Record it and send it.

Meanwhile, the mosaic session information may be recorded along with the identification information and transmitted with new broadcast service information data (new_service_info_data) corresponding to the subpicture, for example, a service name or number of a new broadcast service. In addition, a previous broadcast service name or number corresponding to the subpicture may be additionally recorded and transmitted.

The control unit 46 of the digital broadcast receiver to which the present invention is applied detects and confirms a 'renewal_flag' value for each subpicture included in the mosaic information session as described above, and records the value as '0000 1111'. If it is determined that the broadcast service corresponding to the subpicture has been changed, the OSD generator 47 controls the operation and outputs a guide message for guiding the broadcast service update.

In addition, in the state where the 'renewal_flag' value is recorded as '0000 1111' in the mosaic information session as described above, when the new broadcast service information data corresponding to the subpicture is recorded, The OSD generator 47 controls the operation, and outputs and displays the OSD image including the new broadcast service name or number.

The controller 46 searches for and confirms a new broadcast service name or number corresponding to the subpicture and a previous broadcast service name or number preset in the memory 48, and then the OSD generator 47 For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the broadcast service corresponding to the first sub-picture (Sub-picture 1) in the mosaic image is changed from 'KBS' to 'MBC'. The OS video is displayed.

Accordingly, as described above with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the user selects and designates the first subpicture, and then designates a broadcast service name corresponding to the first subpicture to be changed to 'MBC', or The service number corresponding to 'MBC' is changed and designated, and the controller 46 selects any one service entry including a broadcast service name or number that is changed and designated through the above process. After searching in the memory 48, the first subpicture indicator is stored in the service entry.

Therefore, even if the broadcasting service for each subpicture included in the mosaic phiji image is changed, the user checks the OSD image outputted and displayed as described above, so that the service entry and the subpicture indicator previously stored in the memory 48 are stored. It is possible to update-associate normally, so that when a subpicture in the mosaic easy image is selected and designated, it is possible to accurately tune a broadcast service corresponding to the subpicture.

Or more, preferred embodiments of the present invention described above, for the purpose of illustration, those skilled in the art, within the technical spirit and the technical scope of the present invention disclosed in the appended claims below, to further improve various other embodiments Changes, substitutions or additions will be possible.

The broadcast service switching method and the digital broadcast service information providing method in the digital broadcast receiver according to the present invention constituted and constructed as described above, the transmitting side providing the mosaic easy service, separately provides information for switching to each broadcast service. Even if not, the digital broadcast receiver can perform a broadcast service switching operation using the mosaic Phiji image by itself, so that various networks such as terrestrial broadcasting and cable broadcasting as well as digital satellite broadcasting using a satellite broadcasting receiving antenna can be performed. The Mosaic Epiji service can be expanded and applied to all digital broadcasts provided more efficiently, and even if the broadcasting service for each subpicture included in the Mosaic Effie image is changed to another broadcast service, the user can use the fact. Below After confirming that, the service entry and the sub picture indicator previously stored in the device are updated and linked, so that the broadcast service switching operation using the mosaic easy image can be normally performed.

Claims (6)

A step of recording and storing information necessary for tuning a digital broadcast service in the device through an automatic tuning operation or an interface operation with an external device; Associating the recorded stored information with subpictures in a mosaic easy image; And In the state where the mosaic image is displayed on the screen, if any one subpicture is selected and specified, three steps of searching for and reading information associated with the subpicture in the device and selecting a corresponding broadcast service are included. Understand, Retrieving broadcast service change information for each subpicture included in the mosaic information section received through digital broadcasting, and confirming whether a broadcast service corresponding to each subpicture is changed to another broadcast service; And And, if the change is made to another broadcast service, outputting and displaying the changed new service information as an OS video. The method of claim 1, And outputting and displaying the OSD image, and newly updating and associating a specific subpicture in the mosaic easy image, which is changed and designated by the user, with any one of the information stored in the apparatus. Method of switching broadcast services in a digital broadcast receiver. The method of claim 1, The broadcast service change information for each subpicture includes an update flag (renewal_flag) indicating that a broadcast service corresponding to each subpicture is changed to another broadcast service, and new service information (new_service_information) for the changed other broadcast service. Among at least one broadcast service switching method in a digital broadcast receiver, characterized in that it is included. The method of claim 1, And displaying information on a new broadcast service corresponding to a specific subpicture whose broadcast service is changed and information for identifying a previous broadcast service. A first step of confirming whether a broadcast service for each subpicture included in the mosaic pidji image is changed to a new broadcast service; And And when the broadcast service corresponding to the subpicture is changed, including the identification information for indicating the fact in the mosaic information section and transmitting the same. delete