KR100624294B1 - Method for converting broadcasting channel of television - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention categorizes each broadcasting channel by theme and makes a directory, registers a preferred broadcasting channel for each directory, and switches between broadcasting channels registered as a preferred channel in each directory when switching broadcasting channels using channel up / down keys. In order to perform the switching, the present invention provides a conventional method of finding an arbitrary broadcasting channel that a user wants to watch through switching of one channel using a channel up / down key for all broadcasting channels registered as an effective channel. Unlike the method, each broadcasting channel is classified into a directory and directoryed, a favorite broadcasting channel is registered for each directory, and a channel registered as a preferred channel in each directory when channel switching using channel up / down keys is performed. Receiving television with multiple broadcast channels by performing channel switching by moving one channel only between channels The system can further enhance the user's channel selection convenience.

Description

{METHOD FOR CONVERTING BROADCASTING CHANNEL OF TELEVISION}

1 is a block diagram of a typical television receiving system suitable for applying a method for selectively switching a television broadcast channel according to the present invention;

2 is a flowchart illustrating a process of classifying broadcast channels according to a theme and registering them as a preferred channel for each directory for selective switching of broadcast channels according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

3 is a flowchart illustrating a process of switching broadcast channels by directory in a state in which broadcasting channels are classified by theme and registered as preferred channels for each sub directory according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

4 is an exemplary diagram for explaining an example of registering broadcast channels as a preferred channel in each sub-directory classified by theme according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an exemplary diagram for describing an example in which broadcasting channels for each broadcasting mode are registered as a preferred channel in each sub directory classified by theme according to another embodiment of the present invention; FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a process of switching broadcast channels for each subdirectory in a state in which broadcast channels for each broadcast mode are classified by theme and registered as preferred channels for each subdirectory according to another embodiment of the present invention.

<Description of the code | symbol about the principal part of drawing>

102: control block 104: memory block

106: tuner / demodulation block 108: demultiplexer

110: video signal processing block 112: audio signal processing block

The present invention relates to a method for switching a television broadcast channel, and more particularly, to a selective switching method of a television broadcast channel suitable for selectively switching each broadcast channel by a preference channel.

As is well known, a remote controller or the like which executes various operation control of a television reception system is provided with a channel up / down key for sequentially switching a broadcast channel in an upward direction or a downward direction. To switch the broadcast channel in the upward direction or the downward direction.

On the other hand, in recent years, broadcast channels have been expanded from tens to hundreds or hundreds to thousands, and this trend has been further expanded according to various broadcast modes (ie, terrestrial broadcast mode, cable broadcast mode, satellite broadcast mode, etc.). .

Therefore, users register only the effective channels using the channel search function, and sequentially dozens or hundreds of broadcast channels registered as the effective channels in the up or down direction by using the channel up / down key provided in the remote controller. He is looking for a broadcast channel he wants to watch.

However, as described above, through the switching of each channel by using the channel up / down key, the broadcast channel that you want to watch while switching tens or hundreds of broadcast channels registered as effective channels in the up or down direction sequentially The conventional method of searching has a problem that the operation is very cumbersome because it requires a large number of key manipulations, and therefore, it takes a lot of time unnecessarily, and this problem significantly reduces the convenience of users. It is a situation that acts as a detrimental factor.

In addition, in the composite television reception system supporting the terrestrial broadcasting mode, the cable broadcasting mode, and the satellite broadcasting mode, since the channels are classified for each broadcasting mode, each channel is changed through the channel switching using the channel up / down keys while changing the broadcasting mode. It is necessary to find a desired broadcast channel for each broadcast mode. In this case, the troublesome and time-consuming operation of searching for a broadcast channel for viewing is more severe. For example, suppose that you want to watch a cable broadcast while watching a terrestrial broadcast channel, you must first perform an operation for switching the terrestrial broadcast mode to a cable broadcast mode, and then operate a channel up / down key. Since the user has to find a broadcast channel that he / she wants to watch through channel switching by one channel, there is a problem that not only increases the cumbersome operation but also unnecessarily excessive time.

 Accordingly, the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, to classify and directory each broadcast channel by theme, to register a preferred broadcast channel for each directory, and to switch the broadcast channel using the channel up / down keys It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for selectively switching a television broadcast channel that can perform channel switching between broadcast channels registered as a preferred channel in each directory.

Another object of the present invention is to directory each broadcast channel for each broadcast mode by theme, to register a preferred broadcast channel and its broadcast mode for each directory, and to switch between broadcast channels using channel up / down keys. The present invention provides a selective switching method of a television broadcasting channel capable of performing channel switching between broadcasting channels registered in each directory.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of switching a broadcast channel in a television receiving system that receives and broadcasts broadcast programs received through a plurality of broadcast channels, and performs a viewing mode as a preferred channel. A first process of requesting channel storage for registration of a second channel; a second process of waiting for input of an arbitrary directory selection key signal for a predetermined time; And registering the broadcast channel information of the current viewing channel as a preferred channel in all directories among the plurality of directories classified by theme, and when the directory selection key signal is input, broadcast channel information of the current viewing channel. A fourth register at the same time in the entire directory and the corresponding directory corresponding to the selection key signal And a fifth step of checking whether the channel switching signal is input using the channel up / down key while the viewing mode is being executed, and when the channel switching signal is input, the current total channel switching mode is selected for each directory. After switching to the switching mode, a sixth step of channel switching by selecting a preferred channel before or after the current viewing channel in order among the preferred channels registered in the directory to which the current viewing channel belongs; Provided is a selective switching method of a television broadcasting channel including a seventh process of repeating the seventh process whenever a new channel switching signal using a down key is input.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a composite television reception system capable of supporting reception of a plurality of broadcast modes and receiving and broadcasting a broadcast program received through a plurality of broadcast channels for each broadcast mode. A method for switching channels, comprising: a first process of requesting channel storage for registration to a favorite channel while performing a viewing mode, a second process of waiting for input of an arbitrary directory selection key signal for a predetermined time; And a third process of registering the broadcast channel information and the broadcast mode classification information of the current viewing channel as a preferred channel among all the directories classified by theme when there is no input of the directory selection key signal for the predetermined time. And broadcasting channel information of the current viewing channel when the directory selection key signal is input. A fourth step of simultaneously registering song mode classification information in the entire directory and a corresponding directory corresponding to the selection key signal, and checking whether a channel switching signal using a channel up / down key is input while performing a viewing mode; A fifth process of performing the step, and when the channel switching signal is input, the current preferred channel switching mode is switched to the channel switching mode for each directory, and the neighboring preferred channel before or after being registered in the directory to which the current viewing channel belongs A sixth process of checking whether the broadcast mode is the same broadcast mode as the current viewing channel, a seventh process of selecting and switching the neighboring preferred channel when the same broadcast mode is selected, and the neighbor when the broadcast channel is not the same broadcast mode; The broadcast mode to which the neighboring preferred channel belongs to the current broadcast mode based on the broadcast mode classification information of the preferred channel. The eighth process of switching to the second channel; the ninth process of tuning the neighboring preferred channel to the selected channel; and the sixth to ninth processes each time a new channel switching signal is input using the channel up / down keys. Provided is a selective switching method of a television broadcasting channel including a tenth step of performing repetition.

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

First, the core technical aspect of the present invention is different from the above-described conventional method of searching for any broadcast channel to be watched by switching one channel using channel up / down keys for all broadcast channels registered as effective channels. In contrast, each broadcasting channel is classified by theme into a directory, a favorite broadcasting channel (and a broadcasting mode) is registered for each directory, and a channel is registered as a preferred channel in each directory when channel switching using a channel up / down key is performed. It is possible to easily achieve the object of the present invention through such technical means by performing channel switching by moving one channel only between the broadcast channels. Here, the theme means, for example, news, movies, music, romance, animation, documentaries, sports, and the like.

1 is a block diagram of a typical television receiving system suitable for applying a method for selectively switching a television broadcast channel according to the present invention, including a control block 102, a memory block 104, a tuner / demodulation block 106, A demultiplexer 108, a video signal processing block 110, and an audio signal processing block 112.

Referring to FIG. 1, the control block 102 includes, for example, a microprocessor for performing overall operation control of a television reception system, and controls the broadcast channel tuning in the tuner / demodulation block 106, It controls the demultiplexing of the video and audio signals in the broadcast signal received through the tuned broadcast channel, and controls the processing of the video and audio signals.

In addition, the control block 102 classifies a plurality of broadcast channels by themes (eg, news, movies, music, romance, animation, documentaries, sports, etc.) and sorts them by each directory (ie, the entire directory, the news directory, and the movie). Memory block as the preferred channel using the information (ie channel number and channel name) of the broadcasting channel that the user requested to register as the preferred channel in the condition (status) divided into a directory, a music directory, a love directory, an animation directory, a sports directory, and the like. It is stored (registered) in the corresponding directory in 104. Of course, the control block 102 also performs the function of deleting (unregistering) the preferred channel registered in each directory according to the user's operation (channel clear key operation).

Here, the whole directory means a directory for registering all the favorite channels registered as the favorite channels in each of the plurality of sub directories as the main directory, and includes a news directory, a movie directory, a music directory, a love directory, an animation directory, a sports directory, and the like. Means a sub directory for selectively registering the preferred channels of the broadcast channels classified by theme, and such a main directory and a plurality of sub directories are divided into respective directories and memory as shown in FIG. 4 as an example. Stored in a predetermined area of block 104. In Fig. 4, reference numeral A1 denotes an area for describing a channel number of a broadcast channel registered as a preferred channel, and reference numeral B1 denotes an area for describing a channel name of a broadcast channel registered as a preferred channel.

Moreover, the control block 102 responds to the user's request for channel switching for any directory by using the channel up / down key, based on the preferred channel information registered in the corresponding directory allocated to the memory block 104 in response thereto. Control channel switching (ie channel switching tuning) by one channel in the directory.

Next, the tuner / demodulation block 106 is connected to a broadcast signal received through a broadcast signal receiver (i.e., a receiving antenna or a cable), not shown, based on the broadcast channel tuning control signal provided from the control block 102. Functions such as tuning a broadcast channel selected by a user (eg, terrestrial broadcast channel, cable broadcast channel, or satellite broadcast channel), demodulating the tuned broadcast signal into an original signal before transmission, and delivering the same to the demultiplexer 108 of the next stage. Do this.

In addition, the demultiplexer 108 demultiplexes (separates) the demodulated broadcast signal provided from the tuner / demodulation block 106 into a video and audio signal in response to the control signal provided from the control block 102. The separated video signal is transmitted to the video signal processing block 110, and the separated audio signal is transmitted to the audio signal processing block 112.

Subsequently, the video signal processing block 110 decodes (variable length decoding, inverse quantization of) a video signal that has been compressed and encoded (DCT, quantized, variable length coding, etc.) according to a series of video compression algorithms, for example, before coding. , Reverse DCT, etc.) or converting a digital video signal into an analog video signal, and the processed video signal, that is, the analog video signal, is transferred to a monitor side (not shown) for display.

Next, the audio signal processing block 112 decodes the audio signal compression-coded according to a series of audio compression algorithms into an original signal before encoding, or converts a digital audio signal into an analog audio signal. In doing so, the analog audio signal processed here is passed to the speaker side, not shown, for output to the outside.

Next, a process of selectively switching broadcast channels according to the present invention using a typical television receiving system having the above-described configuration will be described.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a process of classifying broadcast channels according to a theme and registering them as preferred channels for each sub-directory for selective switching of broadcast channels according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Fig. 2, it is checked whether the user presses the channel storage key for the storage (preferred channel registration) of the channel currently being watched while the television receiving system performs the viewing mode in which the broadcasting channel is tuned. (Steps 202, 204).

If it is determined that the user presses the channel storage key as a result of the check in the above step 204, the control block 102 checks the elapsed time since the channel storage key is pressed and the user for a predetermined time n1. Checks whether or not the user presses any desired directory key (or subdirectory key) among the plurality of directory keys (steps 206 and 208). Here, the "directory key" means a directory in which a plurality of broadcast channels are classified by theme, and examples of such directories include a news directory, a movie directory, a music directory, a love directory, an animation directory, a sports directory, and the like. Can be mentioned. To this end, a plurality of directory keys are provided on the operation panel of the remote control or the television reception system.

Next, if it is determined in step 206 that the user has not pressed any directory key for a predetermined time, the control block 102 does not specify the directory of the channel currently being watched. If not, the information of the current viewing broadcast channel (ie, channel number and channel name information) is registered as a preferred channel in the entire directory. In step 206, reference numeral t1 denotes a count value of the time elapsed after the user presses the channel storage key. In this case, the entire directory is classified by broadcasting theme, and all information on preferred channels selectively registered in each preset subdirectory (news directory, movie directory, music directory, love directory, animation directory, sports directory, etc.). Means the main directory to register. That is, in the present invention, if the sub directory key is not pressed for a predetermined time after the channel storage key is pressed, the channel currently being viewed is registered as a preferred channel in the entire directory meaning the main directory.

Further, as a result of the check in the above step 208, if the user presses any directory key (west directory key) within a predetermined time period, the control block 102 informs the information of the current broadcasting channel (that is, the channel). Number and channel name information) are simultaneously registered as a preferred channel in the selected sub-directory (e.g., news directory, movie directory, music directory, love directory, animation directory, sports directory, etc.) and the entire directory.

Accordingly, according to the present embodiment, the broadcast channel being viewed may be registered as the preferred channel in the main directory and / or the sub directory through the series of processes described above, and as described in detail through the following process, Services such as selective channel switching may be provided using the preferred channels for each sub-directory in which the theme broadcasting channels are registered.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a process of switching broadcast channels for each subdirectory in a state in which broadcast channels are classified by theme and registered as preferred channels for each subdirectory according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, a user of a plurality of directories (ie, a main directory and a plurality of sub directories) keys provided on a remote controller or an operation panel while a television receiving system performs a viewing mode in which a broadcasting channel is tuned. It is checked whether or not any directory key is pressed (steps 302 and 304).

As a result of the check in the above step 304, if it is determined that the user has pressed an arbitrary directory key, the control block 102 checks the elapsed time since pressing any directory key and sets the predetermined time n2. It is checked whether or not the user presses the channel up / down key during operation (steps 306 and 308). Here, reference numeral t2 means a count value of the time elapsed after the user presses the directory key.

Next, if it is determined in step 306 that the user presses the channel up / down key for a predetermined time period, the control block 102 searches for the memory block 104 to display the current viewing channel. The preferred channel information registered in the corresponding directory belonging is searched (step 310), and based on the search result, the preferred channel to be switched up or down is selected and the broadcast channel is switched up or down (step 312). . That is, according to the present embodiment, when the user presses the directory key and the channel up / down key continuously within a predetermined time while performing the viewing mode, the preferred channels of the corresponding directory in which the current viewing channel is registered as the preferred channel Channel switching is performed to the preferred channel before or after the channel order, i.e., channel switching focusing only on the preferred channels registered in the corresponding directory.

In addition, if it is determined that the user presses the directory key and does not press the channel up / down key within a predetermined time period as a result of the check in step 308, the control block 102 indicates that the user It is assumed that there is no willingness to release the directory channel switching mode, i.e., keep the broadcast channel currently being viewed (step 314).

On the other hand, when performing a broadcast channel (registered preferred channel) switching for each sub directory according to the present embodiment, the television receiving system maintains the directory channel switching mode, in this state to press the entire directory key, the main directory once If so, the control block 102 switches the directory channel switching mode to the normal channel switching mode. This is for the user to easily select the channel switching for each sub directory and the channel switching for the entire directory.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, by operating the directory key and the channel up / down keys through the above-described process, the broadcasting channels are classified by themes, and the respective channels are classified using the preferred channel information separately registered for each subdirectory. Channel switching can be performed centering only on the favorite channels registered in the sub directory. This can greatly reduce the time required when tuning a desired broadcasting channel using channel up / down keys, and also channel switching. The user's operation can be greatly reduced.

Next, another embodiment of selectively performing broadcast channel switching according to the present invention using a composite television reception system supporting multiple broadcast modes (eg, terrestrial broadcast mode, cable broadcast mode, satellite broadcast mode, etc.) This will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

The selective broadcast channel switching scheme according to the present embodiment, although not shown in the drawings, a terrestrial broadcast tuner supporting the terrestrial broadcast mode, a cable broadcast tuner supporting the cable broadcast mode, and a satellite broadcast supporting the satellite broadcast mode. Tuner and the like, and the construction of such a composite television reception system is well known in the art, and thus detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Accordingly, in the channel switching method according to the present embodiment, the broadcast mode classification information for distinguishing the channel number and the channel name and the broadcasting mode as the bridge and the preferred channel information is different from the above-described embodiment in which the channel number and the channel name are registered as the preferred channel information. It further includes. That is, as shown in FIG. 5 as an example, each of the preferred channels registered in the main directory and each sub directory includes broadcast mode classification information C2, channel number A2, and channel name B2.

In addition, the channel switching method of the present embodiment differs only in information registered as the preferred channel, and the registration process is substantially the same as the preferred channel registration process in the above-described embodiment. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a description of a process of classifying preferred channels by theme and registering each subdirectory in order to avoid unnecessary duplication is omitted, and classifying each broadcasting channel by theme and registering each channel as a preferred channel. Only the process of performing channel switching through channel up / down by using a sub-directory selectively in the state of being described will be described.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a process of switching broadcast channels for each subdirectory while classifying broadcast channels for each broadcast mode by theme and registering them as a preferred channel for each subdirectory according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, a user of a plurality of directories (ie, a main directory and a plurality of sub-directories) provided on a remote controller or an operation panel while a television receiving system performs a viewing mode in which a broadcasting channel is tuned. It is checked whether or not any directory key is pressed (steps 602 and 604).

As a result of the check in the above step 604, if it is determined that the user has pressed an arbitrary directory key, the control block 102 checks the elapsed time since pressing any directory key to set the predetermined time n3. It is checked whether or not the user presses the channel up / down key during operation (steps 606 and 608). In step 608, reference numeral t3 denotes a count value of elapsed time after the user presses the directory key.

Next, when it is determined in step 606 that the user presses the channel up / down key for a predetermined time, the control block 102 searches for the memory block 104 to determine the current viewing channel. Search for preferred channel information registered in the corresponding directory to which it belongs (step 610), select a preferred channel to switch through up or down based on the search result, and then, based on the broadcast mode classification information registered as the preferred channel information, It is checked whether the broadcast mode of the selected preferred channel is the same as the broadcast mode of the channel currently being watched (step 612). For example, when the current viewing channel is the terrestrial broadcast mode, it is checked whether the preferred channel selected for channel switching is the terrestrial broadcast.

As a result of the check in the step 612, if the selected preferred channel is the same broadcast mode as the current watch channel, the control block 102 controls the up or down of the current broadcast channel while maintaining the current broadcast mode. The channel is switched to the selected preferred channel (step 614).

On the other hand, as a result of the check in step 612, if the selected preferred channel is not the same broadcast mode as the current viewing channel, for example, if the selected preferred channel is a cable broadcast when the current viewing channel is a terrestrial broadcast, the control block 102 In step 1), the current broadcast mode is switched to the broadcast mode of the preferred channel (step 616), and the current channel selected after the current channel is switched (step 618).

That is, according to the present embodiment, when the user presses the directory key and the channel up / down key continuously within a predetermined time while performing the viewing mode, the preferred channels of the corresponding directory in which the current viewing channel is registered as the preferred channel are selected. Searches to select the preferred channel before or after the channel in order, check the broadcast mode of the selected preferred channel, switch channels while maintaining the broadcast mode, or switch the broadcast mode to the corresponding directory. Channel switching is performed centering only on registered preferred channels.

In addition, if it is determined in step 608 that the user presses the directory key and has not pressed the channel up / down key within a predetermined time thereafter, the control block 102 indicates that the user is responsible for channel switching. The directory channel switching mode is released, i.e., the broadcast channel currently being watched is maintained as it is not determined (step 620).

Furthermore, when performing a broadcast channel (registered preferred channel) switching for each sub directory according to the present embodiment, the television reception system maintains the directory channel switching mode. In this state, the entire directory key, which is the main directory, is pressed once. If so, the control block 102 switches the directory channel switching mode to the normal channel switching mode. This is for the user to easily select the channel switching for each sub directory and the channel switching for the entire directory.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, by switching the broadcast mode selectively and performing channel switching around only the preferred channels registered in the directory, the same result as in the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

As described above, according to the present invention, unlike the above-described conventional method of searching for any broadcast channel to be watched by switching one channel using a channel up / down key for all broadcast channels registered as an effective channel. , Classify each broadcasting channel by themes into a directory, register a preferred broadcasting channel (and broadcasting mode) for each directory, and register channels as preferred channels in each directory when performing channel switching using channel up / down keys. By changing the channel by moving one channel only between broadcast channels, it is possible to further improve the user's channel selection convenience in a television reception system having a plurality of broadcast channels.

Claims (8)

delete A method of switching broadcast channels in a television receiving system that receives and broadcasts broadcast programs received through a plurality of broadcast channels, A first process of requesting channel memory for registration to a favorite channel while performing a viewing mode; A second process of waiting for input of an arbitrary directory selection key signal for a predetermined time; A third step of registering the broadcasting channel information of the current viewing channel as a preferred channel in all directories among the plurality of directories classified by theme when there is no input of the directory selection key signal for the predetermined time; A fourth step of simultaneously registering the broadcast channel information of the current viewing channel in the entire directory and a corresponding directory corresponding to the selection key signal when the directory selection key signal is input; A fifth process of checking whether a channel switching signal using a channel up / down key is input while performing a viewing mode; When the channel switching signal is input, the current channel switching mode is switched to the channel switching mode for each directory, and then sequentially or before the current viewing channel among the preferred channels registered in the corresponding directory to which the current viewing channel belongs. A sixth process of switching channels by selecting a preferred channel thereafter; A seventh process of repeating the seventh process whenever a new channel switching signal is input using the channel up / down keys; Selective switching method of a television broadcast channel comprising a. delete delete The method of claim 2, The method may further include the step of switching the channel switching mode for each directory to the full channel switching mode when an entire directory key for storing all the preferred channel information classified and registered for each theme is input. Selective switching method of the channel. delete A method for switching broadcast channels in a composite television reception system capable of supporting reception of a plurality of broadcast modes and receiving and broadcasting broadcast programs received through a plurality of broadcast channels for each broadcast mode, A first process of requesting channel memory for registration to a favorite channel while performing a viewing mode; A second process of waiting for input of an arbitrary directory selection key signal for a predetermined time; A third process of registering the broadcasting channel information and the broadcasting mode classification information of the current viewing channel as a preferred channel among all the directories classified by theme when there is no input of the directory selection key signal for the predetermined time; , A fourth step of simultaneously registering the broadcast channel information and the broadcast mode classification information of the current viewing channel in the entire directory and the corresponding directory corresponding to the selection key signal when the directory selection key signal is input; A fifth process of checking whether a channel switching signal using a channel up / down key is input while performing a viewing mode; When the channel switching signal is input, after switching the current full channel switching mode to a directory switching mode for each directory, a neighboring preferred channel registered in the directory to which the current viewing channel belongs is connected with the current viewing channel. A sixth process of checking whether the broadcast mode is the same; A seventh process of channel switching by selecting the neighboring preferred channel in the same broadcast mode; An eighth process of switching the current broadcast mode to a broadcast mode to which the neighboring preferred channel belongs, based on the broadcast mode classification information of the neighboring preferred channel when the broadcast mode is not the same; A ninth process of tuning the neighboring preference channel to a selection channel; A tenth step of repeating the sixth to ninth steps each time a new channel switching signal is input using the channel up / down key; Selective switching method of a television broadcast channel comprising a. The method of claim 7, wherein The method may further include the step of switching the channel switching mode for each directory to the full channel switching mode when an entire directory key for storing all the preferred channel information classified and registered for each theme is input. Selective switching method of the channel.

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