KR100777298B1 - Television receiver and method for writing a channel map on television receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

A television receiver and a method for making a channel map in the same are provided to receive and use a pre-made channel map from peripheral television sets and supply its updated channel map to another set or another device, thereby updating the channel map without making a receivable channel map by searching a right channel one by one. At least one tuner tunes a digital broadcasting signal. A video processor(5) processes the tuned digital broadcasting signal to be displayed. A display module(6) displays the displayably-processed video signal on a screen. A key signal input unit(9) provides a command signal corresponding to user's selection. A central processor(7) makes and updates a channel map by selecting one of information or channel map information from the at least one source according to the command signal, and provides a pre-stored channel map to an external device(11). A memory(8) stores and updates the channel map under control of the central processor. An OSD(On Screen Display) generator(12) generates OSD information, which will be displayed on the screen of the display module, so that a user can select one of the plural external channel map information.

Description

Television receiver and method for writing a channel map on television receiver

1 is a diagram showing a conventional channel map structure.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a channel search process according to the prior art.

3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital television receiver according to the present embodiment.

4 is a flowchart showing a method of updating a channel map in a digital television receiver.

<Description of Symbols for Main Parts of Drawings>

1: front end 2: analog-to-digital converter

3: VSB receiver 4: multiplexer

5: image processor 6: display module

7: central processing unit 8: memory

9: key signal input 10: Internet system

11: external memory device 12: OSD generator

The present invention relates to a television receiver and a method of creating a channel map in the television receiver.

Due to the recent spread of cable television broadcasting and the increase of broadcasting stations, there are many channels. Therefore, when setting up a new channel, depending on the manufacturer of the television receiver, it may take an hour or more to search for a channel.

Hereinafter, a conventional channel map updating method will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. 1 is a diagram showing a conventional channel map structure.

In the related art, as shown in FIG. 1, the only method was to enter the EZ Scan Menu and search all channels in order to update the channel map. Here, the configuration of the channel map is stored in a memory such as NVRAM in a format as shown in FIG. Each channel information in the channel map includes major channel information and minor channel information in each broadcasting mode and frequency, and in the case of digital television broadcasting.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a channel search process according to the prior art.

According to FIG. 2, first, when entering the channel search routine, a broadcast mode is selected. That is, a digital television broadcast tuner or an analog broadcast tuner is selected. When one of these tuners is selected, the control unit then performs a channel tuning process through the selected analog tuner or digital tuner. That is, by tuning each channel to check whether there is a corresponding broadcast signal in the tuned channel, and if the corresponding broadcast signal does not exist, performing a process of tuning the next channel and updating the channel map if the corresponding broadcast signal exists. Next, the process of tuning the next channel is performed. On the other hand, the channel search routine is terminated if all channels are tuned by checking whether all channels are tuned before the next channel tuning process.

However, the prior art has the following disadvantages. The number of channels varies depending on the country or region of each country. As noted above, the presence of a large number of channels may take as little as tens of minutes to as long as an hour or more to perform the channel search routine, depending on the manufacturer of the television receiver set. This is a time when the user may feel very bored. In particular, once the channel retrieval routine has been performed, the user will feel very uncomfortable because the television receiver will not be available to the user until this routine is completed.

An object of the present invention is to provide a television receiver capable of updating a channel map without performing an automatic channel setting procedure and a method of updating a channel map in the television receiver.

In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, instead of performing the internal channel automatic setting routine of the television receiver, the channel map is updated using an external medium or information. That is, the channel map can be updated by selecting the channel map recorded according to each region through the memory card using the EPF. In the case of Internet television broadcasting, the channel map is updated through local service through the Internet. In the case of cable television broadcasting, the channel map is automatically updated by assigning information to the cable card. In addition, in the case of digital television broadcasting, the channel map is transmitted through the guide channel and immediately updated.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a television receiver includes at least one tuner for tuning a digital broadcast signal, an image processing unit for processing the tuned digital broadcast signal to be displayed, and the image signal processed to be displayable. A display module for displaying on the screen, a key signal input unit for providing a command signal according to a user selection, and selecting one of channel map information or information from at least one source according to the command signal to create and update a channel map. A central processing unit configured to provide a pre-stored channel map to an external device, a memory storing and updating the channel map under the control of the central processing unit, and outputting the pre-stored channel map to the external device; To select one of the map information And an OSD generator for generating OSD information for display on a screen of the display module.

According to another aspect of the present invention, at least one tuner for tuning a digital broadcast signal, an image processing unit for processing to display the tuned digital broadcast signal, a display module for displaying the image signal processed to display on the screen And a key signal input unit for providing a command signal according to a user selection, and creating a basic channel map using pre-stored regional channel map information according to the command signal, and then updating the stored channel map by using the at least one tuner. A central processing unit for providing a map to an external device, and a hard disk drive for storing and outputting the regional channel information, the basic channel map, and the updated channel map under the control of the central processing unit.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a method for creating a channel map in a television receiver includes selecting channel map information or information from at least one sources according to user selection to create a channel map or And updating the created channel map, and storing the created channel map or the updated channel map in a storage unit.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a method for creating a channel map in a television receiver includes: storing channel map information for each region on a hard disk drive in advance, and using any one of the region channel map information according to user selection. Creating a channel map, storing the basic channel map in the hard disk drive, performing a full channel search process for updating the main channel map using the at least one tuner, and the updated channel map And storing the data in the hard disk drive.

Advantageously, said at least one sources comprise an external memory device, said at least one tuner, an internet server.

Advantageously, said external memory device comprises a USB, EPF and cable card.

Preferably, the channel map information from the at least one tuner is regional broadcast channel map information belonging to the current region received through the digital broadcasting guide channel.

Advantageously, the method further comprises providing said stored channel map via an external device upon request from other sets.

Hereinafter, a digital television receiver and a method of updating a channel map in the digital television receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital television receiver according to the present embodiment. 4 is a flowchart showing a method of updating a channel map in a digital television receiver.

In FIG. 3, the digital television receiver includes a front end 1 for receiving an external video signal, and an analog / digital converter 2 for converting the analog signal into a digital signal when the external video signal is an analog signal. When the external video signal is a VSB signal, a VSB receiver 3 for receiving it along with channel map information, and outputs one of the output signals of the VSB receiver 3 and the analog-to-digital converter 2 according to a user's selection. A multiplexer 4 for outputting, an image processing unit 5 for processing the output signal of the multiplexer 4 to display, a display module 6 for displaying an image signal from the image processing unit 5 on the screen, and all The central processing unit 7, which provides control signals to the components and communicates with external connection devices to exchange channel map information, under the control of the central processing unit 7. Memory 8 for updating and storing a map, a key signal input unit 9 for providing a command signal according to the user's selection to the central processing unit 7, and an internet network and the central processing unit 7 by connecting the channel to the channel. Internet system 10 for sending and receiving map information, and an external memory device 11 connected to the central processing unit 7 for sending and receiving the channel map information. On the other hand, reference numeral 12 indicates an OSD (On Screen Display) generating unit for displaying characters and figures on the screen under the control of the central processing unit (7).

Hereinafter, the characteristic functions of the components according to the present embodiment will be described.

At least one tuner located within the front end 1 or the VSB receiver 3 tunes a digital broadcast signal. The image processor 5 processes the tuned digital broadcast signal to be displayed on the screen of the display module 6. The display module 6 displays the image signal processed to be displayed on the screen. The key signal input unit 9 provides a command signal according to a user's selection, and the central processing unit 7 selects any one of channel map information or information from at least one source according to the command signal and selects a channel. Create and update maps, and also provide pre-stored channel maps to external devices. On the other hand, the memory 8 as the storage unit stores and updates the channel map under the control of the central processing unit 7 and outputs the pre-stored channel map to the external device. The OSD generator 12 generates OSD information for displaying on the screen of the display module so that the user selects one of the plurality of external channel map information.

Hereinafter, the process of creating and updating the channel map by the digital television receiver will be described through the channel initialization routine of FIG. 4.

First, when the user selects the channel initial setting mode through the key signal input unit 9, under the control of the control unit 7 on the screen to select the update mode according to the present invention or to select the existing channel search mode The screen to select whether to select is displayed. If the channel initialization mode is not selected by the user, the routine is terminated. Subsequently, when the user selects the existing channel search mode, the control unit 7 performs the conventional channel search routine as described in FIG. 2 to update the channel map of the digital television receiver. On the other hand, when the update mode according to the present invention is selected by the user through the key signal input unit 9, the OSD generator 12 is external for a plurality of channel map information under the control of the central processing unit 7 An OSD image is displayed to display on the screen which asks which of the sources to select.

Here, the external sources for the channel map information include the Internet, an external memory device, a guide channel of digital broadcasting, and channel information for each region. The external memory device includes a USB, an EPF, and a cable card. When the digital television receiver has a storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD), the regional channel information is collected in advance and stored in the hard disk drive in a channel map form. When the channel initial setting mode is selected through the key signal input unit 9, the OSD generator 12 notifies the user of information about a region through the screen. Subsequently, when the user selects a desired region, the controller 7 updates a basic channel map for the selected region using the pre-stored region-specific channel information.

Subsequently, the user may further update the base channel map in the conventional manner through a tuner while watching the digital television receiver or with the digital television receiver set off. Here, when the digital television receiver has a picture in picture (PIP) function, the tuner has two for the main broadcast and the PIP. This tuner may be located inside the VSB receiver 3 or in the front end 1 although not shown. At this time, while the user is watching the digital television receiver, the PIP function is muted temporarily so as not to interfere with the viewing, and the conventional channel search process is performed through the PIP tuner. When the digital television receiver is set off, the channel map updating process may be performed using the conventional scheme using any of the PIP tuner and the main broadcast tuner.

Here, when the hard disk drive is used as the memory 8, the operation of the digital television receiver will be described. The at least one tuner tunes the digital broadcast signal. The image processing unit 5 processes the tuned digital broadcast signal to be displayed, and the display module 6 displays the processed image signal on the screen. The key signal input unit 9 provides a command signal according to the user's selection, and the central processing unit 7 generates a basic channel map using previously stored regional channel map information according to the command signal, and then the at least one. The base channel map is updated by using a tuner, and the stored channel map is also provided to an external device. The hard disk drive stores and outputs the regional channel information, the basic channel map, and the updated channel map under the control of the central processing unit 7.

Subsequently, when the user selects the Internet as the update mode on the screen through the key signal input unit 9, the digital television receiver is connected to the Internet server by the central processing unit 7 and the server via the server. The central processing unit 7 downloads the channel map information and updates the channel map stored in the memory 8.

That is, in a television receiver having at least one tuner for tuning a digital broadcast signal and a storage for storing a channel map, the television receiver selects any one of channel map information or information from at least one source according to user selection. The channel map is created or the previously created channel map is updated. The created channel map or the updated channel map is stored in the storage unit.

On the other hand, when the user selects the external memory device 11 on the screen of the display module 6 as the update mode through the key signal input unit 9, the memory such as USB, EPF, and cable card as described above. The channel map in the memory 8 may be updated using channel map information stored in the external memory device through a device. On the other hand, it is also possible to transmit the channel map stored in the memory 8 of the digital television receiver set as another channel receiver set as channel map information.

Here, the process of transmitting the channel map stored in the memory 8 to another television set will be briefly described as follows. First, the channel map information stored in the memory 8 such as the EEPROM may be loaded into another memory such as USB and EPF, and then transmitted to another external television set, and connected to the Internet server to provide the channel map information. It can also be provided to other television sets.

On the other hand, when the user selects the digital broadcast on the screen of the display module 6 as the update mode through the key signal input unit 9, the central processing unit 7 receives the digital signal through the VSB receiver 3. Local channel channel map information of the area where the digital television receiver is located is received through the guide channel of the broadcast, and the channel map stored in the memory 8 is updated. That is, the central processing unit 7 switches the channel to the channel map information channel, that is, the channel map guide channel, among the digital broadcasting channels, and then downloads the channel map information through the guide channel. Then, the channel map stored in the memory 8 is updated with the downloaded information.

In summary, in a television receiver having at least one tuner for tuning a digital broadcast signal and a hard disk drive for storing a channel map,

Regional channel map information is stored in advance in the hard disk drive.

Subsequently, a base channel map is created by using any one of the regional channel map information according to a user selection, and the base channel map is stored in the hard disk drive. The entire channel search process is performed to update the basic channel map using the at least one tuner, and the updated channel map is stored in the hard disk drive.

As described above, according to the present invention, a channel map capable of receiving broadcast signals is not created by searching all channels as in the conventional method. It is also possible to receive and use already created channel maps of other television sets in the vicinity, or to provide their updated channel maps to other sets or devices in the same way. Therefore, as in the conventional method, the channel map can be updated without searching the channel by making the channel map. On the other hand, in the case of a television set having a plurality of tuners with PIP support, the channel map can be stored and updated using external channel map information sources according to the present invention. It is possible to update the channel map by searching the entire channel in real time while watching a broadcast in real time or when the television receiver is set off.

Claims (20)

At least one tuner for tuning a digital broadcast signal; An image processor which processes the tuned digital broadcast signal to be displayed; A display module for displaying the image signal processed to be displayed on a screen; A key signal input unit for providing a command signal according to a user selection; A central processing unit which selects any one of channel map information or information from at least one sources according to the command signal to create and update a channel map, and provides a pre-stored channel map to an external device; A memory for storing and updating the channel map under the control of the central processing unit; And an OSD generator for generating OSD information for display on a screen of the display module so that the user selects one of the plurality of external channel map information. The television receiver of claim 1 wherein said at least one sources comprise an external memory device, said at least one tuner, an internet server. 3. A television receiver as claimed in claim 2, wherein said external memory device comprises a USB, an EPF and a cable card. 3. The television receiver of claim 2, wherein the channel map information from the at least one tuner is local broadcast channel map information belonging to a current region received through a digital broadcast guide channel. The television receiver of claim 1 wherein said memory is an EEPROM. At least one tuner for tuning a digital broadcast signal; An image processor which processes the tuned digital broadcast signal to be displayed; A display module for displaying the image signal processed to be displayed on a screen; A key signal input unit for providing a command signal according to a user selection; A central processing unit for creating a basic channel map using previously stored regional channel map information according to the command signal, updating the basic channel map using the at least one tuner, and providing the stored channel map to an external device; And And a memory configured to store and output the regional channel information, the basic channel map, and the updated channel map under the control of the central processing unit. The television receiver of claim 6 wherein said memory is a hard disk drive (HDD). A television receiver having at least one tuner for tuning a digital broadcast signal and a storage for storing a channel map, comprising: Displaying OSD information regarding at least one source to allow a user to select one channel map information among the plurality of channel map information; Selecting one of channel map information or information from sources selected by the user to create the channel map or to update a previously created channel map; And And storing the channel map or the updated channel map in the storage. delete 9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of providing the channel map stored in the storage via external devices in response to a request from other sets. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one sources comprise an external memory device, the at least one tuner, an internet server. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein said external memory device comprises a USB, EPF, and cable card. 10. The method of claim 8, wherein the channel map information from the at least one tuner is local broadcast channel map information belonging to a current region received through a digital broadcast guide channel. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the storage unit is an EEPROM. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one tuner comprises a main screen tuner and a PIP tuner. 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising: performing a channel search process for updating the created channel map by using one of the two tuners when the television receiver is set off; And And performing a channel search process for updating the created channel map by using the tuner for PIP while the user is watching a television broadcast. A television receiver having at least one tuner for tuning a digital broadcast signal and a hard disk drive for storing a channel map, comprising: Storing regional channel map information in advance in the hard disk drive; Creating a basic channel map by using any one of the regional channel map information according to a user selection; Storing the base channel map on the hard disk drive; Performing a full channel search procedure for updating the base channel map using the at least one tuner; And storing the updated channel map in the hard disk drive. 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising providing a channel map stored on the hard disk drive through an external device in response to a request from other sets. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one tuner comprises a main screen tuner and a PIP tuner. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the external device is an internet server.

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