KR100910586B1 - IPTV channel switching device and method using Scalable Video Coding - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is for channel switching in video streaming such as IPTV, and more specifically, to configure a channel using SVC (Scalable Video Coding) and to provide a channel mode (preview mode) using a base layer (base layer) The present invention relates to a channel switching apparatus and method for IPTV (STV) using SVC to reduce the channel switching time (zap-time) when changing the channel.

In SVC, the video stream is divided into several base layers and enhancement layers, starting with the base level, which is the lowest level, depending on the state of the network and the capability of the terminal. Receive up to the included bitstream.

According to the present invention, each channel serviced using SVC is composed of an enhancement layer including a base layer, and in a watching mode, all layers of a channel selected by a user are received to have high quality. It provides an image and provides a quick response speed to the user by receiving only basic information of a channel in a channel mode (preview mode).

SVC, Scalable Video Coding, IPTV, Internet Protocol Television, Channel

Description

IPTV channel switching device and method using Scalable Video Coding}

The present invention is for channel switching in video streaming such as IPTV, and more specifically, to configure a channel using SVC (Scalable Video Coding) and to provide a channel mode (preview mode) using a base layer (base layer) The present invention relates to a channel switching apparatus and method for IPTV (STV) using SVC to reduce the channel switching time (zap-time) when changing the channel.

      The biggest difference from digital TV is that IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) provides a two-way TV service by providing a packet method using a TV terminal connected to a digital set-top box through a high-speed internet network.

      In addition, IPTV encompasses the concept of a service that integrates a communication function that provides Internet services based on a personal computer (PC) and a broadcast function that provides a multi-channel TV broadcasting service, and at the same time, VOD, EPG, T-commerce, It is a converged service that includes both communication and broadcasting functions that provide new interactive contents such as broadcast program linked data service.

   Such IPTV uses a method of coding a video stream using SVC (Scalable Video Coding), which is easily adaptable to various network environments and terminal environments.

      SVC (Scalable Video Coding) consists of one bitstream that has one spatial content, various spatial resolution, image quality, and various frame rates, so that various terminals can receive and restore the bitstream to suit their own capabilities. It is a video compression technology that is necessary for ubiquitous computing environment and various application fields. When providing intelligent broadcasting contents in broadcasting communication convergence environment, it provides optimal service in various network environments and various terminals.

    In SVC, a video stream is divided into a plurality of base layers and an enhancement layer.

Depending on the state of the network or the capability of the terminal side, it starts with the lowest level of basic information and receives a bitstream including gradually expanding level information.

The basic information received once is decoded, and the received extended information is used to gradually increase the quality of service provided.

It has been standardized in three ways such as MPEG2 video, Temporal, spatial, SNR, etc., and similarly adopted in H264, which is a video compression method such as IPTV and DMB broadcasting.

      The present invention relates to a channel switching device using such an SVC.

      In the conventional digital TV, the conventional digital TV shows channel reception and uses a method of coding a video stream in a single layer when switching channels. 1 is a view showing the flow of the system when changing the channel of a conventional digital TV.

     In the current channel, the gray area is the current channel, and the black rectangle represents the channel switching time (zap-time).

      When the user switches the channel, a predetermined channel switching time occurs whenever the user switches from the current channel to the user's desired channel.

      In addition, by receiving and coding a single layer, there is a problem that all contents cannot be reproduced due to one transmission error.

The present invention configures each channel serviced using SVC as an enhancement layer including a base layer, so that all information (basic information, extended information) of a channel selected by a user is selected in a watching mode. It provides a high quality image by receiving the, and in the channel switching mode (preview mode) to receive only the basic information of the changed channel to provide a quick response speed to the channel switching mode.

In addition, to configure the channel pool (channel pool) which is a set of channels to be provided in the channel switching mode when changing the user's channel, the channel pool is to be set in consideration of the user's watch history (history) to provide an effective channel switching process. will be.

The channel switching system of the IPTV using the SVC of the present invention,

A user input unit for inputting channel information, a receiver for receiving TV signal information of a channel input through the input unit, and information of channels to be provided in a channel mode by receiving only base layer information. A channel pool setting unit that sets and provides a channel pool, and receives only basic information about the channel set by the channel pool setting unit and provides the channel pool mode. When the user selects a channel, an enhancement layer is provided. And a channel controller for controlling switching to the viewing mode, a decoding unit for displaying the TV signal information received by the selected channel as an image, and a display unit for displaying the image of the decoded channel on the screen. It features.

In the prior art, a video stream is switched between channels using a single layer coding method, whereas the channel switching method according to the present invention receives only base layer information for each channel configured in the channel pool. It provides channel switching mode (preview mode), and when the user selects a channel, it receives the enhancement layer and switches to the watching mode so that the user can select the channel quickly. You can do it.

In addition, it configures the channel pool, which is the information of the channels to be provided in the channel switching mode when the user changes the channel, and the channel pool is set in consideration of the user's viewing history, thereby reducing the channel switching time (zap-time). can do.

The present invention will be described with reference to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, Figures 2 to 5 as follows.

Input unit 10 for the user to input the channel information, the receiver 20 for receiving the TV signal information of the channel input through the input unit 10, and the channel switching mode by receiving only the base information (base layer) channel switching mode by receiving only basic information about the channel set by the channel pool setting unit 30 and the channel pool setting unit 30 by providing a channel pool which is information of channels to be provided in the When the user selects a channel, the channel control unit 40 receives the enhancement layer and switches to the viewing mode, and a decoding unit for displaying the TV signal information received by the selected channel as an image ( 50) and a display unit 60 for displaying the decoded channel image on the screen.

In the present invention having such a configuration,

The input unit 10 is a means for the user to input a desired channel such as a remote control to select a desired channel or to switch the channel.

The receiver 20 is a means for receiving channel information data of a TV channel input from the input unit 10.

The channel pool setting unit 30 is a means for receiving and storing only base information and setting and storing a channel pool 30a to be provided in a channel mode (preview mode), which is standby channel information.

The channel pool 30a information configured in the channel pool setting unit 30 may be configured by two or more pieces, and may be sequentially loaded, and ± α (α may be arbitrarily set by the user within the channel for the selected channel (N). Value).

In another embodiment, the user may automatically set the channel information input by the user and the viewing history of the user, and the viewing history of the user may be set to the channel that has been viewed for the longest and the most selected channel information.

In the present invention, the channel pool 30a configures the channel pool 30a by setting channels to +1 and -1 for the channel N selected by the user as in the embodiment (a).

This is because most of the users consider changing the channel in sequence by changing the channel up / down (up / down) when changing channels.

The channel controller 40 is a control means for receiving a signal according to an input channel to provide a TV screen, and means for receiving a channel reception signal according to a user selected channel.

In addition, the channel switching control unit for providing a channel switching mode according to the channel pool (30a) information set in the channel pool setting unit 30, thereby providing a viewing mode for the channel selected by the user.

3 is a diagram illustrating selection of a transport channel according to channel configuration and mode.

According to FIG. 3, four standby channels are configured in the channel pool 30a. Each channel B'-B 'receives only base layer and is provided in a channel switching mode, and the user finally selects a channel. One channel B 'among the channels configured in the channel pool indicates that the channel B' is converted to the viewing mode by receiving the extended information E '.

The decoding unit 50 is a means for image processing for display to the user when the signal of the channel information selected by the user in the channel control unit 40 is received.

The display unit (TV) is a means for visually transmitting the image of the channel processed from the decoding unit 50 to the user.

Looking at the operation of the channel switching apparatus of the IPTV using the SVC according to the present invention having such a configuration as follows.

4 is a basic flowchart illustrating a channel switching method of IPTV using SVC.

If the user selects a channel to watch a desired channel, the process of receiving a basic layer of the input channel (bade layer) and providing it in the channel mode (preview mode), and the channel pool (N + 1, N- of channel N) The process of loading the information of 1), the process of receiving basic information on each of the standby channels configured in the loaded channel pool, waiting in the channel switching mode, and determining whether to select a channel by determining whether the user has a channel input. Process of determining whether a channel input by a user exists in the channel pool when the channel is input, providing a screen in a channel switching mode for the channel input by the user when the channel exists in the channel pool; In the process of determining whether the channel input by the user exists in the channel pool, when the selected channel does not exist in the channel pool, receiving basic information about the user selected channel The process of repeating the channel switching mode process according to the channel pool information, the process of determining the user's channel selection by determining whether the user inputs the channel for the set time, and the extended information about the channel selected by the user ( and receiving the enhanment layer and switching to a watching mode.

In another embodiment, in the process of determining whether a user input channel exists in the channel pool, when another input channel is a channel that is not included in the channel pool information, another process of loading channel order information set in the channel pool setting unit is performed. In addition, in this case, two or more channel pool information may be configured and set, and the channel switching mode process may be repeated according to the channel pool information.

 The channel pool information configured in the channel pool setting unit may be set to ± α (α is a value set by the user arbitrarily in the channel) with respect to the selected channel (N).

In another embodiment, the user may automatically set the channel information input by the user and the viewing history of the user, and the viewing history of the user may be set to the channel that has been viewed for the longest and the most selected channel information.

Hereinafter, the detailed description of the operation of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

It is assumed that the user inputs channel 1 to continue watching channel 1 without channel switching, and the channel pool is assumed to be composed of channel 2, channel 3, and channel 4.

When the user inputs channel 1, the base layer receives the base layer information and provides a channel mode.

At the same time, the information of the channel pool previously set is loaded, and each of the standby channels configured in the channel pool, channel 2, channel 3, and channel 4, simultaneously receives base information and waits in the channel mode.

Channel 1 is selected when the user has a predetermined time in channel 1 without channel switching.

Receives the extended information on the selected channel 1, switches to the watching mode (display mode) and displays.

In another embodiment, it is assumed that the user inputs channel 1 to switch to channel 4, and the channel pool is assumed to be composed of channel 2, channel 3, and channel 4.

When the user inputs channel 1, the base layer receives the base layer information and provides a channel mode.

At the same time, the information of the channel pool previously set is loaded, and each of the standby channels configured in the channel pool, channel 2, channel 3, and channel 4, simultaneously receives base information and waits in the channel mode.

This is to reduce the zap-time that is displayed when switching to the next channel, and channel movement in the channel pool (channel 1 to channel 2, channel 2 to channel 2) due to basic information received by each channel at the same time. Channel 3, channel 3 to channel 4) is instantaneous and displayed for a predetermined time.

 If the user inputs channel 4 and there is no more channel input, the user receives the extended information about the selected channel 4, switches to the watching mode, and displays it.

At this time, if the user inputs another channel, it is determined whether the input channel is configured in the channel pool.

If the selected channel is configured in the channel pool, it waits in the channel switching mode and determines whether the user inputs the channel.

 As another embodiment, the case in which the user's selected channel is not set in the basic channel pool will be described.

It is assumed that the user wants to switch to channel 24 by inputting channel 1, and the channel pool is assumed to be composed of channel 2, channel 3, and channel 4.

When the user inputs channel 1, the terminal receives a base layer of channel 1 and provides a channel switching mode.

At the same time, the information of the channel pool previously set is loaded, and channels 2, 3, and 4, which are standby channels configured in the channel pool, simultaneously receive base information and wait in a channel switching mode.

When the user inputs channel 24, it is determined whether channel 24 is set in the channel pool.

Since the selected channel 24 is not set in the channel pool, basic information about the channel 24 is received.

Channel pool information is reloaded by setting information of another channel pool for the selected channel.

In this case, when resetting the channel pool, channels such as N + α and N-α may be sequentially set for channel N. In another embodiment, a user may watch a set of recently watched channels or watch for a long time. It may be set in consideration of the viewing history of the user such as a set of channels.

The standby channels corresponding to the reloaded channel pool receive the basic information and wait in the channel switching mode.

When the user selects the channel 24 for a set time, the user receives the extended information on the selected channel 24, switches to the watching mode, and displays it.

At this time, if the user inputs another channel, it is determined whether the input channel is configured in the channel pool.

If the selected channel is configured in the channel pool, it waits in the channel switching mode and repeats the process of determining whether the user inputs the channel.

1 is a view showing channel switching of a conventional digital TV

Figure 2 is a block diagram showing a channel switching device of IPTV (IPTV) using the SVC according to the present invention

3 is a view showing a selection of a transport channel according to the channel configuration and mode according to the present invention

4 is a flowchart illustrating a channel switching method of IPTV according to the present invention.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a channel switching method of IPTV according to another embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a view showing a channel switching method within a set channel pool according to the present invention.

Claims (12)

A channel switching mode in which a user receives an input unit for inputting channel information, a receiver receiving TV signal information of a channel input through the input unit, and only base layer according to a user's selected channel input through the input unit. a channel pool setting unit for setting and providing a channel pool which is information of channels to be provided in a preview mode, and receiving only basic information about a channel set by the channel pool setting unit and providing the channel pool mode in a channel switching mode, When the user selects a channel for the channel set by the channel pool, the channel control unit receives the enhancement layer and switches to the viewing mode, and the decoding unit for displaying the TV signal information received by the selected channel as an image. And a display unit for displaying an image of the decoded channel on the screen. Channel switching device of the IP TV.       The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the channel pool information configured in the channel pool setting unit comprises two or more pieces so that the channel pool information can be sequentially loaded. The channel pool information of claim 1 or 2, wherein the channel pool information configured in the channel pool setting unit is information including ± alpha (α is a value arbitrarily input by the user in the channel) for the selected channel. IPTV channel switching device using SV. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein the channel pool information configured in the channel pool setting unit is channel information input and set by a user. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein the channel pool information configured in the channel pool setting unit is automatically set according to a viewing history of the user.       The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the user's viewing history is the channel viewed for the longest time and the channel information selected most frequently. When the user selects a channel to watch a desired channel, the process of receiving a basic layer of the input channel (bade layer) and providing the channel in a preview mode, and loading the channel pool information from the channel pool setting unit. Receiving the basic information on each of the idle channels configured in the loaded channel pool, waiting in the channel switching mode, determining whether the channel is selected by the user's channel input, and determining whether the channel is selected. Determining whether a channel input by the user exists in the channel pool, if the channel exists in the channel pool, providing a screen in a channel switching mode for the channel input by the user, and If the selected channel does not exist in the channel pool in the process of determining whether it exists in the channel pool, basic information about the user selected channel is received. Process of repeating the channel switching mode process according to the information and channel pool information, determining whether the user selects the viewing channel by determining whether the user inputs the channel for a set time, and expanding information about the channel selected by the user. Receiving an enhanment layer) and switching to a watching mode (watching mode) to provide a channel switching method of the IP using i.       The method of claim 7, wherein the channel pool information in the process of loading the channel pool information from the channel pool setting unit is composed of two or more pieces, The process of determining whether the channel input by the user exists in the channel pool further includes loading another sequence channel pool information set in the channel pool setting unit when the input channel is a channel not included in the channel pool information. The channel switching method of iPi using B which is characterized in that it repeats the channel switching mode process according to the support and the channel pool information.       The method of claim 7 or 8, wherein in the process of loading channel pool information from the channel pool setting unit, the channel pool information configured in the channel pool setting unit is ± α for the selected channel (N). I) The channel switching method of IPTV using SCC, characterized in that it comprises a user input arbitrarily set.        The method of claim 7 or 8, wherein in the process of loading the channel pool information from the channel pool setting unit, the channel pool information configured in the channel pool setting unit includes channel information input by a user. Channel switching method of IPTV using VC.       The method of claim 7 or 8, wherein in the process of loading the channel pool information from the channel pool setting unit, the channel pool information configured in the channel pool setting unit is automatically set by the user's viewing history. Channel switching method of IPTV using VC.       12. The method of claim 11, wherein the user's viewing history is the longest viewed channel and the most selected channel information.

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