KR100971097B1 - Method for switching a broadcasting service in digital broadcasting receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a broadcast service switching method in a digital broadcast receiver. A transmission side providing a mosaic EPG service does not separately provide information for switching to each broadcast service, such as a set-top box or the like. By allowing the digital broadcast receiver to perform the broadcast service switching operation using the mosaic Phiji image itself, it is provided through various networks such as digital satellite broadcasting using a satellite broadcasting reception antenna, terrestrial broadcasting, and cable broadcasting. In all digital broadcasting, it is a very useful invention that can be applied more efficiently to the mosaic phiji service.

Digital broadcast receivers, set-top boxes, mosaic easy service, service entries, subpicture indicators, image comparison

Description

Method for switching a broadcasting service in digital broadcasting receiver             

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;

5 illustrates a detailed configuration of an image comparison unit of a digital broadcast receiver to which the present invention is applied.

6 illustrates an embodiment in which link service information is stored in association with service entry information according to the present invention;

7 is a diagram illustrating a process of selectively switching one broadcast service by a method of switching broadcast service in a digital broadcast receiver according to the present invention.

[Description of Drawings]

100: mosaic parchment transmitter 200: broadcast satellite

300: satellite antenna 400: digital broadcast receiver

500: television 40, 50: tuner

41,51: Demux 42,52: Data Buffer

43,53: MPEG decoder 60: control unit

61: image comparison unit 62: OSD generator

63: memory 64: interface unit

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 broadcast service switching method in a digital broadcast receiver for switching channel selection to a broadcast 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 paper 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 the selection button provided in the remote controller is clicked, after searching and referring to mosaic information provided through the mosaic easy service, the broadcast service for which the first program corresponding to the first subpicture is provided is tuned. The first broadcast program received through the broadcast 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 the method of switching a broadcast service in a digital broadcast receiver according to the present invention for achieving the above object, information necessary 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; A step (2) of comparing the video image of each broadcast service with each sub picture image in the mosaic easy image received through the second tuner while sequentially controlling the first tuner with reference to the recorded information; Performing an operation of associating the subpicture with information necessary for tuning a broadcast service in which the video image is received when the video image and the subpicture image match each other; And a step of searching for and reading information associated with the subpicture in the device and selecting a corresponding broadcast service when a random subpicture is selected and specified while displaying the mosaic phiji image on the screen. Characterized in that made.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a broadcast service switching method in a digital broadcast 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, a digital broadcast receiver 400 such as a set top box (STB) having two tuners is provided. First and second tuner units 40 and 50 for independently tuning digital broadcast channels, and an MPEG transport stream received through any one of broadcast services multiplexed on the broadcast channel; First and second demuxes 41 and 51 for parsing into audio, video and data, respectively, and first and second data buffers 42 and 52 for temporarily storing the audio, video and data, respectively. And first and second MPEG decoders 43 and 53 for decoding the temporarily stored audio, video and data, respectively, and restoring and outputting the original audio and video signals.

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. The control unit 60 for controlling the operation of the respective components, the 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 63 for cooperatively storing a picture indicator and a service entry, and an interface unit 64 for connecting and connecting an external device.

The image comparator 61 may further include an image comparator 61 configured to detect and compare luminance or color components of each sub-picture image in the mosaic image and the video image received through a general broadcast service. In operation 60, when the automatic tuning operation is performed, as shown in FIG. 4, the service information (SI) provided through each broadcast service is searched and searched while sequentially scanning a broadcast channel and a broadcast service. Similarly, unique information required for tuning the broadcast service, for example, service index (Service_Index), service ID (Service_id), service name (Service_name), transport stream ID (Transport_ stream_id), network ID (Network_id) , Original network ID (Original_ network_id), RF Frequency, Symbol Rate, Forward Error Corr ection) information is extracted and managed as a service entry (Service Entry),

In addition, when the broadcast service is a broadcast service received through satellite broadcasting, the control unit 60 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, as shown in FIG. 4, in the memory 63, a plurality of service entries (Service Entry # 1 to #m) may 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 64, and additional information other than the information may be additionally recorded in the service entry, Or unnecessary information may be omitted.

On the other hand, in the image comparison unit 61, for example, selecting an image of any one sub-picture among the selected and signal-processed mosaic easy image through the first tuner 40 to the first MPEG decoder 43. A sub picture selector 610, a first Y / C detector 611 for detecting luminance or color components of the selected sub picture image, and a second tuner 50 to a second MPEG decoder 53 A delay unit for delaying a predetermined time of a video image of a broadcast service, which has been tuned and signal-processed, by referring to a value of a program clock reference (PCR) included in the MPEG data of the broadcast program, 612, a second Y / C detector 613 for detecting the luminance or color component of the video delayed by the predetermined time, and a sub detected by the first Y / C detector and the second Y / C detector, respectively. The luminance or color component of the picture image, A comparison unit 614 may be included to compare the luminance or color components of the video image to determine whether there is a match.

Then, in the first Y / C detection unit 611, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 5, nine points P1 to P9 are equally designated in the image of any one subpicture, Luminance or color components at the nine points are detected, and the second Y / C detection unit 613 also shows nine points (P1-P9) in one video image as shown in FIG. By specifying the equal ratios, the luminance or color components at the nine points are detected. Therefore, even if the screen size of the subpicture image and the screen size of the video image are different from each other, the luminance or color components detected at each point are detected. According to the comparison result, it is possible to determine whether or not the subpicture image and the video image match.

On the other hand, the control unit 60, a predetermined time, such as a late night time without using a digital broadcast receiver, or according to a user's request, the sub-pictures in the mosaic image, and the service previously stored in the memory 63 A series of operations for associating the entries with each other are automatically performed. For example, when a predetermined time is set in advance, the control unit 60 controls the first tuner unit and the demux 40 and 41. In addition, the tuner receives the mosaic phiji service, and controls the second tuner and the demuxes 50 and 51 to receive and tune the general broadcast services sequentially.

In addition, by operating the image comparison unit 61, the video image of any one broadcast service sequentially received and tuned through the second tuner unit 50 to the second MPEG decoder 53, and the first tuner. A series of operations for comparing the sub picture images in the mosaic easy image received through the first to fourth decoders 40 to 43 are performed.

Accordingly, the sub picture selecting unit 610 included in the image comparator 61 selects one sub picture included in the mosaic image, for example, the first sub picture (Sub-Picture 1). The first Y / C detector 611 detects luminance or color components at nine detection points designated at equal ratios in the first subpicture image, and outputs the luminance or color components to the comparator 614. Done.

In the delay unit 612 included in the image comparison unit 61, for example, a station and a signal are referenced with reference to respective pieces of information of a third service entry (Service Entry # 3) recorded and stored in the memory 63. Delay the video image of any one particular broadcast service processed for a predetermined time.

That is, since the video image provided through the general broadcast service is broadcast about 0.5 seconds to 2 seconds earlier than the sub picture image provided through the mosaic easy service, in the delay unit 612, the video image by the time difference. The second Y / C detector 613 detects a luminance or color component at nine detection points designated at equal ratios in the video image and outputs the luminance or color component to the comparator 614. .

In addition, the comparison unit 614 compares the luminance or color components detected and output from the first Y / C detector 611 and the second Y / C detector 612 through the same process as described above, and compares the difference. After the value is calculated, when the values coincide with each other within a preset reference range, the corresponding signals are output to the controller 60.

Meanwhile, the controller 60 refers to a signal output from the comparator 614, and includes a first sub picture image and a second tuner in the mosaic easy image received through the first tuner 40. When it is determined that the video images of the broadcast service received through the unit 50 coincide with each other, a (X1, Y1) position coordinate value corresponding to the first subpicture is assigned to a first subpicture indicator (Sub-Pic 1 Indicator). ), The first subpicture indicator is cooperatively recorded with the third service entry stored in the memory 63.

On the other hand, the controller 60 refers to a signal output from the comparator 614, and includes a first sub-picture image and a second tuner in the mosaic easy image received through the first tuner 40. If it is determined that the video images of the broadcast service received through the unit 50 are inconsistent with each other, the second tuner unit 50 is controlled to perform a series of operations of sequentially receiving and receiving another broadcast service. do.

Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 6, the sub picture indicators corresponding to the respective sub pictures in the mosaic easy image are linked to each service entry stored in the memory 63 through the above-described process. do.

On the other hand, the control unit 60, when the user clicks the selection button provided on the remote control, etc. in the state that the user moves the cursor to the eighth sub-picture included in the mosaic easy image as shown in FIG. (S10) and after detecting (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 The memory 63 searches.

When the eighth subpicture indicator is co-recorded with, for example, a second service entry (Service Entry # 2), the information corresponding to the second service entry, that is, the broadcast corresponding to the eighth subpicture After reading the unique information required for tuning a service from the second service entry (S30), either the first tuner unit 40 or the second tuner unit 50 is operated to control the eighth information. By switching to the broadcast service corresponding to the subpicture, the eighth broadcast program corresponding to the eighth subpicture desired by the user can be normally output to the main picture screen.

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 in the digital broadcast receiver according to the present invention constituted and constructed as described above relates to a broadcast service switching method in the digital broadcast receiver, wherein each broadcaster provides a mosaic EPG service. Even if the information for switching to a service is not provided separately, a digital broadcasting receiver such as a set-top box can perform a broadcast service switching operation using a mosaic phiji image by itself, thereby enabling digital satellite broadcasting using a satellite broadcasting reception antenna. Of course, it is a very useful invention that can be more efficiently applied to the mosaic phiji service to all digital broadcasting provided through various networks such as terrestrial broadcasting and cable broadcasting.

Claims (8)

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; Reading the recorded information and comparing the video image of each broadcasting service with each sub picture image in the mosaic easy image received through the second tuner while sequentially operating and controlling the first tuner; Performing an operation of associating the subpicture with information necessary for tuning a broadcast service in which the video image is received when the video image and the subpicture image match each other; And In the state where the mosaic image is displayed on the screen, if any one subpicture is selected and specified, the method may include four steps of reading information associated with the subpicture in the apparatus and selecting a corresponding broadcast service. A broadcast service switching method in a digital broadcast receiver. The method of claim 1, In the first step, when performing an automatic tuning operation in the digital broadcasting receiver, the broadcasting channel and the broadcasting service are sequentially scanned, and the service information (SI) provided through each broadcasting service is searched for, and required for tuning the corresponding broadcasting service. And recording and storing the information as a service entry in the device. The method of claim 1, The first step is information required to tune a digital broadcast service, and includes a service index, a service ID, a service name, a transport stream ID, a network ID, an original network ID, an RF frequency, a symbol rate, and a forward corresponding to each broadcast service. And at least one of the error correction and the LNB frequency and the LNB control voltage of the satellite broadcasting reception antenna is recorded and stored in the digital broadcasting receiver. The method of claim 1, In the second step, the recorded information is read, and the first tuner is sequentially operated to control the video image received through each broadcast service in the MPEG data of the broadcast program. According to a value, after a predetermined time delay, compares the luminance component of the delayed video image with the luminance component of any one subpicture image whose cursor is located in the mosaic easy image received through the second tuner, or the delayed video image. And comparing the color components of the subcomponent image with any one of the subpicture images whose cursors are located in the mosaic image image received through the second tuner. The method of claim 4, wherein In step 3, when the luminance component of the video image and the luminance component of the subpicture image match or the color component of the video image and the color component of the subpicture image match, the broadcast service in which the video image is received is tuned. In the digital broadcasting receiver, the operation of associating the information necessary for performing the operation and the sub picture indicator corresponding to the position coordinate value of the sub picture with each other are sequentially repeated for each sub picture in the mosaic image. How to switch broadcast services. The method of claim 1, Steps 2 and 3 are performed automatically when a predetermined time is set in advance. The method of claim 1, In the step 3, if any one subpicture is selected and designated while the mosaic image is screen-displayed, the service index, service ID, service name, transport stream ID, network ID, At least one of the original network ID, the RF frequency, the symbol rate, the forward error correction, and the LNB frequency and the LNB control voltage of the satellite broadcasting reception antenna is searched and read in the digital broadcast receiver to tune the corresponding broadcast service. A broadcast service switching method in a digital broadcast receiver. The method of claim 7, wherein In the step 3, when any one subpicture is selected and designated in the state where the mosaic image is screen-displayed, any one service entry information in which the subpicture indicator corresponding to the position coordinate value of the subpicture is linked and recorded. And searching for and searching for the corresponding broadcast service, and the broadcast service switching method of the digital broadcast receiver.

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