KR101005546B1 - Method for channel setting - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for setting a broadcast channel in a TV set. The present invention relates to a method for performing channel setting and management by storing channel information in a channel map, wherein the user interface includes channel information stored and managed in the current channel map. Determining whether a channel reset is necessary due to a change in at least one channel among channels stored in the channel map, and a channel scan method for channel reset when a channel reset is required as a result of the determination. Selecting, storing the respective information about the valid, invalid, or changed channel through the selected channel scan method, and displaying the stored channel map to the user through the user interface.

Channel Map, Channel Scan, User Interface (UI), On-Screen Display (OSD)

Description

How to set up your channel {METHOD FOR CHANNEL SETTING}

1 is a flowchart illustrating a channel setting method according to the prior art.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a channel setting method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a diagram illustrating a screen on which channel map information is displayed in an OSD method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a diagram illustrating a screen on which channel map information is displayed in an OSD manner according to another embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention relates to a channel setting method of a television. In particular, when resetting a channel, the channel is set by selecting a channel scanning method according to a situation without scanning all channels in full, and the channel is efficiently stored and managed on a channel map. It relates to a channel setting method to enable.

Recently, in the field of TV broadcasting, the analog era is gradually closing and entering the digital era, and according to this trend, DTV (digital television) is becoming popular. Recently, DTV products manage channel management for analog, cable TV, satellite TV, and terrestrial DTV broadcasting channels through the channel map, which is a more efficient and convenient channel management method compared to the existing channel setting and management methods. . However, broadcast channels are gradually increasing, and in the present situation where dozens of channels are used even for cable TV and satellite TV broadcasting services, more advanced channel map storage and management is required. In particular, considering the fact that channel information fluctuates frequently due to broadcast signal change, suspension, and broadcaster's policy, and the ever-increasing number of broadcast channels, the current batch channel setting method and channel map information management method are provided to users. It is giving a lot of inconvenience.

In the conventional television, the channel setting method scans all the possible channels every time the channel is set, and thus, a method of scanning and setting the entire channel is also used for the fluctuation of some channels without considering such circumstances.

Specifically, the conventional channel setting method will be described with reference to FIG. 1 as follows.

First, previously set channel information is stored and managed on the channel map of the television (S101). However, when some fluctuation of the channel occurs, the channel cannot be effectively used unless the fluctuation channel is newly set on the channel map set before the fluctuation. That is, since the channel information before the change is set, the corresponding channel does not recognize the channel after the change and thus cannot watch the desired channel. Therefore, if the user wants to watch the changed channel, the user must reset the channel map by newly setting channel information (S103).                         

Therefore, the user commands the channel reset and the channel map management module ignores the previous channel setting information and scans the entire channel anew (S105). In this case, when the broadcast channel is few, the time required for the entire channel is relatively small. However, considering the recent increase in the number of broadcast channels, it is not necessary to scan all dozens of channels. If fluctuations occur in one or two channels, scanning all channels in a conventional manner can be quite meaningless. In addition, in the fixed-line broadcasts, channel changes occur regularly and periodically in order to secure paid subscribers according to local broadcasting companies. In view of this, the conventional channel setting method as shown in FIG. 1 causes considerable inconvenience and problems.

In addition, even if a broadcast signal is temporarily suspended even in a channel in which a broadcast signal exists, it may not be registered in the channel map. Therefore, it is inconvenient to repeatedly set the channel in the above-described manner. However, in the related art, a simpler method of resetting a small number of fluctuation channels and registering them in the channel map may include a method in which a user directly registers them in the channel map setting menu. This can be said to be a function that is very inconvenient for the user and is rarely used for an inexperienced user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to prevent unnecessary scans and unnecessary scan time required for channel setting by overlapping even valid channels during channel setting.

Accordingly, the purpose of the present invention is to improve the efficiency of channel setting according to various external factors such as interruption of broadcast, daytime broadcast, or addition of a broadcast channel by displaying not only the current but also the validity of a previously set channel.

Furthermore, another object of the present invention is to provide a method of more easily classifying a channel managed in a channel map into a valid channel, a changed channel, and an invalid channel on the UI.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a channel setting method, comprising: checking channel information stored and managed in a current channel map through a user interface, wherein a change occurs in at least one or more channels among channels stored in the channel map. Checking whether resetting is necessary; if channel reset is required as a result of the check; selecting a channel scan method for channel reset; and each of the valid, invalid, or changed channels through the selected channel scan method. Storing the information in the channel map, and displaying the stored channel map to the user through a user interface.

Preferably, the current channel information identified through the user interface may be classified into an effective state channel, an invalid state channel, and a changed state channel, and may be identified using an on-screen display (OSD) method.

The channel scan method selection may be any one of (1) full channel scan on the channel map, (2) channel scan by dividing valid and invalid channels, or (3) changed channel selective scan method. .

In addition, the channel information stored and managed in the channel map storing step is characterized by separately storing and managing each of a valid channel, an invalid channel, and a changed channel.

In addition, the step of displaying the channel information managed on the stored channel map to the user through the user interface is characterized by displaying the case of each of the valid channel, invalid channel and changed channel.

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

[Example]

In the present embodiment, a channel setting method in a DTV set or a set-top box is representatively described. However, the channel setting method of the present invention is not limited to such a DTV set, but can be applied to an analog TV set.

2 is a flowchart sequentially illustrating a channel setting method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the channel map of the DTV set, previously stored channel information is stored and managed (S201).

The user checks the previous channel information on the user interface UI through the channel map (S203). Such previous channel information is systematically managed on a channel map, and a user can check channel information that is mapped and stored and managed on the channel map through an on-screen display (OSD) screen.

At this time, in the case of over-the-air broadcast signals, daytime broadcast signal transmission may be paused depending on time organization, or in the case of cable broadcasting, a channel may be changed for a predetermined period or from time to time depending on a local cable operator. . As described above, when a channel is to be reset at a time when there is no broadcast signal, a previously set valid channel is recognized as an invalid channel, and thus a channel setting needs to be set again. If some or all of the channel information is changed, channel reset is required (S205).

According to the related art in the channel resetting step, the problem that the entire channel scan is repeated even if some channels are changed has been described above. In this case, the channel scan is performed by a user selecting a channel scan method or by intelligently selecting a channel scan method in a management module for channel setting. Preferably, the system periodically checks whether there is a broadcast signal present in the channel map and informs the user of the changed information, thereby helping the user to determine whether to set up a channel and select a channel scan method accordingly.

In this embodiment, there are three methods for channel scanning, and the user selects a channel scanning method suitable for a dual situation (S207).

Referring to FIG. 2, the channel scan method includes (1) full channel scan (S211), (2) valid / invalid channel scan (S212), and (3) modified channel select scan (S213). have.

(1) The channel full scan method S211 performs a scan on all channels, which can be used when the previous channel map information is erased due to the initial channel setting and the reset operation of the DTV set. .

(2) The valid / invalid channel-specific scan method (S212) does not scan all channels again from the beginning, but does not use a valid channel (that is, a channel in which a broadcast signal exists) by using channel information stored in the current state. It means a method of scanning by distinguishing a channel (that is, a channel in which a broadcast signal does not exist). Therefore, by rescanning only existing valid channels or rescanning only existing invalid channels, the time of channel scan can be shortened and channel management can be performed more efficiently.

(3) The changed channel sorting scan method (S213) refers to a method of sorting and scanning only a channel having a change in the currently stored channel information. That is, if a broadcast signal does not exist in a channel that is recognized as a valid channel among preset channels, it is recognized as a fluctuation channel, and even when a broadcast signal exists in a channel that is recognized as an invalid channel among preset channels, If only the fluctuation channel is selected and scanned, the time required for the channel scan can be significantly shortened.

The reset channel information is stored in the channel map through the channel scan as described above (S215). When the channel setting information is again stored, the valid channel and the invalid channel are distinguished and stored, and the information on the changed channel whose valid and invalid states are changed from the previous setting information is also separately stored and managed. As described above, by dividing and managing each state separately and providing the user with the classified channel information as a channel map, the selective channel scanning and resetting can be more easily performed even in the subsequent channel reset. In addition, efficient channel management can be achieved so that even if the number of channels increases gradually, efficient and systematic channel management can be achieved.

When the reset channel information is stored, such channel information is displayed for the user to check on the channel map (S217).

Channel map information displayed to the user will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

3 illustrates a screen on which channel map information is displayed in an OSD manner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, the channel map is configured such that the channel number and the corresponding channel information correspond to each other in color, font, or detail information screen in a grid structure form (so-called "map" form) on the OSD screen. Referring to FIG. 3, a valid channel is displayed in bold in a channel number 311, and an invalid channel is displayed in gray or shaded to display a channel number in 313. That is, in the channel map 310, the channel 6 (311) is a valid channel in which the current broadcast signal exists, and the channel 11 (313) corresponds to an invalid channel in which the current broadcast signal does not exist.

The channel map may be stored and managed by creating a map separately for each broadcasting transmission system. Referring to FIG. 3, in the case of over-the-air broadcasting, the storage is managed in the "TV" channel map 310, in the case of cable broadcasting, the storage is managed in the "TV wired" channel map 320, and in the case of digital broadcasting, "DTV". The storage is managed in the channel map 330. This is only for systematization of management, and the channel map may be integrated or more finely managed.

The left side of the OSD screen shows the broadcast screen of the currently selected channel in a brief window. In addition, the user can designate and manage his / her favorite channel list separately on the channel map. It is also desirable that such more detailed information be displayed simultaneously with the channel map.

4 is a diagram illustrating a screen on which channel map information is displayed in an OSD manner according to another embodiment of the present invention.

According to the present exemplary embodiment, unlike the above-described description of FIG. 3, the channel number is displayed on the channel map 410 by allocating a broadcasting station logo (LOGO) 403 or a broadcasting station name 401. The user can grasp the detailed channel information through the broadcasting station name 401 rather than simply checking the channel map by the channel number alone.

The user can check the channel map on the OSD as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, and even if the channel needs to be reset later, the user can select and utilize an appropriate channel scan method by using a channel map in which each state is divided, stored and managed. .

The channel setting method described above with reference to the accompanying drawings has described exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and the channel setting method of the present invention is not limited thereto and may be configured in various forms within the scope of the present invention.

According to the present invention, the channel can be set separately for all channels, valid / invalid channels, change channels, etc., and thus the channel resetting process can be easily performed by the user and can be processed more quickly. In addition, since the channel setting information is stored and managed through the channel map, it is possible to efficiently operate the channel map.

Claims (5)

In the method of performing channel setting and management by storing channel information in a channel map, Checking channel information stored and managed in the current channel map through a user interface, Determining whether a channel reset is necessary due to a change in at least one channel among channels stored in the channel map; If a channel reset is required as a result of the determination, the user selecting a channel scan method for channel reset; Storing respective information on valid, invalid or changed channels in the channel map through the selected channel scan method, and And displaying the stored channel map to a user through a user interface. The method of claim 1, The current channel information checked through the user interface is divided into a valid state channel, an invalid state channel, and a changed state channel. The method of claim 1, The channel scan method selection may include at least one of a full channel scan on a channel map, a channel scan by dividing valid and invalid channels, or a changed channel selection scan method. The method of claim 1, The channel information stored and managed in the channel map storing step may be separately stored and managed for each of a valid channel, an invalid channel, and a changed channel. The method of claim 1, In the displaying of the channel information managed on the stored channel map to the user through a user interface, the channel setup method, characterized in that for displaying the case of each of the valid channel, invalid channel and changed channel.

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