KR101060491B1 - Digital broadcasting receiver and fast channel change method in receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a digital broadcast receiver capable of changing a channel at high speed when a channel is changed by a user, and a fast channel changing method in the receiver. The digital broadcast receiver includes a multi-channel demodulator for demodulating the received multi-channel signal; At least two buffers buffering a signal stream demodulated by the multichannel demodulator, wherein any one of the at least two buffers serves as a current channel buffer buffering a signal stream to be currently displayed. A buffer unit; Predicting a next channel to be displayed next according to channel information selected through a user interface input, and selecting a buffer to control a signal stream of the next channel to be buffered in an auxiliary channel buffer other than the current channel buffer. module; And a display unit configured to display a signal stream output from the current channel buffer as an image, wherein the buffer selection module pre-buffers the signal stream of the next channel in the auxiliary channel buffer. In case of selecting, the image of the corresponding channel can be displayed immediately.

Description

Digital broadcasting receiving apparatus and method of high speed channel switching in the same apparatus

The present invention relates to a digital broadcast receiving apparatus and method, and more particularly, to a digital broadcast receiving apparatus and a channel changing method capable of changing a channel at high speed when a user selects a channel through a UI.

The digital broadcast signal is a digitally encoded and modulated signal, and the receiving apparatus must reversely demodulate and decode it. Therefore, the digital broadcast receiver should include a tuner, a broadcast data demodulator, a broadcast data decoder, and the like. Currently, such digital broadcasting methods can be broadly classified into digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) and digital video broadcasting (DVB) methods.

On the other hand, in digital broadcast receivers such as digital televisions (D-TVs), set top boxes (STBs), and portable terminals that receive digital broadcasts, data may be temporarily stored in a buffer memory such as SDRAM. A series of buffering operations will be performed. The data buffered in the buffer memory is decoded and signal processed to display the output as audio, video, and text. For example, a broadcast screen may simultaneously display a menu screen such as a video of a video, various text information, or an icon capable of a user interface.

On the other hand, when the user changes the digital broadcast channel, it is not possible to perform its own decoding and signal processing operations until a certain amount of data is buffered in the buffer memory, thereby outputting a standby screen or displaying an existing channel. The screen will continue to print. As a result, in the existing digital broadcasting receiver, the user has to wait several seconds until the newly outputted channel is buffered and the screen is output whenever the user changes the channel.

Therefore, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to solve the time delay problem that occurred in the conventional channel change, the digital broadcast receiving device capable of changing the channel at high speed when changing the channel by the user and the high-speed channel in the receiving device To provide a way to change that.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a multi-channel demodulator for demodulating the received multi-channel signal;

At least two buffers buffering a signal stream demodulated by the multichannel demodulator, wherein any one of the at least two buffers serves as a current channel buffer buffering a signal stream to be currently displayed. A buffer unit; Predicting a next channel to be displayed next according to channel information selected through a user interface input, and selecting a buffer to control a signal stream of the next channel to be buffered in an auxiliary channel buffer other than the current channel buffer. module; And a display unit which displays an image of the signal stream output from the current channel buffer as an image.

The digital broadcasting receiver includes a receiver interface connected to a network through the user interface and a wired or wireless network. The display unit includes: a demux for demultiplexing a signal stream output from the current channel buffer; A renderer configured to render an image signal included in the signal output from the demux; And a display device for displaying the rendered image signal as an image.

The buffer selection module may further include a user input determination unit classifying the channel information according to a method of selecting the channel information; A channel predictor for predicting the next channel according to the classified channel information; And a buffer controller controlling the predicted next channel signal stream to be buffered in the auxiliary channel buffer and displaying the signal stream buffered in the current channel buffer as an image.

Meanwhile, the channel information classification is divided into a channel selection by an up-down button and a channel selection by a numeric button. When the channel information is a channel selection by the up-down button, the channel information is further divided into a channel selection by an up button and a down button. The channel predicting unit predicts a channel immediately above the selected channel as the next channel when the classified channel information is channel selection by the up button, and the classified channel information is channel selection by the down button. In case of, the channel immediately below the selected channel can be predicted as the next channel.

On the other hand, when the buffer unit includes at least two auxiliary channel buffers, the currently displayed channel and the predicted next channel may be buffered. On the other hand, in the case of channel selection by the numeric buttons, the upper and lower channels of the selected channel may be predicted as the next channel to be buffered in the two auxiliary channel buffers.

The present invention also comprises the steps of selecting the current channel through the UI input to achieve the above object; Determining whether there is a predicted next channel and if the next channel is present, determining whether the current channel is the same as the next channel; If the current channel is the same as the next channel, converting an auxiliary channel buffer buffering a signal string of the next channel to a current channel buffer for display; Displaying a signal stream buffered in the converted current stream buffer; And predicting the next channel according to the current channel selection.

In the present invention, in the determining whether the current channel is the same as the next channel, when the predicted next channel does not exist or the current channel and the next channel are not the same, the current channel is the current channel. The buffer is newly buffered and the display goes to the display step.

The predicting of the next channel may include determining whether the current channel selection is a channel selection by an up-down button or a number button; Predicting a channel immediately above or below the selected current channel as the next channel in the case of channel selection by the up-down button; And buffering the predicted next channel in the auxiliary channel buffer.

In the next channel predicting step, when the channel selection by the up-down button is a channel selection by the up button, the channel immediately above the current channel is predicted as the next channel, and the channel selection by the up-down button is applied to the down button. In the case of channel selection, the channel immediately below the current channel can be predicted as the next channel. On the other hand, when there are at least two auxiliary channel buffers, the next channel prediction step may predict a channel immediately above or below the selected current channel and the selected current channel as the next channel. Accordingly, when the channel is selected again in the current channel selection step, the current channel buffer is switched to a second auxiliary channel buffer among the auxiliary channel buffers, so that the current channel is selected or up again by a numeric button. The down button after the button can be caused to be displayed or the up button after the down button can be immediately displayed via the input when the current channel is selected again.

On the other hand, in the case of channel selection by the numeric buttons, the upper and lower channels of the selected channel may be predicted as the next channel, or the prediction of the lower next channel may be omitted.

According to the present invention, a digital broadcast receiver capable of changing a fast channel and a fast channel changing method in the receiving device predict a next selectable channel when a channel change is performed by a user and buffer the preselected channel in an auxiliary channel buffer. If the selected channel matches the predicted channel, the buffered signal is displayed immediately to enable fast channel change.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, when a component is described as being connected to another component, it may be directly connected to another component, but a third component may be interposed therebetween. In addition, in the drawings, the structure or size of each component is exaggerated for convenience and clarity of explanation, and parts irrelevant to the description are omitted. Like numbers refer to like elements in the figures. It is to be understood that the terminology used is for the purpose of describing the present invention only and is not used to limit the scope of the present invention.

1 is a block diagram of a digital broadcast receiving apparatus capable of changing a fast channel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the digital broadcast receiver 100 according to the present embodiment includes a multi-channel demodulator 110, a buffer unit 120, a buffer selection module 130, and a demux 140. , A render unit 150, a display device 160, and a broadcast receiving device interface 170.

The multichannel demodulator 110 demodulates the received multichannel signal for each channel.

The buffer unit 120 includes at least two buffers, each of which buffers a signal stream demodulated for each channel in the multichannel demodulator. The buffer unit 120 generally includes a current channel buffer 122 buffering a signal stream of a currently selected channel and two auxiliary channel buffers 124 for buffering a next channel, but the buffer unit 120 of the present embodiment May comprise two or more buffers.

Conventionally, the buffers of the buffer unit 120 continue to buffer existing channels in the current channel buffer 122 and output them to the screen when the channel is changed, and when buffering of the newly selected channel in the auxiliary channel buffer is completed. The auxiliary channel buffer 124 then switched to the current channel buffer 122 to display the newly selected channel. However, in the present embodiment, the next channel to be selected is predicted and buffered in the auxiliary channel buffer 124, and when a matching channel selection occurs, the auxiliary channel buffer 124 is immediately switched to the current channel buffer 122. By displaying the buffered signal stream on the screen, the selected channel can be displayed immediately upon changing the channel. That is, a high speed channel can be changed.

The buffer selection module 130 includes a user input determiner 132, a channel predictor 134, and a buffer controller 136 to display the next time according to channel information selected through a user interface 200 input. It predicts the next channel to be used, and controls to buffer the predicted next channel signal stream in the auxiliary channel buffer.

In more detail, the user input determination unit 132 in the buffer selection module 130 classifies the channel information according to the channel information selection method input through the UI. The channel information in this embodiment is largely classified into channel selection by an up-down button or channel selection by a numeric button. On the other hand, when the channel is selected by the up-down button, it is classified again according to whether the channel is selected by the up button or the channel by the down button.

The channel predictor 134 predicts a next channel to be input next according to the channel information classified by the user input determiner 132. For example, in the case of channel selection by an up-down button, a channel immediately above or below the selected channel is predicted as a next channel. That is, when channel selection by the up button is performed, the user is likely to continuously select a channel by using the up button. Accordingly, the channel immediately above the channel currently selected through the up button is predicted as a next channel, and the next channel is buffered in the auxiliary channel buffer 124 using the buffer controller 136. After that, when the user really selects the next channel using the up button, it matches the predicted next channel, so the auxiliary channel buffer 124 is switched to the current channel buffer 122 to immediately display the buffered signal stream on the screen. can do. In the case of channel selection through the down button, the channel immediately below the selected channel is selected as the next channel.

On the other hand, in the case of channel selection by the numeric buttons, the channel predictor 134 may not predict the channel or may predict the channels immediately above and below the selected channel as the next channel. If the prediction is not performed, it does not matter, but when the upper and lower channels are predicted as the next channel, the buffer unit 120 preferably buffers both the upper and lower channels including at least two buffers as auxiliary channel buffers. In the case of channel selection by the numeric buttons as described above, the channel to be selected next by the user is likely to be selected by a button next to the selected numeric button. For example, if a channel is selected through 5, the next channel selection is likely to be 4 or 6, the number button next to 5. In the case of channel selection using the number buttons as described above, the next channel prediction is possible, and the predicted next channel is buffered in two auxiliary channel buffers and is immediately displayed as the current channel when the next channel matches. On the other hand, in the case of channel selection by the numeric buttons, the method of storing the frequencies of the channels selected so far and predicting the most frequent channel as the next channel can be applied.

On the other hand, in the case of channel selection by the up-down button, the buffer unit 120 includes at least two auxiliary channel buffers, and among the channels selected immediately above or below the channel selected as the first auxiliary channel buffer among them, the next channel. Buffer, and another second auxiliary channel buffer may be currently displayed and continue to buffer the channel as the next channel. In other words, if the current channel currently being displayed through the current channel buffer is changed by channel selection, the current channel buffer in use is not cleared, but only the second auxiliary channel buffer is switched to continue buffering the immediately preceding current channel. . Accordingly, when selecting another channel and returning to the previous channel, the signal stream may be displayed on the screen by using the second auxiliary channel buffer. An example of this is the case of selecting a channel with the up button and pressing the down button or vice versa, and returning to the previous channel through the number button. As a result, the second auxiliary channel buffer is always buffering the channel just displayed.

Meanwhile, when the next channel is predicted as described above, the buffer controller 136 causes the predicted next channel to be buffered in the auxiliary channel buffer, and enables the buffered signal stream of the current channel buffer 122 to be displayed. It also functions to control the switching of the auxiliary channel buffer 124 and the current channel buffer 122.

The demux 140 demultiplexes the signal stream output from the current channel buffer and separates it into an audio signal and a video signal. The renderer 150 performs image processing to display an image signal among the demultiplexed signals on the screen. The display device 160 displays the rendered image signal as an image.

Meanwhile, the broadcast receiving device interface 170 is connected to the network through the UI 200 or wired or wireless to exchange data with the outside. For example, the present embodiment receives the selection channel information input through the UI.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a fast channel changing method according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, in the fast channel changing method of the present embodiment, first, a channel is selected through an input of a UI (S100). Next, it is determined whether there is a predicted next channel (S200). If the predicted next channel exists, it is determined whether the selected channel and the next channel are the same (S300). On the other hand, if the next channel does not exist, the channel selected in the current channel buffer is newly buffered (S250).

If the selected channel and the next channel match, the auxiliary channel buffer is switched to the current channel buffer (S400). Here, the next-predicted next channel is buffered in the auxiliary channel buffer. If the selected channel and the next channel match, as in the case where there is no next channel, the selected channel is newly buffered in the current channel buffer (S250).

When the auxiliary channel buffer is switched to the current channel buffer, the signal stream buffered in the switched current channel buffer is directly displayed on the screen (S500). On the other hand, if there is no next channel or the selected channel does not match the next channel, the newly buffered signal stream in the current channel buffer is displayed on the screen. In this case, since the buffering is newly performed unlike before, it may take several seconds to display the screen.

Meanwhile, after the display, prediction of the next channel is performed (S600). The process for the next channel prediction will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5. On the other hand, after the next channel prediction is finished, it is determined whether the channel selection is continued through the UI (S700), and if there is a channel selection, the process returns to the channel selection stage (S100), and if there is no channel selection, the channel changing process is finished. do.

In the fast channel changing method according to the present embodiment, when a channel change is performed by the UI, the next channel to be selected next is predicted and buffered in the auxiliary channel buffer, and if the next selected channel matches the predicted next channel. By changing the auxiliary channel buffer into the current channel buffer and immediately displaying the signal stream on the screen, the channel change can be performed at high speed. That is, according to the fast channel changing method of the present embodiment, the delayed time delay can be significantly reduced by newly performing buffering after the conventional channel selection.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a next channel prediction process in more detail in the flowchart of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 3, the next channel prediction first determines whether the channel selection is performed by the up-down button or the channel selection by the number button (S620). In the case of channel selection by the up-down button, a channel immediately above or below the selected channel is predicted as a next channel (S640). That is, when a channel is selected by using the up button, the channel immediately above the currently selected channel is predicted as a next channel, and when a channel is selected by using a down button, the channel immediately below the currently selected channel is designated as a next channel. Predict. This next channel prediction is because people tend to change the channel by continuously pressing the up button or down button when people select a channel using the up and down buttons.

On the other hand, the channel prediction (S650) in the case of selecting the channel by the numeric button will be described in the description of FIG.

After the next channel prediction when the channel is selected by the up-down button, the predicted next channel is buffered in the auxiliary channel buffer (S660). The signal stream of the buffered next channel is matched with the channel selection to be selected next, for example, when the channel is selected by the up button and the next channel is selected by the up button. The selected channel is matched and, accordingly, the channel change can be performed at high speed by simply switching the auxiliary channel buffer to the current channel buffer.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a next channel prediction process in detail in the case of a numeric button in the flowchart of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 4, in the case of channel selection by the number buttons, the channels immediately above and below the selected channel are predicted as next channels (S652). Since two channels are predicted as next channels, at least two auxiliary channel buffers may be needed. Next, the predicted next channels are buffered in two auxiliary channel buffers (S654). Meanwhile, in the present embodiment, although the upper and lower channels are predicted as the next channel, a method of predicting the channel having the most selected frequency as the next channel may also be considered. In addition, in the case of channel selection by the number buttons, it is difficult to predict the next channel and even if the prediction is very low, the next channel may not be predicted at all.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a next channel prediction process in channel selection by an up-down button when two auxiliary channel buffers are different from those in the flowchart of FIG. 3.

In the case where there are at least two auxiliary channel buffers, that is, at least three buffers including the current channel buffer, the method of predicting the current channel currently displayed as the next channel may be considered.

Referring to FIG. 5, in the case of channel selection by the up-down button, the selected upper or lower channel and the selected channel are predicted as next channels (S640a). The next predicted up or down channel is buffered in one of the two auxiliary channel buffers, for example, the first auxiliary channel buffer (S660a). Meanwhile, in another second auxiliary channel buffer, the existing current channel that was selected and displayed immediately before is buffered.

On the other hand, when a new channel is selected in the step of selecting a channel through the UI, the current channel buffer, which was buffering the signal stream as the current channel immediately before selecting the new channel, switches to the second auxiliary channel buffer. At the same time, the existing second auxiliary channel buffer, which is buffering the previous current channel, functions as a new current channel buffer or buffers the existing current channel as it is depending on whether the next channel and the selected channel are the same. That is, when the next channel and the selected channel are not the same, the selected channel functions as a current channel buffer while newly buffering the selected channel. The same case is further divided into two cases: if the predicted next channel is the up or down channel and matches the selected channel, then the first auxiliary channel buffer buffering the predicted next channel is the current channel buffer. Switch to function as the current channel, and if the predicted next channel is the existing current channel that the second auxiliary channel buffer was buffering and matches the selected channel, then the second auxiliary channel buffer switches to the current channel, functioning as the current channel. Done.

As a result, the second auxiliary channel buffer is always buffering the channel just displayed. Accordingly, when selecting another channel and returning to the previous channel, the signal stream may be displayed on the screen by using the second auxiliary channel buffer. An example of this is the case of selecting a channel with the up button and pressing the down button or vice versa, and returning to the previous channel through the number button.

So far, the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings, which are merely exemplary, and those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and equivalent other embodiments are possible therefrom. . Therefore, the true technical protection scope of the present invention will be defined by the technical spirit of the appended claims.

1 is a block diagram of a digital broadcast receiving apparatus capable of changing a fast channel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a fast channel changing method according to another embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a next channel prediction process in more detail in the flowchart of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a next channel prediction process in detail in the case of a numeric button in the flowchart of FIG. 2.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a next channel prediction process in channel selection by an up-down button when two auxiliary channel buffers are different from those in the flowchart of FIG. 3.

Claims (15)

A multi-channel demodulator for demodulating the received multi-channel signal; At least two buffers buffering a signal stream demodulated by the multichannel demodulator, wherein any one of the at least two buffers serves as a current channel buffer buffering a signal stream to be currently displayed. A buffer unit; Predicting a next channel to be displayed next according to channel information selected through a user interface input, and selecting a buffer to control a signal stream of the next channel to be buffered in an auxiliary channel buffer other than the current channel buffer. module; And And a display unit configured to display a signal stream output from the current channel buffer as an image. The buffer selection module, A user input determination unit classifying the channel information according to channel selection by an up-down button and channel selection by a numeric button; A channel predictor for predicting the next channel according to the classified channel information; And The signal stream of the predicted the next channel control to buffer in the sub-channel buffer, and a buffer controller that controls to display the signal stream buffered in the current channel buffer to the image; digital broadcast receiving apparatus, characterized in that the including. The method according to claim 1, The digital broadcast receiver includes a broadcast receiver interface connected to a network through the user interface and a wired or wireless network. The display unit demux (Demux) for demultiplexing the signal stream output from the current channel buffer; A renderer configured to render an image signal included in the signal output from the demux; And And a display device for displaying the rendered video signal as an image. delete The method according to claim 1, When the channel information is channel selection by the up-down button, the channel information is divided into channel selection by an up-down button and a down button again. The channel predictor predicts a channel immediately above the selected channel as the next channel when the classified channel information is channel selection by the up button, and when the classified channel information is channel selection by the down button. And predicting a channel immediately below the selected channel as the next channel. 5. The method of claim 4, If the channel selection is through the up-down button and the selected channel and the predicted next channel match, The auxiliary channel buffer is switched to the current channel buffer to immediately display a video signal, and the current channel buffer before switching is used as the auxiliary channel buffer for the next predicted next channel signal stream. Receiver. 5. The method of claim 4, The buffer unit includes at least three buffers, and when the channel is selected through the up-down button and the selected channel and the predicted next channel match, A first auxiliary channel buffer buffering the next channel is switched to the current channel buffer, and the current stream buffer before switching is maintained as the first auxiliary channel buffer and again for the second next predicted channel. And a buffer is used. The method according to claim 1, The buffer unit includes at least three buffers, The channel predicting unit predicts a channel immediately above and below a channel selected by the number button as the next channel when the classified channel information is channel selection by the number button. And the predicted next channels are buffered in two other auxiliary channel buffers other than the current channel buffer. Selecting a current channel through a UI input; Determining whether there is a predicted next channel and if the next channel is present, determining whether the current channel is the same as the next channel; If the current channel is the same as the next channel, converting an auxiliary channel buffer buffering a signal string of the next channel to a current channel buffer for display; Displaying a signal stream buffered in the converted current stream buffer; And And predicting the next channel according to the current channel selection. The method of claim 8, In the determining whether the current channel is the same as the next channel, when the predicted next channel does not exist or the current channel and the next channel are not the same, the current channel is newly buffered in the current channel buffer. , The method of changing a high speed channel in a digital receiving apparatus, characterized in that the step is passed to the display step. The method of claim 8, Predicting the next channel Determining whether the current channel selection is a channel selection by an up-down button or a numeric button; Predicting a channel immediately above or below the selected current channel as the next channel in the case of channel selection by the up-down button; And And buffering the predicted next channel in the auxiliary channel buffer. The method of claim 10, In the predicting with the next channel, If the channel selection by the up-down button is the channel selection by the up-down button, the channel immediately above the current channel is predicted as the next channel, And if the channel selection by the up-down button is a channel selection by a down button, predicting a channel immediately below the current channel as the next channel. The method of claim 10, The auxiliary channel buffer is at least two, In the predicting of the next channel, the channel immediately above or below the selected current channel and the selected current channel are predicted as the next channel, In the buffering, buffering a channel immediately above or below the current channel in a first auxiliary channel buffer of the auxiliary channel buffer, And when the channel is selected again in the step of selecting the current channel, the current channel buffer is switched to a second auxiliary channel buffer among the auxiliary channel buffers, so that the current channel is maintained as the next channel. Fast channel change method in device. 13. The method of claim 12, The second auxiliary channel buffer maintains the current channel that was currently displayed as the next channel whenever the channel changes, and then the current channel is selected again by a numeric button, or after an up or down button after an up or down button. When the current channel is selected again through the up button input, the second auxiliary channel buffer is switched to the current channel buffer, thereby immediately displaying the buffered signal stream. How to change channel. The method of claim 10, The auxiliary channel buffer is at least two, In the determining of whether the current channel selection is a channel selection by an up-down button or a numeric button, Predicting a channel immediately above and below the current channel selected as the next channel in the case of channel selection by the number button; And And buffering the predicted next channel in the two auxiliary channel buffers. The method of claim 8, In the case where any one of the auxiliary channel buffers is switched to the current stream buffer, the current stream buffer before switching is switched to the auxiliary channel buffer for the predicted next channel. How to change.

Images