KR101259112B1 - Broadcasting signal receiver and method for processing Emergency Alert Message - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for processing an emergency alert message in a two-way broadcast signal receiver. In particular, the host in the two-way broadcast receiver according to the present invention, each time the emergency alert message is received, when the execution of the received emergency alert message, such as channel switching and / or message display is required, each time to terminate the running emergency alert message Provides status information to data broadcasting related applications. By doing so, the present invention can prevent abnormal operation of the data broadcasting related application when executing the emergency alert message in the host.

EAS, OCAP, Applications

Description

Broadcasting signal receiver and method for processing Emergency Alert Message}

1 is a diagram conceptually illustrating a cable broadcasting network including a host and a cable card according to the present invention.

2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a two-way cable broadcast receiver according to the present invention;

3 is a configuration block diagram of the present invention showing an embodiment of a hardware resource in the cable broadcast receiver of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a syntax structure for reception status information transmitted to a data broadcasting related application when an emergency alert message is received.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a syntax structure for starting state information transmitted to a data broadcasting related application when a received emergency alert message is executed; FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a syntax structure for starting state information transmitted to a data broadcasting related application at the end of a running emergency alert message; FIG.

7 is an operation flowchart showing an embodiment of an emergency alert message processing method according to the present invention;

Description of the Related Art [0002]

100: host 101a: first tuner

101b: second tuner 102: first demodulator

103: multiplexer 104: demultiplexer

105: decryption unit 106: second demodulation unit

107: third tuner 108: switching unit

109: modulation unit 110: control unit

120: OCAP memory control unit 200: cable card

The present invention relates to a broadcast receiver, and more particularly, to a method for processing an emergency alert message in a two-way broadcast signal receiver capable of receiving cable broadcasts.

The cable broadcasting system of the digital broadcasting system is largely composed of a cable broadcasting station which is a transmitting side for transmitting cable broadcasting, and a broadcasting receiver capable of receiving the transmitted cable broadcasting. The cable station is also called a headend.

And the open cable type broadcast receiver adopted as a domestic standard is divided into hardware part and software part.

First, the hardware consists of a cable card that separates security and conditional access (CA) functions from the set-top box and the set-top box. In this way, the set-top box can be retailed at the same time as providing an easy replacement function of the security system, there is an advantage that can supply a low-cost cable broadcast receiver. The cable card may also be referred to as a point of deployment (POD) module. For example, a PCMCIA card is used. The set top box into which the cable card is inserted may also be referred to as a host. For example, a digital built in TV or a digital ready TV may be a host, and the host and the cable card may be referred to as a cable broadcast receiver.

On the other hand, in the open cable type broadcast receiver, software is the core application platform for data broadcasting. The data broadcasting related application platforms are various, such as multimedia home platform (MHP), open cable application platform (OCA), advanced common application platform (ACAP), etc. Among these, the OCAP is mounted for data broadcasting in an open cable broadcasting receiver. do.

That is, the OCAP is a standard that becomes an application production base for a cable type interactive data broadcasting service. In other words, the OCAP is a data broadcasting middleware standard for an interactive service in an open cable method. The open cabling method enables the sharing of application software and content using a common middleware platform called OCAP, thereby inducing the activation of the content industry.

In addition, in the cable broadcasting system, when a transmitter transmits an Emergency Alert message in preparation for an emergency situation, a basic protocol is received and processed.

That is, when an emergency alert message is transmitted through a specific frequency of the terrestrial wave or the cable, the host in the broadcast receiver receives it. The host outputs information on a channel change and an emergency alert to an emergency broadcast channel in order to effectively provide information on an emergency alert to viewers watching TV.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a broadcast receiver, an emergency alert message processing method, and a signal structure for preventing abnormal operation of a data broadcast related application when executing an emergency alert message in a cable broadcast receiver.

In order to achieve the above object, a method for receiving and processing an emergency alert message in a data broadcasting related application platform based broadcast receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention, with reference to the received emergency alert message, is received. Generating reception state information and transmitting the received state information to an application related to data broadcasting; If the contents included in the received emergency alert message instruct the execution of the emergency alert message, generating start state information, transmitting the start state information to the data broadcasting related application, and executing the emergency alert message; And generating a termination state information and transmitting the termination state information to the data broadcasting related application, and ending execution of the emergency warning message.

The reception state information may include unique information for distinguishing the received emergency alert message and priority information for determining whether to execute the received emergency alert message.

The start state information includes information for distinguishing an emergency alert message to be executed and time information for determining a start and remaining time, and includes emergency broadcast channel information to be switched and message information to be displayed according to execution contents of the emergency alert message. Can be.

The termination status information may include information for identifying an emergency warning message that requires termination and original viewing channel information to be returned.

When the emergency alert message is received by the data broadcasting related application platform based broadcast receiver according to the present invention, the signal structure of the reception status information for transmitting to the data broadcasting related application may include information for uniquely distinguishing the received emergency alert message. An event ID field to indicate; A sequence number field indicating information for identifying a change in content of a received emergency alert message; A priority field indicating the importance of the received emergency alert message; And an originator code field indicating an entity that first activated the received emergency alert message.

In the execution of the emergency alert message received by the data broadcasting related application platform based broadcast receiver according to another embodiment of the present invention, the signal structure of the start state information for transmitting to the data broadcasting related application uniquely identifies the emergency alert message to be executed. An event ID field for indicating information for performing the task; A start time field indicating a start time of an emergency alert message to execute; A remaining time field indicating a remaining time of an emergency alert message to be executed; A channel information field for indicating emergency broadcast channel information to be switched; And a text information field indicating an emergency alert related content to be displayed.

Upon termination of the emergency alert message running in the platform-based broadcast receiver of the data broadcast related application according to another embodiment of the present invention, the signal structure of the end state information for transmitting to the data broadcast related application is unique to the emergency alert message to be terminated. An event ID field indicating information for distinguishing from one another; And a channel information field indicating original viewing channel information to be returned.

The broadcast receiver according to the present invention includes a data broadcast related application; A platform for downloading and installing data broadcasting related applications; And a host that executes and terminates an emergency broadcast message according to the contents included in the received emergency alert message, and generates and transmits status information related to the data broadcast application when the emergency alert message is received, executed, or terminated. .

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, preferred embodiments of the present invention that can specifically realize the above object will be described. At this time, the configuration and operation of the present invention shown in the drawings and described by it will be described as at least one embodiment, by which the technical spirit of the present invention and its core configuration and operation is not limited.

In addition, the terminology used in the present invention is a general term that is currently widely used as much as possible, but in certain cases, the term is arbitrarily selected by the applicant. In this case, since the meaning is described in detail in the description of the present invention, It is intended that the present invention be understood as the meaning of the term rather than the name.

1 conceptually illustrates a cable broadcast network between a cable broadcast receiver and a headend according to the present invention. The headend / plant 10 receives a broadcast signal through a television station 20, a satellite, an antenna, and the like, and then reaches each cable broadcast receiver 31 through 34 through a cable network including a node. To pass. In addition, the cable broadcast receiver and the headend / plant can exchange various data including data broadcasting related applications through a cable network infrastructure capable of transmitting data in both directions. The cable broadcast receiver includes a cable card that is removable.

The present invention describes a cable broadcast receiver that simultaneously includes an OOB QPSK modem and a DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications) modem and supports a DOCSIS Settop Gateway (DSG).

In addition, the present invention describes a cable broadcast receiver equipped with OCAP for an interactive data broadcast service as an embodiment.

Here, the data broadcast is a service that enables various additional information in addition to the existing A / V (Audio / Video) broadcast (or also called a TV program). The additional information may include additional information related to the TV program being displayed (e.g., program introduction, personal details, etc.), and additional information not related to the TV program being displayed (e.g., news, stock, weather, Travel information, etc.). In addition, when interactive data services are available, viewers can use interactive services such as home shopping, home banking, games, life information, entertainment, and education with a simple remote control. The data service corresponds to an application and is implemented using an OCAP mounted in a broadcast receiver.

The present invention is to ensure the normal operation of the data broadcast-related application by providing the state information of the received emergency alert message to the data broadcast-related application, when the emergency alert message is received.

The present invention is to ensure the normal operation of the data broadcast-related application by providing status information related to the channel change and / or message display for processing the received emergency alert message, to the data broadcast-related application.

The present invention is to ensure the normal operation of the data broadcast-related application by providing status information related thereto to the data broadcast-related application at the end of the running emergency alert message.

2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an OCAP-based cable broadcast receiver according to the present invention, and is largely composed of applications, an OCAP, an operating system, and hardware resources. Application Program Interfaces (APIs) exist between the applications and the OCAP.

The OCAP is a platform for data broadcasting related applications adopted in the open cable method, and provides high level APIs and services to the corresponding applications using hardware resources and an operating system.

The OCAP may include an execution engine and an presentation engine. The execution engine interprets and executes an application written in Java, and the expression engine interprets and executes an application written in HTML. As an example, the OCAP-J (Java) application is executed by an execution engine.

The applications are classified into data broadcasting related applications and native applications.

The data broadcasting related applications use an API to utilize hardware resources. That is, all data broadcasting related applications do not deal directly with hardware resources, and maintain compatibility by using hardware resources only through API. For compatibility of the data broadcasting related applications, OCAP separates the data broadcasting related applications from hardware resources.

Here, the data broadcasting related applications refer to software operating by using an execution environment and API defined by OCAP, and for this reason, it is also referred to as an OCAP application.

The OCAP application type may be classified into a bound application and an unbound application.

The bound application is an application associated with or bound to a currently tuned channel, for example, a game or information services. At this point, if a channel switch occurs and is not related to the newly tuned channel, the bound application must be terminated. That is, the application is started when going to a specific channel, the application is terminated when switching to another channel.

The unbound application is an application that is not bound to a particular channel. For example, a monitor application, a video on demand (VOD), an electronic program guide (EPG), an e-mail, a chatting, a game, and the web Browsers, and personal video recorders (PVRs). That is, the unbound application is downloaded and stored when the broadcast receiver boots up, and starts and ends regardless of the viewing channel.

The monitor application is a service operation software using an API defined in the OCAP standard, and can control start and end of other applications. That is, the monitor application is a special unbound application made according to the purpose of the cable broadcasting company, and provides an API (for example, rebooting the receiver, reporting an error, etc.) that only the monitor application can use. In addition, the monitor application can adjust when there are collisions of various applications with respect to receiver resources such as memory, and can first control the functions of almost all receivers.

The monitor application may control channel management and cable card functions. That is, basic channel switching and operation in the host where the cable card is inserted are basically controlled by the monitor application. You can also download and run applications for driving TV or other additional services (EPG, VOD).

For example, in the data broadcast mode, when the host sends a channel switch key input from an input device such as a remote controller to OCAP, a data broadcast related application that manages a channel, for example, a monitor application is connected to a channel switch key received from the host. Accordingly, the state change of the various applications related to the channel switching and the pause and termination of the bound application which is dedicated to the channel are executed.

Meanwhile, in FIG. 2, a native application receives a digital broadcast signal, demultiplexes video and audio information, other broadcast program information (EPG), etc. from the received digital broadcast signal, and implements it on a device. Do this. That is, the native application is an application related to performing a basic function, and is embedded at the time of shipment of the broadcast receiver.

The hardware resource is also called host device hardware, and is mainly composed of a host and a cable card.

3 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a hardware resource to which the present invention is applied, and includes a host 100 and a cable card 200 that can be attached to or detached from the host 100.

The host 100 may receive only cable broadcast, or may receive one or more digital broadcasts of cable broadcast, terrestrial broadcast, or satellite broadcast. The host 100 of FIG. 3 considers an example in which one or more broadcasts among cable broadcast, terrestrial broadcast, and satellite broadcast may be received.

On the other hand, there are two types of bidirectional communication methods between the cable broadcast receiver and the headend. An OOB (Out Of Band) method and a DOGSIS Settop Gateway (DSG) method are possible. Accordingly, the viewer may select and view a desired program through the host using either of the two methods. Alternatively, the viewer may directly participate in the broadcast program or select and view necessary information, and a data broadcast service may be provided through the OOB / DSG scheme.

In FIG. 3, the host 100 includes a first tuner 101a, a second tuner 101b, a first demodulator 102, a multiplexer 103, a demultiplexer 104, a decoder 105, and a third tuner. A second demodulator (DOCSIS) 106, a third tuner 107, a switching unit 108, a modulator 109, a controller 110, and an OCAP memory controller 120 may be included.

The cable card 200 is either a single (S) -card capable of processing a single stream or a multi (M) -card capable of processing multiple streams.

The first tuner 101a tunes only a specific channel frequency among terrestrial A / V (Audio / Video) broadcasts transmitted through an antenna or cable A / V broadcasts transmitted in-band through a cable. Output to the first demodulator 102.

Here, since the terrestrial broadcast and the cable broadcast have different transmission methods, the first demodulator 102 may perform different demodulation processes for signals of different transmission methods. For example, a terrestrial A / V broadcast modulated and transmitted in a VSB (Vestigial Sideband Modulation) method performs demodulation in the inverse of VSB modulation. In addition, a cable A / V broadcast modulated and transmitted in a quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) scheme performs demodulation in reverse of the QAM.

The signal demodulated by the first demodulator 102 is output through the multiplexer 103 in a stream form. At this time, if there are a plurality of in-band tuners capable of receiving cable A / V broadcast, and different channels are tuned simultaneously in each in-band tuner and demodulated in each demodulator, the multiplexer 103 Multiplexed at output.

If the signal demodulated by the first demodulator 102 is a stream of terrestrial broadcast, the demodulated stream is output to the demultiplexer 104 through the multiplexer 103, and the multiplexer 103 if the stream is cable broadcast. It is output to the demultiplexer 104 through the cable card 200 mounted in the slot. The cable card 200 includes a conditional access (CA) system for copy protection and limited access to high value-added broadcast content, and is also referred to as a point of deployment (POD) module.

That is, the cable card 200 descrambles the single stream or the multi-stream of the cable broadcast output from the multiplexer 103 to descramble and output the descrambler 104. If the cable card 200 is not mounted, the single stream or the multi-stream of the cable broadcast demodulated by the first demodulator 102 is directly output to the demultiplexer 104. In this case, the scrambled cable broadcast cannot be descrambled and thus cannot be viewed normally.

The demultiplexer 104 separates the audio, video, and data streams from the multiplexed broadcast stream and outputs them to the decoders 105. The decoder 105 may include an audio decoder, a video decoder, and a data decoder.

That is, the demultiplexer 104 decodes the audio stream demultiplexed in the audio decoder, the video stream in the video decoder, and the data stream in the data decoder.

The second tuner 101b tunes a specific channel frequency of the data broadcast transmitted through the cable by the DSG method and outputs the specific channel frequency to the second demodulator 106. The second demodulator 106 may demodulate the DSG data broadcast and then output the demodulated broadcast signal to the controller 110.

The third tuner 107 tunes a specific channel frequency for the downlink data broadcast transmitted through the OOB method through the cable and outputs the specific channel frequency to the cable card 200.

When bi-directional communication is possible between the headend and the cable broadcast receiver, uplink information transmitted from the cable broadcast receiver to the headend (for example, application for a paid program or diagnostic information of the host) is transmitted by OOB or DSG. Can be. Therefore, an embodiment of the cable broadcast receiver according to the present invention may be provided with a switching unit 108 to transmit information by selecting one of the above schemes.

In the OOB method, user information or system diagnostic information is output to the modulator 109 through the cable card 200 and the switching unit 108, and the modulator 109 transmits the output signal to a quadrature phase shift (QPSK). Keying) can be modulated in a modulation scheme and transmitted to the headend via cable. If broadcast information of the user is transmitted in a DSG manner, the information is output to the modulator 109 through the control unit 110 and the switching unit 108, and the modulator 109 transmits a quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM)- It can be modulated with 16 modulation schemes and then sent to the headend via cable.

Meanwhile, the emergency alert message cable_emergency_alert () is defined in MPEG-2 table format to be compatible with MPEG-2 transport, and the table is divided into at least one or more sections and transported through in-band and OOB. It is sent in the form of a packet.

If the cable card 200 is inserted into the host, the emergency warning message tabled according to the SI protocol and transmitted to the OOB is output to the cable card 200 via the third tuner 107. The cable card 200 parses the received emergency warning message and outputs it to the controller 110. On the contrary, if the cable card 200 is not inserted into the host, the emergency warning message transmitted in-band by being tabled according to the PSIP protocol is demultiplexed by the demultiplexer 104 without passing through the cable card 200. Output to the control unit 110.

The controller 110 outputs an emergency alert message received through in-band or OOB to the OCAP memory controller 120 and performs forced tuning to an emergency broadcast channel according to contents included in the received emergency alert message. The text of the emergency warning message is displayed on the screen. One of the message display methods is a method of scrolling and displaying an emergency alert content in a text form on a screen. Alternatively, there is a method of outputting audio. In the present invention, the display in the form of a text on the screen is described as an embodiment, but the method for outputting the audio can also be applied to the present invention.

The OCAP memory controller 120 receives an emergency alert message from the controller 110 or when a channel change and / or text output is required for processing the emergency alert message, and the emergency alert message being processed. In case of termination, each state information is provided to the OCAP application.

The operation of the controller 110 and the OCAP memory controller 120 may be performed by any one of hardware, firmware, middleware, and software, or may be performed by a combination of at least two of them. In addition, the controller 110 may serve as the OCAP memory controller 110, in which case the OCAP memory controller 120 may be omitted.

The OCAP applications, native applications, OCAP middleware, APIs, operating systems, and other necessary software shown in FIG. 2 are stored in a memory (not shown), when the broadcast receiver is powered on, or other applications. Run according to the user's request.

In the present invention, for the convenience of description, the status information provided when the emergency alert message is received is received status information OCAP_EAS_Receive_report (), and the status information provided when channel switching and / or message output is required. The state information provided when the processing of the warning message ends is referred to as end state information OCAP_EAS_Terminate_report ().

The following shows embodiments of state information provided to an OCAP application according to each case described above.

1) If an emergency warning message is received,

When an emergency alert message is received to the host through in-band or OOB, the OCAP memory controller 120 in the host generates the reception status information of the emergency alert message by referring to the received emergency alert message and transmits it to the OCAP application. . By doing so, the OCAP application can recognize that channel switching and / or message display may occur in the future, and can prepare accordingly if necessary.

The reception status information to be transmitted to the OCAP application includes an event ID, a sequence number, a priority of an emergency alert message for determining whether to switch a channel or display a message, an originator code, and the like. It may include.

4 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a syntax structure of reception status information OCAP_EAS_Receive_report () transmitted from the host to an OCAP application when an emergency alert message is received by a host in a broadcast receiver.

Referring to FIG. 4, the reception state information OCAP_EAS_Receive_report () includes an event ID (EAS_Event_ID) field, a sequence number (EAS_Sequence_Number) field, a priority (EAS_Alert_Priority) field, and an originator code (EAS_Originator_Code) field.

The EAS_Event_ID field represents a particular emergency alert (EA) event. Each time a new EAS_Event_ID is assigned, a new EAS_Event_ID shall be assigned.

The EAS_Sequence_Number field is increased when there is any change in the information accompanying the emergency alert message. For example, the sequence_number shall be incremented by 1 modulo 32 when any change in the information carried. in the cable_emergency_alert () message changes).

The EAS_Alert_Priority field represents the priority of an emergency alert. Processing of the received emergency alert message is determined according to the value of the EAS_Alert_Priority field. That is, it is determined whether to ignore the received emergency alert message unconditionally, or ignore only in a specific condition, or to force tuning to the emergency broadcast channels included in the received emergency alert message. For example, when the value of the EAS_Alert_Priority field is 11 or less, there is no change to the emergency broadcast channel, and only the information on the received emergency alert message is displayed in text form on the screen, so that the viewer can know the emergency situation. In addition, when the EAS_Alert_Priority field value is 15, the viewer can watch the emergency broadcast by forcibly switching the channel currently being watched to the emergency broadcast channel included in the emergency alert message. The above-described numerical values are merely examples, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the numerical values.

The EAS_Originator_Code field designates the entity that originally activated the EAS (Designates the entity that originally initiated the activation of the EAS).

When the reception status information as shown in FIG. 4 is transmitted from the host to the OCAP application, the OCAP application may take various actions in preparation for channel switching or message display to occur in the future while waiting for the start state information OCAP_EAS_Start_report () message as shown in FIG. Will be.

2) When channel switching and / or message display is required for emergency warning message processing

As described above, it may be determined whether switching to an emergency broadcast channel and / or message display is necessary according to the value of the EAS_Alert_Priority field of the received emergency alert message. In this case, the message display means displaying an emergency alert content in a text form. In addition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the contents of an emergency alert in a text form are scrolled and displayed on a part of a screen.

The host of the present invention transmits the start status information to the OCAP application when channel switching to the emergency broadcast channel and / or message display is required, so that the OCAP application can operate normally. That is, the host transmits the start status information to the OCAP application and then starts processing the received emergency alert message.

The start state information to be transmitted from the host to the OCAP application may include event ID, start time and remaining time information, emergency broadcast channel information to switch, message information to scroll, and the like.

5 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a syntax structure of start state information OCAP_EAS_Start_report () transmitted to the OCAP application when channel switching and / or message display is required for processing a received emergency alert message.

Referring to FIG. 5, the start state information OCAP_EAS_Start_report () includes an event ID (EAS_Event_ID) field, a start time (EAS_Start_Time) field, a remaining time (EAS_Time_Remaining) field, a band information (In_Band_Reference) field indicating a band of an emergency broadcast channel to switch to, And a channel number field indicating an emergency broadcast channel number according to the In_Band_Reference field value, a length (EAS_Alert_Text_Length) field indicating a text length to be scrolled, and a text (EAS_alert_text) field including text to be scrolled.

The EAS_Event_ID field has the same meaning as the EAS_Event_ID field described in FIG. 4, and indicates which EAS requires channel switching and / or message display.

The EAS_Start_Time field indicates a start time of a received emergency alert event, and is represented as a second in an example (Designates the start time of this alert event as the number of seconds).

The EAS_Time_Remaining field indicates the remaining output time of the emergency alert message being processed. For example, the EAS_Time_Remaining field may be set in units of 0-120 seconds (Designates the time remaining in the alert message). A value of zero shall indicate an alert message period of indefinite duration if the value of the EAS_Time_Remaining field is 0.

The In_Band_Reference field indicates whether an emergency broadcast channel to be switched is in-band or OOB.

If the in-band emergency broadcast channel number to be switched is displayed in the Details_Major_Channel_Number and Details_Minor_Channel_Number field, and if the OOB is displayed in the Details_OOB_Source_ID field. For example, if the band of the emergency broadcast channel to be switched is OOB (that is, if the value of the In_Band_Reference field is 0), the channel is switched using the OOB source ID, and if it is in-band (that is, if the value of the In_Band_Reference field is 1). The channel is switched using the major channel number and the minor channel number.

In other words, the Details_Major_Channel_Number and Details_Minor_Channel_Number fields indicate the major and minor channel numbers of the emergency broadcast channel to be tuned when the emergency broadcast channel to be switched is in-band. The Details_OOB_Source_ID field indicates a source ID of a virtual channel for an emergency broadcast channel to be tuned when the emergency broadcast channel to be switched is OOB. Here, the source ID refers to the virtual channel described in the OOB SI. The Details_OOB_Source_ID field is ignored if the OOB SI is not valid.

As such, the host transmits an OOB source ID or a major / minor channel number to the OCAP application according to the EAS_Event_ID field and the band information field value of the emergency broadcast channel to be switched.

The EAS_Alert_Text_Length field defines the total length of the immediately following EAS_Alert_Text () field in bytes. If the value of the EAS_Alert_Text_Length field is 0, this indicates that the EAS_Alert_Text () field is not included in the emergency alert message.

The data structure of the EAS_Alert_Text () field includes multiple_string_structure () indicating a textual description of the emergency alert. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the text information of the emergency information obtained by parsing the alert_text () is scrolled from the right side to the left side of the top of the screen.

In addition, the OCAP application that has received the start state information OCAP_EAS_Start_report () as shown in FIG. 5 controls the application currently running so that the emergency alert message processing can be normally processed in the host.

For example, if an application called news is being displayed in text form on a part of the screen, and the news screen interferes with the display of an emergency alert message to be processed by the host, the news application being displayed may be paused or terminated.

3) When you exit the emergency warning message in progress

When the emergency warning message, which was executed while being forced to the emergency broadcast channel, ends, the original user must return to the channel being watched.

In this case, the host of the present invention transmits termination status information including channel information to be returned to the OCAP application, thereby allowing the OCAP application to operate normally.

The termination status information to be transmitted from the host to the OCAP application may include an event ID, original channel information to be switched, and the like.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a syntax structure of termination state information OCAP_EAS_Terminate_report () transmitted to the OCAP application when terminating a running emergency alert message.

Referring to FIG. 6, the end state information OCAP_EAS_Terminate_report () is an event ID (EAS_Event_ID) field, a band information (In_Band_Reference) field indicating a band of a channel to be returned, and a channel information field indicating original broadcast channel information to be returned according to the In_Band_Reference field value. It is configured to include.

The EAS_Event_ID field has the same meaning as the EAS_Event_ID field described in FIG. 4, and indicates which EAS is terminated.

The In_Band_Reference field indicates whether the original channel to be returned is an in-band channel or an OOB channel. For example, if the value of the In_Band_Reference field is 1, the original channel to be returned is an in-band channel, and 0 is an OOB channel. That is, if the value of the In_Band_Reference field is 1, the channel is indicated by the major channel number and the minor channel number. If the value is 0, the channel is indicated by the OOB source ID.

Therefore, if the value of the In_Band_Reference field is 1, the original channel information to be switched is displayed in the Original_Major_Channel_Number field and the Original_Minor_Channel_Number field, and 0 is displayed in the Original_OOB_Source_ID field.

To this end, the Original_Major_Channel_Number and Original_Minor_ Channel_Number fields represent the major and minor channel numbers of the original in-band channel to be returned when the emergency alert message ends.

The Original_OOB_Source_ID field indicates a source ID of a virtual channel of an original OOB channel to be returned when an emergency alert message ends (Original_OOB_Source_ID Indicates the Source ID of a virtual channel associated with an interrupted OOB Source by EAS).

That is, the host transmits the OOB source ID in the case of the OOB channel and the major channel number and the minor channel number in the case of the In-Band channel to the OCAP application according to the EAS_Event_ID field and the channel that the user is originally watching. .

7 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method for receiving and processing an emergency alert message described above.

In FIG. 7, the left part shows an example of receiving and processing an emergency alert message from a host, and the right part shows an example of state information transmitted to an OCAP application.

That is, when the emergency alert message is received (step 701), the host transmits the reception status information as shown in FIG. 4 to the OCAP application (step 702). The host then checks whether channel switching to the emergency broadcast channel and / or message display is necessary to process the received emergency alert message (step 703).

If it is determined in step 703 that channel switching to the emergency broadcast channel and / or message display is not necessary, an emergency alert operation is performed according to the contents of the received emergency alert message (step 709).

If channel switching and / or message display are necessary in step 703, the start state information as shown in FIG. 5 including emergency broadcast channel information to be switched and / or text information to be displayed is transmitted to the OCAP application (step 704).

If the channel needs to be switched, the host performs channel switching to the emergency broadcast channel included in the received emergency alert message. If the host includes text information to be scrolled, the host scrolls the emergency alert content in a text form at a predetermined position on the screen. (Step 705).

The host then checks if execution of the emergency alert message has ended (step 706). In one embodiment, the host may check whether the running emergency alert message is terminated by referring to the EAS_Start_Time field and the EAS_Time_Remaining field included in the received emergency alert message.

When the termination of the emergency alert message executed in step 706 is confirmed, the host transmits termination state information as shown in FIG. 6 to the OCAP application (step 707). In this case, if the state is switched to the emergency broadcast channel, the end state information includes original channel information to be returned.

The host then terminates the running emergency alert message (step 708). For example, when switching to the emergency broadcasting channel, the display returns to the original channel being viewed, and when displaying the emergency warning contents in text form, the display of the emergency warning contents is terminated.

As described above, when an emergency alert message arrives at the host, the host not only performs a function such as channel switching and / or message display according to the priority value of the emergency alert message, but also includes a host program embedded in the host. For example, the state information is transmitted to the OCAP application through the OCAP memory controller 120.

By doing so, it is possible to ensure normal operation of the OCAP application. If the emergency alert message is executed in the host without providing information on the reception and execution of the emergency alert message to the OCAP application, normal operation of the OCAP application cannot be guaranteed. This is because channel control, etc., are controlled for OCAP applications.

In addition, in the embodiment of the present invention described above, a descrambling module is provided in the cable card, and the cable card is attached to or detached from the host. In this case, the broadcast signal from the broadcast station (or headend) is descrambled through the descrambling module of the cable card and provided to the user.

However, according to an embodiment, a descrambling module may be provided inside the host without a cable card, and a broadcast signal from a broadcasting station may be provided to a user by descrambling in the descrambling module inside the host. In this case, the descrambling module may be configured to be downloaded from a broadcasting station. In other words, the descrambling module (or software CAS) downloaded from the broadcasting station or the like may have a different configuration to be stored in a predetermined memory in the host.

An example of a method of downloading the descrambling module is a method of automatically downloading a CA (Conditional Access) image from a headend when a security processor built in a host is connected to a network.

However, it is natural that the difference in configuration does not change the scope of the present invention.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and as can be seen in the appended claims, modifications can be made by those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains, and such modifications are within the scope of the present invention.

According to the broadcast receiver, the method for processing an emergency alert message, and a signal structure according to the present invention described above, when a host in an OCAP-based bidirectional cable broadcast receiver receives an emergency alert message, the host receives a long message such as a channel switch and / or a message display. When the emergency warning message is required to execute, and when the running emergency warning message is terminated, each state information is provided to the OCAP application, thereby preventing abnormal operation of the OCAP application when executing the emergency warning message on the host.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention should not be limited to the contents described in the embodiments, but should be defined by the claims.

Claims (19)

A method of processing an emergency alert message in a broadcast receiver based on a data broadcasting related application platform, If an emergency alert message is received, generating reception state information with reference to the received emergency alert message and providing the received state information to the data broadcasting application; Generating a start state information for the data broadcasting application and executing at least one of switching to an emergency broadcast channel and displaying an emergency alert content included in the emergency alert message when the received emergency alert message is executed; And When the emergency alert message that is being executed, generating an end state information to the data broadcasting application, and ending the execution of the emergency alert message. The method of claim 1, wherein the reception status information is The emergency alert message processing method includes unique information for distinguishing the received emergency alert message, and priority information indicating at least one of switching to the emergency broadcast channel and displaying an emergency alert content included in the emergency alert message. . The method of claim 1, wherein said executing step And generating start status information and providing the data broadcasting application to the data broadcasting application when priority information included in the received emergency alert message indicates at least one of switching to an emergency broadcast channel and displaying an emergency alert content. The method of claim 3, wherein the start state information is An emergency alert message processing method comprising information for distinguishing an emergency alert message to be executed and time information for knowing a start time and a remaining time, and including at least one of emergency broadcast channel information to be switched and emergency alert content to be displayed. The method of claim 1, wherein the end state information is And at least one of information for identifying an emergency warning message requiring termination or original viewing channel information to be returned. The method of claim 1, The data broadcasting application platform is OCAP emergency alert message processing method. The method of claim 1, The data broadcasting application is an emergency alert message processing method comprising an OCAP application. A tuner for receiving an emergency alert message; A controller configured to execute at least one of switching to an emergency broadcast channel and displaying an emergency alert content included in the emergency alert message when the emergency alert message is received; And A memory controller configured to generate reception state information when the emergency broadcast message is received, start state information when the emergency warning message is executed, and end state information when the execution of the emergency warning message is finished; Broadcast signal receiver comprising. The method of claim 8, wherein the reception status information, And unique information for distinguishing the emergency alert message and priority information indicating at least one of switching to the emergency broadcast channel and displaying an emergency alert content included in the emergency alert message. The method of claim 8, wherein the start state information, And at least one of information for distinguishing an emergency alert message to be executed, time information for knowing a start and remaining time, emergency broadcast channel information to be switched, and emergency alert content to be displayed. The method of claim 8, wherein the end state information, And at least one of information for identifying an emergency warning message requiring termination or original viewing channel information to be returned. 9. The method of claim 8, The data broadcast application is a broadcast signal receiver using the OCAP platform. 9. The method of claim 8, The data broadcast application includes a broadcast application receiver. delete delete delete delete delete delete

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