KR19990056472A - Channel Control Method of Satellite Broadcast Receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a channel control method of a satellite broadcast receiver that can significantly increase the overall channel capacity of the satellite broadcast receiver by controlling and controlling various types of channels provided to the satellite broadcast receiver for each broadcast mode. The plurality of satellite broadcast modes include a general A / V broadcast mode, an audio-only broadcast mode, an HDTV broadcast mode, and a data service broadcast mode. The method may include: when the satellite broadcast receiver is powered on, the plurality of satellite broadcast modes; Switching to a preset broadcasting mode among the satellite broadcasting modes, and each channel information and packet information corresponding to the switched broadcasting mode from each channel information and packet information for each broadcasting mode inserted into the satellite broadcasting signal. Extracts and stores information, and during a normal viewing mode for the switched broadcasting mode, broadcasting When a mode switching key signal is generated, the system switches to a broadcasting mode corresponding to the key signal among the plurality of satellite broadcasting modes, and each channel information, packet information, and program for each channel corresponding to the switched broadcasting mode from the satellite broadcasting signal. Extracting information to update the previously stored channel information, packet information, and program information for each channel.

Description

Channel Control Method of Satellite Broadcast Receiver

The present invention relates to a satellite broadcast receiver, and more particularly, to a channel control method of a satellite broadcast receiver suitable for efficiently classifying and controlling various broadcast channels provided to the satellite broadcast receiver in a predetermined form.

In recent years, the broadcast method using satellites, which is rapidly expanding its use, is a method of providing broadcast signals to a wider area by using satellites (communication satellites) located at an altitude of about tens to hundreds of kilos on the earth's surface. In this satellite broadcasting system, for example, a Ku band RF signal having a frequency band of 11.7 GHz to 12.0 GHz is used.

To this end, the antenna for satellite broadcasting reception is provided with a low noise blockdown converter for converting a radio frequency (RF) signal of a very high frequency into an intermediate frequency (IF) signal, which is a high frequency RF signal. Is converted into an IF (intermediate frequency) signal in the hundreds to thousands of MHz bands (for example, 950 MHz to 2050 MHz) that can be received by a satellite broadcasting receiver (receiver).

Therefore, in the satellite broadcasting tuner provided in the satellite broadcasting receiver (receiver), the IF signal received through the low noise converter is inputted to tune the channel selected by the user. The satellite broadcasting receiver maximizes channel utilization, image and sound. Along with the improvement of signal quality and the ease of transmitting additional digital service data, the significant improvement of the user interface is a big advantage.

Meanwhile, various signals such as broadcast signals (video data and audio data), event information table (EIT), and time data table (TDT) for each channel are included in a satellite signal provided from a satellite, that is, a bit stream.

When the satellite broadcasting receiver is powered on, the various information is stored in a predetermined area of the memory means provided in the satellite broadcasting receiver to control the overall operation of the system, and displayed on various menu screens at the request of the user. Done.

Meanwhile, in the conventional satellite broadcasting receiver as described above, the maximum number of channels that can be accommodated is limited to 60 according to the internal standard of the receiver, whereas the service provider that provides the satellite broadcasting service can diversify the service and diversify the program. In addition to the general A / V channel, by providing a variety of broadcast channels, such as HDTV broadcasting channels, audio dedicated channels, data service channels, the total number of channels of the satellite broadcasting system is increasing.

However, when all satellite channels are received by the satellite broadcast receiver without the distinction of each broadcast mode as described above, the satellite broadcast receiver is set to one broadcast mode to gradually configure each broadcast channel. It is increasing and there is a limit to accepting all satellite broadcasting service channels.

That is, the sixty channels set as A / V channels in the conventional satellite broadcasting receiver cannot accommodate all of the various types of channels as described above.

Accordingly, the present invention is to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, and by categorizing and accommodating various types of channels provided to the satellite broadcasting receiver according to broadcasting modes, the total reception channel of the satellite broadcasting receiver can be greatly increased. It is an object of the present invention to provide a channel control method of a satellite broadcasting receiver.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a channel control method of a satellite broadcast receiver for receiving and displaying broadcast signals of respective channels for a plurality of satellite broadcast modes provided through a satellite, wherein the plurality of satellite broadcast modes are general. A / V broadcasting mode, audio dedicated broadcasting mode, HDTV broadcasting mode, data service broadcasting mode, and the method includes: when the satellite broadcasting receiver is powered on, switching to a preset broadcasting mode among the plurality of satellite broadcasting modes; A first step of making; A second step of extracting and storing each channel information, packet information, and program information corresponding to the switched broadcast mode from each channel information and packet information for each broadcast mode inserted into the satellite broadcast signal; A third step of switching to a broadcast mode corresponding to the key signal among the plurality of satellite broadcast modes when a broadcast mode switch key signal is generated during the normal viewing mode for the switched broadcast mode; And extracting each channel information, packet information, and program information corresponding to the switched broadcast mode from the satellite broadcast signal to update the previously stored channel information, packet information, and program information for each channel. A channel control method of a satellite broadcasting receiver is provided.

1 is a block diagram of a satellite broadcast receiver suitable for applying a channel control method of a satellite broadcast receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention;

2 is a view for explaining a channel control method of a satellite broadcasting receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3 is a flowchart illustrating a channel control process of a satellite broadcast receiver according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

<Description of the code | symbol about the principal part of drawing>

110: key input unit 120: microcomputer

130 tuner and demodulator 140 memory unit

150: MPEG Decoder 160: Video Encoder

170: OSD unit 180: image synthesizing unit

The above and other objects and various advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the preferred embodiments of the present invention described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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

1 is a block diagram of a satellite broadcast receiver suitable for applying a channel control method of a satellite broadcast receiver according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and includes a key input unit 110, a microcomputer 120, a tuner, and a demodulator 130. , A memory unit 140, an MPEG decoder 150, a video encoder 160, an OSD unit 170, and an image synthesizer 180.

Referring to FIG. 1, the key input unit 110 is configured with key metrics on a remote controller or its own panel to generate a corresponding key signal by a user's operation and provide the corresponding key signal to the microcomputer 120, and the microcomputer 120 provides a key. Each control signal is generated based on a key signal from the input unit 110 to perform a corresponding function. For example, a user processor selects a user broadcast channel from the outside, including a microprocessor that controls overall operation of the receiver. When a signal is input, a corresponding tuning control signal is generated and provided to the tuner and demodulator 130 to be described later.

The tuner and demodulator 130 tunes a broadcast channel selected by a user in a broadcast signal received through a broadcast signal receiver (ie, a satellite reception antenna), not shown, based on a tuning control signal provided from the microcomputer 120. The tuned broadcast channel signal is restored to a transport stream through a process of converting to an intermediate frequency, demodulation, and error correction, and the restored transport stream is provided to the next MPEG decoder 150.

At this time, the microcomputer 120 stores various additional information and various packet information (including channel ID information) output from the tuner and the demodulator 130 in a predetermined area of the memory unit 140, and arbitrary information from the user is stored. If required, it is used to display various menu screens.

In particular, when a specific broadcast mode is selected by the user among various types of broadcast modes (for example, A / V channel, audio dedicated channel, HDTV channel, data service channel, etc.) provided to the satellite broadcast receiver, The channel ID is provided to the microcomputer 120, and the channel information on the broadcast mode is updated under the control of the microcomputer 120.

On the other hand, in the MPEG decoder 150, on the basis of the control signal provided from the microcomputer 120, the compressed and encoded audio and video signals of the broadcast channel provided from the tuner and demodulator 130, In consideration of spatiotemporal and spatial correlation, the compressed and encoded video signal is restored to the original signal before encoding by using a decoding technique such as variable length decoding, inverse DCT, inverse quantization, and motion compensation, and the restored digital broadcast video signal The next stage is provided to the video encoder 160, the reconstructed audio signal is provided to an audio signal processor not shown.

In addition, the video encoder 160 converts the selected digital broadcast video signal provided by the MPEG decoder 150 to an NTSC or PAL analog video signal and then provides the image synthesizer 180 to the video synthesizer 180. The OSD unit 170 In addition, various menu screen information and message information provided from the microcomputer 120 are configured as a guide screen in a predetermined form and provided to the image synthesizing unit 180.

Accordingly, the image synthesizing unit 180 transfers the analog satellite broadcasting signal output from the video encoder 160 to a display side, not shown, or omits a screen in which various menu screen data displayed through the OSD unit 170 are mixed. To the display side.

When the power of the satellite broadcasting receiver configured as described above is turned on, the tuner and demodulator 130 restores the bit stream transmitted to the satellite through a predetermined signal processing process. In this case, the microcomputer 120 restores the bit stream. Memory unit by extracting various additional information, various packet information, group ID and various packet information according to each broadcasting mode (A / V broadcasting mode, HDTV broadcasting mode, audio dedicated broadcasting mode, data service broadcasting mode, etc.) It is stored in a predetermined region of 140.

In addition, the microcomputer 120 simultaneously converts the operation of the satellite broadcasting receiver into a broadcast mode preset by the user or a broadcast mode most recently viewed by the user among the above-described broadcast modes, for each channel of the switched broadcast mode. The channel ID is extracted and stored in another predetermined area of the memory unit 140. That is, the memory unit 140 stores only the channel information of the broadcasting mode currently switched from the channel information of each broadcasting mode provided from the satellite.

In addition, the microcomputer 120 tunes the broadcast channel preset by the user or the past viewing channel of the most recently watched broadcast mode in the switched broadcast mode through the above-described process to perform a predetermined signal processing process. Will be displayed on the screen.

If the user requests a channel change signal or a program information screen for a channel through the key input unit 110 while the satellite broadcast receiver is performing the general viewing mode for the specific broadcast mode through the above-described process, the memory unit Since the information on each channel configured at 120 is configured only with channel information on the broadcasting mode currently being viewed as described above, the channel guidance screen for the current broadcasting mode or the current broadcasting mode is displayed. .

That is, when the broadcast mode of the satellite broadcast receiver is operating in a specific broadcast mode, for example, an A / V broadcast mode, the operation of all receivers including the channel control process is the A / V broadcast mode in which the operation mode of the current receiver is present. Is performed only within.

In this case, since the memory unit 140 stores only channel information about the A / V broadcasting mode, the maximum number of channels that can be accommodated in the receiver becomes 60 A / V channels, and the user inputs the channel through the key input unit 110. When the switching signal is input, the switching signal is switched to the next or previous A / V channel corresponding to the input key signal.

If the broadcast mode switch key signal is input through the key input unit 110 to switch the above-described broadcast mode, the microcomputer 120 reads the menu screen information stored in another predetermined area of the memory unit 140 to display the OSD. By providing to the unit 170, a broadcast mode selection menu as shown in FIG. 2 is displayed.

Then, the user operates the key input unit 110 again with reference to the menu screen displayed on the screen to switch to the desired broadcasting mode. If the user selects the HDTV broadcasting mode, the microcomputer 120 stores the memory. The tuner and the demodulator 130 provide a tuning control signal for tuning the channel of the HDTV broadcasting mode by reading the group ID stored in the unit 140.

In addition, the microcomputer 120 extracts each channel information for HDTV broadcasting from the bit stream output from the tuner and the demodulator 130 and provides the extracted channel information to the memory unit 140, thereby storing the A / V stored in the memory unit 140. The information on the broadcast channel is deleted, and the channel information on the HDTV broadcast mode is stored.

When the user generates a channel switching signal through the key input unit 110 while the broadcast mode of the satellite broadcast receiver is switched to the HDTV broadcast mode through the above-described process, the channel is switched to the corresponding channel for the HDTV broadcast mode. Also, even when a key signal for displaying a program guide screen for each channel is input, the program information screen for each channel for the HDTV broadcasting mode is displayed.

The above-described broadcast mode switching process is equally applied to the audio only mode and the data service mode.

As a result, even if various types of broadcast channels are transmitted to the satellite broadcast receiver, each channel is separately controlled for each broadcast mode, thereby greatly increasing the maximum number of channels that can be accommodated in the satellite broadcast receiver.

That is, by operating the satellite broadcasting receiver in one broadcasting mode by the user's selection, the maximum number of acceptable channels for each broadcasting mode is 60 channels, so that the total number of acceptable channels of the receiver is about 240 channels. This becomes acceptable.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a channel control process of a satellite broadcast receiver according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. A series of processes described above with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail as follows.

In a satellite broadcasting system in which various types of broadcasting channels such as general A / V broadcasting channel and HDTV broadcasting channel, and audio dedicated channel and data service channel are transmitted, a specific command input of the operation of the satellite broadcasting receiver through the key input unit 110 is performed. When the receiver is powered on by the key signal of the key input unit 110 (step 303) in the standby mode for performing the operation (step 301), the microcomputer 120 sets the broadcast mode of the receiver in a preset broadcast mode, that is, Switching to the initial broadcast mode set by the user or the last broadcast mode watched most recently (step 305).

Subsequently, in the bit stream output from the tuner and demodulator 130, various packet information and channel information on the currently switched broadcast mode are stored in a predetermined area of the memory unit 140 (step 307), and the current switch is performed again. In the broadcast mode, a tuning control signal for tuning the most recently viewed past viewing channel is generated and provided to the tuner and demodulator 130.

Accordingly, the tuner and the demodulator 130 tune the broadcast signal of the corresponding channel based on the tuning control signal of the microcomputer 120, and the broadcast signal of the tuned channel is not shown through a predetermined signal processing process. As displayed at, the overall operation of the satellite broadcast receiver is performed in the normal viewing mode (step 309).

In the state of operating in a specific broadcasting mode among the various types of broadcasting modes provided to the satellite broadcasting receiver through the above-described process, the channel switching key signal for switching the channel currently being viewed through the key input unit 110 is input again. In operation 311, the microcomputer 140 generates a tuning control signal for switching to a channel corresponding to the key signal based on the channel ID information for the current broadcast mode stored in the memory 140, thereby adjusting the tuner and the demodulator ( And then switch to the corresponding channel for the current broadcast mode of the satellite broadcast receiver (step 313).

On the contrary, if a key signal for switching the broadcast mode of the satellite broadcasting receiver is input from the key input unit 110 (step 315), the microcomputer 120 displays the menu screen information stored in another predetermined area of the memory unit 140. By reading and providing it to the OSD unit 170, a broadcast mode selection menu as shown in Fig. 2 is displayed on the screen (step 317).

At this time, if any other broadcasting mode is not selected for a predetermined time, the microcomputer 120 automatically turns off the menu screen displayed on the screen to continue the operation of the satellite broadcasting receiver in the normal viewing mode (step) 323).

On the contrary, if any other broadcast mode is selected from the respective broadcast modes displayed on the screen through the key input unit 110 while the broadcast mode selection menu screen is displayed (step 319), the microcomputer 120 may respond to the key signal. By generating a mode switching signal for switching to the selected broadcast mode, the overall operation of the satellite broadcast receiver is switched to the broadcast mode selected by the user (step 321), and the above-described step 307 is repeated. do.

That is, based on the group ID for each broadcast mode stored in the memory unit 140, the packet information and channel information of the broadcast mode converted from the bit stream output from the tuner and the demodulator 130 are extracted and the memory unit 140 is extracted. ), The channel information and the like stored in the memory unit 140 are updated. That is, the packet information and channel information for the previous broadcast mode are deleted, and the packet information and channel information for the switched broadcast mode are recorded.

Then, the specific channel for the switched broadcast mode is tuned and displayed on the screen after a predetermined signal processing process.

Meanwhile, the channel control method according to the mode switching of the satellite broadcasting receiver is equally applied to the process of displaying program information for each channel in addition to the viewing channel switching process as described above.

That is, a key for displaying program information for each channel through the key input unit 110 in a state of operating in a specific broadcast mode among various types of broadcast modes provided to the satellite broadcast receiver through the process of step 309 described above. When the signal is input, the microcomputer 120 reads the program information for each channel stored in the memory unit 140, that is, the program information for each channel for the current broadcast mode, and provides the received information to the OSD unit 170. Program information for the current broadcast mode of the receiver is displayed on the screen.

As a result, by separating each channel for each broadcast mode and receiving and controlling only channel information and packet information for the corresponding broadcast mode according to the operation mode of the receiver, 60 channels per broadcast mode can be accommodated.

As described above, according to the present invention, by separately controlling and controlling each channel for various types of broadcasting modes according to each mode, there is an effect that can greatly increase the overall channel capacity of the satellite broadcasting receiver. Accordingly, there is an effect that can provide a variety of broadcast programs than in the satellite broadcasting system.

Claims (4)

A channel control method of a satellite broadcast receiver for receiving and displaying broadcast signals of each channel for a plurality of satellite broadcast modes provided through a satellite, The plurality of satellite broadcast modes include a general A / V broadcast mode, an audio-only broadcast mode, an HDTV broadcast mode, and a data service broadcast mode. The method is: A first step of switching to a preset broadcast mode among the plurality of satellite broadcast modes when the satellite broadcast receiver is powered on; A second step of extracting and storing each channel information, packet information, and program information corresponding to the switched broadcast mode from each channel information and packet information for each broadcast mode inserted into the satellite broadcast signal; A third step of switching to a broadcast mode corresponding to the key signal among the plurality of satellite broadcast modes when a broadcast mode switch key signal is generated during the normal viewing mode for the switched broadcast mode; And extracting each channel information, packet information, and program information corresponding to the switched broadcast mode from the satellite broadcast signal to update the previously stored channel information, packet information, and program information for each channel. Channel control method of satellite broadcasting receiver. The method of claim 1, wherein the first step comprises switching to the most recently watched broadcast mode among the plurality of satellite broadcast modes when the satellite broadcast receiver is powered on. . The satellite broadcasting receiver of claim 1, wherein, in the third step, when a channel switching key signal is input during the normal viewing mode for the switched satellite broadcasting mode, the satellite broadcasting receiver is based on the stored channel information on the current broadcasting mode. Switching to a channel corresponding to the key signal in a current broadcast mode of the satellite broadcast receiver. According to claim 1, wherein the third step, If the program guide key signal for each channel is input during the normal viewing mode for the switched satellite broadcast mode, the stored program information for each channel is read out And displaying a program guide screen for each channel corresponding to the current broadcast mode of the satellite broadcast receiver.