KR19990081012A - How to Display Cable Information for a Composite Broadcast Receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for displaying cable information of a composite broadcast receiver, and provides an environment in which cable channel information can be arbitrarily registered by a user on a channel search screen provided by the composite broadcast receiver, and a cable registered by the user as such. By providing the cable information display method of the composite broadcast receiver configured to display the channel information on the channel batter, the channel information can be provided to the user through the channel banner screen even for the cable channel where the channel information is not provided. There is an effect that can improve the user environment of the composite broadcast receiver.

Description

How to Display Cable Information for a Composite Broadcast Receiver

The present invention relates to a composite broadcast receiver, and more particularly, to a method of displaying cable channel information in a channel banner provided by a composite broadcast receiver.

In general, a satellite broadcasting method using satellites provides a broadcast signal to a wider area by using a satellite (communication satellite) located at an altitude of about tens to hundreds of kilos on the earth's surface. Ku band RF signals having a frequency band of 11.7 GHz to 12.0 GHz are 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, and the low noise converter converts an ultra high frequency RF signal. It converts into an IF (intermediate frequency) signal in the hundreds to thousands of MHz bands (for example, 950 MHz-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 user selects and tunes a channel selected by inputting an IF signal received through a low noise converter. The satellite broadcasting receiver maximizes channel utilization, video and audio signals. Along with the improvement of quality and the ease of transmitting additional digital service data, the significant improvement of the user interface is a big advantage.

If the subscriber (i.e., one receiver) wants to accept all broadcasting signals such as CATV broadcasting and satellite broadcasting, the frequency bands are different for each broadcasting, so the satellite broadcasting tuner, cable broadcasting tuner, and terrestrial broadcasting tuner must be separately installed. something to do.

Accordingly, in order to accommodate various types of broadcasts as described above, various types of internal or external tuners may be provided, or each type of broadcast may have a separate signal processing path (that is, a satellite broadcast signal processing path and a cable broadcast signal). It may be considered that the receiver employs an integrated complex tuner for processing through a processing path, but this causes not only an unnecessary increase in hardware of the receiver itself, but also an excessive increase in the cost of the receiver. Is caused.

On the other hand, in view of the above, there is a composite tuner capable of simultaneously receiving satellite broadcast signals, cable broadcast signals, and terrestrial broadcast signals through a single tuning path, and a composite broadcast receiver incorporating such composite tuners. The composite broadcast receiver controls the passband of the received signal and tunes the bandpassed signal based on the user selection signal when the satellite broadcast signal or the cable broadcast signal is received at the input side, and in accordance with the tuned signal and the user selection. Tuning the corresponding channel of the desired broadcast signal by mixing the oscillating frequencies generated, and the tuned signals are provided to corresponding demodulators through separate signal processing paths (BS path, DSR path, CATV path) respectively provided It is.

On the other hand, a satellite broadcast signal received from a general composite broadcast receiver includes a variety of additional information, including information on each broadcast channel, that is, the channel name for each broadcasting station and program information for each channel, according to the user's request Since it is displayed as a predetermined menu screen (channel search screen), detailed information on each channel can be referred to, thus providing much convenience in selecting a user's channel.

On the other hand, a general composite broadcast receiver provides a channel banner screen, which is an additional information screen, for each channel. The channel banner screen provides a channel switching signal to watch a broadcast program of another channel while the user watches a specific channel. When inputting, the banner screen of the channel corresponding to the key signal input by the user is first displayed for a predetermined time (for example, 3 seconds), and then the broadcast signal of the corresponding channel is tuned and displayed.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a channel banner screen provided in the conventional general composite broadcast receiver. As shown in the drawing, the channel name, the broadcast logo 10, the channel grade 20, and the stereo 30 are shown. ), Including additional information such as e-mail 40, parental control 50, and the like, to be displayed on part or all of the screen, and the additional information is separately inserted into the satellite signal and transmitted.

Meanwhile, such a channel banner screen displays a banner screen having the same configuration when switching not only a satellite broadcasting channel but also a CATV channel switching. In fact, since the channel banner screen is a function related to satellite broadcasting, additional information on the corresponding channel is displayed. CATV broadcasting channel does not have a special meaning when switching is not provided.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and provides an environment in which cable channel information can be arbitrarily registered by a user on a channel search screen provided by a composite broadcast receiver, and thus a cable channel registered by the user. An object of the present invention is to provide a cable information display method of a composite broadcast receiver configured to display information on a channel batter.

In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, a composite broadcast receiver having a channel search screen for displaying a plurality of cable channels and satellite channels, and for changing the information and channel selection for the plurality of cable channels and satellite channels In the method of displaying cable information in the above, if information registration for a specific cable channel among a plurality of cable channels and satellite channels displayed on the channel search screen is required, a preset information registration window including a plurality of information items is displayed. A first step of making; A second step of displaying a preset item selection window including a plurality of selection items when any one of a plurality of selection item buttons included in the information registration window is selected; A third step of storing information on the selected item corresponding to the cable channel selected in the first step when any one of a plurality of selection items included in the item selection window is selected; A fourth step of registering channel information for each of the plurality of cable channels displayed on the search screen by repeatedly performing the first to third steps continuously or discontinuously; When a specific cable channel is selected in the state where the fourth step is completed, a cable information display method of the composite broadcast receiver comprising a fifth step of searching for registration information on the selected cable channel and displaying the retrieved registration information is provided. .

1 is an exemplary view showing a channel search screen according to an embodiment of the present invention;

2 is a detailed flowchart illustrating a cable information display method of a composite broadcast receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3 is a block diagram of a composite broadcast receiver suitable for applying a cable information display method of a composite broadcast receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention;

4 is an exemplary view showing an information registration window according to an embodiment of the present invention;

5 is an exemplary view showing an item selection window according to an embodiment of the present invention;

6 is an exemplary diagram illustrating an example of a channel banner provided by a conventional general composite broadcast receiver.

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

100: key input unit 200: system control unit

300: storage unit 400: broadcast signal processing unit

500: menu generating unit 600: image synthesizing unit

700: display unit

Hereinafter, a cable information display method of a composite broadcast receiver according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.

1 is an exemplary view showing a channel search screen according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a detailed flowchart illustrating a cable information display method of a composite broadcast receiver according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a composite broadcast receiver suitable for applying a cable information display method of a composite broadcast receiver according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is an exemplary view showing an information registration window according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. An exemplary view showing an item selection window according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

First, referring to FIG. 3, a composite broadcast receiver suitable for applying a cable information display method of a composite broadcast receiver according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include a key input unit 100, a system control unit 200, and a storage unit 300. ), The broadcast signal processor 400, the menu generator 500, the image synthesizer 600, and the display 700, each of which has the following functions.

The key input unit 100 is a channel search key for requesting a channel search screen, a specific cable channel name or function button displayed on the channel search screen, and up / down / left to select a specific item included in an information list window or an item selection window. Key keys on the remote control or its own panel, including the / right key (↑ ↓ ← →), the name of the channel where the cursor is located, or setting keys for selecting a specific item or executing a function button where the cursor is located. Generates a predetermined key signal corresponding to and provides the generated key signal to the system control unit 200.

The system controller 200 controls the overall composite broadcast receiver based on a key signal provided from the key input unit 100 or a signal provided by each component constituting the composite broadcast receiver, and in particular, from the key input unit 100. When a specific key signal is applied, information for displaying a channel search screen, an information registration window, an item selection window, etc. corresponding to the applied key signal is retrieved from the storage unit 300, and the retrieved information is retrieved from the menu generating unit ( On the other hand, the menu generator 500 is controlled to display the corresponding screen or window using a predetermined tool (that is, a predetermined format of each screen and window).

In addition, when the registration information for the cable broadcasting channel is set by the key signal from the key input unit 100 while the channel search screen, the information registration window, the item selection window, and the like described above are displayed, the set registration information is displayed. The storage unit 300 stores the cable broadcasting channel in the storage unit 300.

In the storage unit 300, the effective cable channel information detected at the time of initial driving of the composite broadcast receiver is pre-stored, and the program guide information for guiding the pre-stored satellite broadcast program by the system controller 200 is updated every time. It is stored as the latest information, and item data (for example, logos of each cable broadcasting channel, examples of viewing channel grades, channel numbers ..., etc.) prepared for registering information on the cable broadcasting channel are preset and stored. In addition, new information registered by the user corresponding to each cable broadcasting channel is additionally stored by the system controller 200.

The broadcast signal processor 400 may include a satellite broadcast signal processor (not shown) for processing satellite broadcast signals received through a broadcast signal receiver (not shown) and a cable for processing a cable broadcast signal (including a terrestrial broadcast signal). A broadcast signal processing unit (not shown) is provided separately, and the broadcast signal is processed through different paths under the control of the system control unit 200, and the signal-processed analog image signal is selectively provided to the image synthesizing unit 600. to provide. In this case, since the cable broadcast signal or the terrestrial broadcast signal is applied as an analog video signal of NTSC or PAL method, a predetermined signal processing process (for example, level amplification, noise reduction, gain control, etc.) is performed by a cable signal processing unit (not shown). Various signal processings) are performed, and the signal-processed NTSC or PAL analog video signal is provided to the image synthesizing unit 600 to be described later. In addition, since the satellite broadcast signal is applied as a compressed transport stream, after the demodulation and error correction are performed by the satellite broadcast signal processing unit (not shown), program service data (audio and video packet) corresponding to a predetermined channel selected by the user is provided. ), The extracted program service data is decoded into the original signal before compression encoding, and the decoded digital video signal is converted into an NTSC or PAL analog video signal by the video encoder 125, and then an image synthesizer Provided at 600.

The menu generator 500 configures information provided from the system controller 200 into a predetermined screen or window under the control of the system controller 200, and provides the configured screen or window data to the image synthesizer 600. do.

The image synthesizing unit 600 bypasses the NTSC or PAL analog video signal provided from the broadcast signal processing unit 400 to the display unit 700 under the control of the system control unit 200, or menus the analog video signal to the menu. A predetermined screen or window generated from the generator 700 is synthesized with an analog image signal and provided to the display 700.

The display unit 700 selectively displays an NTSC or PAL type analog image signal provided by the image synthesizer 600 or a synthesized screen of data provided from the menu generator 500 and an analog image signal.

Hereinafter, a process of implementing the cable information display method of the composite broadcast receiver according to the present invention through the composite broadcast receiver including a component that performs the above-described function will be described in detail.

First, during a normal viewing mode in which a broadcast program corresponding to a predetermined cable broadcasting channel or satellite broadcasting channel is displayed (S10), when a channel search key signal is requested from the key input unit 100 to request a channel search screen ( S20), the system control unit 200 searches for program guide information of the effective cable broadcasting channel and satellite broadcasting previously stored in the storage unit 300, and provides the retrieved information to the menu generating unit 500, while providing a predetermined tool. (That is, the channel search screen format) is used to control the menu generator 500 to reconfigure the channel search screen, and the menu generator 500 controls the system controller 200 from the system controller 200. The program guide information of the provided effective cable broadcasting channel and satellite broadcasting is reconstructed into a channel search screen, and the data for the reconstructed channel search screen is provided to the image synthesizer 600. do.

Thereafter, the image synthesizing unit 600 synthesizes the channel search screen data provided from the menu generator 500 at a predetermined ratio with the analog image signal provided from the broadcast signal processing unit 400, and the image of the synthesized screen. By providing the signal to the display unit 700, the channel search screen shown in FIG. 1 is displayed on the display unit 700 (S30). In this case, the channel search screen according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is displayed on a channel search screen, a plurality of function buttons including channel numbers of respective effective channels used in cable broadcasting and satellite broadcasting, corresponding channel names, and information registration buttons. It will consist of a cursor for selecting a particular channel name and function button.

In a state in which the channel search screen is displayed by the step S30, after a specific cable channel is selected by the key signal from the key input unit 100, the key input unit 100 in a state where the cursor is located at the information registration button on the channel search screen. When the setting key signal is applied (S40), the system control unit 200 switches to the information registration mode and simultaneously switches the function button displayed on the channel search screen to a sub item button (for example, a release button…). The control unit 100 controls the menu generator 500 to display an information registration window in a predetermined section of the channel search screen.

The menu generator 500 draws out a predetermined format of the information registration window from a storage unit (not shown) provided by the system controller 200 and controls the information on the basis of the format of the extracted information registration window. By reconstructing the channel search screen on which the registration window and the sub item button are displayed, and providing the reconstructed screen data to the image synthesizing unit 600, the information as shown in FIG. The registration window is displayed on the channel search screen (S 50). At this time, a plurality of sub-item buttons including a release button for releasing the conquest registration mode will be displayed at the top of the channel search window, and a logo, channel name, current time, Channel ratings… An information registration window will be displayed that includes an item for registering information such as. In addition, the data for each item included in the information registration window may be searched and provided by the system controller 200 in a state of being stored in the storage unit 300, and stored in its own storage unit (not shown). You may be doing it.

Subsequently, when the setting key signal is applied from the key input unit 100 in a state where the cursor is located on a specific item included in the information registration window based on the key signal from the key input unit 100 (S60), the system control unit ( 200 controls the menu generator 500 to display an item selection window on a predetermined section of the channel search screen.

The menu generating unit 500 searches for a format of a preset item selection window stored in a storage unit (not shown) provided by the system control unit 200 and based on the found format, the sub-item window is displayed. By reconfiguring the displayed channel search screen and providing the reconstructed screen data to the image synthesizing unit 600, an item selection window is displayed on the channel search screen through a signal processing process as in step S30 (S70). In this case, the data for each item included in the item selection window may be searched and provided by the system controller 200 in a state of being stored in the storage 300, and stored in its own storage (not shown). There may be. For example, if a channel grade item is selected in step S 60, the item selection window may display the grade of each channel, as shown in FIG. 5 (eg, A, B, C, D, E, F…; A will be a child channel, F is an adult channel).

Subsequently, when a setting key signal is applied from the key input unit 100 while the cursor is located on a specific item included in the selection item window based on the key signal from the key input unit 100 (S80), the system controller ( 200 registers the selected item as channel information corresponding to the corresponding cable channel (stored in the storage unit 300) and simultaneously controls the menu generator 500 to turn off the item selection window. By performing an operation corresponding to the control of the system controller 600 in the image synthesizer 600, the item selection window is turned off in the channel search screen displayed on the display 700 (S90).

Subsequently, steps S50 to S90 are repeated until the release button displayed at the top of the channel search screen is released (S100) to release the information registration mode, thereby registering channel information corresponding to each cable channel. . In this case, the channel information may be registered sequentially at a time, and may be updated by channel information that is performed discontinuously.

On the other hand, when the information registration mode is released, that is, when the registration of the channel information for the cable channel is completed by the above-described steps, the information registration window displayed on the channel search screen is turned off, and the original channel search screen (that is, S The channel search screen displayed in step 30) will be displayed (S 110).

In a state in which the original channel search screen is displayed as in S 110, when a specific cable channel is selected based on a predetermined key signal from the key input unit 100 (S 120), the system control unit 200 controls the corresponding cable channel. Search for the channel information corresponding to the data from the storage unit 300 (S 130), and provide the searched information to the menu generator 500, and configure the provided information as a channel banner screen. To control.

Therefore, by controlling the system controller 200, the menu generating unit 500 and the image synthesizing unit 600 process the channel information in the same manner as in step S30, so that the display unit 700 is controlled by the user. Channel information for the selected cable channel will be displayed on the channel banner screen. At this time, the channel bener screen displayed on the display unit 700 will be configured in the same manner as in FIG.

According to the present invention, there is an effect of improving the user environment of the composite broadcast receiver by providing the channel information to the user through the channel banner screen even for the cable channel where the channel information is not provided. That is, there is an effect that can improve the usability of the composite broadcast receiver.

Claims (1)

A method for displaying cable information in a composite broadcast receiver having a channel search screen, A first step of displaying a predetermined information registration window including a plurality of information items when information registration for a specific cable channel among channels displayed on the channel search screen is requested; A second step of displaying a preset item selection window including a plurality of selection items when any one of a plurality of selection item buttons included in the information registration window is selected; A third step of storing information on the selected item corresponding to the cable channel selected in the first step when any one of a plurality of selection items included in the item selection window is selected; A fourth step of registering channel information for each of the plurality of cable channels displayed on the search screen by repeatedly performing the first to third steps continuously or discontinuously; And a fifth step of retrieving registration information for the selected cable channel and displaying the retrieved registration information when a specific cable channel is selected while the fourth step is completed.