KR20000060290A - Method for displaying Electronic Program Guide - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A method for displaying an electronic program guide of a digital television is provided to display program information and channel information related to an audio/video service and a data service. CONSTITUTION: The method for displaying an electronic program guide of a digital television includes following steps. At the first time, each program information and channel information for an audio/video service and a data service are displayed. The service which is selected from the displayed program information and channel information is displayed according to the number of tuners which are able to be used in digital television broadcasting. The service program information is further displayed on a service list for the audio/video service. The service list includes a notification informing that the data information corresponding to the data service is supported.

Description

Method for displaying Electronic Program Guide

The present invention relates to a digital TV, and more particularly, to an EPG display method for displaying program information and channel information related to an A / V service and a data service to a user.

In the future, digital TVs are expected to be distributed in every household in place of the existing analog TVs.

Digital TV will provide not only existing A / V services but also data services, and users will be provided with a list of these services through EPG.

As an example, the North American digital TV standard following the scheme established by the Advanced Television Systems Committee (hereinafter referred to as ATSC) is called Program and System Information Protocol (PSIP). Abbreviated) standard to provide program information and channel information related to A / V service to receiver.

In addition, the ATSC-based North American digital TV standard adds a data information table (hereinafter, referred to as DIT) of PSIP information to provide a receiver with program information and channel information related to data services.

In this way, as the receiving side receives both the A / V service and the data service, the number of available cases occurs as shown in FIG. 1.

1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a service type that can be simultaneously used in a digital TV.

The first is when A / V service is provided as before.

In the second case, existing A / V service and data service independent of this A / V service are simultaneously provided.

The third case is when an A / V service and a data service associated with this A / V service are provided.

The fourth case is when only A / V service is provided in a program that can provide A / V service and data service.

Fifth, when a program that can provide A / V service and data service is provided with independent data service independent of this program.

In these cases, since the receiving side is provided with program information and channel information related to all available services, a method of naturally giving these service related information to the user is required.

At the same time, a method of appropriately providing a corresponding service selected by a receiving user through these displayed service-related information is required.

Currently, only methods for appropriately providing program information and channel information for all services that can be provided through digital TV to the receiving side are discussed and partially expanded to some extent.

However, since the program information and channel information related to the actual A / V service and data service are directly shown to the user and a method for appropriately providing the service selected by the user is not determined by a standard body such as ATSC, EPG Programmers and TV makers have to devise their own ways of doing things.

In addition, digital TV broadcasting has not yet begun in earnest, and the data service through digital TV is opaque due to the uncertainty of the standards related to other services.

Therefore, in order for A / V service and data service to be simultaneously provided through digital TV, a method of allowing a user to naturally view information on a service list and then accurately providing a corresponding service selected by the user should be proposed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention has been made in view of the above, and provides a method for displaying an EPG so that a user can naturally show program information and channel information related to A / V service and data service, and selected through EPG. The purpose is to provide the service according to the number of tuners.

1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a service type that can be simultaneously used in a digital TV.

2 is a view showing an association between the EPG and PSIP information provided by ATSC according to the present invention.

3 is a view showing a channel configuration for transmitting program information and channel information for EPG display according to the present invention.

4 is a view showing an embodiment of an EPG display method of a digital TV according to the present invention;

5 is a view showing another embodiment of an EPG display method of a digital TV according to the present invention;

Features of the EPG display method of the digital TV according to the present invention for achieving the above object, in the digital TV broadcasting for providing A / V service and data service, each program for the A / V service and data service Information and channel information are displayed, and the corresponding service program selected through each of the displayed program information and channel information is displayed according to the number of tuners available in the digital TV broadcast.

Another feature of the EPG display method of the digital TV according to the present invention for achieving the above object is, in the digital TV broadcasting program providing the A / V service and data service, the service list for the A / V service The corresponding service program information is displayed, and the corresponding data information of the data service is displayed on the service list for the A / V service.

Here, the corresponding service program selected through the service list is displayed according to the number of tuners available in the digital TV broadcast.

In addition, another feature of the EPG display method of the digital TV according to the present invention for achieving the above object, in the digital TV broadcasting program providing the A / V service and data service, the service for the A / V service The corresponding service program information is displayed on the list, and the corresponding data information of the data service is supported on the service list for the A / V service, and the corresponding service program information is displayed on the service list for the data service. At the same time as the zoom, it indicates that the corresponding A / V information of the A / V service is supported in the service list for the data service.

Preferably, the corresponding service program selected through the service list of each service is displayed according to the number of tuners available in the digital TV broadcast.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the EPG display method of the digital TV according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

2 is a diagram showing an association between an EPG and PSIP information provided by an ATSC according to the present invention.

In more detail, FIG. 2 is an event information table including a list of A / V services among PSIP information provided by ATSC (hereinafter, abbreviated as EIT), a DIT including a list of data services, and these A's. / V shows how the Virtual Channel Table (VCT, hereinafter abbreviated as VCT) containing channel information about the service and data service has an association with the EPG.

The program information and channel information provided through each of these tables are transmitted to the receiving side through the channel shown in FIG. 3, and the receiving side displays the transmitted program information and channel information to the user through the EPG program.

3 is a diagram illustrating a channel configuration for transmitting program information and channel information for EPG display according to the present invention.

3 shows a physical channel and a virtual channel virtually present in the physical channel.

If a user performs a tuning operation to select a desired broadcasting station or a program provided by an external program provider, the physical channel is changed. If only virtual channels in the same physical channel are changed, the actual tuning is not performed. Instead, only some service selection lists are changed at the same frequency.

Next, in consideration of the characteristics of the digital TV, that is, the types of services already mentioned in FIG. 1, the EPG proposed in the present invention can be shown to the user by simply listing the list of services and channel information delivered to the receiver. The display method is explained.

In the present invention, a list of services that can be provided is provided to a user through an EPG. In some cases, there is a method of displaying program information and channel information for an A / V service and a data service through one EPG. There is a method of separately displaying an EPG for displaying program information and channel information for a service and an EPG for displaying program information and channel information for a data service.

4 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a method for displaying an EPG of a digital TV according to the present invention.

4 illustrates a case in which program information and channel information for A / V service and data service are displayed through one EPG.

In this case, the service list of EIT providing program information and channel information for A / V service is shown.

That is, the program information is displayed only in the service list for the A / V service.

When the A / V service and the data service program are provided, when the service list of the DIT is provided to provide program information and channel information for the data service, both service lists for the A / V service and the data service appear. This is because it can be understood that the user is provided with two independent programs.

Therefore, the present invention shows the program information only in the list for the A / V service in this case, and at the same time indicates that the data service information is supported, such as "LBS-2 Park Chan-ho start match (data service support)".

5 is a view showing another embodiment of an EPG display method of a digital TV according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a case in which an EPG for displaying program information and channel information for an A / V service and an EPG for displaying program information and channel information for a data service are separately displayed.

At this time, in case of a program in which A / V service and data service are provided at the same time, EPG for A / V service shows program information only in the list for A / V service, and at the same time, "LBS-2 Park Chan-ho selection match (data service support)" This indicates that data service information is supported.

On the other hand, the EPG for the data service shows program information only in the list for the data service and simultaneously indicates that the A / V service information is supported, such as "LBS-2 Park Chan-ho start match (A / V service support)".

Next, a method of appropriately providing a service selected by a user according to the number of tuners by the aforementioned EPG display method will be described.

When the user selects a desired service, the services that can be provided simultaneously depend on the number of available tuners on the receiving side.

This means that a receiver with multiple available tuners can simultaneously provide A / V service and data service, whereas a receiver with one available tuner can not simultaneously receive services using different physical channels, only the same physical channel. Simultaneous service provision is possible only when providing a service using.

First, when program information and channel information for A / V service and data service are displayed through one EPG as shown in FIG. 4, the A / V service program and the data service program of the receiver having a plurality of available tuners are provided. List the methods on a case by case basis.

First, if a different A / V service is requested while watching an A / V program, the current A / V program is interrupted by the user regardless of whether two programs use the same physical channel. Selected to provide the requested A / V service.

Second, if the independent data service is requested while watching an A / V program, the request is selected by the currently provided A / V program and the user regardless of whether the two programs use the same physical channel. Data services simultaneously.

Third, when A / V program and independent data service are simultaneously provided, when different A / V service is requested, A / V currently provided regardless of whether two programs use the same physical channel The program is aborted and selected by the user to provide the requested A / V service.

Fourth, if an A / V program and its independent data service are simultaneously provided, if an independent data service is requested, the currently provided data service is stopped regardless of whether two programs use the same physical channel. And provide the requested data service selected by the user.

Fifth, if a different A / V service is requested when the A / V program and the data service associated with this A / V program are being simultaneously received, the two programs are currently provided regardless of whether they use the same physical channel. Suspends A / V program and data services that are selected by the user and provides the requested A / V services.

Sixth, if an independent data service is requested when the A / V program and the data service associated with the A / V program are simultaneously provided, the two programs are currently provided regardless of whether they use the same physical channel. Stop the data service and provide the requested data service selected by the user.

The following describes, in some cases, a method of providing an A / V service program and a data service program of a receiver having one available tuner.

First, if a different A / V service is requested while watching an A / V program, the current A / V program is interrupted by the user regardless of whether two programs use the same physical channel. Selected to provide the requested A / V service. This is the same as the service provision at the receiver with multiple tuners available.

Second, if the independent data service is requested while watching the A / V program, if the two programs are using the same physical channel, the currently selected A / V program and the user are selected and requested. Provide data services simultaneously.

However, if two programs use different physical channels, the current A / V program is stopped and then selected by the user to provide the requested data service.

The receiving side then informs the user of the A / V program that is selected by the user and is using the same physical channel as the requested data service, allowing the user to choose whether to continue with another A / V program. do.

Third, when A / V program and independent data service are simultaneously provided, when different A / V service is requested, A / V program currently provided if two programs use the same physical channel Stop and provide the requested A / V service selected by the user.

However, if the two programs are using different physical channels, the current A / V program is interrupted and selected by the user to provide the requested A / V service. Notify the user so that they can choose whether or not to proceed with the current data service.

Fourth, if the A / V program and the independent data service are simultaneously provided and the independent data service is requested, if the two programs are using the same physical channel, the current data service is stopped. Selected by the user to provide the requested data service.

However, if two programs use different physical channels, the current A / V program and data services are stopped and then selected by the user to provide the requested data services.

The receiving side then informs the user of the A / V program that is selected by the user and is using the same physical channel as the requested data service, allowing the user to choose whether to continue with another A / V program. do.

Fifth, if a different A / V service is requested when the A / V program and the data service associated with the A / V program are simultaneously provided, regardless of whether the two programs are using the same physical channel, Stop the A / V program and data service being provided and provide the requested A / V service selected by the user.

Sixth, if an independent data service is requested when the A / V program and the data service associated with the A / V program are simultaneously provided, the data currently being provided if the two programs are using the same physical channel Stop the service and select the user to provide the requested data service.

However, if two programs use different physical channels, the current A / V program and data services are stopped and then selected by the user to provide the requested data services.

The receiving side then informs the user of the A / V program that is selected by the user and is using the same physical channel as the requested data service, allowing the user to choose whether to continue with another A / V program. do.

In contrast, as shown in FIG. 5, in case of separately using an EPG for displaying program information and channel information for A / V service and an EPG for displaying program information and channel information for data service, use of a receiving side is used. Regardless of the number of tuners available, service programs can be selected via both EPGs.

This is because the program information is displayed in both the A / V service EPG and the data service EPG in the case of a program provided with both A / V service and data service.

In this case, when the service program is selected through the EPG for the A / V service, the process is performed in the same manner as the service program provided with only the A / V service.

For example, if you are watching an A / V program and a different A / V service is requested, the A / V program that is currently being offered will be stopped and the user will be stopped regardless of whether the two programs use the same physical channel. Selected to provide the requested A / V service.

On the other hand, when the service program is selected through the EPG for data service, since the data service information provided is dependent on the A / V program, all currently provided A / V programs and data services are stopped and newly selected by the user. A / V program and data service will be provided.

As described above, the EPG display method of the digital TV according to the present invention has the following effects.

In the present invention, a method for displaying the A / V service and the data service simultaneously in one EPG and a method for separately displaying the A / V service EPG and the data service EPG, respectively, are used. Program information and channel information related to the can be naturally shown to the user.

In addition, by providing appropriate services according to the number of tuners through the EPG display method, there is an effect that can be actually applied in the digital TV broadcast to be used in the future.

Claims (8)

In the digital TV broadcasting for providing audio / video services and data services, Displaying respective program information and channel information for the audio / video service and data service; And displaying the corresponding service program selected through the displayed program information and channel information according to the number of tuners available in the digital TV broadcasting. In the digital TV broadcasting program providing audio / video services and data services, The corresponding service program information is displayed on the service list for the audio / video service. And displaying the corresponding data information of the data service on the service list for the audio / video service. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the corresponding service program selected through the service list is displayed according to the number of tuners available in the digital TV broadcasting. In the digital TV broadcasting program providing audio / video services and data services, The corresponding service program information is displayed on the service list for the audio / video service, and the corresponding data information of the data service is displayed on the service list for the audio / video service. Displaying the corresponding service program information in the service list for the data service, and at the same time to indicate that the corresponding sound / video information of the audio / video service is supported in the service list for the data service. EPG display method. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the corresponding service program selected through the service list of each service is displayed according to the number of tuners available in the digital TV broadcasting. The method of claim 3, wherein the displaying of the corresponding service program according to the number of available tuners may be performed by a user with a service program different from the currently provided service program if a plurality of tuners are used. As requested, displaying the requested service program regardless of the physical channel used by each service program. The service program according to claim 6, wherein, as the other service program is requested by the user again, the service program is stopped and the requested service program is provided after the current service program is provided. The EPG display method of the digital TV, characterized in that for additionally displaying the requested service program. The method of claim 3, wherein the displaying of the corresponding service program according to the number of available tuners may be performed by a user, when a single tuner is used. And, when requested, display the requested corresponding service program in consideration of the physical channel used by each service program.