KR20040017592A - The channel information providing method of digital terrestrial receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A method for providing channel information of a digital ground wave receiver is provided to clearly discriminate broadcasting channels by changing a major channel number of virtual channels into a physical channel number in case that the virtual channels are overlapped, thereby easily selecting channels. CONSTITUTION: If a TV viewer inputs a virtual channel, broadcasting signals corresponding to the virtual channel is selected and a PSIP(Program System Information Protocol) becomes separated from the broadcasting signals(S100). The PSIP is analyzed to extract channel information in a VCT(Virtual Channel Table)(S110). It is checked whether channel information of a virtual channel equal to the virtual channel inputted by the TV viewer exit in the extracted channel information(S120). If so, the extracted channel information are rearranged and the preliminarily stored channel information are updated by the rearranged channel information(S130-S180).

Description

CHANNEL INFORMATION PROVIDING METHOD OF DIGITAL TERRESTRIAL RECEIVER}

The present invention relates to a method for providing channel information of a digital terrestrial receiver, and in particular, when virtual channels overlap, channel information of a digital terrestrial receiver that makes clear classification of broadcast channels by changing a major channel number of a virtual channel to a physical channel number. It is about a provision method.

Most digital terrestrial receivers adopt ATSC (Advanced Television Systems Committee), a standard for digital broadcasting, and PSIP (Program And System Information Protocol), which is a standard for channel and system information, provides information about channels of each broadcasting station. It is composed of several tables to transmit information about each program of the channel, and supports additional functions of providing a broadcast guide service. In addition, the PSIP includes a virtual channel table (hereinafter referred to as VCT) having various program information such as channel information for channel selection and packet identification number for receiving A / V among various kinds of information.

3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a virtual channel table (VCT) provided by PSIP, wherein the VCT has a plurality of virtual channel information, wherein the virtual channel information includes a channel number, a shortened channel name, a carrier frequency, and a service type. And so on. The channel number is composed of a major channel number and a minor channel number, where the major channel number represents a broadcasting station and uses a range of 2 to 99, and the minor number is present in the same major channel number (ie, the same broadcasting station). Represents individual broadcasts and uses a range from 0 to 999.

In addition, the virtual channel includes a physical transmission channel (PTC) corresponding thereto. In case of HDTV, one virtual channel is transmitted to one physical channel, and in case of SDTV, a virtual channel is transmitted to one physical channel. 4 can be transmitted.

On the other hand, in the case of analog broadcasting, there is no problem of overlapping channels because there is no virtual channel but only a physical channel. However, in the case of digital broadcasting, a virtual channel different from the physical channel exists so that the virtual channels may overlap. High.

For example, in the Gimhae region, which is an intermediate region between Masan and Busan, both local broadcasts transmitted from Masan and Busan transmitting stations are received, causing virtual channels to overlap.

Physical channel Virtual channel Masan KBS1 7 9-1 Busan KBS1 6 9-1 . . . . . .

When a virtual channel (eg, 9-1) is input to watch KBS1 broadcasting in the Gimhae region, the virtual channel of the KBS1 signal transmitted from Busan and the KBS1 signal transmitted from Masan as shown in the channel map of Table 1 above. Since this overlaps with 9-1, unexpected malfunction may occur.

In order to solve the above problem, a method of changing the virtual channel number while sequentially increasing the minor channel number of the virtual channel (for example, 9-2, 9-3, etc.) is disclosed. However, in the virtual channel changing method as described above, when the viewer selects KBS1 broadcasting, all minor channel numbers corresponding to major channel numbers (eg, 9) representing KBS1 are displayed, and thus the virtual channel displayed on the monitor is displayed. There is a problem that the number of times is too large and it takes a long time to search for it.

In addition, the virtual channel change method as described above has a problem in that it is difficult for a viewer to distinguish a channel because only a minor channel number is changed to the same major channel number.

When comparing virtual channels, by checking whether or not all virtual channels stored in the channel map are overlapped and changing all of the overlapping virtual channels, the amount of virtual channels changed according to the overlapping virtual channels is high, resulting in overloading due to the channel map update. There is a problem.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention is to change the digital channel major channel number to a physical channel number when the virtual channel is overlapped, it is possible to clarify the classification of the broadcast channel It is to provide a channel information providing method of the terrestrial receiver.

Another object of the present invention is to reduce the number of virtual channels displayed on the monitor by reducing the minor channel number by changing the major channel number of the virtual channel to the physical channel number, it is possible to reduce the time required for channel search It is to provide a channel information providing method of a digital terrestrial receiver.

Another object of the present invention is to extract only the virtual channel corresponding to the broadcast signal transmitted from the transmitting station when comparing the virtual channel and to compare with the virtual channels of the channel map, the amount of the virtual channel is changed according to the overlapping virtual channel is less It is to provide a channel information providing method of a digital terrestrial receiver which can reduce the overload caused by the channel map update.

1 is a block diagram of a digital terrestrial wave receiver according to the present invention.

2 is a flowchart of a method for providing channel information of a digital terrestrial wave receiver according to the present invention;

3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a virtual channel table (VCT) provided by a PSIP.

<Description of Symbols for Major Parts of Drawings>

100: tuner 200: demultiplexer

300: central processing unit 400: device controller

500: main memory unit 510: channel map memory unit

620: PSIP processing unit

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention, when the viewer inputs a virtual channel, tuning the broadcast signal corresponding to the channel and separating the PSIP from the broadcast signal, and analyzing the PSIP to extract the channel information in the VCT And checking whether channel information of the same virtual channel as the virtual channel input by the viewer exists in the extracted channel information, and channel information of the same virtual channel as the channel input by the viewer in the extracted channel information. If present, rearranging the extracted channel information and updating previously stored channel information with the rearranged channel information.

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 digital terrestrial wave receiver according to the present invention, and includes a tuner, a demultiplexer, a central processing unit, a device controller, a main memory unit, an audio signal processor, an image signal processor, a PSIP processor, an audio output unit, and a display unit.

The device controller 400 searches for a physical channel corresponding to the channel input by the viewer and transmits the same to the tuner 100. Here, the device controller 400 is interlocked with the channel map memory 510 to search for information in the channel map.

The tuner 100 tunes a signal corresponding to a physical channel searched by the device controller 400 among the signals transmitted from the transmitting station and transmits the signal to the demultiplexer 200.

The demultiplexer 200 separates the broadcast signal transmitted by the tuner 100 into an audio signal, an image signal, and a PSIP, and then separates the respective sound signal processor 600, the image signal processor 610, and the PSIP processor 630. To send.

The sound signal processor 600 and the video signal processor 610 process sound signals and video signals of the corresponding channel information, and output respective signals through the sound output unit 700 and the display unit 800.

The PSIP processing unit 630 analyzes the PSIP to check whether there is channel information of the same virtual channel as the virtual channel input by the viewer among the plurality of channel information in the VCT, and if channel information of the same virtual channel exists. The channel information of the virtual channel is transmitted to the central processing unit 300.

The main memory unit 500 includes a channel map memory unit 510. The channel map memory unit 510 stores all channel information in the VCT received at the initial channel setting of the digital terrestrial receiver in a channel map. After that, the rearranged channel information is updated in the channel map according to the virtual channel overlap.

The central processing unit 300 changes the major channel number of the virtual channel into the physical channel number among the channel information of the virtual channel received from the PSIP processing unit 630, and again changes the channel information in the changed virtual channel and the pre-stored channel map. Compare once and check if there is an overlapping virtual channel.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing channel information of a digital terrestrial wave receiver according to the present invention.

When the viewer inputs a virtual channel, the device controller 400 searches for a physical channel corresponding to the channel input by the viewer, and transmits the physical channel to the tuner 100. Here, the device controller 400 may search for a channel map in the channel map memory unit 510 in cooperation with the channel map memory unit 510.

The tuner 100 tunes a broadcast signal corresponding to a physical channel transmitted by the device controller 400 among the broadcast signals transmitted from the transmitting station and transmits the broadcast signal to the demultiplexer 200 (S100).

The demultiplexer 200 separates an audio signal, an image signal, and a PSIP from the broadcast signal transmitted from the tuner 100, and then the audio signal is output to the audio signal processor 600 and the image signal is output to the video signal processor 610. The PSIP is transmitted to the PSIP processing unit 630 (S120). The PSIP includes a VCT, where the VCT includes channel information of all broadcast channels.

The PSIP processing unit 630 analyzes the PSIP to extract channel information in the VCT (S110), and the channel information includes a physical channel and a virtual channel.

The PSIP processing unit 630 transmits the channel information of the virtual channel to the central processing unit 300 when there is channel information of the same virtual channel as the virtual channel input by the viewer among the extracted plurality of channel information in the VCT. (S120, S130).

The central processing unit 300 changes the measure channel number of the virtual channel to the physical channel number among the transmitted channel information of the virtual channel (S140). That is, the virtual channel is changed in the form of physical channel number-minor channel number.

Thereafter, the central processing unit 300 checks once more whether there is a virtual channel to be folded among the channel information of the changed virtual channel and the pre-stored channel map (S150).

If there is no overlapping virtual channel among the channel information of the changed virtual channel and the prestored channel map, the previously stored channel map is updated with the changed virtual channel, and if the changed virtual channel and the previously stored channel map If there is an overlapping virtual channel among the channel information, the virtual channel is once again changed to the major channel number which is not specified in the physical channel number of the changed virtual channel to update the previously stored channel map (S160 and S170). ).

The virtual channel of the updated channel map is displayed on the monitor through the display unit 800 (S180).

Meanwhile, when there is no channel information of the same virtual channel as the channel input by the viewer among the plurality of channel information in the VCT, the virtual channel of the pre-stored channel map without the changed virtual channel is displayed through the display unit 800. It is displayed on the monitor.

The updating of the channel map may include checking whether there is channel information of the same virtual channel as the channel input by the viewer among the plurality of channel information in the VCT, and pre-stored channel map only if the corresponding virtual channel overlaps. By changing the virtual channel of, other channel information in the VCT does not affect the previously stored channel map.

As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a virtual channel display method when one virtual channel is transmitted to one physical channel (that is, in case of HDTV) will be described.

Channel map at initial channel setting Physical channel Virtual channel 15 7-1 18 8-1 16 . 13 . 14 . 19 . . . . .

Channel information in the transmitted VCT Physical channel Virtual channel 20 2-1 22 3-1 19 7-1 10 . 11 5-1 17 6-1 . . . .

Channel map updated with changed virtual channel Physical channel Virtual channel 15 7-1 18 8-1 16 . 13 . 14 . 19 19-1 . . . .

As shown in Table 2, when a viewer inputs a virtual channel (for example, 7-1), the device controller 400 corresponds to the virtual channel (for example, 7-1) input by the viewer. The physical channel (for example, 15) is searched for, and the physical channel (for example, 15) is transmitted to the tuner 100. Here, the device controller 400 may search for a channel map in the memory unit 510 in cooperation with the channel map memory unit 510.

The tuner 100 tunes a broadcast signal corresponding to a physical channel (eg, 15) transmitted by the device controller 400 among the broadcast signals transmitted from the transmitting station and transmits the broadcast signal to the demultiplexer 200.

The demultiplexer 200 separates an audio signal, an image signal, and a PSIP from the broadcast signal transmitted from the tuner 100, and then the audio signal is an audio signal processor 600, and the video signal is an image signal processor 610. The PSIP is transmitted to the PSIP processing unit 630. The PSIP includes a VCT, where the VCT includes channel information of all broadcast channels.

The PSIP processing unit 630 analyzes the PSIP and extracts channel information in the VCT. The channel information includes a physical channel and a virtual channel.

The PSIP processing unit 630 checks whether there is channel information of the same virtual channel as the virtual channel input by the viewer among the plurality of channel information in the VCT.

As shown in Table 3, channel information (eg, physical channel 19, virtual) of the same virtual channel as the virtual channel (for example, 7-1) input by the viewer among the plurality of channel information in the VCT. If the channel 7-1 exists, the channel information of the virtual channel (for example, the physical channel 19, the virtual channel 7-1) is transmitted to the central processing unit 300.

The central processing unit 300 changes the major channel number 7 of the virtual channel to the physical channel number 19 among the channel information of the transmitted virtual channel (for example, the physical channel 19 and the virtual channel 7-1). That is, the virtual channel is changed to the form of physical channel number-minor channel number (for example, 19-1) (shown in Table 4).

Thereafter, the central processing unit 300 checks once more whether there is an overlapping virtual channel among the changed virtual channel (eg, 19-1) and channel information of the pre-stored channel map.

If there is no overlapping virtual channel among the channel information of the changed virtual channel (eg, 19-1) and the pre-stored channel map, the changed virtual channel (eg, 19-1) is pre-stored. If there is a virtual channel overlapping among the channel information of the changed virtual channel (for example, 19-1) and the pre-stored channel map, the physical channel number of the changed virtual channel is updated. The virtual channel is changed once again with an unknown channel number in the channel to update the previously stored channel map.

The virtual channel of the updated channel map is displayed on the monitor through the display unit 800.

On the other hand, if the channel information of the same virtual channel (for example, 7-1) input by the viewer among the plurality of channel information in the VCT does not exist, the previously stored channel map without the changed virtual channel. The virtual channel is displayed on the monitor through the display unit 800.

The updating of the channel map may include checking whether there is channel information of the same virtual channel as the channel input by the viewer among the plurality of channel information in the VCT, and pre-stored channel map only if the corresponding virtual channel overlaps. By changing the virtual channel of, other channel information in the VCT does not affect the previously stored channel map.

The present invention can be applied not only to transmitting one virtual channel to one physical channel (ie, HDTV) but also to transmitting multiple virtual channels to one physical channel (ie, SDTV).

Although the present invention has been described in detail above, those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains may variously modify the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims. It is apparent that the present invention may be modified or modified. Therefore, a simple change according to an embodiment of the present invention will not be possible without departing from the technology of the present invention.

According to the present invention having the above-described configuration, when the virtual channels of the digital terrestrial receivers overlap, the major channel number of the virtual channel extracted in the VCT is changed to the physical channel number, so that the conventional minor channel number of the virtual channel is changed. The distinction between broadcast channels makes it easier for viewers to select channels.

Also, by changing the major channel number of the virtual channel to the physical channel number, the minor channel number is given less than before, thereby reducing the number of virtual channels displayed on the monitor, thereby reducing the time required for channel searching. There is an advantage.

When the virtual channels are compared, only the virtual channels corresponding to the broadcast signals transmitted from the transmitting station are extracted and compared with the virtual channels of the channel map, so that the presence or absence of the overlapped virtual channels can be quickly checked. Since the amount of virtual channels to be changed is small, the overload phenomenon due to the channel map update can be reduced.

Claims (4)

When a viewer inputs a virtual channel, tuning a broadcast signal corresponding to the channel and separating a PSIP from the broadcast signal; Analyzing the PSIP to extract channel information in the VCT; Checking whether channel information of the same virtual channel as the virtual channel input by the viewer exists in the extracted channel information; And Rearranging the extracted channel information and updating previously stored channel information with the rearranged channel information when the channel information of the same virtual channel as the channel input by the viewer exists in the extracted channel information. Method for providing channel information of a digital terrestrial receiver, characterized in that. The method of claim 1, wherein the channel information comprises a physical channel and a virtual channel, wherein the virtual channel has a major channel number-minor channel number format. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein rearranging the extracted channel information comprises: And replacing the major channel number of the virtual channel among the overlapping virtual channel information with a physical channel number. The method of claim 3, wherein when the replaced virtual channel overlaps with previously stored channel information, The channel information providing method of the digital terrestrial receiver further comprising the step of changing to an unspecified major channel number.