KR20060030571A - System and method of searching channels automatically in the mobile communication terminal having television's function - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an automatic channel search system and method in a mobile communication terminal having a television function to improve the effective channel recognition rate of the automatic channel search function in a mobile communication terminal having a television function, and is effective in a mobile communication terminal having a television function. When performing a function for automatically searching a channel, reading a status register value of a demodulator provided in a corresponding mobile communication terminal to determine whether a carrier exists in a broadcast signal received on a current channel; In the case where the carrier exists, reading the status register value of the decoder included in the mobile communication terminal to determine whether there is a video synchronization signal in the video signal separated by the demodulator; When the video synchronization signal is present, the current channel is recognized as an effective channel, and the corresponding effective channel is recorded in a memory provided in the mobile communication terminal, thereby increasing the success rate of valid channel discrimination to increase the user's request. In addition, it is possible to increase the channel discovery success rate by applying to DMB (Digital Multimedia Broadcasting), which is one of the main functions of the mobile terminal.

Description

System and Method of Searching Channels Automatically in the Mobile Communication Terminal Having Television's Function             

1 is a block diagram illustrating an automatic channel search system in a mobile communication terminal having a television function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a flowchart illustrating an automatic channel searching method in a mobile communication terminal having a television function according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

11: RF (Radio Frequency) Tuner Unit

12: Demodulator Unit

13 amplifier unit

14: Decoder Unit

15: central processing unit (CPU)

16: Memory Unit

17: Display Unit

18: Controller

19: power supply unit

The present invention relates to an automatic channel search system and method in a mobile communication terminal having a television function, and more particularly to a mobile communication terminal having a television function to improve the effective channel recognition rate of the automatic channel search function in a mobile communication terminal having a television function. An automatic channel discovery system and method are disclosed.

In recent years, with the development of mobile communication technology, additional functions of the mobile communication terminal have been developed. Among them, the television function can be provided by accommodating multimedia functions in the mobile communication terminal.

In the multimedia mobile communication terminal providing such a television function, in order to find and use an effective channel through which a television broadcast occurs, the user mainly operates a keypad of the mobile communication terminal to find and store the effective channel. .

Therefore, in order to improve the inconvenience of the user searching for and storing an effective channel directly, the conventional technology includes a demodulator in a mobile communication terminal and uses the automatic channel search function provided by the demodulator to determine whether there is a television broadcast in the current channel. Discrimination was made.

In other words, by reading the register value provided by the demodulator, it is determined whether or not the channel currently set is a valid channel from which the broadcast is made based on whether or not a carrier exists in a signal currently received through the antenna of the mobile communication terminal. .

However, in the case of using the demodulator as described above, the carrier of the broadcast signal is separated from the reference, and the validity of the current channel is determined, so that although the channel is not an actual television broadcast, In many cases, it is frequently recognized as a valid channel on which television broadcasts occur. Therefore, there is a problem in that the success rate of the effective channel discrimination is poor in correctly searching for an effective channel on which television broadcasts occur.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an automatic channel search system and method in a mobile communication terminal having a television function to improve the effective channel recognition rate of the automatic channel search function in a mobile communication terminal having a television function There is a purpose.

Another object of the present invention is to improve the success rate of effective channel discrimination by improving an automatic channel search function, which is one of additional functions, in a mobile communication terminal provided with a television function.

In addition, the present invention improves the effective channel recognition rate by improving the performance of the automatic channel search function, which is one of the purchase conditions of the user, in a multimedia mobile communication terminal provided with a television function, thereby satisfying the needs of the user, and later DMB It is to apply in (Digital Multimedia Broadcasting) to increase the channel search success rate, the purpose is.

In the mobile communication terminal having a television function according to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object, the automatic channel search system is a status register value for determining whether or not the carrier is present in the broadcast signal received through the antenna A demodulator unit for storing a; A decoder unit for storing a state register value for determining whether a video synchronization signal exists in the video signal separated through the demodulator unit; A CPU for determining whether a current channel is a valid channel from which an actual broadcast is generated by using a status register value of the demodulator section and a status register value of the decoder section when performing an automatic channel search function; And a controller configured to set a state register value of the demodulator unit and a state register value of the decoder unit under the control of the CPU.

Preferably, the controller sets or reads a state register value of the demodulator unit and a state register value of the decoder unit using an I2C (Inter Integrated Circuit) communication technique.

On the other hand, the automatic channel search method in a mobile communication terminal having a television function according to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object when performing a function for automatically searching for an effective channel in a mobile communication terminal having a television function Reading a status register value of a demodulator included in the corresponding mobile communication terminal to determine whether a carrier exists in a broadcast signal received on a current channel; When the carrier exists, determining whether a video synchronization signal exists in a video signal separated by the demodulator by reading a status register value of a decoder included in the mobile communication terminal; And recognizing that the current channel is an effective channel when the video synchronization signal is present, and recording the valid channel into a memory provided in the mobile communication terminal.

Alternatively, in the mobile communication terminal having a television function according to an embodiment of the present invention, the automatic channel search method checks the presence or absence of a carrier in a broadcast signal received on a current channel through an antenna provided in the mobile communication terminal. Writing a result to a status register of the demodulator; The method may further include checking whether a video synchronization signal is present in the video signal separated by the demodulator and recording the result in the status register of the decoder.

Alternatively, the automatic channel search method in a mobile communication terminal having a television function according to an embodiment of the present invention recognizes that the current channel is not an effective channel when the carrier does not exist or the video synchronization signal does not exist. And repeating the determination process by searching for a next channel.

Preferably, the next channel search process is characterized by repeating the determination process for the corresponding channel after moving to a channel one step up or down from the current channel.

Further, the next channel search process may be performed by sequentially searching the entire channels that are currently set and repeating the determination process for each corresponding search channel.

The present invention relates to an automatic channel search function in a mobile communication terminal having a television function. In order to compensate for the success rate of the automatic channel search and to improve the effective channel recognition rate, only a register provided by a commonly used demodulator is provided. In addition, the presence of a broadcast video signal can be further determined using the register of the decoder. That is, the present invention improves the success rate of the automatic channel search function by using the register value of the demodulator and the decoder value of the decoder that can determine whether the broadcast video signal is synchronized. Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the mobile communication terminal having a television function according to an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, the automatic channel search system includes an RF tuner unit 11, a demodulator unit 12, an amplifier unit 13, It includes a decoder unit 14, a CPU 15, a memory unit 16, a display unit 17, a controller 18, and a power supply unit 19.

The RF tuner unit 11 receives a broadcast signal transmitted from a radio tower of a broadcasting station under the control of the controller 18 and converts it into an intermediate frequency signal through an antenna provided in the mobile communication terminal. Output to the demodulator section 12.

The demodulator unit 12 extracts an audio signal and an image signal using a signal of an intermediate frequency applied from the RF tuner unit 11 under the control of the controller 18, and then outputs the corresponding audio signal to the amplifier unit ( And outputs the video signal to the decoder 14 at the same time. In addition, the demodulator unit 12 transmits a carrier wave to a broadcast signal (ie, an intermediate frequency signal) applied through the RF tuner unit 11 to determine whether a channel currently set is a valid channel through which an actual broadcast is generated. It includes a status register (that is, a carrier presence determination register) that can determine whether or not it exists.

The amplifier unit 13 amplifies the voice signal applied from the demodulator unit 12 under the control of the controller 18 and outputs the audio signal to the speaker or the headphone provided in the mobile communication terminal.

The decoder unit 14 converts the image signal into a digital data form so that the image signal applied from the demodulator unit 12 can be displayed on the display unit 17 under the control of the controller 18. After that, the digital image data is output to the CPU 15. In particular, the decoder unit 14 converts the analog image signal into a digital image signal by using the image synchronization signal (ie, the vertical synchronization signal and the horizontal synchronization signal) included in the image signal applied from the demodulator unit 12. Convert it. In addition, the decoder unit 14 is vertically synchronized with the broadcast signal (ie, a video signal) applied through the demodulator unit 12 to determine whether the currently set channel is a valid channel from which the actual broadcast is generated. A status register (that is, a video synchronization signal presence determination register) that can determine whether or not a synchronization signal exists is included.

The CPU 15 controls the operation of all the components for automatic channel search. When power is supplied to all the components, the CPU 15 controls the power supply unit 19 using a general input / output control port (GPIO). When the television mode is released, the controller 19 deactivates the power supply unit 19 by using a corresponding input / output control port (GPIO), and the controller may be configured to perform normal operation of all the components. 18) to set the register value of each component. Here, all the components are activated or deactivated using the input / output control port GPIO of the CPU 15, and are activated or deactivated by the battery power supply or shutdown of the power supply unit 19.

In addition, the CPU 15 performs an automatic channel search function by using the state register value provided by the demodulator unit 12 and the state register value of the decoder unit 14 to perform an automatic channel search function. Determine if the channel is a channel.

The memory unit 16 stores programs and data necessary for the CPU 15 and reads or stores various information for automatic channel search.

The display unit 17 receives digital image data output from the decoder unit 14 under the control of the CPU 15 to display an image on a liquid crystal display (LCD).

The controller 18 is, for example, an I2C controller, and registers the register values of the respective components according to respective situations in order to allow the normal operation of all the components under the control of the CPU 15. In addition to setting the corresponding register values using the I2C communication technique (The I2C-Bus Specification Version 2.1 January 2000, Phillips Semiconductor), the status registers for each of the above components can also be read using the I2C communication technique. give. Here, as an example of the setting of the register value, when the user wants to change the broadcast channel, that is, when the operating frequency input through the antenna needs to be changed, the PLL of the RF tuner unit 11 Phase Locked Loop) register value should be changed, and the user should change the level value of the amplifier unit 13 when the user wants to change the sound level.

The power supply unit 19 is activated under the control of the CPU 15 to receive the power of the battery to boost or decelerate to the operating voltage level of each of the components and supply the components to the respective components. The power supply of the battery supplied to each of the components according to the deactivation control of the CPU 15.

An automatic channel search method in a mobile communication terminal having a television function according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 2.

First, when a user inputs a television mode using a keypad provided in a mobile communication terminal to perform a television function of the mobile communication terminal, the CPU 15 provided in the mobile communication terminal confirms the television mode input by the user. Thereafter, necessary programs and data are read from the memory unit 16 provided in the mobile communication terminal to activate the power supply unit 19 provided in the mobile communication terminal using the input / output control port GPIO.

Accordingly, the power supply unit 19 is activated under the control of the CPU 15 to receive the power of the battery to increase or decrease the operating voltage level of each of the components to supply to each of the components. It will activate the components.

Accordingly, the RF tuner unit 11 provided in the mobile communication terminal receives the broadcast signal transmitted from the radio tower of the broadcasting station through the antenna provided in the mobile communication terminal (step S21) and the signal of the intermediate frequency of 45.75 (MHz). Convert to and print it out.

At this time, in the case of a valid channel on which the actual television broadcast comes out, the broadcast station outputs a video synchronization signal (i.e., a vertical synchronization signal and a horizontal synchronization signal) to restore the broadcast signal (i.e., the video signal) through a television receiver. Send with signal.

Then, the signal output from the RF tuner unit 11 is input to the demodulator unit 12 provided in the mobile communication terminal, and the audio signal and the video signal (that is, the effective channel) by the corresponding demodulator unit 12. In this case, the signal including the vertical synchronizing signal and the horizontal synchronizing signal) is separated. At this time, in order to determine whether a channel currently set at the time of performing the automatic channel search function is a valid channel from which an actual broadcast is performed, whether or not a carrier exists in an intermediate frequency signal applied through the RF tuner unit 11 is present. A value capable of determining whether or not it is determined is set in a status register (ie, carrier presence determination register) of the demodulator section 12 (step S22).

And, in the case of the voice signal separated by the demodulator unit 12 is output to the amplifier unit 13 provided in the mobile communication terminal, which is amplified by the corresponding amplifier unit 13 and then provided in the mobile communication terminal It is output through speakers or headphones.

At the same time, the video signal separated by the demodulator unit 12 is output to the decoder unit 14 provided in the mobile communication terminal, and the display unit provided in the mobile communication terminal by the corresponding decoder unit 14. After being converted into a form of digital data that can be displayed through (17), an image is displayed on the LCD via the corresponding display unit 17.

In other words, the decoder 14 converts the analog video signal into a digital video signal by using a vertical sync signal and a horizontal sync signal included in the video signal applied from the demodulator unit 12. In this case, a value for determining whether the vertical synchronization signal and the horizontal synchronization signal are present in the image signal applied through the demodulator unit 12 is a status register of the decoder unit 14 (that is, whether or not the image synchronization signal is present). By setting in the discrimination register (step S23), the incomplete effective channel discrimination function provided by the demodulator unit 12 is compensated for, and the channel currently set at the time of performing the automatic channel searching function is a valid channel from which actual broadcasting is performed. This allows for a more accurate determination of.

Then, the CPU 15 performs an automatic channel search function (step S24). In order to determine the validity of the current channel, that is, to improve the effective channel recognition success rate of the automatic channel search function, the demodulator unit ( In addition to the status register value provided in 12), the register value of the decoder unit 14, which is essential for viewing the airwave broadcasting, is used together.

First, the value set in the status register (ie, carrier presence determination register) of the demodulator section 12 is read out, i.e., the status register value of the demodulator section 12 is read for the currently set channel (step). S25) It is determined whether or not a carrier exists in the intermediate frequency signal applied through the RF tuner unit 11 (step S26).

If the carrier does not exist in the 26th step (S26), it is determined that the currently set channel is not a valid channel from which the actual broadcast occurs, and the next channel (that is, one step above or below the currently set channel) is determined. After the channel is found and moved (step S27), the process is repeated from step 25 (S25).

On the other hand, when the carrier exists in the 26th step (S26), the value set in the status register (ie, the image synchronization signal presence determination register) of the decoder unit 14 is read out, i.e., is currently set Read the status register value of the decoder unit 14 for the channel (step S28) to determine whether there is an image synchronization signal (i.e., a vertical synchronization signal and a horizontal synchronization signal) in the image signal applied through the demodulator unit 12. Is determined (step S29).

At this time, if there is no video synchronization signal in the 29th step (S29), it is determined that the currently set channel is not a valid channel from which the actual broadcast occurs, and after performing the 27th step (S27), From step 25 (S25) it is repeated.

In the case where the video synchronization signal exists in the 29 th step S29, it is determined that the currently set channel is a valid channel from which the actual broadcast occurs, and the corresponding channel is recorded in the memory unit 16 ( Step S30).

As described above, in the mobile communication terminal having a television function according to an embodiment of the present invention, the automatic channel search method searches for an effective channel while moving from the current channel to a channel one step up or down, but the present invention does not It should be understood that it is not limited.

In other words, the entire channel currently set is sequentially searched, and only the effective channel from which the actual broadcast appears is searched in the same manner as described above, and the corresponding effective channel is stored in the memory unit 16 so as to automatically store the entire channel. You can also perform a search function. Alternatively, an automatic selection channel search function may be performed to select only a part of all channels to search only the selected channel.

As described above, by improving the effective channel recognition rate by improving the performance of the automatic channel search function, which is one of the additional functions, in the multimedia mobile communication terminal provided with the television function according to the present invention, the success rate of effective channel discrimination is increased and the user's request is increased. In addition, there is an effect that can be applied later in the DMB, one of the main functions of the mobile communication terminal to increase the channel discovery success rate.

Claims (7)

A demodulator unit for storing a status register value for determining whether a carrier exists in a broadcast signal received through an antenna; A decoder unit for storing a state register value for determining whether a video synchronization signal exists in the video signal separated through the demodulator unit; A CPU (Central Processing Unit) for determining whether a current channel is a valid channel from which an actual broadcast is performed using a status register value of the demodulator unit and a status register value of the decoder unit when performing an automatic channel search function; And a controller configured to set a state register value of the demodulator section and a state register value of the decoder section according to the control of the CPU. The method of claim 1, And the controller sets or reads a state register value of the demodulator unit and a state register value of the decoder unit using an inter integrated circuit (I2C) communication technique. When performing a function for automatically searching for an effective channel in a mobile terminal having a television function, the presence or absence of a carrier wave is determined by reading a status register value of a demodulator provided in the mobile terminal. Process of doing; When the carrier exists, determining whether a video synchronization signal exists in a video signal separated by the demodulator by reading a status register value of a decoder included in the mobile communication terminal; In the case where the video synchronization signal is present, the mobile terminal having a television function comprising the step of recognizing that the current channel is an effective channel and recording the corresponding effective channel in a memory provided in the mobile communication terminal. Automatic channel detection method. The method of claim 3, Checking the presence or absence of a carrier in a broadcast signal received on a current channel through an antenna provided in the mobile communication terminal, and recording the result in a status register of the demodulator; And checking the presence or absence of the video synchronization signal in the video signal separated by the demodulator and recording the result in the status register of the decoder. Way. The method of claim 3, And recognizing that the current channel is not an effective channel and searching for the next channel to repeat the determination process when the carrier does not exist or the image synchronization signal does not exist. Automatic channel search method in a mobile communication terminal having a function. The method of claim 5, The next channel searching process is the automatic channel searching method in a mobile communication terminal having a television function, characterized in that for repeating the determination process for the channel after moving to a channel one step up or down in the current channel. The method of claim 5, The next channel searching process is a method for automatically searching for a mobile communication terminal having a television function, characterized in that to sequentially search for all currently set channels and to repeat the determination process for each corresponding channel.

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