KR20070000108A - A system for processing electronic program guide(epg) information - Google Patents

Abstract

An EPG(Electronic Program Guide) information processing system and a PSIP(Program and System Information Protocol)/SI(System Information) system are provided to check channel information and program information in a DTV(Digital TeleVision) consisting of multiple channels. A common management EPG system(200) includes an EPG collection scheduler(210) for collecting and scheduling the EPG and then producing EPG information. A database(220) stores the collected and scheduled EPG information. An EPG information transmitter(230) transmits the EPG information. A section generator(240) produces section data which have to be repeatedly transmitted as the orignal data according to the EPG information. The section generator includes a PSIP encoder(240a) for encoding the PSIP(Program and System Information Protocol) corresponding to the EPG information. An SI(System Information) encoder(240b) encodes SI corresponding to the EPG information.

Description

Electronic program guide information processing system {A system for processing electronic program guide (EPG) information}

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic program guide information processing system, and more particularly, to an electronic program guide (EPG) for identifying channel information and program information in a digital television (DTV) broadcasting composed of multiple channels. An information processing system and a PSIP / SI system.

Digital TV (DTV) systems are interactive or interactive TV broadcasts, which are useful for providing additional information unlike conventional analog broadcasts. If the conventional analog broadcast shows a radio frequency (RF) signal converted into an electric signal, the digital broadcast is literally broadcast digitally, and transmits digitally encoded video, audio, and data to the RF signal. The video and audio are transmitted in, for example, MPEG2-TS (Transport Stream) format, and the data is transmitted, for example, in accordance with the Digital Storage Media-Command and Control (DSM-CC) standard. Here, DSM-CC is a protocol defining control functions and functions for handling MPEG1 and MPEG2 bit streams.

As such, digital broadcasting broadcasts contents provided by contents providers (CP) in MPEG2-TS format together with video and audio taken by broadcasting stations, and viewers receive the broadcasting in a set top box (STB). You will watch through the TV screen.

Recently, an electronic program guide (EPG) service, that is, an EPG service, which provides various broadcast program information is commercially available. Also, in a digital broadcasting receiver such as a set-top box, after receiving the EPG information, The output is displayed through the screen of the externally connected device, and the viewer can easily search for desired program information.

On the other hand, data broadcasting is a technical concept that can transmit and broadcast documents, still images, graphics, audio, video, and software products to information processing devices such as PCs, set-top boxes, or mobile communication devices at high speed. In addition to the program-related information, weather, securities, news information, the Internet and e-commerce is possible.

Such data broadcasting has a characteristic that when a digital signal is transmitted to a broadcast radio wave, a receiver automatically decodes and processes the data, and the receiver receives the result directly or controls other machinery or the like based on the information. Say broadcast. The data broadcast signal has a common point with digital broadcast that digitally transmits audio and video signals through digital transmission. The data broadcast is a method of multiplexing and transmitting data signals to radio and television broadcasts, but there are also data broadcasts for transmitting information independent of data broadcast for transmitting contents related to these broadcasts as digital signals.

Such data broadcasting can be said to be a multimedia information service that combines the advantages of a wireless transmission system using television radio waves and the interactive function of the Internet. Since the data broadcast services information by utilizing an unused area of the television radio waves, a variety of information can be enjoyed free of charge in a system capable of receiving television radio waves.

On the other hand, when the existing analog broadcasting service provider switches to digital broadcasting, it is necessary to actively promote the newly allocated RF channel number, which may be a big burden for the existing broadcasting service providers. Accordingly, ATSC has prepared a device called Program and System Information Protocol (PSIP) so that the current analog channel number can be used even in digital broadcasting service. Therefore, broadcasters can reach their viewers with their own virtual channel number, regardless of the actual RF channel number. Since the PSIP provides a means for delivering EPG information as well as a virtual channel, it is an important component that must be included in digital broadcasting.

As mentioned above, terrestrial digital broadcasting not only provides superior quality video / audio services compared to conventional analog broadcasting, but also new services such as EPG, which can receive program information that can be viewed in newspapers and magazines on the TV screen. Is provided. In order to transmit various system information necessary for the receiver to the receiver along with the EPG information, an equipment for processing information according to the PSIP of the ATSC is required, which is called a PSIP generator.

The data broadcasting is now emerging as the core of the digital broadcasting service, and it is emerging as another requirement for the PSIP system to support data broadcasting. The PSIP system needs to support data broadcasting in that a data service table (DST), which is a data broadcasting related table, is included in the stream, and between the program map table (PMT) and the DST, which are existing program specific information (PSI) information. It means that the interconnection must be made.

1 is a block diagram of an EPG information processing system of an individual broadcasting network operator according to the related art.

Referring to FIG. 1, in the EPG information processing system according to the related art, each of a plurality of individual broadcasting network operator EPG systems 100a and 100b generates an EPG information collection organizer 110, a DB 120, and EPG information. The transmitter 130 and the transmitter 140 which is a PSIP / SI standard output encoder, and the transmitter 140 which is a PSIP / SI standard output encoder, are composed of a PSIP encoder 140a and an SI encoder 140b.

The PSIP encoder 140a includes an information receiver 141a, a section generator 142a, a TS encoder 143a, and an ASI output unit 144a, and the SI encoder 140b includes an information receiver 141b and a section. It consists of a generation unit 142b and a UDP output unit 143b.

Here, the EPG information processing system according to the related art includes the existing terrestrial and cable PSIP / SI systems that individual broadcasting network operators have built.

In the EPG information processing system according to the related art, the collected and organized EPG information is transmitted to the PSIP / SI encoders 140a and 140b through the DB 120 and a server (not shown), and the PSIP / SI encoder 140a. 140b), a section is generated and broadcasted. In the case of PSIP, TS packet generation is performed. However, individual broadcasting network operators had to install and operate all of these EPG information processing systems for transmission of EPG information, thereby at the same time burdening costs and operational risks.

In other words, the existing EPG production is an individual broadcasting network provider to the EPG information processing system according to all the processes of EPG production (EPG information collection and organization, DB storage, EPG information transmitter storage, PSIP / SI standard output encoding and transmission). Each of them had to be built and used, as well as costly, and when problems with section creation had arisen, the entire EPG system was inoperable, making the broadcast completely impossible. That is, the conventional PSIP / SI encoder system incurs high cost because the logic is complicated and requires a high specification system, and when the PSIP / SI encoder system has a problem, it is impossible to broadcast EPG and channel configuration information. There is a problem.

An object of the present invention for solving the above problems is that the system necessary for the process of creating a high-cost EPG section is used by the network operators, each broadcast network operators to establish a transmitter that has only the function of transmitting a low-cost EPG section, The aim is to provide an EPG information processing system and a PSIP / SI system that can increase the stability and cost-effectiveness of system operation.

As a means for achieving the above object, the EPG information processing system according to the present invention, in the EPG information processing system for transmitting a plurality of individual broadcast network operators of electronic program guide (EPG) information to a digital television (DTV) viewer, In order to deliver the collected and organized EPG information, the section generator outputs section data by encoding PSIP (Program and System Information Protocol) / SI (System Information) and jointly operated by the plurality of individual broadcasting network operators. Being a joint operating EPG system; And a plurality of individual broadcasting network operator EPG systems for receiving section data transmitted from the co-operating EPG system and transmitting the same to viewers, wherein the plurality of individual broadcasting network operator EPG systems and the co-operating EPG system are located at a far distance. It is characterized by a separate system.

On the other hand, as a means for achieving the above object, the PSIP / SI system according to the present invention, in the PSIP / SI system of a plurality of individual broadcasting network operators for transmitting EPG information to the digital television viewer, repeatedly transmitted according to the EPG information A section generator for generating and outputting PSIP / SI section data as a source of data to be performed; And a transmitter for repeatedly transmitting the section data generated by the section generator to the viewer, wherein the section generator and the transmitter are separated to be located at a far distance.

According to the present invention, individual broadcasting network operators can build a more stable system at a lower cost in the construction of EPG information processing system or PSIP / SI system, and the system separating the encoder and the transmitter can be extended to two-way data broadcasting. can do.

Hereinafter, an EPG information processing system and a PSIP / SI system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, in a data broadcasting system, an encapsulation is performed by a data broadcasting protocol for an authored data broadcasting service, packetized into an MPEG2 TS (Transport Stream), and then audio and video signals are muxed. In addition, information such as PAT (Program Association Table), PMT (Program Map Table), PSIP, and DST are multiplexed through MPEG2 Section and TS packetization and transmitted to a receiver of a viewer through a broadcast wave.

In the digital TV transmission system, an audio or video analog signal is converted into MPEG2-TS through packetization, which is a digital signal, through a TS-encoder.

In general, a bit refers to a digital signal consisting of 0s and 1s, and a packet refers to a conversion of the digital signal into a packet that is a bundle of a stream of 188 bytes, and a section of the packet It refers to a bundle by type, and eventually the TS represents the flow of sections. The MPEG2-TS is composed of a 188 byte transport packet and inserts and carries basic streams such as audio, video, DATA, and PSI (Program Specific Information). At this time, each stream includes a packet ID (PID) of unique identification information in the header of the packet.

As described above, in digital TV transmission, a video or audio signal is provided in the form of a Program Element Stream (PES), and PSI delivers basic information for receiving broadcast such as channel information, and PSIP delivers program information such as EPG. / SI is inserted and passed.

In addition, an EPG for identifying channel information and program information is essential for DTV broadcasting composed of multiple channels. An EPG information processing system or a PSIP / SI system is used to transmit such an EPG. The EPG transmission process collects and organizes EPG information, stores it in a DB, and then sends signals of asynchronous serial interface (ASI) and UDP (user datagram protocol) to the PSIP encoder and the SI encoder via the EPG information transmitter. To create and ship. Using such PSIP, In-Band, Out-of-Band (OOB) through SI, A / V stream information of each service, EPG, Channel branding of channel (channel name, channel number), Access control information for paid channels is provided.

In addition, data broadcasting is to transmit additional data along with audio / video through digital broadcasting, and will play a key role in the future intelligent broadcasting service. The type and transmission method of additional data provided through broadcasting are limited by the broadcasting method, and data broadcasting standards are typical of ATSC of USA and DVB of Europe.

In other words, in ATSC and DVB, PSIP (Program and System Information Protocol) and SI (System Information) are defined as a protocol for program and data service guidance, for example, EPG. Provides a broadcast program guide including information such as.

Here, the PSIP (Program and System information protocol) is a standard used to send information such as EPG in the US / Canada / Korea terrestrial wave, SI (System Information) is a standard used to send information such as EPG in DVB. . The DVB is used in Europe and is divided into terrestrial / satellite / cable, and SI can be commonly used in all media. That is, the SI can be applied to both terrestrial / satellite / cable but may be transmitted slightly differently depending on the transmission medium.

The PSI provides program specification information as information included in MPEG, namely, which program is selected from among a plurality of programs, which packet is to be taken, and how to be decoded. PSI consists of several tables, special information transmitted by packets with PID '0'. Each program has a Program Association Table (PAT) and a program that has the PID value of the PMT describing the components of the program. PMT (Program Map Table) describing the PID list of TS packets carrying the identification number and the individual bit strings such as video and audio constituting the program, subsidiary information, and scramble to limit playback. It consists of a CAT (Conditional Access Table) that allows only the authorized user to decode and play the gun bit string, and a Network Information Table (NIT) that contains the physical network information of the receiving region.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the EPG information collecting and organizing system, DB, EPG information transmitter is the same structure as the existing system, but separates the PSIP encoder and SI encoder into a section generator and a transmitter part, wherein the section generator It is possible to construct and operate jointly by broadcasting network operators, and its configuration includes a PSIP information receiver, a PSIP section generator, an SI information receiver, and an SI section generator, and the transmitter includes a TS encoder and an ASI included in the PSIP encoder. The output unit and the UDP output unit included in the SI encoder are configured.

In addition, the PSIP / SI system is included in the EPG information processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention. That is, in the EPG information processing system, the part except for the EPG collection organizer which collects and organizes the EPG to generate the EPG information, the database for storing the collected and organized EPG information, and the EPG information transmitter for delivering the EPG information. Since it corresponds to a PSIP / SI system, it will be described below as an EPG information processing system.

2 is a schematic structural diagram of an EPG information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, the EPG information processing system for an individual broadcasting network operator according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of individual broadcasting network operators for transmitting electronic program guide (EPG) information to a digital television (DTV) viewer. An operational EPG system 200 and a plurality of individual broadcast network operator EPG systems 300a, 300b, ..., 300n.

The jointly operated EPG system 200 outputs section data by encoding PSIP (Program and System Information Protocol) / SI (System Information) in a section generator to deliver the collected and organized EPG information. It is jointly operated by the individual broadcasting network operators.

The plurality of individual broadcasting network operator EPG systems 300a, 300b,..., 300n respectively receive section data transmitted from the co-operation EPG system 200 and transmit it to the viewer.

At this time, the plurality of individual broadcasting network operator EPG systems (300a, 300b, ..., 300n) and the co-operation EPG system 200 is located separately on the remote.

The jointly operated EPG system 200 includes an EPG collection organizer 210 for collecting and organizing the EPG to generate EPG information, a database 220 for storing the collected and organized EPG information, and the EPG information. EPG information transmitter 230 for delivery, and section generator 240 for generating and outputting section data as a source of data to be repeatedly transmitted according to the EPG information transmitted from the EPG information transmitter. The section generator 240 includes a PSIP encoder 240a for encoding a PSIP corresponding to the EPG information and an SI encoder 240b for encoding an SI corresponding to the EPG information.

The plurality of individual broadcasting network EPG systems 300a, 300b, ..., 300n respectively transmit transmitters 310a, 310b, ..., 310n for repeatedly transmitting PSIP / SI section data generated by the section generator 240 to the viewer. It includes.

In the EPG information processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention, the section generator 240 requiring a high cost by separating the section generator 240 and the transmitters 310a, 310b, ..., 310n from the conventional EPG information processing system. Until now, individual broadcasting network operators jointly use, and the individual broadcasting network providers are configured to build only the transmitters 310a, 310b, ..., 310n that receive a section from the section generator 240 and execute only repetitive transmission.

The transmitters 310a, 310b,..., 310n are configured to transmit a bundle of EPG information in units of 3 hours due to the characteristics of the EPG, and to transmit a new section only when the channel is changed and after 3 hours have elapsed. Such an EPG information processing system is possible because the PSIP or SI has a function of repeatedly transmitting the same information, but the information size of the section to be actually transmitted is not large.

In addition, the transmitters 310a, 310b,..., 310n of the EPG systems of the plurality of individual broadcasting network operators each use a transmission medium including a dedicated communication line between the Internet or individual broadcasting network providers. The section data transmitted from the section generator 240 may be received.

In addition, when different section data is required for each individual broadcaster EPG system 300a, 300b, ..., 300n, the section generator 240 of the jointly operated EPG system 200 may transmit data to each individual broadcaster. The section data may be transferred together with information that can be identified. Alternatively, when different section data is requested for each individual broadcaster EPG system 300a, 300b, ..., 300n, the transmitters 310a, 310b, ..., 310n of the individual broadcaster EPG system may use the jointly operated EPG system ( The section may be directly connected to the section generator 240 of 200 to obtain a corresponding section.

Meanwhile, since the PSIP encoder, the SI encoder, and the transmitter are separated from each other, the PSIP encoder, the SI encoder, and the transmitter may be applied to two-way data broadcasting.

3 is a view showing in detail the section generator of the co-operation EPG information processing system of FIG.

Referring to FIG. 3, a section generator according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a PSIP encoder 240a and an SI encoder 240b.

The PSIP encoder 240a performs PSIP encoding according to the information receiving unit 241a for receiving the EPG information transmitted from the EPG information transmitter 230 and the received EPG information, and serves as a source of data to be repeatedly transmitted. And a PSIP section generator 242a for generating and outputting section data, wherein the SI encoder 240b includes an information receiver 241b for receiving EPG information transmitted from the EPG information transmitter 230, and the reception. SI section generation unit 242b for performing SI encoding according to the EPG information and generating and outputting a section as an original of data to be repeatedly transmitted.

4 is a diagram illustrating in detail the transmitter of the EPG information processing system of the individual broadcasting network operator of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 4, transmitters 310a, 310b,..., 310n according to an embodiment of the present invention include a PSIP encoder 310a and an SI encoder 310b.

The PSIP encoder 310a receives the PSIP section output from the PSIP section generator 242a and transmits an ASI format signal corresponding to the PSIP to the viewer. The PSIP encoder 310a is the PSIP section generator. A TS encoder 311a that encodes a TS (Transport Stream) according to a section output from the ASI and an ASI output unit 312a that outputs a signal of an Asynchronous Serial Interface (ASI) format to the viewer corresponding to the encoded TS. ) Will be included.

The SI encoder 310b receives the SI section output from the SI section generator 242b and transmits a UDP format signal corresponding to the SI to the viewer. The SI encoder 310b is the SI section generator. According to the section output from 242b, a UDP output unit 311b for outputting a user datagram protocol (UDP) format signal to a viewer is included. Here, UDP (user datagram protocol) is a user datagram protocol, and refers to a communication protocol that transmits data unilaterally from a sender without passing a signal of receiving or receiving a signal when information is exchanged with each other on the Internet.

Finally, according to the present invention, in the construction of the EPG information processing system or the PSIP / SI system, a section generator that requires a high cost is constructed and operated jointly among broadcast network operators and separately constructed and operated only a part of a transmitter that requires a low cost, It is possible to reduce the initial entry cost of broadcasting network operators and the construction and operation cost of each broadcasting network operator, and eliminate the risk of the broadcast being impossible due to the problem of the section generator section where the logic is complicated.

While the invention has been shown and described in connection with specific embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as indicated by the claims. Anyone who owns it can easily find out.

According to the present invention, first, a system required for a high-cost EPG section generation process is used by broadcast network operators jointly, and each broadcast network provider establishes a transmitter that has only a function of transmitting an EPG section at low cost. EPG information processing system can be built at low cost.

Second, by separating transmitters with relatively simple logic from section generators, it is possible to increase the stability of EPG information processing system operations.

Third, if CAs and genre information are matched only in the co-operation EPG system, there is no need for additional broadcasting network operators to match, and the PSIP / SI system only needs to be matched once in the co-operation EPG system. This reduces the time, effort and cost of matching EPG systems.

Fourth, additional services, such as application testing, can be created using the jointly operated EPG system.

Fifth, it is possible to ensure the stability of the system by extending the configuration of such a system to two-way data broadcasting.

1 is a block diagram of an EPG information processing system of an individual broadcasting network operator according to the related art.

2 is a schematic structural diagram of an EPG information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a detailed diagram of the PSIP / SI section generator of the co-operation EPG information processing system of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a detailed diagram illustrating a transmitter of the EPG information processing system of the individual broadcasting network of FIG. 2.

Claims (20)

In the EPG information processing system for a plurality of individual broadcasting network operators to transmit electronic program guide (EPG) information to a digital television (DTV) viewer, In order to deliver the collected and organized EPG information, the section generator outputs section data by encoding PSIP (Program and System Information Protocol) / SI (System Information) and jointly operated by the plurality of individual broadcasting network operators. Being a joint operating EPG system; And A plurality of individual broadcasting network operator EPG system for receiving and transmitting the section data transmitted from the co-operation EPG system to the viewer Including, The plurality of individual broadcasting network operator EPG systems and the jointly operated EPG system are separate systems located at a far distance. The system of claim 1, wherein the co-operated EPG system is An EPG collection organizer for collecting and organizing the EPG to generate EPG information; A database for storing the collected and organized EPG information; An EPG information transmitter for delivering the EPG information; And A section generator for generating and outputting section data as a source of data to be repeatedly transmitted according to the EPG information transmitted from the EPG information transmitter. EPG information processing system comprising a. The method of claim 2, wherein the section generator, A PSIP encoder for encoding the PSIP corresponding to the EPG information; And An SI encoder that encodes an SI corresponding to the EPG information EPG information processing system comprising a. The method of claim 3, wherein the PSIP encoder, An information receiver configured to receive EPG information transmitted from the EPG information transmitter; And PSIP section generation unit performing PSIP encoding according to the received EPG information and generating and outputting section data as a source of data to be repeatedly transmitted. EPG information processing system comprising a. The method of claim 3, wherein the SI encoder, An information receiver configured to receive EPG information transmitted from the EPG information transmitter; And SI section generation unit which performs SI encoding according to the received EPG information and generates and outputs a section as a source of data to be repeatedly transmitted. EPG information processing system comprising a. The method of claim 1, The plurality of individual broadcasting network operator EPG systems each includes a transmitter for repeatedly transmitting the PSIP / SI section data generated by the section generator to the viewer. The method of claim 6, wherein the transmitter, A PSIP encoder for receiving a PSIP section output from the PSIP section generator and transmitting an ASI format signal corresponding to the PSIP to a viewer; And An SI encoder for receiving a SI section output from the SI section generator and transmitting a UDP format signal corresponding to the SI to a viewer EPG information processing system comprising a. The method of claim 7, wherein the PSIP encoder, A TS encoder for encoding a transport stream (TS) according to a section output from the PSIP section generator; And An ASI output unit for outputting an asynchronous serial interface (ASI) format signal to a viewer corresponding to the encoded TS; EPG information processing system comprising a. The method of claim 7, wherein The SI encoder comprises a UDP output unit for outputting a user datagram protocol (UDP) format signal to the viewer according to the section output from the SI section generator. The method of claim 6, The transmitters of the plurality of individual broadcasting network operator EPG systems receive the section data transmitted from the section generator of the co-operating EPG system, respectively, using a transmission medium including a dedicated communication line between the Internet or individual broadcasting network operators. EPG Information Processing System. The method of claim 1, When different section data is required for each individual broadcaster EPG system, the section generator of the jointly operated EPG system delivers the section data together with information for distinguishing data to be transmitted to each individual broadcaster. EPG Information Processing System. The method of claim 1, And when different section data is required for each individual broadcaster EPG system, the transmitter of the individual broadcaster EPG system directly accesses a section generator of the co-operation EPG system to bring the corresponding section. The method of claim 1, EPG information processing system, characterized in that separated from each other so that the PSIP encoder and SI encoder and the transmitter can be applied to the bidirectional data broadcast. In the PSIP (Program and System Information Protocol) / System Information (SI) system of a plurality of individual broadcasting network operators for transmitting EPG information to digital television viewers, A section generator for generating and outputting PSIP / SI related section data as a source of data to be repeatedly transmitted according to the EPG information; And Transmitter for repeatedly transmitting the data generated by the section generator to the viewer Including but not limited to: And the section generator and transmitter are separated to be located remotely. The method of claim 14, wherein the section generator, A PSIP encoder for encoding the PSIP corresponding to the EPG information; And An SI encoder that encodes an SI corresponding to the EPG information PSIP / SI system comprising a. The method of claim 15, wherein the PSIP encoder, An information receiver configured to receive EPG information transmitted from the EPG information transmitter; And PSIP section generation unit performing PSIP encoding according to the received EPG information and generating and outputting section data as a source of data to be repeatedly transmitted. PSIP / SI system comprising a. The method of claim 15, wherein the SI encoder, An information receiver configured to receive EPG information transmitted from the EPG information transmitter; And SI section generation unit which performs SI encoding according to the received EPG information and generates and outputs a section as a source of data to be repeatedly transmitted. PSIP / SI system comprising a. The method of claim 14, wherein the transmitter, A PSIP encoder for receiving a section output from the PSIP section generator and transmitting an ASI format signal corresponding to the PSIP to a viewer; And An SI encoder for receiving a section output from the SI section generator and transmitting a UDP format signal corresponding to the SI to a viewer PSIP / SI system comprising a. The method of claim 18, wherein the PSIP encoder, A TS encoder for encoding TS according to the section output from the PSIP section generator; And An ASI output unit for outputting an ASI format signal to a viewer corresponding to the encoded TS; PSIP / SI system comprising a. The method of claim 18, The SI encoder may include a UDP output unit configured to output a UDP format signal to a viewer according to a section output from the SI section generator.