KR20070039373A - Broadcast receiving device for changing channel according to key push time and method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a broadcast receiving apparatus operating in one of an analog mode and a digital mode according to a key signal input time. The broadcasting receiver includes a signal processing unit and a signal processing unit operating in one of an input unit for receiving a predetermined type of key signal, an analog mode for tuning and processing an analog broadcast channel, and a digital mode for tuning and processing a digital broadcast channel. An output unit for outputting a broadcast signal, and a control unit for comparing the key signal input time and a predetermined threshold time, and adjusts the operation mode of the signal processing unit according to the comparison result. Accordingly, switching between the analog broadcast channel and the digital broadcast channel can be easily performed.

Digital broadcasting channel, analog broadcasting channel, key signal input time

Description

Broadcast receiver and method for switching broadcast channel according to key signal input time {Broadcast receiving device for changing channel according to key push time and method

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a broadcast receiving apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the broadcast receiving apparatus of FIG. 1;

3 is a schematic diagram for explaining a channel switching process in a broadcast receiving apparatus conforming to the NTSC / ATSC scheme;

4 is a schematic diagram for explaining a channel switching process in the broadcast receiving apparatus according to the PAL / DVB-T scheme;

5 is a flowchart illustrating a channel switching method in a broadcast receiving apparatus conforming to an NTSC / ATSC scheme;

6 is a flowchart illustrating a channel switching method in the broadcast receiving apparatus according to the PAL / DVB-T method.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawing

110: input unit 120: control unit

130: signal processing unit 140: output unit

131: digital tuner unit 132: digital processing unit

133: analog tuner unit 134: analog processing unit

The present invention relates to a broadcast receiving apparatus and a channel switching method. More particularly, the present invention operates in one of an analog mode for receiving an analog broadcast channel and a digital mode for receiving a digital broadcast channel. A broadcast receiving apparatus for determining whether to switch or a channel switching method thereof.

Due to the development of electronic technology, the analog broadcasting system is gradually replaced by the digital system. A digital broadcast system may be defined as a TV broadcast system that processes all stages of broadcasting such as production, editing, transmission, and reception into 0 and 1 digital signals.

In a digital broadcasting system, data is processed by a digital signal processing method. That is, the broadcasting station compresses and encodes video and audio data in numerals at the time of transmission, multiplexes them, generates one digital stream, and transmits the same. On the other hand, the receiving side, that is, the broadcast receiving apparatus receives the digital stream, separates and decodes the video and audio, and outputs the broadcast image.

As such, digital broadcasting equipment and digital broadcasting receiving apparatus are required to perform digital broadcasting. However, these equipments are relatively expensive and the digital broadcasting technology itself is not technically perfect. At least until the digital broadcasting technology is fully systemized and the digital broadcasting receiver is distributed to almost all users, the analog and digital methods are mixed. Should be a situation. As described above, there is a need for a broadcast receiving apparatus capable of receiving both an analog broadcast signal and a digital broadcast signal for a predetermined time in which an analog method and a digital method are mixed. In response to these demands, an integrated digital broadcast receiver having both an analog tuner and a digital tuner has been developed and spread.

The integrated digital broadcast receiver operates in a mode selected by a user among an analog mode for tuning and processing an analog broadcast channel and a digital mode for tuning and processing a digital broadcast channel. The user may select a broadcast mode by operating a key panel or a remote controller provided in the broadcast receiving apparatus main body. The selection method is slightly different depending on whether it is an America-type broadcast receiver or a Europe-type broadcast receiver.

The Americas-type broadcast receiver refers to a broadcast receiver that processes analog / digital broadcast signals using the National Television Systems Committee (NTSC) / Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) scheme adopted as a standard in the Americas. In the American broadcast receiving apparatus, a channel number composed of a combination of numbers is assigned to an analog broadcast channel, and a channel number having a form including "-" is assigned to a digital broadcast channel between a main channel number and a sub channel number. When the user wants to tune in to an analog broadcast channel, the user only needs to input a number. However, when the user wants to tune in to a digital broadcast channel, the user must input "-" during the number input. For example, when an analog channel is tuned, a number is inputted as "33", and when a digital channel is tuned, it is inputted as "33-1".

On the other hand, the Savior-type broadcast receiver refers to a broadcast receiver that processes analog / digital broadcast signals in a PAL (Phase Alternate Line) / DVB-T (Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial) scheme adopted as a standard in Europe. In the European broadcast receiver, a key for mode division is separately provided. Accordingly, the channel was tuned by pressing the analog mode key and numeric keys when tuning the analog channel, and by pressing the digital mode key and numeric keys when tuning the digital channel.

However, general users familiar with the conventional analog broadcasting receiver have difficulty in switching channels by inputting "-" or selecting a mode key during channel selection. In particular, in the case of the nine-stage broadcasting receiver, a mode key must be additionally provided in an input means such as a key panel or a remote controller, and thus, the size of the input means increases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to determine whether to switch between an analog mode and a digital mode according to a key input time, so that a user can easily switch channels, and a broadcast receiving apparatus; The channel switching method is provided.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail with respect to the present invention.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a broadcast receiving apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The broadcast receiving apparatus according to FIG. 1 includes an input unit 110, a controller 120, a signal processor 130, and an output unit 140.

The input unit 110 receives a key signal generated by manipulation of a key panel or a remote controller provided in the broadcast receiving apparatus main body, and provides the input signal to the controller 120.

The controller 120 controls the signal processor 130 according to the key signal input through the input unit 110.

The signal processor 130 operates in one of an analog mode for tuning and processing an analog broadcast channel and a digital mode for tuning and processing a digital broadcast channel.

The output unit 140 outputs the broadcast channel signal tuned and processed by the signal processor 130 in the form of voice and image. To this end, the output unit 140 includes a display element such as a screen and a voice output element such as a speaker.

On the other hand, as described above, since the form of the broadcast channel varies depending on whether it is an America-type or a Europe-type, the present broadcast receiving apparatus is also implemented differently in an America-type or Europe-type. Hereinafter, the operation of the broadcast receiving apparatus will be described in detail.

First, when implemented in the Americas, the signal processor 130 tunes an analog broadcast channel according to the NTSC scheme, and tunes a digital broadcast channel according to the ATSC scheme. According to the ATSC scheme, the number of digital broadcast channels is assigned in the form of "A-B". A means main channel number, B means sub channel number.

The controller 120 controls the signal processor 130 to tune and process the broadcast channel selected by the user. The user may select a channel by inputting various numeric keys through the input unit 110. The controller controls the output unit 140 to display a number corresponding to the input key on the screen.

In this case, the controller 120 checks the input time of the last key signal and compares it with a predetermined threshold time. The input time of the key signal means the time elapsed while the key is pressed. The controller 120 may count the time when the key signal is input using the pulse signal generated from the oscillation circuit embedded in the chip. Alternatively, time information may be provided from a separate timer (not shown).

If the key signal input time exceeds 2 seconds when the threshold time is set to 2 seconds, the control unit 120 recognizes the currently displayed channel number as the main channel number, and automatically displays a "-" indication consecutively to the channel number. Display. Then wait for the input of the next key signal. When the next key signal is input, it is recognized as a sub channel number, and the digital broadcast channel corresponding to the entire channel number is tuned.

On the other hand, when the key signal input time is less than or equal to the threshold time, the signal is recognized as an analog broadcast channel tuning command and "-" is not displayed. In this case, the analog broadcast channel corresponding to the input number is tuned.

On the other hand, when the broadcast receiving apparatus is implemented in a nineteen type, the signal processor 130 tunes the analog broadcast channel according to the PAL method, and tunes the digital broadcast channel according to the DVB-T method. According to the nineteen-type system, the same channel number can be commonly assigned to the digital broadcast channel and the analog broadcast channel.

The controller 120 selects an operation mode of the signal processor 130 according to whether the input time of the last key signal exceeds the threshold time. That is, if the threshold time is exceeded, the digital broadcast channel having the channel number corresponding to the input key signal is tuned. If the threshold time is less than the threshold time, the analog broadcast channel having the channel number corresponding to the input key signal is tuned.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the broadcast receiving apparatus of FIG. According to FIG. 2, the signal processor 130 includes a digital tuner 131, a digital processor 132, an analog tuner 133, and an analog processor 134.

The digital tuner 131 tunes a digital broadcast channel, and the digital processor 132 processes a digital broadcast signal received through a channel tuned by the digital tuner 131.

The analog tuner 133 tunes an analog broadcast channel, and the analog processor 134 processes a digital broadcast signal received through the channel tuned by the analog tuner 133.

The digital tuner 131 and the analog tuner 133 may be implemented with different chips or may be implemented with one single chip.

Meanwhile, the digital processor 132 and the analog processor 134 perform various processes such as demodulation, RGB color signal conversion, decoding of a compressed video signal, and noise removal. The demodulation method varies depending on whether it is an America-type broadcast receiver or a Europe-type broadcast receiver. Since each component of the signal processor 130 and its function are generally known, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The controller 120 controls one of the digital tuner 131 and the analog tuner 133 to tune the digital broadcast channel or the analog broadcast channel.

The output unit 140 may include a display device such as a screen, a voice output device such as a speaker, and an on screen display (OSD) generator (not shown). The OSD generator generates a channel number in the form of OSD under the control of the controller 120 and then displays the channel number through a display element. Meanwhile, the channel number may be output in the form of voice data through the voice output device.

3 is a schematic diagram for explaining a channel switching method in the Americas broadcast receiving apparatus. According to FIG. 3, when the user inputs the number "3", "3" is displayed in one region on the screen 100. When " 3 " is input again in this state and the input time exceeds the predetermined threshold time [alpha], " 33-" is displayed on the screen. In this state, when the number "1" is input again, the digital broadcast channel having the channel number "33-1" is finally tuned.

4 is a schematic diagram for explaining a channel switching method in the nineteen broadcasting system. Referring to FIG. 4, when "3" is input, "3" is displayed in one region of the screen 100, and when "3" is input for more than α time, a digital broadcast channel having channel number "33" is immediately displayed. Tuned. At this time, when the input time of the second " 3 " is less than or equal to α, an analog broadcast channel having the channel number " 33 "

5 is a flowchart illustrating a channel switching method in the Americas broadcast receiving apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 5, when a key signal is input (S510), a channel number corresponding to the key signal is displayed on the screen (S520).

In this case, it is determined whether the threshold time has been exceeded by checking the input time of the last key signal and comparing it with the threshold time (S530). As a result of determination, if the key signal input time is less than or equal to the threshold time, an analog broadcast channel having a channel number corresponding to the input key signal is tuned (S540).

On the contrary, if the key signal input time exceeds the threshold time, a "-" mark is displayed in succession to the channel number displayed on the screen (S550). If a key signal is input thereafter (S560), the digital broadcast channel having a channel number corresponding to the entire key signal is tuned (S570). In this case, if a key signal is not input (S560), a subchannel number to be input after "-" may be arbitrarily designated as a default number, and then the digital broadcast channel having the full channel number may be tuned (S580). That is, when a predetermined time elapses without any input in the state where "33-" is displayed as in the above-described example, when the default number is preset to "1", the digital broadcasting channel having the number "33-1" is tuned. do.

6 is a flowchart illustrating a channel switching method in a savior type broadcast receiving apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. According to FIG. 6, when a key signal is input (S610), it is determined whether the last key signal input time exceeds a threshold time (S620).

If it is determined that the threshold time is exceeded, the digital broadcast channel having the channel number corresponding to the key signal is tuned (S630). On the contrary, if it is less than the threshold time, the analog broadcast channel having the channel number corresponding to the key signal is tuned (S640).

As described above, it is possible to selectively operate in one of the digital broadcast mode and the analog broadcast mode according to the input time of the key signal.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily switch between the analog broadcast channel and the digital broadcast channel using only the existing key in a state in which no additional key is provided. In particular, even if the user is not accustomed to using the "-" key or the mode key, the broadcasting channel can be easily switched. Accordingly, the user's convenience is increased.

In addition, although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described specific embodiment, the technical field to which the invention belongs without departing from the spirit of the invention claimed in the claims. Of course, various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art, and these modifications should not be individually understood from the technical spirit or the prospect of the present invention.

Claims (5)

An input unit for receiving a predetermined kind of key signal; A signal processing unit operating in one of an analog mode for tuning and processing an analog broadcast channel and a digital mode for tuning and processing a digital broadcast channel; An output unit for outputting a broadcast signal processed by the signal processor; And, And a controller which compares the key signal input time with a predetermined threshold time and adjusts an operation mode of the signal processor according to the comparison result. The method of claim 1, The signal processor processes an analog / digital broadcast signal according to a PAL / DVB-T scheme, The control unit selects and outputs a digital broadcast channel corresponding to the key signal when the key signal input time exceeds the threshold time, and analog broadcast corresponding to the key signal when the key signal input time is less than or equal to the threshold time. And controlling the signal processor to tune and output a channel. The method of claim 1, The signal processor processes an analog / digital broadcast signal according to the NTSC / ATSC scheme, If the key signal input time exceeds the threshold time, the controller displays a "-" display consecutively with a channel number corresponding to the key signal, and if a predetermined key signal is input after the "-" display. And controlling the signal processor to tune and output a digital broadcast channel corresponding to all key signals. In the channel switching method of the broadcast receiving apparatus operating in one of the analog mode for tuning and outputting the analog broadcast channel according to the NTSC method and the digital mode for tuning and outputting the digital broadcast channel according to the ATSC method, If a predetermined kind of key signal is input, displaying a channel number corresponding to the key signal; Checking the key signal input time; Comparing the key signal input time with a predetermined threshold time; When the key signal input time exceeds the threshold time, a "-" display is displayed in succession to a channel number corresponding to the key signal, and corresponding to all key signals including a key signal input after the "-" display display. Tuning a digital broadcast channel; And, And when the key signal input time is less than or equal to the threshold time, selecting an analog broadcast channel having a channel number corresponding to the key signal. In the channel switching method of the broadcast receiving apparatus operating in one of the analog mode for tuning and outputting the analog broadcast channel according to the PAL method and the digital mode for tuning and outputting the digital broadcast channel according to the DVB-T method, Displaying a channel number corresponding to the key signal when a predetermined kind of key signal is input; Checking the key signal input time; Comparing the key signal input time with a predetermined threshold time; Tuning a digital broadcast channel having a channel number corresponding to the key signal when the key signal input time exceeds the threshold time; And, And tuning an analog broadcast channel having a channel number corresponding to the key signal when the key signal input time is less than or equal to the threshold time.

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