KR20070059851A - Home server and its control method for integrating settop - Google Patents

Abstract

A home server having an integrated set-top function and a controlling method thereof are provided to enable a user to receive broadcast of various combinations such as IP(Internet Protocol), terrestrial, and open cable broadcast without buying each STB(Set-Top Box), and control broadcasting reception with one remote controller. A processor(110) receives IP TV broadcast from an access network, includes control software by each broadcast type, and receives/executes a broadcast type and channel change request of the user. If the home server(100) is operated, the processor provides channel information to the control software of the corresponding broadcast channel by storing the previously used channel information of each broadcast type. A tuner part(120) includes a plurality of tuners and receives an MPEG(Moving Picture Experts Group)2 TS(Transport Stream) by a request of the user. An open cable broadcast receiver(130) releases reception restriction of the received MPEG2 TS and performs encryption for copy protection. A set-top core(140) outputs a video signal by selecting and decoding the channel.

Description

Home server and its control method for integrating settop

1 is a functional block diagram showing the overall configuration of a home server according to the present invention.

2 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of a processor unit in a home server according to the present invention.

3 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of a set-top core unit in a home server according to the present invention.

4 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the tuner unit in the home server according to the present invention.

5 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of an open cable broadcasting receiver in a home server according to the present invention.

6 is a flowchart illustrating a process in which a user selects a broadcast and watches a desired channel in the home server according to the present invention.

* Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings *

100: home server 110: processor unit

120: set-top core 130: tuner

140: open cable broadcasting receiver 111: Ethernet switch

112: central processing unit (CPU) 330: broadcasting selection unit

320: decoder 41: terrestrial tuner

42: cable modem tuner 43: cable broadcasting tuner

510: cable modem 520: PCI-to-PCMCIA bus converter

530: POD module

The present invention relates to a home server having an integrated set-top function and a method of controlling the same. More specifically, it is not necessary to purchase each set-top box for watching different types of broadcasts, and may include Internet broadcasting, terrestrial broadcasting, and cable broadcasting. The present invention relates to a home server having an integrated set-top function capable of integrating and viewing various broadcasting services as well as high-speed Internet service functions and a control method thereof.

Currently, various digital broadcasting services, such as terrestrial broadcasting, satellite broadcasting, and cable broadcasting, are provided, and a set-top box dedicated to receiving digital broadcasting is required to view them.

Existing set-top box occupies its position with terrestrial set-top receiving terrestrial broadcasting and satellite set-top receiving satellite broadcasting with its own functions, and provides two-way service to these terrestrial and satellite broadcasting with the development of IP network. For this reason, terrestrial set-tops combined with IP, so-called IP / terrestrial set-tops, and IP-satellite set-top combined so-called IP / satellite set-tops have appeared. In addition, with the development of IP networks, IP set-tops receiving IPTV broadcasts are also emerging.

Meanwhile, cable set-top is paired with a cable modem to provide broadcast, data, and voice services, so-called TriplePlay.

Therefore, conventionally, to watch the three broadcasts, an IP / terrestrial wave, an IP / satellite, and an open cable set-top must be separately purchased. However, this method has a disadvantage in that the user pays the high cost of purchasing a separate set-top. In addition, there are remote controllers for selecting channels for each set-top box, which is inconvenient.

As such, IP / terrestrial set-tops, IP / satellite set-tops, and open-cable set-tops, each with their own area, must be developed into a hybrid set-top type in which IP, terrestrial, and open cables are fused to support rapid convergence of broadcasting and communication. As a result, consumers can enjoy the benefits of having a variety of broadcast options. Therefore, there is a need for a fully converged device capable of selecting and watching three types of broadcasts including IP, terrestrial, and open cables.

In this regard, Korean Patent Application No. 10-2002-0005732 "Digital set-top box that has a storage / playback function of external audio / video signal and accommodates satellite signals, cable signals, and terrestrial waves" is equipped with a satellite / cable / terrestrial tuner Select one of them to extract MPEG2 TS, take analog audio / video signal from camera installed for surveillance, and digitize it to select MPEG2 TS of the previously selected broadcast and watch it on TV screen for various digital A technology is disclosed for enabling viewing of a broadcast on one device. However, the technology disclosed in the patent application has a configuration of digitally encoding three digital broadcasting and analog surveillance images of satellite / cable / terrestrial video to MPEG2 and then selecting one of the four MPEG2 TSs to display on a TV screen. Digital set-top box is proposed.

However, the patent proposes a set-top function capable of receiving only digital broadcasting, and therefore, the rapid spread of the Internet allows the integration of communication and broadcasting to provide a variety of broadcasting and high-speed Internet services in one device. You will need a server.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to allow a user to receive various combinations of broadcasts such as IP / terrestrial / open cable broadcasting, and to control broadcast reception with another remote controller. It is to provide a home server having an integrated set-top function and a control method thereof.

As a construction means for achieving the above object, the present invention receives the IPTV broadcast from the access network, has a control S / W for each broadcast type, and executes the broadcast type and channel change request from the user, and A processor unit storing channel information for each broadcast type and providing channel information to control S / W of a corresponding broadcast channel when the home server is driven; A tuner unit including a plurality of tuners and receiving a specific MPEG2 TS according to a user's request; An open cable broadcast receiver which removes the restriction on the MPEG2 TS received from the tuner and performs encryption for copy protection; And a set-top core that receives a MPEG2 TS received from the processor unit, tuner unit, and open cable broadcast receiving unit, selects a channel under control of the control S / W for each broadcasting type, and decodes the selected channel to output an image signal. It includes;

In addition, a method of controlling a home server having an integrated set-top function according to the present invention, the method comprising: obtaining channel information previously watched for each broadcast type by driving a channel control S / W for each broadcast type; Receiving a broadcast signal of a channel previously watched for each broadcast by using the obtained channel information; And selecting and decoding the most recently watched channel among the corresponding channels for each broadcast.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that reference numerals and like elements among the drawings are denoted by the same reference numerals and symbols as much as possible even though they are shown in different drawings. In the following description of the present invention, detailed descriptions of related known functions or configurations will be omitted when it is determined that the present invention may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter.

1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a home server according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the home server according to the present invention receives IPTV broadcasts from an access network, includes control S / W for each broadcast type, and executes a broadcast type and channel change request from a user. The processor 210 includes a plurality of tuners and a processor unit for providing channel information to the control S / W of the corresponding broadcast channel when the home server is driven by storing the information of the channel for each broadcast type watched in the home server. A tuner unit 120 for receiving a specific MPEG2 TS, an open cable broadcast receiver 130 for receiving a restriction on the MPEG2 TS received from the tuner 120, and performing encryption for copy protection, and the processor unit ( 110, a set-top core unit for receiving the MPEG2 TS received from the tuner unit 120 and the open cable broadcast receiver 130, selecting a channel under control of the control S / W for each broadcast type, and decoding the selected channel. 140 It is made to include.

2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the processor unit 110 in the home server according to the present invention.

The processor unit 110 in the home server according to the present invention includes a plurality of Ethernet ports and connects the CPU 210 with an access network to transfer traffic related to IPTV broadcasting transmitted from an external access network to the CPU 210. The Ethernet switch 220 and the MPEG2 TS received from the Ethernet switch 220 are output to the video and audio format converters 260 and 270, and are provided with control S / W for each broadcast type, and broadcast type and channel from the user. It requests and executes a change, and stores the channel information for each broadcast type previously viewed, and when the home server 100 is driven, it provides channel information to the control S / W of the corresponding broadcast channel and at the same time, a PCI (peripheral component interconnect). The CPU 210 and the USB interface and the serial interface for controlling the overall operation in the home server 100, and communicates with the external device through each path to input and output data to the CPU 210 A first input / output unit 240, a second input / output unit 250 including a VGA (graphics card) output, a microphone input, and a speaker output for input / output of video and audio output from the CPU 210; A third I / O unit 280 for communicating with an external device through a plurality of mini PCI slots and corresponding ports, for communicating with each module in a home server through the PCI bus, and transmitting data to the CPU; and the CPU 210 The image format converter 270 for outputting the image data output from the set-top core unit 140 and converting the image data into a predetermined format for viewing on a TV, and the CPU 210 and the second input / output unit 250. Including an audio format converter 260 for inputting and outputting a microphone and a speaker and converting it into a predetermined format, and a storage unit 230 including an HDD for storing a program or data and an ODD for inputting / outputting a DVD-ROM. Is done.

3 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the tuner unit 120 in the home server according to the present invention, where (a) shows a terrestrial broadcast tuner 41, a cable modem tuner 42, and a cable broadcast tuner 43. As shown in FIG. ) Shows the time when the tuner unit 400 is configured by a combination of the two, and (b) shows the time when the tuner unit 450 is composed of the combination of three terrestrial tuners 46, 47, and 48.

Referring to FIG. 3A, the tuner 400 of the present invention selects and outputs a requested channel from an input terrestrial broadcast signal, and outputs a terrestrial broadcast tuner 41 and a coaxial cable. 421 receives a cable broadcast signal from a cable modem tuner 42 and a coaxial cable 431 that converts and outputs a signal of an RF band into a baseband, and selects and outputs a requested channel. And a cable broadcast tuner 43.

Referring to FIG. 3B, the tuner unit 450 shows a tuner unit when the terrestrial broadcast tuners 46, 47, and 48 have a tuner shape.

The tuner 450 includes terrestrial tuners 46, 47, and 48 that receive broadcasts from a coaxial cable, respectively.

4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a set-top core in the home server according to the present invention.

The set-top core unit 140 in the home server according to the present invention is a video and audio signal of the Internet broadcast from the video format converter and the audio codec unit 260 of the processor unit 110 through the PCI bus and the tuner unit 120. A decoder unit 320 for receiving MPEG2 TS from the MPEG-2 TS and decoding them for viewing on an HDTV, a PCI bridge 310 existing to accommodate multiple PCI slaves on the PCI bus, and the processor unit 110. Under the control of the CPU 210 of the tuner control unit 120, the tuner control unit 340 for controlling the operation of the tuner 120, and selects one of the MPEG2 TS for each broadcast input from the tuner unit 120 And a broadcast selector 330 delivered to the decoder 320.

5 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of an open cable broadcast receiver in a home server according to the present invention.

The open cable broadcasting receiver 130 in the home server according to the present invention demodulates the baseband signal output from the cable modem tuner 42 of the tuner 120, modulates data to be transmitted to the CPU 210, A modulated demodulation function which is converted into a band signal and transmitted to the cable modem tuner 42, a cable modem 510 connected to the Ethernet switch 111 of the processor unit 110 to perform a demodulation function on the signal, and the processor PCI-to-PCMCIA bus converter 520 connected to the CPU 210 of the unit 110 through the PCI bus and relays communication with the POD module 530 which will be described later, and received from the cable broadcast tuner 43. The POD module 530 which decodes the encrypted CAS2 MPEG encrypted TS TS and outputs it to the MPEG2 TS selector 540 described below, and the MPEG2 TS received from the POD module 530 and the cable broadcast tuner 43. The set-top core unit is selected by selecting one of the received MPEG2 TSs ( And an MPEG2 TS selector 540 output to the broadcast selector 330 of 140.

6 illustrates a detailed flow of a procedure illustrating a process of selecting a desired broadcast and watching a desired channel in a home server according to the present invention.

First, when the home server 100 starts, the CPU 210 of the processor unit 110 is operated to drive the GUI S / W 608 (620) and the processor unit 110 of the home server 100. By using the channel information for each broadcast previously stored in the) to control the corresponding tuner to receive the corresponding channel.

For example, in the case of terrestrial broadcasting, the terrestrial channel control S / W is driven 621 to control the terrestrial broadcasting tuner 410 using previously viewed terrestrial channel information stored in the processor 110. In operation 622, a corresponding channel is received (631), and in the case of cable broadcasting, the cable channel control S / W is started (623), and the cable broadcasting tuner ( 430, and receives the corresponding channel (629), wherein the channel is encrypted so that the POD module 605 of the open cable broadcast receiver, through the PCI-to-PCMCIA bus converter 520, PCI Receives the decryption key from the processor unit 110 connected to the bus to decode the CAS code, and transmits to the broadcast selector 606 of the set-top core unit 120 again to prevent copying the broadcast selector ( 606).

In addition, IPTV Client S / W is started (623), and sends an Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) Join message to the access network through the Ethernet switch 220 (626), IP multicast from the IPTV server for the Join message The MPEG2 TS received in the packet is received (627), the MPEG2 TS is extracted, and then transmitted to the decoder unit 607 of the set-top core unit 120 (628), and the broadcast selector 606 is a terrestrial channel. A broadcast selection control 631 signal is received from the CPU of the processor unit 110 to notify channel information of a previously viewed broadcast among the channel 630 and the cable channel 629, and the corresponding channel among the broadcast selected MPEG TSs. The MPEG2 TS is selected and transmitted to the decoder unit 607 (632).

In addition, the GUI S / W sends an input MPEG2 TS selection decoding request 633 signal so that the decoder unit 606 selects a broadcast channel previously watched by the MPEG2 TS 628 of the IPTV. Subsequently, the decoder 607 decodes and outputs the MPEG2 TS of the most recently watched broadcast channel.

As described above, when the home server 100 starts, the broadcast of the most recently received channel is transmitted to and displayed on the TV. After that, the user can change the broadcast channel as follows.

First, when the user wants to change the broadcast that he / she watches through the remote controller 601 and its channel, the user transmits a broadcast change request signal 640 to the GUI S / W 608. In this case, the remote controller 601 communicates with the first input / output unit 240 of the processor unit 110, and the first input / output unit 240 is connected with the CPU 210 to provide the GUI S / W 608. Is driven. The GUI S / W 608 requests the user (641), and the user selects a desired broadcast type and transmits the desired broadcast type through the remote controller 601 in response (642). At this time, if the broadcast type desired by the user 643 is IP broadcast, a channel change request signal is sent to the IP client S / W 611 (647), and the IPTV client S / W 611 sends channel information to the user. (648). When the user inputs channel information using the remote controller 601 in response (649), the IPTV client S / W 611 sends an IGMP Leave message to the corresponding IPTV server through the access network 613 and is currently transmitting. The channel is stopped (650) and the IGMP Join message requesting a new channel is sent to the IPTV server through the access network (613) (651).

The IPTV client S / W 611 requests the decoder unit 607 to decode the IPTV channel (652) and, when the MPEG2 TS of the IPTV channel is loaded in IP multicast (653), extracts and decodes the MPEG2 TS. Forward to section 607 (654). The decoder 654 then decodes the input IPTV MPEG2 TS (655).

If the broadcast type requested by the user is cable broadcast (645), the GUI S / W 608 sends a channel change request to the cable control S / W 610 (656), and the cable channel control S / W ( The control unit 610 controls the cable tuner 603 through the tuner control unit 604 (659), and transmits the MPEG2 TS received from the channel requested by the user to the POD module 605 (660). The POD module 605 decodes the CAS cipher and sends a copy protection cipher again to send the MPEG2 TS to the broadcast selector 606. At this time, the cable channel control S / W sends a message to the broadcast selector 606 to select the cable broadcast (663). In addition, the decoder unit 607 transmits a message 665 to decode the cable broadcast channel (664).

If the broadcast type required by the user is terrestrial broadcast (646), the GUI S / W 608 sends a terrestrial channel control S / W 609 to send a channel change request (666), and the terrestrial channel control S / W ( 609 requests channel information from the user (667). When the user transmits the channel information in response (668), the terrestrial channel control S / W 609 controls the terrestrial tuner 603 through the tuner control unit 604 (669) from the channel requested by the user. The received MPEG2 TS is transmitted to the broadcast selector 606. At this time, the terrestrial channel control S / W sends a message to the broadcast selector 606 to select terrestrial broadcast (672). In addition, the decoder unit 607 transmits a message to decode the terrestrial broadcast channel (674).

The detailed description and contents of the drawings described above are limited to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited thereto. It will be possible to substitute, change or delete the components according to the present invention within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention.

Therefore, the scope of the present invention should be determined by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description and drawings.

As described above, the present invention does not need to purchase each set-top box for broadcasting of different standards by performing a composite function in one set-top box, thereby reducing the user's cost burden and all functions in one. Is provided in the set has the effect of saving the installation space.

In addition, there is an effect that can provide a home server for receiving a variety of broadcast signals in a single set-top configuration that can select a channel with one remote control.

Claims (13)

Receives IPTV broadcasting from the access network, has control S / W for each broadcasting type, receives and executes broadcasting type and channel change request from the user, and stores the information of channels for each broadcasting type previously watched. A processor unit providing channel information to a control S / W of a corresponding broadcast channel when driven; A tuner unit including a plurality of tuners and receiving a specific MPEG2 TS according to a user's request; An open cable broadcast receiver which removes the restriction on the MPEG2 TS received from the tuner and performs encryption for copy protection; And A set-top core unit for receiving a MPEG2 TS received from the processor unit, a tuner unit, and an open cable broadcasting unit, selecting a channel under the control of control type S / W for each broadcasting type, and decoding the selected channel and outputting a video signal. Home server having an integrated set-top function, characterized in that it comprises a. The method of claim 1, wherein the processor unit, A CPU for providing a channel control interface for each broadcast type to the user, controlling transmission and reception of IPTV broadcasts, a channel control S / W for each broadcast type, and controlling the operation of the tuner according to a user's request received through the interface. ; An Ethernet switch having a plurality of ports, connecting the CPU with an access network, delivering an IPTV broadcast related message of the CPU to an access network, and delivering IP broadcast related traffic transmitted from the access network to the CPU; A first input / output unit having USB and serial input / output means and connected to a peripheral device to read and transfer data connected to the peripheral device to the CPU or to transmit predetermined data to the peripheral device under control of the CPU; A second input / output unit configured to transmit data to the CPU by communicating with each device in the home server through a plurality of mini PCI slots and corresponding ports through an external device and a PCI bus; A third input / output unit including a VGA output unit, a microphone input unit, and a speaker output unit for inputting and outputting video and audio input and output from the CPU; An audio codec unit for converting voice input from the CPU, the third input / output unit, input / output, and third input / output unit into a predetermined format; and And a video output format converter for converting image data output from the CPU into a predetermined format. The method of claim 2, And a remote controller device connected to the first input / output unit of the processor unit and transmitting a channel selection signal for each broadcast type to a CPU. The method of claim 1, wherein the set top core portion, A tuner control unit having a tuner controller for controlling the operation of the tuner unit under control of the CPU in the processor unit; A broadcast selection unit for selectively outputting the MPEG2 TS requested from the CPU among the MPEG2 TSs transmitted from the tuner unit; And And a decoder which decodes the MPEG2 TS selected through the broadcast selection unit and decodes and outputs an image and an audio signal input from the processor unit's CPU. The method of claim 1, wherein the tuner unit, A terrestrial broadcast tuner for receiving terrestrial MPEG2 TS from a coaxial cable and receiving a channel selection request from the tuner controller to select and receive a channel; A cable modem tuner for converting an RF band received from a coaxial cable into a base band and transferring the signal to the open cable broadcast receiver; And And a cable broadcast tuner for receiving MPEG2 TS from a coaxial cable and receiving a channel selection request from the tuner control unit. The method of claim 1, wherein the tuner unit, A home server having an integrated set-top function, comprising a plurality of terrestrial broadcast tuners for receiving terrestrial MPEG2 TS from a coaxial cable and receiving a channel selection request from the tuner controller. The method of claim 1, wherein the open cable broadcast receiver, A cable modem which modulates the baseband signal received from the cable modem tuner, transfers the signal to the cable modem tuner, and performs a demodulation function to process an Ethernet frame of the processor unit; A PCI-to-PCMCIA converter connected to the processor unit through PCI and mounted for communication with a POD module described below; And An integrated set-top comprising: a POD module for removing the MPEG2 TS received from the cable broadcast tuner, performing copy protection encryption, and communicating with the CPU through the PCI-to-PCMCIA converter. Home server with features. In the home server control method having an integrated set-top function, Driving channel control S / W for each broadcast type to obtain channel information previously viewed for each broadcast type from the CPU; Receiving MPEG2 TS of a channel previously watched for each broadcast type by using the obtained channel information; And selecting and decoding the most recently watched channel among the corresponding channels for each broadcast. The method of claim 8, Receiving a channel change request signal from a user; Requesting and receiving a broadcast type from a user; Transmitting the channel change request signal to a broadcast channel control S / W corresponding to the received broadcast type; Requesting channel information to be changed by the channel control S / W for each broadcast from the user; Receiving channel information from a user; Selecting a broadcast channel desired by a user according to the received channel information and transmitting the same to a broadcast selection unit; The broadcast channel control S / W sending a control message so that the broadcast selector selects the broadcast channel; And decoding the MPEG2 TS selected by the broadcast selection unit. The method of claim 8, wherein receiving the broadcast signal of the previously watched channel comprises: Transmitting, by the IP client S / W, an IGMP Join message to the channel requested by the user through the Ethernet switch; And And receiving MPEG2 TS received by IP multicast from the access network. The method of claim 8, wherein receiving the broadcast signal of the previously watched channel comprises: An integrated set-top function, characterized in that the step of transmitting to the POD module to decrypt the encrypted MPEG2 TS received from the cable broadcast tuner, and to perform encryption for copy protection in the POD module to pass to the broadcast selection unit. Home server control method having. The method of claim 8, wherein receiving the broadcast signal of the previously watched channel comprises: And receiving the MPEG2 TS received on the corresponding channel of the terrestrial broadcast through the terrestrial tuner. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of transmitting a channel change request signal to the broadcast channel control S / W, The IPTV client S / W sends an IGMP Leave message to the access network to stop the previous channel; and The home server control method having an integrated set-top function, characterized in that the step of transmitting the IGMP Join message to the channel requesting the change.

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