KR20080045332A - Apparatus and method for offering digital multimedia broadcasting service in portable terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for providing a digital multimedia broadcasting service in a portable terminal are provided to prevent the reproduction delay of the contents due to the change of a channel. When the power of a terminal is turned on, a process for receiving a predetermined amount of stream from each channel by means of the ESG(Electronic Service Guide) or EPG(Electronic Program Guide) data received from a broadcasting providing server is performed(201). A process for extracting and storing a frame from the stream received from each channel is performed(211,213). When generating a broadcasting watching event of a specific channel, a process for receiving the contents from the specific channel is performed(217). Thereafter, a process for displaying the frame extracted from the specific channel is performed(221).

Description

Method and apparatus for providing digital multimedia broadcasting service in portable terminal {APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR OFFERING DIGITAL MULTIMEDIA BROADCASTING SERVICE IN PORTABLE TERMINAL}

1 is a block diagram of a portable terminal according to the present invention;

2 is a diagram illustrating a procedure of acquiring a relationship image of each channel in a portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3 is a diagram illustrating a procedure of displaying a pre-stored relation image for a time when a channel is acquired in a portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

4 is a diagram illustrating a screen configuration for displaying a relational image during a time when a channel is acquired in a portable terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing a digital multimedia broadcasting service in a portable terminal. In particular, a predetermined frame of contents broadcasted from respective channels is acquired in advance, and the predetermined frame is displayed during a time taken for obtaining a specific channel. A method and apparatus are provided.

Recently, as users are increasingly interested in digital multimedia broadcasting such as Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB), Digital Video Broadcasting-handheld (DVB-H), MediaFLO (Media Forward Link Only), the digital multimedia broadcasting in a portable terminal Research to provide services is being actively conducted.

Currently, a portable terminal takes at least 1.5 seconds to select a specific channel of the digital multimedia broadcasting and then receive and display the content broadcasted in the channel. Accordingly, the portable terminal according to the related art displays a predetermined still image or a moving image predetermined for a time taken to receive and display the broadcast content of the corresponding channel. However, since the displayed still image or moving image is not related to the broadcasting of the channel that the user wants to watch, the user may not know the contents information broadcast on the channel that the user wants to select or change.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for providing a digital multimedia broadcasting service in a portable terminal.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for indicating information on content broadcasted in a channel during a broadcast channel acquisition time in a portable terminal.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for displaying a predetermined frame obtained in advance from a corresponding channel during a time when a broadcast channel is acquired in a portable terminal.

According to a first aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object, the digital multimedia broadcasting service providing method in a portable terminal, the electronic service guide (ESG) received from the broadcast providing server when the terminal is powered on (ON) Or receiving a predetermined amount of streams from each channel using EPG (Electronic Program Guide) data, extracting and storing one frame from the streams received from each channel, and broadcasting viewing event of a specific channel. When generated, the method includes receiving a content broadcasted from the specific channel, and displaying a frame extracted from the specific channel while attempting the reception.

According to a second aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object, the digital multimedia broadcasting service providing apparatus in a portable terminal, the electronic service guide (ESG) received from the broadcast providing server when the terminal is powered on (ON) Or a broadcast receiving module for receiving a predetermined amount of streams from each channel using EPG (Electronic Program Guide) data, an image obtaining unit for extracting one frame from the predetermined amount of streams received from each channel, and a specific channel. A control unit controlling a function for attempting to receive content broadcast from the specific channel when the broadcast viewing event of the event occurs and displaying a frame extracted from the specific channel while attempting the reception; And a display unit for displaying a frame extracted from the specific channel by It shall be.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In describing the present invention, when it is determined that a detailed description of a related known function or configuration may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Hereinafter, the present invention describes a method and apparatus for displaying the predetermined frames obtained in advance for obtaining a specific frame selected by the user by acquiring a predetermined frame of contents broadcast from each broadcasting channel in a portable terminal. something to do.

1 shows a block configuration of a portable terminal according to the present invention. The portable terminal may include a control unit 100, a relationship image processing unit 102, a communication module 104, a relationship image acquisition unit 106, a storage unit 108, an input unit 110, a display unit 112, and broadcast reception. Module 114.

Referring to FIG. 1, first, the controller 100 performs overall operations of the portable terminal, for example, processes and controls for voice call and data communication. That is, the controller 100 processes and controls a function for receiving a broadcast content by acquiring a specific channel selected by a user when a digital multimedia broadcasting viewing event occurs, and playing a received broadcast content. To control and process it. In addition, the control unit 100 includes a relationship image processing unit 102 according to the present invention, when the broadcast viewing event of the specific channel is generated, while the storage unit attempts to receive the content broadcasted on the specific channel The controller 110 controls and processes a function for displaying the relation image corresponding to the specific channel among the relation images previously stored in the display unit 112 on the display unit 112.

The communication module 104 performs a function of transmitting and receiving a radio signal of data input and output through an antenna, and receives the digital multimedia broadcasting signal by including the broadcast receiving module 114 according to the present invention. The broadcast receiving module 114 is driven by the control of the control unit 100 and the relation image obtaining unit 106 according to the present invention, and receives and broadcasts content broadcasted in a specific channel to the control unit 100. . In addition, the broadcast receiving module 114 receives the electronic service guide (ESG) and electronic program guide (EPG) data and provides them to the relation image acquisition unit 106, and controls the relation image acquisition unit 106. Accordingly, a predetermined amount of streams are received for each channel and provided to the related image acquisition unit 106. Here, the ESG and EPG data are data representing broadcast information for each channel, and the ESG data includes a broadcast content title, content type, start time, end time, duration, content descriptor (service type information), and the like. The EPG data includes simplified service channel information and program information of each service channel.

The relational image acquisition unit 106 drives the broadcast receiving module 114 included in the communication module 104 to power the ESG and EPG data from a broadcast providing server when the portable terminal is powered on. Control and process the functions to receive. The relational image acquisition unit 106 analyzes the ESG and EPG data received through the broadcast receiving module 114 to identify and temporarily store broadcast information for each channel, that is, start time of contents broadcast for each channel. And controls and processes a function for receiving a predetermined amount of streams from a corresponding channel through the broadcast receiving module 114 at each start time of the contents. The relational image acquisition unit 106 extracts one intra-frame from a predetermined amount of streams input from the broadcast receiving module 106 and then stores the extracted I-frame in the storage unit 108. Outputs to) and saves as the related video of the channel. Here, when the received predetermined amount of streams are encoded using MEPG-4, the relation image acquisition unit 106 may determine a stream corresponding to one I-frame using a picture start code. A start and an end may be distinguished, and when encoded using MPEG-4 Part 10, a start and end of a stream corresponding to the one I-frame may be distinguished using a slice start code. Also, the predetermined amount of stream here means an amount of stream comprising at least one I frame.

The storage unit 108 stores a program for controlling and processing the overall operation of the portable terminal and various reference data, and stores an I-frame for each channel input from the relation image acquisition unit 106 according to the present invention. It is saved as the related video of the channel. In this case, the I-frame may be stored in the form of a stream extracted from the relation image acquisition unit 106 or in another format. In addition, the storage unit 108 may store the relational image in a random access memory (RAM) that stores temporary data generated during execution of various programs.

The input unit 110 includes a plurality of numeric keys, character keys, and function keys to provide the controller 100 with functions corresponding to a key selected by the user. In particular, according to the present invention, the input unit 110 receives one channel from a list of broadcast channels from a user and provides the selected channel to the controller 100.

The display unit 112 displays status information, numbers, letters, and images generated during the operation of the portable terminal. In particular, according to the present invention, the display unit 112 displays an image of broadcast content reproduced by the control unit 100 and displays a relation image input from the relationship image processing unit 112.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of acquiring a relationship image of each channel in a portable terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The relation image acquisition procedure described below is a procedure performed as a background function of a terminal regardless of whether a digital multimedia broadcasting viewing event occurs.

Referring to FIG. 2, when the power is turned on in step 201, the terminal proceeds to step 203 to drive the broadcast receiving module 114 that receives the digital multimedia broadcasting signal. In step 205, the terminal receives ESG and EPG data from the broadcast providing server. In step 207, the terminal receives broadcast information for each channel, that is, contents broadcast for each channel, using the received ESG and EPG data. Analyze the start time.

In step 209, the terminal receives a predetermined amount of streams in which at least one I-frame exists for each channel, and extracts the I-frames from the streams of the received channels in step 211. Here, the terminal uses a picture start code when the received predetermined amount of streams are encoded using MEPG-4, and the received predetermined amount of streams uses MPEG-4 Part 10. In the case of encoding, by using a slice start code, the I-frame may be extracted by dividing the start and the end of the stream corresponding to the one I-frame.

In step 213, the terminal designates and stores the extracted I-frame of each channel as a relation image of the corresponding channel. Here, the broadcast receiving module 114 is terminated after receiving a predetermined stream for each channel.

In step 215, the terminal checks whether the broadcast content of a specific channel is changed. In other words, the terminal compares the current time with the start time of the contents broadcast for each channel to check whether the current time coincides with the time when the broadcasting of the specific content ends in the specific channel and the other content starts.

When it is time to change the broadcast content of the specific channel, the terminal drives the broadcast receiving module 114 again in step 217 to receive a predetermined amount of stream from the corresponding channel where the broadcast content is replaced, and then 219. In step S, the driving of the broadcast receiving module 114 is terminated and one I-frame is extracted from the received stream.

Thereafter, the terminal proceeds to step 221 to update the relation image of the corresponding channel with the extracted one I-frame, and proceeds to step 215 to perform the following steps again.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of displaying a pre-stored relation image for a time when a channel is acquired in a portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, in step 301, the terminal determines whether a digital multimedia broadcasting service viewing event is generated by a user's key manipulation. When the broadcast service viewing event occurs, the terminal analyzes the ESG and EPG data previously received and displays a channel list. In step 305, the terminal determines whether a specific channel is selected from the channel list by a user's key manipulation. When the specific channel is selected, the terminal attempts to receive content broadcast in the selected specific channel in step 307 and displays a relation image corresponding to the selected channel among the relation images previously stored in the storage unit 108. Displayed at (112).

In step 309, the terminal determines whether the selected channel is acquired and broadcast content is received. When the broadcast content is not received, the terminal returns to step 307 and when the broadcast content is received, the terminal proceeds to step 311 to play the received broadcast content. That is, the terminal displays previously recorded relational images of the corresponding channel while attempting to receive the content broadcast in the selected channel, so that the user can pre-estimate the content broadcast in the selected channel. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, when the 'channel 2' item is selected from the channel list, the terminal is broadcasted on the channel 2 until the selected channel 2 is obtained and the stream of the 'friends' is received. The I-frame obtained at the start time of 'Friends' is displayed on the display unit 112, and when the stream of 'Friends' is received, the received stream is decoded to reproduce 'Friends'.

In step 313, the terminal determines whether a channel change event occurs in a user's key operation. If the channel change event occurs, the terminal returns to step 307 to display the relationship image corresponding to the changed channel and perform the following steps again. In contrast, when the channel change event does not occur, the terminal proceeds to step 315 to check whether a broadcast service viewing end event occurs. When the broadcast viewing end event does not occur, the terminal returns to step 311 to continuously play the content received from the corresponding channel, and when the broadcast watching end event occurs, the terminal receives the broadcast receiving module. The drive of 114 is terminated and the algorithm according to the present invention is terminated.

Although the above-described present invention has been described on the assumption that the relation image of the specific channel is acquired in advance before the user views the broadcast of the specific channel, the user may select the relation image from the specific channel before the user acquires the relation image from the specific channel. An event for watching a broadcast of a specific channel may occur. In this case, the terminal may display a preset basic screen as the relation image.

Meanwhile, in the detailed description of the present invention, specific embodiments have been described, but various modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments, but should be determined not only by the scope of the following claims, but also by the equivalents of the claims.

As described above, according to the present invention, a user acquires a predetermined frame of contents broadcast from each broadcasting channel in a portable terminal in advance, and displays the predetermined frame obtained for a time taken for the specific channel selected by the user to be acquired. This may help to estimate the contents of the content broadcast in the selected or changed channel, and the user may not feel that the playback of the content is delayed due to the time taken to acquire the selected or changed channel. .

Claims (9)

A method for providing a digital multimedia broadcasting service in a portable terminal, Receiving a predetermined amount of streams from each channel by using an electronic service guide (ESG) or electronic program guide (EPG) data received from a broadcast providing server when the terminal is powered on; Extracting and storing one frame from the stream received from each channel; Attempting to receive content broadcasted from the specific channel when a broadcast viewing event of a specific channel occurs; Displaying a frame extracted from the specific channel while attempting the reception. The method of claim 1, When the content broadcasted from the selected channel is received, further comprising the step of playing the received content. The method of claim 1, Receiving a predetermined amount of streams from each channel, Analyzing a start time of contents broadcast in each channel by using the received ESG and EPG data; Receiving a predetermined amount of streams from a corresponding channel at each start time of the contents. The method of claim 1, The predetermined amount of stream, A quantity of a stream comprising at least one I frame. An apparatus for providing digital multimedia broadcasting service in a portable terminal, A broadcast receiving module that receives a predetermined amount of streams from each channel by using an electronic service guide (ESG) or electronic program guide (EPG) data received from a broadcast providing server when the terminal is powered on; An image acquisition unit for extracting one frame from a predetermined amount of streams received from each channel; A control unit for controlling a function of attempting to receive content broadcast from the specific channel when the broadcast viewing event of a specific channel is generated and displaying a frame extracted from the specific channel while attempting the reception; And a display unit which displays a frame extracted from the specific channel under control of the controller. The method of claim 5, And a storage unit for storing the frames extracted from each channel. The method of claim 5, The control unit, And when the broadcasted content is received from the selected channel, playing the received content. The method of claim 5, The relationship image acquisition unit, Analyzing the start time of the contents broadcast in each channel using the received ESG and EPG data, The broadcast receiving module, And receiving a predetermined amount of streams from a corresponding channel at each start time of the contents under the control of the relation image acquisition unit. The method of claim 5, The predetermined amount of stream, And an amount of streams comprising at least one I frame.

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