KR20090052137A - Apparatus and method for controlling channel - Google Patents

Apparatus and method for controlling channel Download PDF

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Publication number
KR20090052137A
KR20090052137A KR1020070118698A KR20070118698A KR20090052137A KR 20090052137 A KR20090052137 A KR 20090052137A KR 1020070118698 A KR1020070118698 A KR 1020070118698A KR 20070118698 A KR20070118698 A KR 20070118698A KR 20090052137 A KR20090052137 A KR 20090052137A
Authority
KR
South Korea
Prior art keywords
information
channel
broadcast program
genre
epg data
Prior art date
Application number
KR1020070118698A
Other languages
Korean (ko)
Inventor
임대호
Original Assignee
엘지전자 주식회사
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by 엘지전자 주식회사 filed Critical 엘지전자 주식회사
Priority to KR1020070118698A priority Critical patent/KR20090052137A/en
Publication of KR20090052137A publication Critical patent/KR20090052137A/en

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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04H—BROADCAST COMMUNICATION
    • H04H60/00—Arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linking to broadcast information or broadcast space-time; Broadcast-related systems
    • H04H60/68—Systems specially adapted for using specific information, e.g. geographical or meteorological information
    • H04H60/72—Systems specially adapted for using specific information, e.g. geographical or meteorological information using electronic programme guides [EPG]
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/41—Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
    • H04N21/422—Input-only peripherals, i.e. input devices connected to specially adapted client devices, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
    • H04N21/42204—User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
    • H04N21/434—Disassembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. demultiplexing audio and video streams, extraction of additional data from a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Extraction or processing of SI; Disassembling of packetised elementary stream
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/47—End-user applications
    • H04N21/482—End-user interface for program selection

Abstract

The present invention relates to a channel control apparatus and method.

The channel control method according to the present invention comprises the steps of: extracting broadcast program information included in EPG data; And switching a channel to a broadcast program having the same information as the extracted information.

EPG, Channel Switch

Description

Apparatus and method for controlling channel

The present invention relates to a channel control apparatus and method.

In addition to video signals and audio signals necessary for broadcasting, broadcasting stations provide programming information of broadcast programs using corresponding channels and / or separate channels. The broadcasting program programming information currently being serviced is called EPG (Electronic Program Guide), and receives the corresponding information from a broadcast receiving apparatus such as a set-top box or a TV and displays it in the EPG information window.

The user can tune in or watch a desired channel through the EPG display window. In detail, when the display function of EPG information is selected by the user, the broadcast receiving apparatus displays the content of the broadcast program on the screen, which is previously stored among the broadcast program information to be displayed on the screen. Tune to receive the information. In this case, in the case of broadcast program information that is being received by tuning the corresponding channel, the content of the broadcast program is generally expressed as "no data" until the reception is completed.

However, in the related art, broadcast program information is displayed to be recognized by a user using EPG data, and a channel switching method using EPG data has not been proposed until now.

An object of the present invention is to provide a channel control apparatus and method for switching a channel to a broadcast program of the same genre as the output broadcast program.

The present invention is characterized by extracting broadcast program information included in EPG data and switching channels to a broadcast program having the same information as the extracted information.

According to the channel control apparatus and method of the present invention, by extracting the broadcast program information contained in the EPG data, and switching the channel to a broadcast program having the same information as the extracted information to provide convenience to the user when switching channels It works.

In addition, the present invention can be applied to any device capable of receiving broadcast program information such as EPG data, thereby providing convenience to the user when switching channels.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a channel control method includes extracting broadcast program information included in EPG data; And switching a channel to a broadcast program having the same information as the extracted information.

In the present invention, the broadcast program information is characterized in that the genre information.

In the present invention, selecting the extracted information to be used as the channel switching information; characterized in that it further comprises.

In addition, the channel control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, the user selection unit provided with a key button for channel switching; A demultiplexer for separating the EPG data from the signal received by the tuner; And a controller configured to extract broadcast program information from EPG data and control a channel to be switched to a broadcast program having the same information as the extracted broadcast program information when the channel switch key button provided in the user selector is input. It is done.

In the present invention, the user selector further comprises a separate channel switch key button for instructing to switch to a broadcast program channel having the same information as the broadcast program information extracted from the EPG data.

In the present invention, the user selector further comprises a key button for setting and releasing to use the broadcast program information extracted from the EPG data as channel switching information.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a view showing the configuration of a channel control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the user selector 11 receives a command for controlling an image device from a user and outputs a signal corresponding thereto; A tuner 12 for tuning the signal received through the antenna; A demultiplexer (13) for demultiplexing the signal tuned by the tuner (12) to separate the audio / video signal and providing electronic program guide (EPG) data; An audio / video decoder (14) for decoding the audio / video signal separated by the demultiplexer (13); A display unit 15 for displaying a signal decoded by the audio / video decoder 14; A storage 16 for storing EPG information provided by the demultiplexer 13; A control unit 17 which extracts and stores genre information of a broadcast program from EPG data according to a signal of the user selector 11 and switches a channel to a broadcast program having the same genre information as the stored genre information when switching channels. )Wow; And a memory 18 storing genre information extracted under the control of the controller 17.

The user selector 11 outputs a signal corresponding to a broadcast program provided by a broadcaster or an external program provider.

Here, the user selector 11 is used to control various operations of the video device or to select a channel switching function and an EPG display function, and to generate a menu key button provided in the wireless remote controller and a signal corresponding to the key button operation. It may include a generator, it may be provided with a mouse, a keyboard, or the like, or may be provided in the main body panel of the video device.

In addition, according to the present invention, the user selector 11 includes a separate genre channel switch key button for switching channels by genre, and a genre setting key button for extracting and setting genre information of a broadcast program. do.

The controller 17 outputs a control signal for tuning a program provided by a broadcasting station or an external program provider desired by the user according to the signal of the user selector 11.

The tuner 12 tunes a signal of a broadcasting station or an external service provider desired by a user from a signal received through an antenna according to a control signal of the controller 17 and outputs a resultant signal.

The demultiplexer 13 separates and outputs an audio / video signal by demultiplexing a desired program from a signal tuned by the tuner 12 according to a control signal of the controller 17.

The audio / video decoder 14 decodes the audio / video signal separated by the demultiplexer 13 and outputs the resultant signal.

The display unit 15 displays a program of a broadcasting station or an external program provider desired by the user according to the signal output from the audio / video decoder 14.

The storage 16 stores the EPG data separated by the demultiplexer 13 according to the control signal of the controller 17.

The controller 17 extracts the EPG data for the broadcast program being displayed on the display unit 15 from the EPG data stored in the storage 16, stores the EPG data in the memory 18, processes the signal, and then displays the display unit 15. By adding a predetermined message to inform that there is EPG information in the broadcast program currently being displayed.

In addition, the controller 17 automatically extracts genre information of the broadcast program displayed on the display unit 15 from the EPG data and stores the information for channel switching, and for each genre provided in the user selector 11. When the channel switch key button is pressed, the channel is switched to a broadcast program having the same genre information as the stored genre information so as to be displayed on the display unit 15.

In addition, the controller 17 extracts and stores the genre information of the broadcast program from the EPG data according to the input of the genre setting key button of the user selector 11, and selectively sets or releases the information for channel switching to switch the channel. Control as possible.

In addition, the controller 17 may be configured to extract one or more of various pieces of information included in the EPG data, not limited to the genre information, and to selectively switch the channel according to the extracted information.

Accordingly, the present invention can provide convenience to a user in channel switching by extracting broadcast program information included in EPG data and switching channels to a broadcast program having the same information as the extracted information.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a channel switching method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, a broadcast program is output to a video device such as a TV (S21). Here, the channel program key may be changed by pressing a channel switch key button.

Thereafter, genre information of the output broadcast program is extracted and stored (S22). For example, genre information of a broadcast program output on the screen of the current video apparatus is extracted from the EPG data. Here, when screen division such as PIP or POP occurs, genre information may be selectively extracted from a broadcast program displayed on a main screen or a sub-screen.

That is, the controller 17 automatically extracts and stores genre information of a broadcast program output to the display unit 15 from the EPG data, and is output to the display unit 15 when a channel is changed by pressing a channel switch key button or the like. The genre information of the current broadcast program is extracted from the EPG data, automatically updated with the extracted genre information, and stored in the memory.

Here, the stored genre information may be set and released to be used as information for channel switching.

Subsequently, when a key button for switching a channel by genre is pressed, the channel is switched to a broadcast program having the same genre information as the stored genre information (S23).

For example, if the user is currently watching a baseball game, the genre information is extracted from the EPG data. If the genre information is 'sport', 'sport' is extracted and stored as genre information. When is pressed, the channel is switched only to the broadcast program that relays the sport.

In detail, FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a remote controller having a channel switch key button for each genre according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, a remote controller 30 including a separate channel switching key button 31 for each genre and an existing channel switching key button 32 is shown, and the remote controller 30 includes a user selector 11. Included in

That is, the controller 17 extracts and stores the genre information of the broadcast program output to the display unit 15 from the EPG data, and when the separately provided genre channel switching key button 31 is pressed, the same as the stored genre information The channel is controlled to be switched only to a broadcast program having genre information.

For example, if the channel switching key button 31 for each genre is watched while watching a home shopping broadcasting program, the channel is switched only to the home shopping channel. At this time, when the existing channel button 32 is pressed, the channel is switched to the channel scanned by the automatic channel search as in the conventional case.

As another embodiment, FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a remote controller having a genre setting key button according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, a remote control 40 including a genre setting key button 14 for setting and releasing genre information of a broadcast program and an existing channel switching key button 42 is shown. Is included in the user selector 11.

When the genre setting key button 41 is pressed, genre information of a broadcast program output on a screen of a current video device is extracted from EPG data and stored, and a message indicating that genre information is set in an OSD (On Screen Display) is output. .

At this time, when the channel switching key button 42 is pressed, the channel is switched to a broadcast program having the same genre information as the stored genre information. When the genre setting key button 41 is pressed again, the genre setting is canceled and the channel switching is performed. When the key button 42 is pressed, the channel is switched to the channel scanned by the automatic channel search as before.

That is, the genre information may be set and released by the input of the channel switch key button 42 to selectively switch the channel to a broadcast program having the desired genre information.

In addition, although the present invention limits and describes genre information as information for channel switching, it is not limited to the genre information and may perform channel switching selectively using one or more information among various pieces of information included in EPG data. Can be.

As described above, the present invention extracts the broadcast program information included in the EPG data and switches the channel to the broadcast program having the same information as the extracted information, thereby providing convenience to the user during channel switching.

In addition, the present invention can be applied to any device capable of receiving broadcast program information such as EPG data, thereby providing convenience to the user when switching channels.

So far, the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments, and those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may implement embodiments of the present invention in a different form from the detailed description of the present invention within the essential technical scope of the present invention. Could be. Here, the essential technical scope of the present invention is shown in the claims, and all differences within the equivalent range will be construed as being included in the present invention.

1 is a view showing the configuration of a channel control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a channel switching method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a view showing a remote control having a channel switch key button for each genre according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a view showing a remote control having a genre setting key button according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (6)

Extracting broadcast program information included in the EPG data; And switching a channel to a broadcast program having the same information as the extracted information. The method of claim 1, And the broadcast program information is genre information. The method of claim 1, Selecting the extracted information to be used as channel switching information. A user selection unit provided with a key button for channel switching; A demultiplexer for separating the EPG data from the signal received by the tuner; And a controller configured to extract broadcast program information from EPG data and control a channel to be switched to a broadcast program having the same information as the extracted broadcast program information when the channel switch key button provided in the user selector is input. Channel control device. The method of claim 4, wherein The user selector further comprises a separate channel switch key button for instructing the user to switch to a broadcast program channel having the same information as the broadcast program information extracted from the EPG data. The method of claim 4, wherein And the user selector further comprises a key button for setting and releasing broadcast program information extracted from EPG data as channel switching information.
KR1020070118698A 2007-11-20 2007-11-20 Apparatus and method for controlling channel KR20090052137A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
KR1020070118698A KR20090052137A (en) 2007-11-20 2007-11-20 Apparatus and method for controlling channel

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
KR1020070118698A KR20090052137A (en) 2007-11-20 2007-11-20 Apparatus and method for controlling channel

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
KR20090052137A true KR20090052137A (en) 2009-05-25

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
KR1020070118698A KR20090052137A (en) 2007-11-20 2007-11-20 Apparatus and method for controlling channel

Country Status (1)

Country Link
KR (1) KR20090052137A (en)

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