KR20100047750A - Method for searching channels according to genre in a digital broadcasting receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A method for searching a channel according to a genre in a digital broadcasting receiver is provided to convert a channel only in a channel map corresponding to a selected genre when a user selects the genre, thereby efficiently searching a channel of a preferred genre. CONSTITUTION: A genre for searching a channel is inputted(S210). A channel map of the genre collects a channel list corresponding to the inputted genre and is composed(S212). During a channel change request through input of a channel-up/down key, a channel change is performed in only a channel map of the genre(S216). The channel map is configured using EPG(Electronic Program Guide) information extracted from a broadcasting signal.

Description

How to search for channels by genre in a digital broadcast receiver {METHOD FOR SEARCHING CHANNELS ACCORDING TO GENRE IN A DIGITAL BROADCASTING RECEIVER}

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital broadcasting receiver. In particular, when a user selects a genre to search for a channel in a digital broadcasting receiver, a channel map corresponding to the selected genre is configured to form a channel. Channel switching method is performed in the digital broadcasting receiver to enable the user to more efficiently search for the channel of the preferred genre by performing channel switching only on the channel map configured by genre for the input of the up / down key. It is about.

In general, a digital broadcast receiver called a set top box is a device configured with a TV receiver to receive various TV image data of multiple channels transmitted through a network or a satellite. Receives digital broadcasting data compressed by a moving picture experts group (MPEG) -2 method, and transmits the compressed data, decodes the encoded data, and converts the encoded data into a standard NTSC signal to be displayed on a TV receiver.

That is, the digital broadcast receiver receives a bit-stream type digital broadcast signal transmitted by a broadcasting station and broadcasts a channel selected from the broadcast signals received by transport demux. It is configured to extract the signal, and to display the extracted broadcast signal after decoding the MPEG-2 scheme.

On the other hand, in the channel search in the digital broadcast receiver as described above, users generally search for channels to watch while switching channels sequentially by using a channel up / down key provided on a key input unit or a remote controller when watching TV. have.

However, in such a digital broadcast receiver, the number of channels provided is so large that when searching for a channel using the function of the channel up / down key, where only switching to the next upper or lower channel is performed, There is a problem in that channel searching becomes inefficient, such as the need to search sequentially.

Accordingly, in the present invention, when a user selects a genre for channel searching in a digital broadcasting receiver, a channel map corresponding to the selected genre is configured, and channel switching is performed only within the channel map configured for each genre for input of a channel up / down key. Accordingly, the present invention seeks to provide a method for channel search by genre in a digital broadcast receiver that enables a user to more efficiently search for a channel of a preferred genre.

As described above, the present invention provides a method for searching a channel by genre in a digital broadcasting receiver, the method comprising: receiving a genre for channel search when a channel search request is performed for genre, collecting a channel list corresponding to the input genre, and configuring a channel map of the corresponding genre And performing channel switching only within a channel map of the genre when a channel switching request is made through a channel up / down key input.

In the present invention, when a genre desired to be searched by a user is set from among a plurality of channels provided by the digital broadcast receiver in the channel search for each genre in the digital broadcast receiver, a channel list corresponding to the selected genre is collected to obtain a channel map of the genre. After the configuration, the channel up / down key input after the channel map is configured to switch to the upper or lower channel only in the channel map, and then use the channel up / down key after selecting a favorite genre. Therefore, there is an advantage in that the channels of the genre can be easily searched.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail the operating principle of the present invention. In the following description of the present invention, when it is determined that a detailed description of a known function or configuration may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. The following terms are defined in consideration of the functions of the present invention, and may be changed according to the intentions or customs of the user, the operator, and the like. Therefore, the definition should be made based on the contents throughout the specification.

Referring to the technical gist of the present invention, when a user selects a genre to search for a channel in a digital broadcasting receiver, a channel map corresponding to the selected genre is configured so that subsequent input of a channel up / down key is performed only within the channel map configured for each genre. It is easy to achieve what is intended in the present invention through a technique that allows channel switching to be performed.

1 illustrates a detailed block configuration of a digital broadcast receiver to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

Referring to FIG. 1, first, the key input unit 118 and the remote controller 126 generate a key data signal according to a user's key operation and apply the generated key data signal to the controller 116. The memory unit 120 stores an operation program for the operation of the digital broadcast receiver, and stores and outputs various program information output from the tuner unit 100 under the control of the controller 116.

The tuner 100 tunes and receives a bit stream of a channel corresponding to a tuning control signal of the controller 116 among bit streams received from an antenna or a terrestrial wave. The channel decoder 102 decodes the signal tuned from the tuner 100 in a manner such as VSB, QPSK, QAM, etc. according to a transmission method, and applies the demultiplexer 104 to the demultiplexer 104.

The demultiplexer 104 receives the digital stream decoded by the channel decoder 102 and divides the digital stream into a video, audio, and additional information stream and applies the decoded stream to the A / V decoder 106. In this case, the A / V decoder 106 may be, for example, an MPEG-2 decoder. Then, the A / V decoder 106 separates and decodes the broadcast signal provided from the demultiplexer 104 into an audio signal and a video signal, and then performs a predetermined signal processing process through the video / audio processing units 108 and 110 to receive a TV receiver. The display unit 112 is displayed on the screen.

The video processor 108 receives a video signal decoded and output from the A / V decoder 106 and converts the video signal into a displayable image signal on a screen of the display 112 of a TV receiver such as a CRT, a PDP, an LCD, or the like. The audio processor 110 receives the audio signal decoded and output from the A / V decoder 106 and reproduces the audio signal through the audio output unit such as the speaker 114. The IR receiver 124 receives an operation command of a remote controller operated by a user and applies it to the controller 116.

The controller 116 controls the overall operation of each part of the digital broadcast receiver according to the operation program stored in the memory unit 120, and the remote controller 126 input from the key data signal from the key input unit 118 and the IR receiver 124. According to the key data from the control signal for generating a corresponding function is generated and applied to the corresponding function. For example, the tuner 100 provides a tuning control signal for tuning a broadcast channel selected by a user, and generates a decoding control signal for decoding the tuned broadcast signal.

In addition, the controller 116 collects a channel list corresponding to the selected genre when the genre desired to be searched by the user is set among a plurality of channels provided by the digital broadcasting receiver according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and thus, the channel map of the genre. Configure Subsequently, the channel up / down key input through the key input unit 118 or the remote controller 126 after the channel map is configured to perform the channel switching function to the upper or lower channel only within the channel map for each genre, and thus is preferred by the user. After selecting a genre to be controlled, the channel up / down keys can be used to easily navigate channels of the genre.

2 illustrates an operation control flow for performing channel search by genre in a digital broadcast receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

First, when there is a power-on key input through the key input unit 118 or the remote controller 126, the controller 116 of the digital broadcast receiver turns on the power of the digital broadcast receiver at step S200, and at step S202. In step, the broadcast of the channel previously watched is displayed.

Accordingly, a user may watch a broadcast program of a channel previously watched, or use a key input unit 118 or a remote controller 126 implemented on the front panel of a digital broadcast receiver to watch a channel for broadcasting another desired channel. You can also switch.

In this case, when the user selects a previous channel or a desired channel change as described above to watch the broadcast of the corresponding channel, channel switching is normally performed through the channel up / down keys. When searching for channels using only the up / down keys, the search for channels that are not desired is sequentially performed, which causes inconvenience in channel searching.

Accordingly, in the present invention, after the channel map for each genre is configured through the channel search setting for each genre, the user sets a function for channel switching according to the input of the channel up / down key only within the genre channel map. At this time, the above genre can be classified into a movie, drama, education, children, etc. For example, if a child is selected as a genre, even if the number of children's channels is not sequentially distributed over the entire channel, the user can select the channel up / down keys. You can easily navigate through the following channels classified by the genre Young just by input.

Then, the controller 116 of the digital broadcast receiver checks whether the channel search setting for each genre is requested from the user through the key input unit 118 or the remote controller 126 in step S204, and the channel search setting for each genre is requested. If not, the process proceeds to step S206 to perform a corresponding operation according to key input from the key input unit 118 or the remote controller 126.

However, if there is a request for setting a channel search for each genre as described above, the controller 116 proceeds from step S204 to step S208 and requests selection of a genre for channel search. In this case, the genre selection may be performed by displaying a list of genres classified and provided by the digital broadcasting receiver, and then selecting them through the key input unit 118 or the remote controller 126.

Subsequently, the controller 116 receives the genre selected by the user in step S210, and proceeds to step S212 to collect a list of channels corresponding to the selected genre to form a channel map of the genre. In this channel map configuration, the controller 116 extracts EPG information from the broadcast signal, classifies the genres of the respective channels received by the digital broadcast receiver, and then assigns each channel to the corresponding channel map according to the genres classified above. Configure and save and read the channel map of the corresponding genre when inputting the genre selection by the user and provide it as the channel map.

As described above, after the channel map is configured, the user inputs a channel up / down key provided in the key input unit 118 or the remote controller 126 to search for a channel in the channel map of the genre selected by the user. Will be searched.

Then, the controller 116 receives a channel up / down key input for channel search in the channel map configured for each genre in step S214, and proceeds to step S216 to input a channel up / down key. Switch sequentially to the corresponding channel. Thereafter, the controller 116 displays the broadcast of the channel switched to the channel up / down key in step S218.

As described above, in the present invention, when a genre for searching by a user is set among a plurality of channels provided by the digital broadcast receiver, the channel list corresponding to the selected genre is collected by the digital broadcasting receiver. After configuring the channel map of the corresponding genre, the channel up / down key input after the channel map is composed so that the channel switching function to the upper or lower channel is performed only within the channel map. Use the / down keys to navigate the channels of the genre more easily.

Meanwhile, in the above description of the present invention, specific embodiments have been described, but various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the invention should be determined by the claims rather than by the described embodiments.

1 is a detailed block diagram of a digital broadcast receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention;

2 is a flow chart illustrating a channel search operation control by genre in a digital broadcast receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention.

<Brief description of the major symbols in the drawings>

100: tuner unit 102: channel decoder

104: demultiplexer 106: A / V decoder

108: video processing unit 110: audio processing unit

112: display unit 114: speaker

116: control unit 118: key input unit

120: memory unit 124: IR receiver

126: remote control

Claims (2)

As a method for channel search by genre in a digital broadcasting receiver, Receiving a genre for channel searching when a channel searching request is performed by genre; Collecting a channel list corresponding to the input genre and configuring a channel map of the genre; Channel switching is performed only within the channel map of the genre when requesting channel switching through channel up / down key input. Channel search method according to the genre in the digital broadcast receiver comprising a. The method of claim 1, The channel map configuration step, Extracting EPG information from the broadcast signal; Classifying genres of channels received by the digital broadcast receiver using the EPG information; Configuring each channel as a channel map for each genre according to the classified genres; Reading the channel map of the input genre among the genre channel maps and providing the channel map of the input genre Channel search method according to genre in a digital broadcast receiver comprising a.

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