KR20220008635A - Set-top Box Having a Light Weight Software Logic Process - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a set-top box to increase a channel switching speed. According to the present invention, the set-top box comprises: a channel switching engine; a player engine connected to the channel switching engine; and an additional information providing module. The channel change engine is configured to identify a channel to be changed from a channel change signal in response to receiving the channel change signal, prepare for a channel change to the changed channel, and output a playback signal requests in response to completion of preparation for the channel change, wherein the playback request signal includes information about the changed channel. The player engine is configured to prepare for channel playback on the changed channel in response to receiving the playback request signal to output an audio/video (AV) signal for the channel playback. The additional information providing module is configured to perform processing for providing additional information in response to that the AV signal for the channel playback is output from the player engine.

Description

Set-top Box Having a Light Weight Software Logic Process

The disclosed technology relates to a set-top box.

The IPTV service is an interactive TV service provided using the Internet, and is connected to a content providing server operated by a content providing service provider using a set-top box connected to the Internet, such as video on demand (VOD) content. It is a service that allows you to download and watch content in a download or streaming manner. In addition to the VOD content service, the IPTV service also provides a broadcast program transmission service, allowing users to watch various broadcast programs while changing channels.

An object of the disclosed technology is to provide a technology for reducing the channel switching speed by lightening the software logic process inside the set-top box.

The problems to be solved by the disclosed technology are not limited to the problems mentioned above, and other problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

In one aspect, a set-top box (Set-top Box) device is provided. The apparatus includes a channel switching engine, a player engine connected to the channel switching engine, and an additional information providing module. The channel change engine identifies a channel to be changed from the channel change signal in response to receiving the channel change signal, prepares for a channel change to the changed channel, and in response to the preparation of the channel change completes, a reproduction request signal wherein the playback request signal includes information about the changed channel, the player engine prepares to play a channel on the changed channel in response to receiving the playback request signal, the channel configured to output an audio video (AV) signal for reproduction, and the additional information providing module may be configured to perform processing for providing additional information in response to the AV signal for channel reproduction being output from the player engine. have.

In an embodiment, the channel switching engine includes a program information acquisition module configured to acquire information on the changed channel.

In an embodiment, the channel switching engine further comprises: a restricted channel checking module, configured to obtain viewing age restriction information for the changed channel and information on whether the changed channel is a locked channel.

In one embodiment, the player engine includes an IGMP leave performing module configured to perform an Internet Group Management Group (IGMP) leave operation for an existing channel.

In an embodiment, the IGMP live performing module is further configured to transmit an IGMP live request signal to the broadcast service providing server through a network.

In one embodiment, the player engine further comprises an existing player exit processing module, configured to exit a player for the legacy channel.

In an embodiment, the player engine further includes an existing channel viewing right initialization module, configured to initialize a viewing right for an existing channel.

In an embodiment, the player engine further includes an IGMP join performing module configured to perform an IGMP join operation for the changed channel.

In an embodiment, the IGMP join performing module is further configured to transmit an IGMP join request signal to the broadcast service providing server through a network.

In one embodiment, the player engine further comprises a modified channel player regeneration module configured to regenerate a player for the changed channel.

In an embodiment, the player engine further includes a changed channel viewing right inquiry module, configured to perform a viewing right inquiry operation for reproducing the changed channel.

In an embodiment, the player engine further includes a PMT parsing module configured to perform a PMT (Program Map Table) parsing and analysis operation for receiving and reproducing a stream for the changed channel.

In an embodiment, the player engine further includes an AV player configured to output the stream for the changed channel as the AV signal based on the program information parsed by the PMT parsing module.

In an embodiment, the set-top box device further comprises an audience rating statistical analysis agent for rating statistical analysis, wherein the additional information providing module is configured to transmit information on the changed channel to the audience rating statistical analysis agent. Includes module provided.

In an embodiment, the set-top box device further includes an advertisement agent for advertisement reproduction, and the additional information providing module further includes an advertisement reproduction information providing module configured to transmit information on the changed channel to the advertisement agent. include

In another aspect, a set-top box device is provided. The apparatus includes a channel switching engine, a player engine connected to the channel switching engine, and an additional information providing module. The channel change engine identifies a channel to be changed from the channel change signal in response to receiving the channel change signal, prepares for a channel change to the changed channel, and in response to the preparation of the channel change completes, a reproduction request signal wherein the playback request signal includes information about the changed channel, the player engine prepares to play a channel on the changed channel in response to receiving the playback request signal, the channel An AV signal for reproduction may be output together with a trigger signal, and the additional information providing module may be configured to perform processing for providing additional information in response to receiving the trigger signal.

In an embodiment, the player engine includes a PMT parsing module configured to perform a PMT parsing and analysis operation for receiving and reproducing a stream for the changed channel.

In an embodiment, the player engine further includes an AV player configured to output the stream for the changed channel as the AV signal along with the trigger signal based on the program information parsed by the PMT parsing module.

In an embodiment, the additional information providing module includes a trigger signal detection module configured to detect the trigger signal.

In an embodiment, the set-top box device further comprises an audience rating statistical analysis agent for rating statistical analysis, wherein the additional information providing module is configured to transmit information on the changed channel to the audience rating statistical analysis agent. Includes module provided.

In an embodiment, the set-top box device further includes an advertisement agent for playing advertisements, and the additional information providing module includes an advertisement reproduction information providing module configured to transmit information on the changed channel to the advertisement agent. do.

In another aspect, a set-top box device is provided. The apparatus includes a channel switching engine, and a player engine connected to the channel switching engine. The channel change engine identifies a channel to be changed from the channel change signal in response to receiving the channel change signal, prepares for a channel change to the changed channel, and in response to the preparation of the channel change completes, a reproduction request signal wherein the play request signal includes information about the changed channel, the player engine is configured to prepare for channel play on the changed channel in response to receiving the play request signal, and , the channel switching engine includes a program information acquisition module configured to acquire PID (Program Identifier) information for the changed channel, wherein the player engine is configured to: and an AV player configured to output the stream for the channel as an AV signal.

In an embodiment, the AV player is further configured to output a trigger signal together when outputting the stream for the changed channel as the AV signal.

In an embodiment, the set-top box device further includes an additional information providing module, and the additional information providing module includes a trigger signal detecting module configured to detect the trigger signal.

In an embodiment, the set-top box device further comprises an audience rating statistical analysis agent for rating statistical analysis, wherein the additional information providing module is configured to transmit information on the changed channel to the audience rating statistical analysis agent. It further includes a provision module.

In an embodiment, the set-top box device further includes an advertisement agent for advertisement reproduction, and the additional information providing module further includes an advertisement reproduction information providing module configured to transmit information on the changed channel to the advertisement agent. include

According to embodiments of the disclosed technology, there is a technical effect of reducing the channel switching speed by lightening the software logic process inside the set-top box.

1 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a network configuration diagram in which a set-top box is connected to a broadcast service providing server through a network in order to receive an IPTV service.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a first embodiment of a block diagram illustrating a method in which a software/hardware system of the set-top box of FIG. 1 is configured for each module.
3 is a diagram illustrating a second embodiment of a block diagram illustrating a method in which the software/hardware system of the set-top box of FIG. 1 is configured for each module.
4 is a diagram illustrating a third embodiment of a block diagram illustrating a method in which the software/hardware system of the set-top box of FIG. 1 is configured for each module.
5 illustrates one embodiment of a computer system architecture that may be used to implement embodiments of the disclosed technology or to perform one or more of the processes or components described in connection with embodiments of the disclosed technology.

Advantages and features of the disclosed technology and methods of achieving them will become apparent with reference to the embodiments described below in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the disclosed technology is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but will be implemented in various different forms, and the present embodiments only allow the disclosure of the disclosed technology to be complete, and those of ordinary skill in the art to which the disclosed technology belongs. It is provided to fully inform a person of the scope of the invention, and the disclosed technology is only defined by the scope of the claims.

The terminology used herein is only used to describe specific embodiments and is not intended to limit the disclosed technology. For example, a component expressed in a singular should be understood as a concept including a plurality of components unless the context clearly means only the singular. In addition, in the specification of the disclosed technology, terms such as 'comprise' or 'have' are only intended to designate that the features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification exist, and such The use of the term does not exclude the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features or numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof. In addition, in the embodiments described in this specification, a 'module' or 'unit' may mean a functional part that performs at least one function or operation.

In addition, unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the disclosed technology belongs. Terms such as those defined in a commonly used dictionary should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with the meaning in the context of the related art, and unless explicitly defined in the specification of the disclosed technology, it should be interpreted in an ideal or excessively formal meaning. doesn't happen

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the disclosed technology will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which the same or similar reference numbers are used for the same or similar components. However, in the following description, if there is a risk of unnecessarily obscuring the gist of the disclosed technology, detailed descriptions of well-known functions or configurations will be omitted.

1 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a network configuration diagram in which a set-top box is connected to a broadcast service providing server through a network in order to receive an IPTV service.

1, a set-top box 170 and a display 180 are disposed on the side of the user who has subscribed to the service provided by the IPTV service provider, and the set-top box (STB, 170) is a broadcast service providing server ( It is connected to the network 140 so as to be accessible to 120 . The broadcast service providing server 120 functions to transmit a broadcast program to the set-top box 170 of a user who has subscribed to the IPTV service, and is operated by an IPTV service provider and is executed on one or more server computers installed at one or more locations. It may be an example of a system implemented as computer programs. The broadcast service providing server 120 may be implemented to provide various broadcast services such as a digital cable broadcast service in addition to the IPTV service. The set-top box 170 plays the corresponding broadcast program on the display 180 based on stream data about the broadcast program, such as MPEG media transport streaming data, received from the broadcast service providing server 120 , thereby allowing the user to broadcast the corresponding broadcast. It performs a function that allows you to watch the program. The set-top box 170, the user using the DCA (Direct Channel Access) key or Up / Down key provided in the remote control unit (Remote Control Unit: RCU, 174) attached to the set-top box 170, or the set-top box ( 170) IGMP (Internet Group Management Group) leave request for an existing channel and IGMP join for a changed channel in response to selecting a specific channel or instructing to switch a channel using a channel change key provided by itself ) performs various tasks for reproducing a changed channel, such as transmitting a request to the broadcast service providing server 120 through the network 140 . The set-top box 170 receives and processes the stream data provided from the broadcast service providing server 120 as a result of performing these tasks, and decodes AV (Audio Video) to display (High Definition Multimedia Interface) cables such as HDMI cables ( 180) is output. In one embodiment, display 180 may include a video display that is operated in conjunction with a television (TV) or sound system. The network 140 may be an Internet Protocol (IP)-based network such as the Internet that supports unicast or multicast routing, but the type of the network 140 is not limited thereto. should be recognized In the illustrated embodiment, the set-top box 170 is shown as being directly connected to the broadcast service providing server 120 through the network 140, but the set-top box 170 is connected to an AP (Access Point) such as a wired Internet router. It is also possible to connect to the broadcast service providing server 120 by accessing the network 140 through the network 140 .

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a first embodiment of a block diagram illustrating a method in which a software/hardware system of the set-top box of FIG. 1 is configured for each module.

As shown in FIG. 2 , the software/hardware system 200 of the set-top box 170 may include a channel switching engine 210 and a player engine 220 connected to the channel switching engine 210 . The channel change engine 210 may include a channel change signal receiving module 212 configured to receive a channel change signal generated when a user instructs to change a channel using a remote control or the like. In one embodiment, the channel change signal receiving module 212 is implemented using an infrared sensor. The channel change engine 210, in response to receiving the channel change signal from the channel change signal receiving module 212, identifies a channel changed from the channel change signal, prepares for a channel change to the changed channel, and prepares for a channel change may be configured to output a playback request signal in response to completion of . Here, the reproduction request signal may include information on a changed channel. The channel switching engine 210 may further include a program information acquisition module 214 configured to acquire information on the changed channel. In an embodiment, the program information acquisition module 214 uses EPG (Electronic Program Guide) information stored in the set-top box 170 to provide PID (Program Identifier) information for the changed channel and/or the changed channel. and obtain meta information about the program. The channel switching engine 210 may further include a restricted channel checking module 216 configured to obtain viewing age restriction information for the changed channel and information on whether the changed channel is a locked channel. In one embodiment, the restricted channel checking module 216 is configured to perform processing for entering the lock screen when it is confirmed that the channel to be changed is the lock channel. The channel switching engine 210 may further include a player playback request module 218 configured to transmit a playback request signal to the player engine 220 when preparation for channel switching in the channel switching engine 210 is completed.

The player engine 220 may include a reproduction request signal receiving module 221 configured to receive a reproduction request signal from the channel switching engine 210 . The player engine 220 may be configured to prepare for channel reproduction on a channel that is changed in response to receiving the reproduction request signal from the reproduction request signal receiving module 221 to output an audio video (AV) signal for channel reproduction. have. The player engine 220 may further include an IGMP leave performing module 222 configured to perform an Internet Group Management Group (IGMP) leave operation for an existing channel. In an embodiment, the IGMP leave performing module 222 is further configured to transmit an IGMP leave request signal to the broadcast service providing server 120 via the network 140 . The player engine 220 may further include an existing player termination processing module 223 configured to terminate a player for an existing channel. The player engine 220 may further include an existing channel viewing right initialization module 224 configured to initialize a viewing right for the existing channel. The player engine 220 may further include an IGMP join performing module 225 configured to perform an IGMP join operation for the changed channel. In an embodiment, the IGMP join performing module 225 is further configured to transmit an IGMP join request signal to the broadcast service providing server 120 via the network 140 . The player engine 220 may further include a modified channel player regeneration module 226 configured to recreate the player for the changed channel. The player engine 220 may further include a changed channel viewing permission inquiry module 227 configured to perform a viewing permission inquiry operation for reproducing a changed channel. In an embodiment, the changed channel viewing right inquiry module 227 is configured to inquire whether a channel that is changed based on CAS (Conditional Access System)/DRM (Digital Right Management) is a channel that can be viewed under the subscription plan by the user. is composed The player engine 220 may further include a PMT parsing module 228 configured to perform a PMT (Program Map Table) parsing and analysis operation for receiving and reproducing a stream for a changed channel. The PMT parsing module 228 may be configured to obtain PID information for a changed channel by performing a PMT parsing and analysis operation. The player engine 220 may further include an AV player 229 configured to output a stream for the changed channel as an AV signal based on program information parsed by the PMT parsing module, such as PID information for the changed channel. .

The software/hardware system 200 of the set-top box 170 may further include a decoder 230 . The decoder 230 may include a demultiplexer (DMX) 232 for demultiplexing the AV signal output from the AV player 229 into a compressed audio signal and a compressed video signal. The decoder 230 may further include an audio decoder ADEC 234 configured to decode the compressed audio signal and output decoded audio signals. In one embodiment, audio decoder 234 is a software-based decoder. The decoder 230 may further include a video decoder (VDEC) 236 configured to decode the compressed video signal and output decoded video signals. In one embodiment, the video decoder 236 is a video decoder conforming to the H.264, H.265, or High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) standard. The decoded audio signal and video signal are output to the display 180 to reproduce a broadcast program screen in the changed channel.

The software/hardware system 200 of the set-top box 170 may further include an additional information providing module 240 . The additional information providing module 240 may include an AV signal detection module 242 configured to detect that an AV signal for channel reproduction is output from the player engine 220 . The additional information providing module 240 may be configured to perform processing for providing additional information in response to the AV signal detection module 242 detecting the AV signal. The additional information providing module 240 is an audience rating information providing module configured to deliver information about the changed channel to an audience rating statistical analysis agent (not shown) for rating statistics analysis, which may be separately included in the set-top box 170 ( 244) may be further included. The additional information providing module 240 provides an advertisement reproduction information providing module 246 configured to transmit information on the changed channel to an advertisement agent (not shown) for advertisement reproduction, which may be separately included in the set-top box 170 . may further include. In the past, additional information providing functions were performed by the channel switching engine 210 to act as a processing load in the channel switching process, but in the disclosed technology, additional information providing functions are performed after the channel switching process, such as a preparation operation for channel reproduction, is completed. By doing so, the software logic process inside the set-top box 170 can be lightened to dramatically reduce the channel switching speed.

3 is a diagram illustrating a second embodiment of a block diagram illustrating a method in which the software/hardware system of the set-top box of FIG. 1 is configured for each module.

The second embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is similar to the first embodiment of FIG. 2 in terms of configuration of software/hardware modules of the set-top box, but the additional information providing module 240 plays the channel in the player engine 220. It is different from the first embodiment of FIG. 2 in that it is configured to detect a trigger signal output from the player engine 220 instead of detecting that the AV signal for the signal is output. The AV player 329 of the player engine 320 may be configured to output a trigger signal at the same time as outputting the AV signal to indicate that the channel switching process is complete. The additional information providing module 340 may include a trigger signal detection module 342 configured to detect a trigger signal output from the player engine 320 . The additional information providing module 340 may be configured to perform processing for providing additional information in response to the trigger signal detection module 342 detecting a trigger signal. The additional information providing module 340 is an audience rating information providing module ( 344) may be further included. The additional information providing module 340 is configured to deliver information on the changed channel to an advertisement agent (not shown) for advertisement reproduction, which may be separately included in the set-top box 170, an advertisement reproduction information providing module 346 may further include.

4 is a diagram illustrating a third embodiment of a block diagram illustrating a method in which the software/hardware system of the set-top box of FIG. 1 is configured for each module.

The third embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is similar to the second embodiment of FIG. 3 in terms of the configuration of software/hardware modules of the set-top box, but is similar to the second embodiment of FIG. 3 in that the PMT parsing module is omitted. There is a difference. As described in relation to the first embodiment of FIG. 2 , the program information acquisition module 214 of the channel switching engine 210 operates to acquire PID information for the changed channel, and the PMT parsing module of the player engine 220 . 228 may also operate to obtain PID information for the changed channel. In the third embodiment of Figure 4, instead of omitting the PMT parsing module, the channel changed based on the PID information for the changed channel, provided from the program information acquisition module 414 of the channel switching engine 410, The AV player 429 is configured to output the corresponding stream as an AV signal. By doing this, it is possible to further lighten the software logic process inside the set-top box 170 .

Although the devices of the disclosed technology have been described with reference to specific embodiments, some or all of the components (software modules) or operations in these embodiments are computer systems having a general purpose hardware architecture. It can be implemented using 5 illustrates one embodiment of a computer system architecture that may be used to implement the aforementioned embodiments or to perform one or more of the processes or components described in connection with the aforementioned embodiments. In one embodiment, hardware system 500 includes a processor 502 , cache memory 504 , and one or more software applications and drivers related to the functions described in connection with the disclosed technology.

Additionally, the hardware system 500 includes a high performance input/output (I/O) bus 506 and a standard I/O bus 508 . A host bridge 510 connects the processor 502 to a high-performance I/O bus 506, while an I/O bus bridge 512 connects the two buses 506 and 508 to each other. System memory 514 and network/communications interface 516 are coupled to bus 506 . Hardware system 500 may further include a video memory (not shown) and a display coupled to the video memory. Mass storage medium 518 and I/O ports 520 are coupled to bus 508 .

Components of the hardware system 500 will be described in detail below. The network interface 516 provides a communication function between the hardware system 500 and any one of various types of networks, such as, for example, an IEEE 802.3 Ethernet network. The network interface 516 provides an interfacing function between the hardware system 500 and the network 140 so that the set-top box 170 mounted with the hardware system 500 can access the broadcast service providing server 120 . The mass storage medium 518 provides a permanent storage function for data and programming instructions for performing the above-described functions implemented by the software/hardware system of the set-top box 170 . For example, the system memory 514 such as DRAM is used to temporarily store data and is also used to temporarily store program instructions when they are executed by the processor 502 . The I/O ports 520 may be one or more serial and/or parallel communication ports that enable communication between additional peripheral devices that may be coupled to the hardware system 500 .

The hardware system 500 may include various types of system structures. It is also possible to rearrange the various components of the hardware system 500 . For example, it is possible to mount the cache 504 in the processor 502 in an on-chip structure. Alternatively, the cache 504 and the processor 502 may be integrated and packed as a 'processor module'. In this case, the processor 502 is called a 'processor core'. It should also be recognized that not all of the foregoing components are required to implement the disclosed technology. For example, it is also possible to couple peripherals to the high performance I/O bus 506 instead of coupling them to the standard I/O bus 508 . In some implementations it is possible to provide only one bus and to connect all of the components of the hardware system 500 to this single bus. Hardware system 500 may also include additional components such as additional processors, storage media, or memories. As described above, the operations performed in the software/hardware system of the set-top box 170 may be implemented as a series of software routines executed on the hardware system 500 , and these software routines are implemented in a hardware system such as the processor 502 ( 500) to be executed by the processor at 500). The series of program instructions are initially stored in a storage medium such as the mass storage medium 518, but may be moved and stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, ROM, EEPROM, or the like. This series of program instructions is not necessarily stored by itself, and may be downloaded from a remote storage device in a server on the network 140 such as the broadcast service providing server 120 through the network/communication interface 516 and stored. have. This series of program instructions may be copied from a storage device, such as mass storage medium 518 , to memory 514 , and accessed and executed by processor 502 .

An operating system controls operations of the hardware system 500 , including inputting and outputting data to and from software applications (not shown). An operating system provides an interface between software applications running on the system and the hardware components of the system. According to an embodiment of the disclosed technology, the operating system may be Android, but the disclosed technology may be implemented by another suitable operating system such as Linux.

In the above description, the meaning of the description that a component is connected to or coupled to another component does not only mean that the component is directly connected or coupled to the other component, but also means that one or more other components are interposed therebetween. It should be understood to include the meaning that may be connected or coupled via an element. In addition, terms for describing the relationship between the elements (eg, 'between', 'between', etc.) should also be interpreted with similar meanings.

In the embodiments disclosed herein, the arrangement of the illustrated components may vary depending on the environment or requirements in which the invention is implemented. For example, some components may be omitted or some components may be integrated and implemented as one. Also, the arrangement order and connection of some components may be changed.

In the above, various embodiments of the disclosed technology have been illustrated and described, but the disclosed technology is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, and the above-described embodiments depart from the gist of the disclosed technology as claimed in the appended claims. Without this, various modifications may be made by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains, and these modified embodiments should not be understood separately from the technical spirit or scope of the disclosed technology. Accordingly, the technical scope of the disclosed technology should be defined only by the appended claims.

120: broadcast service providing server
140: network
170: set-top box
174: remote control
180: display
200, 300, 400: software/hardware system of set-top box
210, 310, 410: channel switching engine
212, 312, 412: channel change signal receiving module
214, 314, 414: program information acquisition module
216, 316, 416: limit channel check module
218, 318, 418: player play request module
220, 320, 420: player engine
221, 321, 421: play request signal receiving module
222, 322, 422: IGMP rib performing module
223, 323, 423: Existing player exit handling module
224, 324, 424: existing channel viewing right initialization module
225, 325, 425: IGMP join execution module
226, 326, 426: Change channel player regeneration module
227, 327, 427: Change channel viewing permission inquiry module
228, 328: PMT parsing module
229, 329, 429: AV player
230, 330, 440: decoder
232, 332, 432: Demultiplexer
234, 334, 434: audio decoder
236, 336, 436: video decoder
240, 340, 440: additional information providing module
242: AV signal detection module
244, 344, 444: rating information providing module
246, 346, 446: advertisement playback information providing module
342, 442: trigger signal detection module

Claims (26)

A set-top box device comprising:
channel switching engine,
a player engine coupled to the channel switching engine; and
Including an additional information providing module,
The channel change engine identifies a channel to be changed from the channel change signal in response to receiving the channel change signal, prepares for a channel change to the changed channel, and in response to the preparation of the channel change completes, a reproduction request signal is configured to output - the reproduction request signal includes information about the changed channel -,
the player engine is configured to prepare for channel reproduction on the changed channel in response to receiving the reproduction request signal and output an audio video (AV) signal for the channel reproduction;
and the additional information providing module is configured to perform processing for providing additional information in response to the AV signal for channel reproduction being output from the player engine.
According to claim 1,
The channel switching engine includes a program information acquisition module configured to acquire information on the changed channel, the set-top box device.
3. The method of claim 2,
The channel switching engine further comprises a restricted channel checking module configured to obtain viewing age restriction information for the changed channel and information on whether the changed channel is a locked channel.
According to claim 1,
The player engine includes an IGMP leave performing module configured to perform an Internet Group Management Group (IGMP) leave operation for an existing channel, a set-top box device.
5. The method of claim 4,
The IGMP live performing module is further configured to transmit an IGMP live request signal to a broadcast service providing server through a network, a set-top box device.
5. The method of claim 4,
The player engine further comprises an existing player termination processing module configured to terminate a player for the existing channel.
7. The method of claim 6,
The player engine further comprises an existing channel viewing right initialization module configured to initialize the viewing right for the existing channel, the set-top box device.
8. The method of claim 7,
The player engine further comprises an IGMP join performing module configured to perform an IGMP join operation for the changed channel, the set-top box device.
9. The method of claim 8,
The IGMP join performing module is further configured to transmit an IGMP join request signal to a broadcast service providing server through a network, a set-top box device.
9. The method of claim 8,
wherein the player engine further comprises a change channel player regeneration module configured to regenerate a player for the changed channel.
11. The method of claim 10,
The player engine further comprises a changed channel viewing right inquiry module configured to perform a viewing right inquiry operation for reproducing the changed channel.
12. The method of claim 11,
The player engine further comprises a PMT parsing module configured to perform a PMT (Program Map Table) parsing and analysis operation for receiving and reproducing a stream for the changed channel.
13. The method of claim 12,
The player engine further comprises an AV player configured to output the stream for the changed channel as the AV signal based on the program information parsed by the PMT parsing module.
According to claim 1,
The set-top box device further comprises an audience rating statistical analysis agent for rating statistical analysis,
The additional information providing module includes an audience rating information providing module configured to transmit information on the changed channel to the audience rating statistics analysis agent, the set-top box device.
15. The method of claim 14,
The set-top box device further includes an advertisement agent for advertisement reproduction,
The additional information providing module further comprises an advertisement reproduction information providing module configured to transmit information on the changed channel to the advertisement agent.
A set-top box device comprising:
channel switching engine,
a player engine coupled to the channel switching engine; and
Including an additional information providing module,
The channel change engine identifies a channel to be changed from the channel change signal in response to receiving the channel change signal, prepares for a channel change to the changed channel, and in response to the preparation of the channel change completes, a reproduction request signal is configured to output - the reproduction request signal includes information about the changed channel -,
the player engine is configured to prepare for channel reproduction on the changed channel in response to receiving the reproduction request signal, and output an AV signal for channel reproduction together with a trigger signal;
The additional information providing module is configured to perform processing for providing additional information in response to receiving the trigger signal, the set-top box device.
17. The method of claim 16,
The player engine includes a PMT parsing module configured to perform a PMT parsing and analysis operation for receiving and reproducing a stream for the changed channel.
18. The method of claim 17,
The player engine further comprises an AV player configured to output the stream for the changed channel as the AV signal together with the trigger signal based on the program information parsed by the PMT parsing module.
17. The method of claim 16,
The additional information providing module includes a trigger signal detection module configured to detect the trigger signal, a set-top box device.
17. The method of claim 16,
The set-top box device further comprises an audience rating statistical analysis agent for rating statistical analysis,
The additional information providing module includes an audience rating information providing module configured to transmit information on the changed channel to the audience rating statistics analysis agent, the set-top box device.
17. The method of claim 16,
The set-top box device further includes an advertisement agent for advertisement reproduction,
The additional information providing module includes an advertisement reproduction information providing module configured to transmit information on the changed channel to the advertisement agent.
A set-top box device comprising:
a channel switching engine, and
a player engine coupled to the channel switching engine;
The channel change engine identifies a channel to be changed from the channel change signal in response to receiving the channel change signal, prepares for a channel change to the changed channel, and in response to the preparation of the channel change completes, a reproduction request signal is configured to output - the reproduction request signal includes information about the changed channel -,
the player engine is configured to prepare for channel play on the changed channel in response to receiving the play request signal;
The channel switching engine includes a program information acquisition module configured to acquire PID (Program Identifier) information for the changed channel,
The player engine includes an AV player configured to output a stream for the changed channel as an AV signal based on PID information for the changed channel.
23. The method of claim 22,
The AV player is further configured to output a trigger signal together when outputting the stream for the changed channel as the AV signal.
24. The method of claim 23,
The set-top box device further comprises an additional information providing module,
The additional information providing module includes a trigger signal detection module configured to detect the trigger signal, a set-top box device.
25. The method of claim 24,
The set-top box device further comprises an audience rating statistical analysis agent for rating statistical analysis,
The additional information providing module further comprises an audience rating information providing module configured to transmit information on the changed channel to the audience rating statistical analysis agent.
26. The method of claim 25,
The set-top box device further includes an advertisement agent for advertisement reproduction,
The additional information providing module further comprises an advertisement reproduction information providing module configured to transmit information on the changed channel to the advertisement agent.

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