WO2007069837A1 - Broadcast receiver for and method of providing broadcast channel information - Google Patents

Broadcast receiver for and method of providing broadcast channel information Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2007069837A1
WO2007069837A1 PCT/KR2006/005320 KR2006005320W WO2007069837A1 WO 2007069837 A1 WO2007069837 A1 WO 2007069837A1 KR 2006005320 W KR2006005320 W KR 2006005320W WO 2007069837 A1 WO2007069837 A1 WO 2007069837A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
information
broadcast
ensemble
service
country
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/KR2006/005320
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Soo-In Jang
Young-Joon Ahn
Original Assignee
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
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 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. filed Critical Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Priority to US12/094,134 priority Critical patent/US8055220B2/en
Priority to EP06824026A priority patent/EP1961219A1/en
Priority to CN2006800377660A priority patent/CN101283583B/en
Priority to JP2008544263A priority patent/JP2009518938A/en
Priority to BRPI0617160-5A priority patent/BRPI0617160A2/en
Publication of WO2007069837A1 publication Critical patent/WO2007069837A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N5/00—Details of television systems
    • H04N5/44—Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards
    • H04N5/50—Tuning indicators; Automatic tuning control
    • 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
    • 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
    • H04H60/35—Arrangements for identifying or recognising characteristics with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time, e.g. for identifying broadcast stations or for identifying users
    • H04H60/38—Arrangements for identifying or recognising characteristics with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time, e.g. for identifying broadcast stations or for identifying users for identifying broadcast time or space
    • H04H60/41—Arrangements for identifying or recognising characteristics with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time, e.g. for identifying broadcast stations or for identifying users for identifying broadcast time or space for identifying broadcast space, i.e. broadcast channels, broadcast stations or broadcast areas
    • H04H60/43—Arrangements for identifying or recognising characteristics with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time, e.g. for identifying broadcast stations or for identifying users for identifying broadcast time or space for identifying broadcast space, i.e. broadcast channels, broadcast stations or broadcast areas for identifying broadcast channels
    • 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
    • H04H60/35—Arrangements for identifying or recognising characteristics with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time, e.g. for identifying broadcast stations or for identifying users
    • H04H60/49—Arrangements for identifying or recognising characteristics with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time, e.g. for identifying broadcast stations or for identifying users for identifying locations
    • H04H60/50—Arrangements for identifying or recognising characteristics with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time, e.g. for identifying broadcast stations or for identifying users for identifying locations of broadcast or relay stations
    • 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
    • H04H60/73—Systems specially adapted for using specific information, e.g. geographical or meteorological information using meta-information
    • 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
    • H04N21/431—Generation of visual interfaces for content selection or interaction; Content or additional data rendering
    • 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
    • H04N21/433—Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request, caching operations
    • H04N21/4332—Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request, caching operations by placing content in organized collections, e.g. local EPG data repository
    • 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
    • H04N21/4345—Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG 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
    • H04N21/43—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
    • H04N21/438—Interfacing the downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. retrieving MPEG packets from an IP network
    • H04N21/4383—Accessing a communication channel
    • 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
    • H04N21/45—Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies, resolving scheduling conflicts
    • H04N21/4508—Management of client data or end-user data
    • H04N21/4524—Management of client data or end-user data involving the geographical location of the client

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for receiving and providing a digital broadcast, and more particularly, to a broadcast receiver for and a method of providing broadcast channel information.
  • Digital audio broadcasting provides a variety of additional data services such as weather, traffic, entertainment, and images, as well as a high-quality audio service with a Compact Disc (CD) level sound quality by using sound coding methods that provide a high compression ratio.
  • EUREKA-147 DAB which is used in Europe, provides audio services with a CD level sound quality and a variety of additional data services by using a high-quality audio compression technology based on Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) audio layer II.
  • Digital multimedia broadcasting is a digital broadcasting standard which is more developed than DAB. DMB provides audio, video, and data broadcasting. DMB is classified into terrestrial DMB and satellite DMB, depending upon the transmission method.
  • the DAB standard such as EUREKA-147, is used for the audio broadcasting of DMB.
  • a broadcast receiver scans broadcast channels when a user inputs an input signal requesting the scanning of broadcast channels. Thereafter, the user searches for a broadcast channel of interest with reference to broadcast channel information regarding the scanned broadcast channels.
  • the broadcast channel information may not be able to reflect changes in service information that are made between the time when the broadcast channels are scanned and the time when the user searches through the broadcast channels. Therefore, the user may choose broadcast services that are not being provided any longer or may not be able to choose broadcast services that are newly added after the scanning of the broadcast channels.
  • service information is displayed to the user only after the scanning of broadcast channels is terminated. Therefore, the user may have to wait a long time for service information to be displayed when the scanning of broadcast channels is complete. Disclosure of Invention
  • the present invention provides a broadcast receiver for and a method of providing broadcast channel information in which a broadcast search list is dynamically created and search information regarding broadcast channels is provided using the broadcast search list.
  • the present invention also provides a broadcast receiver for and a method of providing broadcast channel information in which ensemble information and service information can be provided to a user by countries and/or regions in a broadcast search list which an ensemble-service tree structure is extended.
  • the present invention provides a broadcast receiver for and a method of providing broadcast channel information in which a broadcast search list is dynamically changed and the resulting broadcast search list is provided to a user.
  • the present invention provides a broadcast receiver for and a method of providing broadcast channel information which can provide a user with various ensemble information and various service information according to a country and/or a region chosen by the user by expanding an ensemble-service tree structure including broadcast service information.
  • FlG. 1 is a block diagram of a broadcast receiver for providing broadcast channel information according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention
  • FlG. 2 is a block diagram of a broadcast signal processing unit of FlG. 1 ;
  • FlG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the format of a DMB transport frame according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention
  • FlG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a multiplex structure of a DMB service according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention
  • FlG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing broadcast channel information according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention
  • FlG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing broadcast channel information according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
  • FlG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a screen providing broadcast channel information using a method of providing broadcast channel information according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
  • a broadcast receiver including: a tuner unit which tunes one of a plurality of channels and outputs one of a plurality of digital broadcast signals; a broadcast signal processing unit which interprets service information included in the broadcast signal output by the tuner unit; a storage unit which stores the service information interpreted by the broadcast signal processing unit; and a control unit which dynamically creates a broadcast search list based on the service information and generates a screen providing the broadcast search list.
  • the control unit may control the storage unit such that, if service information other than the service information stored in the storage unit is received, the received service information is additionally stored in the storage unit and, if service information stored in the storage unit has not been received for a predetermined amount of time, the service information is deleted from the storage unit.
  • the storage unit may store channel information which is classified by broadcast service provider and by region, and the channel information may include: country information which identifies a country; region information which is information belonging to a lower directory than the country information and identifies a region in the country; and ensemble information which is information belonging to a lower directory than the region information and comprises an ensemble which can be provided in the region and channel information regarding channels via which the ensemble can be received.
  • the broadcast receiver may also include a user interface unit which receives a country information and/or region information selection signal, wherein the control unit reads the ensemble information corresponding to the country information and/or region information selection signal from the storage unit and controls the output of the ensemble information.
  • the control unit may control the tuner unit to scan a channel via which an ensemble corresponding to an ensemble information user selection signal received via the user interface unit can be received, control the broadcast signal processing unit to interpret service information transmitted via the channel scanned by the tuner unit, and dynamically create the broadcast search list based on the service information interpreted by the broadcast signal processing unit.
  • the broadcast receiver may also include an output unit which displays a screen providing the broadcast search list, wherein the control unit generates a screen providing a broadcast search list which is created based on country information and/or region information associated with the country information and/or region information selection signal, ensemble information corresponding to the country information and/or region information, and the service information interpreted by the broadcast signal processing unit, and outputs the screen to the output unit.
  • the control unit may add predetermined information and thus generate a screen providing the broadcast search list to indicate whether the service information stored in the storage unit has been scanned, wherein the predetermined information indicates whether the service information stored in the storage unit has been scanned.
  • the control unit may calculate the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of an ensemble bistream generated by the broadcast signal processing unit, determine whether the reception of the ensemble bitstream is good or bad based on the calculation result, add reception state information and thus generates a screen providing the broadcast search list, wherein the reception state information indicates whether the reception of the ensemble bitstream is good or bad.
  • SNR signal-to-noise ratio
  • a method of providing broadcast channel information comprising: storing service information transmitted via a predetermined digital broadcast channel; dynamically creating a broadcast search list based on the service information; and generating a screen providing the broadcast search list.
  • FlG. 1 is a block diagram of a broadcast receiver for providing broadcast channel information according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
  • the broadcast receiver includes an antenna 110, a tuner unit 120, a broadcast signal processing unit 130, a control unit 140, a user interface unit 150, a storage unit 160, and an output unit 170.
  • the tuner unit 120 tunes one of a plurality of broadcast channels and thus outputs one of a plurality of digital broadcast signals received by the antenna 110.
  • the broadcast signal processing unit 130 receives the digital broadcast signal output by the tuner unit 120, demodulates and/or decodes the received digital broadcast signal, and outputs the demodulated and/or decoded digital broadcast signal to the output unit 170. Also, the broadcast signal processing unit 130 can interpret service information included in a broadcast signal.
  • the user interface unit 150 comprises a touch screen or buttons.
  • the user interface unit 150 receives a country/region information selection signal or an ensemble selection signal from a user and transmits the received signal to the control unit 140.
  • the storage unit 160 stores service information interpreted by the broadcast signal processing unit 130. Also, the storage unit 160 stores broadcast channel information which is classified by broadcast service provider and by region.
  • the broadcast channel information classified by broadcast service provider may include country information, region information, and ensemble information.
  • the country information is information identifying a country
  • the region information is information belonging to a lower directory than the country information and identifies a region in the country.
  • Ensemble information is information belonging to a lower directory than the region information and comprises information identifying an ensemble which can be provided in the region; and broadcast channel information specifying broadcast channels through which the ensemble can be received.
  • the country information, the region information, and the ensemble information stored in the storage unit 160 may be modified.
  • country information, region information, and ensemble information other than those already stored in the storage unit 160 may be additionally stored in the storage unit 160 using signals input via the user interface unit 150 or via a communication line connected between the broadcast receiver and an external device (not shown).
  • the output unit 170 includes a speaker or a liquid crystal display (LCD) device and displays a broadcast search list which is dynamically created by the control unit 140.
  • LCD liquid crystal display
  • the control unit 140 controls the tuner unit 120, the broadcast signal processing unit 130, the user interface unit 150, the storage unit 160, and the output unit 170 and dynamically creates a broadcast search list.
  • the control unit 140 may control the storage unit 160 to additionally store the received service information. Also, if the service information stored in the storage unit 160 has not been received for a predetermined amount of time, even when the current data reception state is good, the control unit 140 may control the storage unit 160 to delete the service information. In this manner, the control unit 140 can dynamically create a broadcast search list based on service information additionally stored in or deleted from the storage unit 160.
  • the control unit 140 receives a country information and/or region information selection signal from the user interface unit 150 and controls the reading of the ensemble information corresponding to country information and/or region information associated with the country information and/or region information selection signal from the storage unit 160. Thereafter, the control unit 140 controls the output of the read ensemble information to the output unit 170. Thereafter, if an ensemble information user selection signal is received via the user interface unit 150, the control unit 140 controls the tuner unit 120 to scan a predetermined channel from which an ensemble corresponding to the predetermined ensemble information user selection signal can be received. Then, the broadcast signal processing unit 130 interprets service information transmitted via the predetermined channel, and the control unit 140 dynamically creates a broadcast search list based on the interpreted service information. Therefore, the control unit 140 can generate a screen providing a broadcast search list which is created based on country information and region information associated with a user selection signal, and ensemble information and service in- formation stored in the storage unit 160 corresponding to the country information and the region information.
  • control unit 140 may generate a screen displaying information which indicates whether the service information stored in the storage unit 160 has been scanned. Also, the control unit 140 may calculate the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of an ensemble bitstream generated while the broadcast signal processing unit 130 processes a broadcast signal, and then determine whether the current data reception state is good or bad. Therefore, the control unit 140 may add current data reception state information to a screen providing a broadcast search list.
  • SNR signal-to-noise ratio
  • FlG. 2 is a block diagram of the broadcast signal processing unit 130 of FlG. 2 when the broadcast receiver illustrated in FlG. 1 is a DMB receiver and digital broadcast signals received by the broadcast receiver are DMB signals.
  • the broadcast signal processing unit 130 includes a channel decoder 131, a demultiplexer 132, a decoder 133, and a fast information channel (FlC) parser 134.
  • the channel decoder 131 performs a channel decoding operation using a predetermined method.
  • the demultiplexer 132 demultiplexes a channel-decoded signal provided by the channel decoder 131 and outputs a DMB transport frame 300 illustrated in FlG. 3 to the decoder 133.
  • the demultiplexer 132 extracts a FlC 330 from the DMB transport frame 300 and outputs the FlC 330 to the FlC parser 134.
  • the FlC parser 134 parses the FlC 330 and provides fast information group (FlG) information to the control unit 140.
  • FlG fast information group
  • the Extension 2 of FlG type 0 (FlG 0/2) contains basic service organization information. Therefore, the control unit 140 can obtain service information from the FlG information provided by the FlC parser 134, e.g., FlG 0/2 information.
  • the FlG information will be described later in detail with reference to FlG. 3.
  • the decoder 133 decodes the DAB transport frame 300 and provides the decoded
  • the decoder 133 may include a plurality of decoding devices, including a plurality of audio decoding devices and a plurality of video decoding devices.
  • FlG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the format of a DMB transport frame 300 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
  • the DMB transport frame 300 includes a synchronization channel 310, a FlC 330, and a main service channel (MSC) 350.
  • MSC main service channel
  • the synchronization channel 310 comprises null symbols which are used for determining a transport mode, and reference symbols which are needed in OFDM symbol synchronization or for carrier wave frequency synchronization.
  • the FlC 330 is a channel for transmitting information that is needed by a broadcast receiver to process data, such as service organization information or multiplex format information, or for transmitting data that needs to be quickly transmitted.
  • the FlC 330 includes multiplex configuration information (MCI) containing information regarding the structure of sub-channels and service information which is additional information regarding services. Therefore, it can be seen from this channel service data is transmitted via the MSC 350 and what application is to use the service data.
  • the FlC 330 includes a fast information data channel (FlDC) containing data to be transmitted within a given time.
  • the FTDC includes, for example, simple messages for emergencies.
  • the FlC 330 comprises a plurality of fast information blocks (FlBs). Each of the
  • FIBs comprises a FTB data field and a cyclical redundancy check (CRC) field.
  • the FTB data field comprises a plurality of fast information groups (FlGs).
  • FlGs fast information groups
  • a FlG type field specifying the type of predetermined data contained in the FlG data field and a length field specifying the length of the FlG data field are inserted into a header portion of the FlGs, and the actual data is contained in the FlG data field.
  • the MSC 350 transmits actual content data provided from a service provider.
  • the MSC 350 comprises a plurality of frames referred to as common interleaved frames (CIFs).
  • CIFs common interleaved frames
  • FlG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a multiplex structure of a DMB service according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
  • the DMB service has ensembles, services, and service components.
  • a plurality of encoded audio streams and a plurality of data are subjected to the channel coding and then are multiplexed into one bit stream along with system data, which is called an ensemble.
  • one broadcasting station provides one ensemble.
  • the service refers to the output broadcasting station provides one ensemble.
  • the service refers to the output that is selected by a user, such as a program service and a data service, and the service components refers to elements constituting a service.
  • the service components of a given service are connected to each other by the multiplex configuration information.
  • the service components are transmitted with the sub channels or the FlDC.
  • the DMB service comprises at least 2 ensembles including ensemble #0 (410) and ensemble #1 (415).
  • Ensemble #0 (410) provides at least 2 services including service #0 (430) and service #1 (435).
  • Service #0 (430) comprises at least 2 service components including service component #0 (450) and service component #1 (455).
  • FlG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing broadcast channel information according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
  • the tuner unit 120 outputs a digital broadcast signal via a predetermined channel
  • the broadcast signal processing unit 130 interprets service information included in the broadcast signal and transmits the interpreted service information to the control unit 140.
  • the service information may be obtained from FlG 0/2, which is obtained in a parsing operation performed by the FlC parser 134 of the broadcast signal processing unit 130.
  • the control unit 140 stores the service information transmitted by the broadcast signal processing unit 130 via the predetermined channel in the storage unit 160.
  • control unit 140 dynamically creates a broadcast search list based on the service information stored in the storage unit 160.
  • control unit 140 generates a screen providing the broadcast search list.
  • control unit 140 may additionally store the received service information in the storage unit 160. If the service information stored in the storage unit 160 has not been searched for for a predetermined amount of time, for example, for 1 minute, even when the data reception state is good, the control unit 140 may delete the corresponding service information from the storage unit 160.
  • the control unit 140 may add to the service information scanned state information indicating whether the service information has been scanned, generate a screen providing the scanned state information together with the service information, and provide the generated screen to the output unit 170. For example, for service information which has been previously scanned and stored in the storage unit 160 but has not been scanned recently, the control unit 140 may add to the service information scanned state information in which the service information is marked as 'unscanned'. Alternatively, for service information which has recently been scanned and has already been stored in the storage unit 160, the control unit 140 may add to the service information scanned state information in which the service information is marked as 'scanned'.
  • FlG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing broadcast channel information according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
  • a country information and/or region information selection signal is received via the user interface unit 150.
  • the control unit 140 reads the ensemble information based on the country information and/or region in- formation selection signal from the storage unit 160 and provides the read ensemble information to the output unit 170.
  • the control unit 140 may create an ensemble list including one or more pieces of ensemble information and provide the ensemble list to the output unit 170.
  • control unit 140 controls the tuner unit 120 to scan a predetermined broadcast channel via which a chosen ensemble corresponding to an ensemble information user selection signal received via the user interface unit 150 can be received. Then, a broadcast signal is received via the scanned broadcast channel and is transmitted to the broadcast signal processing unit 130.
  • the broadcast signal processing unit 130 interprets service information included in the broadcast signal by appropriately processing the broadcast signal. Thereafter, the broadcast signal processing unit 130 transmits the interpreted service information to the control unit 140.
  • the control unit 140 creates a broadcast search list based on the country information and/or the region information associated with the country information and/or region information selection signal, and ensemble information and service information stored in the storage unit 160 corresponding to the country information and/or the region information, and provides the broadcast search list to the output unit 170.
  • the control unit 140 may generate a screen displaying the broadcast search list comprising the country information, the region information, the ensemble information, and the service information as a tree as illustrated in FlG. 7.
  • a user can search for an ensemble using different frequencies according to country information and region information. For example, when moving from region A to region B within a country, the user may change the region information of his or her broadcast receiver. Then, the broadcast receiver may scan a channel according to region information corresponding to region A or region information corresponding to region B in order to receive a desired ensemble. In this manner, the user can receive a broadcast service even when moving between regions within a country by scanning a channel which can ensure high-quality ensemble reception by appropriately changing the region information of his or her broadcast receiver.
  • the user can receive a broadcast service even when moving from country C to country D by scanning a channel which can ensure high-quality ensemble reception by appropriately changing the country information and region information of his or her broadcast receiver.
  • the user can receive a broadcast service from a channel which can ensure high quality ensemble reception by appropriately changing country information and/or region information. Therefore, there is no need for a GPS device or a CDMA communication module to be additionally installed in the broadcast receiver.
  • FlG. 7 is a diagram of a screen providing broadcast channel information using a method of providing broadcast channel information according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
  • a user in an embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide a user with country information that identifies a country, region information which belongs to a lower directory than the country information and identifies a region in the country, ensemble information which comprises information regarding ensembles which can be serviced within the region and belongs to a lower directory than the region information, and service information which comprises information regarding services included in a predetermined ensemble channel and belongs to a lower directory than the ensemble information.
  • a list of regions in a country may be displayed in such a manner that information regarding regions closer to a predetermined region chosen by the user are displayed closer to the region information chosen by the user, thereby enabling the user to easily switch to regions near the chosen region from the list.
  • a broadcast receiver provides the user with ensemble information regarding ensembles which can be received in Seoul, Kyonggi province of Republic of Korea, i.e., a list including Korea Broadcasting Station (KBS), Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), and Seoul Broadcasting Station (SBS). If the user chooses KBS from the list, the broadcast receiver scans channels through which broadcast programs broadcast by KBS can be received, and provides service information comprising a list of channels DMBl, KBS Music, and KBS Economy as a broadcast search list. Accordingly, it is possible to dynamically create service information by scanning broadcast signals in the aforementioned manner.
  • KBS Korea Broadcasting Station
  • MBC Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation
  • SBS Seoul Broadcasting Station
  • the method of providing broadcast channel information according to the present invention can be realized as computer-readable code written on a computer-readable recording medium.
  • the computer-readable recording medium may be any type of recording device in which data is stored in a computer-readable manner. Examples of the computer-readable recording medium include a ROM, a RAM, a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a floppy disc, an optical data storage, and a carrier wave (e.g., data transmission through the Internet).
  • the computer-readable recording medium can be distributed over a plurality of computer systems connected to a network so that computer-readable code is written thereto and executed therefrom in a decentralized manner. Functional programs, code, and code segments needed for realizing the present invention can be easily construed by one of ordinary skill in the art.
  • the present invention provides a broadcast receiver for and a method of providing broadcast channel information in which a broadcast search list is dynamically changed and the resulting broadcast search list is provided to a user.
  • the present invention provides a broadcast receiver for and a method of providing broadcast channel information which can provide a user with various ensemble information and various service information according to a country and/or a region chosen by the user by expanding an ensemble-service tree structure including broadcast service information.

Abstract

Provided are a broadcast receiver for and a method of providing broadcast channel information in which a broadcast search list is dynamically created and provided to a user. The broadcast receiver includes a tuner unit which tunes one of a plurality of channels and outputs one of a plurality of digital broadcast signals; a broadcast signal processing unit which interprets service information included in the broadcast signal output by the tuner unit; a storage unit which stores the service information interpreted by the broadcast signal processing unit; and a control unit which dynamically creates a broadcast search list based on the service information and generates a screen providing the broadcast search list. Accordingly, it is possible to dynamically change a broadcast search list that provides search information regarding broadcast channels and to provide a user with the dynamically changed broadcast search list.

Description

Description BROADCAST RECEIVER FOR AND METHOD OF PROVIDING
BROADCAST CHANNEL INFORMATION
Technical Field
[1] The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for receiving and providing a digital broadcast, and more particularly, to a broadcast receiver for and a method of providing broadcast channel information.
Background Art
[2] Digital audio broadcasting (DAB) provides a variety of additional data services such as weather, traffic, entertainment, and images, as well as a high-quality audio service with a Compact Disc (CD) level sound quality by using sound coding methods that provide a high compression ratio. EUREKA-147 DAB, which is used in Europe, provides audio services with a CD level sound quality and a variety of additional data services by using a high-quality audio compression technology based on Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) audio layer II. Digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) is a digital broadcasting standard which is more developed than DAB. DMB provides audio, video, and data broadcasting. DMB is classified into terrestrial DMB and satellite DMB, depending upon the transmission method. The DAB standard, such as EUREKA-147, is used for the audio broadcasting of DMB.
[3] In the case of terrestrial DMB, a broadcast receiver scans broadcast channels when a user inputs an input signal requesting the scanning of broadcast channels. Thereafter, the user searches for a broadcast channel of interest with reference to broadcast channel information regarding the scanned broadcast channels. The broadcast channel information, however, may not be able to reflect changes in service information that are made between the time when the broadcast channels are scanned and the time when the user searches through the broadcast channels. Therefore, the user may choose broadcast services that are not being provided any longer or may not be able to choose broadcast services that are newly added after the scanning of the broadcast channels. In addition, service information is displayed to the user only after the scanning of broadcast channels is terminated. Therefore, the user may have to wait a long time for service information to be displayed when the scanning of broadcast channels is complete. Disclosure of Invention
Technical Solution
[4] The present invention provides a broadcast receiver for and a method of providing broadcast channel information in which a broadcast search list is dynamically created and search information regarding broadcast channels is provided using the broadcast search list.
[5] The present invention also provides a broadcast receiver for and a method of providing broadcast channel information in which ensemble information and service information can be provided to a user by countries and/or regions in a broadcast search list which an ensemble-service tree structure is extended.
Advantageous Effects
[6] The present invention provides a broadcast receiver for and a method of providing broadcast channel information in which a broadcast search list is dynamically changed and the resulting broadcast search list is provided to a user.
[7] In addition, the present invention provides a broadcast receiver for and a method of providing broadcast channel information which can provide a user with various ensemble information and various service information according to a country and/or a region chosen by the user by expanding an ensemble-service tree structure including broadcast service information.
Description of Drawings
[8] The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which:
[9] FlG. 1 is a block diagram of a broadcast receiver for providing broadcast channel information according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[10] FlG. 2 is a block diagram of a broadcast signal processing unit of FlG. 1 ;
[11] FlG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the format of a DMB transport frame according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[12] FlG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a multiplex structure of a DMB service according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[13] FlG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing broadcast channel information according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[14] FlG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing broadcast channel information according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and
[15] FlG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a screen providing broadcast channel information using a method of providing broadcast channel information according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
Best Mode
[16] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a broadcast receiver including: a tuner unit which tunes one of a plurality of channels and outputs one of a plurality of digital broadcast signals; a broadcast signal processing unit which interprets service information included in the broadcast signal output by the tuner unit; a storage unit which stores the service information interpreted by the broadcast signal processing unit; and a control unit which dynamically creates a broadcast search list based on the service information and generates a screen providing the broadcast search list.
[17] The control unit may control the storage unit such that, if service information other than the service information stored in the storage unit is received, the received service information is additionally stored in the storage unit and, if service information stored in the storage unit has not been received for a predetermined amount of time, the service information is deleted from the storage unit.
[18] The storage unit may store channel information which is classified by broadcast service provider and by region, and the channel information may include: country information which identifies a country; region information which is information belonging to a lower directory than the country information and identifies a region in the country; and ensemble information which is information belonging to a lower directory than the region information and comprises an ensemble which can be provided in the region and channel information regarding channels via which the ensemble can be received.
[19] The broadcast receiver may also include a user interface unit which receives a country information and/or region information selection signal, wherein the control unit reads the ensemble information corresponding to the country information and/or region information selection signal from the storage unit and controls the output of the ensemble information.
[20] The control unit may control the tuner unit to scan a channel via which an ensemble corresponding to an ensemble information user selection signal received via the user interface unit can be received, control the broadcast signal processing unit to interpret service information transmitted via the channel scanned by the tuner unit, and dynamically create the broadcast search list based on the service information interpreted by the broadcast signal processing unit.
[21] The broadcast receiver may also include an output unit which displays a screen providing the broadcast search list, wherein the control unit generates a screen providing a broadcast search list which is created based on country information and/or region information associated with the country information and/or region information selection signal, ensemble information corresponding to the country information and/or region information, and the service information interpreted by the broadcast signal processing unit, and outputs the screen to the output unit.
[22] The control unit may add predetermined information and thus generate a screen providing the broadcast search list to indicate whether the service information stored in the storage unit has been scanned, wherein the predetermined information indicates whether the service information stored in the storage unit has been scanned.
[23] The control unit may calculate the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of an ensemble bistream generated by the broadcast signal processing unit, determine whether the reception of the ensemble bitstream is good or bad based on the calculation result, add reception state information and thus generates a screen providing the broadcast search list, wherein the reception state information indicates whether the reception of the ensemble bitstream is good or bad.
[24] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of providing broadcast channel information comprising: storing service information transmitted via a predetermined digital broadcast channel; dynamically creating a broadcast search list based on the service information; and generating a screen providing the broadcast search list.
Mode for Invention
[25] The present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown.
[26] FlG. 1 is a block diagram of a broadcast receiver for providing broadcast channel information according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FlG. 1, the broadcast receiver includes an antenna 110, a tuner unit 120, a broadcast signal processing unit 130, a control unit 140, a user interface unit 150, a storage unit 160, and an output unit 170.
[27] The tuner unit 120 tunes one of a plurality of broadcast channels and thus outputs one of a plurality of digital broadcast signals received by the antenna 110.
[28] The broadcast signal processing unit 130 receives the digital broadcast signal output by the tuner unit 120, demodulates and/or decodes the received digital broadcast signal, and outputs the demodulated and/or decoded digital broadcast signal to the output unit 170. Also, the broadcast signal processing unit 130 can interpret service information included in a broadcast signal.
[29] The user interface unit 150 comprises a touch screen or buttons. The user interface unit 150 receives a country/region information selection signal or an ensemble selection signal from a user and transmits the received signal to the control unit 140.
[30] The storage unit 160 stores service information interpreted by the broadcast signal processing unit 130. Also, the storage unit 160 stores broadcast channel information which is classified by broadcast service provider and by region. The broadcast channel information classified by broadcast service provider may include country information, region information, and ensemble information. The country information is information identifying a country, and the region information is information belonging to a lower directory than the country information and identifies a region in the country. Ensemble information is information belonging to a lower directory than the region information and comprises information identifying an ensemble which can be provided in the region; and broadcast channel information specifying broadcast channels through which the ensemble can be received. The country information, the region information, and the ensemble information stored in the storage unit 160 may be modified. In addition, country information, region information, and ensemble information other than those already stored in the storage unit 160 may be additionally stored in the storage unit 160 using signals input via the user interface unit 150 or via a communication line connected between the broadcast receiver and an external device (not shown).
[31] The output unit 170 includes a speaker or a liquid crystal display (LCD) device and displays a broadcast search list which is dynamically created by the control unit 140.
[32] The control unit 140 controls the tuner unit 120, the broadcast signal processing unit 130, the user interface unit 150, the storage unit 160, and the output unit 170 and dynamically creates a broadcast search list. When service information other than the service information stored in the storage unit 160 is received, the control unit 140 may control the storage unit 160 to additionally store the received service information. Also, if the service information stored in the storage unit 160 has not been received for a predetermined amount of time, even when the current data reception state is good, the control unit 140 may control the storage unit 160 to delete the service information. In this manner, the control unit 140 can dynamically create a broadcast search list based on service information additionally stored in or deleted from the storage unit 160.
[33] The control unit 140 receives a country information and/or region information selection signal from the user interface unit 150 and controls the reading of the ensemble information corresponding to country information and/or region information associated with the country information and/or region information selection signal from the storage unit 160. Thereafter, the control unit 140 controls the output of the read ensemble information to the output unit 170. Thereafter, if an ensemble information user selection signal is received via the user interface unit 150, the control unit 140 controls the tuner unit 120 to scan a predetermined channel from which an ensemble corresponding to the predetermined ensemble information user selection signal can be received. Then, the broadcast signal processing unit 130 interprets service information transmitted via the predetermined channel, and the control unit 140 dynamically creates a broadcast search list based on the interpreted service information. Therefore, the control unit 140 can generate a screen providing a broadcast search list which is created based on country information and region information associated with a user selection signal, and ensemble information and service in- formation stored in the storage unit 160 corresponding to the country information and the region information.
[34] Also, the control unit 140 may generate a screen displaying information which indicates whether the service information stored in the storage unit 160 has been scanned. Also, the control unit 140 may calculate the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of an ensemble bitstream generated while the broadcast signal processing unit 130 processes a broadcast signal, and then determine whether the current data reception state is good or bad. Therefore, the control unit 140 may add current data reception state information to a screen providing a broadcast search list.
[35] FlG. 2 is a block diagram of the broadcast signal processing unit 130 of FlG. 2 when the broadcast receiver illustrated in FlG. 1 is a DMB receiver and digital broadcast signals received by the broadcast receiver are DMB signals. Referring to FlG. 2, the broadcast signal processing unit 130 includes a channel decoder 131, a demultiplexer 132, a decoder 133, and a fast information channel (FlC) parser 134. The channel decoder 131 performs a channel decoding operation using a predetermined method. The demultiplexer 132 demultiplexes a channel-decoded signal provided by the channel decoder 131 and outputs a DMB transport frame 300 illustrated in FlG. 3 to the decoder 133. The demultiplexer 132 extracts a FlC 330 from the DMB transport frame 300 and outputs the FlC 330 to the FlC parser 134.
[36] The FlC parser 134 parses the FlC 330 and provides fast information group (FlG) information to the control unit 140. For example, the Extension 2 of FlG type 0 (FlG 0/2) contains basic service organization information. Therefore, the control unit 140 can obtain service information from the FlG information provided by the FlC parser 134, e.g., FlG 0/2 information. The FlG information will be described later in detail with reference to FlG. 3.
[37] The decoder 133 decodes the DAB transport frame 300 and provides the decoded
DAB transport frame 300 to the output unit 170 such as an LCD or a speaker. The decoder 133 may include a plurality of decoding devices, including a plurality of audio decoding devices and a plurality of video decoding devices.
[38] FlG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the format of a DMB transport frame 300 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FlG. 3, the DMB transport frame 300 includes a synchronization channel 310, a FlC 330, and a main service channel (MSC) 350.
[39] The synchronization channel 310 comprises null symbols which are used for determining a transport mode, and reference symbols which are needed in OFDM symbol synchronization or for carrier wave frequency synchronization.
[40] The FlC 330 is a channel for transmitting information that is needed by a broadcast receiver to process data, such as service organization information or multiplex format information, or for transmitting data that needs to be quickly transmitted. The FlC 330 includes multiplex configuration information (MCI) containing information regarding the structure of sub-channels and service information which is additional information regarding services. Therefore, it can be seen from this channel service data is transmitted via the MSC 350 and what application is to use the service data. The FlC 330 includes a fast information data channel (FlDC) containing data to be transmitted within a given time. The FTDC includes, for example, simple messages for emergencies.
[41] The FlC 330 comprises a plurality of fast information blocks (FlBs). Each of the
FIBs comprises a FTB data field and a cyclical redundancy check (CRC) field. The FTB data field comprises a plurality of fast information groups (FlGs). A FlG type field specifying the type of predetermined data contained in the FlG data field and a length field specifying the length of the FlG data field are inserted into a header portion of the FlGs, and the actual data is contained in the FlG data field.
[42] The MSC 350 transmits actual content data provided from a service provider.
When the space of the FlC 330 is insufficient, a part of FlC data can be contained in the MSC 350. However, since the MSC 350 employs time interleaving, which may result in more ore less delay time required for decoding, the MSC 350 cannot contain FlC data to be quickly transmitted. Data transmission modes are classified into a stream mode and a packet mode. The MSC 350 comprises a plurality of frames referred to as common interleaved frames (CIFs).
[43] FlG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a multiplex structure of a DMB service according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FlG. 4, the DMB service has ensembles, services, and service components.
[44] A plurality of encoded audio streams and a plurality of data are subjected to the channel coding and then are multiplexed into one bit stream along with system data, which is called an ensemble. Generally, one broadcasting station provides one ensemble. The service refers to the output broadcasting station provides one ensemble. The service refers to the output that is selected by a user, such as a program service and a data service, and the service components refers to elements constituting a service. The service components of a given service are connected to each other by the multiplex configuration information. The service components are transmitted with the sub channels or the FlDC.
[45] In an embodiment of the present invention, the DMB service comprises at least 2 ensembles including ensemble #0 (410) and ensemble #1 (415). Ensemble #0 (410) provides at least 2 services including service #0 (430) and service #1 (435). Service #0 (430) comprises at least 2 service components including service component #0 (450) and service component #1 (455). [46] A method of providing broadcast channel information, which is performed by a broadcast receiver according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, will now be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1, 5, and 6.
[47] FlG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing broadcast channel information according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FlG. 5, the tuner unit 120 outputs a digital broadcast signal via a predetermined channel, and the broadcast signal processing unit 130 interprets service information included in the broadcast signal and transmits the interpreted service information to the control unit 140. For example, the service information may be obtained from FlG 0/2, which is obtained in a parsing operation performed by the FlC parser 134 of the broadcast signal processing unit 130. In operation S510, the control unit 140 stores the service information transmitted by the broadcast signal processing unit 130 via the predetermined channel in the storage unit 160.
[48] In operation S520, the control unit 140 dynamically creates a broadcast search list based on the service information stored in the storage unit 160. In operation S530, the control unit 140 generates a screen providing the broadcast search list.
[49] If service information other than the service information stored in the storage unit
160 is received, the control unit 140 may additionally store the received service information in the storage unit 160. If the service information stored in the storage unit 160 has not been searched for for a predetermined amount of time, for example, for 1 minute, even when the data reception state is good, the control unit 140 may delete the corresponding service information from the storage unit 160.
[50] Also, in order to indicate whether service information has been scanned, the control unit 140 may add to the service information scanned state information indicating whether the service information has been scanned, generate a screen providing the scanned state information together with the service information, and provide the generated screen to the output unit 170. For example, for service information which has been previously scanned and stored in the storage unit 160 but has not been scanned recently, the control unit 140 may add to the service information scanned state information in which the service information is marked as 'unscanned'. Alternatively, for service information which has recently been scanned and has already been stored in the storage unit 160, the control unit 140 may add to the service information scanned state information in which the service information is marked as 'scanned'.
[51] FlG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing broadcast channel information according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FlG. 6, in operation S610, a country information and/or region information selection signal is received via the user interface unit 150. In operation S620, the control unit 140 reads the ensemble information based on the country information and/or region in- formation selection signal from the storage unit 160 and provides the read ensemble information to the output unit 170. The control unit 140 may create an ensemble list including one or more pieces of ensemble information and provide the ensemble list to the output unit 170.
[52] In operation S630, the control unit 140 controls the tuner unit 120 to scan a predetermined broadcast channel via which a chosen ensemble corresponding to an ensemble information user selection signal received via the user interface unit 150 can be received. Then, a broadcast signal is received via the scanned broadcast channel and is transmitted to the broadcast signal processing unit 130. In operation S640, the broadcast signal processing unit 130 interprets service information included in the broadcast signal by appropriately processing the broadcast signal. Thereafter, the broadcast signal processing unit 130 transmits the interpreted service information to the control unit 140.
[53] In operation S650, the control unit 140 creates a broadcast search list based on the country information and/or the region information associated with the country information and/or region information selection signal, and ensemble information and service information stored in the storage unit 160 corresponding to the country information and/or the region information, and provides the broadcast search list to the output unit 170. The control unit 140 may generate a screen displaying the broadcast search list comprising the country information, the region information, the ensemble information, and the service information as a tree as illustrated in FlG. 7.
[54] In the method of providing broadcast channel information according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a user can search for an ensemble using different frequencies according to country information and region information. For example, when moving from region A to region B within a country, the user may change the region information of his or her broadcast receiver. Then, the broadcast receiver may scan a channel according to region information corresponding to region A or region information corresponding to region B in order to receive a desired ensemble. In this manner, the user can receive a broadcast service even when moving between regions within a country by scanning a channel which can ensure high-quality ensemble reception by appropriately changing the region information of his or her broadcast receiver.
[55] In addition, the user can receive a broadcast service even when moving from country C to country D by scanning a channel which can ensure high-quality ensemble reception by appropriately changing the country information and region information of his or her broadcast receiver. In short, the user can receive a broadcast service from a channel which can ensure high quality ensemble reception by appropriately changing country information and/or region information. Therefore, there is no need for a GPS device or a CDMA communication module to be additionally installed in the broadcast receiver.
[56] FlG. 7 is a diagram of a screen providing broadcast channel information using a method of providing broadcast channel information according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FlG. 7, in an embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide a user with country information that identifies a country, region information which belongs to a lower directory than the country information and identifies a region in the country, ensemble information which comprises information regarding ensembles which can be serviced within the region and belongs to a lower directory than the region information, and service information which comprises information regarding services included in a predetermined ensemble channel and belongs to a lower directory than the ensemble information. A list of regions in a country may be displayed in such a manner that information regarding regions closer to a predetermined region chosen by the user are displayed closer to the region information chosen by the user, thereby enabling the user to easily switch to regions near the chosen region from the list.
[57] For example, referring to FlG. 1, if the user chooses South Korea and either Seoul or Kyonggi province, a broadcast receiver provides the user with ensemble information regarding ensembles which can be received in Seoul, Kyonggi province of Republic of Korea, i.e., a list including Korea Broadcasting Station (KBS), Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), and Seoul Broadcasting Station (SBS). If the user chooses KBS from the list, the broadcast receiver scans channels through which broadcast programs broadcast by KBS can be received, and provides service information comprising a list of channels DMBl, KBS Music, and KBS Economy as a broadcast search list. Accordingly, it is possible to dynamically create service information by scanning broadcast signals in the aforementioned manner.
[58] Even when moving from Seoul or Kyonggi province to Kangwon province, the user can watch digital broadcasts from broadcast channels with high quality reception by enabling the broadcast receiver to scan channels via which broadcast programs broadcast by KBS can be received properly in Kangwon province.
[59] The method of providing broadcast channel information according to the present invention can be realized as computer-readable code written on a computer-readable recording medium. The computer-readable recording medium may be any type of recording device in which data is stored in a computer-readable manner. Examples of the computer-readable recording medium include a ROM, a RAM, a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a floppy disc, an optical data storage, and a carrier wave (e.g., data transmission through the Internet). The computer-readable recording medium can be distributed over a plurality of computer systems connected to a network so that computer-readable code is written thereto and executed therefrom in a decentralized manner. Functional programs, code, and code segments needed for realizing the present invention can be easily construed by one of ordinary skill in the art.
[60] As described above, the present invention provides a broadcast receiver for and a method of providing broadcast channel information in which a broadcast search list is dynamically changed and the resulting broadcast search list is provided to a user.
[61] In addition, the present invention provides a broadcast receiver for and a method of providing broadcast channel information which can provide a user with various ensemble information and various service information according to a country and/or a region chosen by the user by expanding an ensemble-service tree structure including broadcast service information.
[62] Moreover, according to the present invention, since a user can search through a variety of ensemble channels by changing country information and/or region information, it is possible for the user to receive broadcast services by choosing broadcast channels which can ensure high-quality reception even when the user is moving between countries or between regions within a country.
[63] While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

Claims
[ 1 ] L A broadcast receiver comprising : a tuner unit which tunes one of a plurality of channels and outputs one of a plurality of digital broadcast signals; a broadcast signal processing unit which interprets service information included in the broadcast signal output by the tuner unit; a storage unit which stores the service information interpreted by the broadcast signal processing unit; and a control unit which dynamically creates a broadcast search list based on the service information and generates a screen providing the broadcast search list.
[2] 2. The broadcast receiver of claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the storage unit such that, if service information other than the service information stored in the storage unit is received, the received service information is additionally stored in the storage unit and, if service information stored in the storage unit has not been received for a predetermined amount of time, the service information is deleted from the storage unit.
[3] 3. The broadcast receiver of claim 1, wherein the storage unit stores channel information which is classified by broadcast service provider and by region, and the channel information comprises: country information which identifies a country; region information which is information belonging to a lower directory than the country information and identifies a region in the country; and ensemble information which is information belonging to a lower directory than the region information and comprises an ensemble which can be provided in the region and channel information regarding channels via which the ensemble can be received.
[4] 4. The broadcast receiver of claim 3 further comprising a user interface unit which receives a country information and/or region information selection signal, wherein the control unit reads the ensemble information corresponding to the country information and/or region information selection signal from the storage unit and controls the output of the ensemble information.
[5] 5. The broadcast receiver of claim 4, wherein the control unit controls the tuner unit to scan a channel via which an ensemble corresponding to an ensemble information user selection signal received via the user interface unit can be received, controls the broadcast signal processing unit to interpret service information transmitted via the channel scanned by the tuner unit, and dynamically creates the broadcast search list based on the service information interpreted by the broadcast signal processing unit.
[6] 6. The broadcast receiver of claim 5 further comprising an output unit which displays a screen providing the broadcast search list, wherein the control unit generates a screen providing a broadcast search list which is created based on country information and/or region information associated with the country information and/or region information selection signal, ensemble information corresponding to the country information and/or region information, and the service information interpreted by the broadcast signal processing unit, and outputs the screen to the output unit.
[7] 7. The broadcast receiver of claim 1, wherein the control unit adds predetermined information and thus generates a screen providing the broadcast search list to indicate whether the service information stored in the storage unit has been scanned, wherein the predetermined information indicates whether the service information stored in the storage unit has been scanned.
[8] 8. The broadcast receiver of claim 1, wherein the control unit calculates the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of an ensemble bistream generated by the broadcast signal processing unit, determines whether the reception of the ensemble bitstream is good or bad based on the calculation result, adds reception state information and thus generates a screen providing the broadcast search list, wherein the reception state information indicates whether the reception of the ensemble bitstream is good or bad.
[9] 9. A method of providing broadcast channel information comprising: storing service information transmitted via a predetermined digital broadcast channel; dynamically creating a broadcast search list based on the service information; and generating a screen providing the broadcast search list.
[10] 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the dynamically creating comprises: if service information other than the service information stored in the storage unit is received, additionally storing the received service information; and if the service information stored in the storage unit has not been updated for a predetermined amount of time, deleting the service information.
[11] 11. The method of claim 9 further comprising : receiving a country information and/or region information selection signal via a user interface; providing ensemble information corresponding to country information and/or region information associated with the country information and/or region information selection signal, the ensemble information identifying an ensemble which can be received in a country and/or a region identified by the country information and/or the region information; scanning a channel for receiving chosen ensemble information with reference to an ensemble information selection signal; and interpreting service information received through the scanning.
[12] 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the dynamically creating comprises dynamically creating a broadcast search list using the country information and/or the region information associated with the country information and/or region information selection signal, the ensemble information corresponding to the country information and/or region information, and the service information.
[13] 13. The method of claim 9, wherein the generating of the screen comprises: generating a screen providing the broadcast search list to which scanned state information indicating whether the service information has been scanned is added.
[14] 14. The method of claim 9, wherein the generating of the screen comprises: generating a screen providing the broadcast search list to which current data reception state information specifying a current broadcast signal reception state is added.
[15] 15. A computer-readable recording medium storing a computer program for executing the method of any of claims 9 through 14.
PCT/KR2006/005320 2005-12-12 2006-12-08 Broadcast receiver for and method of providing broadcast channel information WO2007069837A1 (en)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US12/094,134 US8055220B2 (en) 2005-12-12 2006-12-08 Broadcast receiver for and method of providing broadcast channel information
EP06824026A EP1961219A1 (en) 2005-12-12 2006-12-08 Broadcast receiver for and method of providing broadcast channel information
CN2006800377660A CN101283583B (en) 2005-12-12 2006-12-08 Broadcast receiver for and method of providing broadcast channel information
JP2008544263A JP2009518938A (en) 2005-12-12 2006-12-08 Broadcast receiving apparatus for providing broadcast channel information and broadcast channel information providing method
BRPI0617160-5A BRPI0617160A2 (en) 2005-12-12 2006-12-08 broadcast receiver, method of providing broadcast channel information, and computer readable recording medium

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
KR10-2005-0121894 2005-12-12
KR1020050121894A KR100750144B1 (en) 2005-12-12 2005-12-12 Broadcasting receiving apparatus for providing broadcasting channel information and method therefor

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2007069837A1 true WO2007069837A1 (en) 2007-06-21

Family

ID=38163116

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/KR2006/005320 WO2007069837A1 (en) 2005-12-12 2006-12-08 Broadcast receiver for and method of providing broadcast channel information

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US8055220B2 (en)
EP (1) EP1961219A1 (en)
JP (1) JP2009518938A (en)
KR (1) KR100750144B1 (en)
CN (1) CN101283583B (en)
BR (1) BRPI0617160A2 (en)
WO (1) WO2007069837A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
KR101052480B1 (en) * 2008-08-27 2011-07-29 한국전자통신연구원 Broadcast signal transceiver and method
TWI395497B (en) * 2009-04-20 2013-05-01 Ralink Technology Corp Method for scanning wireless channels, and apparatus and system for using the same
JP5854903B2 (en) * 2012-03-27 2016-02-09 三菱電機株式会社 Digital broadcast receiving apparatus and scanning method
KR102046914B1 (en) * 2013-02-13 2019-12-02 삼성전자주식회사 Digital broadcast receiver and method for updating channel information
KR101956036B1 (en) * 2014-12-08 2019-03-08 엘지전자 주식회사 Broadcast signal transmission apparatus, broadcast signal reception apparatus, broadcast signal transmission method, and broadcast signal reception method
WO2016144072A1 (en) 2015-03-08 2016-09-15 엘지전자(주) Apparatus and method for transmitting and receiving broadcast signal

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH10294903A (en) * 1997-04-21 1998-11-04 Sanyo Electric Co Ltd Television receiver
JP2004222028A (en) * 2003-01-16 2004-08-05 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Method for transmitting and receiving broadcasting and reception device for the same
US20050034174A1 (en) * 2003-08-08 2005-02-10 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Digital receiving device and digital broadcasting receiving method

Family Cites Families (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2658538B2 (en) * 1990-09-14 1997-09-30 三菱電機株式会社 RDS receiver
JP3049164B2 (en) * 1992-12-25 2000-06-05 株式会社ケンウッド Tuner for data multiplex broadcasting
EP1032128A1 (en) * 1999-02-23 2000-08-30 Mannesmann VDO Aktiengesellschaft Method for processing transmitter and program related data in an FM RDS receiver
US7024676B1 (en) * 1999-05-25 2006-04-04 Thomson Licensing System for acquiring and processing broadcast programs, program guide and channel identification data
KR100323682B1 (en) * 1999-08-24 2002-02-07 구자홍 Internet tv and method for watching control of the same
KR100314465B1 (en) * 1999-12-15 2001-11-22 구자홍 Method for controlling display of broadcasting additional imformation
KR100724347B1 (en) * 2000-09-27 2007-06-04 엘지전자 주식회사 Frequency information mapping method for digital broadcasting
JP4543557B2 (en) * 2001-01-31 2010-09-15 船井電機株式会社 Broadcast receiving apparatus having on-screen display function of channel information
JP2002247466A (en) * 2001-02-15 2002-08-30 Funai Electric Co Ltd Broadcast receiver with on-screen output function
KR20040079497A (en) 2003-03-07 2004-09-16 엘지전자 주식회사 Method for updating channel map of digital broadcasting receiver
JP2007534218A (en) * 2004-04-21 2007-11-22 松下電器産業株式会社 Digital broadcast receiving apparatus, method and program

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH10294903A (en) * 1997-04-21 1998-11-04 Sanyo Electric Co Ltd Television receiver
JP2004222028A (en) * 2003-01-16 2004-08-05 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Method for transmitting and receiving broadcasting and reception device for the same
US20050034174A1 (en) * 2003-08-08 2005-02-10 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Digital receiving device and digital broadcasting receiving method

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
KR100750144B1 (en) 2007-08-17
EP1961219A1 (en) 2008-08-27
CN101283583B (en) 2010-05-26
BRPI0617160A2 (en) 2011-07-12
KR20070062144A (en) 2007-06-15
CN101283583A (en) 2008-10-08
JP2009518938A (en) 2009-05-07
US20080305757A1 (en) 2008-12-11
US8055220B2 (en) 2011-11-08

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US20060105787A1 (en) Apparatus and method for providing location-based information
KR100630191B1 (en) Mobile communication terminal and method of providing a user interface using received terrestrial digital broadcasting data
US7475418B2 (en) Digital broadcasting system and method for automatically locating programs after relocation
US8542621B2 (en) Method of and apparatus for providing and receiving video service in digital audio broadcasting
US20050289586A1 (en) Method and apparatus for controlling display of digital broadcasting
KR100636216B1 (en) Method of providing same broadcast service, and broadcast receiving apparatus therefor
US8055220B2 (en) Broadcast receiver for and method of providing broadcast channel information
KR100693653B1 (en) Method for forming service map according to channel tuning in a dmb
JP5615482B2 (en) Digital broadcast receiving apparatus, reception control method, and digital broadcast transmitting apparatus
US20070067796A1 (en) Method and apparatus for providing advertisement in digital broadcasting system
KR100597134B1 (en) Digital Multimedia Broadcasting Service Syster And Method Thereof
US20070204307A1 (en) DMB terminal and method for providing broadcast preview service
US20070093278A1 (en) Method and device for displaying good reception-sensitivity information in broadcast receiver
KR100772652B1 (en) Fast channel switching apparatus in mobile digital broadcasting receiver and method thereof
KR100790626B1 (en) Method for providing user interface for data service in broadcasting receiver
KR100755845B1 (en) Data structure and method for EPG service and mobile-type broadcasting receiver
KR100739738B1 (en) Method for displaying service in the DMB receiver having dual display and DMB receiver therefor
KR100633984B1 (en) Method for transmitting and receiving digital multimedia broadcasting data enabled partially enlarged function
KR100882508B1 (en) Receivng apparatus and method for advanced digital multimedia broadcasting conditional access using hierarchical modulation
KR100750471B1 (en) Method for playing broadcasting of digital multimedia broadcasting system
KR100758269B1 (en) Apparatus and Method for Integrated Browser Output in Terrestrial Digital Multimedia Broadcasting
KR20070065513A (en) Method for offering broadcasting information of digital multimedia broadcasting system

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 200680037766.0

Country of ref document: CN

121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application
WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 2006824026

Country of ref document: EP

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 2008114305

Country of ref document: RU

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 795/MUMNP/2008

Country of ref document: IN

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 12094134

Country of ref document: US

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 2008544263

Country of ref document: JP

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

ENP Entry into the national phase

Ref document number: PI0617160

Country of ref document: BR

Kind code of ref document: A2

Effective date: 20080407