CN101536365A - Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving service variation information in digital broadcasting system - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and apparatus for indicating a service change in a Convergence of Broadcast and Mobile Services (CBMS) system are provided. The network entity aggregates information about a first service capable of being provided by the current network and information about a second service of another network in relation to generate information indicating a language, subtitle, etc. of said second service when compared with said first service. and the service change information of whether at least one of camera angle and camera angle has changed, and send the service change information to terminals in the current network via a broadcast network or an interactive network. The terminal may determine whether to continuously receive the second service from the first service from the other network using the service change information.

Description

Method and device for sending and receiving service change information in digital broadcasting system

technical field

The present invention relates to a digital broadcast system, and more particularly, to a method and device for instructing broadcast service changes in a Convergence of Broadcast and Mobile Service (CBMS) system.

Background technique

In recent years, due to the development of communication and broadcasting technologies, broadcasting systems or mobile communication systems provide mobile broadcasting. Specifically, mobile broadcasting capable of transmitting packet data and typical broadcast services limited to audio and video data through a broadcast channel is being considered. Mobile broadcasting may include: discovering services through mobile terminals (such as cellular phones, notebook computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), etc.) capable of receiving mobile broadcasting services, ordering services through mobile terminals, providing various control information for receiving services, Sending services and receiving services via mobile terminals.

As an organization that studies standards for interworking between various mobile solutions, the Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) mainly establishes various application standards for mobile communication games, Internet services, and the like. Among the working groups of OMA, the sub-working group of OMA Browser and Content (BAC) Mobile Broadcasting (BCAST) is actively working on the integration of broadcasting services and mobile communication services by using mobile terminals capable of communicating with interactive networks. Research. Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB)-Convergence of Broadcast and Mobile Services (CBMS), which is a standard organization for mobile broadcast terminals, has also made efforts to define a system structure and interface for integrating broadcast services and mobile communication services.

In a digital broadcasting system such as a CBMS system, when the frequency of an Internet Protocol (IP) platform, a service provider, a network, or a terminal receiving a service changes, service continuity must be guaranteed. The service from another IP platform, provider and/or network may not be exactly the same but may have some changes when compared to the service the terminal is currently receiving. Thus, a need arises to help a terminal determine whether to continuously receive a service provided through another IP platform, service provider, network, frequency from a current service.

Contents of the invention

An aspect of the present invention is to address at least the above-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for determining service continuity during handover or roaming of a terminal.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for indicating to a terminal a change in a service that the terminal is receiving in order to determine service continuity for the terminal.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a method for transmitting service change information in a digital broadcasting system is provided. The method includes: aggregating information about a first service capable of being provided by a first network and information about a second service in a second network related to the first service; generating information indicating the first service and the second service. The service change information of the change between two services; and sending the service change information to the terminal in the first network through a predetermined transmission bearer.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for receiving service change information in a digital broadcasting system is provided. The method includes: receiving from the current network service change information indicating a change between a second service in a second network and a first service capable of being provided by the first network via a predetermined transport bearer, the second service being different from the first service. is related to a service; using the received service change information to determine whether to continuously receive a second service from the second network from the first service; and if it is determined to receive the second service, then to the second When the network moves, the second service is continuously received from the first service.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a digital broadcasting system for transmitting service change information is provided. The digital broadcasting system includes: a network entity for aggregating information about a first service capable of being provided by a first network and information about a second service in a second network related to the first service, generating an indication of the Service change information of a change between the first service and the second service, and sending the service change information through a predetermined transmission bearer; and a terminal, configured to receive the service change information through the transmission bearer, and use the received service change information The service change information determines whether to continuously receive the second service from the second network from the first service, and if it is determined to receive the second service, when moving to the second network, continuously from The first service receives the second service.

Description of drawings

The above and other features and advantages of exemplary embodiments of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

1 is a block diagram illustrating a structure of a Convergence of Broadcast and Mobile Services (CBMS) system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

2A and 2B show examples of service changes according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a network entity according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

4A to 4C are flowcharts illustrating operations of a terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

5 is a block diagram showing the structure of a network according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a structure of a terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Throughout the drawings, the same drawing reference numerals should be understood to refer to the same elements, features, and structures.

Detailed ways

Matters such as specific configurations and elements defined in the specification are provided to help a comprehensive understanding of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Also, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions are omitted for clarity and conciseness. The terms used below are defined in consideration of functions in the present invention, and may be changed according to user's, operator's purpose or custom. Accordingly, the limitations must be understood on the basis of the entire content of this application.

The main concept of the present invention, which will be described below, is to indicate a broadcast service change in a Converged Broadcast and Mobile Services (CBMS) system. A broadcast service change may refer to a change in broadcast service on a new network when compared to a home network, for example during handover or roaming. Here, the broadcast service may include both broadcast content and other information corresponding to a single service, or only broadcast content. A broadcast service change may also refer to a change in broadcast service to another Internet Protocol (IP) platform, another service provider, another network, another frequency, and the like.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of a CBMS system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1 , a set of logical entities working together to obtain the required capabilities for Digital Video Broadcasting-Handheld (DVB-H) IP Datacasting (IPDC) is shown. The logical entities are shown separately according to their main capabilities, and may be located in physically separate servers or in the same server.

Referring to FIG. 1 , a content creation (CC) block 110 creates a content source of a broadcast service and transfers it to a service application (SA) block 120 . The SA block 120 is the head-end application logic that aggregates content sources from the CC block 110 and additionally required metadata for service configuration to generate service data for a particular service. The SA block 120 provides content encoded in a terminal-understandable form via streaming or carousel delivery. The SA block 120 also generates service description metadata for Electronic Service Guide (ESG), operates as an interaction endpoint for terminals by interworking with other SA blocks, and provides service protection. To this end, the SA block 120 includes a number of sub-entities for managing different applications for each service. Each SA entity may exist to provide IPDC.

The Service Management (SM) block 130 includes sub-entities that independently perform service configuration, resource allocation, and other functions between the SA block 120 and the terminal 160 . For example, the SM block 130 may include the following 4 sub-entities, each of which may be taken individually as an example.

The service configuration and resource allocation entity registers the service applications competing for the bandwidth of the broadcast bearer (one DVB-H IP platform in one DVB transport stream), allocates the location (broadcast network topology) and bandwidth to the service, and schedules the service according to time, and May experience broadcast bandwidth contention. The service guide provides application entities to gather ESG (metadata information) pieces from SA entities, and may occur multiple times. The security/service protection providing entity manages the user's access to the SA entity. The location service entity provides location services for service applications in an independent manner by interworking with an interactive network or the Global Positioning System (GPS).

The broadcast network 140 is a network for transmitting broadcast service data, and may be, for example, a DVB-H system. The interactive network 150 generally refers to a cellular mobile communication network, such as Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) according to the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT)-2000 according to 3GPP2, Wireless Broadband Internet (WiBro) or Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), or any type of mobile communication network capable of receiving information or requests sent from the terminal 160 and sending responses to the information or requests. The broadcast network 140 and the interactive network 150 operate as transport bearers in the CBMS system.

The terminal 160 is a user device as a receiver capable of accessing the interactive network 150 and receiving a broadcast service from the broadcast network 140 . In the CBMS system, the terminal 160 receives service data and signaling information from the broadcast network 140 , and communicates the service data and signaling information with the interactive network 150 . For example, terminal 160 may include the following sub-entities.

The DVB-H receiver is responsible for service reception or signaling over the broadcast network 140 . The Interaction Adapter is responsible for service reception/transmission or signaling over the Interaction Network 150 . The Mobility Management (MM) block is responsible for mobility procedures. The subscription management block manages permission acquisition, keeps track of the permissions acquired by the terminal 160, and controls the process of describing service content. The content consumption block is responsible for service consumption.

In the following description, interfaces between entities including logical entities will be described. CBMS-x and X-x are reference points between different functional entities. CBMS-x is a reference point within the scope of the IPDC according to the DVB-H specification, and X-x is a reference point outside the scope of the IPDC according to the DVB-H specification.

The CBMS-1 interface transmits broadcast specific signaling in DVB-H, such as Program Specific Information and Service Information (PSI/SI) instructions, from the broadcast network 140 to the terminal 160 . The CBMS-2 interface transfers content such as audio data, video data, and file data from the SA block 120 to the terminal 160 . Content streams delivered over the CBMS-2 interface include audio/video (A/V) streams, auxiliary data, and files (clips, software, etc.) delivered by the rotation mechanism.

The CBMS-3 interface transmits ESG metadata from the SM block 130 to the terminal 160 over the broadcast network 140 using point-to-multipoint (PTM) transmission. The CBMS-4 interface is used for access control for service applications of the SA block 120 and point-to-point (PTP) transfer of ESG metadata between the SM block 130 and the terminal 160 . The CBMS-5 interface is used for a PTP transfer service between the SA block 120 and the terminal 160, and Short Message Service (SMS), Multimedia Message Service (MMS), etc. are transferred through the interaction network 150 using PTP transfer.

The CBMS-6 communicates between the SM block 130 and the broadcast network 140 configuration parameters regarding DVB-H delivery, such as number of services, allocated bandwidth, etc. The CBMS-7 interface is used for service application declaration or service application description between SA block 120 and SM block 130, including content description and metadata.

The X-1, X-2 and X-3 interfaces are reference points between the broadcast network 140 and other entities. The X-1 interface is used between the CC block 110 and the SA block 120 , and transmits content itself (essence), content description/metadata and content control policy to the SA block 120 . The X-2 interface is used to transfer interworking network-specific interworking between the interworking network 150 and the terminal 160, ie, authentication, mobility management, specific services such as voice, and the like. The X-3 interface is used between the SM block 130 and the interaction network 150 to access specified functions available in the interaction network 150, such as subscription management or billing functions.

The above description only refers to representative functions of the interface, and the functions of the interface are not limited to the above functions.

In the CBMS system, a service management instance is mapped to an IP platform. Thus, "in one platform" means "in one SM block 130", for example, another IP platform means another SM block, ie, an SM block included in another network.

When receiving broadcasting services in a digital broadcasting system, when a terminal moves to a new service coverage area included in another IP platform, service provider, network, and frequency, the terminal needs to determine whether reception is possible within the new service coverage area. A service similar to the current broadcast service. For example, movement of a terminal may subject the terminal to roaming or handover. In a CBMS system, roaming and handover can be defined differently according to different rules, such as IP platform change, provider (ESG, service and/or other provider) change, SM block change and network change. In the following description, terms used here will be briefly described.

An IP platform is a group of IP flows managed by one organization, and one IP platform can be mapped to one SM block. ESG providers, service providers, interaction networks, and broadcast networks can be defined by standard rules or system designers of the corresponding systems.

An identifier (ID) about each component can be described as follows.

The IP platform is identified by the IP platform ID. Here, according to the definition and description in the system, the ESG provider is identified by providerURI (provider URI), providerID (provider ID), a pair of providerURI and providerID, or other parameters. Here, according to the definition and description in the system, the service provider is identified by serviceproviderURI (service provider URI), serviceproviderID (service provider ID), a pair of serviceproviderURI and serviceproviderID, or other parameters. A network is identified by a network ID.

SM blocks are identified according to their relationship to the IP platform. For example, when an SM is mapped to an IP platform, the IP platform ID can be used as the SM ID. In another case, an SM ID that can be set independently of the IP platform ID can be used. Other various schemes for identifying SM blocks may also be used as follows.

1. When a service provider has its own SM block, the service provider ID is used to identify the SM block. When the service provider is unique in the IP platform, the pair of service provider ID and IP platform ID is used as SM ID. When a predetermined range of service provider IDs is unique, the range of service provider IDs is used as the SM ID.

2. ESG provider ID is used as SM ID when each ESG provider is in its own SM block. When the ESG provider is unique only among IP platforms, the pair of ESG provider ID and IP platform ID is used as SM ID. When the range of ESG Provider ID is unique, it is used as SM ID.

3. When one IP platform is mapped exactly to one SM block and different SM blocks cannot share that IP platform, the IP platform ID is used to identify the SM block.

4. Defining the SM ID about each SM block is the clearest way to identify each SM block. When the SM ID has a specific range, pairs of the SM ID and the ID of the specific range for that SM ID are used to identify the SM block.

5. SM blocks can be identified according to the structure and description of the system.

The definition of handover and roaming can be based on the change of IP platform. This case corresponds to handover if the terminal is in the same IP platform even after moving. If the terminal is in another IP platform after moving, this case corresponds to roaming. Therefore, the IP platform ID is an important parameter for distinguishing handover and roaming. The rules for distinguishing between handover and roaming can be extended to interworking networks. As mentioned earlier, the difference between handover and roaming is determined based on IP platform, ESG provider, service provider, SM block, IPDC domain, network or other concepts.

Thus, here, the definition of mobility is general rather than specific. Regardless of its structure and definition, the idea proposed by the present invention can still be used. In other words, the rules for defining handover and roaming can be IP platform, ESG provider, service provider, SM block, IPDC domain, network, etc. Here, when related parameters such as ID are required, all of them are listed. Therefore, all or some of them may be required, or other new parameters may also be required. Depending on the final definition in the CBMS system, these fields may be modified, added, removed or replaced.

Although the structure, concepts and parameters can be changed according to the final definition in the CBMS system, the idea proposed by the present invention can still be adopted and some modifications can be made based on the final definition in the CBMS system.

When the service currently consumed by the terminal will not be available in the new service coverage area, although the terminal wishes to continue consuming the current service, the terminal changes the receiving parameters to suit the IP platform, service provider, network, frequency, etc. corresponding to the new service coverage area. wait. The new service received with the changed reception parameters may be the same as or slightly different from the service received in the coverage area of the previous service.

If there have been certain changes to the services received by the terminal, it would be beneficial to indicate to the terminal and the user what those changes are. Therefore, when the service currently received by the terminal changes within the new service coverage area, the current network sends service change information to the terminal to ensure service continuity during the movement of the terminal. What changes exist in the service provided in the coverage area of another service in the vicinity when compared. Another service coverage area is a service coverage area that includes an IP platform, a service provider, or a network different from the current service coverage area where the terminal is currently located, or a service coverage area that uses a frequency different from that of the current service coverage area area. In the CBMS system, there are two kinds of transmission bearers, namely broadcast network and interactive network. Therefore, the service change information can be transmitted through the interactive network and/or the broadcast network.

When moving to another service coverage area, the terminal determines whether there is a changed service that can be continuously received from the current service within another service coverage area by referring to the service change information. If present, the terminal continuously receives the changed service from the current service. More specifically, the terminal recognizes what kind of service change exists in the service and whether the service change is acceptable based on the service change information. Through this, the terminal or user can determine whether to receive the changed service. Likewise, the terminal acquires the service change information before starting to receive the changed service.

Figures 2A and 2B illustrate examples of service changes according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, where a handover with an IP platform change is shown.

2A, terminal 208 receives service A 206 in IP platform A 202, and then moves to the service coverage of IP platform B 204. During the movement, the terminal 208 refers to the service change information received in the IP platform A 202 to determine whether the content of the service A 206 is valid in the IP platform B 204.

An example of the changed service provided in IP Platform B 204 is shown in FIG. 2B.

2B, original content 216 related to service A 206 includes a video stream 210 and different audio streams A 212 and B 214 based on location. Video stream 210 is provided in both IP Platform A 202 and IP Platform B 204, but audio stream A 212 is provided only in IP Platform A 202, and audio stream B 214 is provided only in IP Platform B 204. Thus, service A 206 provided in IP platform A 202 includes video stream 210 and audio stream A 212, while service B 200 provided in IP platform B 204 as a changed service of service A 206 includes video stream 210 and audio stream B 214.

Typical examples of original content 216 may include worldwide news, live sports broadcasts, and the like. Live sports broadcasts generally have the same video content 210, but their audio content is country-specific. In other words, for the same video stream 210 of a live sports broadcast, there may be multiple different audio streams 212, 214, such as commentary broadcast in different languages or commentary made by different commentators even in the same language. For example, IP platform A 202 provides channels for pay-TV and IP platform B 204 provides channels for national TV channels.

The service change information provided in IP platform A 202 indicates how to change from service A 206 to service B 200. Service change information may be defined by a service provider or a provider of service change information. For example, service change information may indicate service changes such as different languages, different subtitles, different camera angles, and the like.

Examples of three types of service changes will now be described. However, details of service change information according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention are not limited to these three types of service changes, and other types of service changes desired by the provider may also be added to these three types.

1) Services with different languages mean the same service expressed in different languages.

2) A service with different subtitles means the same service with different subtitles.

3) Services with different camera angles mean the same service with videos obtained from different camera angles.

Table 1 below is a summary of the service changes.

Table 1

category describe 1 Services in different languages Same service with different languages 2 Services with different subtitles Same service with different subtitles 3 Services with different camera angles Same service with videos from different camera angles

In this way, service change information between services may be provided as Table 2 below. In Table 2, information related to service ID and location can be changed according to the definition of handover and roaming. Although possible relevant parameters are provided here, these parameters can be removed, added or modified according to the final definition and requirements of the CBMS. Although various syntaxes exist for service changes, the main idea is shown in Table 2.

Table 2

Service change information for indicating details of service change to terminals is transmitted via a broadcast network or an interactive network. For example, service change information is included in ESG, notification messages, PSI/SI or other signaling. When carried in the ESG, the service change information may be added to the service type information element (IE) or the service map IE of the service fragment (fragment) that includes the full description of each service that can be provided, may be added into a new IE in the service section, or can be included in the content section, fetch section or other sections. The service change information may be included in a response message to the terminal's request message when transmitted via the interactive network.

The following table shows an example of the service change type IE included in the service change information. In addition to the service change types shown in Tables 3A and 3B, other service change types may also be defined by the provider.

Table 3A

Table 3B

Two services can have the same language, different subtitles, and different camera angles. In this case, Table 3B can be modified to Table 3C.

Table 3C

Tables 4A and 4B show details of service change information indicating languages/subtitles/camera angles available for different services.

For services with different languages, subtitles and/or camera angles, the available languages, subtitles and/or camera angles may be indicated. Details about the service ID and location may also be indicated in Table 4A or 4B. For example, for the definition of ESG Provider ID and Service Provider ID, other parameters such as positive integers may be used instead of Uniform Resource Identifier (URI).

Table 4A

Table 4B

Identified by at least one of another service ID (service_id_other), another IP address (IP_address_other), another provider ID (provider_id_other), another IP platform ID (IP platform_id_other), and another network ID (network_id_other) in A changed service of the current service provided in the current network. IEs of service change type, language, subtitle and/or camera angle of the changed service may also be included in the service change information.

The service change information may be included in the service mapping information indicating the mapping of neighboring networks to services of the current network as in Table 5A.

Table 5A

The service change type can be used in the service mapping information as shown in Table 5B.

Table 5B

Table 5C is another example of service mapping information

Table 5C

When service change information is carried in PSI/SI that already includes information about each service (such as IP address, transport stream ID, network ID, etc.), this information can be added to PSI/SI so that the service change The other IEs of the information will not overlap with the original IEs included in the PSI/SI.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating operations of a network entity according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Here, the network entity is at least one entity capable of collecting and transmitting information related to service mapping and service change. For example, a network entity may be an SA block or an SM block, or both.

Referring to FIG. 3 , in step 302, the network entity collects information related to services of the current network by referring to information about services that may be provided by the current network and services that may be provided by other networks that are adjacent to the current network or not adjacent to the current network. Service map and information related to service change, and generate service change information by referring to the collected information. Service change information may include offerings of the same content available in English on other networks but in the local language on the current network and offerings of movies with English subtitles on other networks but local language subtitles on the current network Change IE.

Service change information is sent to the terminal in at least one of steps 310 to 312 according to standard rules or the intention of the system designer. More specifically, in step 310, service change information is transmitted to the terminal through the ESG. In step 312, service change information is sent to the terminal through a notification message. In step 314, service change information is sent to the terminal through a predetermined signaling message. In step 316, the service change information is sent to the terminal through a response message sent by the network entity via the interaction network in response to the request message sent by the terminal via the interaction network.

During handover or roaming, if the home network provides service change information, the terminal can select reception parameters based on the service change information before going to new reception parameters. If other networks provide the service change information, the terminal can determine the service change based on the service change information, and thus does not need to analyze the service change. Therefore, it is very useful for each network to provide service change information.

4A to 4C are flowcharts illustrating operations of a terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in which service change information is transmitted through service mapping information. The operations in FIG. 4A or 4B are performed according to the apparatus for transmitting service mapping information in a network.

Referring to FIG. 4A, the terminal receives PSI/SI in step 402, receives ESG, notification message or other signaling in step 404, and then proceeds to step 422 in FIG. 4C. Referring to FIG. 4B, in step 412, the terminal determines whether it can receive the current service in the current network, that is, whether the terminal can continue to receive the current service in another service coverage area. If the terminal determines to continue receiving the current service in other service coverage areas, the terminal sends a request message about the service mapping information to the network in step 414, receives the service mapping information as a response to the request message in step 416, and proceeds to Step 422 of Figure 4C.

Referring to FIG. 4C , in step 422 , the terminal parses the service mapping information to check whether its desired service exists, and in step 424 determines whether there is a service mapped to the current service in other service coverage areas. As a result of the determination, if the same service as the current service is found or there is another service related to the current service, the terminal performs corresponding processes in steps 426 and 428 .

If the changed service of the current service is found, in step 430, the terminal parses the service change information included in the service mapping information to check the service change type of the changed service. For the service change type "different language", in step 432 the terminal determines whether the language of the changed service is valid for the user. For the service change type "different subtitle", in step 436 the terminal determines whether the subtitle of the changed service is available for the user. For the service change type "different camera angle", in step 434 the terminal determines whether the camera angle of the changed service is valid for the user. For the determination in steps 432 to 436, the terminal notifies the user of the different language/subtitle/camera angle to ask the user whether to receive the changed service with the different language/subtitle/camera angle.

In step 438, the terminal determines whether the user accepts the changed service with a different language/subtitle/camera angle. If accepted, in step 442, the terminal moves to another service coverage area, and then receives the changed service according to the reception parameters of the other service coverage area. If the user does not wish to use the changed service, the terminal performs other processes in step 440 . In another case, the terminal may automatically select whether to receive the changed service according to the predetermined operation mode in step 438 without user intervention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the structure of a network according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in which only entities in the network for performing logical functions related to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention are shown.

Referring to FIG. 5 , the SA block 502 generates service data including video streams and audio streams to provide specific services by combining related metadata and broadcast content from multiple sources, and provides terminal-readable services via streaming or file rotation delivery. encodes service data in a format it understands, and generates metadata including service descriptions for ESG. Specifically, the SA block 502 respectively provides metadata about services of the above service types valid for roaming users, so as to be used for generating a specific ESG.

The ESG entity 506 in the SM block 504 generates an ESG using metadata provided by the SA block 502 and transmits the generated ESG. When the ESG is used to transmit service change information, the ESG entity 506 inserts the service change information into the ESG, and transmits the ESG from the MM block 512 to the terminal 520 through a broadcast network and/or an interactive network.

The service configuration and resource allocation entity 508 is responsible for service configuration and network resource allocation, competes for broadcast bearer bandwidth by communicating with the SA block 502, allocates services or determines service bandwidth at locations in the broadcast network topology, and schedules services according to time. The security/service protection providing entity 510 is responsible for security and authentication, service protection and service provisioning. Entities 506 to 510 perform the functions necessary to perform handover and roaming by interfacing with MM block 512 . The MM block 512 performs operations related to the mobility of the terminal, especially operations related to handover and roaming.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a structure of a terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, a receiver 600 includes an interactive adapter 604 capable of accessing an interactive network and a broadcast receiver 602 capable of receiving broadcast signals from a broadcast network. The broadcast receiver 602 receives service data or signaling information such as PSI/SI and ESG from a broadcast network, and the interactive adapter 604 transmits and receives service data or signaling information via the interactive network. The control block 608 performs mobility management (MM) for handling handover related operations by interworking with the subscription management block 610 which is responsible for rights management/acquisition related to service subscription and decryption of service content. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the control block 608 also controls the broadcast receiver 602 or the interactive adapter 604 for receiving service change information. If necessary, the control block 608 sends a request message for service change information through the interaction adapter 604, receives service change information as a response to the request message through the interaction adapter 604, and then parses the received service change information.

The received service change information is used in control block 608 to determine the likelihood of service continuity. Under the control of the control block 608, the content consumption block 612 provides the audio and video of the broadcast service to the user, or stores it to provide the stored audio and video to the user later.

As apparent from the above description, before moving to a new service coverage area, the terminal may be provided with service change information indicating what changes have been made to the service in the new service coverage area, thereby determining the service continuity of the terminal .

While the present invention has been shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims (15)

1. method that is used for sending at digit broadcasting system service variation information, this method comprises the steps:

Gathering about the information of first service that can provide by first network with about with relevant second network of described first service in second information of serving;

Generate the service variation information of the change between described first service of indication and described second service; And

By transmission bearer described service variation information is sent to terminal in described first network.

2. method according to claim 1, wherein, described service variation information comprises the service change type information element of at least one in following of indication: described second service is and the identical content of described first service, but expresses with the language different with described first service; Described second service has and the different captions of described first service; And described second service has the video that obtains from the camera angle different with described first service.

3. method according to claim 2, wherein, described service variation information also comprises at least one in following: IP platform ID, the described second network of network ID of Internet Protocol (IP) address of the service identifier (ID) of described second service, described second service, the ID of provider of described second service, described second service.

4. method according to claim 1, wherein, sending described service variation information comprises by in following at least one and sends described service variation information to described terminal: the response message of the Internet that the program specific information of the electronic service guidebooks of radio network (ESG), described radio network and information on services (PSI/SI) and described terminal can insert.

5. method according to claim 1, wherein, described transmission bearer comprises at least one in the radio network and the Internet, described terminal can insert described radio network and the Internet the two.

6. method that is used at the digit broadcasting system receiving service variation information, this method comprises the steps:

By transmission bearer from first network receive second service indication second network and first service that can provide by described first network between the service variation information of change, described second service and described first is served relevant;

Use the service variation information that is received to determine whether from second service of the described first service reception from described second network; And

If determine to receive described second service,, receive described second service from described first service then when described second network moves.

7. method according to claim 6, wherein, described service variation information comprises the service change type information element of at least one in following of indication: described second service is and the identical content of described first service, but expresses with the language different with described first service; Described second service has and the different captions of described first service; And described second service has the video that obtains from the camera angle different with described first service.

8. method according to claim 7, wherein, described service variation information also comprises at least one in following: IP platform ID, the described second network of network ID of Internet Protocol (IP) address of the service identifier (ID) of described second service, described second service, the ID of provider of described second service, described second service.

9. method according to claim 6, wherein, receiving described service variation information comprises by in following at least one and receives described service variation information: the response message of the Internet that the program specific information of the electronic service guidebooks of radio network (ESG), described radio network and information on services (PSI/SI) and described terminal can insert.

10. method according to claim 6, wherein, described transmission bearer comprises at least one in the radio network and the Internet, described terminal can insert described radio network and the Internet the two.

11. a digit broadcasting system that transmits service variation information, this digit broadcasting system comprises:

Network entity, be used for assembling about the information of first service that can provide by first network and second information of serving about second network relevant with described first service, generate the service variation information of the change between described first service of indication and described second service, and send described service variation information by transmission bearer; And

Terminal, be used for receiving described service variation information by described transmission bearer, use the service variation information that is received to determine whether from described second service of the described first service reception from described second network, if and determine to receive described second and serve, then, receive described second service from described first service when described second network moves.

12. digit broadcasting system according to claim 11, wherein, described service variation information comprises the service change type information element of at least one in following of indication: described second service is and the identical content of described first service, but expresses with the language different with described first service; Described second service has and the different captions of described first service; And described second service has the video that obtains from the camera angle different with described first service.

13. digit broadcasting system according to claim 12, wherein, described service variation information also comprises at least one in following: IP platform ID, the described second network of network ID of Internet Protocol (IP) address of the service identifier (ID) of described second service, described second service, the ID of provider of described second service, described second service.

14. digit broadcasting system according to claim 11, wherein, send described service variation information by in following at least one: the response message of the Internet that the program specific information of the electronic service guidebooks of radio network (ESG), described radio network and information on services (PSI/SI) and described terminal can insert.

15. digit broadcasting system according to claim 11, wherein, described transmission bearer comprises at least one in the radio network and the Internet, described terminal can insert described radio network and the Internet the two.

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