KR20070040455A - Channel Mapping and Channel Switching Method in Digital TV Receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for generating channel information for a plurality of external receivers connected to a set-top box to a digital TV receiver as a single channel map, and a channel switching method using the same. That is, in a channel map generation and channel switching method in a digital TV receiver having a plurality of external receivers, the user receives the channel information of the terrestrial, satellite, and cable receivers connected to the set to generate a single channel map. The user can search channel information about multiple external receivers on one screen, and when the user inputs the channel number for channel switching from the user, the user automatically connects to the external receiver that provides the corresponding channel number and performs channel switching. It is possible to perform channel switching easily without checking the connection status of external receiver.

Satellite, channel map

Description

How to create a channel map and switch channels in a digital TV receiver {METHOD FOR REFORMING ONE CHANNEL MAP AND CHANGING CHANNEL IN A DIGITAL TV RECEIVER}

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a digital TV receiver having a plurality of external receivers according to an embodiment of the present invention;

2 is an exemplary channel map display according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3 is a detailed block diagram of the satellite receiver shown in FIG. 1;

4 is a flow chart of one channel map generation process using a plurality of external receiver channel information according to an embodiment of the present invention;

5 is a flowchart illustrating a channel switching operation control in a digital TV receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention.

<Brief description of the major symbols in the drawings>

100: terrestrial receiver 102: cable receiver

104: satellite receiver 106: switch unit

108 control unit 110 TV receiver

112: key input unit

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital TV receiver, and more particularly, to a method of generating channel information for a plurality of external receivers connected to a digital TV receiver as a set-top box into a single channel map and a channel switching method using the same.

In general, a set top box is a device configured with a TV receiver to receive various TV image data of a multi-channel transmitted through a network or a satellite, and an MPEG (transmitted through a network or a satellite) moving picture experts group) Receives compressed digital broadcast data to extend compressed data, decodes the encoded data and converts it into a standard NTSC (national television standards committee) signal for display on a TV set.

These set-top boxes are rapidly increasing as digital TVs are increasing and digital broadcasting contents are increasing. Recently, various additions such as VCR function and home network host function as well as simple reception and decoding of digital broadcasting data have been added. There is a trend that is being developed as a multifunctional device with a function.

On the other hand, such a set-top box can be classified into terrestrial waves, satellites, and cable receivers according to the broadcast signals received. As the digitalization of broadcast progresses, the number of channels that can be received by the set-top box is rapidly increasing. In other words, for example, a satellite receiver receives broadcast signals from hundreds of satellites around the world, each providing several to hundreds of channels for each satellite, and including a channel provided from terrestrial and cable broadcasting. The number of channels that can be received from is too high for users to search individually.

To this end, conventionally, by providing channel information provided for terrestrial, satellite, and cable receivers, a user can display and retrieve channel information for each receiver on a TV receiver. However, searching channel information for each receiver is still complicated. There was a time-consuming problem.

In addition, in switching to a channel desired by the user, there is a problem in that the user needs to select a channel while identifying a receiver connected to the set-top box and the range of channel numbers provided by the receiver.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for generating channel information for a plurality of external receivers connected to a set-top box in a digital TV receiver as a single channel map for the user's channel search and channel switching method using the same. .

The present invention for achieving the above object is a method of generating a single channel map in a digital TV receiver having a plurality of external receivers, (a) when there is a request for displaying channel information from a user, the channels from the plurality of external receivers Inputting information, (b) arranging channel information inputted from each external receiver to generate a single channel map, and (c) converting the generated one channel map to external receiver full channel information. It characterized in that it comprises the step of displaying on the receiver.

In addition, the present invention is a channel switching method in a digital TV receiver having a plurality of external receivers, (a ') when a channel number for channel switching from a user is inputted to identify the external receiver providing the input channel number (B ') checking a connection state of an external receiver providing the corresponding channel number; and (c') supplying operating power to the receiver when the corresponding external receiver is connected to a digital TV receiver set. And (d ') receiving and displaying the broadcast program of the channel requested by the user through the external receiver.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail the operation of the preferred embodiment according to the present invention.

1 illustrates a schematic configuration of a digital TV receiver to which a plurality of external receivers are connected according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the terrestrial receiver 100, the cable receiver 102, and the satellite receiver 104 are connected to the control unit 108 through the switch unit 106. The key input unit 112 generates key data according to a user's key input and applies the generated key data to the controller 108.

The control unit 108 controls the operation of each set-top box according to a key input from the user through the key input unit 112, and according to an embodiment of the present invention, the switch unit when there is a request for displaying channel information from the user Input channel information from a plurality of external receivers connected through the 106, arrange the input channel information into a single channel map, and display the entire channel on the TV receiver 110 as shown in FIG. By displaying the channel information, the user can search the channels of the entire external receiver in one screen.

In addition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, when a channel number for channel switching from a user is input, the controller 108 identifies an external receiver providing the input channel number and checks a connection state of the corresponding external receiver. Then, the operating power is supplied to the corresponding receiver so that the broadcast program of the channel requested by the user is displayed. Accordingly, the user can easily perform channel switching only by inputting a channel number.

FIG. 3 illustrates a detailed block configuration of the satellite receiver among the set top boxes shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 3, the satellite receiver includes a tuner unit 300 for receiving a digital broadcast signal, a demodulator 302 for demodulating the received digital broadcast signal, and a video, De-multiplexer 304 for separating audio and data, and de-scrambler for descrambled scrambled video and audio 306 is configured to include.

Also, an A / V decoder 308 for decoding the descrambled video and audio and outputting an image and an audio signal, and a conditional access system module (CAM) 320 for performing the descrambling processing operation. And a central processing unit (CPU) 310 for controlling the operation of each component according to a user's key input from the key input unit 314, and storing information necessary for controlling the operation of the controller 310. The memory unit 312 is configured to include.

4 illustrates an operation control flow for generating and displaying channel information of terrestrial, satellite, and cable receivers in one channel map in a digital TV receiver according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1, 3, and 4.

First, when the controller 108 of the digital TV receiver requests a display of one channel map for channel information of a plurality of external receivers from the user, the controller 108 proceeds to step S302 in response to step S400. Channel information is received from a plurality of external receivers such as the terrestrial receiver 100, the cable receiver 102, and the satellite receiver 104 connected through the switch unit 106.

Subsequently, the controller 108 generates a single channel map by arranging channel information input from each external receiver such as the terrestrial receiver 100, the cable receiver 102, the satellite receiver 104, and the like in step S304. . In this case, when the channel range of the terrestrial wave is 1 to 100, the channel range of the cable is 200 to 300, and the channel range of the satellite is 300 to 500, it is arranged in order of channel number.

Subsequently, the controller 108 displays the channel information of each receiver arranged in the channel number order in step S306, as shown in FIG. 2, one channel map arranged on the TV receiver screen connected to the set top box by the channel number. Display so that the user can search all receiver channel information in one channel information screen.

FIG. 5 illustrates an operation control flow for switching a channel by connecting an external receiver providing a corresponding channel number only by inputting a channel number in the set top box. Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 5.

First, when there is a channel number input for channel switching from the user, the digital TV receiver controller 108 receives the channel number through the key input unit 112 in step S400, and then the channel switching request is requested in step S402. It is checked whether the external receiver providing the broadcast signal of the channel is in the connected state through the switch unit 106.

In this case, if the external receiver of the corresponding channel is not connected to the digital TV receiver set, the controller 108 proceeds from step S402 to step S404 and outputs a message indicating that the external receiver is not connected.

On the other hand, when the external receiver of the corresponding channel is connected to the digital TV receiver set, the controller 108 proceeds from step S402 to step S406 to supply operating power to the external receiver and is requested by the user. Allows the broadcast signal of the channel to be received. Subsequently, the controller 108 proceeds to step S408 and displays the broadcast program of the channel requested by the user through the external receiver on the screen of the TV receiver 110.

In the channel map generation and channel switching method in a digital TV receiver having a plurality of external receivers as described above, the channel information of the terrestrial, satellite, and cable receivers connected to the set is input to generate a single channel map. Enables the user to search channel information for multiple external receivers on one screen, and also performs channel switching by automatically connecting external receivers that provide the corresponding channel numbers when inputting channel numbers for channel switching from the user. Allows the user to perform channel switching easily without checking the connection status of the external receiver.

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

As described above, the present invention provides a channel map generation and channel switching method in a digital TV receiver having a plurality of external receivers, and receives channel information of a terrestrial, satellite, and cable receiver connected to a set and receives one channel. By creating a map, the user can search channel information about multiple external receivers on one screen, and automatically connect external receivers that provide the corresponding channel numbers when inputting channel numbers for channel switching from the user. By performing channel switching, there is an advantage that the user can easily perform channel switching without checking the connection status of the external receiver.

Claims (4)

A channel map generation and channel switching method using the same in a digital TV receiver having a plurality of external receivers, (a) inputting channel information from the plurality of external receivers when there is a request for displaying channel information from a user; (b) arranging channel information inputted from each external receiver to generate one channel map; (c) displaying the generated one channel map on the TV receiver as full channel information of an external receiver; One channel map generation method in a digital TV receiver comprising a. The method of claim 1, In step (a), the plurality of external receivers include a terrestrial receiver for receiving terrestrial broadcast signals, a cable receiver for receiving cable broadcast signals, and a satellite receiver for receiving satellite broadcast signals. How to create one channel map in TV receiver. The method of claim 1, In the step (b), the channel map, one channel map generation method in the digital TV receiver, characterized in that sorting the channel information input from each external receiver in numerical order. A channel map generation and channel switching method using the same in a digital TV receiver having a plurality of external receivers, (a ') identifying an external receiver providing the input channel number when a channel number for channel switching from a user is input; (b ') checking a connection state of an external receiver providing the corresponding channel number; (c ') supplying operating power to the receiver when the external receiver is connected to a digital TV receiver set; (d ') receiving and displaying a broadcast program of a channel requested by a user through the external receiver; Channel switching method in a satellite broadcast receiver comprising a.

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