Method and apparatus for receiving digital television signals from a plurality of independent channels

• US 20010033342A1
• Filed: 02/26/2001
• Published: 10/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Yeong-Taeg
• Granted Patent: US 6,714,259 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/705
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4345 Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4347 Demultiplexing of several video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are described for receiving digital television signals where the receiver is capable of demodulating and demultiplexing the digital television signals from multiple, independent transmission channels. The preferred embodiment of the present invention provides for a Dual Channel Digital TV Receiver which receives signals from two independent transmission channels. In order to address each of the digital television signals from the two independent transmission channels, the Dual Channel Digital TV Receiver of the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes two independent paths for channel demodulation and transport stream demultiplexing. Thus, within the Dual Channel Digital TV Receiver of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a signal from each of the transmission channels are received, decoded and sent for further processing or viewing, as desired by the user. By providing this dual channel signal processing capability, the Dual Channel Digital TV Receiver of the preferred embodiment allows for versatile program viewing capabilities, including but not limited to, allowing the user to view a program from any one of the transmission channels being accessed, allowing for the recording of programs from one or multiple transmission channels to a digital storage device (which digital storage device may be a part of the Dual Channel Digital TV Receiver), allowing the user to view a program from one transmission channel while recording programs from one or more transmission channels, replaying previously recorded programs, and replaying previously recorded programs while recording programs of one or more transmission channels.

Claims

1. A receiver for a digital video service network, the receiver comprising:

first means for receiving a first digital television signal from a first transmission channel;

second means for receiving a second digital television signal from a second transmission channel;

means for decoding at least the first digital television signal or the second digital television signal; and

means for providing an output signal reflective of a television program contained within either the first digital television signal or the second digital television signal.

2. The receiver of

claim 1

, wherein the means for decoding the digital television signals includes a Channel Demodulator for demodulating the received digital television signal and extracting bit streams describing first or second digital television signal.

3. The receiver of

claim 1

, wherein the first and second means for decoding the digital television signals include a TS demultiplexer for demultiplexing and outputting Program Specific Information and at least one regular program bitstream from the digital television signals.

4. The receiver of

claim 3

, wherein the TS demultiplexer outputs the at least one regular program bitstream from the digital television signal based upon packet identification information control signals.

5. The receiver of

claim 1

, further comprising a System Manager for controlling the means for decoding, the System Manager further directing a data stream flow of data from the first and second digital television signals.

6. The receiver of

claim 1

, further comprising a Digital Storage Device for receiving, storing and replaying data reflective of the at least one television program from the first or second digital television signals.

7. The receiver of

claim 1

, further comprising Application decoders for decoding audio and video coded bit streams of the output television program signal, the Audio/Video decoders sending an Audio output signal for transducing into sound and a decoded video signal for processing and display.

12. The receiver of

claim 1

, further comprising a System Manager for controlling the first means for decoding, the System Manager further directing a data stream flow of data from the first digital television signal.

13. The receiver of

claim 1

, further comprising a Digital Storage Device for receiving, storing and replaying data reflective of the at least one television program from the first or second digital television signals.

14. The receiver of

claim 1

, further comprising Application decoders for decoding audio and video coded bit streams of the output television program signal, the Audio/Video decoders sending an Audio output signal for transducing into sound and a decoded video signal for processing and display.

8. A receiver for a digital video service network, the receiver comprising:

first means for receiving a first digital television signal from a first transmission channel;

second means for receiving a second digital television signal from a second transmission channel;

first means for decoding a first digital television signal;

second means for decoding the second digital television signal; and

means for providing an output signal reflective of a television program contained within either the first digital television signal or the second digital television signal.

9. The receiver of

claim 8

, wherein the first means for decoding the digital television signal includes a Channel Demodulator for demodulating the received first digital television signal and extracting bit streams describing the first digital television signal.

10. The receiver of

claim 8

, wherein the first means for decoding the digital television signals include a TS demultiplexer for demultiplexing and outputting Program Specific Information and at least one regular program bitstream from the first digital television signal.

11. The receiver of

claim 10

, wherein the TS demultiplexer outputs the at least one regular program bitstream from the digital television signal based upon packet identification information control signals.

15. A method for receiving digital television signals, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a first digital television signal from a first transmission channel;

receiving a second digital television signal from a second transmission channel;

decoding at least the first digital television signal or the second digital television signal; and

providing an output signal reflective of a television program contained within either the first digital television signal or the second digital television signal.

16. The method of

claim 15

, further comprising the steps of directing a Channel Demodulator to demodulate the received digital television signals and extract bit streams describing either the first or the second digital television signal.

17. The method of

claim 15

, further comprising the steps of demultiplexing and outputting Program Specific Information and at least one regular program bitstream from the digital television signals.

18. The method of

claim 17

, further comprising the steps of providing the Program Specific Information to a user, receiving viewing and recording selections from the user and demultiplexing the at least one regular program bitstream from the digital television signals based upon the user'"'"'s selections.

19. The method of

claim 18

, further comprising the step of providing packet identification information control signals to control the demultiplexing of the at least one regular program bitstream from the digital television signal.

20. The method of

claim 15

, further comprising the step of directing a data stream flow of data from the first and second digital television signals.

21. The method of

claim 15

, further comprising the steps of receiving, storing and replaying data reflective of the at least one television program from the first or second digital television signals.

22. The method of

claim 15

, further comprising the steps of decoding audio and video coded bit streams of the output television program signal, the Audio/Video decoders sending an Audio output signal for transducing into sound and a decoded video signal for processing and display.

28. The method of

claim 15

, further comprising the step of directing a data stream flow of data from the first and second digital television signals.

29. The method of

claim 15

, further comprising the steps of receiving, storing and replaying data reflective of the at least one television program from the first or second digital television signals.

30. The method of

claim 15

, further comprising the steps of decoding audio and video coded bit streams of the output television program signal, the Audio/Video decoders sending an Audio output signal for transducing into sound and a decoded video signal for processing and display.

23. A method for receiving digital television signals, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a first digital television signal from a first transmission channel;

receiving a second digital television signal from a second transmission channel;

decoding the first digital television signal;

decoding the second digital television signal; and

providing an output signal reflective of a television program contained within either the first second digital television signal or the second digital television signal.

24. The method of

claim 23

, further comprising the steps of directing a first Channel Demodulator to demodulate the received first digital television signal and extract bit streams describing either the first digital television signal.

25. The method of

claim 23

, further comprising the steps of demultiplexing and outputting Program Specific Information and at least one regular program bitstream from the first digital television signal.

26. The method of

claim 25

, further comprising the steps of providing the Program Specific Information to a user, receiving viewing and recording selections from the user and demultiplexing the at least one regular program bitstream from the first digital television signals based upon the user'"'"'s selections.

27. The method of

claim 27

, further comprising the step of providing packet identification information control signals to control the demultiplexing of the at least one regular program bitstream from the first digital television signal.