Apparatus and method for upgrading codec

• US 20070258481A1
• Filed: 03/21/2007
• Published: 11/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Park, Sang-do, Yoon, Jung-min, Choo, Joung-hoon, Kwon, Hee-min, Kim, Jun-hyeong, Ko, Jae-woo
• Granted Patent: US 8,040,917 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/465
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/434 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 demultiplexing of data packets for data networks, e.g. RTP/UDP H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4348 Demultiplexing of additional data and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4586 Content update operation triggered locally, e.g. by comparing the version of software modules in a DVB carousel to the version stored locally deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction of the data by redundancy during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8166 involving executable data, e.g. software arrangements for executing specific programs G06F9/44; broadcasting computer programmes in broadcast systems H04H20/91; involving the movement of software or configuration parameters H04L67/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8193 dedicated tools, e.g. video decoder software or IPMP tool
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8402 involving a version number, e.g. version number of EPG data arrangements for version control in computers G06F8/71

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method for upgrading to a new codec used in a digital broadcasting environment are provided. The apparatus includes a first transceiver that receives a transport stream; a first parser that parses the transport stream to determine a codec packet, and decodes codec information contained therein; and a codec-comparison unit that compares the decoded codec information with existing codec information, and determines whether a codec should be downloaded. The system includes a device manufacturer that manufactures a codec packet; a broadcaster that transmits a transport stream containing the codec packet; and a rendering device that parses the transport stream, compares existing codec information with new codec information, and upgrades a codec based on the comparison. The method includes receiving a transport stream; parsing the stream; decoding new codec information; comparing the new codec information with existing information; and upgrading the codec based on the new codec information.

Claims

1. An apparatus for upgrading a codec, the apparatus comprising:

a first transceiver that receives a transport stream from a broadcaster;

a first parser that parses a codec packet included in the transport stream, and decodes codec information contained therein; and

a codec-comparison unit that compares the decoded codec information with existing codec information that has been stored, and determines whether a codec should be downloaded.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first transceiver transmits a codec request message requesting the broadcaster to transfer the codec.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:

a codec-search unit that searches for a codec which drives a channel when the channel is switched to; and

a controller that creates the codec-request message if the codec which is searched for does not exist.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:

a codec-search unit that searches for a stream type with respect to a program and corresponding codec information in the transport stream transmitted from the broadcaster; and

a user-interface generator that displays the corresponding codec information about the program on an electronic program guide based on the corresponding codec information.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the codec packet comprises manufacturer information, product information, a product type, codec format, and version information.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transport stream transmitted from the broadcaster comprises at least one of program service information (PSI) and program and system information protocol (PSIP).

7. A system for upgrading a codec, the system comprising:

a device manufacturer that manufactures a new codec packet with respect to a device;

a broadcaster that transmits a transport stream comprising the new codec packet; and

a rendering device that parses the new codec packet included in the transport stream, compares existing codec information with new codec information contained in the new codec packet, and upgrades to a new codec transmitted from the broadcaster based on the new codec information.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the rendering device comprises:

a first transceiver that receives a transport stream from a broadcaster;

a first parser that parses a codec packet included in the transport stream; and

decodes codec information contained therein;

a codec-comparison unit that compares the decoded codec information with existing codec information that has been stored, and determines whether a codec should be downloaded;

a codec-search unit that searches for a codec which drives a channel when the channel is switched to; and

.

a controller that creates a codec-request message if the codec which is searched for does not exist.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the first transceiver transmits the codec-request message requesting the broadcaster to transfer the codec.

10. The system of claim 7, further comprising a network-interface unit that receives a codec packet transmitted from the broadcaster, checks a device that will receive the received codec packet, and transmits the codec packet to the device.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the network-interface unit comprises:

a second transceiver that receives a transport stream transmitted from the broadcaster, and transmits the codec packet to a device in a home network;

a second parser that parses the codec packet included in the transport stream, and decodes codec information contained in a header of the codec packet; and

a determination unit that determines a device that will receive the codec packet.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the codec packet comprises manufacturer information, product information, a product type, a codec format, and version information.

13. The system-of claim 7, wherein the transport stream transmitted from the broadcaster comprises at least one of program service information (PSI) and program and system information protocol (PSIP).

14. A method of upgrading a codec, the method comprising:

receiving a transport stream transmitted from a broadcaster;

parsing a codec packet included in the received transport stream;

decoding new codec information contained in the codec packet;

comparing the new codec information that has been decoded with existing codec information; and

upgrading to a new codec when the new codec information is higher than the existing codec information.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

parsing a codec packet included in the receive transport stream, and decoding information contained in a header of the codec packet;

determining a device that will receive the codec packet based on the decoded information; and

transmitting the code packet to the device.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

searching for a codec that drives a channel when the channel is switched to; and

transmitting a codec-request message when the codec that is searched for does not exist.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

searching for a stream type with respect to a program and corresponding codec information in the transport stream transmitted from the broadcaster; and

displaying the corresponding codec information about the program on an electronic program guide based on the corresponding codec information.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the codec packet comprises manufacturer information, product information, a product type, a codec format, and version information.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the transport stream transmitted from the broadcaster comprises at least one of program service information (PSI) or program and service information protocol (PSIP).