Virtual channel table for a broadcast protocol and method of broadcasting and receiving broadcast signals using the same

• US 7,051,359 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2004
• Issued: 05/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Jin Pil, Thomas, C. Gomer
• Primary Examiner(s): BUI, KIEU OANH T
• Application Number:
  US10/892,253
• Publication Number:
  US 20040268412A1
• Time in Patent Office: 676 Days
• Field of Search: 725/25, 725/27, 725/38, 725/39, 725/56, 725/93, 725/120, 725/131, 725/139, 725/151
• US Class Current: 725/131
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2353 specifically adapted to content descriptors, e.g. coding, compressing or processing of metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2362 Generation or processing of Service Information [SI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26283 for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic program guide data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2668 Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43 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 real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/431 Generation of visual interfaces for content selection or interaction; Content or additional data rendering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4318 by altering the content in the rendering process, e.g. blanking, blurring or masking an image region image enhancement or restoration in general G06T5/00
• 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 21/4345 Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• 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 21/4382 Demodulation or channel decoding, e.g. QPSK demodulation analog front ends or means for connecting modulators, demodulators or transceivers to a transmission line H04L27/0002
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4383 Accessing a communication channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4384 involving operations to reduce the access time, e.g. fast-tuning for reducing channel switching latency
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/443 OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/458 Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• 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 21/462 : Content or additional data management, e.g. creating a master electronic program guide from data received from the Internet and a Head-end, controlling the complexity of a video stream by scaling the resolution or bit-rate based on the client capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 : End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/475 : End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. personal identification number [PIN], preference data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 : End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 : using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4823 : using a channel name
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 : for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6112 : involving terrestrial transmission, e.g. DVB-T
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6118 : involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6162 : involving terrestrial transmission, e.g. DVB-T
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6168 : involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/83 : Generation or processing of protective or descriptive data associated with content; Content structuring
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 : Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 : for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/455 : Demodulation-circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/50 : Tuning indicators; Automatic tuning control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/16 : Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems

Abstract

A virtual channel table for broadcasting protocol and a method for broadcasting by using the virtual channel table includes identification information identifying and permitting discrimination of active and inactive channels contained in the virtual channel table. At a receiver, the virtual channel table transmitted from the transmitting side is parsed, thereby determining whether the current received channel is an active or inactive channel.

Claims

1. A digital television receiver, comprising

receiving means for receiving a digital broadcasting signal including a virtual channel table, the virtual channel table including a program number field indicating whether a corresponding virtual channel is an active or an inactive channel;

detecting means for detecting the program number field included in the virtual channel table; and

control means for controlling display of the corresponding virtual channel when the virtual channel is selected by a user and the virtual channel is determined to be inactive,

wherein said inactive channel is a channel that is not presently carrying a broadcast program;

however, the same inactive channel is scheduled to carry a broadcast program at a predetermined later time from a broadcasting station without local viewer interaction,

wherein said inactive channel is a channel that is not presently carrying a broadcast program;

however, the same inactive channel is scheduled to carry a broadcast program at a predetermined later time from a broadcasting station without local viewer interaction, wherein the inactive channel is capable of being automatically skipped.

2. The digital television receiver of claim 1, wherein the virtual channel table is included in a program and system information protocol (PSIP) for a digital broadcast.

3. The digital television receiver of claim 2, wherein the digital broadcast is any one of a digital terrestrial broadcast and a digital cable broadcast.

4. The digital television receiver of claim 1, wherein the control means identifies the virtual channel as being inactive when the detected program number field has a value of “

0.”

5. The digital television receiver of claim 1, wherein the detecting means further detects a reserved field included in the virtual channel table, and the control means identifies the virtual channel as being inactive when at least one bit of the detected reserved field indicates that the virtual channel is inactive.

6. The digital television receiver of claim 1, wherein the detecting means further determines whether a service location descriptor is included in the virtual channel table, and the control means identifies the virtual channel as being inactive when no service location descriptor is found by the detecting means.

7. The digital television receiver of claim 1, wherein the active channel represents a channel on which at least one program is being broadcasted at the current time.

8. The digital television receiver of claim 1, wherein the control means controls the display of the corresponding virtual channel by inhibiting the display of the virtual channel.

9. The digital television receiver of claim 1, wherein the control means controls the display of the corresponding virtual channel by skipping the display of the virtual channel.

10. A digital television receiver, comprising:

receiving means for receiving a digital broadcasting signal including a virtual channel table, the virtual channel table including a program number field indicating whether a corresponding virtual channel is an active or an inactive channel;

a program and system information protocol (PSIP) decoder for detecting the program number field included in the virtual channel table and providing an output indicating whether the virtual channel is inactive; and

a user interface module for receiving the output of the PSIP decoder and controlling display of the virtual channel when the channel is selected by a user and the channel is determined to be inactive,

wherein said inactive channel is a channel that is not presently carrying a broadcast program;

however, the same inactive channel is scheduled to carry a broadcast program at a predetermined later time from a broadcasting station without local viewer interaction,

wherein the inactive channel is capable of being automatically skipped.

11. The digital television receiver of claim 10, wherein the virtual channel table is included in a program and system information protocol (PSIP) for a digital broadcast.

12. The digital television receiver of claim 11, wherein the digital broadcast is any one of a digital terrestrial broadcast and a digital cable broadcast.

13. The digital television receiver of claim 10, wherein the user interface module identifies the virtual channel as being inactive when the detected program number field has a value of “

0.”

14. The digital television receiver of claim 10, wherein the PSIP decoder further detects a reserved field included in the virtual channel table, and the user interface module identifies that virtual channel as being inactive when at least one bit of the detected reserved field indicates that the virtual channel is inactive.

15. The digital television receiver of claim 10, wherein the PSIP decoder further determines whether a service location descriptor is included in the virtual channel table, and the user interface module identifies the virtual channel as being inactive when no service location descriptor is found in the virtual channel table.

16. The digital television receiver of claim 10, wherein the active channel represents a channel on which at least one program is being broadcasted at the current time.

17. The digital television receiver of claim 10, wherein the user interface module controls the display of the corresponding virtual channel by inhibiting the display of the virtual channel.

18. The digital television receiver of claim 10, wherein the user interface module controls the display of the corresponding virtual channel by skipping the display of the virtual channel.

19. The digital television receiver of claim 10, wherein the receiving means comprises:

a demodulator for demodulating the digital broadcasting signal and outputting a baseband signal; and

a transport decoder for decoding the baseband signal and providing a PSIP data stream to the PSIP decoder.