KR19990086621A - How to select video channels in a set-top unit for video on demand - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a video channel selection technique in an on-demand set-top unit for on-demand video that allows a user to tune only broadcast channels corresponding to a broadcast service type code arbitrarily set by a user when broadcasting a plurality of broadcast signals. To this end, in the present invention, the transmitting side inserts and transmits the service type code information of the corresponding broadcast program of each channel in the user data area in the header information, and the broadcasting service type that the user desires to select and view on the receiving set-top unit. By presetting codes, when broadcasting a plurality of unspecified broadcast signals to a plurality of users in a broadcasting broadcasting environment, only the channels that broadcast a program corresponding to a preset broadcast service type by the user are effectively selected and tuned or switched. Enable the set-top unit users It can improve the convenience for drastically.

Description

How to select video channels in a set-top unit for video on demand

The present invention relates to a service technique in a set-top unit (STU), also called a subscriber terminal, for video on demand (hereinafter abbreviated as VOD), and more specifically, broadcasting (broadcasting) A video channel selection method in a set-top unit for video on demand suitable for adaptively selecting a broadcast of a specific channel selected (or designated) in each set-top unit when serving a plurality of unspecified broadcast signals to a plurality of users in a broadcasting environment. It is about.

In recent years, the development of interactive cable television (I-CATV), an advanced form of cable television (CATV) that has been commercialized as a way to meet the needs of more diverse users, is one of the world's leading countries such as Korea, the United States, and Japan. Is accelerating in companies. In this case, using the digital interactive cable television service technology instead of the analog method enables a VOD service that enables the television viewer to immediately receive the information (eg, video information) required by the television viewer at a desired time.

On the other hand, in order to realize such a VOD service, an information provider consisting of a large-capacity server capable of storing and transmitting information, a service provider such as a television broadcasting station, and information required by a service provider through a network There is a need for a delivery system provider and a television user to use (or use) service information provided from a delivery system provider for simultaneous delivery to multiple television users.

As described above, the service that can be realized by the video on demand includes, for example, Movies On Demand (MOD), information that can be immediately obtained by title or field of news, and a service such as a summary or headline of news can be provided. News On Demand (NOD), remote shopping that provides a video catalog that allows the user to purchase a desired product, or a user viewing the showcase, transmission of X-ray images, and end user To store or analyze the transmitted data and transmit the diagnosed and prescribed data to other end users, telemedicine, games, home banking, video conferencing, and users that provide general banking services. Agreement services, services that provide information to users and services that enable users to trade using this information. Internet access service for net connection is mentioned.

Here, the MOD service is a service in which a pilot service is in progress since the initial development has recently been completed. Services such as a home VCR, etc. are provided from a video server on the supplier side through a network through a network such as a movie. For example, you are offered selection, cancellation, start, stop, pause, fast forward, and rewind.

On the other hand, in order to implement the VOD service, the set-top unit on the receiving side requests a remote servo to provide information such as a program, for example, a movie or an English conversation program, that the user wants to service according to a user's operation. In response to the request, a bit stream of video and audio data, i.e., video, audio, and text, for a program requesting a service is fetched from the database and delivered to the set-top unit requesting the service.

In this case, the set-top unit may use program name information of a desired video or request information such as a start time and an end time of a desired video when requesting a service from a server. The content information transmitted along with a service request message may be transmitted from a server. Based on this, the stream (ie, video and audio stream) of the program section is extracted and delivered.

In a typical VOD system, the MPEG bit stream format, which is compression-coded at a predetermined bit rate, is used to transmit data. The bit stream includes an I frame (Intra frame), a P frame (Predicted frame), and a B-directional (Bidirectionally predicted frame). ) Consists of three types of frames. Here, the P frame is encoded by referring to an I frame or a previous frame, and the B frame is encoded by referring to an I frame or a P frame before and after in both directions.

Therefore, in the MPEG decoding block included in the set-top unit, when the compressed and encoded bit stream is received from the server, the MPEG decoding block restores the original bit before encoding to the display side, and as a result, a complete reconstructed image is displayed on the monitor.

On the other hand, the VOD server provides a broadcasting broadcasting environment in which an unspecified broadcasting signal is provided to a plurality of subscribed users, unlike a specific user performing a desired service. When a signal is serviced through each channel, each user at the receiving side directly selects and watches a desired broadcast among a plurality of channels currently being serviced.

In other words, when a broadcasting environment is provided, the user has no choice but to directly select a channel that broadcasts a specific program desired by the user while sequentially checking a plurality of channels in which a broadcast signal is currently being serviced.

However, the conventional method of directly selecting a desired channel while the user visually checks it is not a problem when the number of channels in which the service is not large is not a problem, but when the number of effective channels (that is, a channel in service) is desired. Not only is it very cumbersome to select a channel, but it also causes a problem that the channel selection is unnecessarily time consuming.

In particular, in view of the recent trend of increasing the number of channels allocated for VOD service to tens or hundreds, the above-described conventional method inevitably causes the inconvenience of user operation and the increase in the time required for selecting a desired channel. will be.

Accordingly, the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and when a plurality of broadcast signals are serviced by broadcasting, the service type of each broadcast signal is inserted into a specific region of the MPEG bit stream encoding each broadcast signal. And a video channel selection method in the set-top unit for video on demand, in which the set-top unit on the receiving side can select and view only channels corresponding to a preset service type by using the service type information inserted in the MPEG bit stream. The purpose is to provide.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a method of selecting a video channel in a set-top unit for video on-demand for tuning a broadcast program broadcasted through a plurality of channels in a broadcasting environment. A first process of setting and storing an arbitrary broadcast service type code to be selected and watched from among; A second step of reading a service type code for a current broadcast program of a current channel for tuning when the set top unit is set to a viewing mode; A third step of checking whether the read service type code and the predetermined service type code match; A fourth step of switching the current channel to the next channel and repeating the second and third steps if the read service type code and the preset service type code do not match; And a fifth process of selecting the current channel as a broadcast channel for viewing when the read service type code and the preset service type code match, as a result of the check. To provide.

1 is a schematic block diagram of an on-demand video set-top unit suitable for applying a method of selecting a video channel in an on-demand video set-top unit according to the present invention;

2 is a flowchart illustrating a process of adaptively selecting a video channel in a set-top unit for video on demand according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

<Description of the code | symbol about the principal part of drawing>

102: control block 104: network interface block

106: MPEG decoding block 108: service classification block

110: memory block

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a schematic block diagram of an on-demand video set-top unit suitable for applying a method for selecting a video channel in an on-demand video set-top unit according to the present invention, which includes a control block 102, a network interface block (NIU) ( 104, MPEG decoding block 106, service classification block 108, and memory block 110.

Referring to FIG. 1, the control block 102 includes a microprocessor that performs functions such as overall operation control of the set-top unit, transmission and reception of a message with a remote server, not shown, and a user operation for a VOD service request. When a signal is input, a video service request message is generated accordingly and provided to the NIU block 104 through the system bus SB, and when the video stream is received from the server through the NIU block 104, the received video stream is received. Control the restoration operation of.

In addition, the control block 102 is a key signal for service type setting and service type code information (e.g., a sports program, a news program, a movie program) to be set from an external operation means (i.e., a keypad or a remote controller) not shown. , An education program, a product guidance program, etc.) are transmitted to the service classification block 108 described later through the system bus SB.

Further, the control block 102 is in response to the channel selection signal (or channel change signal) corresponding to the broadcast service type read result provided from the service classification block 108 when the service type is set by the user under the broadcasting environment. In response to controlling the search of the broadcast channel and the tuning of the particular broadcast channel. In this case, the NIU block 104 may perform various message and data interfaces between the set-top unit and the server, including, for example, a communication modem.

Next, the MPEG decoding block 106 restores the video / audio data compression-coded according to the MPEG encoding standard received through the NIU block 104 and the system bus (SB) to the original signal before encoding to the display side, not shown. By performing the function of delivering, the restoring operation here is substantially based on the control from the control block 102.

Further, the MPEG decoding block 106 retrieves the broadcast service type code information stored in the user data area in the header information of the received bitstream when any broadcast service type code to be selected and viewed by the user is selected. To the service classification block 108, and restores video / audio data of a specific channel in response to the tuning control signal when a tuning control signal indicating a selection of a specific channel is provided from the control block 102. To the display side.

On the other hand, in the service classification block 108, when the broadcast service type code information for which selective viewing is set by the user is provided from the control block 102, the service classification block 108 stores the information at the predetermined address of the memory block 110, and further, the MPEG decoding block 106 When broadcast service type code information of a specific channel fetched from is provided, it is checked (or read) whether the preset service type code information and the extracted service type code information match, and a channel selection signal corresponding to the read result ( Or a channel change signal) to be transmitted to the control block 102.

Therefore, the control block 102 controls the search of the broadcast channel and the tuning of the specific broadcast channel in response to the channel selection signal corresponding to the broadcast service type reading result provided from the service classification block 108 described above.

Next, a process of selectively tuning any broadcast channel selected by the user in accordance with the present invention in the set-top unit having the above-described configuration will be mainly described with reference to FIG. 2.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a process of adaptively selecting a video channel in a set-top unit for video on demand according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, a key signal for setting a service type and service type code information (for example, a sports program, a news program, a movie program, and an education) from an external operation means (ie, a keypad or a remote controller), which are not shown, are set. Program, a merchandise guide program, etc.), the control block 102 transfers the set service type code information input through the system bus SB to the service classification block 108, to the service classification block 108. The transferred setting service type code information is stored in a predetermined area of the memory block 110 (step 202).

As described above, when the set-top unit is in the viewing mode, i.e., powered on (step 204) with the setting service type code information selected by the user for selective viewing of the broadcast channel stored (step 204), the MPEG decoding block 106 selects the selected channel. The broadcast service type code inserted in the user data area in the header information extracted from the received bit stream of the (or most recently viewed channel) is read (or fetched) and provided to the service classification block 108 (step 206).

Next, the service classification block 108 checks whether or not the broadcast service type of the read current channel is a preset service type, that is, the service type code information that is preset and stored in the memory block 110 is called a sports program type code. Assuming that the service type code of the channel broadcast signal currently being tuned is a preset sports program type code, it is checked (step 208).

As a result of checking in the step 208, if it is determined that the service type code of the channel broadcasting signal currently being tuned is not a preset sports program type code, the service classification block 108 generates and controls a corresponding channel change signal. Transfer to block 102, whereby control block 102 changes (or switches) the channel currently being tuned to the next channel (adjacent front or rear effective channel) (step 216), and the process is described above. Returning to step 206, the process thereafter is repeated.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 208 that the service type code of the channel broadcasting signal currently being tuned is a preset sports program type code, the service classification block 108 generates a channel tuning signal corresponding thereto. The control block 102 generates a tuning control signal for selecting a channel currently tuned as a broadcast channel (or a viewing channel), and transmits the generated control signal to the MPEG decoding block 106. Accordingly, the broadcast signal of the selected channel is displayed on the monitor by transmitting the broadcast signal of the selected channel restored in the MPEG decoding block 106 to the display side (not shown) (step 210).

On the other hand, each channel can broadcast programs of different kinds of broadcast services (e.g. sports, news, movies, etc.), each time the broadcast program of the channel being tuned changes, the MPEG decoding block In operation 106, the service type code information inserted in the user data area in the header information of the changed broadcast program is extracted and provided to the service classification block 108. In the service classification block 108, the service type of the changed program is preset. It is checked whether it is a service type code other than the type code (step 212). For example, the service classification block 108 determines whether the next broadcast program of the currently selected channel is changed to a program other than sports (for example, news or movie) when the preset service type code is a sports program broadcast code. Check whether or not.

If it is determined in the step 212 that the service type code of the next program is not the preset service type code, that is, the broadcast service type is changed, the process returns to the above-described step 216 and thereafter. By repeating the process, switching to another channel and tuning will be performed.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the service type code of the next program has been changed to the preset service type code as a result of the check in the step 212, the control block 102 maintains the current channel as a viewing channel while maintaining the current channel as it is. When it is determined whether or not the channel switching key signal is input (step 214), if it is determined that the channel switching key signal is input, the process returns to the above-described step 216 and subsequent steps. Repeatedly, that is, the tuning for the selected before or after the channel to perform a control operation.

For example, the preset service type code is a sports program, the current channel is channel 11, channels 12, 13, 14,---, channels are valid channels, channels 12 and 13 are current movies Assuming that a program is being broadcast and channel 14 is broadcasting a sports program, if a channel up key signal is generated, channels 12 and 13 are skipped and channel 14 is tuned according to the present invention.

That is, in the present invention, the program corresponding to the broadcasting service type code preset by the user through the repetition of steps 206 to 216 until the user's viewing ends, that is, the power of the set-top unit is turned off. Only the channel to be broadcasted is automatically switched (or tuned) (steps 218 and 220).

As described above, according to the present invention, the transmitting side inserts and transmits the service type code information of the corresponding broadcast program of each channel in the user data area in the header information, and broadcasts the user to select and watch the set-top unit on the receiving side. By presetting the service type code, only the channels that broadcast a program corresponding to the preset broadcast service type are tuned and tuned effectively when serving a plurality of unspecified broadcast signals to multiple users in a broadcasting broadcast environment. Or it can be switched, greatly improving the user's ease of use, such as the hassle of operation for channel selection.

Claims (3)

A method of selecting a video channel in a set-top unit for video on demand tuning a broadcast program broadcasted through a plurality of respective channels under a broadcasting environment, A first step of setting and storing an arbitrary broadcast service type code to be selected and watched among a plurality of preset broadcast service type codes; A second step of reading a service type code for a current broadcast program of a current channel for tuning when the set top unit is set to a viewing mode; A third step of checking whether the read service type code and the predetermined service type code match; A fourth step of switching the current channel to the next channel and repeating the second and third steps if the read service type code and the preset service type code do not match; And And a fifth process of selecting the current channel as a broadcast channel for viewing when the read service type code and the preset service type code match. The method of claim 1, wherein the channel selection method is: A sixth step of checking whether a service type code of the changed program matches the preset service type code when the current program of the selected broadcast channel is changed to a next program; A seventh process of maintaining the selected broadcast channel if the service type code of the change program matches the predetermined service type code; And If the service type code of the change program does not match the preset service type code, the broadcasting channel is switched to the next channel, and the second and fourth processes are repeated to match the preset service type code. And a eighth step of searching for a channel for broadcasting a broadcast program. The video of the set-top unit for video on demand according to claim 1, wherein the channel selection method further comprises repeating the second to fifth processes whenever a channel switching key signal is input. Channel selection method.