U.S. patent application number 11/905492 was filed with the patent office on 2008-04-17 for apparatus for receiving adaptive broadcast signal and method thereof.
Invention is credited to Ho Tack Hong, Jin Pil Kim, Joon Hwi Lee, Jong Yeul Suh.
Application Number | 20080092184 11/905492 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38877129 |
Filed Date | 2008-04-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080092184 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kim; Jin Pil ; et
al. |
April 17, 2008 |
Apparatus for receiving adaptive broadcast signal and method
thereof
Abstract
An apparatus for receiving an adaptive broadcast signal and
method thereof are disclosed. The present invention includes
linking an IP network, sending display status information for a
receiver to a service provider via the linked IP network, receiving
an available service information list provided by the service
provider based on the display status information for the receiver,
and if at least one service is selected from the received available
service information list by a user, providing the selected service
to the receiver.
Inventors: |
Kim; Jin Pil; (Seoul,
KR) ; Hong; Ho Tack; (Seoul, KR) ; Suh; Jong
Yeul; (Seoul, KR) ; Lee; Joon Hwi; (Seoul,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MCKENNA LONG & ALDRIDGE LLP;Song K. Jung
1900 K Street, N.W.
Washington DC
DC
20006
US
|
Family ID: |
38877129 |
Appl. No.: |
11/905492 |
Filed: |
October 1, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60848366 |
Oct 2, 2006 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
725/110 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 65/4084 20130101;
H04L 29/06027 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
725/110 |
International
Class: |
H04N 7/173 20060101
H04N007/173 |
Claims
1. A method of receiving an adaptive broadcast signal, comprising
the steps of: validating an IP network; sending display status
information of a receiver to a service provider via the linked
validated IP network; receiving information list about an available
media service in the receiver that is transmitted from the service
provider based on the display status information of the receiver;
and receiving a selected media service from the service provider,
when at least one service is selected according to the received
information list about an available media service.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the display status information
comprises resolution information.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the display status information
comprises video format information according to a display type.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the video format information
comprises main watching screen information and sub-watching screen
information according to a multiple channel watching type.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the multiple channel watching
type comprises a PIP (picture in picture) type or a POP type.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein in the step of sending the
display status information of the receiver to the service provider,
a data structure representing the display status information of the
receiver as at least one selected from the group comprising a code
value (code_value) field, a text field, and a format type
(format_type) field is sent to the service provider.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein in the step of sending the
display status information of the receiver to the service provider,
service selection information is provided to the service provider
together with the display status information.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the information list about an
available media service, comprises at least one display version
list for a selected service.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein in the step of receiving the
information list about an available media service in the receiver,
a data structure representing an available media service as a
command field is received.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein in the step of receiving the
information list about an available media service in the receiver,
a data structure representing the information list about an
available media service for the receiver as at least one selected
from the group comprising of a code value (code_value) field, a
text field, a field format type (format_type) field, and a height
and weight field is received.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein in the step of selecting the at
least one service according to the received information list about
an available media service in the receiver, a user selection signal
is inputted as OSD.
12. A method of receiving an adaptive broadcast signal comprising
the steps of validating an IP network; sending display status
information of a receiver and service selection information to a
service provider via the validated IP network; and receiving at
least one media service among available media services of a
selected service that is transmitted from the service provider
according to the display status information of the receiver.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the display status information
comprises either resolution information or video format information
according to a display type.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the video format information
according to the display type comprises main watching screen
information and sub-watching screen information according to a
multiple channel watching type.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the multiple channel watching
type comprises a PIP (picture in picture) type or a POP type.
16. The method of claim 12, wherein in the step of sending the
display status information of the receiver and the service
selection information to the service provider, a data structure
representing the display status information of the receiver as at
least one selected from the group comprising of a code value
(code_value) field, a text field, and a format type (format_type)
field is sent to the service provider.
17. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of deciding
a contents version to be transmitted to the receiver by comparing
the display status information to contents display information.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein in the step of deciding a
contents version to be transmitted to the receiver, at least one
contents version is decided for the selected service.
19. An adaptive broadcast receiver comprising: a network interface
unit transceiving an IP packet by connecting the broadcast receiver
to a service provider via a network; a display unit outputting a
broadcast signal received by the network interface unit; and a
control unit controlling display status information for the display
unit to be sent to the service provider, and controlling an
adaptive broadcast signal based on the sent display status
information to be displayed.
20. The adaptive broadcast receiver of claim 19, wherein the
control unit controls either resolution information or video format
information according to a display type to be sent to the service
provider.
21. The adaptive broadcast receiver of claim 20, wherein the video
format information according to the display type comprises main
watching screen information and sub-watching screen information
according to a multiple channel watching type.
22. The adaptive broadcast receiver of claim 21, wherein the
multiple channel watching type comprises a PIP (picture in picture)
type or a POP type.
23. The adaptive broadcast receiver of claim 19, further comprising
an IP manager unit managing a packet delivery to a destination from
a source for a packet received via the network interface unit and a
packet sent by the receiver.
24. The adaptive broadcast receiver of claim 19, further
comprising: a service discovery manager providing information
necessary to select the service provider providing a service; and a
service control manager responsible for a selection and control of
the service.
25. The adaptive broadcast receiver of claim 19, further comprising
a user interface unit receiving a service selection signal for
selecting at least one service from an information list about an
available media service received from the service provider based on
display status information sent to the service provider.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/848,366, filed on Oct. 2, 2006, in the name of
inventors Jin Pil KIM, Ho Taek HONG, Jong Yeul SUH and Joon Hwi
LEE, titled "APPARATUS FOR RECEIVING ADAPTIVE BROADCAST SIGNAL AND
METHOD THEREOF", which is hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field
[0003] The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for receiving
an adaptive broadcast signal and method thereof.
[0004] 2. Discussion of the Related Art
[0005] FIGS. 1A to 1C show a broadcast receiving method according
to a related art.
[0006] Referring to FIGS. 1A to 1C, in a related art TV, contents
provided by a broadcasting station are transmitted via a radiowave
transferring medium such as a broadcast network and the like by a
cable broadcast provider, a terrestrial broadcast provider or a
satellite broadcast provider. A viewer receives a corresponding
service in a manner of viewing the contents via a TV receiver
capable of receiving each of the transfer media.
[0007] As the digital based TV technology has been developed and
commercialized from the conventional analog TV broadcasting,
various contents including real-time broadcasting, CoD (contents on
demand), games, news and the like can be provided to viewers via
Internet networks connected to home as well as the conventional
radiowave media.
[0008] As an example of the contents providing via the internet
network, there is an internet protocol TV (IPTV). The IPTV means a
service for providing information services, moving picture
contents, broadcasts and the like to a television using high-speed
internet networks.
[0009] The IPTV is identical to normal cable broadcasting or
satellite broadcasting in providing broadcast contents including
video. Yet, the IPTV is characterized in having bi-directionality
in addition. Differing from terrestrial broadcasting, cable
broadcasting or satellite broadcasting, the IPTV enables a user to
view a specific program at a specific time convenient to the
user.
[0010] Meanwhile, a broadcast receiver has a supported display
status value varying according to performance thereof. And, a
requested display status value varies according to a display type
as well.
[0011] However, it frequently happens that contents provided by
contents providers are uniformly received to increase a service
information size unnecessarily.
SUMMARY
[0012] Accordingly, the present invention is directed to an
apparatus for receiving an adaptive broadcast signal and method
thereof that substantially obviate one or more problems due to
limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
[0013] Additional advantages, objects, and features of the
invention will be set forth in part in the description which
follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary
skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be
learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other
advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the
structure particularly pointed out in the written description and
claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.
[0014] To achieve these objects and other advantages and in
accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and
broadly described herein, a method of receiving an adaptive
broadcast signal according to the present invention includes the
steps of linking an IP network, sending display status information
for a receiver to a service provider via the linked IP network,
receiving an available service information list provided by the
service provider based on the display status information for the
receiver, and if at least one service is selected from the received
available service information list by a user, providing the
selected service to the receiver.
[0015] In another aspect of the present invention, a method of
receiving an adaptive broadcast signal includes the steps of
linking an IP network, sending display status information for a
receiver and program selection information to a service provider
via the linked IP network, and providing the receiver with at least
one service in available service information for a program selected
by a user based on the transmitted display status information.
[0016] In another aspect of the present invention, an adaptive
broadcast receiver includes a network interface unit transceiving
an IP packet by connecting the broadcast receiver to a service
provider via a network, a display unit outputting a broadcast
signal received by the network interface unit, and a control unit
controlling display status information for the display unit to be
sent to the service provider, the control unit controlling an
adaptive broadcast signal based on the sent display status
information to be displayed.
[0017] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description of the present
invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide
further explanation of the invention as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a
further understanding of the implementations and are incorporated
in and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate
implementations and together with the description serve to explain
the implementations. In the drawings;
[0019] FIGS. 1A to 1C are diagrams for a broadcast receiving method
according to a related art;
[0020] FIG. 2 is a diagram for system layers of IPTV (IP
television);
[0021] FIG. 3 is a characteristic diagram for IPTV system;
[0022] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a system between a service
provider and a broadcast receiver;
[0023] FIG. 5 is a diagram for IP capsulation in case that a
service provider provides a service to a broadcast receiver via an
IP network;
[0024] FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a method of receiving an adaptive
broadcast signal according to a first embodiment of the present
invention;
[0025] FIG. 7 is a detailed diagram for a method of receiving an
adaptive broadcast signal according to a first embodiment of the
present invention;
[0026] FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a method of receiving an adaptive
broadcast signal according to a second embodiment of the present
invention;
[0027] FIG. 9 is a detailed diagram for a method of receiving an
adaptive broadcast signal according to a second embodiment of the
present invention;
[0028] FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B are diagrams of embodiments for video
formats varying according to a multiple channel watching display
status;
[0029] FIG. 11 is a diagram of a data structure to send resource
information for a broadcast receiver to a service provider from the
broadcast receiver according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0030] FIG. 12 is a diagram of a data structure to send display
status information for a broadcast receiver to a service provider
from the broadcast receiver according to an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0031] FIG. 13 is a diagram of a data structure for indicating
available service information sent from a service provider to a
broadcast receiver according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0032] FIG. 14 is a diagram of expressions for transceiving video
resolution information for a broadcast receiver according an
embodiment of the present invention; and
[0033] FIG. 15 is a block diagram of an adaptive broadcast receiver
according to one embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0034] Reference will now be made in detail to the implementations,
examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used
throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.
[0035] FIG. 2 is a diagram for system layers of IPTV (IP
television).
[0036] Referring to FIG. 2, an IPTV system includes a contents
provider layer, a service provider layer, a network provider layer,
and a consumer layer.
[0037] The contents provider plays a role in providing the service
provider with contents.
[0038] The service provider plays a role in providing a service to
a subscriber. And, the service provider collects various contents,
transforms signals to fit an IP environment, and then delivers the
transformed signals to the consumer. In this case, the service
provider may correspond to a virtual existence and the contents
provider can be the service provider.
[0039] The network provider plays a role in connecting the consumer
and the service provider together via IP network.
[0040] A transport system can use various networks including an
access network, a backbone network, etc. The consumer is the layer
for receiving a broadcast by being provided with contents. And, the
consumer includes a set-top box, a personal computer (PC), a mobile
terminal or the like.
[0041] A concept of the IPTV is explained in detail in the
following description.
[0042] FIG. 3 is a characteristic diagram for IPTV system.
[0043] Referring to FIG. 3, system layers of IPTV can be mainly
categorized into a contents provider, a service provider, and a
consumer. The contents provider can be called a platform provider
as well. The three kinds of groups play different roles,
respectively.
[0044] The contents provider can indicate a group that provides
overall services and data for broadcast programs.
[0045] The service provider transmits multimedia data. The service
provider provides the consumer with maintenance and management to
enable stable reception of contents. And, the service provider
provides the contents provider with the infrastructure and
functions for capability of network transmission.
[0046] And, the consumer group plays a role in playing data
inputted using such an infrastructure as xDSL, cable and the like
or responding to a user request promptly. The consumer group mostly
includes manufacturers for manufacturing IPTVs and its kinds can be
categorized into IPTV, IP STB, IP Phone, and the like. The
respective groups are explained in detail as follows.
[0047] First of all, the contents provider group may include a TV
station that produces a broadcast program. The TV station means a
conventional terrestrial broadcasting station or a cable
broadcasting station. These broadcasting stations produce and store
programs viewable by consumers and are capable of converting the
programs digitally to be transmitted. This is to enable various
broadcasting types to be transmitted.
[0048] A radio station means a general radio broadcasting station
and may have a video channel in some cases. Yet, the radio station
is mostly operated without video channel. VoD (video on demand) or
AoD (audio on demand) service has characteristics different from
those of the TV station or the radio station.
[0049] The contents provider may store and keep a program to be
broadcasted. Yet, this program is a live broadcast with continuity.
So, this program is characterized in being unable to be rewound or
paused to be viewed unless being recorded.
[0050] Yet, in case of VoD or AoD, a specific broadcast program,
movie or music can be stored and then played later to be viewed.
For instance, if a broadcast program is currently missed to view
due to lack of time, a site providing the broadcast service is
accessed to download a corresponding file or play the downloaded
file directly.
[0051] Likewise, the AoD provides a function of recording an audio
program or playing an audio program by real time. MoD (music on
demand) service enables a user to download a specific music to
listen to. Targets of the MoD service can be implemented in a
manner that a phonograph record manufacturer or distributor expands
a conventional web service.
[0052] An embodiment of a service provided by a contents provider
group is explained as follows.
[0053] First of all, a PF server can be serviced by a company that
manages all broadcast information and location information provided
by the contents provider. This service mainly contains location
information necessary for a broadcast time or broadcast of a
corresponding broadcasting station and information for enabling a
customer to access the corresponding broadcasting station. The
customer is able to obtain and display this information on a
screen. The PF server is one of the services mandatory for each
broadcasting station. In the IPTV environment, this service is
provided to enable a customer to access a corresponding
broadcasting station.
[0054] EPG service is one of convenient services provided to enable
a customer to inquire a broadcast program per a time zone and
recognize a broadcast program per a channel. The EPG service is
configured to be executable in a manner that a corresponding
program is automatically installed at a customer side in
advance.
[0055] A customer is able to obtain the information for a
corresponding broadcasting station only from a PF server. Yet, the
EPG service enables a customer to obtain information for real-time
broadcast channels of all broadcasting stations at a time. So, the
EPG service can be very conveniently usable. For instance, the EPG
service is provided with a powerful function of making a
reservation for recording CNN news or a reservation for viewing
Disney channel. So, the EPG service should provide details of
information for broadcast programs in a corresponding area per a
time zone. In particular, in case of a prescribed drama, contents
of the drama are searched. The broadcast programs can be
categorized into SF, drama, animation, and the like for
discrimination. Detailed information for a story or characters of a
movie or drama of a simple broadcast program can be included.
[0056] One big problem of the EPG service is how to transmit EPG
data suitable for a customer due to too many kinds of licenses of
customers who view IPTV. To access the EPG service, a customer
finds and presses an input key of a remote controller with
ease.
[0057] ECG service has all kinds of functions for facilitating a
customer to use information for contents possessed by a contents
provider, a location of an access server, an access authority and
the like. In brief, the functions include a function of
facilitating servers having contents to be accessed and an
electronic program guide (EPG) indicating details of information
for contents.
[0058] In particular, a load in individually accessing a prescribed
content service to view or download contents can be reduced in a
manner of binding services including AoD, MoD and VoD into one such
as EPG except a real-time broadcast.
[0059] Similar to the EPG service, the ECG service enables contents
stored in a server to be viewed at any time instead of informing
real-time broadcast channel information. And, the ECG service
enables contents to be downloaded and stored. If a customer
attempts to access a server having corresponding contents, the
customer has difficulty in obtaining an address or accessing PF
servers. This is a very complicated process and consumes
considerable time. A company providing ECG enables an ECG program
to be automatically installed in a customer, collects information
for all kinds of contents, and provides the corresponding data. In
order to access an ECG service, a customer just clicks an input key
button on a remote controller as well.
[0060] A portal server is connected to a broadcasting station via a
web service provided by each broadcasting station or connected to a
web server of a company servicing contents. The portal server plays
a role in searching or viewing a program list provided by each
broadcasting station or each contents provider providing a contents
service. This can be considered as a function of ECG or EPG. Yet, a
portal service is equipped with such a function as user
authentication or license contract. So, an access is needed to view
a specific program. Although ECG or EPG provides a unified
broadcast or contents list, the portal service provides broadcast
or contents list information for a corresponding program providing
company to enable detailed search. In order to access a portal
service, a customer just clicks a portal input button on a remote
controller.
[0061] Thus, the contents provider side should include a function
of providing those services and the like. If it is attempted to
normally operate the functions, servers of service companies should
be access IP network to transmit a corresponding program by real
time or transmit broadcast information.
[0062] And, the respective broadcasting stations or the service
companies should be connected to a network of a service provider
for errorless transmission without delay. So, they should have a
system for transmitting multimedia data using internet real-time
protocol such as RTP, RTSP, RSVP, MPLS and the like.
[0063] For instance, in case that a TV studio currently providing
news attempts to transmit multimedia by real time, if the
multimedia includes MPEG-2 and AC-3 audio specifications, a
transcoding work for converting them to fit a format of IPTV should
be carried out. After a server for executing this work has been
passed, a system is configured in a manner that RTP/UDP protocol
including time information for matching caption or lip-sync is
attached to pass through IP network provided by a service
provider.
[0064] The service provider provides stability and bandwidth of
network to enable multimedia data and broadcast data to be well
transmitted by a contents provider. Service providers are able to
provide IPTV services using a conventional cable network. In this
case, equipments of delivery network need to be changed. In
particular, network equipments capable of real-time data
transmission should be provided for configuration and a customer
should configure a network by considering a bandwidth. The
equipments should reduce a bandwidth by processing massive
multimedia data using a multicast service as a basic network
service of IPTV. If a bandwidth is not secured, a service provider
changes an optical cable network configuration or transcodes
multimedia data from a contents provider into MPEG-4 or MPEG-7
formatted data with efforts to secure a bandwidth and then
transmits the corresponding data. For this, the service provider
should provide several kinds of services including NMS (network
management system), DHCP (dynamic host control protocol), and CDN
services.
[0065] The NMS service enables a service provider to manage a
delivery network for a delivery to each customer and an IPTV
receiver of the corresponding customer. In particular, in case that
a broadcast reception is not available for a customer due to a
technical difficulty of a delivery network, a means for emergency
processing should be provided.
[0066] The NMS is widely used as a standardized means for
controlling and managing machined in a remote transport layer.
Using this service, it is able to check how many traffics are
generated for a prescribed broadcast or which area is in short of
bandwidth. The NMS service should be provided to contents providers
to enable the corresponding contents provider to generate and
manage groups in multicast. This is because more multicast groups
may need to be generated occasionally.
[0067] The DHCP service enables an IP to be automatically allocated
to an IPTV receiver of a customer and is used to inform an address
of a CDN server. The DHCP service is a useful means for allocating
IP to a PC on a general network. By transmitting an accessible
address to an authorized IPTV receiver, a user is allowed to make a
registration procedure for an initial access. Generally, an IPTV
receiver will provide IPv4. Yet, IPv6 is also available. So, an
IPTV receiver providing IPv4 is usable as well.
[0068] In the CDN service, when an IPTV receiver is initially
operated with data provided by a service provider by receiving a
power, CDN information is received from a service provider while IP
is received by the DHCP service. This information contains customer
registration or authentication of an IPTV provider and the
above-explained PF informations. As an IPTV receiver obtains CDN
information from a service provider, an IP broadcast signal
reception is enabled.
[0069] A customer can have various kinds of IPTV receivers. A
customer having a normal TV rents IPTV STB to enjoy an IPTV
inexpensively. A service provider pays an additional service charge
with a low price and a customer requests an IP phone to use
together.
[0070] An IPTV receiver basically includes a network interface
capable of accessing a network and has an Internet protocol. The
IPTV receiver receives and processes data packets coming from a
network and then plays multimedia data on a screen. In case of
manipulating the IPTV receiver using a remote controller, the IPTV
receiver should make a response by sending data packets quickly via
a network to obtain corresponding information from a server. In
particular, the IPTV receiver is capable of operating to transmit
user requested items bi-directionally while processing multimedia
data. And, buttons for IPTV ca be provided to a remote controller
to use the corresponding service well. So, a consumer is able to
store and view a fine scene of a drama in the above-provided IPTV
receiver and enjoy additional services including location
information, hotel reservation and the like.
[0071] Meanwhile, the above-mentioned NMS includes the function
that a service provider manages a network. And, the NMS helps the
service provider control and manage an IPTV receiver of a consumer.
If more IPTV receivers are used and if more additional services are
provided, the role of the NMS becomes more important. So, SNMP
protocol becomes mandatory for an IPTV broadcast receiver. This is
intended for a service provider to manage and control an IPTV
broadcast receiver. If so, an IPTV broadcast receiver is able to
obtain details of statistical data of a currently communicating
protocol, information for a currently used processor, information
for a TV manufacturer, and the like.
[0072] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a system between a service
provider and a broadcast receiver.
[0073] Referring to FIG. 4, a terminal o a service provider is
capable of bi-direction communication via an IP network. In
particular, according to the present system, a broadcast receiver
is capable of receiving a broadcast from a service provider and
also capable of transmitting information for an environment of the
broadcast receiver to the service provider.
[0074] In this case, when the service provider collects to provide
broadcast signals to the broadcast receiver, a broadcast stream can
include a single or multi program. In case of attempting to
transmit a transport stream via an IP network, IP capsulation is
required.
[0075] FIG. 5 is a diagram for IP capsulation in case that a
service provider provides a service to a broadcast receiver via an
IP network.
[0076] Referring to FIG. 5, an IP capsule can include an IP header,
a UDP header, an RTP header, and real data, i.e., a transport
stream packet.
[0077] FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a method of receiving an adaptive
broadcast signal according to a first embodiment of the present
invention.
[0078] Referring to FIG. 6, a method of receiving an adaptive
broadcast signal according to a first embodiment of the present
invention includes the steps of linking an IP network, transmitting
display status information for a receiver to a service provider via
the linked IP network, receiving an available service information
list provided by the service provider based on the display status
information for the receiver, and if at least one service is
selected from the received available service information list by a
user, providing the selected service to the receiver.
[0079] In the IP network linking step (S61), a terminal is
connected to the service provider via the IP network. In this case,
a service provider designated as a default can be preferentially
connected. In case that subscriptions are made to several service
providers, it is able to select a specific service provider to be
connected.
[0080] In the step (S62) of transmitting the display status
information for the receiver to the service provider, the display
status information is transmitted to the service provider to be
provided with a service suitable for display performance of the
receiver.
[0081] In this case, the display status information indicates a
value for determining the display performance and corresponds to
resolution, color quality or the like. For instance, a broadcast
receiver supporting standard definition (hereinafter abbreviated
SD) receives high definition (hereinafter abbreviated HD) contents
but displays the received contents with SD. The broadcast receiver
receives the large-size non-displayable HD contents and increases a
service information size unnecessarily. So, the broadcast receiver
transmits a maximum displayable resolution value and then receives
contents having a version of a suitable resolution value. For this,
the service provider should be equipped with various resolution
versions for the same program contents.
[0082] Despite a broadcast receiver that provides HD image quality,
in case of displaying multiple channels using a PIP (picture in
picture) function or a pop-up function, a main screen and a
sub-screen are displayed with resolution lower than that of a full
screen. So, instead of receiving high-resolution contents and
reducing the received contents to display, in aspect of network, it
is more efficient to receive contents having a resolution version
suitable for a display environment in the contents transceiving
step. And, it is unnecessary to receive contents information of a
video format different form that of a display type and reformat the
received contents information to fit the display type.
[0083] In the step (S63) of receiving the available service
information list from the service provider, a contents information
list of various versions suitable for the display performance of
the receiver is sent to the receiver by the service provider based
on the display status information having been transmitted to the
service provider. For instance, the service provider sends a
contents list having at least one version the service provider is
equipped with. In this case, if the broadcast receiver is for SD,
an HD list and an SD list are sent to enable a user to make a
selection or a list of SD corresponding to resolution suitable for
an output of the receiver can be sent.
[0084] If the user selects contents from the received available
service information list (S64), the service provider provides the
contents selected by the user (S65). If the user selects a contents
program of a specific version to be viewed from the received list,
the service provider provides the corresponding service based on an
inputted selection signal.
[0085] FIG. 7 is a detailed diagram for a method of receiving an
adaptive broadcast signal according to a first embodiment of the
present invention. A broadcast signal receiving method between a
service provider and a broadcast receiver is explained with
reference to FIG. 7. In this case, steps explained in the following
description are just exemplary but the claims of the present
invention are not restricted by the following steps or temporal
sequence thereof.
[0086] Referring to FIG. 7, while a service provider is providing a
broadcast service (1), a power of a broadcast receiver is turned on
(1).
[0087] If the power of the broadcast receiver is turned on, system
initialization is carried out (2).
[0088] The system-initialized broadcast receiver searches for a
connectable service provider (3) or makes a connection to a service
provider set to a default. In case that there are a plurality of
connectable service providers, a user is requested to make a
selection. If so, the user is able to make a selection.
[0089] The broadcast receiver transmits its authentication
information while making a request for a service connection to the
service provider (3-1).
[0090] The service provider having received the authentication
information for the broadcast receiver performs a receiver
authentication (4).
[0091] Once a qualification of the broadcast receiver is
authenticated in the authenticating step, available information on
a subscribed service is transmitted (4-1_. The available
information on the subscribed service means available service
information for a receivable physical channel.
[0092] The broadcast receiver performs service discovery (5). This
is the step of searching a service and deciding a service
characteristic. Through this step, the broadcast receiver is
connected to the service provider.
[0093] The broadcast receiver displays a service menu (6). Hence,
the user is able to see an available service on the subscribed
service.
[0094] The broadcast receiver transmits an available resource,
i.e., display status information to the service provider (7). In
particular, the broadcast receiver transmits its display
performance value such as resolution, color quality and the like
for example.
[0095] Having received the display status information, the service
provider compares various versions of retained contents to options
of the display status information (8). As a result of the
comparison, the service provider sends an available service channel
list, which can be outputted from the broadcast receiver, to the
broadcast receiver (8-1). In particular, the service provider sends
available information for receiver options.
[0096] Having received the available service list from the service
provider, the broadcast receiver displays the available service
list (9). The user then selects at least one from the available
service list (10). In this case, the user selects a channel to view
from the available service list and also selects a display version
to be outputted from contents of the same channel. In this case,
channel selection information can be transmitted together in the
step (7) of transmitting the display status information for the
broadcast receiver. If so, the service provider is able to provide
an available service version list for the selected channel.
[0097] If the selected program information is sent to the service
provider (10-1), the service provider searches for a service
selected by the user (11) and then provides the searched service to
the broadcast receiver (11-1).
[0098] FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a method of receiving an adaptive
broadcast signal according to a second embodiment of the present
invention.
[0099] Referring to FIG. 8, a method of receiving an adaptive
broadcast signal according to a second embodiment of the present
invention includes the steps of linking an IP network, transmitting
display status information for a broadcast receiver and program
selection information to a service provider via the linked IP
network, and receiving at least one service in available service
information for a program selected by a user based on the
transmitted display status information.
[0100] The step of linking the IP network and the step of
transmitting the display status information for the broadcast
receiver to the service provider are identical to those of the
second embodiment of the present invention. Yet, the second
embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the service
provider selects to send a suitable service version to the
broadcast receiver based on the received display status information
for the broadcast receiver instead of selecting a service to be
provided to the user from the available service list.
[0101] The step (S82) of transmitting the display status
information for the broadcast receiver to the service provider and
the step (S83) of selecting the program to be viewed by the user
can be executed together or separately.
[0102] In particular, the display status information and the
program selection information, i.e., channel information are sent
to the service provider. For instance, the user selects channel-10
and the display status information, i.e., resolution information
according to a display option or video format information according
to a channel display type is provided as well.
[0103] The service provider selects at least one service from
available services and then provides the selected service to the
broadcast receiver (S84).
[0104] In particular, if resolution of the broadcast receiver
corresponds to SD for the channel-10 selected by the user, the
service provider provides program contents of the version
corresponding to the SD among various versions of the retained
contents of the channel-10.
[0105] If the channel-10 selected by the user is outputted in a
display type of PIP or POP instead of being outputted as a main
screen, the service provider provides program contents of a video
format version suitable for the PIP or POP among various versions
of the retained contents of the channel-10.
[0106] In this case, if the service provider fails to retain the
contents matching a video format of the broadcast receiver, the
service provider provides a broadcast signal coded in a format
closest to the video format. For instance, when a video format of a
displayed PIP screen is 352*288, if the service provider fails to
retain a version of the same video format, the service provider can
provide a version formatted by 352*240 closest to 352*288.
[0107] FIG. 9 is a detailed diagram for a method of receiving an
adaptive broadcast signal according to a second embodiment of the
present invention. A broadcast signal receiving method between a
service provider and a broadcast receiver is explained with
reference to FIG. 9. In this case, steps explained in the following
description are just exemplary but the claims of the present
invention are not restricted by the following steps or temporal
sequence thereof.
[0108] Referring to FIG. 9, steps (1) to (6) are identical to those
of the first embodiment of the present invention. N the following
description, steps after the step (6) are explained.
[0109] First of all, a broadcast receiver sends its available
resources, i.e., display status information to the service provider
(7). In particular, the broadcast receiver sends its display
performance values including resolution, color quality and the like
for example.
[0110] Having received the display status information, the service
provider compares options of various versions of the retained
contents to options of the display status information (8).
[0111] The broadcast receiver receives a program selection signal
of the user (9) and then sends finally selected program selection
information to the service provider (9-1). In this case, the
program selection in the broadcast receiver and the selection
signal sending to the service provider can be carried out before
the option comparing step (8) in the service provider. And, they
can be executed together with the transmission of the available
resource information (6).
[0112] Namely, the display status information is sent (7), the
corresponding options are compared to each other (8), and the
finally selected program selection information is then sent.
Alternatively, after the display status information and the finally
selected program information have been sent, option comparison can
be carried out on the retained contents for the selected
program.
[0113] If the selected program information is sent to the service
provider (9-1), the service provider searches for a display version
closest to a display status corresponding to a result of the option
comparison (10) and then provides the searched contents to the
broadcast receiver, for the selected program (10-1).
[0114] The broadcast receiver having received the contents provided
by the service provider displays the received contents (11).
[0115] In the first embodiment of the present invention, once the
display status information for the broadcast receiver is provided
to the service provider, the service provider sends the available
service information list to the broadcast receiver. If so, the user
selects the display version to be finally outputted. Namely, the
display version to be finally outputted is selected by the
user.
[0116] On the contrary, in the second embodiment of the present
invention, if the display status information for the broadcast
receiver is provided to the service provider, the service provider
directly selects the service closest to the display option and then
provides the selected service to the broadcast receiver. Namely,
the display version to be finally outputted is selected by the
service provider.
[0117] FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B are diagrams of embodiments for video
formats varying according to a multiple channel watching display
status. In this case, a source means an actually coded video format
of a broadcasted program and a display means a video format to
output a corresponding program to a screen.
[0118] Referring to FIG. 10A, a video format of a PIP display for
outputting a sub-screen in a main screen can be observed.
[0119] It is assumed that an option of a monitor of a user is
capable of outputting 1080HD. And, it is also assumed that CIF is
set to be outputted in case of a PIP output.
[0120] A format of a program to be outputted on a main screen is
determined as 1080HD. And, a corresponding stream is received and
then outputted. In this case, for a program to be outputted to a
sub-screen, a stream coded by CIF image quality is requested or a
service provider sends a stream coded by CIF image quality.
[0121] Namely, according to the present invention, instead of
receiving 1080HD-coded stream uniformly and then changing a
corresponding format for a program to be outputted to a sub-screen,
a stream coded by CIF image quality suitable for a program to be
outputted to a sub-screen is received and then displayed.
[0122] Referring to FIG. 10B, a video format of a POP display for
outputting a pop screen can be observed.
[0123] It is assumed that a size of a video window to be outputted
to a screen 1 corresponds to 4VGA. And, it is also assumed that a
size of each video window of screens 2 to 4 is set to CIF.
[0124] When a 4VGA-coded stream in a program coded in various video
formats is requested for a channel to be outputted to the screen 1,
if a service provider fails to retain a stream coded in a same
video format, it is able to select and receive a broadcast signal
coded in a format closest to 4VGA. In this case, a broadcast signal
encoded by 720pHD is transmitted.
[0125] The same method of the screen 1 is applied to the screens 2
to 4. In particular, a broadcast signal coded in a format matching
a user's display setup is selected and received. If a matched
format does not exist, a broadcast signal coded in a closest format
is received and outputted.
[0126] A subject to select a video format in the present embodiment
can be the user in the first or second embodiment or the service
provider.
[0127] FIG. 11 is a diagram of a data structure to send resource
information for a broadcast receiver to a service provider from the
broadcast receiver according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0128] Referring to FIG. 11, resolution information, audio codec
information, video codec information, network information, and user
level information for a broadcast receiver can be sent.
[0129] FIG. 12 is a diagram of a data structure to send display
status information for a broadcast receiver to a service provider
from the broadcast receiver according to an embodiment of the
present invention, in which a video resolution data structure
(RI-structure) in the display status information is shown.
[0130] Referring to FIG. 12, an RI data structure includes such
information for representation to specify a video resolution as a
code value, a text, and a format type (format_type). In case of
video resolution, at least two resolution informations can be sent
to implement a multiple window function.
[0131] In this case, the video resolution information sent by a
user can include several kinds. For instance, it can be a maximum
video resolution supported by a display unit of a broadcast
receiver of a user or display resolution information of each window
in case that a multiple video window function such as PIP and POP
is activated.
[0132] Besides, a command filed (not shown in FIG. 12) is usable.
For instance, if the command is set to 0, video resolution
information means a maximum video resolution supported by a
monitor. And, this indicates a video resolution of a main screen.
If the command is set to 1, it can be engaged that next video
resolution information indicates a video resolution of a sub-screen
1 in case of multiple video window implementation. According to
this, the command and the video resolution information can be sent
as many as the number of maximum multiple screen windows that can
be implemented by a display unit.
[0133] FIG. 13 is a diagram of a data structure for indicating
available service information sent from a service provider to a
broadcast receiver according to an embodiment of the present
invention, in which a video resolution data structure
(RI-structure) in display status information is shown.
[0134] Referring to FIG. 13, an RI data structure is a means for
sending video resolution information in sending an available
service channel list or an available program list to a broadcast
receiver from a service provider. The present data structure
represents which video resolution is available for a specific
program.
[0135] The corresponding information can connect all available
video resolutions or represent all available video resolutions by
engagement using a command and the like.
[0136] For instance, if a command is set to 0, it may mean that all
resolutions equal to or smaller than a resolution indicated by a
code value are available. If the command is set to 1, it may mean
that all resolutions equal to or greater than a resolution
indicated by a code value are available. Namely, it is able to
configure the RI data structure with simplicity using a command
engaged between a service provider and a broadcast receiver.
[0137] FIG. 14 is a diagram of expressions for transceiving video
resolution information for a broadcast receiver according an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0138] Referring to FIG. 14, video resolution information sent to a
service provider from a broadcast receiver can be defined identical
to available video resolution information provided to the broadcast
receiver by the service provider.
[0139] FIG. 14 exemplarily shows a format type (format_type), a
width, a height, and a code value (code_value), which are included
in the RI data structure shown in FIG. 12 or FIG. 13.
[0140] FIG. 15 is a block diagram of an adaptive broadcast receiver
according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0141] Referring to FIG. 15, an adaptive broadcast receiver
according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a
network interface unit transceiving an IP packet by connecting the
broadcast receiver to a service provider via a network, a display
unit outputting a broadcast signal received by the network
interface unit, and a control unit controlling display status
information for the display unit to be sent to the service
provider, the control unit controlling an adaptive broadcast signal
based on the sent display status information to be displayed.
[0142] Detailed configuration of the broadcast receiver is
explained as follows.
[0143] First of all, the broadcast receiver includes a network
interface unit 502, an IP manager 504, a control unit 506, a
channel manager 508, a service information decoder 510, a service
information database 512, a service discovery manager 514, a
service control manager 516, a CAS/DRM unit 518, a service delivery
manager 520, a demultiplexer 522, an audio/video decoder 524, a
display unit 526, a storage unit 528, and a system manager 530.
[0144] The network interface unit 502 receives packets received
from a network and transmits a packet to the network from the
broadcast receiver. In particular, the network interface unit 502
receives an adaptive broadcast signal of the present invention from
a service provider of the present invention via the network.
[0145] The IP manager 504 manages a packet delivery to a
destination from a source for the packets received or transmitted
by the broadcast receiver. And, the IP manager 504 sorts the
received packets to correspond to a suitable protocol.
[0146] The control unit 506 controls an application and an overall
operation of the broadcast receiver according to a user input
signal by controlling a user interface (not shown in the drawing).
The control unit 506 provides a graphic user interface (GUI) for a
user using an OSD (on screen display) or the like. The control unit
506 receives an input signal from the user and then performs a
receiver operation according to the corresponding input. For
instance, if a key input concerning a channel selection is inputted
by a user, the control unit 506 sends a channel selection input
signal to the channel manager 508.
[0147] The control unit 506 controls the display status information
for the display unit to be sent to the service provider. And, the
control unit 506 controls the adaptive broadcast signal based on
the sent display status information to be displayed.
[0148] The channel manager 508 stores received channel information
and then generates a channel map. The channel manager 508 selects a
channel according to the key input received from the control unit
506 and controls the service discovery manager 514.
[0149] The channel manager 508 receives service information for a
channel from the service information decoder 510 and performs
audio/video PID (packet identifier) setting of the selected channel
on the demultiplexer 522.
[0150] The service information decoder 510 decodes such service
information as PSI (program specific information). In particular,
the service information decoder 510 receives and decodes PSI table,
PSIP (program and service information protocol) table, DVB-SI
(service information) table or the like demultiplexed by the
demultiplexer 522.
[0151] The service information decoder 510 decodes the received
service information tables, generates a database for the service
information, and then stores the generated database for the service
information in the service information database 512.
[0152] The service discovery manager 514 provides information
necessary to select a service provider which provides a service. If
a signal for a channel selection is received from the control unit
506, the service discovery manager 514 searches for a service
provider using the information.
[0153] The service control manager 516 is responsible for a
selection and control of a service. For instance, if a user selects
a live broadcasting service as good as a conventional broadcasting
type, the service control manager 516 performs the selection and
control of the service using IGMP or RTSP.
[0154] If a user selects such a service as VOD (video on demand),
the service control manager 516 performs the selection and control
of the service using RTSP. In this case, the RTSP (real-time
streaming protocol) can provide a trick mode for a real-time
streaming.
[0155] The packet for the service received via the network
interface unit 502 and the IP manager 504 is sent to the CAS/DRM
unit 518. The CAS/DRM unit 518 is responsible for CAS (conditional
access system) of service and DRM (digital rights management).
[0156] The service delivery manager 520 is responsible for control
of the received service data.
[0157] For instance, in case of controlling real-time streaming
data, RTP/RTCP (real-time transport protocol/RTP control protocol)
is used. If the real-time streaming data is transported using the
RTP, the service delivery manager 520 parses the received data
packet according to the RTP and then sends the parsed packet to the
demultiplexer 522. And, the service delivery manager 520 feeds back
the network reception information to a server side providing the
service using the RTCP. In this case, the real-time streaming data
can be capsulated by UDP without RTP and then directly
delivered.
[0158] The demultiplexer 522 demultiplexes the received packet into
audio data, video data and PSI (program specific information) data
and then sends the data to the video/audio decoder 524 and the
service information decoder 510, respectively.
[0159] The video/audio decoder 524 decodes the video and audio data
received from the demultiplexer 522. And, the video/audio data
decoded by the video/audio decoder 524 is provided to the user via
the display unit 526.
[0160] The storage unit 528 stores setup data for system and the
like. In this case, the storage unit 528 can include a nonvolatile
memory such as a nonvolatile RAM (NVRAM), a flash memory, and the
like.
[0161] And, the system manager 530 controls overall operations of
the broadcast receiver via a power system.
[0162] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and variations can be made in the implementations
without departing from the spirit or scope of the above
implementations. Thus, other implementations are within the scope
of the following claims.
* * * * *