U.S. patent application number 11/905493 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 | 20080092185 11/905493 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38877129 |
Filed Date | 2008-04-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080092185 |
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 network environment 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 sent network environment information.
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 Streer, N.W
Washington
DC
20006
US
|
Family ID: |
38877129 |
Appl. No.: |
11/905493 |
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 network environment
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 network environment information.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the network environment
information comprises network speed information.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the network environment
information comprises user level information according to a billing
system.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein in the step of sending the
network environment information of the receiver and the service
selection information to the service provider, a data structure
representing the network environment information of the receiver as
at least one selected from the group consisting of a code value
(code_value) field and a text field is sent to the service
provider.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of deciding a
contents version to be sent to the broadcast receiver in a manner
of comparing the network environment information to contents
information.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein at least one contents version is
decided for the selected service and then provided to the broadcast
receiver.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein a broadcast content that is
encoded at a bit rate suitable for the network environment
information of the broadcast receiver is provided to the broadcast
receiver.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein broadcast content to be provided
to the broadcast receiver is decided by the service provider among
broadcast contents encoded at the various bit rate according to a
category of a data rate.
9. An adaptive broadcast receiver comprising: a network interface
unit transceiving a broadcast stream capsulated into an IP packet
by connecting the broadcast receiver to a service provider via a
network; a control unit controlling contents encoded at a bit rate
suitable for a network environment of the broadcast receiver to be
received in a manner of sending network environment information of
the broadcast receiver to the service provider via the network
interface unit; and a display unit outputting the received
broadcast stream.
10. The adaptive broadcast receiver of claim 9, wherein the network
environment information comprises network speed information.
11. The adaptive broadcast receiver of claim 9, wherein the network
environment information comprises user level information according
to a billing system.
12. The adaptive broadcast receiver of claim 9, wherein the network
environment information is sent as a data structure to the service
provider and wherein the data structure represents the network
environment information as at least one selected from the group
consisting of a code value (code_value) field and a text field.
13. The adaptive broadcast receiver of claim 9, 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 broadcast receiver.
14. The adaptive broadcast receiver of claim 9, 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.
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 a method thereof, and more
particularly, to a broadcast receiver and broadcast receiving
method. Although the present invention is suitable for a wide scope
of applications, it is particularly suitable for receiving an
adaptive broadcast signal according to a receiver environment.
[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] However, a broadcast receiver may have a network speed for
receiving a broadcast stream, which varies according to a network
environment. And, a service transport speed of the broadcast
receiver may vary according to a user level sorted according to a
billing system or the like. Hence, a service provider needs to
modify a broadcast transmission according to the user level.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] 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.
[0012] 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.
[0013] 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 network environment
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 sent network
environment information.
[0014] In another aspect of the present invention, an adaptive
broadcast receiver includes a network interface unit transceiving a
broadcast stream capsulated into an IP packet by connecting the
broadcast receiver to a service provider via a network, a control
unit controlling contents encoded at a bit rate suitable for a
network environment of the broadcast receiver to be received in a
manner of sending network environment information for the broadcast
receiver to the service provider via the network interface unit,
and a display unit outputting the received broadcast stream.
[0015] 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
[0016] 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;
[0017] FIGS. 1A to 1C are diagrams for a broadcast receiving method
according to a related art;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a diagram for system layers of IPTV (IP
television);
[0019] FIG. 3 is a characteristic diagram for IPTV system;
[0020] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a system between a service
provider and a broadcast receiver;
[0021] 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;
[0022] FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a method of receiving an adaptive
broadcast signal according to one embodiment of the present
invention;
[0023] FIG. 7 is a detailed diagram for a method of receiving an
adaptive broadcast signal according to one embodiment of the
present invention;
[0024] FIG. 8 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;
[0025] FIG. 9 is a diagram for encoding of a bandwidth to support a
service provider with network environment information according to
one embodiment of the present invention;
[0026] FIG. 10 is a diagram of a data structure to sent network
environment information for a broadcast receiver to a service
provider from the broadcast receiver according to one embodiment of
the present invention; and
[0027] FIG. 11 is a block diagram of an adaptive broadcast receiver
according to one embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0028] 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.
[0029] FIG. 2 is a diagram for system layers of IPTV (IP
television).
[0030] Referring to FIG. 2, an IPTV system includes a contents
provider layer, a service provider layer, a network provider layer,
and a consumer layer.
[0031] The contents provider plays a role in providing the service
provider with contents.
[0032] 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.
[0033] The network provider plays a role in connecting the consumer
and the service provider together via IP network.
[0034] 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.
[0035] A concept of the IPTV is explained in detail in the
following description.
[0036] FIG. 3 is a characteristic diagram for IPTV system.
[0037] 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.
[0038] The contents provider can indicate a group that provides
overall services and data for broadcast programs.
[0039] 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.
[0040] 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.
[0041] 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.
[0042] 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.
[0043] 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.
[0044] 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. 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.
[0045] An embodiment of a service provided by a contents provider
group is explained as follows.
[0046] 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.
[0047] 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.
[0048] 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.
[0049] 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.
[0050] 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.
[0051] 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.
[0052] 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.
[0053] 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.
[0054] 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.
[0055] 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.
[0056] 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.
[0057] 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.
[0058] 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.
[0059] 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.
[0060] 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.
[0061] 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.
[0062] 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.
[0063] 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 can 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.
[0064] 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.
[0065] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a system between a service
provider and a broadcast receiver.
[0066] Referring to FIG. 4, a terminal of 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.
[0067] 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.
[0068] 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.
[0069] 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.
[0070] FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a method of receiving an adaptive
broadcast signal according to one embodiment of the present
invention.
[0071] Referring to FIG. 6, a method of receiving an adaptive
broadcast signal according to one embodiment of the present
invention includes the steps of linking an IP network, sending
network environment information for a broadcast receiver and
program selection information to a service provider via the linked
IP network, and providing the broadcast receiver with at least one
service in available service information for a program selected by
a user based on the sent network environment information.
[0072] 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.
[0073] The step of sending the network environment information for
the broadcast receiver and the program selection information to the
service provider via the linked IP network, which includes the step
(S62) of sending the network environment information for the
broadcast receiver to the service provider and the step (S63) of
selecting a program to be viewed by the user, is to send the
network environment information to the service provider to be
provided with a service suitable for a network environment of the
broadcast receiver.
[0074] In this case, the network environment information is a value
for determining a network environment. For example, the network
environment information includes a network speed, a user level
according to a billing system or the like. And, the network
environment information may mean a case that a data rate varies
according to the user level or a case that a type of contents
provider to the broadcast receiver varies according to the user
level. In this case, environment information for a network can be
categorized according to a bandwidth. And, `differing in bandwidth`
means that `encoded at a different bit rate`.
[0075] The network environment information and the program
selection information, i.e., channel information are sent to the
service provider. For instance, a user selects a channel No. 10 and
sends network environment information, e.g., network speed
information according to a network environment or the like.
[0076] In the step of providing the broadcast receiver with the at
least one service in the available service information for the
program selected by the user based on the sent network environment
information, the service provider selects at least one of available
services and then provides the selected at least one service to the
broadcast receiver (S64).
[0077] If a bandwidth receivable by the broadcast receiver is
20.about.80 Mbps in the channel No. 10 selected by the user,
program contents encoded into the bandwidth of 20.about.80 Mbps
among various encoded versions of retained contents of the channel
No. 10 is provided to the broadcast receiver. If the service
provider fails to retain a broadcast stream encoded at the same bit
rate of the network environment of the broadcast receiver, contents
encoded into a bandwidth closest to the bandwidth receivable by the
broadcast receiver is provided.
[0078] FIG. 7 is a detailed diagram for a method of receiving an
adaptive broadcast signal according to one 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.
[0079] Referring to FIG. 7, while a service provider is providing a
broadcast service (1), a power of a broadcast receiver is turned on
(1).
[0080] If the power of the broadcast receiver is turned on, system
initialization is carried out (2).
[0081] 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.
[0082] The broadcast receiver sends its authentication information
while making a request for a service connection to the service
provider (3-1).
[0083] The service provider having received the authentication
information for the broadcast receiver performs a receiver
authentication (4).
[0084] Once a qualification of the broadcast receiver is
authenticated in the authenticating step, available information on
a subscribed service is sent (4-1). In this case, the available
information on the subscribed service means available service
information for a receivable physical channel.
[0085] 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.
[0086] The broadcast receiver displays a service menu (6). Hence,
the user is able to see an available service on the subscribed
services.
[0087] The broadcast receiver sends an available resource, i.e.,
network environment information to the service provider (7). In
particular, a network environment value of the broadcast receiver,
e.g., a network speed, a user level or the like is sent. The
service provider having received the network environment
information compares various versions of retained contents to
options of the network environment information (8).
[0088] 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.
[0089] In particular, the network environment information is sent
(7), the corresponding option comparison is carried out (8), and
the finally selected program information is then sent.
Alternatively, the network environment information and the finally
selected program information are sent and the option comparison can
be then carried out on the retained contents for the selected
program.
[0090] 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 as a result of the option comparison
and then provides the searched contents to the broadcast receiver,
for the selected program (10-1).
[0091] The broadcast receiver having received the contents provided
by the service provider displays the received contents (11).
[0092] FIG. 8 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.
[0093] Referring to FIG. 8, resolution information, audio codec
information, video codec information, network information, and user
level information for a broadcast receiver can be sent. In the
present data structure, network information (e.g., network speed,
etc.) or user level information is used as an example for network
environment information.
[0094] FIG. 9 is a diagram for encoding of a bandwidth to support a
service provider with network environment information according to
one embodiment of the present invention.
[0095] A data structure shown in FIG. 10 will be explained with
reference to FIG. 9 as follows.
[0096] FIG. 10 is a diagram of a data structure to sent network
environment information for a broadcast receiver to a service
provider from the broadcast receiver according to one embodiment of
the present invention. In the present invention, a network speed is
used as an example for network environment information.
[0097] Referring to FIG. 10, a network speed (network information:
NI) data structure is a means for informing a service provider of
information for a network speed receivable by a broadcast receiver.
And, network speed information for the broadcast receiver is
included in the data structure. And, the service provider is made
to send contents encoded at a corresponding bit rate.
[0098] The NI data structure is configured to include information
which can specify and represent a network speed as a code value
field or a text field. For instance, if a network speed of a
broadcast receiver is represented as a bandwidth of 20.about.80
Mbps, it is able to insert character information of 20.about.80
Mbps or `2` of the code value shown in FIG. 9 in the data
structure.
[0099] FIG. 11 is a block diagram of an adaptive broadcast receiver
according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0100] Referring to FIG. 11, an adaptive broadcast receiver
according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a
network interface unit transceiving a broadcast stream capsulated
into an IP packet by connecting the broadcast receiver to a service
provider via a network, a control unit controlling contents encoded
at a bit rate suitable for a network environment of the broadcast
receiver to be received in a manner of sending network environment
information for the broadcast receiver to the service provider via
the network interface unit, and a display unit outputting the
received broadcast stream.
[0101] Detailed configuration of the broadcast receiver is
explained as follows.
[0102] First of all, the broadcast receiver includes a network
interface unit 102, an IP manager 104, a control unit 106, a
channel manager 108, a service information decoder 110, a service
information database 112, a service discovery manager 114, a
service control manager 116, a CAS/DRM unit 118, a service delivery
manager 120, a demultiplexer 122, an audio/video decoder 124, a
display unit 126, a storage unit 128, and a system manager 130.
[0103] The network interface unit 102 receives packets received
from a network and transmits a packet to the network from the
broadcast receiver. In particular, the network interface unit 102
receives an adaptive broadcast signal of the present invention from
a service provider of the present invention via the network.
[0104] The IP manager 104 manages a packet delivery to a
destination from a source for the packets received or transmitted
by the broadcast receiver. And, the IP manager 104 sorts the
received packets to correspond to a suitable protocol.
[0105] The control unit 106 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 106 provides a graphic user interface (GUI) for a
user using an OSD (on screen display) or the like. The control unit
106 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 106 sends a channel selection input
signal to the channel manager 108.
[0106] The control unit 106 controls contents encoded at a bit rate
suitable for a network environment of the broadcast receiver to be
received in a manner of sending network environment information for
the broadcast receiver to the service provider via the network
interface unit 102.
[0107] The channel manager 108 stores received channel information
and then generates a channel map. The channel manager 108 selects a
channel according to the key input received from the control unit
106 and controls the service discovery manager 114.
[0108] The channel manager 108 receives service information for a
channel from the service information decoder 110 and performs
audio/video PID (packet identifier) setting of the selected channel
on the demultiplexer 122.
[0109] The service information decoder 110 decodes such service
information as PSI (program specific information). In particular,
the service information decoder 110 receives and decodes PSI table,
PSIP (program and service information protocol) table, DVB-SI
(service information) table or the like demultiplexed by the
demultiplexer 122.
[0110] The service information decoder 110 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 112.
[0111] The service discovery manager 114 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
106, the service discovery manager 114 searches for a service
provider using the information.
[0112] The service control manager 116 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 116 performs the selection and
control of the service using IGMP or RTSP. If a user selects such a
service as VOD (video on demand), the service control manager 116
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.
[0113] The packet for the service received via the network
interface unit 102 and the IP manager 104 is sent to the CAS/DRM
unit 118. The CAS/DRM unit 118 is responsible for CAS (conditional
access system) of service and DRM (digital rights management).
[0114] The service delivery manager 120 is responsible for control
of the received service data.
[0115] 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 120 parses the received data
packet according to the RTP and then sends the parsed packet to the
demultiplexer 122. And, the service delivery manager 120 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.
[0116] The demultiplexer 122 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 124 and the
service information decoder 110, respectively.
[0117] The video/audio decoder 124 decodes the video and audio data
received from the demultiplexer 122. And, the video/audio data
decoded by the video/audio decoder 124 is provided to the user via
the display unit 126.
[0118] The storage unit 128 stores setup data for system and the
like. In this case, the storage unit 128 can include a nonvolatile
memory such as a nonvolatile RAM (NVRAM), a flash memory, and the
like.
[0119] And, the system manager 130 controls overall operations of
the broadcast receiver via a power system.
[0120] 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.
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