KR100991777B1 - Digital satellite broadcasting receiver and method for receiver Electronic Program Guide using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a digital satellite broadcast receiver, and more particularly, to a digital satellite broadcast receiver and an EPG storage control method using the same. The digital satellite broadcasting receiver according to the present invention is a multi-switching unit for receiving and dividing the digital satellite broadcasting signal of the low-noise-amplified RF band into a plurality of outputs through each path, and outputs to each path from the multi-switching unit. Receives a plurality of satellite signals to be tuned and demodulated in a specific channel and output in the form of TP, and stores the program guide information to send a request for program guide information from a specific sub-unit, and each in an independent space It is installed, and there is no satellite tuner inside, and receives the TP signal of the corresponding channel from the main unit, descrambles, decodes and displays, and receives a program guide information from the main unit to search and view it It consists of subunits.

Main unit, sub unit, program guide information (EPG)

Description

Digital satellite broadcasting receiver and method for receiving electronic program guide using the same}

1 is a conceptual block diagram of a multi-channel digital satellite broadcast receiver according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a detailed block diagram of the main unit of Figure 1

3 is a detailed block diagram of each sub-unit of FIG.

4 is a block diagram showing an example of requesting EPG information using a digital satellite broadcasting receiver according to the present invention.

5 is a diagram illustrating an EPG DB of a main unit of a digital satellite broadcasting receiver according to the present invention.

* Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings *

101: satellite antenna 102: LNB

103: multi-switching unit 110: main unit

111: multi-tuner section 112: multi-channel TP distribution section

113: CPU 114: modem

115: EPG DB 116: main transceiver

120: sub unit 301: sub transceiver                 

302: A / V decoder and control unit 303: CAS unit

304: memory 305: front panel

The present invention relates to a receiver for receiving digital satellite broadcasting, and more particularly, to the EPG data of sub-units through a main unit in a main unit for tuning multiple channels simultaneously and sub-units for tuning each different channel in a plurality of spaces. The present invention relates to a digital satellite broadcasting receiver and a program guide information receiving method.

In general, digital satellite broadcasting has spread rapidly to Europe, Japan, Asia, and Africa since the world's first DirecTV in 1994, and can be viewed anywhere in the world.

Digital satellite broadcasting is a method of compressing video / audio / additional data and transmitting digitally through satellites in MPEG 2 standard, and is related to a wide coverage area and region which are inherent to satellites compared to other transmission media. Due to the lack of equal broadcasting quality, economics of establishing a satellite broadcasting network, and simplicity of satellite channels, it is mainly led by pay broadcasting companies.

In addition, the receiver capable of receiving the digital satellite broadcast employs a CAS (Conditional Access System) that restricts the reception so that only subscribers can receive the pay broadcast.

The CAS receives a TV program and a data service signal scrambled by a transmitting station in a receiver for pay per channel (PPC) or pay per view (PPV) other than the free and basic channel of satellite broadcasting. It is a system for managing authorized subscribers to receive service by descrambling using a smart card. Here, the PPC is a service that collects a predetermined fee for receiving a channel and is able to receive a broadcast, and the PPV is a service that calculates and charges a fee per program as a reception time. To this end, the CAS operator issues a smart card to the subscriber. Smart cards are also known as Conditional Access Modules (CAMs).

For example, the smart card stores channel information that a user can view in the memory part in the case of a pay channel, and usage information in the case of a PPV.

The PPV service allows the user to purchase a movie or sporting event in advance, for example. In other words, the user may purchase a paid viewing program through the smart card.

Therefore, it is possible to extract the information stored in the smart card at the request of the limited reception system operator or the receiver, and since the smart card has a decoding function to descramble the scrambled signal, it is possible to descramble the scrambled TV program. Provide the required key.

The digital satellite broadcast includes not only a program but also program guide information. The program guide information is called APG (Advanced Program Guide) in digital satellite broadcasting such as DirecTV, and EPG (Electronic Program Guide) in digital terrestrial broadcasting.

However, the program guide information is additional data information that allows viewers to use the TV more conveniently. Viewers have to obtain information about the current and future broadcast programs through newspapers and other guide media. have.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and in the digital broadcast receiver having multiple units, a digital satellite broadcast receiver for setting EPG data of another subunit through a main unit and using the same The present invention provides a method for receiving program guide information.

       According to an aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object, a multi-switching unit for dividing a plurality of digital satellite broadcast signals of the received and low noise amplified RF band into a plurality of paths, and outputs through each path, in the multi-switching unit A main unit that receives a plurality of satellite signals output through each path, tunes and demodulates each channel to a specific channel, outputs them in the form of TP, stores program guide information, and transmits program guide information requests from specific sub-units; and Each is installed in an independent space, and there is no satellite tuner therein. The TP signal of the corresponding channel is received from the main unit, descrambled and decoded, and the program guide information is transmitted from the main unit. Composed of multiple subunits .

       According to another feature of the present invention for achieving the above object, the step of transmitting a program guide information request message to a specific sub-unit to the main unit, the program guide information data requested by the specific sub-unit program guide information data of the main unit Reading from the base, and transmitting the read program guide information to the sub unit to view the transmitted program guide information in the sub unit.

       Preferably, the main unit is an access point (AP), which means a wireless LAN base station, and the main unit transmits the update notification message to the sub unit when the program guide information is updated, and is updated in the sub unit. Send it when requesting program guide information.

      In addition, the sub-unit may store the environment setting for the program guide information search in the main unit to perform a category-specific search for each sub-unit.

Hereinafter, a configuration and an operation according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a conceptual block diagram of a multi-channel digital satellite broadcasting receiver according to the present invention, in which an antenna 101 capable of receiving a high frequency band digital satellite broadcast and a satellite signal of a high frequency band received through the antenna 101 are shown. A low noise amplifier (LNB) 102 for low noise amplification, a multi-switching unit 103 for dividing and outputting a plurality of satellite signals output from the LNB 102 and an output from the multi-switching unit 103 The main unit 110 receives a plurality of satellite signals that are inputted through a multi-tuner and tunes to a channel required by each sub unit, converts them into a transport stream (TP), and outputs them to each sub unit. Each of the plurality of sub-units 120 are installed and descrambled, decoded, and displayed by receiving a specific channel from the main unit 110.

FIG. 2 is a detailed block diagram of the main unit 110 and includes a plurality of tuners and demodulators 111a to 111d to receive satellite RF signals output from the multi-switching unit 103 to request each sub-unit. Multi-channel TP that simultaneously tunes to a channel and demodulates and outputs the TP signal in a TP form, and distributes the TP signal output from each tuner and demodulator of the multi-tuner unit 111 to each sub-unit. Central processing unit (CPU) 113, which controls the overall operation of the distribution unit 112, and also controls the data communication between the main unit and each sub unit, the main unit distributed in the distribution unit 112 The main transceiver unit 116 receives the TP signal through the CPU 113 and outputs it to each sub unit, or receives the signal output from the sub unit and outputs it to the CPU 113, at the request of each sub unit. According to the above It is configured to include the modem 114 for performing two-way communication with the broadcast transmitting side.

Here, each tuner and demodulator of the multi-tuner unit 111 demodulates the satellite signal of the tuned channel by a quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) method and converts the demodulated signal into a TP form.

3 is a detailed block diagram of each of the sub-units, a sub-integrated receiver and decoder (IRD) for receiving the TP signal transmitted from the main unit 110 and restoring the original digital video and audio signal. Display devices (eg, TVs) for displaying signals are connected and do not have a built-in satellite tuner.

Referring to FIG. 3, the sub-transmitter / receiver 301, a ROM and a RAM configured to receive a TP signal output from the main unit 110 or output a signal according to a user's request to the main unit 110 is provided. A CAS unit 303 for performing user authentication and descrambling using a memory 304, a smart card, and a TP signal output from the sub transceiver unit 301 to the CAS unit 303 to perform descrambling. The A / V decoder and the control unit 302 then separate the audio and video signals from the descrambled TP signal and decode the separated audio and video signals using a corresponding algorithm using the memory 304. In addition, the A / V decoder and the controller 302 output the user input signal input through the remote controller to the sub transceiver 301 to transmit to the main unit 110.

In the ROM of the memory 304, various control programs for controlling sub-units are mapped, and the RAM reads and decodes data necessary for writing and reading bit streams for decoding and motion compensation during A / V decoding. Used to write data and read data to be displayed.

The CAS unit 303 is provided in each sub unit, and manages information related to user registration, authentication, and billing by using a smart card inserted into the CAS unit 303, and simultaneously descrambles scrambled data. Perform. Here, the smart card inserted into the CAS unit 303 is a family smart card that can be equally applied to each sub IRD, and may be issued as many as the number of sub units registered in the satellite broadcasting service provider. That is, only one ID and password may be registered in the smart card or ID and password may be registered for each subunit. For example, if only one ID and password are registered, user ID can be authenticated by inputting the ID and password in any subunit. If an ID and password are registered for each subunit in one smart card, the corresponding subunit must register its ID and password to receive this user authentication. In this case, security can be kept secure for each subunit.

When using the integrated smart card, the satellite broadcasting service provider may provide a subscriber service such as discounting the subscription fee according to the number of registered subunits.

In this case, the modem 114 is not installed in each subunit but is installed only in the main unit 110, and a signal transmitted or received to a satellite broadcasting service provider from each subunit is transmitted through the modem 114 of the main unit. Is done. That is, the main unit 110 independently transmits purchase information of each subunit to the satellite broadcasting service provider, and transmits the result back to the corresponding subunit.

Therefore, it is not necessary to install a modem for each subunit, so that the burden on the user can be reduced.                     

Meanwhile, a remote control unit (eg, a remote controller) provided for each sub unit allows a user to interact with and control the main unit, and a signal input from the remote control unit is a front panel of each sub unit. It is output to the A / V decoder and the control unit 302 through 305.

4 is a block diagram illustrating an example of requesting EPG information using a digital satellite broadcasting receiver according to the present invention, and the main unit has an EPG DB to store program information for digital broadcasting. A case of requesting EPG information from each sub unit will be described below.

When the sub unit transmits the EPG data request message to the main unit (S100), the main unit records the history of the EPG data request for a predetermined time, and then the main unit transmits the EPG data to the sub unit (S101).

When the EPG data needs to be updated, the main unit transmits the updated EPG data to the EPG data update notification message subunit (S110).

Then, the sub unit transmits the EPG data update request message to the main unit (S111), and the main unit which has received the transmission checks the request history and the required version of the sub unit with respect to the EPG update request, and then updates only the necessary information. The information is transmitted (S112).

FIG. 5 illustrates the EPG DB of the main unit of the digital satellite broadcasting receiver according to the present invention, and the configuration of the EPG information search of each sub unit is stored in the main unit, thereby enabling a custom search for each sub unit.

For example, the first sub unit may set category sports in the EPG information as a basic environment and the second sub unit may set category news as the basic environment.

In addition, by storing the history of the search results for each subunit can be extended to the personalization function for each subunit.

As described above, the present invention has an effect that the viewer can easily search and view information on the current broadcast and the future broadcast program directly on the screen without a newspaper or other guide medium.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention should not be limited to the contents described in the embodiments, but should be defined by the claims.

Claims (5)

In the method for processing program guide information using a digital satellite broadcast receiving system comprising a main unit and a sub unit, Transmitting a program guide information request message to any one of a plurality of subunits connected to the main unit and installed in an independent space, respectively; Retrieving, by the central processing unit of the main unit, information corresponding to the program guide information requested by any one of the plurality of sub units from a program guide information database in the main unit; Transmitting, by the main unit, the read program guide information to a sub unit which has transmitted the program guide information request message; And  And descrambling and displaying the transmitted program guide information in a sub-unit. The method of claim 1, The main unit is a method for processing program guide information using a digital satellite broadcast receiving system, characterized in that the access point (Access Point: AP) means a wireless LAN base station. The method of claim 1, The sub unit is a method for processing the program guide information using a digital satellite broadcast receiving system, characterized in that the preference setting for the program guide information search is stored in the main unit to perform a category-specific search. A main unit communicating with a plurality of subunits of a digital satellite broadcast receiving system, A multi-tuner unit for receiving a plurality of satellite signals output from the multi-switching unit, respectively tuning and demodulating a specific channel and outputting the TP in a TP form; A multi-channel TP distribution unit for distributing TP signals output from the respective tuners and demodulators to the sub-units; A program guide information database for storing a plurality of digital broadcast program guide information and environment setting contents for searching for program guide information of each sub-unit; A modem for transmitting purchase information to a satellite broadcaster and receiving from the satellite broadcaster; Transmitting and receiving unit for communicating with the sub unit; And The first category program guide information request is transmitted from the first subunit among the plurality of subunits by using the transceiver, and the second category program guide information request is received from the second subunit, and each corresponding to the received request is received. The program guide information of a category is read from the program guide information database, and the program guide information of the first category is transmitted to the first subunit among the read program guide information, and the program guide information of the second category is transferred to the second subunit. A central processing unit controlling to transmit; Main unit comprising a. delete

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