KR20100047506A - Method for processing broadcast service information and digital broadcast receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed are a broadcast service information processing method and a digital broadcast receiver. The network interface unit receives a packet including service discovery information and a packet including content guide information. The TCP / IP manager checks whether the destination of the received packet of the network interface unit is correct and transmits the received packet to the corresponding manager according to the protocol. The metadata manager generates an electronic program guide (EPG) by retrieving the guide information of the service from the content guide information based on the service name information of the service included in the service discovery information.

Description

Method for processing broadcast service information and digital broadcast receiver

The present invention relates to a broadcast service information processing method and a digital broadcast receiver. More particularly, the present invention relates to a service information processing method and a digital broadcast receiver for receiving broadcast service information through the Internet and providing the same to a viewer.

Broadcast waves transmitted from broadcast stations include various contents such as video, audio, and application programs. Data broadcasting standards have been developed and operated for receiving such broadcast waves and executing applications synchronized with video and audio. In addition to simply showing video and audio, the data broadcasting standard can implement various additional functions in receiving a transmitted application program, loading it into a terminal, and executing the loaded application program.

For example, a set-top box is a terminal supporting such a data broadcasting standard. In a set-top box, a Java virtual machine is ported onto a device driver and a standard application programming interface (API) is used. Java based data broadcasting middleware is implemented. Multiple system operators (MSOs) can easily create applications that service DVRs, EPGs, etc. using Java APIs provided by data broadcasting middleware implemented in set-top boxes. When an application program produced by a cable broadcasting company (MSO) is transmitted through a broadcast stream, the application programs are executed on the data broadcasting middleware of the set top box.

Among the data broadcasting standards, 'GEM (Globally Executable Multimedia Home Platform)' is a standard that includes only the most common contents. These two standards have extension specifications to support DVRs called 'DVB Digital Recording Extension to GEM' and 'OCAP Extension: OCAP Digital Video Recorder' respectively.

DVR is a function to record the current broadcast to watch later, or to rewind or pause the live broadcast. In order to use the DVR function, the middleware of the set-top box must support the DVR extension API of each standard, and the cable broadcasting company (MSO) must provide an application using the DVR API.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in an effort to provide a broadcast service information processing method and a digital broadcast receiver for efficiently providing broadcast service information provided through the Internet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in an effort to provide a broadcast service information processing method and a digital broadcast receiver capable of efficiently performing reservation recording by processing broadcast service information provided through the Internet.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a broadcast service information processing method comprising: receiving a packet including service discovery information and a packet including content guide information; And retrieving the guide information of the service from the content guide information based on the service name information of the service included in the service discovery information to generate an electronic program guide (EPG).

Preferably, in the generating, when the service name information is the same as the service ID information included in the content guide information, the guide information indicated by the service ID information may be searched as the guide information of the service. The service discovery information may include broadcast discovery information and broadband content guide discovery information.

Preferably, the receiving step includes: receiving a packet including the broadcast discovery information and a packet including broadband content guide discovery information; Identifying broadband content guide discovery information associated with the broadcast discovery information based on broadband content guide identification information included in the broadcast discovery information; And receiving the content guide information through an address indicated by the transmission mode information included in the identified broadband content guide discovery information.

Preferably, the content guide information may be broad content guide (BCG) metadata.

Preferably, the method for processing broadcast service information includes receiving a recording reservation request for an event presented by the electronic program guide (EPG); And retrieving the recording information on the received recording reservation request from the electronic program guide (EPG) and including it in the reserved recording list. The recording information may include service ID information, recording start time information, recording period information, and CRID.

Preferably, the broadcast service information processing method includes: checking whether to start recording of the recording reservation request based on the recording information included in the reserved recording list; Searching for service location information included in the service discovery information based on the service ID information included in the recording information when the recording starts; And receiving and recording a service through an address indicated by the searched service location information.

Preferably, the method for processing broadcast service information includes: checking whether a reservation reservation request is made by checking the reservation recording list; If there is a recording reservation request, checking whether a CRID is included in the recording information of the recording reservation request; If the CRID is included, checking whether there is a change in the recording information; And updating the recording information if there is the change.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital broadcast receiver comprising: a network interface unit configured to receive a packet including service discovery information and a packet including content guide information; A TCP / IP manager for checking whether a destination of the received packet is correct and transmitting the packet to a corresponding manager according to a protocol; And a metadata manager configured to generate an electronic program guide (EPG) by retrieving the guide information of the service from the content guide information based on the service name information of the service included in the service discovery information. have.

Preferably, when the service name information is the same as service ID information included in the content guide information, the metadata manager may search guide information of the service as guide information indicated by the service ID information.

Preferably, the service discovery information may include broadcast discovery information and broadband content guide discovery information.

Preferably, the metadata manager may identify broadband content guide discovery information associated with the broadcast discovery information based on broadband content guide identification information included in the broadcast discovery information.

Preferably, the digital broadcast receiver may further include a service manager for controlling to receive the content guide information through an address indicated by the transmission mode information included in the identified broadband content guide discovery information.

Preferably, the content guide information may be broad content guide (BCG) metadata.

Preferably, the digital broadcast receiver receives a recording reservation request for an event presented by the electronic program guide (EPG) and retrieves the recording information for the recording reservation request from the electronic program guide (EPG) for reservation. The user interface unit may be added to the recording list. The recording information may include service ID information, recording start time information, recording period information, and CRID.

Preferably, the digital broadcast receiver determines whether to start recording for the recording reservation request based on the recording information included in the reserved recording list, and when the recording starts, the metadata manager causes the metadata manager to record the recording reservation request. The apparatus may further include a service manager configured to search for service location information included in the service discovery information based on service ID information included in the information, and to control service reception through an address indicated by the searched service location information. .

Preferably, the service manager checks the reservation recording list to determine whether there is a recording reservation request, and if there is a recording reservation request, checks whether the CRID is included in the recording information of the recording reservation request, and the CRID. If is included, it is possible to check whether there is a change in the recording information, and if there is a change, control the update of the recording information.

According to the broadcast service information processing method and the digital broadcast receiver according to the present invention, the broadcast service information provided through the Internet can be efficiently processed to provide the viewer with guide information on the broadcast program. In addition, reservation service can be efficiently performed by processing broadcast service information provided through the Internet.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, preferred embodiments of the present invention that can specifically realize the above object will be described. At this time, the configuration and operation of the present invention shown in the drawings and described by it will be described as at least one embodiment, by which the technical spirit of the present invention and its core configuration and operation is not limited.

The terms used in the present invention have been selected as general terms widely used as possible in consideration of the functions in the present invention, but may vary according to the intention or custom of a person skilled in the art or the emergence of a new technology. In addition, in certain cases, there is also a term arbitrarily selected by the applicant, in which case the meaning will be described in detail in the description of the invention. Therefore, it is intended that the terms used in the present invention should be defined based on the meanings of the terms and the general contents of the present invention rather than the names of the simple terms.

Operation of the broadcast receiver and the broadcast service information processing method according to the present invention configured as described above will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

An Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) system, which is an example of a system that can provide various contents using the Internet network, can be largely divided into a server, a network, and a receiver.

The servers of the IPTV are servers that perform various functions such as service discovery and selection server, streaming server, contents guide information server, customer information server, and payment information server. It can be configured as.

Among the servers, the streaming server transmits video data encoded in the stored Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) 2, MPEG4, etc. to the user through a network. As a protocol for the transmission, a Real-Time Transport Protocol (RTP), a RTP Control Protocol (RTP), or the like may be used.

In case of using Real-Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP), video stream playback can be controlled to some extent through a function called network trick play such as pause, replay, and stop. . The protocols are one example and other real time transmission protocols may be used depending on the implementation.

The content guide information server is a server that provides information on the various contents provided. The content guide information is information corresponding to electronic program guide (EPG) information and includes various information about content. The content guide information server stores content guide information data, and provides the stored data to the receiver.

The information server related to service discovery and selection among the servers provides the receiver with access information and playback information for servers providing various content services such as broadcasting, contents on demand (COD), and games.

The network system consists of an internet based network and gateways. The Internet-based network may use various types of networks such as an optical cable network, a coaxial cable network, a fiber to the home (FTTH), a telephone network, a wireless network, and the like based on IP. In addition to general data transfer, the gateway may perform multicast group management and quality of service (QoS) management using protocols such as Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP).

A receiver of an IPTV is a receiver capable of receiving data transmitted through an internet network and providing the same to a user. The receiver includes an IPTV settop, a homenet gateway, an IPTV embedded TV, and the like.

In the case of a hybrid IPTV system, various contents of the Internet may be provided as well as various existing broadcasting contents. That is, the user can provide various broadcast contents such as terrestrial broadcasting, cable broadcasting, satellite broadcasting, personal broadcasting, various internet video contents, data contents other than video, and the like. The contents may be provided in real time or may be provided on demand.

1 is a view showing a preferred embodiment of the IPTV system according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, in terms of providing a content service, the IPTV system may be divided into a content provider (CP), a service provider (SP), a network provider (NP), and a user. have.

The content provider produces and provides various contents. As shown in FIG. 1, the content provider includes a terrestrial broadcaster, a cable SO, or a MSO, a satellite broadcaster, and an internet broadcaster. (Internet broadcaster) and the like.

The service provider provides a service package of contents provided by the content provider. For example, the service provider of FIG. 1 packages a first terrestrial broadcast, a second terrestrial broadcast, a cable MSO, satellite broadcast, various Internet broadcasts, and provides the same to a user. The service provider provides a service to the user side using a unicast or multicast scheme.

2A and 2B schematically illustrate multicast and unicast schemes, respectively.

 2A and 2B, the unicast method is a method of transmitting data 1: 1 between one sender and one receiver. For example, in the unicast scheme, when a receiver requests data from a server, the server transmits data to the receiver according to the request. Multicasting is a method of transmitting data to a plurality of recipients of a specific group. For example, the server can send data to multiple pre-registered receivers at once. The Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) protocol may be used for the multicast registration.

The network provider provides a network for providing the service to the user. The user may build a home network end user (HNED) to receive the service.

Conditional access, content protection, or the like may be used as a means for protecting the content transmitted from the IPTV system. As one example for the above-mentioned restriction reception or content protection, a method such as a cable card or a downloadable conditional access system (DCAS) may be used.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a service discovery process.

Referring to FIG. 3, in order to provide content to a user, the IPTV receiver needs to find and access a server storing content desired by the user. The receiver may access an entry point of an IPTV portal (or a system operator (SO)) provided by a network provider in order to find the content server (S300). The entry point refers to a kind of connection location. The user may input an IP address / port or a Domain Name System (DNS) Uniform Resource Locator (URL) for an entry point of the IPTV portal, or select and input a pre-registered address. Alternatively, the receiver may automatically access a preselected address or the like.

The entry point of the IPTV portal provides a service provider discovery record including information on each service provider to the receiver (S310). The service provider discovery record includes various information about a service provider, for example, service provider identification information, access information, and the like.

The receiver uses the information of the received service provider discovery record to access a server of a service provider that provides a service desired by the user. The service provider provides a service discovery record (Service Discovery Record) including information on the content to the receiver (S320). The service discovery record includes various information about a content service, for example, an access address of a service server that stores content.

The receiver stores the received service discovery record. The service discovery record is used to access a service server of a content provider providing content desired by a user, and receive a stream from the server. If the user wants to view content provided by another channel (or content provided by another service server), the receiver accesses the service server of the corresponding content provider again using the information of the stored service discovery record.

4A to 4C are tables illustrating a description of each element included in the broadcast discovery record.

4A to 4C, the broadcast discovery record is one of a service discovery record provided by a service provider, and is a record for transmitting broadcast discovery information, which is information on a live media broadcast service. .

In the case of the broadcast discovery record, a 'TS-Full SI' method using DVB SI (Service Information) information included in a transport stream (TS) of an image and a moving picture expert group (MPSI) program specific information (PSI) There is a 'TS-Optional SI' method that does not use in-band SI.

In the case of the 'TS-Full SI' method, it can be used to transmit existing broadcast data as it is through the IP network. Therefore, only the information necessary for receiving the TS is provided in the broadcast discovery record, and information on each service can be obtained from the DVB SI information included in the TS. In the case of the 'TS-Optional SI' method, it can be used to transmit data except the in-band SI information through the IP network. Therefore, the broadcast discovery record includes the SI information of each service along with the location information of the service. Broadcast discovery records of 'TS-Optional SI' and 'TS-Full SI' are the same and there is a difference in whether SI information is included.

The broadcast discovery record includes a 'ServiceLocation' element including service location information, a 'TextualIdentifier' element including textual identification information, a 'DVBTriplet' element including triplet information, and a 'MaxBitrate' including maximum bitrate information. The element may include an 'SI' element including SI information, an 'AudioAttributes' element including audio attribute information, a 'VideoAttributes' element including video attribute information, and a 'PreviewService' element including preview service information. The above-described element is an example, and may further include necessary elements, and may exclude elements that are not necessary.

4A to 4C are one record and are merely divided in consideration of the size of the drawing. The broadcast discovery record of FIGS. 4A to 4C further includes an element related to forward error correction (FEC) and an element related to service availability, and an SI element is not included. In the case of the 'TS-Oprional SI' scheme, an SI element may be further included.

The broadcast providing type of FIGS. 4A to 4C is 'BroadcastDiscovery', and service list information is included in 'BroadcastDiscovery / ServiceList'.

'ServiceDescriptionLocation' includes the identification information when there is identification information of a BCG record for Broadband Content Guide (BCG) discovery, and 'ServiceDescriptionLocation @ preferred' includes location information of a preferred BCG. The BCG refers to content guide information corresponding to an electronic program guide (EPG).

Various information about the service is included in 'BroadcastDiscovery / ServiceList / SingleService'.

'TextualIdentifier @ DomainName' includes Internet DNS domain name information identifying a service provider, and 'TextualIdentifier @ ServiceName' includes host name information of a service provided by a service provider.

'DVBTriplet' contains DVB Triplet information about the service. Among them, 'DVBTriplet @ OrigNetId' includes original_network_id information, 'DVBTriplet @ TSId' includes transport_stream_id information, and 'DVBTriplet @ ServiceId' includes service_id information. 'MaxBitrate' includes maximum bitrate information of a stream for transmitting a service.

Information on the location of a service is included in 'BroadcastDiscovery / ServiceList / SingleService / ServiceLocation'. Hereinafter, at least one IPMulticastAddress information or RTSPURL information should be included.

'IPMuliticastAddress @ Source', 'IPMuliticastAddress @ Address', and 'IPMuliticastAddress @ Port' indicate the use of the Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) to access the service, and include information about the URL and port to access the service. . 'IPMulticastAddress @ Streaming' optionally includes information on whether streaming by RTP or direct User Datagram Protocol (UDP).

'RTSPURL' informs the use of a Real-Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP) for accessing a service and includes information on a URL for accessing the service.

'FECBaseLayer @ Address', 'FECBaseLayer @ Source', and 'FECBaseLayer @ Port' are IP multicast addresses and IP multicasts with information from the Forward Error Correcting (FEC) Base Layer (SMPTE-2002-1), respectively. Contains information about the source address and UDP port. Similarly, 'FECEnhancementLayer @ Address', 'FECEnhancementLayer @ Source', and 'FECEnhancementLayer @ Port' provide information about IP multicast addresses and UDP ports with information from the Forward Error Correcting (FEC) Enhancement Layer (Raptor), respectively. Include.

'IPMuliticastAddress @ FECMaxBlockSizePackets' includes information on the maximum number of blocks of source packets transmitted from the first packet block to the last packet block, and 'IPMuliticastAddress @ FECMaxBlockSizeTime' includes information on the maximum transmission time of the FEC packet block. 'IPMuliticastAddress @ FECObjectTransmissionInformation' includes transmission information of FEC object for Raptor code.

4A to 4C, 'M' in the rightmost column is an indication indicating a mandated element, and 'O' is an indication indicating an optional element.

The receiver may receive the service discovery record as shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C to obtain service discovery information.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a preferred embodiment of the method for processing broadcast service information according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, service provider discovery information is received (S500). The service provider discovery information may include various information about the service provider, for example, service provider identification information, access information, and the like, and may be included in a service provider discovery record and transmitted.

Using the received service provider discovery information, the server accesses a server of a service provider providing a desired service and receives service discovery information (S505). Here, the service discovery information includes broadcast discovery information. The broadcast discovery information may be included in the broadcast discovery record and transmitted. Here, the service provider discovery record and the service discovery record may be transmitted based on the SD & S protocol.

The broadcast content is displayed (S510). In operation S515, it is checked whether a recording reservation request is input.

When a recording reservation request is input, the user receives a service (channel), a recording time, and a recording period selected for recording (S520). The recording information of the selected service is added to the reserved recording list (S525). Here, the recording information includes service identification information, recording start time information, and recording period information. Service identification information can be information contained in 'TextualIdentifier @ DomainName' and 'TextualIdentifier @ Service' in broadcast discovery records or information contained in 'DVBTriplet @ OrigNetId', 'DVBTriplet @ TSId' and 'DVBTriplet @ ServiceId'. have.

If the recording reservation request is not input, it is determined whether a recording reservation request exists by checking a reservation recording list (S530). Here, you can check the scheduled recording list every certain time.

If there is a recording reservation request, it is determined whether to start recording based on the recording start time information among the recording information included in the reserved recording list (S535). In the case of recording start, the service location information included in the broadcast discovery information is searched based on the service identification information (S540). In operation S545, the service is received by receiving the service through the address indicated by the retrieved service location information.

6A and 6B are tables illustrating one preferred embodiment of a BCG discovery record according to the present invention.

6A and 6B, the BCG providing type 'BCGOffering type' in the table of the BCG discovery record means that the table is 'BCGDiscovery'.

'BCG' means BCG record.

'BCG @ Id' means the identification code of the provider / server providing the BCG. The identification code is assigned by the service provider.

'BCG @ version' means version information of BCG. When the version information of the BCG is changed, it informs that the BCG data has been updated.

'Name' means the name of the BCG. The name of the BCG may be provided in one or more languages.

'Description' means a description of the BCG. The description of the BCG may be provided in one or more languages.

'Logo' means a pointer to the BCG's logo.

'Type' includes type information of content related to BCG. For example, the content type may be a Live Program, a Content On Demand (COD), or another type.

'TargetProvider' contains domain name information about the provider of the content described in BCG.

'TransportMode' includes location information where BCG data can be found.

'DVBSTP' in 'TransportMode' includes location information of BCG provided using DVBSTP protocol.

'Http @ Location' in 'TransportMode' contains location information of BCG provided using HTTP protocol.

'Http @ SOAP' in 'TransportMode' contains information on whether BCG provided using HTTP protocol uses SOAP protocol. The default value is 'false'.

'BCGProviderName' includes name information of a BCG provider.

7 is a diagram illustrating a connection relationship between a broadcast discovery record and a BCG discovery record.

Referring to FIG. 7, in order to find a BCG discovery record associated with a broadcast discovery record, the broadcast discovery record should include Broadband Contents Guide (BCG) identification information for identifying the associated BCG discovery record. An example of an element including BCG identification information may be 'ServiceDescriptionLocation' or 'ServicesDescriptionLocation' of a broadcast discovery record.

To identify a BCG discovery record with 'ServiceDescriptionLocation' or 'ServicesDescriptionLocation' in the broadcast discovery record, the BCG identification information contained in 'ServiceDescriptionLocation' (ServiceDescLocation) or 'ServicesDescriptionLocation' (ServicesDescLocastion1) is used as the 'BCG @ Id' in the BCG discovery record. This is the same as the information contained in. That is, by comparing 'ServiceDescriptionLocation' (ServiceDescLocation) or 'ServicesDescriptionLocation' (ServicesDescLocastion1) with 'BCG @ Id', the information contained in 'ServiceDescriptionLocation' (ServiceDescLocation) or 'ServicesDescriptionLocation' (ServicesDescLocastion1) and 'BCG @ Id' If the information is the same, it can be identified by the BCG discovery record associated with the broadcast discovery record.

The content guide information may be received through an address indicated by the transmission mode information included in the identified BCG discovery record. Here, the content guide information may be BCG metadata, for example. In addition, the transmission mode information may include protocol information used when receiving BCG metadata and location information capable of receiving BCG metadata.

The transport mode information may be included in 'TransportMode' of the identified BCG discovery record. 'DVBSTP', 'http @ Location' and 'http @ SOAP' in 'TransportMode' are used to distinguish protocols used when receiving BCG metadata, respectively, and include location information capable of receiving BCG metadata. do. For example, when receiving BCG metadata using the 'DVBSTP' protocol, the location information included in the 'DVBSTP' can be used, and when receiving BCG metadata using the HTTP protocol, the 'http @ Location information included in 'Location' can be used. When receiving BCG metadata using the SOAP protocol over the HTTP protocol, the location information included in 'http @ SOAP' can be used.

8 is a diagram conceptually illustrating a method of finding guide information included in BCG metadata from SD & S metadata.

Referring to FIG. 8, in order to find guide information associated with a specific service in a service list presented by the broadcast discovery record, the broadcast discovery record should include BCG metadata identification information for identifying associated BCG metadata. Service name information may be used as the BCG metadata identification information, and the service name information may be included in 'TextualIdentifier @ ServiceName' of the broadcast discovery record.

As an example for finding BCG metadata of a specific service with 'TextualIdentifier @ ServiceName' of a broadcast discovery record, 'TextualIdentifier @ ServiceName' is the same as 'ServiceInformation @ serviceId' of BCG metadata. That is, when service name information included in 'TextualIdentifier @ ServiceName' and 'ServiceInformation @ serviceId' are the same, BCG metadata having 'ServiceInformation @ serviceId' may be identified as guide information of a service having 'ServiceInformation @ serviceId'.

For example, if the service name of the service (Service 1-1) is "channel1.serviceprovider.com", the BCG metadata whose 'ServiceInformation @ serviceId' is "channell.serviceprovider.com" in BCG metadata is found. .

BCG metadata is a service information table 'ServiceInformation Table'. The program location table 'ProgramLocation Table' and the program information table 'ProgramInformation Table' may be configured.

To create an Electronic Program Guide (EPG) with BCG metadata and SD & S metadata, the Service Information Table 'ServiceInformation Table' contains service ID information that associates broadcast discovery records with BCG metadata for a particular service. can do. The service ID information may be included in 'ServiceInformation @ serviceId' of the 'ServiceInformation Table'. For example, if the service ID information is "channel1.serviceprovider.com", "channel1.serviceprovider.com" may be included in 'ServiceInformation @ serviceId', and 'TextualIdentifier @ ServiceName' of the broadcast discovery record is "channel1". search for the service (Servce1-1) which is ".serviceprovider.com", and read the location information of the service (Service1-1) from the broadcast discovery record 'BroadcastDiscovery / ServiceList / SingleService / ServiceLocation' It may receive a service (Service1-1).

The program location table 'ProgramLocation Table' may include service reference information for referring to 'ServiceInformation @ serviceId' of the service information table 'ServiceInformation Table', and the service reference information may be included in 'Schedule @ serviceIDRef' of the program location table. have. In addition, the program location table may include schedule event information for each service. The schedule event information may include broadcast start time information, broadcast period information, program location information, and program CRID information. The program location information may be a Uniform Resource Locator (URL). For example, the program location information may be “dvb: //8FC.59D8.0001; 7650”, and the program location information may be optionally provided.

The program CRID information is connection information for retrieving detailed program description information about a service provided by the program information table 'ProgramLocation Table'. Detailed program description information of a service may be retrieved from the program information table through the program CRID information. Here, the detailed program description information about the service means detailed guide information of the service.

The schedule event information may be included in 'ScheduleEvent' of the program location table, and the broadcast start time information, broadcast period information, program location information, and program CRID information are respectively published in 'ScheduleEvent', 'PublishedStartTime', 'PublishedDuration', 'ProgramURL' and May be included in 'Program @ CRID'.

Program Information Table 'ProgramInformation Table' includes program ID information. The program ID information is information matched with program CRID information included in the program location table. Each program ID information may have a value equal to any one of program CRID information in the program location table. That is, the program ID information may be found by comparing the program CRID information with the program ID information, and the program description information having the found program ID information may be searched as detailed program description information for the corresponding service.

The program information table also includes program description information. The program description information includes detailed description information of the program such as title, synopsis, and genre. The program description information may be included in 'BasicDescription' of the program information table, and the title, synopsis, and genre may be included in 'Title', 'Synopsis', and 'Genre' in 'BasicDescription'.

9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a preferred embodiment of a broadcast receiver according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 9, the IPTV receiver 900 may include a separate tuner to receive terrestrial broadcasting, cable broadcasting, satellite broadcasting, and the like. However, in the present invention, for the convenience of description, the description will be made mainly on the part of processing the content transmitted using the Internet network.

The IPTV receiver 900 includes a network interface unit 902, a TCP / IP manager 904, a service delivery manager 906, a personal video recorder (PVR) manager 908, a demultiplexer 910, a data decoder 912, The decoder 914, the display unit 918, the application manager 920, the service information database unit 924, the service discovery manager 926, the service control manager 928, the metadata manager 930, and the content database unit ( 932).

The network interface unit 902 receives the packets received from the network and transmits the packets to the network. That is, the network interface unit 902 receives a packet including SD & S records and BCG metadata from a service provider through a network.

The TCP / IP manager 904 is involved in packet forwarding from the source to the destination for packets received at the IPTV receiver 900 and packets transmitted by the IPTV receiver 900. The TCP / IP manager 904 classifies the received packet to correspond to an appropriate protocol, and classifies the received packet into a service delivery manager 906, a service discovery manager 926, a service control manager 928, and a metadata manager 930. Output the printed packet. For example, when the TCP / IP manager 904 receives the SD & S record, the TCP / IP manager 904 may output the received SD & S record to the service discovery manager 926. In addition, when receiving the BCG metadata, the TCP / IP manager 904 may output the received BCG metadata to the metadata manager 930.

The service delivery manager 906 is responsible for controlling the received service data. For example, when controlling real-time streaming data, RTP / RTCP (Real-Time Transport Protocol / RTP Control Protocol) may be used. When transmitting the real-time streaming data using the RTP, the service delivery manager 906 parses the received data packet according to the RTP and transmits it to the PVR manager 908 or the control of the service manager 922. The content database unit 932 stores the content data in the content database unit 932 according to the description. Then, the RTCP is used to feed back the network reception information to a server that provides a service.

The PVR manager 908 receives service data from the service delivery manager 906 and records the content data in the content database unit 932.

The demultiplexer 910 demultiplexes the received packet into audio, video, program specific information (PSI) data, and the like, and transmits the demultiplexer 910 to the decoder 914 and the data decoder 912, respectively.

The data decoder 914 decodes service information such as program specific information (PSI). That is, the data decoder 914 receives and decodes the demultiplexed PSI section, the Program and Service Information Protocol (PSIP) section, or the Service Information (DVB-SI) section from the demultiplexer 910.

In addition, the data decoder 912 decodes the received sections to create a database of service information, and stores the database of the service information in the service information database unit 924.

The decoder 914 decodes the video data and the audio data received by the demultiplexer 910. The decoder 914 includes an audio decoder 915 and a video decoder 916 for this purpose. The audio data decoded by the audio decoder 915 is provided to the user through a speaker (not shown), and the video data decoded by the video decoder 916 is provided to the user through the display unit 918.

The application manager 920 manages the overall state of the IPTV receiver 900, provides a user interface, and manages other managers. For this purpose, the application manager 920 includes a user interface manager 921 and a service manager 922.

The user interface manager 921 provides a graphical user interface (GUI) for a user using an OSD (On Screen Display), etc., and receives a key input from a user to perform a receiver operation according to the input. For example, the user interface manager 921 displays the electronic program guide (EPG) on the display unit 918 and receives a recording reservation request for an event presented by the electronic program guide (EPG) from the user. In addition, the user interface manager 921 retrieves recording information of a program for which recording is requested from the electronic program guide (EPG) and adds the recording information to the reserved recording list. The recording information may include service ID information, recording start time information, recording period information, and CRID. In addition, the user interface manager 921 may transmit the key input signal to the service manager 922 when the user receives a key input related to channel selection.

The service manager 922 controls a manager associated with a service, such as a service delivery manager 906, a service discovery manager 926, a service control manager 928, and a metadata manager 930 and an IG-OITF client. In addition, the service manager 922 determines whether to start recording by checking recording start time information among recording information included in the reserved recording list generated by the user interface manager 921. In this case, the service manager 922 may periodically determine whether to start recording.

If there is a recording reservation request to be started in the scheduled recording list, the service manager 922 causes the metadata manager 930 to display the service ID information among the recording information on the program for which the recording reservation is requested, and the service name included in the service discovery information. The service location information for the service for which the recording reservation request is requested is compared with the information. The service manager 922 may control service reception through an address indicated by the service location information. In other words, the service manager 922 may control the service control manager 928 to access the address indicated by the service location information to receive the recording reservation request content, and under the control of the service manager 922, the PVR manager ( 908 may store the received service in the content database unit 932 to perform recording.

In addition, the service manager 922 creates a channel map and selects a channel using the channel map according to a key input received from the user interface manager 921. The service manager 922 receives service information of a channel from the data decoder 912 and sets an audio / video packet identifier (PID) of the selected channel to the demultiplexer 910.

The service discovery manager 926 provides information necessary to select a service provider that provides a service. That is, the service discovery manager 926 receives the SD & S record, processes it, and stores it in the service information database unit 924. Upon receiving a signal regarding channel selection from the service manager 922, the service discovery manager 926 uses the information to find a service.

The service control manager 928 is responsible for selecting and controlling a service. For example, if a user selects a live broadcasting service like the conventional broadcasting method, IGMP or RTSP is used. If a user selects a service such as VOD (Video On Demand), RTSP is used to select and control the service. Perform The RTSP protocol may provide a trick mode for real time streaming. In addition, the service control manager 928 may initialize and manage a session through the IMC gateway 950 using an IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) or a session initiation protocol (SIP). The protocols are one embodiment, and other protocols may be used depending on implementation.

The metadata manager 930 manages metadata associated with a service and stores the metadata in the service information database unit 924. The metadata manager 930 receives the content guide information from the service delivery manager 906, and guides the content of the specific service guide information based on the service name information included in the service discovery information stored in the service information database unit 924. Search from the information to create an electronic program guide (EPG). The metadata manager 930 may search the guide information indicated by the service ID information as the service guide information when the service name information included in the service discovery information is the same as the service ID information included in the content guide information. The service discovery information may be included in the broadcast discovery record of FIGS. 4A to 4B and transmitted. The service name information may be information included in 'TextualIdentifier @ ServiceName' of the broadcast discovery record. In addition, the content guide information may be transmitted as BCG metadata as an example, and the service ID information may be information included in 'ServiceInformation @ serviceId' of the BCG metadata.

The service information database unit 924 stores service information decoded by the data decoder 912, metadata managed by the metadata manager 930, and information necessary to select a service provider provided by the service discovery manager 926. . In addition, the service information database unit 924 may store setup data for the system.

The service information database unit 924 and the content database unit 932 may be implemented using nonvolatile memory (NVRAM) or flash memory, respectively, and are divided into two logically separated areas on the same storage area. Can be implemented.

The IMS gateway 950 is a gateway that collects the functions required to access an IMS-based IPTV service based on an IMS core network. An IMS Gateway-OITF server 952, Network discovery 954, authentication / session management client / server 956, and RSM 958. The IPTV 900 may interface with the IMS gateway 950 to use an IMS-based IPTV service. Here, the IMS gateway 950 and the IPTV 900 are connected through an interface called HNI-IGI, and this interface provides a function provided by the IMS gateway 950 so that the IPTV 900 can use IMS-based IPTV service. Make it available.

IG-OITF server 952 provides IPTV receiver 900 with the functionality of authentication / session management client / server 956. Here, the IG-OITF server 952 may provide the IPTV receiver 900 with the function of the authentication / session management client / server 956 through a protocol such as HTTP.

The network discovery 954 finds an IMS server and performs a connection.

The authentication / session management client / server 956 performs subscriber authentication and session management as required on the managed network.

RMS 958 performs remote management functions in a managed environment.

10 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a preferred embodiment of the PVR manager according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 10, the PVR manager 908 may include a demultiplexer 1002, a download controller 1004, a metadata controller 1006, a memory buffer controller 1008, an upload controller 1010, and a multiplexer 1012. It may include. In addition, the content database unit 932 may include a memory buffer 1032.

The demultiplexer 1002 receives the encapsulated content packet from the service delivery manager 906. Herein, the encapsulated content packet may be a TS packet. When the broadcast mode is the recording mode, the demultiplexer 1002 selects only the A / V packets among the received content packets and outputs them to the download controller 1004. If the broadcast mode is the live mode, the A / V packet is output to the multiplexer 1012 without outputting to the download control unit 1004. In the live mode, the demultiplexer 910 separates the A / V packet from the encapsulated content packet and outputs the A / V packet to the video decoder 915 and the audio decoder 916.

The download control unit 1004 controls storing the A / V packet in the memory buffer 1032. The download controller 1004 may selectively store the A / V packet in the memory buffer 1032 using the time stamp. When not using the time stamp, the download controller 1004 may adjust the storage speed based on the remaining capacity of the memory buffer 1032.

The metadata control unit 1006 processes metadata for the A / V packet and controls the download control unit 1004 and the upload control unit 1010 based on the processed metadata. For example, the metadata controller 1006 may provide the time stamp information to the download controller 1004 and the upload controller 1010.

The memory buffer control unit 1008 controls the memory buffer 1032. When the broadcast mode is the recording mode, the memory buffer control unit 1008 stores the data stored in the memory buffer 1032 so that the data stored in the memory buffer 1032 is transferred to the content database unit 932 by a predetermined amount (for example, 384 KB). To control. When the broadcast mode is the reproduction mode, the memory buffer controller 1008 controls the data stored in the content database 932 to be transmitted to the memory buffer 1023 in units of a predetermined amount (for example, 384 KB).

The upload controller 1010 detects an A / V packet from the memory buffer 1032 and outputs the A / V packet to the multiplexer 1012. The upload controller 1010 may selectively detect the A / V packet from the memory buffer 1032 using the time stamp. When not using the time stamp, the upload controller 1010 may adjust the upload speed of the content based on the remaining capacity of the buffers allocated to the video decoder 915 and the audio decoder 916.

11 is a flowchart illustrating a preferred embodiment of the method for processing broadcast service information according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 11, the IPTV receiver 900 receives service provider discovery information (S1100). The service provider discovery information may include various information about the service provider, for example, service provider identification information, access information, and the like, and may be included in a service provider discovery record and transmitted.

The IPTV receiver 900 accesses a server of a service provider providing a service desired by the user using the received service provider discovery information and receives service discovery information (S1105). Here, the service discovery information includes broadcast discovery information and broadband content guide discovery information. The broadcast discovery information may be included in the broadcast discovery record and transmitted, and the broadband content guide discovery information may be included in the broadband content guide discovery record and transmitted.

The IPTV receiver 900 receives the content guide information through the address indicated by the transmission mode included in the broadband content guide discovery information (S1110). Here, the IPTV receiver 900 receives the content guide information for the service based on the broadband content guide identification information included in the broadcast discovery information in order to receive the content guide information for the specific service initiated by the broadcast discovery information. Identify broadcast discovery information, including information for: The IPTV receiver 900 receives the content guide information through the address indicated by the transmission mode information included in the identified broadcast discovery information. In addition, the content guide information may be Broadband Contents Guide (BCG) metadata.

The IPTV receiver 900 generates an electronic program guide (EPG) by retrieving the guide information of the service from the content guide information based on the service name information of the service included in the service discovery information (S1120). Here, when the service name information is the same as the service ID information included in the content guide information, the IPTV receiver 900 may search the guide information indicated by the service ID information as the guide information of the service.

The IPTV receiver 900 displays an electronic program guide (EPG) or broadcast content (S1120). The IPTV receiver 900 checks whether a recording reservation request for an event presented by the electronic program guide has been received (S1125).

When a recording reservation request is input, the IPTV receiver 900 receives a service for which a recording reservation is requested from the user (S1130). The IPTV receiver 900 retrieves recording information on a service for which a recording reservation is requested from the electronic program guide (EPG) and adds it to the reserved recording list (S1135). The recording information may include service ID information, recording start time information, recording period information, and CRID. Service ID information, recording start time information, recording duration information and CRID are included in 'ServiceInformation @ serviceId' of service information table of BCG metadata, 'PublishedStartTime', 'PublishedDuration' and 'Program @ CRID' of program location table respectively. May be information.

If the recording reservation request is not input, the IPTV receiver 900 checks the reservation recording list and determines whether a recording reservation request exists (S1140). Here, the IPTV receiver 900 may check the reservation recording list every predetermined time.

If there is a recording reservation, the IPTV receiver 900 checks whether there is a CRID among the recording information included in the reserved recording list (S1145). If there is a CRID, the IPTV receiver 900 checks whether the recording start time is changed to the CRID (S1150). Here, the IPTV receiver 900 may receive the latest schedule information by checking previously received BCG metadata and performing CRID resolution on the metadata server. One or more instances may exist in the process of finding the location of an instance using a CRID. In this case, the exact instance desired may be additionally used by using an instance metadata ID. Can be identified. If there is a change in the recording start time, the IPTV receiver 900 updates the recording information included in the recording list (S1160). When the broadcast time of the actual event is changed by using the CRID and the instance metadata ID, it is possible to more accurately record by identifying these changes based on the CRID.

The IPTV receiver 900 checks the recording start time information among the recording information included in the recording list to determine whether the recording start time is S1165. When the recording start time is reached, the IPTV receiver 900 searches for service location information included in the service discovery information based on the service ID information included in the recording information (S1170). In operation S1175, the IPTV receiver 900 receives a service through an address indicated by the retrieved service location information.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described above, the present invention is not limited to the specific preferred embodiments described above, and the present invention belongs to the present invention without departing from the gist of the present invention as claimed in the claims. Various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art, and such changes are within the scope of the claims.

1 is a view showing a preferred embodiment of the IPTV system according to the present invention,

2A and 2B are schematic diagrams for multicast and unicast schemes, respectively;

3 is a flowchart illustrating a service discovery process.

4A to 4C are tables illustrating a description of each element included in the broadcast discovery record;

5 is a flowchart illustrating a preferred embodiment of a broadcast service information processing method according to the present invention;

6A and 6B are tables illustrating one preferred embodiment of a BCG discovery record according to the present invention;

7 is a diagram illustrating a connection relationship between a broadcast discovery record and a BCG discovery record;

8 conceptually illustrates a method of finding guide information included in BCG from SD & S metadata;

9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a preferred embodiment of a broadcast receiver according to the present invention;

10 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a preferred embodiment of a PVR manager according to the present invention;

11 is a view showing a process of performing a preferred embodiment of the broadcast service information processing method according to the present invention.

Claims (18)

Receiving a packet including service discovery information and a packet including content guide information; And And retrieving the guide information of the service from the content guide information based on the service name information of the service included in the service discovery information to generate an electronic program guide (EPG). Broadcast service information processing method. The method of claim 1, In the generating step, And if the service name information is identical to service ID information included in the content guide information, searching for guide information indicated by the service ID information as guide information of the service. The method of claim 1, The service discovery information, And broadcast discovery information and broadband content guide discovery information. The method of claim 3, The receiving step, Receiving a packet including the broadcast discovery information and a packet including broadband content guide discovery information; Identifying broadband content guide discovery information associated with the broadcast discovery information based on broadband content guide identification information included in the broadcast discovery information; And And receiving the content guide information through an address indicated by the transmission mode information included in the identified broadband content guide discovery information. The method of claim 1, The content guide information is a broadcast content guide (BCG) metadata, characterized in that the broadcast service information processing method. The method of claim 1, Receiving a recording reservation request for an event presented by the electronic program guide (EPG); And And retrieving recording information of the received recording reservation request from the electronic program guide (EPG) and including the recording information in the reserved recording list. The method of claim 6, The recording information includes service ID information, recording start time information, and recording period information. The method of claim 6, Checking whether to start recording of the recording reservation request based on the recording information included in the reserved recording list; Searching for service location information included in the service discovery information based on the service ID information included in the recording information when the recording starts; And And receiving and recording a service through an address indicated by the searched service location information. The method of claim 6, Checking the reservation recording list to determine whether there is a recording reservation request; If there is a recording reservation request, checking whether a CRID is included in the recording information of the recording reservation request; If the CRID is included, checking whether there is a change in the recording information; And If there is the change, updating the recording information; broadcast service information processing method further comprising. A network interface unit configured to receive a packet including service discovery information and a packet including content guide information; A TCP / IP manager for checking whether a destination of the received packet is correct and transmitting the packet to a corresponding manager according to a protocol; And And a metadata manager for generating electronic program guides (EPGs) by retrieving the guide information of the service from the content guide information based on the service name information of the service included in the service discovery information. Digital broadcast receiver. The method of claim 10, The metadata manager, And if the service name information is the same as the service ID information included in the content guide information, searching for guide information indicated by the service ID information as guide information of the service. The method of claim 10, The service discovery information, And digital broadcast discovery information and broadband content guide discovery information. The method of claim 12, The metadata manager, Identify broadband content guide discovery information associated with the broadcast discovery information based on broadband content guide identification information included in the broadcast discovery information, And a service manager for controlling to receive the content guide information through an address indicated by the transmission mode information included in the identified broadband content guide discovery information. The method of claim 10, And the content guide information is BCG (Broadband Contents Guide) metadata. The method of claim 10, A user who receives a recording reservation request for an event presented by the electronic program guide (EPG), retrieves recording information on the recording reservation request from the electronic program guide (EPG), and adds the recording reservation request to the reserved recording list. And a digital interface receiver. The method of claim 15, And the recording information comprises service ID information, recording start time information, and recording period information. The method of claim 15, On the basis of the recording information included in the reserved recording list, it is determined whether to start recording for the recording reservation request, and when the recording starts, the metadata manager causes the service ID information included in the recording information of the recording reservation request. And a service manager configured to search for service location information included in the service discovery information based on the control information, and to control service reception through an address indicated by the retrieved service location information. The method of claim 15, Check the reservation recording list to determine whether there is a recording reservation request, and if there is a recording reservation request, check whether a CRID is included in the recording information of the recording reservation request, and if the CRID is included, And a service manager for checking whether there is a change in the recording information and controlling the update of the recording information when the change is made.

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