Set-top box system and method for viewing digital broadcast

A method for viewing digital broadcasts using a set-top box system including a plurality of televisions, and one set-top box for receiving digital broadcasts comprising of a multi-program, and transmitting single programs selected according to program selection requests of television viewers to the plurality of televisions, comprising the steps of:

• allowing a remote-controller to radio-transmit channel information corresponding to the program selection request and a corresponding television identification information to said set-top box when there is a program selection request from a television viewer present in the vicinity of the televisions;
• allowing said set-top box to select and demodulate digital broadcasts of a main channel preset in a memory in received digital broadcasts, generating the demodulated digital broadcast as a multi-program transport stream, selecting sub-channels responsive to the program selection request by adopting the requested channel information, a packetized identification information of the multi-program transport stream, and the program guide database, and providing each of single programs on the selected sub-channels;
• and
• allowing said set-top box to decode each of the provided single programs, radio-transmitting the decoded result signals to the televisions by adopting the corresponding television identification information.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a plurality of first units displaying broadcasts;
• and
• one set-top box receiving broadcasts comprised of a multi-program, and transmitting single programs selected by program selection requests oftelevision viewers to said plurality of first units,
• said set-top box comprising:
• a memory including a program guide database of the broadcasts;
• a tuner and demodulator selecting and demodulating digital broadcasts of a main channel preset in the memory in the received broadcasts, and generating the demodulated broadcasts as a multi-program transport stream;
• a controller accommodating a controlling of each of sub-channels corresponding to each program selection request by adopting packetized identification information of the multi-program transport stream and the program guide database;
• a plurality of transport demultiplexers selecting sub-channels responsive to each program selection request upon receiving a control signal of said controller, and respectively providing single programs on the selected sub-channels;
• and
• a plurality of single program decoders accommodating a decoding of the single programs, respectively.

A method, comprising:

• transmitting by a remote-controller channel information corresponding to the program selection request and a corresponding first unit identification information to a single set-top box when there is a program selection request in the vicinity of one of a plurality of first units, the first units accommodating a display of digital broadcasts, the single set-top box receiving the digital broadcasts comprised of multi-programs and transmitting single programs to any first unit of a plurality of first units making the program selection request, said set-top box having a communication link with said plurality of first units;
• selecting and demodulating digital broadcasts of a main channel preset in a memory in received digital broadcasts by said set-top box;
• generating the demodulated digital broadcast as a multi-program transport stream by said set-top box;
• selecting sub-channels responsive to the program selection request by adopting the requested channel information, a packetized identification information of the multi-program transport stream, and the program guide database, and providing each of single programs on the selected sub-channels by said set-top box;
• and
• decoding each of the provided single programs, radio-transmitting the decoded result signals to the first units by adopting the corresponding first unit identification information by said set-top box.