# US 2010/0169922 A1 · Virtual channel table for a broadcast protocol and method of broadcasting and receiving broadcast signals using the same

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- Number: US 2010/0169922 A1
- Document ID: US20100169922A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 12/721,057
- Filed: 2010-03-10
- Published: 2010-07-01
- Earliest claimed: 1999-10-08
- Assignees: LG Electronics Inc.
- Inventors: Jin Pil Kim; C. Gomer Thomas
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100169922A1

## CPC

- H04N 21/462: Content or additional data management e.g. creating a master electronic programme guide from data received from the Internet and a Head-end or controlling the complexity of a video stream by scaling the resolution or bit-rate based on the client capabilities
- H04N 5/445: for displaying additional information (H04N5/50 takes precedence)
- H04N 5/455: Demodulation-circuits
- H04N 5/50: Tuning indicators; Automatic tuning control
- H04N 7/16: Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
- H04N 21/235: Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
- H04N 21/2353: {specifically adapted to content descriptors, e.g. coding, compressing or processing of metadata}
- H04N 21/2362: Generation or processing of Service Information [SI]
- H04N 21/26283: {for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic programme guide data}
- H04N 21/2668: Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles {(information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063)}
- H04N 21/426: Internal components of the client {; Characteristics thereof} (H04N5/44 takes precedence)
- H04N 21/43: Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware {(real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00)}
- H04N 21/431: Generation of visual interfaces {for content selection or interaction}; Content or additional data rendering
- H04N 21/4312: {involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations}
- H04N 21/4318: {by altering the content in the rendering process, e.g. blanking, blurring or masking an image region (image enhancement or restoration in general G06T5/00)}
- H04N 21/434: Disassembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. demultiplexing audio and video streams, extraction of additional data from a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Extraction or processing of SI; Disassembling of packetised elementary stream {(demultiplexing of data packets for data networks, e.g. RTP/UDP H04L65/00)}
- H04N 21/4345: {Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream}
- H04N 21/435: Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
- H04N 21/4382: {Demodulation or channel decoding, e.g. QPSK demodulation (analog front ends or means for connecting modulators, demodulators or transceivers to a transmission line H04L27/0002)}
- H04N 21/4383: {Accessing a communication channel}
- H04N 21/4384: {involving operations to reduce the access time, e.g. fast-tuning for reducing channel switching latency}
- H04N 21/443: OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
- H04N 21/454: Content {or additional data} filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
- H04N 21/458: Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules {; time-related management operations (arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10)}
- H04N 21/4586: {Content update operation triggered locally, e.g. by comparing the version of software modules in a DVB carousel to the version stored locally (deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction of the data by redundancy during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25)}
- H04N 21/47: End-user applications
- H04N 21/475: End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. personal identification number [PIN], preference data
- H04N 21/482: End-user interface for programme selection
- H04N 21/4821: {using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time}
- H04N 21/4823: {using a channel name}
- H04N 21/4828: {for searching programme descriptors (retrieval of video data G06F16/739)}
- H04N 21/6112: {involving terrestrial transmission, e.g. DVB-T}
- H04N 21/6118: {involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem}
- H04N 21/6162: {involving terrestrial transmission, e.g. DVB-T}
- H04N 21/6168: {involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem}
- H04N 21/83: Generation or processing of protective or descriptive data associated with content; Content structuring
- H04N 21/84: Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors {(systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73)}
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

A virtual channel table for broadcasting protocol and a method for broadcasting by using the virtual channel table includes identification information identifying and permitting discrimination of active and inactive channels contained in the virtual channel table. At a receiver, the virtual channel table transmitted from the transmitting side is parsed, thereby determining whether the current received channel is an active or inactive channel.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1-30. (canceled)

### Claim 31

A digital television receiver comprising:
a tuner to receive a digital broadcast signal including a virtual channel table (VCT), the VCT being segmented into one or more sections, wherein each section contains information for one or more virtual channels but information for one virtual channel is not segmented and put into two or more sections, wherein each section includes a predefined data field which is set to zero for an inactive channel, wherein the inactive channel is a channel that is not presently carrying a broadcast program; however, the same inactive channel is scheduled to carry a broadcast program at a predetermined later time from a broadcasting station without local viewer interaction; and
a database to receive the VCT.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

The digital television receiver of claim 31, wherein the VCT is included in a program system information protocol (PSIP) for a digital broadcast.

### Claim 33 (depends on 32)

The digital television receiver of claim 32, wherein the digital broadcast is any one of a digital terrestrial broadcast and a digital cable broadcast.

### Claim 34 (depends on 31)

The digital television receiver of claim 31, further comprising a controller to control display of the inactive channel.

### Claim 35 (depends on 34)

The digital television receiver of claim 34, wherein the controller inhibiting display of the inactive channel.

### Claim 36 (depends on 34)

The digital television receiver of claim 34, wherein the controller skips display of the inactive channel.

### Claim 37 (depends on 31)

The digital television receiver of claim 31, wherein the predefined data field is positioned in a statement of a for_loop in a bit stream syntax of the VCT.

### Claim 38

A method of processing digital broadcast data in a digital television receiver, the method comprising:
receiving in a tuner a digital broadcast signal including a virtual channel table (VCT), the VCT being segmented into one or more sections, wherein each section contains information for one or more virtual channels but information for one virtual channel is not segmented and put into two or more sections, wherein each section includes a predefined data field which is set to zero for an inactive channel, wherein the inactive channel is a channel that is not presently carrying a broadcast program; however, the same inactive channel is scheduled to carry a broadcast program at a predetermined later time from a broadcasting station without local viewer interaction; and
receiving in a database the VCT from the tuner.

### Claim 39 (depends on 38)

The method of claim 38, wherein the VCT is included in a program system information protocol (PSIP) for a digital broadcast.

### Claim 40 (depends on 39)

The method of claim 39, wherein the digital broadcast is any one of a digital terrestrial broadcast and a digital cable broadcast.

### Claim 41 (depends on 38)

The method of claim 38, further comprising a controller to control display of the inactive channel.

### Claim 42 (depends on 41)

The method of claim 41, wherein the controller inhibiting display of the inactive channel.

### Claim 43 (depends on 41)

The method of claim 41, wherein the controller skips display of the inactive channel.

### Claim 44 (depends on 38)

The method of claim 38, wherein the predefined data field is positioned in a statement of a for_loop in a bit stream syntax of the VCT.