# US 7,080,401 B2 · Virtual channel table for a broadcast protocol and method of broadcasting and receiving broadcast signals using the same

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- Number: US 7,080,401 B2
- Document ID: US7080401B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 10/892,216
- Filed: 2004-07-16
- Published: 2004-12-09
- Granted: 2006-07-18
- Earliest claimed: 1999-10-08
- Assignees: LG Electronics Inc.
- Inventors: Jin Pil Kim
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7080401B2

## 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 1

A digital television receiver, comprising:
receiving means for receiving a digital broadcasting signal including a virtual channel table, in which a service location descriptor is omitted when a corresponding virtual channel is an inactive channel;
wherein the inactive channel is capable of being automatically skipped;
detecting means for determining whether the service location descriptor is found in the virtual channel table; and
control means for controlling display of the corresponding virtual channel when the virtual channel is selected by a user and the channel is determined to be inactive,
wherein said 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.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The digital television receiver of claim 1, wherein the virtual channel table is included in a program and system information protocol (PSIP) for a digital broadcast.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The digital television receiver of claim 2, wherein the digital broadcast is any one of a digital terrestrial and a digital cable broadcast.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The digital television receiver of claim 1, wherein the control means identifies the virtual channel as being inactive when no service location descriptor is detected by the detecting means.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The digital television receiver of claim 1, wherein the detecting means further detects a program number field defined in the virtual channel table, and the control means identifies the virtual channel as being inactive when the detected program number field has a value of “0.”

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The digital television receiver of claim 1, wherein the detecting means further detects a reserved field defined in the virtual channel table, and the control means identifies the virtual channel as being inactive when at least one bit of the detected reserved field indicates that the virtual channel is inactive.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The digital television receiver of claim 1, wherein the control means controls the display of the corresponding virtual channel by inhibiting the display of the virtual channel.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The digital television receiver of claim 1, wherein the control means controls the display of the corresponding virtual channel by skipping the display of the virtual channel.

### Claim 9

A digital television receiver, comprising:
receiving means for receiving a digital broadcasting signal including a virtual channel table, in which a service location descriptor is omitted when a corresponding virtual channel is an inactive channel;
wherein the inactive channel is capable of being automatically skipped;
a program and system information protocol (PSIP) decoder for determining whether the service location descriptor is found in the virtual channel table and providing an output indicating whether the corresponding channel is inactive;
a user interface module for receiving the output of the PSIP decoder and controlling display of the corresponding virtual channel when the channel is selected by a user and is determined to be inactive,
wherein said 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.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The digital television receiver of claim 9, wherein the virtual channel table is included in a program and system information protocol (PSIP) for a digital broadcast.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The digital television receiver of claim 10, wherein the digital broadcast is any one of a digital terrestrial and a digital cable broadcast.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The digital television receiver of claim 9, wherein the user interface module identifies the virtual channel as being inactive when no service location descriptor is detected by the PSIP decoder.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The digital television receiver of claim 9, wherein the PSIP decoder further detects a program number field defined in the virtual channel table, and the user interface module identifies the virtual channel as being inactive when the detected program number field has a value of “0.”

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The digital television receiver of claim 9, wherein the PSIP decoder further detects a reserved field defined in the virtual channel table, and the user interface module identifies the virtual channel as being inactive when at least one bit of the detected reserved field indicates that the virtual channel is inactive.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The digital television receiver of claim 9, wherein the user interface module controls the display of the corresponding virtual channel by inhibiting the display of the virtual channel.

### Claim 16 (depends on 9)

The digital television receiver of claim 9, wherein the user interface module controls the display of the corresponding virtual channel by skipping the display of the virtual channel.

### Claim 17 (depends on 9)

The digital television receiver of claim 9, wherein the receiving means comprises:
a demodulator for demodulating the digital broadcasting signal and outputting a baseband signal; and
a transport decoder for decoding the baseband signal and providing a PSIP data stream to the PSIP decoder.