Method and apparatus for scanning channel

A channel scanning method of a broadcast receiver, the method comprising:

• scanning all channels received by the broadcast receiver in response to a channel scan command and storing new channel information regarding a channel in which a broadcast signal exists to a first storage unit;
• comparing the new channel information with existing channel information stored in a second storage unit;
• if the new channel information is different from the existing channel information, outputting a message questioning whether to update the existing channel information stored with the new channel information or not;
• and
• if a command to update is received in response to the message, changing the existing channel information to the new channel information.

A broadcast receiver comprising:

• a channel map storage unit which stores a channel map;
• a user interface which receives a channel scan command;
• a tuner which tunes only to a channel, among all tunable channels, that is not registered in the channel map if a channel scan command is input through the user interface;
• and
• a micro computer which determines whether the channel tuned by the tuner is an effective channel through which a broadcast signal is received, outputs a message questioning whether to add the channel which is determined to be an effective channel and, if a command to add the effective channel is received in response to the message, adds the effective channel on the channel map.

A channel scanning method of a broadcast receiver, the method comprising:

• if a channel scan command is input, tuning to a channel, among all tunable channels, that is not registered in a channel map;
• and
• determining whether the tuned channel is an effective channel through which a broadcast signal is received;
• outputting a massage questioning whether to add the channel which is determined to be an effective channel;
• and
• if a command to add the effective channel is received in response to the message, adding the effective channel on the channel map.

A broadcast receiver comprising:

• a tuner which tunes to a channel selected among channels that are accessible by the broadcast receiver;
• a channel scanning unit which performs a channel scanning operation scanning the channels to determine if broadcast signals exist in the channels;
• a channel map storage unit which stores channel information on the channels including the tuned channel obtained by the channel scanning operation;
• and
• a micro computer which controls the channel scanning unit to scan the channels, outputs a message questioning whether to update a channel in which it is determined that broadcast signals exist, and if a command to update the channel is received in response to the message, updates the channel information.