# US 8,544,041 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 8,544,041 B2
- Document ID: US8544041B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/617,737
- Filed: 2012-09-14
- Published: 2013-01-10
- Granted: 2013-09-24
- Earliest claimed: 1999-10-08
- Assignees: LG Electronics Inc.
- Applicants: Jin Pil Kim; C. Gomer Thomas
- Inventors: Jin Pil Kim; C. Gomer Thomas
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8544041B2

## 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:
a demodulator to demodulate a digital broadcasting signal including program and system information protocol (PSIP) data that includes a virtual channel table (VCT) and an event information table (EIT), and to output demodulated PSIP data, wherein the EIT includes an AC-3 audio descriptor, a caption service descriptor, and a content advisory descriptor,
wherein the VCT includes a short_name field, a major_channel_number field, a minor_channel number_field, a modulation_mode field, a carrier_frequency field, a channel_TSID field, a program number field, an ETM_location field, and an access_controlled field,
wherein the VCT further 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, wherein when the virtual channel is currently inactive, the receiver is capable of skipping over the virtual channel while a user is surfing; and
a database to receive at least one table of the demodulated PSIP data.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The digital television receiver of claim 1, wherein the digital broadcasting signal is a digital terrestrial broadcast signal.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The digital television receiver of claim 1, wherein the digital broadcasting signal is a digital cable broadcast signal.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The digital television receiver of claim 1, wherein a predefined data field is included in a statement of a for_loop in a bit stream syntax of the VCT.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The digital television receiver of claim 1, further comprising a decoder for decoding the demodulated PSIP data.