Method of processing channel information and receiver

A method of processing channel information of a receiver, the method comprising:

• attaching to an at least one IPTV service provider and receiving provisioning;
• and
• receiving service identification information including multi-part channel number information by using the provisioning information, wherein the multi-part channel number information includes a combination of a first channel number specified for terrestrial broadcast service which provides a content, a second channel number indicating a geographical location of the terrestrial broadcaster providing the terrestrial broadcast service, and a third channel number indicating a service provider which packages channels provided by contents providers into a service to provide a packaged service through a delivery channel;
• wherein a logical channel number is expanded to the first channel number and the second channel number, the expanded logical channel number being different from a major or minor channel number,
• the second channel number is used for distinguishing channels having the same first channel number and from the different geographic locations, and
• the third channel number is used for distinguishing identical channels delivered by different service providers,
• wherein the second channel number is used for searching and accessing contents from plurality of local stations by identifying the location of the terrestrial broadcaster, and
• the third channel number is used for searching and accessing contents from plurality of service providers by identifying the service providers,
• wherein the service provider is distinguished from a network provider which provides tile delivery channel, and
• the third channel number is distinguished Dom identification information of the network provider.

A receiver comprising:

• a network interface for receiving a packet including service identification information, and the service identification information including multi-part channel number information, wherein the multi-part channel number information includes a combination of a first channel number specified for terrestrial broadcast service which provides a content, a second channel number indicating a geographical location of the terrestrial broadcaster providing the terrestrial broadcast service, and a third channel number indicating a service provider which packages channels provided by contents providers into a service to provide a packaged service through a delivery channel;
• a service information decoder for decoding the packet and obtaining the service identification information including the multi-part channel number information;
• a database for storing the service identification information;
• and
• a channel manager for generating a channel map by using the channel numbers included in the multi-part channel number information and for performing a control operation to receive a content corresponding to the channel numbers with reference to the channel map,
• wherein a logical channel number is expanded to the first channel number and the second channel number, the expanded logical channel number being different from a major or minor channel number,
• the second channel number is used for distinguishing channels having the same first channel number and from the different geographic locations,
• the third channel number is used for distinguishing identical channels delivered by different service providers,
• wherein the second channel number is used for searching and accessing contents from plurality of local stations by identifying the location of the terrestrial broadcaster, and
• the third channel number is used for searching and accessing contents from plurality of service providers by identifying the service providers,
• wherein the service provider is distinguished from a network provider which provides the delivery channel, and
• the third channel number is distinguished from identification information of the network provider.