Broadcasting service transmitting apparatus and method and broadcasting service receiving apparatus and method for effectively accessing broadcasting service

(54) Title: DIFFUSION SERVICES TRANSMITTING DEVICE, DIFFUSION SERVICES TRANSMITTING METHOD, DIFFUSION SERVICES RECEIVING DEVICE, RECEIVING SERVICES DIFFUSION METHOD, AND LEGIBLE COMPUTER RECORDING MEDIA (30) 07 / Union priority: 31 / 2007 kr 10-2007-0077165, 12/03/2007 KR 10-2007-0124371,14 / 05/2007 US 60 / 917,776, 9/21/2007 US 60 / 974,321,31 / 07/2007 KR 10-2007- 0077165, 12/03/2007 KR 10-2007-0124371 (73) Owner (s): Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd (72) Inventor (s): Ga-Hyun Ryu, Sung-ll Park (74) Attorney (s): Walter de Almeida Martins (86) International Request: pct KR2008002697 of 05/14/2008 (87) International Publication: W0 2008 / i4026ide20 / n / 2008 ( 57) Summary: DIFFUSION SERVICES TRANSMITTERS, DIFFUSION SERVICES TRANSMITTER METHOD, DIFFUSION SERVICES RECEIVER APPLIANCE, DIFFUSION SERVICES RECEIVER METHOD, AND COMPUTER-READABLE RECORDING MEDIA. A broadcast service transmitter and method and a broadcast service receiver and method are provided for providing a broadcast service consisting of various types of data. The broadcast service receiver apparatus includes a receiver unit, a transport frame processing unit, transport packet processing unit, and a broadcast data processing unit. The receiving unit receives a transport frame having a predetermined size. The transport frame processing unit acquires access information from the transport frame service to access at least one broadcast service, and also acquires at least one transport packet from the transport frame to transport at least one broadcast data packet , for using the service access information. The transport packet processing unit processes at least one transport packet in order to acquire at least one broadcast data packet from at least one transport packet. The broadcast data processing unit processes at least one broadcast data packet.

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BROADCAST SERVICES TRANSMITTER, BROADCAST SERVICES TRANSMITTER METHOD, BROADCAST SERVICES RECEIVER, BROADCAST SERVICES RECEIVER METHOD, AND COMPUTER-READABLE RECORDING MEDIA

Technical area

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for providing a broadcast service consisting of various types of data and, in particular, to an apparatus and method transmitting broadcast services, and to an apparatus and method receiving service broadcasting. broadcast to allow quick and direct access to desired services.

Background of the Invention

In digital broadcasting, when several service channel signals are multiplexed and transmitted through a single transmission path, the service channel signals are first individually compressed and transformed into packets, and the packets are then multiplexed to form a transport flow. An identical packet identifier (PID) is allocated to packets corresponding to a single channel, so that packets can be distinguished from packets corresponding to other channels. Therefore, when packets having different specific IDs allocated, according to the types of channels, are transmitted in the form of a transport stream, a receiver selects only packets from a desired channel of the transport stream, referring to the packet IDs in the desired channel, and demultiplex the selected packets.

Fig. 1 is a flow chart illustrating a method of the related technique for processing a transport flow generated using packet identifiers (PIDs).

A receiver of the related art processes a transport stream, according to a method illustrated in fig. 1. In operation S110, an encoded transport stream including packets is received. In operation S120, a Reed-Salomon (RS) decoding is performed on the transport flow packets. In operation S130, the transport flow packets are filtered according to the PIDs. In operation S140, the transport flow packets are unpacked at each of the levels, namely, a transport level, a packaging level, and a flow level.

In operation S150, data obtained by unpacking are decoded.

In the related technique method, transport flow packets can be clearly differentiated from each other by using PIDs. However, the transport stream packets must have PIDs, and the receiver of the related technique must perform RS decoding against each of the transport stream packets, and perform filtering by checking individual PIDs.

Fig. 2 illustrates a related technique generated transport flow, using PIDs. With reference to fig. 2, a transport stream packet carrying audio / video (A / V) data, a transport stream packet carrying Internet protocol (IP) data, and a transport stream packet carrying object data, are transported through a single channel. When the transport flow of the related technique is processed, even if users want to receive only one

A / V, all transport flow packets must be decoded via Router / RS and filtered through individual PID checks. Thus, when a receiver of the related technique processes data, time and space resources are consumed.

Disclosure of the Invention

Technical Solution

The present invention features an apparatus and method for transmitting broadcast services and an apparatus and method for transmitting broadcast services to enable efficient data processing, due to the fast and direct access to the desired services.

Advantageous Effects

In accordance with the present invention, in contrast to a method for providing a service built by filtering packets using packet identifiers (PIDs), direct access to each of the service components included in a service is possible.

In addition, according to the present invention, an operation to perform RS decoding on all RS-encoded transport packets and checking all transport packet PIDs is not required when selecting service components that constitute a service. Thus, the consumption of system resources due to access to unnecessary transport packages can be avoided.

In addition, according to the present invention, when locations of an LMT and an LIT within a transport frame are fixed, services and service components can be quickly accessed, even when the locations of an LMT and an LIT within of a transport frame are variable.

In addition, according to the present invention, by including information about the number of LMTs having an identical version in a current LMT, the current LMT can be restored using the previous LMT, even when an error is generated in the current LMT.

In addition, according to the present invention, an error packet can be detected without the need to use an error flag, by changing the header of the error packet.

Description of Drawings

The characteristics and advantages above and other more of the present invention will become clear, through the description in detail of its exemplifying modalities with reference to the attached drawings, where:

fig. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a method of the related technique of processing a generated transport flow, using packet identifiers (PIDs);

fig. 2 illustrates a related technique transport flow generated using PIDs;

fig. 3 illustrates a structure of a transport frame, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 4 illustrates a structure of the transport frame shown in fig. 3 in greater detail, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

figs. 5A and 5B illustrate a field structure of the location map table (LMT), according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 5C illustrates a structure of an LMT field, according to another embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 6A illustrates a structure of a link information table (LIT) field, according to another embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 6B illustrates a structure of an LIT field, according to another embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 7A is a flow chart illustrating a method of interpreting an LMT field and an LIT field, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 7B is a flow chart illustrating a method of interpreting an LMT field and an LIT field, according to another embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a structure of a broadcast service transmitting apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 9 is a flow chart illustrating a method for transmitting broadcast services, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a structure of a broadcast service receiver apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; and fig. 11 and a flow chart illustrating a method of receiving broadcast services in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a broadcast service transmitting apparatus is presented, comprising: a broadcast data packaging unit, which packages at least one type of broadcast data, in order to generate at least one data packet diffusion; a transport packet generating unit that generates at least one transport packet to carry at least one broadcast data packet; a transport frame generating unit that generates a transport frame having a predetermined size to carry at least one broadcast service, which is constructed with at least one transport package; and a transmission unit that transmits the transport frame, where the transport frame generating unit generates the transport frame, in order for the service access information to access at least one broadcast service transported through the transport frame included in the transport table.

Service access information can be located in a predetermined area of ​​the transportation chart.

Service access information can comprise location information about upcoming service access information.

The transport frame can comprise at least one virtual data channel, which is differentiated according to the types of data. Each of at least one virtual data channel can comprise at least one sub-channel, which comprises at least one transport packet.

The service access information may comprise a location map table (LMT) comprising information indicating a physical location of the sub-channel corresponding to service components, which constitute at least one broadcast service included in the transport table, and a table connection information (LIT) comprising information on the configuration of at least one broadcast service included in the transport frame.

The LMT can understand type information indicating types of data transmitted through the transport frame, version information indicating the version of the

LMT, information on the number of sub-channel channels indicating the number of sub-channel channels corresponding to each type of data, and channel pointing information indicating the locations of the sub-channel channels.

The LMT can also comprise at least a part of information on the number of identical version LMTs indicating the number of LMTs having the same version as the LMT, LMT pointing information indicating a location of a next LMT, information on additional data number indicating the number of pieces of additional data associated with at least one broadcast service, and additional data pointing information indicating locations of the additional data.

The LIT can understand information about number of services, indicating the number of broadcast services that are transmitted through the transport frame, version information, indicating the LIT version, and information about services indicating a configuration of the broadcast services.

Service information can comprise LMT index numbers, which are allocated to the channel pointing information indicating locations of the subdivided channels.

The transmission unit can generate and transmit an ATSC frame, in which at least one transport frame described above is inserted.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method for transmitting broadcast services is presented, comprising the operations of: packaging at least one type of broadcast data, in order to generate at least one broadcast data packet; generating at least one transport packet to carry at least one broadcast data packet; generating a transport frame having a predetermined size to carry at least one broadcast service, which is constructed with at least one transport package; and transmission of the transport frame, where the transport frame is generated, in order to include service access information to access at least one broadcast service transported through the transport frame.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is presented a broadcast service receiver apparatus, comprising: a receiver unit which receives a transport frame having a predetermined size; a transport frame processing unit that acquires access information from the transport frame service to access at least one broadcast service and also acquire from the transport frame at least one transport packet to carry at least one broadcast data packet, the use of information on access to services;

a transport packet processing unit, which processes at least one transport packet in order to acquire at least one broadcast data packet from at least one transport packet; and a broadcast data processing unit, which processes at least one broadcast data packet.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method of receiving broadcast services is presented, comprising the operations of: receiving a transport frame having a predetermined size; acquisition of access information from the transport board service to access at least one broadcast service and also purchase from the transport board at least one transport packet to carry at least one broadcast data pack, by using the access information to services;

processing at least one transport packet in order to acquire at least one broadcast data packet from at least one transport packet; and processing at least one broadcast data packet.

Realization of the Invention

This Order claims the benefits of the Order for

US Provisional US Patent No. 60 / 917,776, filed on May 14, 2007, and Patent Application

Provisional US No. 60 / 974,321, filed September 21

2007 at the US Patent and Trademark Office, and the benefits of Korean Patent Application No. 00-2007-0077165, filed on July 31, 2007, and Patent Application

Korean No. 00-2007-00124371, filed on December 3,

2007, at the Korean Institute of Intellectual Property, whose disclosures are hereby incorporated in their entirety for reference purposes.

The present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown.

<td>The present invention</td><td>is</td><td>used</td><td>in</td><td>environments</td>

<td>deterministic, where services</td><td>in</td><td>diffusion</td><td>are</td><td>provided</td>

<td>by transmission frames having</td><td>one</td><td>size</td><td colspan="2">constant, this</td>

that is, a fixed size, at regular intervals. In the specification, frames of constant size are called transport frames.

Fig. 3 illustrates a structure of a transport frame 300, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

With reference to fig. 3 the transport frame 300, according to the current embodiment of the present invention, includes a service information area 310 and a data area 320. As illustrated in fig. 3, the transport frame 300, according to the present embodiment of the present invention, can be inserted and transported as part of a transport frame of a diffusion system other than a diffusion system for the transport frame 300, e.g. eg as part of an ATSC framework for an ATSC broadcast system. Alternatively, the transport frame 300 can be transported independently, or mapped with a transport flow from a diffusion system other than a diffusion system to the transport frame 300 in a one-by-one correspondence to be transported.

The data area 320 of the transport frame 300 is divided into virtual data channels that are differentiated according to the type of data. Virtual data channels mean channels, where channels to transmit a data stream are physically classified according to the type of data. Each of the virtual data channels can be divided into independent subdivision channels. Each of the sub-channel channels is made up of at least one transport packet, which is a minimum unit of a data stream packaged at a transport level.

The service information area 310 includes service access information to access data that constitutes a broadcast service, where data is transported through the transport frame 300. Service access information can be implemented in order to be periodically located in a predetermined area of ​​a frame, as shown in fig. 3.

In addition, current service access information may include information on the location of the next service access information, in order to control a cycle, where service access information is

<td>inserted in a</td><td>frame, or to change a</td><td>location</td><td>at the</td>

<td>frame where</td><td>access information to</td><td>services</td><td>are</td>

<td>inserted.</td><td></td><td></td><td></td>

<td>Fig.</td><td>4 illustrates the structure</td><td>from the board</td><td>in</td>

<td>transport 300</td><td colspan="2">in greater detail, according to</td><td>an</td>

<td>modality of</td><td>present invention. Fig.</td><td>4 illustrates</td><td>The</td>

<td colspan="2">structure of a transport frame 400, of</td><td>a deal with</td><td>an</td>

embodiment of the present invention. With reference to fig. 4, each of the virtual data channels of data area 320 illustrated in fig. 3 is divided into sub-channel, and the sub-channel establish services. With reference to fig. 4, the transport frame 400, according to the current mode, includes a signaling package 410 (or a virtual channel of signaling data), a virtual channel of real-time media data 420, a virtual channel of data IP 430, and a virtual object data channel

440.

Each of the virtual data channels of fig. 4 is divided into subdivided channels. The structure of the transport frame 400 shown in fig. 4 is based on the assumption that real-time media data, IP data, and object data are illustrated as three types of data.

With reference to fig. 4, the virtual real-time media data channel 420 includes a first subdivision channel R1 and a second subdivision channel R-2, both for carrying media data in real time, such as an A / V stream. The virtual IP data channel 430 includes an IP-1 sub-channel for carrying IP data. The virtual object data channel 440 includes a first subdivision channel 0-1, a second subdivision channel 0-2, a third subdivision channel 0-3, and a fourth subdivision channel 0-4, which are used to transport data and objects that are used in real time, or after being received and stored by a broadcast service receiver.

A simple service includes at least one service component. Therefore, in order to provide a service to a user, the broadcast service receiving apparatus must receive service components that constitute the service. A subdivision channel is a path, through which a single service component is transported. Thus, in order to access a particular service, the broadcast service receiver needs to know the locations of the sub-channel channels, through which the service components that make up the service are transported.

Service access information for accessing service components that constitute a service is included in signaling package 410 of fig. 4 corresponding to the service information area 310 of fig. 3. Signaling package 410 includes the service access information described above with reference to fig.

3. As illustrated in fig. 4, signaling package 410 includes a header field, a field for location map table (LMT), a field for link information table (LIT), and a payload.

The LMT field provides information about the configuration and physical locations of the sub-channel within a transport frame.

The LIT field provides information on configuring services, namely, how many services are transported through a transport frame and which subdivision channels must transport each service. In other words, an LIT means information, indicating which sub-channel, whose number is at least one, is used to constitute each service.

With reference to fig. 4, the LIT field of signaling package 410 indicates that service 1, service 2, and service 3 are transported through the transport frame

400. In addition, the LIT field indicates that service 1 includes the first and second subdivision channels R1 and R-2 of the real-time media virtual data channel 420 and the third subdivision channel 0-3 of the virtual data channel of object 440.

Figs. 5A and 5B illustrate a structure of an LMT field, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

With reference to figs. 5A and 5B, the LMT field, according to the current modality, includes a bitmap type field, a version number field, and at least one subdivided channel number field.

The bitmap type field indicates what data is included in a transport frame, which is transported in a predetermined cycle. The transport frame is assumed to carry object data, audio and video (A / V) data, and IP data.

The bitmap type field is made up of 3 bits, which can indicate whether there are A / V data, IP data, and object data. For example, a '1' bit for the bitmap type field indicates the existence of data corresponding to the bit, and a '0' bit for the bitmap type field indicates the absence of data corresponding to the bit. Therefore, when the bitmap type field is 111, A / V data, IP data, and object data are all included in the transport flow.

However, when the bitmap capo is 011, data from

A / V is not included in the transport stream, and IP data and object data are both included in the transport stream.

The version number field indicates the version number of the LMT field.

m sub-channel number in the sub-channel number field means the number of sub-channel channels that belong to each type of virtual data channel. The sub-channel number corresponds to the number of channel pointers that indicate the physical addresses of the sub-channel channels that belong to each virtual data channel. With reference to fig. 5A, channel pointer fields for real-time media data are fields from first to / ° channel pointer, channel pointers for IP data are fields from (/ + 1) ° to ° channel pointer, and channels for object data are fields from (m + 1) ° to the channel pointer number. Here, /, men mean whole numbers equal to or greater than 0. For example, if no real-time media data is transported through a transport stream, no sub-channel channel number fields for real-time media data and no channel pointing fields for real-time media data can exist. .

For example, if the value of the bitmap type field is

100 and at least the sub-channel number value is

2, two channel pointer fields, which respectively indicate two channel pointers from two sub-channel channels, through which real-time media data is transported, are included after the sub-channel number field.

In the LMT field, each channel pointing field includes information indicating the physical location of each subdivided channel. Index numbers can be sequentially allocated to the channel pointing fields. The index numbers sequentially allocated to the channel pointing fields of the LMT field are called LMT index numbers.

LMT index numbers are not included in the channel pointing fields, when the corresponding transport flow is generated, and instead, a broadcast service receiver can sequentially allocate the LMT index numbers to the channel pointing fields, while that interpreting the LMT field. In this case, the LMT index numbers are sequentially allocated without differentiating the types of sub-channel.

When the bitmap field value is

011, the field value of the sub-channel number for IP data is 2, and the field value of the sub-channel number for object data is 3, the LMT field can be constructed, as illustrated in fig. 5B. In fig. 5B, first and second channel pointing fields indicate the locations of the sub-channel for IP data, and third to fifth channel pointing fields indicate the locations of the sub-channel for object data.

Here, the first to fifth channel pointers are sequentially numbered, respectively, with numbers 1 through LMT index.

However, alternatively, LMT index numbers can be sequentially allocated to the channel pointing fields, according to the types of virtual data channels indicated by the channel pointing fields. In other words, the sub-channel can be numbered separately, according to the sub-channel types.

In this case, the first and second channel pointing fields are numbered respectively with index number 1 and index number 2, and the third, fourth and fifth channel pointing fields are respectively numbered with index numbers 1, 2 and

3. Thus, it is not clear whether index number 1 corresponds to the first channel pointing field or the third channel pointing field. This problem can be solved by adding additional information for use in determining whether the corresponding index number is allocated to a virtual IP data channel, or to a virtual object data channel.

Information indicating which type of virtual data channel corresponds to an index number will be described later with reference to fig. 6B.

<td></td><td>Fig. 5C illustrates</td><td>a field structure</td>

<td>LMT 500, from</td><td>according to another</td><td>present modality</td>

<td>invention. With</td><td>reference to fig.</td><td>5C, the LMT 500 field, from</td>

<td>according to</td><td>current mode, it is</td><td>It is divided into a field of</td>

<td>LMT coverage</td><td>501, a field of</td><td>version number 502, one</td>

signaling encapsulation packet (SEP) flag field 503, an LMT 504 boundary field, a SEP 505 pointing field, a first indicator field 506, an A / V data channel pointing field 507, a second indicator field 508, a data channel pointing field

IP 509, a third indicator field 510, and an object data channel pointing field 511.

coverage field LMT 501 indicates the number of LMT fields having the same version as that of the LMT field

500. For example, if the version of the LMT 500 field is 1 and a bit value of the LMT 501 coverage field is '00001', the number of LMT fields having version '1' to be transmitted after the LMT 500 is 1.

The version number field 502 indicates the version of the LMT 500 field.

SEP 503 flag field indicates whether the LMT 500 field includes a signal packet. The signaling package can consist of additional data for use in processing transport frames, such as LMT or LIT, or it can be additional data associated with services loaded into a transport stream, such as an electronic program guide (EPG) or an electronic service guide (ESG). When the bit value of the SEP flag field is '1', the SEP 505 pointing field, indicating the location of the signal packet exists after the SEP 503 flag field. The LMT 504 limit field indicates the affected packet range by the LMT 500 field. For example, the LMT 504 limit field can indicate the address of the last packet that affects the LMT 500 field, or the number of packets that affect the LMT 500 field. When the LMT 504 limit field indicates the address of the last packet that affects the LMT field

500, packets located at addresses prior to the address of the last packet are determined to be the packets that affect the LMT field. This means that a new LMT field exists at the address after the address indicated by the LMT 504 limit field. Therefore, the use of the LMT 504 limit field allows the location of the next LMT field, as being easily predicted.

The SEP 505 pointing field indicates the location of the signaling package.

The first indicator field 506 indicates whether a sub-channel exists. When the value of the first indicator field 506 is '1', a channel pointer exists after the first indicator field 506. With reference to fig. 5C, the first indicator field 506 indicates the existence of a subdivision A / V channel.

The A / V data channel pointing field 507 indicates the location of the A / V sub-channel.

The second indicator field 508 indicates whether an additional sub-channel exists. When the value of the second indicator field 508 is '1', a channel pointer exists after the second indicator field 508. With reference to fig. 5C, the second indicator field 508 indicates the existence of an IP subdata channel.

The IP data channel pointing field 509 indicates the location of the IP subdata channel.

The third indicator field 510 indicates whether an additional sub-channel exists, similar to the second indicator

508. When the value of the third indicator field 510 is '1', a channel pointer exists after the third indicator field 510. With reference to fig. 5C, the third indicator field 510 indicates the existence of an object sub-channel.

The object data channel pointing field 511 indicates the location of the object subdata channel.

The receiver of the broadcasting service can know the number of sub-channel, by using the first, second and third indicators 506, 508, and 510, and know the locations of the sub-channel, using the channel pointers 507, 509 , and 511.

Fig. 6A illustrates a structure of an LIT field, according to an embodiment of the present invention. With reference to fig. 6A, the LIT field, according to the current mode, includes a service number field, a version number field, and at least one service field indicating at least one service.

The service number field indicates the number of services included in a single transport frame, in accordance with the present invention.

The version number field indicates the summer of the field

LIT.

Each of the service fields includes a service identifier (SID) field and at least one LMT index number field. As in the LIT field structure described above, at least one LMT index number field indicates at least one number allocated to at least one channel pointer. Consequently, the broadcast service receiving apparatus can know the fixed addresses of the sub-channel corresponding to a desired service through a transport flow, by interpreting the LIT field.

For example, suppose that the broadcasting service receiver interprets a signaling packet from a received transport stream, where an LMT field is as illustrated in fig. 5B, a service number field shown in fig. 6A includes a first LMT index number field and a second LMT index number field, and the values ​​of the first and second index number fields

LMT are respectively 2 and 5. In this case, the broadcast service receiver apparatus interprets the service as a service, the service including data included in a subdivided channel having the physical location indicated by the second channel pointing field shown in fig. 5B and data included in a subdivided channel having the physical location indicated by the fifth channel pointing field shown in fig. 5B. Therefore, when the service number is desired, the broadcast service receiver does not process all transport packets included in the transport stream and, instead, processes only the data transported via the transport packets included in the sub-channel at the physical locations indicated by the second and fifth channel pointing fields, thus processing broadcast data quickly and efficiently.

Fig. 6B illustrates a structure of an LIT field, according to another embodiment of the present invention. With reference to fig. 6B, the LIT field, according to the current modality, includes a service number field, a version number field, and at least one service field indicating at least one service.

Each service field includes a SID and at least one channel information field.

For example, suppose that the LMT field of a transport stream is as illustrated in fig. 5B and LMT index sequential numbers are allocated independently to the channel pointing fields, according to the types of sub-channel indicated by the channel pointing fields. In other words, the subdivision channels are numbered independently with index numbers, according to the data types. In addition, suppose that a service number shown in fig. 6B include two subdivision channels. Therefore, the field of service number of fig. 6B includes a first channel information field and a second channel information field.

In this case, the first and second channel pointing fields, corresponding to sub-channels for IP data, shown in fig. 6B, are respectively numbered with index number 1 and index number 2, and the third, fourth and fifth channel pointing fields, corresponding to the subdata channels for object data, shown in fig. 5B, are respectively numbered with index numbers 1, 2 and 3.

Each of the channel information fields includes a type information field and an LMT index number field.

Type information field is made up of 2 bits and indicates the type of sub-channel corresponding to an LMT index number. A data value of '01' in the type information field may indicate that the subdata channel corresponding to an LMT index number is a subdata channel for IP data. On the other hand, the data value '10' of the type information field may indicate that the sub-channel corresponding to an LMT index number is a sub-channel for object data.

The LMT index number field is made up of 5 bits.

When the value of the first channel information field is '0100010', the upper 2 bits indicate a virtual channel of subdivided IP and the lower 5 bits indicate a channel pointer having an LMT index number 2. Therefore, it can be known that the The service includes the data included in the subdivided channel at the physical location indicated by the second channel pointing field.

When the value of the second channel information field is '1000011', the upper 2 bits indicate a virtual object subdivision channel and the lower 5 bits indicate a channel pointer having an LMT index number

3. Therefore, it can be known that the service number also includes the data included in the subdivided channel at the physical location indicated by the fifth channel pointing field.

<td>Per</td><td>therefore when the</td><td>service number</td><td>for</td><td>wanted,</td>

<td>The device</td><td>service receiver</td><td>diffusion</td><td>not</td><td>sues</td>

<td>all the</td><td>transport packages</td><td>included</td><td>at the</td><td>flow of</td>

transport and instead processes only the data transported through the transport packages included in subdivided channels in the physical locations indicated by the second and fifth channel pointing fields, thus processing the broadcast data quickly and efficiently.

Fig. 7A is a flow chart illustrating a method for interpreting an LMT field and an LIT field in a broadcast service receiver apparatus, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The LMT field is transmitted at regular intervals and located in a predetermined area of ​​a transport frame.

With reference to fig. 7A, in operation S701, when the broadcast service receiver receives a transport frame, it acquires and interprets a signaling package including service access information, which is located in a predetermined area of ​​the transport frame.

In operation S703, the broadcast service receiver determines whether an LMT field exists in the signaling packet. If it is determined in operation S703 that an LMT field exists in the signaling package, it is determined whether a previous LMT field has been stored in the receiver of the broadcast service in operation S705.

If it is determined in operation S7 05 that a previous LMT field exists in the receiver of the broadcast service, the method continues in operation S711.

If it is determined in operation S703 that an LMT field exists in the signaling package, the broadcasting service receiver determines, according to the version information included in the LMT field, whether the version of the LMT field has been updated in operation S707 . If it is determined in operation S707 that the version of the LMT field has been updated, the LMT field is interpreted in operation S709.

Through the interpretation of the LMT field in operation S709, information is obtained on the locations of the sub-channel.

In operation S711, the broadcast service receiver determines whether an LIT field exists in the signaling packet. If determined, in the operation

S711, that no LIT field exists in the signaling packet, it is determined whether an LIT field exists in the broadcast service receiver in operation S713. If it is determined in operation S713 that a previous LIT field exists in the receiver of the broadcast service, the method proceeds to operation S719.

If it is determined in operation S711 that the LIT field exists in the signaling package, the receiver of the broadcast service determines, according to version information included in the LIT field, whether the version in the LIT field has been updated, in operation S715. If it is determined in operation S715 that the version of the LIT field has been updated, the LIT field is interpreted in the operation

S717. Through the interpretation of the LIT field in the operation

S717, connection information about each service, that is, information about service configuration, is obtained.

In operation S719, services are obtained from the results of the interpretations of the LMT field and the LIT field, and then processed.

Fig. 7B is a flow chart illustrating a method of interpreting an LMT field and an LIT field, according to another embodiment of the present invention. In fig. 7B, the location of the LMT field and a cycle, in which the LMT field is inserted into a transport frame, vary. Operations in fig. 7B indicated by the same reference numbers as those in fig. 7A are the same operations as those in fig. 7A and thus its detailed descriptions will be omitted.

With reference to fig. 7B, in operation S720, an LMT field is extracted from a transport frame, according to LMT pointing information extracted from a field

Previous LMT. The LMT pointing information points to the location of the next LMT field. Therefore, even when the LMT field is no longer inserted into a predetermined area of ​​the transport frame, the LMT field can be easily extracted from the transport frame.

In operation S703, the broadcast service receiver determines whether an LMT field exists at a location indicated by the LMT pointing information. If it is determined, in operation S703, that an LMT field exists in the location indicated by the LMT pointing information, the method advances to operation S707. On the other hand, if it is determined, in operation S703, that an LMT field does not exist in the location indicated by the LMT pointing information, the method advances to operation S730.

When no LMT field exists at the location indicated by the LMT pointing information, it is the case that the LMT field is omitted and the case that an error is generated in the LMT field.

In operation S730, it is determined, according to LMT number information of identical version included in a previous LMT field, if the previous LMT field is valid. The fact that the previous LMT field is valid means that the previous LMT field can be used continuously. If it is determined, in operation S730, that the previous LMT field is valid, the process proceeds to operation S711.

In the specification, information about the identical version LMT number indicates the LMT field number having an identical version. For example, suppose that the field

Previous LMT is called the first LMT field. Information about the identical version LMT number included in the first LMT field indicates the number of LMTs that have the same version as that of the first LMT field, and must be carried (or received) after the first LMT field. If the identical version LMT number information included in the first LMT field is '3', there are three

LMTs that have the same version as the first LMT field. Therefore, when the identical version LMT number information included in the first field

LMT are equal to or greater than '1', the version of the LMT field included in a current frame is the same as that of the first LMT field, so packages included in the current frame can be processed using the first field

LMT.

Fig. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a structure of a broadcast service transmitter

800, according to an embodiment of the present invention. With reference to fig. 8, the broadcast service transmitting apparatus 800, according to the current mode, includes a broadcast data packaging unit 810, a transport packet generating unit 820, a transport frame generating unit 830, and a transmission unit streaming

840.

The broadcast data packer unit 810 packs at least one type of broadcast data, thereby generating at least one broadcast data packet. Broadcast data includes application data, such as real-time media data (e.g., an A / V stream), IP data, object data, etc., and signaling data, such as specific information about programs (PSI), information about services (SI), and metadata. For example, application data can be packaged according to an MPEG-4 system standard.

The transport packet generating unit 820 generates at least one transport packet to transport at least one broadcast data packet. The transport pack can be the same size as an MPEG-2 transport stream pack. However, according to one embodiment of the present invention, where service access information is included in a predetermined area of ​​a transport frame, the inclusion of a package identifier in a transport package, such as the inclusion of a PID in a MPEG-2 transport stream package, is not required. Likewise, according to another embodiment of the present invention, where service access information is not included in a predetermined area of ​​a transport frame, the inclusion of a package identifier in a transport package is not necessary, because the Service access information includes information about the location of the next service access information.

The transport frame generating unit 830 generates a transport frame having a predetermined size to transmit at least one broadcast service, which is constructed using at least one generated transport packet. As illustrated in fig. 4, the transport frame generating unit 830 forms at least one transport packet on at least one sub-channel, and generates a transport frame including at least one sub-channel,

The transport frame generating unit 830 generates the transport frame, so that service access information to access at least the broadcast service, which is transmitted through the transport frame, is included in the transport frame. In order to perform this function, the transport frame generating unit

830 it may include an 832 service access information generating unit to generate service access information.

As described above, service access information can be transported, being included in a predetermined area of ​​the transport table, e.g. ex. , in a first transport frame package. By setting the location of the service access information, the broadcast service receiver can easily access the service access information included in a transport frame. However, service access information is not necessarily included in the predetermined area of ​​the transportation chart. This is because the next service access information can be easily accessed by using location information about the next service access information included in the current service access information.

Transport frame includes at least one virtual channel, which is differentiated according to the type of data.

Each of at least one virtual channel includes at least one sub-channel. A sub-channel corresponds to each of at least one service component that constitutes a broadcast service within a transport frame.

Service access information includes an LMT that indicates the location of each sub-channel included in the transport frame, and an LIT that indicates information about the configuration of at least one broadcast service, which is transported through the transport frame.

The LMT includes type information indicating the type of data carried through the transport frame, version information indicating the version of the LMT, information about the subdivision channel number indicating the number of subdivision channels corresponding to each type of data, and information channel pointers indicating the location of each of the subdivided channels. The LMT may also include at least a part of the information on the identical version LMT number indicating the number of LMTs having an identical version, LMT pointing information indicating the location of the next LMT, information on the number of additional data indicating the number of parts additional data associated with at least one broadcast service, and additional data pointing information indicating the location of each additional data piece.

The LIT includes information on the number of services, indicating the number of broadcast services transported through the transport table, version information indicating the LIT version, and information about services indicating the configuration of each of these services. Service information includes an index number allocated to the channel pointing information included in the

LMT. If index numbers are sequentially allocated to the channel pointing information, but independently, according to the types of sub-channels indicated by the channel pointing, the service information may include information about type and index numbers, as described above . In this case, the type information indicates which type of channel is associated with a corresponding index number.

The transmission unit 840 sequentially transmits a series of transport frames, which are generated by the transport frame generating unit 830, at intervals of a predetermined period. The 840 transmission unit can generate an ATSC frame, in which at least one transport frame is inserted, and transmit the ATSC frame, according to an ATSC system standard.

Fig. 9 is a flow chart illustrating a broadcast service transmitting method performed on the broadcast service transmitting apparatus 800 of fig. 8, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

With reference to figs. 8 and 9, in operation S910, the broadcast data packaging unit 810 of the broadcast services transmitting apparatus 800 packs at least one type of broadcast data to thereby generate at least one broadcast data packet.

In operation S920, the transport packet generating unit 820 generates at least one transport packet to carry at least one packet of broadcast data.

In operation S930, the transport packet generating unit 830 generates a transport packet having a predetermined size to transmit at least one broadcast service, which is constructed using at least one generated transport packet. In operation S930, the transport frame is generated, so that access information to services to access at least one broadcast service, which is transmitted through the transport frame, is included in the transport frame.

In operation S940, the transmission unit 840 transmits a series of transport frames, which are generated by the transport frame generating unit 830.

The transport frames can be sequentially transmitted at intervals of a predetermined period.

Fig. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a structure of a broadcast service receiver apparatus

1000, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

With reference to fig. 10, the broadcast service receiver 1000, in accordance with the present embodiment, includes

<td>one unit</td><td>receiver</td><td> 1010,</td><td>an</td><td>unity</td><td>processor</td><td>in</td>

<td>pictures of</td><td>transport</td><td> 1020,</td><td>an</td><td>unity</td><td>processor</td><td>in</td>

<td>packages of</td><td>transport</td><td> 1030,</td><td>an</td><td>unity</td><td>processor</td><td>in</td>

1040 broadcast data, and a user input unit

1050.

The receiving unit 1010 receives at least one transport frame having a predetermined size. The receiving unit 1010 can be built in order to receive an ATSC frame and purchase at least one transport frame from the ATSC frame.

The transport frame processing unit

1020 acquires access information to transport board services to access at least one broadcast service.

Then, the transport frame processing unit

1020 it also acquires at least one transport package from the transport frame to carry at least one broadcast data package, through the use of service access information. If service access information is located in a predetermined area of ​​the received transport frame, the transport frame processing unit 1020 acquires service access information from the predetermined area of ​​the received transport frame. On the other hand, if the service access information is not located in the predetermined area of ​​the received transport frame, the supplied factor processing unit 1020 acquires the service access information from the received transport frame, based on the included location information. information on access to previous services. The location information included in the current service access information indicates information about the location of the next service access information.

In particular, the transport frame processing unit 1020 interprets an LMT field and an LIT field, which are the service access information, thus accessing sub-channel for each service.

When one of several services transmitted through the transport frame is selected, the transport frame processing unit 1020 transmits to transport frame processing unit 1030, transport packages included in the sub-channel channels that constitute the selected service.

The operation of selecting a service from among several services transmitted through the transport frame can be performed according to a user input signal received through the user input unit 1050.

When a user selects a service, only the transport packages included in the sub-channel, which constitute the selected service, can be transmitted to the transport package processing unit 1030 and thus processed. Therefore, there is no need to perform a conventional operation of interpreting all PIDs included in the transport packages and filtering only transport packages having a predetermined PID.

The transport package processing unit

1030 processes at least one transport packet received from the transport frame processing unit 1020, thereby acquiring at least one broadcast data packet from at least one transport packet. The transport packet processing unit may further include a header modifying unit (not shown).

When an error exists in the acquired broadcast data packet, the header modifier unit changes the header value of the erroneous broadcast data packet to a predetermined value. On that occasion, the header modifying unit may change the header value of the erroneous broadcast data packet to a header value, which packet headers in general cannot have. For example, the header of the erroneous data packet may include information indicating that the erroneous data packet is not the first packet, and information indicating that decoding information is included in the erroneous data packet. The header described above from the erroneous broadcast data packet is incorrect, because decoding information is supposed to be transmitted through the first packet. In accordance with the present invention, an erroneous packet can be detected without using bits, in contrast to the conventional model, where bits are used to indicate an erroneous packet. Thus, the amount of data transmitted can be reduced.

The broadcast data processing unit 1040 processes at least one broadcast data packet. The 1040 broadcast data processing unit can be implemented as a decoder to process broadcast data encoded according to the MPEG4 system standard.

Fig. 11 is a flow chart illustrating a broadcast service receiver method, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

With reference to fig. 11, in operation S1110, at least one transport frame having a predetermined size is received.

In operation S1120, service access information to access at least one broadcast service is acquired from the transport frame, and at least one transport package to carry at least one broadcast data pack is also acquired from the transport frame, via use of service access information.

In operation S1130, at least one transport packet is processed, so that at least one broadcast data packet is acquired from at least one transport packet.

In operation S1140, at least one broadcast data packet is processed.

The invention can also be realized, such as computer-readable codes on a computer-readable recording medium. Programs, codes and functional code segments for executing the present invention can be easily constructed by programmers skilled in the art, to which the present invention belongs. Computer-readable recording media is any data storage device that can store data, which can then be read by a computer system. Examples of computer-readable recording media include read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), CD-ROMs, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, optical discs, flash memory, and so on. Computer-readable recording media can also be distributed over networked computer systems, so that computer-readable code is stored and executed in a distributed manner.

Although the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to its exemplary modalities, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that various changes in format and details can be made therein, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, as defined in the following claims.