Broadcasting channel handover in mobile communication systems

The present invention relates to a broadcasting terminal, and in particular, when the broadcasting terminal is located in an area where the broadcasting channel moves and changes, the broadcasting channel is handed over without performing a separate channel switching operation. Regarding the device and its method.

Generally, a broadcasting terminal (hereinafter, also referred to as a DMB terminal) has been proposed so as to be able to receive multimedia information and data transmitted from a broadcasting station while moving, and is a DMB (Digital Multimedia Broadcasting). , DVB-H (Digital Video Broadcasting Handheld), Media-Flo (Media-Forward link only), and other broadcasting services that are variously named for each country.

DMB can be used for various multimedia signals such as high-quality audio and high-quality images on broadcasting terminals equipped with DMB receivers (for example, PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), in-vehicle terminals, etc.) even while moving. Is a broadcasting service that provides digital broadcasting data, and can be divided into satellite DMB (Satellite DMB) and terrestrial DMB (Terrestrial DMB) depending on the method of transferring radio waves carrying digital broadcasting data.

Satellite DMB is a method in which a terrestrial repeater receives digital broadcast data transmitted from a satellite and transmits it to a satellite DMB terminal, and provides the same broadcast on a single channel (or frequency). However, since the terrestrial DMB is composed of a plurality of DMB local broadcasting networks and manages a unique channel for each DMB local broadcasting network, the terrestrial DMB is a single channel. It is difficult to build an SFN (Single Frequency Network) that provides the same broadcasting.

Therefore, if the user of the terrestrial DMB terminal moves while watching the broadcast serviced by a specific DMB local broadcasting network, and the DMB local broadcasting network is changed, the changed DMB local broadcasting network is changed. There is a problem that the broadcast that was being watched cannot be continuously watched unless the channel to be serviced is searched and the channel switching operation is performed.

<p> The present invention has been made to solve such a problem of the prior art, and when a broadcasting channel is changed due to the movement of a broadcasting terminal, a device and a method for handing over to the changed broadcasting channel are provided. The purpose is to provide.</p>

<p> In order to achieve the above object, the broadcasting terminal according to the present invention is a service provided by the broadcasting network.<u style="single">、</u>as well as<u style="single">By area, which includes the location information of each area</u>Broadcast channel information<u style="single">Channel information list, consisting of</u>Is a broadcasting terminal that receives<u style="single">Extracted from the channel information list stored in memory</u>Area 1<u style="single">Based on the broadcast channel information of</u>While receiving the broadcast service, move to the service overlapping area between the 1st area and the 2nd area<u style="single">Then, the position information of the base station is received from the base station of the cellular mobile communication network located in the second area.</u>Then, the broadcast channel information of the first area including the plurality of broadcast channels broadcast in the first area and the second broadcast channel including the plurality of broadcast channels broadcast in the second area. Broadcast channel information for 2 areas<u style="single">Extract from the memory</u>When the comparison results do not match, a handover is performed from the broadcast channel receiving in the first area to the broadcast channel in the second area that provides the same broadcast as the broadcast channel.<u style="single">After that, the broadcast channel information of the first area is updated to the broadcast channel information of the second area.</u>It is characterized by doing.</p><p> In order to achieve the above object, the handover method based on the movement of the broadcasting terminal according to the present invention is a service provided by the broadcasting network.<u style="single">、</u>as well as<u style="single">By area, which includes the location information of each area</u>Broadcast channel information<u style="single">Channel information list, consisting of</u>It is a handover method of the broadcasting channel of the broadcasting terminal that receives<u style="single">Extracted from the channel information list stored in memory</u>Area 1<u style="single">Based on the broadcast channel information of</u>While receiving broadcast service<u style="single">、</u>Move to the service overlapping area where the broadcasting service overlaps with the adjacent second area<u style="single">Receives the location information of the base station from the base station of the cellular mobile communication network located in the second area.</u>Process and the above<u style="single">Receive base station location information from base stations in area 2</u>Then, it is configured to include the broadcast channel information of the first area including the plurality of broadcast channels broadcast in the first area and the plurality of broadcast channels broadcast in the second area. Broadcast channel information in the second area<u style="single">Is extracted from the memory</u>If the process of comparing whether or not they match and the comparison result do not match, the broadcast channel of the second area that provides the same broadcast content as the broadcast channel from the broadcast channel being received in the first area. And the process of carrying out the handover <u style="single">After performing the handover, the process of updating the broadcast channel of the first area to the broadcast channel information of the second area, and</u>It is characterized in that it is composed including.</p><p> The present invention can be applied not only to handover between base stations but also to cases where movement occurs between satellites.</p>

<p> The broadcasting channel handover device and method by moving a broadcasting terminal according to the present invention does not require a separate channel search and channel switching even if the channel serviced by the DMB local network changes depending on the area where the user moves. There is an effect that the broadcasting service that the user was watching can be continuously watched.</p><p> In addition, the present invention<u style="single">、</u>Since a separate position tracking device such as GPS (Global Positioning System) is not required, it is possible to obtain an economical effect such as cost reduction.</p><p> Furthermore, the present invention can be applied not only to handover between base stations but also to cases where movement occurs between satellites.</p>

The present invention is realized in a broadcasting terminal. However, the present invention can also be applied to wireless communication systems conforming to other standards.

The DMB terminal according to the present invention is a DMB phone, PDA, notebook computer, etc. equipped with a terrestrial DMB receiver, and it is a basic premise that a bidirectional mobile communication service is provided based on a cellular mobile communication network. And.

The basic concept of the present invention is that even when the user moves to a DMB local network that uses a different frequency channel, the location information of the base station provided by the cellular mobile communication network and the area-specific DMB broadcasting provided by the DMB broadcasting network are used. By handing over to the broadcast channel being viewed using the channel information, unnecessary operations (or operations) such as channel search and channel switching due to frequency fluctuations are eliminated.

Therefore, in order to carry out the present invention, as described above, two pieces of information, "base station position information" and "area-specific DMB broadcasting channel information", are required.

In this case, the broadcasting terminal is obtained from the cellular mobile communication network when moving between the local broadcasting networks of the DMB broadcasting network.<u style="single">base station</u>It is preferable to execute the handover to switch the broadcast channel information based on the position information of.

The location information of the base station includes the longitude value and the latitude value of each base station constituting the cellular mobile communication network, and is transmitted from the system parameter message of the paging channel transferred from the base station. Obtained periodically. In addition, the area-specific DMB broadcast channel information parses MCI (Multiplex Configuration Information) and SI (Service Information) based on the FIC (Fast Information Channel) that controls the DMB broadcast stream (or data). It means information including SID (Service ID) etc. obtained by. Here, MCI includes broadcast channel information and SI includes service-related information.

Area-specific DMB broadcast channel information is included in the channel information list. This channel information list is provided by the DMB broadcasting station at the time of initial driving of the DMB terminal, and is stored in a predetermined memory provided in the DMB terminal.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a broadcast channel handover device of a DMB terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the broadcast channel handover device of the DMB terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention has an input unit 10 into which a command such as channel selection is input and an input command.<u style="single">And the comparison part 50 etc. described later</u>Control<u style="single">To do</u>The control unit 30, the memory 40 that stores various data including the channel information list, the receiver 20 that receives data such as the longitude and latitude of each base station, and to determine the execution of the handover.<u style="single">、</u>Current<u style="single">Area and</u>In the area you are going to move<u style="single">DMB broadcasting channel by area</u>A comparison unit 50 for comparing information and a display unit 60 are included.

Hereinafter, the operation of the broadcast channel handover device according to the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described.

When the location information of the base station transferred from the corresponding base station and the DMB broadcasting channel information for each area transferred from the DMB broadcasting network are received by the receiving unit 20, a channel information list including the DMB broadcasting channel information for each area is displayed. It is saved in memory 40. When the input unit 10 selects the channel to be viewed from the channel information list stored in the memory 40 based on the broadcast channel information of the currently located area (for example, Seoul), the selected channel is selected. It is tuned and the user watches the broadcast displayed on the display unit 60 on the selected channel.

If the DMB terminal moves to another area (for example, Daejeon) while watching the broadcast, the DMB terminal will move to the cellular mobile communication network.<u style="single">Base stations that make up</u>Receives the paging channel provided by and system parameter messages for this paging channel<u style="single">From</u>Receives base station position information including longitude and latitude values.<u style="single">From base stations in other areas to base stations</u>Receive location information<u style="single">This</u>When<u style="single">Is</u>、<u style="single">You have moved to a service overlap area (for example, the area containing cell 3 in Figure 3).</u>The comparison unit 50 is the current position of the DMB terminal under the control of the control unit 30 (for example, the position in the first cell in FIG. 3).<u style="single">Being in</u>) Is calculated to determine the position in the DMB local network.<u style="single">Can be decided.</u>

<u style="single">DMB terminal</u>Is a service duplication<u style="single">area</u>To<u style="single">Move and receive base station location information from base stations in other areas</u>Then, the control unit 30 overlaps with the area (for example, Seoul) currently receiving the broadcast from the channel information list stored in the memory 40.<u style="single">other</u>The broadcast channel information of the area (for example, Daejeon) is extracted and transferred to the comparison unit 50, and the comparison unit 50 matches the broadcast channel information of the area currently receiving the broadcast with the broadcast channel information of the moved area. Whether or not to perform the handover is compared, and the execution of the handover is determined based on the comparison result.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a channel information list according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, the channel information list according to the embodiment of the present invention is composed of DMB broadcast channel information for each area. In addition, the DMB broadcasting channel information for each area includes location information (corresponding to the PosInfo field), frequency information (corresponding to the FreqNo field), ensemble channel information (corresponding to the EID (Ensemble ID) field), and broadcasting service information (SID (Service). ID) field corresponds to) etc. Here, the ensemble channel means a set of a plurality of DMB broadcasting channels provided by one DMB broadcasting service provider, and the ensemble channel information (EID) includes information related thereto. Other fields are omitted for the sake of brevity.

As shown in Fig. 4, when the DMB local network is Seoul, the assigned frequency is 12, and this frequency 12 is an ensemble channel of multiple DMB broadcasting service providers (for example, KBS, MBC, SBS, etc.). (For example, 12A-KBS, 12B-MBC, 12C-SBS, etc.) are included in the EID. When the DMB local network is Daejeon, the assigned frequency is 8, and this frequency 8 includes ensemble channels such as 8B-KBS, 8A-MBC, and 8C-SBS in the EID.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a broadcasting channel handover method by moving a broadcasting terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram thereof.

Hereinafter, the broadcast channel handover method of the DMB terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4.

The user sets the DMB terminal to TV mode to receive the DMB broadcast (S10), and uses the broadcast channel information of the area (for example, Seoul) currently located from the channel information list stored in the memory. , Select the specific channel you want to watch (eg, CH9 of ensemble channel 12A-KBS). Then, the DMB terminal tunes to the selected specific channel, and the user watches the broadcast of the selected specific channel (S20, S30). As shown in Fig. 2, while watching the broadcast of the specific channel selected by the user (CH9 of ensemble channel 12A-KBS), the area from the current location (Seoul) to the area of the other DMB local network (Daejeon) )<u style="single">Service overlap area between DMB local networks moving towards</u>When you move to, first, the user's DMB terminal<u style="single">Receives the location information of the base station from the base station located in the area (Daejeon) of another DMB local network.</u>(S40).

To explain the process S40 in more detail, the DMB terminal receives the paging channel provided by the cellular mobile communication network (S41), and from the system parameter message of the paging channel, the base including the longitude value and the latitude value of each base station. Acquire station location information (S42). Next, using the acquired position information of the base station, the current position of the DMB terminal (position in the first cell in FIG. 3).<u style="single">Being in</u>) Is calculated (S43) to determine the position of the DMB terminal in the DMB local network.<u style="single">Decision</u>To do. Also, move while watching a specific channel selected by the user (CH9 of ensemble channel 12A-KBS).<u style="single">Search for whether or not</u>(S44).<u style="single">If it is determined that you are moving while watching, based on the acquired location information of the base station,</u>Service overlap area between DMB local networks (for example, between Seoul's DMB local network in Fig. 2 and Daejeon's DMB local network) (for example, cell 3 in Fig. 3)<u style="single">Area including</u>) To<u style="single">moved</u>Whether or not<u style="single">Decision</u>(S45).

Process S4<u style="single">5</u>so,<u style="single">If the acquired base station location information is the base station location information acquired from a base station located in another DMB local network area (Daejeon),</u>The user's DMB terminal is in the service overlapping area between the DMB local networks.<u style="single">Decided to move</u>, DMB terminal extracts the corresponding broadcast channel information of the area (Daejeon) that overlaps with the area currently receiving the broadcast (Seoul) from the channel information list stored in the memory (S51), and broadcasts the current broadcast. Compare whether or not the broadcast channel information of the receiving area (Seoul) and the broadcast channel information of the moved area (Daejeon) match (S52). A series of processes S51 and S52 mean a process of determining whether to hand over the broadcast channel of the DMB terminal (S50).

According to the process S50, as shown in FIG. 3, it can be seen that the extracted broadcast channel information of the destination area (Daejeon) and the broadcast channel information of the area currently receiving the broadcast (Seoul) are different. That is, when comparing the fields of broadcasting channel information corresponding to each other in each area, the local information (Seoul / Daejeon), the frequency information (Seoul: 12 / Daejeon: 8), and the broadcasting service providers based on the local information (Seoul / Daejeon) Since the information such as ensemble channel information (Seoul: 12A-KBS / Daejeon: 8B-KBS) and broadcasting service information are all different, the broadcast (ensemble) that the user was watching in the area (Seoul) where the broadcast is currently being received. In order to continuously watch CH9) of channel 12A-KBS, broadcasting channel handover is required.

Therefore, the DMB terminal<u style="single">、</u>Broadcast that was being watched in the area (Seoul) where the broadcast is currently being received<u style="single">channel</u>(Ensemble Channel 12A-KBS CH9)<u style="single">From this</u>Same broadcast as<u style="single">Broadcast channel in the destination area (Ota)</u>(Ensemble channel 8B-KBS CH9)<u style="single">To</u>Handover and update the channel information list to the broadcast channel information of the moved area (Daejeon) (S60).

To explain the process S60 in more detail, first, the broadcast channel information (for example, EID and SID1) corresponding to the area (Seoul) currently receiving the broadcast is stored in a predetermined memory provided in the DMB terminal for backup. Save to (S61). Next, move to service the same broadcast from the broadcast channel (Ensemble channel 12A-KBS CH9) that was being watched in the area (Seoul) where the broadcast is currently being received.<u style="single">Previous</u>Switch to the regional (Daejeon) broadcast channel (Ensemble channel 8B-KBS CH9) (switch from frequency 12 to frequency 8), hand over the broadcast channel (S62), and then the broadcast channel information saved in process S61. Instead of, the broadcast information is updated by setting the broadcast channel information (for example, EID and SID2) of the changed area (Daejeon) (S63).

In this way, by handing over the broadcast channel of the broadcast that the user was watching, the user can perform a separate channel search and channel operation even if the broadcast channel information is changed by moving the area. You can continue to watch the same channel (CH9) of the broadcasting station (KBS) you were watching (S70).

As described above, the handover of the broadcasting channel of the DMB terminal according to the present invention is carried out when the broadcasting channel information of the moved area and the broadcasting channel information of the area currently receiving the broadcasting service are different. Is. Therefore, if the broadcast channel information in the area where the DMB terminal has moved matches the broadcast channel information in the area where the DMB terminal is currently receiving the broadcast service, it is not necessary to perform the handover of the broadcast channel.

<figref num="1">It is a block diagram which shows the broadcasting channel handover apparatus of the broadcasting terminal by one Embodiment of this invention.</figref><figref num="2">It is a flowchart which shows the broadcasting channel handover method by one Embodiment of this invention.</figref><figref num="3">It is a conceptual diagram which shows the broadcasting channel handover method by moving the broadcasting terminal according to one Embodiment of this invention.</figref><figref num="4">It is a figure which shows the channel information list by one Embodiment of this invention.</figref>

Code description

10 Input section 20 Receiver 30 Control unit 40 memory 50 Comparison section 60 Display