Title of Invention	A SYSTEM FOR FORMING AND PROCESSING PROGRAM SPECIFI INFORMATION SUITABLE FOR TERRESTRIAL CABLE OR SATELLITE BROADCAST.
Abstract	THE INVENTION RELATES TO A METHOD FOR DECODING PACKETIZED PROGRAM INFORMATION TO PROVIDE DATA CONTENT OF A PROGRAM, COMPRISING THE STEPS OF : IDENTIFYING (60) CHANNEL MAP INFORMATION IN SAID PACKETIZED PROGRAM INFORMATION, SAID CHANNEL MAP INFORMATION COMPRISING: A FIRST IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (300) FOR USE IN IDENTIFYING A FIRST BROADCAST SUB-CHANNEL, SAID FIRST IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (305) FOR USE IN IDENTIFYING SAID FIRST BROADCAST SUB-CHABBELS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID FIRST IDENTIFICATION NUMBER AND SAID FIRST BROADCASR SOURCE; AND ASSEMBLING (60) SAID IDENTIFIED INFORMATION TO FORM A CHANNEL MAP SUITABLE FOR USE IN IDENTIFYING DATA USING SAID FIRST AND SECOND INDETIFICATION NUMBERS IN CONJUNCTION, SAID IDENTIFIED DATA CONSSTITUTING A PROGRAM TRANSMITTED ON SAID FIRST BROADCAST SUB-CHANNEL.

Title of Invention

A SYSTEM FOR FORMING AND PROCESSING PROGRAM SPECIFI INFORMATION SUITABLE FOR TERRESTRIAL CABLE OR SATELLITE BROADCAST.

Abstract

THE INVENTION RELATES TO A METHOD FOR DECODING PACKETIZED PROGRAM INFORMATION TO PROVIDE DATA CONTENT OF A PROGRAM, COMPRISING THE STEPS OF : IDENTIFYING (60) CHANNEL MAP INFORMATION IN SAID PACKETIZED PROGRAM INFORMATION, SAID CHANNEL MAP INFORMATION COMPRISING: A FIRST IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (300) FOR USE IN IDENTIFYING A FIRST BROADCAST SUB-CHANNEL, SAID FIRST IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (305) FOR USE IN IDENTIFYING SAID FIRST BROADCAST SUB-CHABBELS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID FIRST IDENTIFICATION NUMBER AND SAID FIRST BROADCASR SOURCE; AND ASSEMBLING (60) SAID IDENTIFIED INFORMATION TO FORM A CHANNEL MAP SUITABLE FOR USE IN IDENTIFYING DATA USING SAID FIRST AND SECOND INDETIFICATION NUMBERS IN CONJUNCTION, SAID IDENTIFIED DATA CONSSTITUTING A PROGRAM TRANSMITTED ON SAID FIRST BROADCAST SUB-CHANNEL.

Full Text	CROSS REFERENCE This applcation constitutes a Divisional Application divided out of Indian Application No.1178/CAL/98. This invention is related to the formation of Program Guides, system information and program specific information for MPEG compatible processing. In video broadcast and processing applications, digital video data is typically encoded to conform to the requirements of a known standard. One such widely adopted standard is the MPEG2 (Moving Pictures Expert Sroup) image encoding standard, hereinafter referred to as the "MPEQ standard". The MPE0 standard is comprised of a system encoding section (ISO/IEC 13618-1, 10th June 1994) and a video encoding section (ISO/IEC 13818-2), 20th January 1995). Data encoded to the MPE8 standard is in the form of a packetized datastream which typically includes the data content of many program channels (e.g. content corresponding to cable television 1-125). Further, several digital services and channels may occupy the frequency spectrum previously occupied by a single analog channel. A 6 MHz bandwith previously allocated to an analog NTSC compatible broadcast channel may now be split into a number of digital sub-channels offering a variety of services. For example, the broadcast spectrum far RF channel 13 may be allocated to sub-channels including a main program channel, a final service channel offering stock quotes, a sports news service channel and a shopping and interactive channel. In addition, both the quantity of sub-channels transmitted and the individual sub-channel bandwith may be changed dynamically to accommodate changing broadcast programming requirements. In such a digital video system the proliferation in the quantity of services being broadcast and the increased variety of their content, as well as the ability of a broadcaster to dynamically vary the number and allocated bandwith of these channels poses a number of problems. Specifically, the increase in the quantity of broadcast channels may increase the difficulty of................ tuning and lengthen the time required to acquire a selected program channel. Further, as the quantity of channels increases so does the quantity of ancillary program specific information required in decoding the transmitted program data. The ancillary program specific information includes data used in identifying and assembling packets comprising selected programs and also includes program guide and text information associated with the transmitted program data. The increased quantity and variety of ancillary information transmitted places an additional burden on available transmission bandwidth and receiver decoding and storage resources. In addition, channel numbering in such a digital video system may present a problem. This is because a broadcaster may not want to lose an original analog NTSC broadcast channel number even though the broadcaster is transmitting several program channels in the frequency spectrum previously occupied by the single analog program channel. The broadcaster may have a significant investment in the channel number as a brand identity e.g. Fox 5™, Channel 13™. These problems and derivative problems are addressed by a system according to the present invention. In a digital video system, individual program channels are allocated first and second identification numbers. The first identification number (a major number) is associated with an information provider. The second identification number (a minor number), is used in identifying a broadcast sub-channel from among a group of sub-channels associated with the first identification number. The first and second identification numbers in conjunction, are used in identifying data constituting a program transmitted on the broadcast sub-channel. Brief Description of the Drawings In the drawing: Figure 1 is a block diagram of digital video receiving apparatus for demodulating and decoding broadcast signals, according to the principles of the invention. Figure 2 shows a Master Guide Table (MGT) format for use in conveying program specific information, according to the invention. Figure 3 shows a Channel Information Table (CIT) format for use in conveying program specific information incorporating dual program channel identification numbers, according to the invention. Figure 4 shows a Service Location Descriptor (SLD) format for use in conveying program specific information incorporating program map information, according to the invention. Figure 5 shows a program specific information text format for use in conveying program related text information, according to the invention. Figure 6 shows a scheme for assigning a text message identifier as used in the text format of Figure 5. Figure 7 shows a multiple compressed text string format for use in conveying program related text information, according to the invention. Figures 8 and 9 show exemplary indicator definitions for compression and coding indicators within the multiple compressed text string format of Figure 7. Figure 10 shows a method for generating program specific information according to the invention. Figure 1 is a block diagram of a digital video receiving system for demodulating and decoding broadcast signals, according to the principles of the invention. Although the disclosed system is described in the context of a system for receiving video signals incorporating program specific information including program guide data in MPEG compatible format, it is exemplary only. The program specific information may be of a variety of types. For example, it may comply with Program Specific Information (PSI) requirements specified in section 2.4.4 of the MPEG systems standard or it may comply with the high definition television (HDTV) signal standard Digital Television Standard for HDTV Transmission of April 12 1995, prepared by the United States Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) or other ATSC standards. Alternatively, it may be formed in accordance with proprietary or custom requirements of a particular system. The principles of the invention may be applied to terrestrial, cable, satellite, Internet or computer network broadcast systems in which the coding type or modulation format may be varied. Such systems may include, for example, non-MPEG compatible systems, involving other types of encoded datastreams and other methods of conveying program specific information. Further, although the disclosed system is described as processing broadcast programs, this is exemplary only. The term "program" is used to represent any form of packetized data such as audio data, telephone messages, computer programs, Internet data or other communications, for example. In overview, in the video receiver system of Figure 1, a broadcast carrier modulated with signals carrying audio, video and associated data representing broadcast program content is received by antenna 10 and processed by unit 13. The resultant digital output signal is demodulated by demodulator 15. The demodulated output from unit 15 is trellis decoded, mapped into byte length data segments, deinterleaved and Reed-Solomon error corrected by decoder 17. The corrected output data from unit 1 7 is in the form of an MPEG compatible transport datastream containing program representative multiplexed audio, video and data components. The transport stream from unit 17 is demultiplexed into audio, video and data components by unit 2 2 which are further processed by the other elements of decoder system 100. In one mode, decoder 100 provides MPEG decoded data for display and audio reproduction on units 50 and 5 5 respectively. In another mode, the transport stream from unit 1 7 is processed by decoder 100 to provide an MPEG compatible datastream for storage on storage medium 105 via storage device 90. A user selects for viewing either a TV channel or an on-screen menu, such as a program guide, by using a remote control unit 70. Processor 60 uses the selection information provided from remote control unit 70 via interface 65 to appropriately configure the elements of Figure 1 to receive a desired program channel for viewing. Processor 60 comprises processor 62 and controller 64. Unit 62 processes (i.e. parses, collates and assembles) program specific information including program guide and system information and controller 6 4 performs the remaining control functions required in operating decoder 100. Although the functions of unit 60 may be implemented as separate elements 62 and 64 as depicted in Figure 1, they may alternatively be implemented within a single processor. For example, the functions of units 62 and 64 may b e incorporated within the programmed instructions of a microprocessor. Processor 60 configures processor 13, demodulator 15, decoder 17 and decoder system 100 to demodulate and decode the input signal format and coding type. Units 13, 15, 17 and sub-units within decoder 100 are individually configured for the input signal type by processor 6 0 setting control register values within these elements using a bidirectional data and control signal bus C. The transport stream provided to decoder 100 comprises data packets containing program channel data and program specific information. Unit 22 directs the program specific information packets to processor 60 which parses, collates and assembles this information into hierarchically arranged tables. Individual data packets comprising the User selected program channel are identified and assembled using the assembled program specific information. The program specific information contains conditional access, network information and identification and linking data enabling the system of Figure 1 to tune to a desired channel and assemble data packets to form complete programs. The program specific information also contains ancillary program guide information (e.g. an Electronic Program Guide - EPG) and descriptive text related to the broadcast programs as well as data supporting the identification and assembly of this ancillary information. The program specific information is assembled b y processor 60 into multiple hierarchically arranged and inter- linked tables. An exemplary hierarchical table arrangement includes a Master Guide Table (MGT), a Channel Information Table (CIT), Event Information Tables (EITs) and optional tables such as Extended Text Tables (ETTs). The MGT contains information for acquiring program specific information conveyed in other tables such as identifiers for identifying data packets associated with the other tables. The CIT contains information for tuning and navigation to receive a User selected program channel. The EIT contains descriptive lists of programs (events) receivable on the channels listed in the CIT. The ETT contains text messages describing programs and program channels. Additional program specific information describing and supplementing items within the hierarchical tables is conveyed within descriptor information elements. The program specific information acquired by processor 60 via unit 22 is stored within internal memory of unit 60. Considering Figure 1 in detail, a carrier modulated with signals carrying program representative audio, video and associated data received by antenna 10, is converted to digital form and processed by input processor 13. Processor 13 includes radio frequency (RF) tuner and intermediate frequency (IF) mixer and amplification stages for down-converting the input signal to a lower frequency band suitable for further processing. In this exemplary system, the input signal received by antenna 1 0 contains 33 Physical Transmission Channels (PTCs 0-32). Each Physical Transmission Channel (PTC) is allocated a 6 MHz bandwidth and contains, for example, up to 6 sub-channels. It is assumed for exemplary purposes that a video receiver user selects a sub-channel (SC) for viewing using remote control unit 70. Processor 60 uses the selection information provided from remote control unit 70 via interface 65 to appropriately configure the elements of decoder 100 to receive the PTC corresponding to the selected sub-channel SC. Following down conversion, the output signal from unit 13 for the selected PTC has a bandwidth of 6 MHz and a center frequency in the range of 119-405 MHz. In the following discussion, an RF channel or Physical Transmission Channel (PTC) refers to an allocated broadcaster transmission channel band which encompasses one or more sub-channels (also termed virtual or logical channels). Processor 60 configures the radio frequency (RF) tuner and intermediate frequency (IF) mixer and amplification stages of unit 13 to receive the selected PTC. The down-converted frequency output for the selected PTC is demodulated by unit 15. The primary functions of demodulator 15 are recovery and tracking of the carrier frequency, recovery of the transmitted data clock frequency, and recovery of the video data itself. Unit 15 also recovers sampling and synchronization clocks that correspond to transmitter clocks and are used for timing the operation of processor 13, demodulator 15 and decoder 17. The recovered output from unit 15 is provided to decoder 17. The output from demodulator 15 is mapped into byte length data segments, deinterleaved and Reed-Solomon error corrected according to known principles by unit 17. In addition, unit 17 provides a Forward Error Correction (FEC) validity or lock indication to processor 60. Reed-Solomon error correction is a known type of Forward Error Correction. The FEC lock indication signals that the Reed-Solomon error correction is synchronized to the data being corrected and is providing a valid output. It is to be noted that the demodulator and decoder functions implemented by units 13, 15 and 17 are individually known and generally described, for example, in the reference text Digital Communication, Lee and Messerschmidt (Kluwer Academic Press, Boston, MA, USA, 1988). The corrected output data from unit 17 is processed by MPEG compatible transport processor and demultiplexer 22. The individual packets that comprise either particular program channel content, or program specific information, are identified b y their Packet Identifiers (PIDs). Processor 22 separates data according to type based on an analysis of Packet Identifiers (PIDs) contained within packet header information and provides synchronization and error indication information used in subsequent video, audio and data decompression. The corrected output data provided to processor 22 is in the form of a transport datastream containing program channel content and program specific information for many programs distributed through several sub-channels. The program specific information in this exemplary description describes sub-channels present in a transport stream of a particular PTC. However, in another embodiment the program specific information may also describe sub-channels located in other PTCs and conveyed in different transport streams. Groups of these sub-channels may be associated in that their source is a particular broadcaster or they occupy the transmission bandwidth previously allocated to an analog NTSC compatible broadcast channel. Further, individual packets that comprise a selected program channel in the transport stream are identified and assembled by processor 60 operating in conjunction with processor 22 using PIDs contained in the program specific information. The program specific information is in the form of hierarchically arranged tables including an MGT, CIT, EIT, and ETT together with supplementary descriptor information. The PID that identifies packets comprising the MGT data is predetermined and stored within processor 60 internal memory. Further, the MGT conveys the PIDs that identify the CIT, EIT, and ETT data and conveys other information indicating the size of these tables. Processor 60 monitors the MGT for updates to identify any changes in PIDs or table sizes. Therefore, after processor 6 0 determines from the FEC lock indication provided by unit 17 that valid data is being provided to transport processor 22, the MGT may be acquired without additional PID information. Using Control signal C, processor 60 configures transport processor 22 to select the data packets comprising the remaining program specific information including the CIT, EIT and ETT data. Processor 2 2 matches the PIDs of incoming packets provided by unit 17 with PID values pre-loaded in control registers within unit 22 by processor 60. Further, processor 60 accesses, parses and assembles the program specific information packets captured b y processor 22 and stores the program specific information within its internal memory. Processor 60 derives tuning parameters including PTC carrier frequency, demodulation characteristics, and sub-channel PIDs, from the acquired program specific information. Processor 60 uses this information in configuring units 13, 15, 1 7 and decoder 100 elements to acquire selected sub-channel (SC) program content. The program specific information including MGT, CIT, EIT, and ETT data and associated descriptors acquired and collated by processor 60 incorporates advantageous features exemplified in the data formats presented in Figures 2-9. These features facilitate the identification, acquisition, assembly and decoding of program channel content and associated program guide data b y decoder 100 (Figure 1). Processor 60 forms a MGT as exemplified by the data format of Figure 2 by accessing and assembling the program specific information packets that are stored in the unit 60 internal memory. The MGT contains data identifiers e.g. PID_ETT 205 and PID_PG 210 (Figure 2) enabling the assembly of the CIT, EIT and ETT tables. Processor 60 uses the MGT data identifiers to access and assemble the program specific information packets to form the CIT, EIT, and ETT data and associated descriptors. Processor 60 uses the acquired CIT channel map information, as exemplified in Figure 3, to identify the packets comprising the sub-channel SC that the User selected to view. A user selects sub-channel SC for viewing by entering two program channel numbers via remote control unit 70 and interface 65. Individual program channels are advantageously allocated both a first and a second identification number. The first identification number (a major number as indicated by bundle_number 300 in Figure 3) identifies the broadcast source and broadcaster channel brand number e.g. Fox 5™, Channel 13™. The first identification number indicates a broadcast source of a program or service and may be independent of the RF channel on which the program is broadcast. However, in other embodiments the first identification number may be associated with a broadcast RF channel or be associated with other program characteristics such as a program category or theme e.g. movies. The second identification number (a minor number as indicated by channel_number_in_bundle 305 in Figure 3) identifies a sub-channel corresponding to a specific service within a group of services provided by a broadcaster. The first and second identification numbers in conjunction identify a particular service as a sub-channel provided by a specific broadcaster. Although, the selected sub-channel SC may occupy an RF bandwidth within an encompassing channel spectrum associated with the broadcast source, neither the first or second identification numbers are associated with such a spectrum. However, this association may be made in an alternative embodiment. This dual numbering system enables a broadcaster to retain channel brand identity across a range of dynamically allocable broadcast sub-channels. The dual program channel identification numbers used to select sub-channel SC may be entered by the user in a variety of ways. These may include using remote unit 70 to select sub- channel SC from within a hierarchical menu system displaying program channel selections in a program guide or by simple sequential number entry via the unit 70 keypad, for example. The channel selection system may also encompass the use of a different data entry device such as a keyboard or discrete switches, for example. Further, the data entry system also accommodates the entry of a single channel identification number as well as dual identification numbers. Upon detecting a channel selection completion command, processor 60 converts a single channel identification number entry into dual identification numbers. Processor 60 converts the single channel identification number to dual channel identification numbers in accordance with a predetermined conversion map. This conversion may also be performed using a predetermined and stored algorithm or formula. The derived dual identification numbers are used b y processor 60 for packet identification, tuning and for identifying other decoder information in the manner previously described as if both numbers had been entered by a user. Processor 60 uses the received program channel identification numbers 300 and 305 provided from remote control unit 70 via interface 65 to determine the PTC corresponding to the selected sub-channel SC from the CIT. Once the PTC number (item 315 in Figure 3) is determined, processor 60 (Figure 1) configures units 13, 15, and 17 to receive the PTC for the selected sub- channel SC. The unique program sub-channel determined from the program channel identification numbers 300 and 305 may alternatively be termed a service or a virtual channel or a logical channel and the CIT may be deemed a virtual channel table. Further, as well as associating a particular PTC with first and second sub-channel identification numbers 300 and 305 of selected sub-channel SC, the CIT also associates other parameters with SC. These parameters include (a) a channeled 320 for linking the selected sub-channel SC with program content information conveyed in the EITs, (b) a channel_type indicator 325 identifying whether the sub-channel data is, analog e.g. NTSC, digital video e.g. ATSC video or digital audio e.g. ATSC audio, (c) an ETM_flag 330 indicating whether a text message is available for this sub- channel, (d) a channel name 340 and (e) a descriptor 335 e.g. a Service Location Descriptor as described later. Processor 60 advantageously determines program map information for the selected sub-channel SC from Service Location Descriptor (SLD) conveyed within the CIT. The SLD program map information is exemplified by the data format of Figure 4. The SLD associates the selected sub-channel SC with packet identifiers, e.g. item 420, used to identify individual packetized datastreams that constitute the components of a program being transmitted on selected sub-channel SC. In addition, the SLD program map information, in conjunction with the CIT, maps the selected sub- channel SC to a program number 405, a PCR (Program Clock Reference) identifier 410, a language code indicator 425, and a stream type identifier 415 identifying a stream as video, audio, control, auxiliary or private information, for example. The SLD program map information replicates information already present within the Program Map Table (PMT) segment of the MPEG compatible transport stream input to decoder 100. However, by incorporating the SLD within the CIT, the time required by decoder 100 to identify and acquire a program being transmitted on selected sub-channel SC is advantageously reduced. This is because the CIT and SLD provide formatted and linked information sufficient to enable processor 60 to directly configure and tune the system of Figure 1 to receive the selected sub-channel SC. Specifically, the CIT and SLD directly associate individual first and second sub-channel identification numbers with the PIDs for identifying the datastreams that constitute a program being conveyed on this sub-channel. This enables processor 60 to configure the system of Figure 1 to receive the selected sub-channel SC without acquiring and using the Program Map Table (PMT) information in the MPEG compatible transport stream input to decoder 100. In addition, the data partitioning, data formatting and data repetition frequency characteristics of the CIT and SLD program map information may be determined independently of the requirements of MPEG PMT information. The packetized decoded transport stream input to decoder 100 from unit 17 contains video, audio and data representing TV programs, for example, and also contains sub- picture data. The sub-picture data contains picture elements associated with programs and channels selectable by a user for viewing including program guides, display commands, subtitling, selectable menu options or other items, for example. As such, the sub-picture data includes the EIT containing descriptive lists of programs (events) receivable on the sub-channels listed in the CIT and also contains the ETT containing text messages describing programs and program sub-channels. Processor 60 determines from the CIT and SLD the PIDs of the video, audio and sub-picture streams constituting the program being transmitted on selected sub-channel SC. Processor 22, matches the PIDs of incoming packets provided by decoder 1 7 with PID values of the video, audio and sub-picture streams being transmitted on sub-channel SC. These PID values are pre-loaded in control registers within unit 22 by processor 60. In this manner, processor 22 captures packets constituting the program transmitted on sub-channel SC and forms them into MPEG compatible video, audio and sub-picture streams for output to video decoder 25, audio decoder 35 and sub-picture processor 3 0 respectively. The video and audio streams contain compressed video and audio data representing the selected sub-channel SC program content. The sub-picture data contains the EIT and ETT information associated with the sub-channel SC program content. Decoder . 25 decodes and decompresses the MPEG compatible packetized video data from unit 22 and provides decompressed program representative pixel data to NTSC encoder 45 via multiplexer 40. Similarly, audio processor 35 decodes the packetized audio data from unit 22 and provides decoded and amplified audio data, synchronized with the associated decompressed video data, to device 55 for audio reproduction. Processor 30 decodes and decompresses sub-picture data received from unit 22. The sub-picture data decoded by processor 3 0 includes text messages (Extended Text Messages - ETMs) in an ETT in the exemplary data format presented in Figure 5. The text messages conveyed in the ETT of Figure 5 are advantageously partitioned into time periods of specified duration. The segmented text messages describe programs occurring in a period of specified duration and start time e.g. 3 hour blocks starting from 12 a.m., 3 p.m., 6 p.m.... etc. Indicators defining the duration and start time applicable to the conveyed text messages are included in the MGT of Figure 2 (duration item 215 and application_time item 220 of Figure 2 respectively). A text message (e.g. extended_text_message 505) is conveyed together with a text message identifier (ETM_id 510) in the format of Figure 5. Decoder 100 (Figure 1) is able to more efficiently acquire, process and store program descriptive text messages that are partitioned into time periods of specified duration than is possible in the absence of such segmentation. This is because segmented text messages exclude information occurring outside the specified time period and consequently are smaller than non- segmented text messages. Therefore, segmented text message data occupies less storage space and can be acquired and processed more quickly than larger data blocks of non-segmented data. Further, the data format of Figure 5 allows a user to acquire text message data for a selected sub-channel SC or a group of selected program sub-channels. This allows the identification, acquisition and decoding of text message data by decoder 100 to be focused on the programs and sub-channels of interest to a user and reduces the acquisition of redundant text message information. A text message conveyed in an ETT may contain channel information or program (event) information. Figure 6 shows an exemplary format for assigning a text message identifier ETM_id 510 of Figure 5 that identifies the type of text message e.g. whether the text message contains channel information (item 610 of Figure 6) or program information (item 605 of Figure 6). The text message identifier 510 (Figure 5) also identifies the source e.g. sub-channel to which the text message pertains. A text message 505 conveyed in the ETT of Figure 5 is compressed and formatted according to the multiple compressed text string format of Figure 7. The compressed text string format advantageously incorporates indicators facilitating the identification and decoding of multiple compressed text strings b y processor 30 in decoder 100 of Figure 1. Processor 30 decodes text string 505 (Figure 5) received from unit 22 (Figure 1) by determining the compression, coding and language characteristics of the text string from indicators 705, 710 and 715 (Figure 7) respectively. Specifically, processor 30, operating in conjunction with processor 60, decompresses received text string 505 b y applying a decompression function e.g. a Huffman decompression function, selected using indicator 705. Similarly, processor 30, decodes the received text string by applying a decoding function interpreting text characters according to a character code set selected using indicator 710 and a language code set selected using indicator 715. Further, processor 30 determines the number of text strings to be processed and the number of bytes in each text string from indicators 725 and 720 respectively. Figure 8 shows an exemplary indicator definition for compression indicator 705 within the multiple compressed text string format of Figure 7. It is to be noted that compression indicator 705 may indicate that no compression function is employed within a text string. In this case, processor 30 does not apply a decompression function to the text string received from unit 22. Figure 9 shows an exemplary indicator definition for coding indicator 710 within the multiple compressed text string format of Figure 7. Processor 30 assembles and formats the decoded and decompressed text string elements of text string 505 (Figure 5) to form a decoded text string for output to On-Screen Display (OSD) and graphics generator 37 (Figure 1). Unit 37 interprets and formats the text string character data from unit 30 and generates formatted pixel mapped text and graphics for presentation on unit 50. The formatted pixel mapped text and graphics data may represent a program guide or other type of menu or user interface for subsequent display on unit 50. Unit 37 also processes EIT, ETT and other information to generate pixel mapped data representing, subtitling, control and information menu displays including selectable menu options, and other items, for presentation on unit 50. The control and information displays enable function selection and entry of device operating parameters for User operation of decoder 100. The text and graphics produced by OSD generator 3 7 are generated in the form of overlay pixel map data under direction of processor 60. The overlay pixel map data from unit 37 is combined and synchronized with the decompressed pixel representative data from MPEG decoder 25 in encoder 45 via multiplexer 40 under direction of processor 60. Combined pixel map data representing a video program on sub-channel SC together with associated sub-picture text message data is encoded by NTSC encoder 45 and output to device 50 for display. In a storage mode of the system of Figure 1, the corrected output data from unit 17 is processed by decoder 100 to provide an MPEG compatible datastream for storage. In this mode, a program is selected for storage by a user via remote unit 70 and interface 65. Processor 22, in conjunction with processor 60 forms condensed program specific information including MGT, CIT, EIT and ETT data and descriptors containing the advantageous features previously described. The condensed program specific information supports decoding of the program selected for storage but excludes unrelated information. Processor 60, in conjunction with processor 22 forms a composite MPEG compatible datastream containing packetized content data of the selected program and associated condensed program specific information. The composite datastream is output to storage interface 95. Storage interface 95 buffers the composite datastream to reduce gaps and bit rate variation in the data. The resultant buffered data is processed by storage device 90 to be suitable for storage on medium 105. Storage device 90 encodes the buffered datastream from interface 95 using known error encoding techniques such as channel coding, interleaving and Reed Solomon encoding to produce an encoded datastream suitable for storage. Unit 90 stores the resultant encoded datastream incorporating the condensed program specific information on medium 105. Figure 10 shows a method for generating program specific information including MGT, CIT, EIT and ETT data and descriptors containing the advantageous features previously described. The method may be employed at an encoder for broadcasting video data such as the data received by antenna 1 0 of Figure 1 or the method may be employed within a decoder unit such as within processor 60 of Figure 1. Following the start at step 800 of Figure 10, a CIT is generated in step 810. The CIT contains sub-channel and program identification information enabling acquisition of available broadcast programs and sub-channels. The CIT incorporates first and second sub-channel identification numbers and an SLD containing packet identifiers for identifying individual packetized datastreams that constitute individual programs to be transmitted on particular sub-channels. The generated CIT also incorporates items linked to listed program sub-channels including a program number, a PCR (Program Clock Reference) identifier, a language code indicator, and a stream type identifier, as previously described in connection with Figure 1. In step 815, an EIT is generated containing program guide information including descriptive lists of programs (events) receivable on the sub-channels listed in the CIT. In step 820, an ETT is generated containing text messages describing programs, for example. Each text message is partitioned into time periods of specified duration. The duration and application time of the segmented text message data is also defined by indicators in the ETT itself. The text message data is encoded and compressed according to known techniques and conveyed in the ETT along with indicators defining the compression, coding and language characteristics employed. The ETT is also generated to include indicators defining the number of text strings to be processed and the number of bytes in each text string. In step 822 an MGT is generated containing data identifiers enabling the identification and assembly of CIT, EIT and ETT information. The MGT also conveys table size information for the previously generated CIT, EIT and ETT. In step 825, program specific information is formed including the MGT, CIT, EIT and ETT data and descriptors generated in steps 805-822. In step 830, the program specific information together with video and audio program representative components for multiple sub-channels is formatted into a transport stream for output. In step 835, the output transport stream is further processed to be suitable for transmission to another device such as a receiver, video server, or storage device for recording on a storage medium, for example. The processes performed in step 835 include known encoding functions such as data compression Reed-Solomon encoding, interleaving, scrambling, trellis encoding, and carrier modulation. The process is complete and terminates at step 840. In the process of Figure 10, multiple CIT, EIT and ETT tables may be formed and incorporated in the program specific information in order to accommodate expanded numbers of sub-channels. The architecture of Figure 1 is not exclusive. Other architectures may be derived in accordance with the principles of the invention to accomplish the same objectives. Further, the functions of the elements of decoder 100 of Figure 1 and the process steps of Figure 10 may be implemented in whole or in part within the programmed instructions of a microprocessor. I n addition, the principles of the invention apply to any form of MPEG or non-MPEG compatible electronic program guide. A datastream formed according to the invention principles may b e used in a variety of applications including video server or PC type communication via telephone lines, for example. A program datastream with one or more components of video, audio and data formed to incorporate program specific information according to invention principles may be recorded on a storage medium and transmitted or re-broadcast to other servers, PCs or receivers. Further, any reference herein to "bandwidth" is to be interpreted expansively to include bit rate capacity and is not limited to a frequency spectrum, for example. We Claim 1. A method for decoding packetized program information to provide data content of a program, comprising the steps of: identifying (60) channel map information in said packetized program information, said channel map information comprising: a first identification number (300) for use in identifying a first broadcast sub-channel, said first identification number being associated with a first broadcast source, and a second identification number (305) for use in identifying said first broadcast sub-channel from among a group of sub- channels associated with said first identification number and said first broadcast source; and assembling (60) said identified information to form a channel map suitable for use in identifying data using said first and second identification numbers in conjunction, said identified data constituting a program transmitted on said first broadcast sub- channel. 2. A method for forming program guide information suitable for decoding packetized program information to provide data content of a program, comprising the steps of: forming a channel map information (810) comprising: a first identification number (300) for use in identifying a first broadcast sub-channel, said first identification number being associated with a first broadcast source, and a second identification number (305) for use in identifying said first broadcast sub-channel from a among a group of sub- channels associated with said first identification number and said first broadcast source wherein said first and second identification numbers in conjunction identifying data constituting a program from said first broadcast source; and assembly information supporting assembly of said channel map information; and incorporating said channel map information into packetized data for output to a transmission channel (825, 830). DATED THIS 4th DAY OF NOVEMBER 2004 The invention relates to a method for decoding packetized program information to provide data content of a program, comprising the steps of: identifying (60) channel map information in said packetized program information, said channel map information comprising: a first identification number (300) for use in identifying a first broadcast sub-channel, said first identification number being associated with a first broadcast source, and a second identification number (305) for use in identifying said first broadcast sub-channel from among a group of sub-channels associated with said first identification number and said first broadcast source; and assembling (60) said identified information to form a channel map suitable for use in identifying data using said first and second identification numbers in conjunction, said identified data constituting a program transmitted on said first broadcast sub-channel.

Full Text

CROSS REFERENCE
This applcation constitutes a Divisional Application divided
out of Indian Application No.1178/CAL/98.
This invention is related to the formation of Program Guides,
system information and program specific information for MPEG
compatible processing.
In video broadcast and processing applications, digital
video data is typically encoded to conform to the requirements of
a known standard. One such widely adopted standard is the MPEG2
(Moving Pictures Expert Sroup) image encoding standard, hereinafter
referred to as the "MPEQ standard". The MPE0 standard is
comprised of a system encoding section (ISO/IEC 13618-1, 10th June
1994) and a video encoding section (ISO/IEC 13818-2), 20th January
1995). Data encoded to the MPE8 standard is in the form of a
packetized datastream which typically includes the data content
of many program channels (e.g. content corresponding to cable
television 1-125). Further, several digital services and channels
may occupy the frequency spectrum previously occupied by a
single analog channel. A 6 MHz bandwith previously allocated to an
analog NTSC compatible broadcast channel may now be split into a
number of digital sub-channels offering a variety of services.
For example, the broadcast spectrum far RF channel 13 may be
allocated to sub-channels including a main program channel, a
final service channel offering stock quotes, a sports news
service channel and a shopping and interactive channel. In
addition, both the quantity of sub-channels transmitted and
the individual sub-channel bandwith may be changed dynamically
to accommodate changing broadcast programming requirements.
In such a digital video system the proliferation in the
quantity of services being broadcast and the increased variety
of their content, as well as the ability of a broadcaster to
dynamically vary the number and allocated bandwith of these
channels poses a number of problems. Specifically, the
increase in the quantity of broadcast channels may increase
the difficulty of................
tuning and lengthen the time required to acquire a selected
program channel. Further, as the quantity of channels increases so
does the quantity of ancillary program specific information
required in decoding the transmitted program data. The ancillary
program specific information includes data used in identifying and
assembling packets comprising selected programs and also
includes program guide and text information associated with the
transmitted program data. The increased quantity and variety of
ancillary information transmitted places an additional burden on
available transmission bandwidth and receiver decoding and
storage resources.
In addition, channel numbering in such a digital video
system may present a problem. This is because a broadcaster may
not want to lose an original analog NTSC broadcast channel
number even though the broadcaster is transmitting several
program channels in the frequency spectrum previously occupied
by the single analog program channel. The broadcaster may have
a significant investment in the channel number as a brand
identity e.g. Fox 5™, Channel 13™. These problems and derivative
problems are addressed by a system according to the present
invention.
In a digital video system, individual program channels
are allocated first and second identification numbers. The first
identification number (a major number) is associated with an
information provider. The second identification number (a minor
number), is used in identifying a broadcast sub-channel from
among a group of sub-channels associated with the first
identification number. The first and second identification numbers
in conjunction, are used in identifying data constituting a program
transmitted on the broadcast sub-channel.
Brief Description of the Drawings
In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a block diagram of digital video receiving
apparatus for demodulating and decoding broadcast signals,
according to the principles of the invention.
Figure 2 shows a Master Guide Table (MGT) format for
use in conveying program specific information, according to the
invention.
Figure 3 shows a Channel Information Table (CIT)
format for use in conveying program specific information
incorporating dual program channel identification numbers,
according to the invention.
Figure 4 shows a Service Location Descriptor (SLD)
format for use in conveying program specific information
incorporating program map information, according to the
invention.
Figure 5 shows a program specific information text
format for use in conveying program related text information,
according to the invention.
Figure 6 shows a scheme for assigning a text message
identifier as used in the text format of Figure 5.
Figure 7 shows a multiple compressed text string
format for use in conveying program related text information,
according to the invention.
Figures 8 and 9 show exemplary indicator definitions
for compression and coding indicators within the multiple
compressed text string format of Figure 7.
Figure 10 shows a method for generating program
specific information according to the invention.
Figure 1 is a block diagram of a digital video receiving
system for demodulating and decoding broadcast signals,
according to the principles of the invention. Although the
disclosed system is described in the context of a system for
receiving video signals incorporating program specific information
including program guide data in MPEG compatible format, it is
exemplary only. The program specific information may be of a
variety of types. For example, it may comply with Program
Specific Information (PSI) requirements specified in section 2.4.4
of the MPEG systems standard or it may comply with the high
definition television (HDTV) signal standard Digital Television
Standard for HDTV Transmission of April 12 1995, prepared by
the United States Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC)
or other ATSC standards. Alternatively, it may be formed in
accordance with proprietary or custom requirements of a
particular system.
The principles of the invention may be applied to
terrestrial, cable, satellite, Internet or computer network
broadcast systems in which the coding type or modulation format
may be varied. Such systems may include, for example, non-MPEG
compatible systems, involving other types of encoded datastreams
and other methods of conveying program specific information.
Further, although the disclosed system is described as processing
broadcast programs, this is exemplary only. The term "program" is
used to represent any form of packetized data such as audio data,
telephone messages, computer programs, Internet data or other
communications, for example.
In overview, in the video receiver system of Figure 1,
a broadcast carrier modulated with signals carrying audio, video
and associated data representing broadcast program content is
received by antenna 10 and processed by unit 13. The resultant
digital output signal is demodulated by demodulator 15. The
demodulated output from unit 15 is trellis decoded, mapped into
byte length data segments, deinterleaved and Reed-Solomon error
corrected by decoder 17. The corrected output data from unit 1 7
is in the form of an MPEG compatible transport datastream
containing program representative multiplexed audio, video and
data components. The transport stream from unit 17 is
demultiplexed into audio, video and data components by unit 2 2
which are further processed by the other elements of decoder
system 100. In one mode, decoder 100 provides MPEG decoded
data for display and audio reproduction on units 50 and 5 5
respectively. In another mode, the transport stream from unit 1 7
is processed by decoder 100 to provide an MPEG compatible
datastream for storage on storage medium 105 via storage device
90.
A user selects for viewing either a TV channel or an
on-screen menu, such as a program guide, by using a remote
control unit 70. Processor 60 uses the selection information
provided from remote control unit 70 via interface 65 to
appropriately configure the elements of Figure 1 to receive a
desired program channel for viewing. Processor 60 comprises
processor 62 and controller 64. Unit 62 processes (i.e. parses,
collates and assembles) program specific information including
program guide and system information and controller 6 4
performs the remaining control functions required in operating
decoder 100. Although the functions of unit 60 may be
implemented as separate elements 62 and 64 as depicted in
Figure 1, they may alternatively be implemented within a single
processor. For example, the functions of units 62 and 64 may b e
incorporated within the programmed instructions of a
microprocessor. Processor 60 configures processor 13,
demodulator 15, decoder 17 and decoder system 100 to
demodulate and decode the input signal format and coding type.
Units 13, 15, 17 and sub-units within decoder 100 are
individually configured for the input signal type by processor 6 0
setting control register values within these elements using a bidirectional
data and control signal bus C.
The transport stream provided to decoder 100
comprises data packets containing program channel data and
program specific information. Unit 22 directs the program specific
information packets to processor 60 which parses, collates and
assembles this information into hierarchically arranged tables.
Individual data packets comprising the User selected program
channel are identified and assembled using the assembled
program specific information. The program specific information
contains conditional access, network information and identification
and linking data enabling the system of Figure 1 to tune to a
desired channel and assemble data packets to form complete
programs. The program specific information also contains ancillary
program guide information (e.g. an Electronic Program Guide -
EPG) and descriptive text related to the broadcast programs as
well as data supporting the identification and assembly of this
ancillary information.
The program specific information is assembled b y
processor 60 into multiple hierarchically arranged and inter-
linked tables. An exemplary hierarchical table arrangement
includes a Master Guide Table (MGT), a Channel Information Table
(CIT), Event Information Tables (EITs) and optional tables such as
Extended Text Tables (ETTs). The MGT contains information for
acquiring program specific information conveyed in other tables
such as identifiers for identifying data packets associated with the
other tables. The CIT contains information for tuning and
navigation to receive a User selected program channel. The EIT
contains descriptive lists of programs (events) receivable on the
channels listed in the CIT. The ETT contains text messages
describing programs and program channels. Additional program
specific information describing and supplementing items within
the hierarchical tables is conveyed within descriptor information
elements. The program specific information acquired by processor
60 via unit 22 is stored within internal memory of unit 60.
Considering Figure 1 in detail, a carrier modulated
with signals carrying program representative audio, video and
associated data received by antenna 10, is converted to digital
form and processed by input processor 13. Processor 13 includes
radio frequency (RF) tuner and intermediate frequency (IF) mixer
and amplification stages for down-converting the input signal to a
lower frequency band suitable for further processing. In this
exemplary system, the input signal received by antenna 1 0
contains 33 Physical Transmission Channels (PTCs 0-32). Each
Physical Transmission Channel (PTC) is allocated a 6 MHz
bandwidth and contains, for example, up to 6 sub-channels.
It is assumed for exemplary purposes that a video
receiver user selects a sub-channel (SC) for viewing using remote
control unit 70. Processor 60 uses the selection information
provided from remote control unit 70 via interface 65 to
appropriately configure the elements of decoder 100 to receive
the PTC corresponding to the selected sub-channel SC. Following
down conversion, the output signal from unit 13 for the selected
PTC has a bandwidth of 6 MHz and a center frequency in the
range of 119-405 MHz. In the following discussion, an RF channel
or Physical Transmission Channel (PTC) refers to an allocated
broadcaster transmission channel band which encompasses one or
more sub-channels (also termed virtual or logical channels).
Processor 60 configures the radio frequency (RF) tuner
and intermediate frequency (IF) mixer and amplification stages of
unit 13 to receive the selected PTC. The down-converted
frequency output for the selected PTC is demodulated by unit 15.
The primary functions of demodulator 15 are recovery and
tracking of the carrier frequency, recovery of the transmitted data
clock frequency, and recovery of the video data itself. Unit 15 also
recovers sampling and synchronization clocks that correspond to
transmitter clocks and are used for timing the operation of
processor 13, demodulator 15 and decoder 17. The recovered
output from unit 15 is provided to decoder 17.
The output from demodulator 15 is mapped into byte
length data segments, deinterleaved and Reed-Solomon error
corrected according to known principles by unit 17. In addition,
unit 17 provides a Forward Error Correction (FEC) validity or lock
indication to processor 60. Reed-Solomon error correction is a
known type of Forward Error Correction. The FEC lock indication
signals that the Reed-Solomon error correction is synchronized to
the data being corrected and is providing a valid output. It is to be
noted that the demodulator and decoder functions implemented
by units 13, 15 and 17 are individually known and generally
described, for example, in the reference text Digital
Communication, Lee and Messerschmidt (Kluwer Academic Press,
Boston, MA, USA, 1988).
The corrected output data from unit 17 is processed
by MPEG compatible transport processor and demultiplexer 22.
The individual packets that comprise either particular program
channel content, or program specific information, are identified b y
their Packet Identifiers (PIDs). Processor 22 separates data
according to type based on an analysis of Packet Identifiers (PIDs)
contained within packet header information and provides
synchronization and error indication information used in
subsequent video, audio and data decompression.
The corrected output data provided to processor 22 is
in the form of a transport datastream containing program channel
content and program specific information for many programs
distributed through several sub-channels. The program specific
information in this exemplary description describes sub-channels
present in a transport stream of a particular PTC. However, in
another embodiment the program specific information may also
describe sub-channels located in other PTCs and conveyed in
different transport streams. Groups of these sub-channels may be
associated in that their source is a particular broadcaster or they
occupy the transmission bandwidth previously allocated to an
analog NTSC compatible broadcast channel. Further, individual
packets that comprise a selected program channel in the transport
stream are identified and assembled by processor 60 operating in
conjunction with processor 22 using PIDs contained in the
program specific information.
The program specific information is in the form of
hierarchically arranged tables including an MGT, CIT, EIT, and ETT
together with supplementary descriptor information. The PID that
identifies packets comprising the MGT data is predetermined and
stored within processor 60 internal memory. Further, the MGT
conveys the PIDs that identify the CIT, EIT, and ETT data and
conveys other information indicating the size of these tables.
Processor 60 monitors the MGT for updates to identify any
changes in PIDs or table sizes. Therefore, after processor 6 0
determines from the FEC lock indication provided by unit 17 that
valid data is being provided to transport processor 22, the MGT
may be acquired without additional PID information. Using Control
signal C, processor 60 configures transport processor 22 to select
the data packets comprising the remaining program specific
information including the CIT, EIT and ETT data. Processor 2 2
matches the PIDs of incoming packets provided by unit 17 with
PID values pre-loaded in control registers within unit 22 by
processor 60. Further, processor 60 accesses, parses and
assembles the program specific information packets captured b y
processor 22 and stores the program specific information within
its internal memory. Processor 60 derives tuning parameters
including PTC carrier frequency, demodulation characteristics, and
sub-channel PIDs, from the acquired program specific information.
Processor 60 uses this information in configuring units 13, 15, 1 7
and decoder 100 elements to acquire selected sub-channel (SC)
program content.
The program specific information including MGT, CIT,
EIT, and ETT data and associated descriptors acquired and collated
by processor 60 incorporates advantageous features exemplified
in the data formats presented in Figures 2-9. These features
facilitate the identification, acquisition, assembly and decoding of
program channel content and associated program guide data b y
decoder 100 (Figure 1). Processor 60 forms a MGT as exemplified
by the data format of Figure 2 by accessing and assembling the
program specific information packets that are stored in the unit
60 internal memory. The MGT contains data identifiers e.g.
PID_ETT 205 and PID_PG 210 (Figure 2) enabling the assembly of
the CIT, EIT and ETT tables. Processor 60 uses the MGT data
identifiers to access and assemble the program specific
information packets to form the CIT, EIT, and ETT data and
associated descriptors.
Processor 60 uses the acquired CIT channel map
information, as exemplified in Figure 3, to identify the packets
comprising the sub-channel SC that the User selected to view. A
user selects sub-channel SC for viewing by entering two program
channel numbers via remote control unit 70 and interface 65.
Individual program channels are advantageously allocated both a
first and a second identification number. The first identification
number (a major number as indicated by bundle_number 300 in
Figure 3) identifies the broadcast source and broadcaster channel
brand number e.g. Fox 5™, Channel 13™. The first identification
number indicates a broadcast source of a program or service and
may be independent of the RF channel on which the program is
broadcast. However, in other embodiments the first identification
number may be associated with a broadcast RF channel or be
associated with other program characteristics such as a program
category or theme e.g. movies. The second identification number
(a minor number as indicated by channel_number_in_bundle 305
in Figure 3) identifies a sub-channel corresponding to a specific
service within a group of services provided by a broadcaster. The
first and second identification numbers in conjunction identify a
particular service as a sub-channel provided by a specific
broadcaster. Although, the selected sub-channel SC may occupy an
RF bandwidth within an encompassing channel spectrum
associated with the broadcast source, neither the first or second
identification numbers are associated with such a spectrum.
However, this association may be made in an alternative
embodiment. This dual numbering system enables a broadcaster
to retain channel brand identity across a range of dynamically
allocable broadcast sub-channels.
The dual program channel identification numbers used
to select sub-channel SC may be entered by the user in a variety
of ways. These may include using remote unit 70 to select sub-
channel SC from within a hierarchical menu system displaying
program channel selections in a program guide or by simple
sequential number entry via the unit 70 keypad, for example. The
channel selection system may also encompass the use of a
different data entry device such as a keyboard or discrete
switches, for example. Further, the data entry system also
accommodates the entry of a single channel identification number
as well as dual identification numbers. Upon detecting a channel
selection completion command, processor 60 converts a single
channel identification number entry into dual identification
numbers. Processor 60 converts the single channel identification
number to dual channel identification numbers in accordance with
a predetermined conversion map. This conversion may also be
performed using a predetermined and stored algorithm or
formula. The derived dual identification numbers are used b y
processor 60 for packet identification, tuning and for identifying
other decoder information in the manner previously described as
if both numbers had been entered by a user.
Processor 60 uses the received program channel
identification numbers 300 and 305 provided from remote control
unit 70 via interface 65 to determine the PTC corresponding to the
selected sub-channel SC from the CIT. Once the PTC number (item
315 in Figure 3) is determined, processor 60 (Figure 1) configures
units 13, 15, and 17 to receive the PTC for the selected sub-
channel SC. The unique program sub-channel determined from the
program channel identification numbers 300 and 305 may
alternatively be termed a service or a virtual channel or a logical
channel and the CIT may be deemed a virtual channel table.
Further, as well as associating a particular PTC with first and
second sub-channel identification numbers 300 and 305 of
selected sub-channel SC, the CIT also associates other parameters
with SC. These parameters include (a) a channeled 320 for linking
the selected sub-channel SC with program content information
conveyed in the EITs, (b) a channel_type indicator 325 identifying
whether the sub-channel data is, analog e.g. NTSC, digital video
e.g. ATSC video or digital audio e.g. ATSC audio, (c) an ETM_flag
330 indicating whether a text message is available for this sub-
channel, (d) a channel name 340 and (e) a descriptor 335 e.g. a
Service Location Descriptor as described later.
Processor 60 advantageously determines program map
information for the selected sub-channel SC from Service Location
Descriptor (SLD) conveyed within the CIT. The SLD program map
information is exemplified by the data format of Figure 4. The SLD
associates the selected sub-channel SC with packet identifiers, e.g.
item 420, used to identify individual packetized datastreams that
constitute the components of a program being transmitted on
selected sub-channel SC. In addition, the SLD program map
information, in conjunction with the CIT, maps the selected sub-
channel SC to a program number 405, a PCR (Program Clock
Reference) identifier 410, a language code indicator 425, and a
stream type identifier 415 identifying a stream as video, audio,
control, auxiliary or private information, for example.
The SLD program map information replicates
information already present within the Program Map Table (PMT)
segment of the MPEG compatible transport stream input to
decoder 100. However, by incorporating the SLD within the CIT,
the time required by decoder 100 to identify and acquire a
program being transmitted on selected sub-channel SC is
advantageously reduced. This is because the CIT and SLD provide
formatted and linked information sufficient to enable processor
60 to directly configure and tune the system of Figure 1 to receive
the selected sub-channel SC. Specifically, the CIT and SLD directly
associate individual first and second sub-channel identification
numbers with the PIDs for identifying the datastreams that
constitute a program being conveyed on this sub-channel. This
enables processor 60 to configure the system of Figure 1 to
receive the selected sub-channel SC without acquiring and using
the Program Map Table (PMT) information in the MPEG
compatible transport stream input to decoder 100. In addition, the
data partitioning, data formatting and data repetition frequency
characteristics of the CIT and SLD program map information may
be determined independently of the requirements of MPEG PMT
information.
The packetized decoded transport stream input to
decoder 100 from unit 17 contains video, audio and data
representing TV programs, for example, and also contains sub-
picture data. The sub-picture data contains picture elements
associated with programs and channels selectable by a user for
viewing including program guides, display commands, subtitling,
selectable menu options or other items, for example. As such, the
sub-picture data includes the EIT containing descriptive lists of
programs (events) receivable on the sub-channels listed in the CIT
and also contains the ETT containing text messages describing
programs and program sub-channels.
Processor 60 determines from the CIT and SLD the
PIDs of the video, audio and sub-picture streams constituting the
program being transmitted on selected sub-channel SC. Processor
22, matches the PIDs of incoming packets provided by decoder 1 7
with PID values of the video, audio and sub-picture streams being
transmitted on sub-channel SC. These PID values are pre-loaded
in control registers within unit 22 by processor 60. In this
manner, processor 22 captures packets constituting the program
transmitted on sub-channel SC and forms them into MPEG
compatible video, audio and sub-picture streams for output to
video decoder 25, audio decoder 35 and sub-picture processor 3 0
respectively. The video and audio streams contain compressed
video and audio data representing the selected sub-channel SC
program content. The sub-picture data contains the EIT and ETT
information associated with the sub-channel SC program content.
Decoder . 25 decodes and decompresses the MPEG
compatible packetized video data from unit 22 and provides
decompressed program representative pixel data to NTSC encoder
45 via multiplexer 40. Similarly, audio processor 35 decodes the
packetized audio data from unit 22 and provides decoded and
amplified audio data, synchronized with the associated
decompressed video data, to device 55 for audio reproduction.
Processor 30 decodes and decompresses sub-picture data received
from unit 22.
The sub-picture data decoded by processor 3 0
includes text messages (Extended Text Messages - ETMs) in an ETT
in the exemplary data format presented in Figure 5. The text
messages conveyed in the ETT of Figure 5 are advantageously
partitioned into time periods of specified duration. The segmented
text messages describe programs occurring in a period of specified
duration and start time e.g. 3 hour blocks starting from 12 a.m., 3
p.m., 6 p.m.... etc. Indicators defining the duration and start time
applicable to the conveyed text messages are included in the MGT
of Figure 2 (duration item 215 and application_time item 220 of
Figure 2 respectively). A text message (e.g.
extended_text_message 505) is conveyed together with a text
message identifier (ETM_id 510) in the format of Figure 5.
Decoder 100 (Figure 1) is able to more efficiently
acquire, process and store program descriptive text messages that
are partitioned into time periods of specified duration than is
possible in the absence of such segmentation. This is because
segmented text messages exclude information occurring outside
the specified time period and consequently are smaller than non-
segmented text messages. Therefore, segmented text message data
occupies less storage space and can be acquired and processed
more quickly than larger data blocks of non-segmented data.
Further, the data format of Figure 5 allows a user to acquire text
message data for a selected sub-channel SC or a group of selected
program sub-channels. This allows the identification, acquisition
and decoding of text message data by decoder 100 to be focused
on the programs and sub-channels of interest to a user and
reduces the acquisition of redundant text message information.
A text message conveyed in an ETT may contain
channel information or program (event) information. Figure 6
shows an exemplary format for assigning a text message identifier
ETM_id 510 of Figure 5 that identifies the type of text message
e.g. whether the text message contains channel information (item
610 of Figure 6) or program information (item 605 of Figure 6).
The text message identifier 510 (Figure 5) also identifies the
source e.g. sub-channel to which the text message pertains.
A text message 505 conveyed in the ETT of Figure 5 is
compressed and formatted according to the multiple compressed
text string format of Figure 7. The compressed text string format
advantageously incorporates indicators facilitating the
identification and decoding of multiple compressed text strings b y
processor 30 in decoder 100 of Figure 1. Processor 30 decodes text
string 505 (Figure 5) received from unit 22 (Figure 1) by
determining the compression, coding and language characteristics
of the text string from indicators 705, 710 and 715 (Figure 7)
respectively. Specifically, processor 30, operating in conjunction
with processor 60, decompresses received text string 505 b y
applying a decompression function e.g. a Huffman decompression
function, selected using indicator 705. Similarly, processor 30,
decodes the received text string by applying a decoding function
interpreting text characters according to a character code set
selected using indicator 710 and a language code set selected
using indicator 715. Further, processor 30 determines the number
of text strings to be processed and the number of bytes in each
text string from indicators 725 and 720 respectively.
Figure 8 shows an exemplary indicator definition for
compression indicator 705 within the multiple compressed text
string format of Figure 7. It is to be noted that compression
indicator 705 may indicate that no compression function is
employed within a text string. In this case, processor 30 does not
apply a decompression function to the text string received from
unit 22. Figure 9 shows an exemplary indicator definition for
coding indicator 710 within the multiple compressed text string
format of Figure 7.
Processor 30 assembles and formats the decoded and
decompressed text string elements of text string 505 (Figure 5) to
form a decoded text string for output to On-Screen Display (OSD)
and graphics generator 37 (Figure 1). Unit 37 interprets and
formats the text string character data from unit 30 and generates
formatted pixel mapped text and graphics for presentation on unit
50. The formatted pixel mapped text and graphics data may
represent a program guide or other type of menu or user interface
for subsequent display on unit 50. Unit 37 also processes EIT, ETT
and other information to generate pixel mapped data
representing, subtitling, control and information menu displays
including selectable menu options, and other items, for
presentation on unit 50. The control and information displays
enable function selection and entry of device operating
parameters for User operation of decoder 100.
The text and graphics produced by OSD generator 3 7
are generated in the form of overlay pixel map data under
direction of processor 60. The overlay pixel map data from unit 37
is combined and synchronized with the decompressed pixel
representative data from MPEG decoder 25 in encoder 45 via
multiplexer 40 under direction of processor 60. Combined pixel
map data representing a video program on sub-channel SC
together with associated sub-picture text message data is encoded
by NTSC encoder 45 and output to device 50 for display.
In a storage mode of the system of Figure 1, the
corrected output data from unit 17 is processed by decoder 100 to
provide an MPEG compatible datastream for storage. In this mode,
a program is selected for storage by a user via remote unit 70 and
interface 65. Processor 22, in conjunction with processor 60 forms
condensed program specific information including MGT, CIT, EIT
and ETT data and descriptors containing the advantageous
features previously described. The condensed program specific
information supports decoding of the program selected for storage
but excludes unrelated information. Processor 60, in conjunction
with processor 22 forms a composite MPEG compatible datastream
containing packetized content data of the selected program and
associated condensed program specific information. The composite
datastream is output to storage interface 95.
Storage interface 95 buffers the composite datastream
to reduce gaps and bit rate variation in the data. The resultant
buffered data is processed by storage device 90 to be suitable for
storage on medium 105. Storage device 90 encodes the buffered
datastream from interface 95 using known error encoding
techniques such as channel coding, interleaving and Reed Solomon
encoding to produce an encoded datastream suitable for storage.
Unit 90 stores the resultant encoded datastream incorporating the
condensed program specific information on medium 105.
Figure 10 shows a method for generating program
specific information including MGT, CIT, EIT and ETT data and
descriptors containing the advantageous features previously
described. The method may be employed at an encoder for
broadcasting video data such as the data received by antenna 1 0
of Figure 1 or the method may be employed within a decoder unit
such as within processor 60 of Figure 1.
Following the start at step 800 of Figure 10, a CIT is
generated in step 810. The CIT contains sub-channel and program
identification information enabling acquisition of available
broadcast programs and sub-channels. The CIT incorporates first
and second sub-channel identification numbers and an SLD
containing packet identifiers for identifying individual packetized
datastreams that constitute individual programs to be transmitted
on particular sub-channels. The generated CIT also incorporates
items linked to listed program sub-channels including a program
number, a PCR (Program Clock Reference) identifier, a language
code indicator, and a stream type identifier, as previously
described in connection with Figure 1.
In step 815, an EIT is generated containing program
guide information including descriptive lists of programs (events)
receivable on the sub-channels listed in the CIT. In step 820, an
ETT is generated containing text messages describing programs,
for example. Each text message is partitioned into time periods of
specified duration. The duration and application time of the
segmented text message data is also defined by indicators in the
ETT itself. The text message data is encoded and compressed
according to known techniques and conveyed in the ETT along
with indicators defining the compression, coding and language
characteristics employed. The ETT is also generated to include
indicators defining the number of text strings to be processed and
the number of bytes in each text string. In step 822 an MGT is
generated containing data identifiers enabling the identification
and assembly of CIT, EIT and ETT information. The MGT also
conveys table size information for the previously generated CIT,
EIT and ETT.
In step 825, program specific information is formed
including the MGT, CIT, EIT and ETT data and descriptors
generated in steps 805-822. In step 830, the program specific
information together with video and audio program
representative components for multiple sub-channels is formatted
into a transport stream for output. In step 835, the output
transport stream is further processed to be suitable for
transmission to another device such as a receiver, video server, or
storage device for recording on a storage medium, for example.
The processes performed in step 835 include known encoding
functions such as data compression Reed-Solomon encoding,
interleaving, scrambling, trellis encoding, and carrier modulation.
The process is complete and terminates at step 840. In the process
of Figure 10, multiple CIT, EIT and ETT tables may be formed and
incorporated in the program specific information in order to
accommodate expanded numbers of sub-channels.
The architecture of Figure 1 is not exclusive. Other
architectures may be derived in accordance with the principles of
the invention to accomplish the same objectives. Further, the
functions of the elements of decoder 100 of Figure 1 and the
process steps of Figure 10 may be implemented in whole or in
part within the programmed instructions of a microprocessor. I n
addition, the principles of the invention apply to any form of
MPEG or non-MPEG compatible electronic program guide. A
datastream formed according to the invention principles may b e
used in a variety of applications including video server or PC type
communication via telephone lines, for example. A program
datastream with one or more components of video, audio and data
formed to incorporate program specific information according to
invention principles may be recorded on a storage medium and
transmitted or re-broadcast to other servers, PCs or receivers.
Further, any reference herein to "bandwidth" is to be interpreted
expansively to include bit rate capacity and is not limited to a
frequency spectrum, for example.
We Claim
1. A method for decoding packetized program information to provide data
content of a program, comprising the steps of:
identifying (60) channel map information in said packetized
program information, said channel map information comprising:
a first identification number (300) for use in identifying a
first broadcast sub-channel, said first identification number being
associated with a first broadcast source, and
a second identification number (305) for use in identifying
said first broadcast sub-channel from among a group of sub-
channels associated with said first identification number and said
first broadcast source; and
assembling (60) said identified information to form a channel
map suitable for use in identifying data using said first and second
identification numbers in conjunction, said identified data
constituting a program transmitted on said first broadcast sub-
channel.
2. A method for forming program guide information suitable for decoding
packetized program information to provide data content of a program,
comprising the steps of:
forming a channel map information (810) comprising:
a first identification number (300) for use in identifying a
first broadcast sub-channel, said first identification number being
associated with a first broadcast source, and
a second identification number (305) for use in identifying
said first broadcast sub-channel from a among a group of sub-
channels associated with said first identification number and said
first broadcast source wherein said first and second identification
numbers in conjunction identifying data constituting a program
from said first broadcast source; and
assembly information supporting assembly of said channel
map information; and
incorporating said channel map information into packetized data for
output to a transmission channel (825, 830).
DATED THIS 4th DAY OF NOVEMBER 2004
The invention relates to a method for decoding packetized program information
to provide data content of a program, comprising the steps of: identifying (60)
channel map information in said packetized program information, said channel
map information comprising: a first identification number (300) for use in
identifying a first broadcast sub-channel, said first identification number being
associated with a first broadcast source, and a second identification number
(305) for use in identifying said first broadcast sub-channel from among a group
of sub-channels associated with said first identification number and said first
broadcast source; and assembling (60) said identified information to form a
channel map suitable for use in identifying data using said first and second
identification numbers in conjunction, said identified data constituting a program
transmitted on said first broadcast sub-channel.

Documents:

689-KOL-2004-FORM-27.pdf

689-kol-2004-granted-abstract.pdf

689-kol-2004-granted-claims.pdf

689-kol-2004-granted-correspondence.pdf

689-kol-2004-granted-description (complete).pdf

689-kol-2004-granted-drawings.pdf

689-kol-2004-granted-form 1.pdf

689-kol-2004-granted-form 2.pdf

689-kol-2004-granted-form 3.pdf

689-kol-2004-granted-form 5.pdf

689-kol-2004-granted-gpa.pdf

689-kol-2004-granted-letter patent.pdf

689-kol-2004-granted-reply to examination report.pdf

689-kol-2004-granted-specification.pdf

689-kol-2004-granted-translated copy of priority document.pdf

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Patent Number

212275

Indian Patent Application Number

689/KOL/2004

PG Journal Number

48/2007

Publication Date

30-Nov-2007

Grant Date

28-Nov-2007

Date of Filing

04-Nov-2004

Name of Patentee

THOMSON CONSUMER ELECTRONICS INC.

Applicant Address

10330 NORTH MERIDIAN STREET, INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA 46290-1024, USA.

Inventors:

#	Inventor's Name	Inventor's Address
1	MEHMET KEMAL OZKAN	IDEALTEPE MAH.AYDIN SOK., SERDAROGLU,APT.10/14,MALTEPE 81580,ISTANBUL, TURKEY.
2	CHIA-YUAN TENG	11825 CAMINITO RONALDO,PT.NO.119, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA 92128.
3	EDWIN ARTURO HEREDIA	8356 LAKESHORE TRACE EAST DRIVE, INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA 46250

PCT International Classification Number

A04H 7/00

PCT International Application Number

N/A

PCT International Filing date

PCT Conventions:

#	PCT Application Number	Date of Convention	Priority Country
1	09/057,646	1998-04-09	U.S.A.
2	60/052,152,	1997-07-10	U.S.A.