Digital Broadcasting Receiver Channel Guide Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional digital broadcasting receivers have cumbersome user interfaces due to the need for users to navigate through multiple menu screens to access additional services like video-on-demand, as they are not integrated into the Electronic Program Guide (EPG), which is limited to linear broadcast services.
Innovation Solution
A digital broadcasting receiver method that uses discovery information to determine Receiver Channel Numbers (RCNs) for additional services, allowing them to be seamlessly integrated into the channel guide, with features like default and alternative LCN selection, and parental control filtering, enabling the display of non-linear services alongside linear ones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If additional services are integrated into the channel guide using discovery information and RCN determination, then user interface simplicity and ease of navigation are improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for discovery information processing and RCN allocation mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The receiver automatically determines RCNs for additional services by processing discovery information without requiring manual configuration or complex user intervention. The system self-manages the integration of additional services into the channel guide by autonomously allocating RCNs based on received discovery information, thereby simplifying the user interface while the backend handles the complexity automatically.
Solution Approach 2:
The channel guide is enhanced to serve multiple functions: displaying both traditional broadcast services and additional services (such as VOD, time-shifted TV, and interactive services) within a single unified interface. This multi-functional approach allows users to access diverse content types through one consistent navigation path, improving ease of operation while the receiver manages the complexity of integrating multiple service types behind the scenes.
2Loss of information
If multiple services are displayed in a single channel guide, then information completeness and user convenience are improved, but the complexity of service management and RCN allocation increases
Solution Approach 1:
Discovery information acts as an intermediary that carries essential service metadata (including default LCN, alternative LCN, and LCN group information) from service providers to the receiver. This intermediary mechanism enables the receiver to automatically determine appropriate RCNs for additional services without requiring complex manual configuration, thereby maintaining service accessibility while managing complexity through structured information exchange.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses parameter-based RCN determination by changing the Logical Channel Number (LCN) parameter to Receiver Channel Number (RCN) based on discovery information. The receiver processes parameters such as default LCN, alternative LCN, and LCN group identifiers to dynamically allocate RCNs, allowing multiple services to be displayed in the channel guide while managing service complexity through parameter-driven automation.
3Loss of time
If automatic RCN determination is implemented based on discovery information, then setup time and user configuration effort are reduced, but processing requirements and system resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
Service providers pre-package discovery information containing default LCN, alternative LCN, and LCN group data before transmission to the receiver. This preliminary preparation allows the receiver to quickly determine RCNs upon receiving the structured discovery information without performing complex real-time calculations, thereby reducing setup time while managing processing requirements through pre-computed service metadata.
Data Source
AI summary
A digital broadcast receiver transmits a request for discovery information to a discovery information server, the request including receiver profile information associated with the current state of the digital broadcast receiver. The server identifies, on the basis of the receiver profile information, additional services that are available over an IP with a digital broadcasting receiver, and transmits discovery information for the additional services to the receiver. Then, the digital broadcast receiver determines a receiver channel number in order to locate the additional service at a channel guide on the basis of the received discovery information and logical channel numbers that are assigned to a plurality of broadcast services by a broadcast provider, and generates a channel guide by including the additional services in the determined receiver channel number and the plurality of broadcast services of the respective receiver channel numbers corresponding to the logical channel numbers.