The present invention relates to method and apparatus that records/reproduces a multi-channel stream to/from a recording medium such as a high-density DVD (Digital Versatile Disk).
Owing to technical improvement in the fields of video/audio data compression, digital modulation/demodulation, and so on, a digital television broadcast system broadcasting TV signals in the form of digital data stream is being standardized rapidly.
In the digital television broadcast system, audio/video (A/V) signals to be broadcasted are compressed according to the data compressing rule specified by MPEG 2 (Moving Picture Experts Group) and the compressed A/V data are broadcasted in the form of transport stream (TS), which is also defined in MPEG 2 standard, composed of successive 188-byte-long transport packets (TPs).
The digital TV broadcast system, which will be commercialized soon owing to technical improvement of A/V data compression and transmission, is able to support much higher-quality of video and audio than an analog TV system. Furthermore, it ensures data compatibility with a digital communication device, a digital storage device, etc.
By the way, a new device is being developed to prepare for commercialization of digital TV broadcast system. That is a digital recorder being able to receive TS of digital broadcast programs and to record it on a writable HD-DVD. Such a digital recorder will be widely used as the digital TV broadcast system is commercialized in earnest.
A single physical broadcast channel (called ‘RF channel’ in general) has about 6 MHz bandwidth which ensures 19.4 Mbps data rate. This data rate can carry a single HD-TV broadcast signal or about four SD-TV signals. Such a logical or virtual channel carrying one SD-TV signal in an RF channel is called ‘sub-channel’.
In other words, a single RF channel sometimes includes several digital channels, namely, sub-channels which carry mutually-different broadcast programs. Therefore, a DVD recorder being developed must be able to record/reproduce two or more sub-channels simultaneously at a user's request. In addition, it may be able to record/reproduce two or more sub-channels chosen from different RF channels, respectively.
By the way, an apparatus being able to receive and present digital TV broadcast programs, e.g., a digital TV set can not select a sub-channel and decode a received RF stream until PSI (Program Specific. Information) for a digital stream of TV program is received. Moreover, it can keep an exact presentation timing of packets constituting a digital stream after synchronizing an internal clock with PCRs (Program Clock Reference) where respective PCRs carried by the digital stream are received within an allowable interval.
In general, a digital recorder records one channel and reproduces it later. In case that a digital recorder is able to record a plurality of channels, it may reproduce one channel chosen among recorded channels, or reproduce at least two channels simultaneously to present them in a multi-screen, e.g., PIP (Picture-In-Picture) on a digital TV set.
In this multi-channel providing, PSI providing way must be differentiated and PCRs inserted in each channel stream may be compensated depending upon whether all multi channels belong to a single RF channel or not.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a PSI recording method for a plurality of channels that records PSI about a plurality of recorded channels to enable later individual or simultaneous presentation of the recorded channels on a display machine such as a digital TV set.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a PSI transmitting method that transmits PSI recorded along with a plurality of channels to enable later simultaneous presentation thereof on a display machine such as a digital TV set.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a time-information providing method that provides time information of a plurality of recorded channels to enable later simultaneous presentation thereof on a display machine such as a digital TV set.
A method of recording a multi-channel stream in accordance with the present invention is characterized in that it selects a plurality of sub-channels from a tuned broadcast channel, copies PSI packets included in a stream of the tuned broadcast channel into every stream of the selected plural sub-channels if the plurality of sub-channels are in same broadcast channel, records the sub-channels onto a recording medium, and writes information on whether the recorded sub-channels belong to same broadcast channel or not.
A method of reproducing a multi-channel stream in accordance with the present invention is characterized in that it checks whether a plurality of channels reproduced from a recording medium belong to same broadcast channel or not, removes PSI packets included in a channel or channels except one channel if the plural channels belong to same broadcast channel, reconstructs new PSI packets based on information of PSI packets included in respective stream of said channels to replace the existing PSI packets and compensates PCRs adequately if the plural channels belong to different broadcast channels, and multiplexes the stream of the plural channels to output.
The above-characterized multi-channel stream recording/reproducing method can provide a digital display machine set with PCRs and PSI suitable for a plurality of sub-channels chosen from one RF channel or mutually-different RF channels, thereby eliminating errors in channel selection or presentation timing in a digital display machine. Consequently, multi-screen, e.g., PIP displaying is ensured through stable decoding of multi channels.
a and 3b show different types of a specific field of program information associated with a recorded stream;
a to 8c show exemplary manners to compensate PCRs of a reproduced multi-channel stream in accordance with the present invention.
In order that the invention may be fully understood, a preferred embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Each of the two tuners 10 and 20 passes one digital broadcast TV channel, namely, an RF channel selected by the controller 17, and each of the two PCR/PSI decoders 11 and 21 extracts packets containing a PCR and PSI packets that have segmentized PSI for a broadcast program. At least one PCR has been inserted in a digital stream of an RF channel at longest within an allowable interval, e.g., 100 msec specified by digital TV broadcast standard. The PCR/PSI decoders 11 and 21 send PCRs included in the extracted packets to the clock counters 14 and 24, respectively.
Each of the stream selectors 12 and 22 watches PID (Packet ID) of every TP constituting a received digital stream of an RF channel, and outputs only TPs of which PID is corresponding to each sub-channel chosen by the controller 17.
Each of the two clock counters 14 and 24 synchronizes its own clock with successively-received PCRs, keeps counting the synchronized clock, and provides a clock count for each of the buffers 13 and 23 as a PAT (Packet Arrival Time).
Each of the buffers 13 and 23 reads a count of the clock counter 14 or 24 whenever a TP is stored and adds the read count to the stored TP as a PAT. Thusly-stored TPs with PAT are retrieved in a predetermined data unit alternately from the buffers 13 and 23 by the stream writer 15 and then applied to the optical pickup 16 to be written on the HD-DVD 100. The stream writer 15 also creates and writes navigation data for the written stream during or after record of the stored TPs in the buffers 13 and 23.
Through the above-explained process, two sub-channels chosen respectively from different RF channels are recorded on the HD-DVD 100.
Two sub-channels may be chosen from a single RF channel. In this case, the first stream selector 12 selects not one but two sub-channels. One of the selected two sub-channels is transmitted into the second buffer 23 that uses a count of not the second clock counter 24 but the first clock counter 14 to add PAT to each stored TP. Thusly-stored TPs of two sub-channels of same RF channel are retrieved alternately from the buffers 13 and 23 by the stream writer 15 and then written on the HD-DVD 100, in the same manner explained above.
The briefly-described method of recording a plurality of sub-channels chosen from a single or multi RF channels onto a recording medium is explained in detail below.
The two sub-channels selected by the first stream selector 12 are stored separately into the first 13 and the second buffer 23. At this time, the first stream selector 12 inserts PSI packets extracted by the first PCR/PSI decoder 11 into one sub-channel and copies those packets into the other sub-channel to make both sub-channels stored in the two buffers 13 and 23 have same PSI packets.
Both of the buffers 13 and 23 read a clock count of the first clock counter 14 and add to each TP of each sub-channel when it is stored. The separately-stored stream 201 and 202 of two sub-channels are alternately retrieved in a predetermined data unit by the stream writer 15 and then written onto the HD-DVD 100.
The stream writer 15 writes the two sub-channels in a single stream object, which is a management unit, or in two different stream objects and creates and records navigation data for each stream object.
According to the standard of a high-density recording medium, a single piece of PGI (ProGram Information) is associated with a single stream object. For preparing the case that a plurality of sub-channels are recorded in a single stream object, the program-type field ‘PG_TY’, one of fields of PGI associated with the stream object, has a 3-bit sub-field ‘Channel_Ns’ indicative of sub-channel recorded type, as shown in
This sub-field ‘Channel_Ns’ is ‘000’ when one sub-channel stream is recorded in a single associated stream object, ‘001’ when two sub-channels from same RF channel are recorded, and ‘010’ when two sub-channels from different two RF channels are recorded.
Thus, ‘001’ is written in the sub-field ‘Channel_Ns’ for the multi-channel stream recording example of
If each sub-channel is recorded in a single stream object so that plural pieces of PGI are created, the program-type field ‘PG_TY’ may have the format of
Thus, in case of the multi-channel stream recording example of
Those sub-fields ‘Channel_Ns’ and ‘LK_PG_Nu’ can be allocated in another navigation data, e.g., cell information instead of PGI.
In case that two selected sub-channels belonging to different RF channels are recorded as above, the two stream selectors 12 and 22 insert PSI packets ‘PSI1’ and ‘PSI2’, which are extracted from different RF channels respectively by the PSI/PCR decoders 11 and 21, in the selected sub-channels respectively and then send the PSI packet-inserted sub-channels to the buffers 13 and 23. The first buffer 13 reads a 4-byte current count of the first clock counter 14 and adds the read count to the received TP of the sub-channel CH1 as PAT thereof. The second buffer 23 reads a 4-byte current count of the second clock counter 24 to add to the received TP of the sub-channel CH3 from the second stream selector 22.
The sub-channels CH1401 and CH3402 stored respectively in the first 13 and the second buffer 23 are recorded in a single stream object or in two stream objects separately on the HD-DVD 100 as explained above. Navigation data related with a created stream object or stream objects are also created by the stream writer 15 and then recorded onto the recording medium 100.
If the program-type field of
A reproducing method and apparatus of reproducing a multi-channel stream recorded as above is explained below.
A multi-channel stream reproducing method conducted by the device of
The stream reader 26 reads a multi-channel stream that is recorded in a single stream object or separately in two stream objects. If it is read from a single stream object, the stream reader 26 reads recorded data sequentially and separates into respective sub-channels based on PID of each TP, and if from two stream objects, the stream reader 26 reads two stream objects alternately and stores alternately-read data in the corresponding buffer 33 or 35.
The stream reader 26 also checks the program-type field of PGI associated with a single or plural stream objects, and notifies the controller 37 of a value of the sub-field ‘Channel_Ns’ shown in
Each sub-channel stream stored in the buffers 33 and 35 is separated into PSI packets and A/V packets by the PSI/PCR decoder 32 or 34, and each PCR written in a TP is decoded and then delivered to the re-multiplexer 31. The re-multiplexer 31 processes input of the two sub-channels differently based on the control information from the controller 37.
In the example of
Then, the re-multiplexer 31 removes PSI packets inserted in one sub-channel stream of the two, e.g., the sub-channel stream from the second PSI/PCR decoder 34 because the two reproduced sub-channels have same PSI packets. One sub-channel stream and the other sub-channel stream from which PSI packets are removed are stored temporarily in an internal buffer of the re-multiplexer 31. TPs of the two sub-channels stored together in the internal buffer are multiplexed to be transmitted sequentially in order of PAT thereof. Namely, a TP with preceding added PAT is transmitted a head of a TP with later PAT regardless of sub-channel thereof.
After transmission of the first TP, the next TP is transmitted the moment the count difference between a current count of the clock counter 30 and a previous count when the first TP was transmitted is equal to the time difference between PAT of the next TP and the PAT of the first TP already transmitted. Each transmitting time of next successive TPs is determined in the same manner.
A displaying machine such as a digital TV set receiving the stream of two sub-channels transmitted as above can select and decode it based on PSI information to present in multi-screen or in PIP screen.
In the example of
Then, the re-multiplexer 31 examines the PSI packets ‘PSI1’ and ‘PSI2’ included respectively in the two sub-channels inputted from the PSI/PCR decoders 32 and 34 to construct new PSI packets ‘PSIn’ accordingly. The old PSI packets ‘PSI1’ and ‘PSI2’ are individually replaced with these new PSI packets ‘PSIn’. PSI information carried by the new PSI packets includes PAT (Program Association Table), PMT (Program Map Table), NIT (Network Information Table), and CAT (Conditional Access Table) that are made in view of a virtual single RF channel composed of the sub-channels CH1 and CH3.
And, PCRs are also modified to make a virtual single RF channel out of the two sub-channels having belonged to different RF channels. For the modification of PCRs, the re-multiplexer 31 calculates a PCR offset that is necessary to add to or subtract from PCRs carried by either sub-channel of the two. The PCR offset is equal to a difference between the first PCRs of the two sub-channels.
For example, if the first PCR ‘PCR31’ of the sub-channel CH3 of the second RF channel is ‘900’ and the first PCR ‘PCR11’ of the sub-channel CH1 of the first RF channel is ‘1000’, as shown in
The PCR offset obtained as above is added to each PCR ‘PCR3x’ of one sub-channel stream of which the first PCR is smaller, namely, the sub-channel stream CH3, or is subtracted from each PCR ‘PCR1x’ of which the first PCR is larger, namely, the sub-channel stream CH1.
Another time information such as PTS (Presentation Time Stamp) and DTS (Decoding Time Stamp) carried by a sub-channel stream whose PCRs are modified is also modified by the PCR offset.
TPs of the two sub-channels reconstructed as above are multiplexed to be transmitted sequentially in order of PAT thereof. The transmitting interval among successive TPs is determined the same as explained before.
A displaying machine such as a digital TV set receiving the multi-channel stream transmitted as above can select and decode it based on PSI information to present in multi-screen or in PIP screen.
In case that two sub-channels that have been recorded during different time zone are reproduced simultaneously, even though they are in same RF channel, the above-explained reproducing method for sub-channels belonging to different RF channels is applied instead of the method for sub-channels belonging to same RF channel.
In other words, PCRs (PTS/DTS as well) of one sub-channel are modified and PSI information is reconstructed before they are provided for a digital TV set, in this case. Furthermore, because their respective recording time zones are different, PATs of one sub-channel stream of which the first PAT is precedent are all added by the difference between the two first PATs. And, transmitting sequence and interval among TPs of the two sub-channels are determined based on the modified PATs of the one sub-channel and the original PAT of the other.
The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the sprit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2001-40677 | Jul 2001 | KR | national |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 10363878 | Mar 2003 | US |
Child | 12047667 | US |