Method of tuning according to varying length of key input and broadcast receiving apparatus using the same

Abstract

Provided are a tuning method according to a variable key input length and a broadcast receiving apparatus using the tuning method. The tuning method includes: if it is determined that an input length of one of at least one or more key inputs is more than or equal to a predetermined time, tuning to a first type broadcast; and if it is determined that the input length is less than the predetermined time, tuning to a second type broadcast different from the first type broadcast. Thus, different types of broadcasts can be tuned according to a length of a key input performed by a user. As a result, a digital broadcast channel can be directly input using only a number key.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects of the present invention will be more apparent by describing certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates keys provided in a digital TV remote controller;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a broadcast receiving apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a tuning method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a tuning method according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a tuning method according to another embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate examples of a minor channel list.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the following description, same drawing reference numerals are used for the same elements even in different drawings. The matters defined in the description such as a detailed construction and elements are provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of the invention. Thus, it is apparent that the present invention can be carried out without those defined matters. Also, well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail since they would obscure the invention in unnecessary detail.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a broadcast receiving apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The broadcast receiving apparatus shown in FIG. 2 tunes broadcasts using different methods according to a variable key input length determined by a user.

Referring to FIG. 2, the broadcast receiving apparatus includes a broadcast receiver 110, a broadcast processor 120, an on-screen display (OSD) combiner 130, a broadcast output unit 140, a display 150, a controller 160, a memory 170, and a key input receiver 180.

The broadcast receiver 110 tunes and modulates a broadcast received from an external source by wire or wireless. Here, the broadcast receiver 110 may receive the broadcast from an external device such as a broadcasting station, a satellite, etc., e.g., from a settop box.

The broadcast processor 120 performs signal processing including decoding, scaling, image processing, etc., on the broadcast output from the broadcast receiver 100.

The OSD combiner 130 overlaps OSD information including texts and/or graphics on a broadcast screen to be displayed. The OSD information includes “Input Number” and “Minor Channel List,” and will be described in detail later.

The broadcast output unit 140 displays the broadcast screen overlapping with the OSD information on the display 150 such as a liquid crystal display (LCD).

The memory 170 may be a recording medium storing a program and data for operating the broadcast receiving apparatus. The data stored in the memory 170 may be “Channel Map.”

The controller 160 controls an overall operation of the broadcast receiving apparatus according to a key input of a user which is transmitted from a remote controller 190 through the key input receiver 180. In detail, the controller 160 tunes a broadcast channel according to the key input of the user, and a method of tuning the broadcast channel will be described with reference to FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a tuning method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 3, in operation S200, the controller 160 determines whether an input length of one of at least one or more key inputs is more than or equal to a predetermined time.

If it is determined in operation S200 that the input length is more than or equal to the predetermined time, the controller 160 controls the broadcast receiver 110 to tune a digital broadcast in operation S300. In detail, the controller 160 controls the broadcast receiver 110 to tune to a digital broadcast channel designated by at least one key input.

For example, if the number key “7” is input for a duration equal to or greater than a first predetermined time, the receiver 110 recognizes that the desired channel is a digital channel “7” or “7-1”. If not, the receiver 110 recognizes that the desired channel is analog channel “7”. Furthermore, if a number key “2” is subsequently input before the timeout period, the recognized channel may be digital channel “7-2” or analog channel “72” respectively. In this case, the controller 160 controls the broadcast receiver 110 to tune to the respective recognized channel.

As another example, a number key “1” is input for a duration shorter than the first predetermined time, the number key “2” is input for a duration greater than the first predetermined time, and the number key “1” is input for a duration shorter than the first predetermined time. In this case, the controller 160 controls the broadcast receiver 110 to tune a digital broadcast channel “12-1.”

If it is determined in operation S200 that the input length of one of the at least one or more key inputs is less than the first predetermined time, the controller 160 controls the broadcast receiver 110 to tune an analog broadcast in operation S400. In detail, the controller 160 controls the broadcast receiver 110 to tune an analog broadcast channel designated by at least one key input.

For example, a when the number key “7” is input for a duration shorter than the first predetermined time, the controller 160 controls the broadcast receiver 110 to tune an analog broadcast channel “7.”

As another example, when the number key “7” is input for a duration shorter than the first predetermined time and the number key “2” may is also input for a duration shorter than the first predetermined time, the controller 160 controls the broadcast receiver 110 to tune an analog broadcast channel “72.”

A tuning method according to another embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIG. 4. As in the tuning method of FIG. 3, in the tuning method of FIG. 4, if an input length of one of at least one or more key inputs is more than or equal to a predetermined time, a digital broadcast is tuned, but an analog broadcast is tuned in other cases. Thus, operation S200 of FIG. 4 corresponds to operation S200 of FIG. 3, operations S310 and S320 of FIG. 4 correspond to operation S300 of FIG. 3, and operation S410 of FIG. 4 corresponds to operation S400 of FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 4, if a number key is input from a user through the remote controller 190 in operation S210, the controller 160 controls the OSD combiner 130 to overlap a number input through the number key as OSD information on a broadcast screen in operation S212.

In operation S214, the controller 160 determines whether an input length of the number key input in operation S210 is more than or equal to 1 second. If it is determined in operation S214 that the input length of the number key is more than or equal to one second, and if it is determined in operation S216 that a number key is input within a timeout period of two seconds after the number key is input in operation S210, the controller 160 controls the OSD combiner 130 to overlap a number input through the number key in operation S216 as OSD information on the broadcast screen in operation S218.

In operation S310, the controller 160 tunes a digital broadcast channel designated by the numbers which have been input through the number keys. In detail, in operation S310, the controller 160 controls the broadcast receiver 110 to tune a minor channel designated by the number input through the number key in operation S216, wherein the minor channel is one of minor channels belonging to a major channel.

For example, if it is determined in operation S214 that the number key “7” is input for one or more seconds in operation S210, and if it is determined in operation S216 that the number key “2” is input within two seconds, the controller 160 controls the broadcast receiver 110 to tune a digital broadcast channel “7-2” in operation S310.

If it is determined in operation S216 that the number key is not input within two seconds, in operation S320, the controller 160 controls the broadcast receiver 110 to tune a first minor channel of minor channels belonging to a major channel designated by the numbers which have been input through the number keys.

For example, if it is determined in operation S214 that the number key “7” is input for 1 or more seconds in operation S210, and if it is determined in operation S216 that the the number key is not input within 2 seconds and a first minor channel of a major channel “7” is “1,” the controller 160 controls the broadcast receiver 110 to tune a digital broadcast channel “7-1” in operation S320.

If it is determined in operation S214 that the number key is input for 1 or less second, in operation S220, the controller 160 determines whether a number key is input within 2 seconds after the number key is input in operation S210.

If it is determined in operation S220 that the number key is not input within 2 seconds, in operation S410, the controller 160 tunes to an analog broadcast channel designated by the numbers which has been input through the number keys. In detail, in operation S410, the controller 160 controls the broadcast receiver 110 to tune an analog broadcast channel designated by the number input through the number key in operation S210.

For example, if it is determined in operation S214 that the number key “7” is input for 1 or less second in operation in operation S210, and if it is determined that in operation S220 that the number key is not input within 2 seconds, the controller 160 controls the broadcast receiver 110 to tune an analog broadcast channel “7” in operation S410.

If it is determined in operation S214 that the number key is input for 1 or less in operation S210, and if it is determined in operation S220 that the number key is input within 2 seconds, the controller 160 returns to operation S212. Thus, a key may be input to tune a 2-figure or more major channel or a 2-figure or more analog broadcast channel.

For example, if it is determined in operation S214 that the number key “1” is input for 1 or less second in operation S210, if it is determined in operation S214 that the number key “2” is input for 1 or more seconds within 2 seconds, and if it is determined in operation S216 that the number key “2” is input within 2 seconds, the controller 160 controls the broadcast receiver 110 to tune a digital broadcast channel “12-2” in operation S310.

If it is determined in operation S214 that the number key “1” is input for 1 or less second in operation S210, if it is determined in operation S214 that the number key “2” is input for 1 or more seconds, if it is determined in operation S216 that the number key is not input within 2 seconds, and a first minor channel of a major channel “12” is “1,” the controller 160 controls the broadcast receiver 110 to tune a digital broadcast channel “12-1” in operation S320.

If it is determined in operation S214 that the number key “7” is input for 1 or less second in operation S210, if it is determined in operation S214 that the number key “1” is input for 1 or less second within 2 seconds in operation S220, and if it is determined in operation S220 that the number key is not input within 2 seconds, the controller 160 controls the broadcast receiver 110 to tune an analog broadcast channel “71” in operation S410.

In an alternative method to select a channel, if the last digit of the major channel number is input for a period longer than a second predetermined time, the second predetermined time being longer than the first predetermined time, the receiver 110 may immediately tune to the first minor channel corresponding to the major channel number. The second predetermined time may be approximately two seconds. This method may be applied irrespective of whether the selected major channel has one or a plurality of selectable minor channels. Furthermore, the receiver may tune to a pre-designated channel instead of tuning to the first minor channel. Still, in another method to select a channel, if the currently selected major channel has a single minor channel, the tuning would be performed immediately to that single minor channel number. In this case, there would be no need for the receiver to wait for the timeout period or actuating the number key for a second predetermined time before initiating the tuning process. The checking of the availability of the minor channels may be performed by utilizing information which was stored during an automatic channel searching function or by utilizing the program information sent with the broadcast, such as the PSIP (Program system information protocol) of the U.S. digital television broadcast standard.

A tuning method according to another embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIG. 5. As in the tuning methods of FIGS. 3 and 4, in the tuning method of FIG. 5, if an input length of one of at least one or more key inputs is more than or equal to a predetermined time, a digital broadcast is tuned, but an analog broadcast is tuned in other cases. Thus, operations S200, S320, and S410 of FIG. 5 respectively correspond to operations S200, S300, and S400 of FIG. 3.

Operations S210, S212, S214, S220, and S410 of FIG. 5 are the same as operations S210, S212, S214, S220, and S410 of FIG. 4, respectively, and thus their detailed descriptions will be omitted. Only operations S230, S232, and S320, which have not been described in FIG. 4, will be described.

Referring to FIG. 5, if it is determined in operation S214 that a number key is input for 1 or more seconds, the controller 160 controls the OSD combiner 130 to overlap and display a minor channel list as OSD information on a broadcast screen in operation S230.

Here, the minor channel list refers to a list including minor channels belonging to a major channel designated by numbers which have been input before operation S230. For example, if a number key “7” is input for 1 or more seconds before operation S230, the controller 160 displays a minor channel list of a major channel “7” in operation S230. As another example, if a number key “1” is input for 1 or less second and a number key “2” is input for 1 or more seconds before operation S230, the controller 160 displays a minor channel list of a major channel “12” in operation S230.

The controller 160 generates such a minor channel list with reference to a channel map including information related to channels stored in the memory 170.

The controller 160 may arrange only channel numbers to generate the minor channel list or may arrange the channel numbers together with kinds of channels to generate the minor channel list. The former case is illustrated in FIG. 6A, and the latter case is illustrated in FIG. 6B.

Referring to FIG. 5 again, in operation S232, the controller 160 determines whether a user selects a minor channel through the remote controller 190.

Here, the user may select the minor channel using a direction and selection key or a number key provided in the remote controller 190 with reference to the minor channel list displayed in operation S230.

If it is determined in operation S232 that the user selects the minor channel, the controller 160 controls the broadcast receiver 110 to tune the selected minor channel in operation S320.

The tuning methods of tuning broadcasts using different methods according to a variable input length of a key input performed by a user have been described in detail in the embodiments of the present.

Times mentioned in the embodiments of the present invention, i.e., 1 second and 2 seconds, are only examples for convenience. Thus, other times may be used in the embodiments of the present invention.

Also, the remote controller 190 has been described as a user input unit for selecting a channel in the embodiments of the present invention. However, other key input units, e.g., a key input unit provided on a front panel of a broadcast receiving apparatus or the like, may be used.

In addition, in the embodiments of the present invention, if an input length of one of at least one or more key inputs is more than or equal to a predetermined time, a digital broadcast is tuned, but an analog broadcast is tuned in other cases. However, an opposite case may be realized.

In other words, if an input length of one of at least one or more key inputs is more than or equal to a predetermined time, an analog broadcast may be tuned, but a digital broadcast may be tuned in other cases.

It has been described in the present embodiments of the present invention that a digital or analog broadcast is tuned according to a variable input length of a key input performed by a user. However, this is only an example for convenience. Thus, broadcasts using different methods may be tuned according to a variable input length of a key input performed by a user.

For example, the scope of the present invention may be applied if a terrestrial broadcast or a cable broadcast is tuned according to a length of a key input performed by a user, if a terrestrial broadcast or a satellite broadcast is tuned according to a length of a key input performed by a user, and if a cable broadcast or a satellite broadcast is tuned according to a length of a key input performed by a user. Thus, the present invention may be applied whenever there is a potential for a conflict in channel designations (i.e. using the same channel designation) between the different types of broadcasts.

The broadcast receiving apparatus of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 2 does not need to include all of blocks illustrated in FIG. 2, and thus unnecessary blocks may be omitted. For example, if the broadcast receiving apparatus is a settop box, the broadcast receiving apparatus may not include the display 150.

As described above, according to the present invention, broadcasts using different methods can be tuned according to a length of a key input performed by a user. Thus, a digital broadcast channel can be directly input using only a number key without an additional key.

Also, an additional key used only for inputting a digital broadcast channel is not needed. Thus, the size and the complexity of the a remote controller can be decreased, and the user can easily input a broadcast channel through the remote controller.

The process of inputting channel designations as described above is not limited to channel numbers, but may be applied to other types of channel designations such as alphabetical and/or special symbols.

The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention. The present teaching can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. Also, the description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims, and many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A tuning method comprising: conducting a first tuning in which a first type broadcast is tuned, if it is determined that one of at least one or more key inputs lasts a first predetermined time period or longer; andconducting a second tuning in which a second type broadcast is tuned, if it is determined that the at least one or more key inputs last less than the first predetermined time period.

2. The tuning method of claim 1, wherein the first type broadcast comprises a digital broadcast.

3. The tuning method of claim 2, wherein the key inputs are inputs of number keys, and the first tuning comprises tuning to a major channel corresponding to a first number which is input through at least one of the number keys in which at least one of the number keys is activated for the first predetermined time period or longer.

4. The tuning method of claim 3, wherein the first tuning comprises tuning to one of minor channels of the major channel, which corresponds to a second number input through at least one of the number keys after the input of the first number.

5. The tuning method of claim 2, wherein the key inputs are inputs of number keys, and the first tuning comprises tuning to a major channel which corresponds to a combination of a plurality of keys corresponding to the digits of the first number in which the key corresponding to the last digit of the plurality of digits is activated for the first predetermined time period or longer.

6. The tuning method of claim 5, wherein the first tuning comprises tuning to one of minor channels of the major channel, which corresponds to a second number input through at least one number key, after the input of the first number.

7. The tuning method of claim 2, wherein the second type broadcast comprises an analog broadcast.

8. The tuning method of claim 2, wherein the key inputs are inputs of number keys, and the first tuning comprises selecting from a list of minor channels in a screen to be displayed, wherein the minor channels belong to a major channel.

9. The tuning method of claim 8, wherein the list of minor channels comprises of at least a channel number and a channel name.

10. The tuning method of claim 1, wherein the first type broadcast comprises one of terrestrial, cable, IPTV and satellite broadcasts, the second type broadcast comprises one of terrestrial, cable, and satellite broadcasts, and the first and the second type broadcast are different from each other.

11. The tuning method of claim 3, wherein a broadcast corresponding to a predetermined minor channel number of the major channel number is tuned if a timeout period elapses after the input of the first number by the user, first number which corresponds to the major channel number.

12. The tuning method of claim 11, wherein the predetermined minor channel number is the first minor channel number of the corresponding major channel number.

13. The tuning method of claim 3, wherein a broadcast corresponding to a predetermined minor channel number of the major channel number is tuned if at least one of the number keys corresponding to the first number is input for a second predetermined time.

14. The tuning method of claim 13, wherein the second predetermined time is greater than the first predetermined time.

15. The tuning method of claim 3, wherein the first predetermined time is approximately one second.

16. The tuning method of claim 15, wherein the second predetermined time is approximately two seconds.

17. The tuning method of claim 13, wherein the predetermined minor channel number is the first minor channel number of the corresponding major channel number.

18. The tuning method of claim 13, wherein the second predetermined time is approximately two seconds.

19. The tuning method of claim 11, wherein the timeout period is approximately two seconds.

20. The tuning method of claim 1, wherein the tuning method is incorporated into a settop box.

21. The tuning method of claim 1, wherein the tuning method is incorporated into a television.

22. The tuning method of claim 2, wherein the first broadcast type is an IPTV broadcast and the second broadcast type is a digital broadcast type.

23. The tuning method of claim 22, wherein the second broadcast type is a terrestrial broadcast.

24. The tuning method of claim 2, wherein the first broadcast type is a terrestrial broadcast and the second broadcast type is a cable broadcast.

25. A broadcast receiving apparatus comprising: a broadcast receiver which tunes to and receives a broadcast; anda controller which controls the broadcast receiver such that a first type broadcast is tuned, if it is determined that one of at least one or more key inputs lasts a first predetermined time period or longer, and a second type broadcast is tuned, if it is determined that the at least one or more key inputs last less than the first predetermined time period, wherein the second type broadcast is different from the first type broadcast.

26. The broadcast receiving apparatus of claim 25, wherein the first type broadcast comprises a digital broadcast.

27. The broadcast receiving apparatus of claim 26, wherein the key inputs are inputs of number keys, and the first tuning comprises tuning to a major channel corresponding to a first number which is input through at least one of the number keys in which at least one of the number keys is activated for the first predetermined time period or longer.

28. The broadcast receiving apparatus of claim 27, wherein the controller controls the broadcast receiver to tune to one of minor channels of the major channel, which corresponds to a second number input through at least one of the number keys after the input of the first number.

29. The broadcast receiving apparatus of claim 26, wherein the key inputs are inputs of number keys, and the first tuning comprises tuning to a major channel which corresponds to a combination of a plurality of keys corresponding to the digits of the first number in which the key corresponding to the last digit of the plurality of digits is activated for the first predetermined time period or longer.

30. The broadcast receiving apparatus of claim 29, wherein the controller controls the broadcast receiver such that one of minor channels of the major channel, which corresponds to a second number input through at least one number key, after the input of the first number is tuned.

31. The broadcast receiving apparatus of claim 26, wherein the second type broadcast comprises an analog broadcast.

32. The broadcast receiving apparatus of claim 26, further comprising a combiner which processes such that a display information is overlapped on a screen to be displayed, and wherein the key inputs are inputs of number keys, andthe controller controls the combiner such that the length of the key input time is overlapped on the screen, when the screen displays a list of minor channels belonging to the major channel corresponding to a number input through a number key for the predetermined time period or longer.

33. The broadcast receiving apparatus of claim 32, wherein the controller controls the broadcast receiver such that a minor channel, which is selected by a user from the list of minor channels, is tuned.

34. The broadcast receiving apparatus of claim 25, wherein the first type broadcast comprises one of terrestrial, cable, and satellite broadcasts, the second type broadcast comprises one of terrestrial, cable, and satellite broadcasts, and the first and the second type broadcast are different from each other.

35. A tuning method comprising: receiving an input of a first number key for a predetermined time period or longer; receiving an input of a second number key after the input of the first number key; andtuning a minor channel corresponding to a second number input through the second number key, wherein the minor channel is one of minor channels belonging to a major channel corresponding to a first number input through the first number key.

36. A tuning method comprising: determining a length of input time of each of at least one or more key inputs;determining the at least one key inputs as a command to tune to a first type broadcast, if it is determined that one of the at least one or more key inputs is input for a predetermined time period or longer; anddetermining the at least one key inputs as a command to tune to a second type broadcast which is different from the first type broadcast, if it is determined that the each of the at least one or more key inputs is input less than the predetermined time period.

37. The tuning method of claim 36, wherein the first type broadcast comprises a digital broadcast, and the second type broadcast comprises an analog broadcast.

38. A tuning method comprising: determining a length of time that a key is input; anddetermining that the key input is for inputting a major channel, if it is determined that the key is input for a predetermined time or longer.

39. The tuning method according to claim 38, wherein the key input is a numerical input.

40. The tuning method according to claim 39, wherein the key input is a alphabetical character input.