Patent ID: 8326291
Filing Date: 2012-12-04
Classification: H04H,H04N

Abstract:
1. A fast channel switching apparatus for a digital broadcast receiver, comprising: a tuner for receiving a plurality of service channels of a frequency channel; a broadcast demodulator for demodulating the service channels and outputting an ongoing service channel and at least one standby service channel among the service channels; a storage unit for storing broadcast data of the ongoing and standby service channels output from the broadcast demodulator into corresponding buffers and reading out the broadcast data buffered in a buffer of the ongoing service channel; a decoder for decoding the broadcast data read out of the storage unit into video and audio data; a display for displaying the video data output from the decoder; and a speaker for outputting the audio data output from the decoder, wherein the storage unit reads out, when the ongoing service channel is switched to one of the standby service channels, the broadcast data buffered for the standby service channel, wherein reception of a broadcast signal is turned on at burst times of both of the ongoing service channel and each of the respective standby service channels; wherein the standby service channels comprise channels having a higher probability for selection as an ongoing service channel during a subsequent channel switching; a channel switching controller for resetting, when the ongoing service channel is switched to another service channel, the broadcast demodulator and storage with new ongoing and standby service channels; and wherein the channel switching controller controls, when the ongoing service channel is switched to one of the standby service channels, the storage unit to read out the buffered broadcast data of the standby service channel as a new ongoing service channel, controls the broadcast demodulator and the storage unit if the standby service channel is the upper neighbor service channel, to delete a Program Identifier (PID) of the lower neighbor service channel and add a PID of the upper neighbor service channel of the new ongoing service channel; and controls the broadcast demodulator and the storage unit, if the standby service channel is the lower neighbor service channel, to delete the PID of the upper neighbor service channel of the ongoing service channel and add the PID of the lower neighbor service channel of the new ongoing service channel.