Abstract:
A method and apparatus can provide and use a channel history map that shows a user&#39;s previous channel selections. Such a method and apparatus can include, for example a digital television system. A method can include building a database, which includes a plurality of channel information sets for channels that are previously tuned by a user for a prescribed time, previously tuned in sequence, or previously tuned for a preset time interval or the like and outputting or displaying a channel history map based on the database using an OSD (On Screen Display) when a request for displaying the history map is made by the user. The method can also include providing a set of channel related functions in the channel history map for the previously tuned channels concurrent selection. By providing a channel history map that shows the user&#39;s previous channel selections, the user is able to select one of the previously selected channels and perform a TV-related function in an efficient manner.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This application claims the benefit of Korean Application No. P2001-68200, filed on Nov. 2, 2001, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.  
           [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention generally relates to a display apparatus or system.  
           [0004]    2. Background of the Related Art  
           [0005]    In general, a digital television system has a far greater number of channels than the analog television systems. For example, the digital television systems in particular cities of the U.S. with a large population may have more than several hundred channels. Since the digital television system can have such an uncountable number of channels, a TV viewer may enjoy an extended range of channel selections while each channel selection is performed in a more complicated manner.  
           [0006]    For the reasons described above, a related art digital television system has a channel pre-selecting function such as a function for determining one or more favorite channels. Using the channel pre-selecting function of the digital television system, a user can pre-select a set of channels that he or she desires to watch upon reviewing the supplemental information of each channel. In this way, the user is able to select a desired channel in a much more efficient manner by skipping all the uninterested channels (i.e., not pre-selected) and viewing only the pre-selected channels when selecting a desired channel.  
           [0007]    When selecting a channel for watching a desired program of the pre-selected channels, the user inputs one or more channel-up or channel-down commands by pressing a channel-up button or channel down button provided on a remote control device or on a key panel provided on the television system. For example, if a user has previously pre-selected channels 1, 3, 5, 7 and 89 as a set of registered channels and is currently watching channel 1, then one way to select and watch channel 89 is to press the channel-up buttons four times. Thereafter, if the user desires to watch channel 1 again, the user usually presses the channel-down button four times. As described above, however, the related art system has various disadvantages including creating great inconvenience to the user if many pre-selected channels exist between a previous channel that the user was previously watching and a current channel that the user is currently watching.  
           [0008]    The above references are incorporated by reference herein where appropriate for appropriate teachings of additional or alternative details, features and/or technical background.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    An object of the invention is to solve at least the above problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described hereinafter.  
           [0010]    Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method of providing a channel history map in a digital television system that substantially obviates one or more problems caused by disadvantages of the related art.  
           [0011]    Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method of outputting a history map for a display apparatus that indicates a set of previous channel selections made by a user.  
           [0012]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of building a database for a channel history map, where the database includes a plurality of channel information sets of channels that are previously selected and tuned by a user.  
           [0013]    Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method that provides a selectable channel history map that indicates one or more previously selected channels, channel information sets for each channel and a plurality of channel related functions.  
           [0014]    Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method that provides a one-click selection channel history map that indicates one or more previously selected channels, channel information sets for each channel and a plurality of channel related functions.  
           [0015]    To achieve at least the above objects in a whole or in part and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a method of providing a channel history map according to the present invention includes building a database in a memory, the database including a plurality of channel information sets for channels that are previously tuned by a user in sequence; and displaying a channel history map based on the database using selectable On Screen Display when a request for displaying the history map is made by the user. Each channel information set can include a channel identifier and previous program information. The program information can include at least one of broadcasting date/hour information, a broadcasting station name, a program title, a program genre, and a program rating of at least one broadcasted program. The plurality of selectable channel-related functions can include a channel switch function, a preview function, an add/drop favorite channel function and a playback function.  
           [0016]    To further achieve at least the above objects in a whole or in part and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a digital television system according to the present invention is provided that includes a memory, a control unit coupled to the memory for building a database in the memory, the database including a plurality of channel information sets for channels that are previously tuned by a user in sequence and a display unit coupled to the control unit for displaying a channel history map based on the database using a user-selectable device when a request for displaying said history map is made by the user.  
           [0017]    To further achieve at least the above objects in a whole or in part and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a method according to the present invention is provided that includes building a database in a memory, the database including a plurality of channel information sets for channels that are previously tuned by a user according to a prescribed criteria, and outputting a channel history map based on the database when a request for the history map is made by the user.  
           [0018]    To further achieve at least the above objects in a whole or in part and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a method of using a channel history map according to the present invention is provided that includes concurrently receiving first and second inputs from a user through a selectable channel history map, the first input determining one of a previously tuned plurality of channels as a selected channel, the second input determining one of a plurality of selectable channel-related functions as a selected function, and performing the selected channel-related function for the selected channel to select the function.  
           [0019]    Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained as particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]    The invention will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like elements wherein:  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 1 is a diagram that illustrates a preferred embodiment of a display apparatus according to the present invention;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a preferred embodiment of a method of building a database for a channel history map according to the present invention;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a a preferred embodiment of method of performing a channel-related function for a selected channel selected through a channel history map;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 4A is a diagram that illustrates an example of an On Screen Display (OSD) menu box for controllably displaying a channel history map;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 4B is a diagram that illustrates an example of a remote control device having a function button for a channel history map; and  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 5 is a diagram that illustrates an example of a channel history map according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0027]    [0027]FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a display apparatus that can be a digital television system according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the digital television system can include a display unit  20 , a tuner  10  tuning to a selected channel for receiving a corresponding broadcasting signal, and a signal processing unit  30 . The signal processing unit  30  may perform the necessary signal-processing functions on the broadcasting signal of the tuned channel received through the tuner  10  for converting the signal into a video signal, audio signal and supplemental information of the tuned channel.  
         [0028]    The supplemental information of each channel can be provided to the user using an On-Screen-Display (OSD) function such as an Electronic Program Guide (EPG) or through input in the broadcasting signal. The supplemental information of a channel preferably includes the broadcasting time and length, rating index (e.g., movie rating), program type, and other information of the programs being provided through the channel. The user initially looks into the supplemental information of a channel and is able to perform various channel-related functions such as channel pre-selecting function (e.g., favorite channel), a program recording function, and many others.  
         [0029]    The television system shown in FIG. 1 can further include a control unit  40  and memory  50  preferably having a first memory space (e.g., buffer) for storing the supplemental information of the tuned channel and a second memory space for storing a channel history map that includes supplemental information of one or more prior channels that were selected prior to the currently tuned channel. The control unit  40  can update the channel history map stored in the memory  50  upon receiving a channel-switch command from a user and can generate a control signal to the display unit  20  for displaying the updated channel history map using an On Screen Display (OSD) function such as a information only or selectable dialog window. Upon receiving a channel-switch command, the control unit  40  preferably initially reads the supplemental information of the tuned channel from the first memory space of the memory  50  and updates the channel history map database stored in the second memory space of the memory  50  by storing the information read from the first memory space into the second memory space.  
         [0030]    Operations of the system of FIG. 1 according to the present invention will now be described. When a user initially selects a desired channel of the television system, the tuner  10  tunes to the selected channel and receives a corresponding broadcasting signal through the tuned channel. The signal-processing unit  30  converts the broadcasting signal into video and audio signals and supplemental information of the tuned channel. Then, the audio and video signals are preferably outputted through a speaker (not illustrated) and the display unit  20 , respectively. In addition, the supplemental information of the tuned channel are initially stored in the first memory space of the memory  50  in accordance with a control signal that the controller unit  40  generates, and the controller starts measuring the display time of the tuned channel.  
         [0031]    When the user inputs a channel-switching command by pressing one or more buttons provided on a remote control device, a key panel of the television system or the like, the control unit  40  of the television system can read the supplemental information of the tuned channel from the first memory space of the memory  50  and updates a channel history map stored in the second memory space by storing the read information into the channel history map preferably upon determining whether the read data represent true data. The determination is preferably performed by comparing the read supplemental information with reference information of the television system.  
         [0032]    Thereafter, the controller unit  40  of the television system generates necessary control signals so that the tuner  10  is able to tune to a newly selected channel according to the channel-switch command and receive a new broadcasting signal. The signal-processing unit  30  is able to convert the new broadcasting signal into video, audio, and supplemental information signals.  
         [0033]    The control unit  40  may update the channel history map stored in the memory  50  each time when the user inputs a channel-switch command. The size of the channel history map, e.g., the number of the supplemental information sets of the previously selected channels, may depend on the storage capacity of the memory  50 . Alternately, the size of the channel history map can depend on a total desired time (e.g., 30 minutes) of channel history. However, the present invention is not intended to be so limited to such exemplary determinations.  
         [0034]    When the user inputs a command for displaying the channel map, the controller unit  40  generates a corresponding control signal in order for the display unit  20  to display the channel history map including the supplemental information of a number of previously selected channels preferably using an On-Screen-Display (OSD) function. Thereafter, using the displayed channel map, the user is able to give a command for performing any one of various channel-related functions such as CHANNEL-SWITCH, PREVIEW, and FAVORITE CHANNEL functions for a selected channel.  
         [0035]    In a case where the user inputs a CHANNEL-SWITCH function command using the remote control device or key panel, the controller unit  40  preferably generates a control signal to the tuner  10  for tuning to a desired channel selected by the user.  
         [0036]    In a case where the user inputs a PREVIEW function command, the control unit  40  reads the supplemental information (e.g., detailed story of a program) of a desired channel stored in the second memory space of the memory  50  and enables the display unit  20  to display the read information. Such read information can include text, a video preview or the like of the desired channel. The read information can include current time information, a prescribed time information or the like. If the television system supports a bilateral data communication, the control unit  40  may provide a Video On Demand (VOD) service by requesting to send a broadcasting signal of the desired channel. Such VOD can be limited to a set interval (e.g., 30 seconds).  
         [0037]    In a case where the user inputs a FAVORITE CHANNEL function command, the control unit  40  registers a desired channel as a favorite channel. Such a FAVORITE CHANNEL function command may be implemented as a toggle function where an initial selection registers and a next selection of the same channel removes that channel as a favorite channel.  
         [0038]    As shown in FIG. 1, the preferred embodiment is a digital television system. However, the present invention is not intended to be so limited. For example, the present invention is applicable to an apparatus being a set-top box or a method and apparatus for providing channel tuning information to a separate display apparatus such as a monitor of a television system.  
         [0039]    The set of channel related functions can include added functions, for example, a playback function. Such a playback function would preferably be selectable with the selectable channel related functions in the OSD including the channel history map. Such a playback function can include playing back or reviewing the previously watched content for the selected channel, for example, at a prescribed or user selectable time. The playback function can perform on a prescribed amount or user selectable amount of time or video data.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 2 is a flowchart that illustrates a preferred embodiment of a method of providing channel selection history information in accordance with the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the method will be described with respect to a digital television system. However, the present invention is not intended to be so limited. After a process starts as shown in FIG. 2, the digital television system shown in FIG. 1 is turned on (step S 9 ). The control unit  40  of the television system preferably instructs the tuner  10  to tune to a channel and receive a corresponding broadcasting signal (step S 10 ). For example, the channel may be the most recently selected channel before power off or a channel prescribed by a user or a manufacturer.  
         [0041]    Next, the signal-processing unit  30  converts the broadcasting signal into audio and video signals and supplemental information corresponding to the tuned channel (step S 11 ). The supplemental information of the tuned channel may include a channel identifier and previous program information including broadcasting date/time information, a broadcasting station name, a program title, a program genre, a program rating of at least one broadcasted program or the like.  
         [0042]    Then, the signal-processing unit  30  performs the necessary processes on the audio and video signals, the separated supplemental information is stored in the first memory space of the memory  50  (step S 12 ). Thereafter, the control unit  40  enables the display unit  20  and a speaker (not illustrated) of the television system respectively output the processed video and audio signals. The control unit  40  may count the display time of the channel tuned in the step S 10  (step S 13 ).  
         [0043]    The control unit  40  can also determine whether a channel-switch command is received from a user (step S 14 ). Such a determination can be repeatedly performed. If it is, then the control unit  40  can further check whether the display time of the tuned channel is greater than a prescribed period of time (step S 15 ). If it is determined from the step S 15  that the display time is greater than the prescribed period of time, then control unit  40  can further determine whether the supplemental information is true information (step S 16 ) by checking whether the supplemental information conforms to the reference information of the television system, which can include present date/time information, an actual channel number of the tuned channel, a name of a broadcasting station, and/or a signal type of the broadcasting signal.  
         [0044]    The broadcasting signal provider often includes the incorrect supplemental information (e.g., incorrect broadcasting time) in a broadcasting signal that the provider sends to many television systems. For example, when the broadcasting signal provider rebroadcasts a program which was initially broadcast at an earlier (e.g., different) time and the provider does not update the supplemental information, the broadcasting time indicated in the supplemental information may not properly correspond to the actual rebroadcasting schedule. By performing step S 15 , only channels watched by the user for a certain time will be entered into the channel history map. By performing the step S 16 , preferably such incorrect (false) information included in the rebroadcasting signal will not be incorporated into the channel history map stored in the second memory space and will not be provided to the user. When the respective determination in the steps S 15  and S 16  is negative, control can jump to step S 18 .  
         [0045]    If it is determined from the step S 16  that the supplemental information of the tuned channel conforms to the reference information of the television system, then the controller  40  stores the supplemental information in the second memory space of the memory  50  and can configure a channel-history map data (step S 17 ). The tuner  10  tunes to the desired channel corresponding to the command received from the user in the step S 14  (step S 18 ). Preferably, the steps S 12  to S 17  are repeated until the user inputs no further channel-switch command in the step S 14  or the television system is disabled. Therefore, each time the user inputs a channel-switch command, the control unit  40  stores the supplemental information of the presently tuned channel in the second memory space and updates the channel history map data accordingly before tuning to a desired channel according to the channel-switch command. Preferably, the process shown in FIG. 2 ends when the television system, the channel history capability is disabled, or the like  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 3 is a flowchart that illustrates a preferred embodiment of a method of performing a channel-related function using a channel history map according to the present invention. The preferred embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 3 can preferably be performed together. As shown in FIG. 3, the control unit  40  of the television system initially checks whether a CH HISTORY MAP mode is set for displaying a channel history map (step S 20 ). A user can set the CH HISTORY MAP mode by selecting a CH HISTORY MAP icon displayed on an exemplary OSD menu box as shown in FIG. 4A or by pressing an exemplary CH HISTORY MAP button provided on a remote control device as shown in FIG. 4B or the like. If it is determined from the step S 20  that the CH HISTORY MAP mode is set by the user, then the control unit  40  instructs the display unit  20  to display a channel history map (step S 21 ).  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a channel history map that the display unit  20  displays using an OSD function when requested by the user. As shown in FIG. 5, the history map includes the history map data sets for a series of the previously selected channels, and the data sets may be arranged in an order of the previous channel selections. As shown in FIG. 5, the data set for each previously selected channel may include a channel identifier (e.g., channel number), the broadcasting time of a broadcasting program, the source (e.g., name of the broadcasting stations), and the title of the program.  
         [0048]    Referring back to FIG. 3, the control unit  40  preferably further determines one of the channels indicated in the OSD channel history map the user has selected for performing one of channel-related functions such as CHANNEL SWITCH, PREVIEW, and FAVORITE CHANNEL functions (step S 22 ). The selectable channel history map was displayed for user selection in the step S 21 . If it is determined from the step S 22  that a channel-selecting command is received from the user, then the control unit  40  preferably determines which one of the above-described channel-related functions the user has selected (steps S 30 , S 40 , S 50 ).  
         [0049]    In a case where the user selects the CHANNEL SWITCH function using the channel history map, the control unit  40  can instruct the tuner  10  to tune to the selected channel and to receive a corresponding broadcasting signal (step S 31 ). In a case where the user selects the PREVIEW function, the control unit  40  generates a control signal for performing a Video On Demand (VOD) service, displaying the detailed supplemental information of the selected channel using OSD or the like (step S 41 ). In a case where the user selects the FAVORITE CHANNEL function, the control unit  40  determines the selected channel as one of favorite channels (step S 51 ).  
         [0050]    In brief summary, preferred embodiments of an apparatus and method according to the present invention can provide channel history information of the previous channel selections to a user. A user is able to perform a desired TV-related function for one of the previously selected channels using the provided channel history information. Accordingly, a user can select one of previously selected channels, pre-selected function or the like in a more efficient manner.  
         [0051]    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. The description of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims. Many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures.