Abstract:
A broadcasting system and a control method thereof providing convenient channel selection are provided. In the method, channel rating information is transmitted from a broadcasting station to a display device. Channel priority is determined based on the transmitted channel rating information. Channel information is displayed on the display device according to the channel priority.

Description:
[0001]     This application claims the benefit of the Korean Patent Application No. 10-2004-0065764, filed on Aug. 20, 2004, which is hereby incorporated by reference.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to a broadcasting system, and more particularly, to a broadcasting system and a control method thereof that provide convenient channel selection.  
         [0004]     2. Discussion of the Related Art  
         [0005]     A television (TV) is the most typical example of a display device. The TV selects a broadcasting signal transmitted from a broadcasting station according to a user&#39;s selection, and displays the selected broadcasting signal on its screen. The TV is gradually changed from an analogue TV into a digital TV with the development of multimedia technology.  
         [0006]     The digital TV provides various additional services such as a home shopping service, an electronic newspaper service, a stock information service, and so on, and provides many broadcasting channels through efficient use of a broadcasting bandwidth.  
         [0007]     Since standards for an interactive service such as an online game service or a video-on-demand (VOD) service are being determined, manufacturers actively conduct a study on an interface for the interactive service. A digital TV receiver or an Internet TV, which is currently being developed, provides a graphic user interface (GUI) having the same level as that of a personal computer (PC). A typical example of the GUI includes an electronic program guide (EPG) that is guide information about broadcasting programs. The EPG displays information about broadcasting programs on a screen by date and time. This EPG function aims at enhancing user convenience for coping with the complexity and variety of a digital TV.  
         [0008]      FIG. 1  illustrates a block view showing a structure of a general image display device.  FIG. 2  illustrates a flow chart showing a method for controlling the general image display device of  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the general image display device includes a tuner  11 , an IF signal processor  12 , an image signal processor  13 , a channel selection information storage  19 , a remote controller  14 , a remote receiver  15 , a key pad  16 , a controller  17 , an OSD message generator  18 , and a synthesizer  20 . The tuner  11  is used for selecting a broadcasting signal received through an antenna  10 . The IF signal processor  12  receives and amplifies the broadcasting signal selected by the tuner  11 . The image signal processor  13  processes the image signal processed by the IF signal processor  12  so that the image signal can be displayed on a display unit  21 . The channel selection information storage  19  stores channel selection information. The remote controller  14  is used for transmitting a viewer&#39;s request command from a remote distance. The remote receiver  15  is used for receiving the viewer&#39;s request command transmitted from the remote controller  14 .  
         [0009]     The controller  17  controls operations of each element of the display device (or television receiver) according to the request command inputted through the remote receiver  15  or the key pad  16 . The controller  17  also stores the channel selection information that is processed from the IF signal processor  12  in the channel selection information storage  19  and outputs a control signal in accordance with the viewer&#39;s request. The OSD message generator  18  generates OSD messages in accordance with the control signal of the controller  17 . The synthesizer  20  synthesizes the image signal processed by the image signal processor  13  and the message generated from the OSD message generator  18 , so that the image signal and the message can be displayed on the display unit  21 .  
         [0010]     The operation of the general image display device having the above-described structure will now be described in detail. When the viewer inputs a ‘Power On’ command by using the remote controller  14  or the key pad  16 , the controller  17  transmits a control signal to the tuner  11  to allow a channel desired by the viewer to be selected. Subsequently, the tuner  11  selects the channel desired by the viewer. The broadcasting signal of the selected channel is inputted to the IF signal processor  12 , and the broadcasting signal is then separated into a video signal, an audio signal, and additional information. Thereafter, the image signal is inputted to the image signal processor  13 , which is then converted to a signal that can be displayed on the display unit  21 .  
         [0011]     The channel information of one of the channels, which are selected by using the remote controller  14  or the key pad  16 , being further selected as a preferred (or frequently viewed) channel is stored in the channel selection information storage  19 . Then, in accordance with the viewer&#39;s request command, a change in channels may only be performed among the channels selected and memorized (or remembered) by the channel selection information storage  19 . More specifically, when a channel selection command is inputted through the remote controller  14  or the key pad  16 , the controller  17  transmits a set of tuning data to the tuner  11 . Then, the controller  17  searches for the channels in which synchronization signals exist, and the channel selection information storage  19  memorizes the corresponding channel number. Thereafter, in accordance with the viewer&#39;s request, the controller  17  sequentially calls (or summons) the channel numbers, which are aligned in sequential order. Then, the called (or summoned) channels are selected as the preferred (or frequently viewed) channels.  
         [0012]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the display device determines whether the user inputted the preferred channel key (S 1 ). Then, in accordance with the result of Step  1 , if the user inputted the preferred channel key, the display device receives and decodes the received Broadcasting Program System signal (S 2 ). Subsequently, the channel number, program code, and time information of the channel, which is currently being viewed, are stored (S 3 ). Finally, the display mode of the television receiver (or the display device) is set as the “preferred channel selected” mode.  
         [0013]     However, the existing digital TV provides a function for storing several channels, but does not provide a function for effectively managing and using many channels. Accordingly, the existing digital TV cannot provide convenient channel selection because many channels must be individually scanned to select a desired broadcasting program or channel.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]     Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a broadcasting system and a control method thereof that substantially obviate one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.  
         [0015]     An object of the present invention is to provide a broadcasting system and a control method thereof that provide convenient channel selection.  
         [0016]     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 objectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.  
         [0017]     To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a method for controlling a broadcasting system, the method including the steps of: receiving channel rating information from a broadcasting station; determining channel priority based on the received channel rating information; and displaying channel information on a display device according to the determined channel priority.  
         [0018]     In another aspect of the present invention, a broadcasting system includes: a server of a broadcasting station, the server generating and outputting channel rating information; and a display device to determine channel priority based on the channel rating information and to display channel information according to the determined channel priority.  
         [0019]     In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display device comprising: a receiver to receive channel viewing rating information from an external source, a controller to determine channel priority based on the received channel viewing rating information, and a display unit to display channel information according to he determined channel priority.  
         [0020]     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0021]     The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings:  
         [0022]      FIG. 1  illustrates a block view showing a structure of an image display device according to a related art;  
         [0023]      FIG. 2  illustrates a flow chart showing a method for setting preferred channels according to the related art;  
         [0024]      FIG. 3  illustrates a block diagram of a broadcasting system according to the present invention;  
         [0025]      FIG. 4  illustrates a flow chart showing a method for controlling a broadcasting system according to the present invention;  
         [0026]      FIG. 5  illustrates an example of a menu for preferred channel settings; and  
         [0027]      FIG. 6  illustrates a list of favorite channels based on program ratings. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0028]     Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.  
         [0029]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of a broadcasting system according to the present invention.  
         [0030]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , an inventive broadcasting system includes a transmitter  110  and a server  120  of a TV broadcasting station  100 , and a display device  200 . The server  120  calculates a channel rating (or viewership per channel) on the basis of information received from a plurality of display devices  200  through a network such as the Internet, intranet, extranet, etc., and generates channel rating information based on the calculated rating. The transmitter  110  transmits through air wave a broadcasting signal and the channel rating information to the display devices.  
         [0031]     The display device  200  transmits information about a selected channel to the server  120 , determines channel priority based on the channel rating information received from the transmitter  110 , and then selects a channel according to the determined channel priority. The display device  200  may be any device capable of receiving a TV broadcasting signal, such as a digital TV, an Internet TV, and a digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) terminal.  
         [0032]     The display device  200  includes a key input unit. The key input unit includes at least any one of a remote controller  214  and a keypad  216 . A remote receiver  215  of the display device  200  receives a user command inputted through the remote controller  214 . A keypad  216  for inputting a user command is installed in a main body of the display device  200 . In response to a user command inputted through the remote receiver  215  or the keypad  216 , the tuner  211  selects a desired channel from a broadcasting signal received through an antenna  210 , a set-top box, or a cable. An intermediate frequency (IF) signal processor  212  receives a radio frequency (RF) image signal out of a broadcasting signal of a channel selected by the tuner  211 , and amplifies the received RF image signal. An image signal processor  213  converts an image signal outputted from the IF signal processor  212  into displayable data.  
         [0033]     A controller  217  transmits information about a channel selected through the remote receiver  215  or the keypad  216  and information about a current channel (broadcasting program) to the server  120 , and selects a channel according to the channel rating information generated by the server  120 . A storage  219  stores the channel rating information received from the transmitter  110 , a channel selection history, and a channel viewing history. The channel selection history includes one or more of a selected channel number, a selection time of a channel, and the number of times of channel selection. The channel viewing history includes one or more of a viewed channel number, a viewing start time of a channel, the total viewing period of a channel, and the number of times of channel viewing.  
         [0034]     An EPG engine  218  receives EPG information from the transmitter  110 , and generates an EPG based on the received EPG information. A synthesizer  220  synthesizes the image signal outputted from the image signal processor  213  and the EPG generated from the EPG engine  218  so as to display them on the display unit  221 .  
         [0035]     A method for controlling the inventive broadcasting system will now be described in detail.  
         [0036]      FIG. 4 a  flowchart illustrating a method for controlling a broadcasting system according to an embodiment of the present invention. This method can be implemented in the system of  FIG. 3  or other suitable device/system.  
         [0037]     Referring to  FIG. 4 , when a viewer (or a user) inputs a turn-on command to the display device  200  by using the remote controller  214  or the keypad  216  (S 101 ), the display device  200  is turned on and the tuner selects a channel. The controller  217  displays an image signal of the selected channel on the display unit  221  (S 102 ).  
         [0038]     Whenever the viewer changes or selects a channel, the controller  217  transmits information about the changed or selected channel to the server  120  in real time (S 103 ), or periodically transmits information about a channel and a broadcasting program currently viewed by the viewer to the server  120 . The selected-channel information includes a number and a selection time of the selected channel, or includes a number, a viewing start time and a viewing time period of the currently-viewed channel. Also, the controller  217  may transmit the channel selection history and the channel viewing history stored in the storage  219  to the server  120 .  
         [0039]     The server  120  receives the selected-channel information, the channel selection history, and the channel viewing history from each of the plurality of the display devices  200  and stores them. Thereafter, the server  120  calculates a channel rating in real time based on the selected-channel information, and generates channel rating information based on the calculated channel rating. The channel rating information includes a channel number and the popularity of channels among a group of viewers at the different display devices  200 . Also, the server  120  calculates a daily channel rating, a weekly channel rating, and a monthly channel rating based on the channel selection history and/or the channel viewing history among a group of viewers at the different display devices  200 , and may generate channel rating information based on the daily channel rating, the weekly channel rating, and the monthly channel rating. Thereafter, the server  120  transmits the channel rating information to the display device(s)  200  through a bi-directional network, or transmits the channel rating information to the display device(s)  200  through the transmitter  110 .  
         [0040]     At each display device  200 , the controller  217  receives the channel rating information from the server  120 , and stores the received channel rating information in the storage  219  (S 104 ). Also, the controller  217  determines channel priority based on the channel rating information. The channel priority can be determined based on any one of a real-time channel rating, a daily channel rating, a weekly channel rating, and a monthly channel rating. For example, as shown in  FIG. 5 , when the viewer selects one of the real-time channel rating, the daily channel rating, the weekly channel rating, and the monthly channel rating from the preferred channel setting menu, the controller  217  determines channel priority based on the selected channel rating. The storage  219  stores the determined channel priority.  
         [0041]     When the viewer inputs a favorite channel command through the remote controller  214  or the keypad  216  after the determination of the channel priority (S 105 ), the controller  217  displays a favorite channel menu including the channel rating information on the display unit  221 .  FIG. 6  illustrates an example of the favorite channel menu. Referring to  FIG. 6 , the favorite channel menu includes a channel list according to the determined channel priority, and a channel rating. The viewer can select a favorite channel through the favorite channel menu.  
         [0042]     Also, the controller  217  may automatically select a channel based on the stored channel priority and then display the selected channel. For example, whenever the viewer inputs a favorite channel command, the controller  217  can select/display one channel according to the stored channel priority. When the viewer inputs a turn-off command, the controller  217  stores the selected channel and cuts off the power.  
         [0043]     As described above, the inventive broadcasting system can provide the viewer with information about popular channels. The viewer can select a channel through the provided channel information. Accordingly, the viewer can easily select a desired channel and notice those channels that are popular among other viewers.  
         [0044]     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.