Patent Publication Number: US-2010115552-A1

Title: Method and apparatus for receiving electronic service guide by mobile communication terminal in digital video broadcasting-handheld system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) AND CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     The present application is related to and claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) of a Korean Patent Application filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Nov. 5, 2008 and assigned Serial No. 10-2008-109349, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for receiving an Electronic Service Guide (ESG) by a mobile communication terminal in a Digital Video Broadcasting-Handheld (DVB-H) system. More particularly, the present invention relates to an ESG reception method and apparatus for reducing awaiting time before displaying broadcast data by a mobile communication terminal to serve user&#39;s convenience in a DVB-H system. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     DVB-H is a technology standard established in Europe to improve a rate of receiving terrestrial Digital Television (DTV) while on the move. This technology realizes mobile multimedia broadcasting that offers high-quality audio and video services anytime, anyplace, even while a user is driving a car or walking about. 
     Service models using DVB-H may be configured as follows. A transmission entity is made up of a network over which broadcasters and common carriers interwork with one another in accordance with a DVB-Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) standard. The broadcasters transmit compressed data to mobile communication terminals by DVB-H transmission, based on a DVB-Audio Visual Content (AVC) standard. Then the mobile communication terminals communicate again with the common carriers using a communication standard such as DVB-UMTS/Global System for Mobile (GSM) communication, and deliver information about the reception entity even to the broadcasters over the communication network in real time. 
     In DVB-H, broadcast-related information is mostly contained in an ESG. With use of ESG, a user may select an interested TV channel or radio channel, or select items that he or she intends to download. In addition, ESG provides information based on which mobile communication terminals can access specific Internet Protocol (IP) streams in a DVB-H Transport Stream. A process of handling the ESG can be divided into three sub processes: an ESG Bootstrapping process, an ESG Acquisition process and an ESG Update process. 
     To be specific, in the ESG Bootstrapping process, a mobile communication terminal determines types of ESGs that the mobile communication terminal can receive, and also determines how the mobile communication terminal can obtain them. In the ESG Acquisition process, the mobile communication terminal gathers and handles ESG data. In the ESG Update process, the mobile communication terminal updates ESG information of the latest version. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a method for receiving ESG data by a mobile communication terminal according to the prior art. 
     In step S 10 , a mobile communication terminal scans frequencies and accesses a frequency channel carrying a broadcast service. At this point, the mobile communication terminal may sense a user input selecting a frequency channel over which the user intends to receive a broadcast service. 
     When a frequency channel is selected, the mobile communication terminal requests a service provider to send the broadcast service in step S 12 . The mobile communication terminal receives a bootstrap session from the service provider in step S 14 , and then receives ESG data in step S 16 . Based on the received bootstrap session, the mobile communication terminal may determine types of available ESGs and also determine how it can obtain them. 
     As the mobile communication terminal receives the ESG data, the user may acquire information about the broadcast that he or she can receive from the service provider. The user can select and replay desired broadcast data in the acquired information. In step S 18 , the mobile communication terminal requests the service provider to send broadcast data corresponding to the channel selected by the user. In step S 20 , the mobile communication terminal receives the broadcast data from the service provider and plays it back. 
     However, the mobile communication terminal cannot receive the broadcast service from the service provider unless it always receives ESG data. In transmitting ESG data, the DVB-H standard transmits a considerable amount of supplementary data in addition to the basic data necessarily required to receive actual broadcast service. As a result, the conventional reception method of the mobile communication terminal may decrease in efficiency, and increase in waiting time for which the user waits in order to play back the desired broadcast data. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     To address the above-discussed deficiencies of the prior art, it is a primary aspect of the present invention to address at least the above-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention provides an ESG reception method and apparatus for reducing a waiting time before displaying broadcast data received from a service provider to serve user&#39;s convenience in a DVB-H system. 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for receiving an Electronic Service Guide (ESG) by a mobile communication terminal in a Digital Video Broadcasting-Handheld (DVB-H) system including a service provider providing a broadcast service and the mobile communication terminal receiving the broadcast service from the service provider. The method includes, upon receipt of a broadcast service request, determining whether a first ESG about the broadcast service has been stored; when the first ESG has been stored, requesting the service provider to first transmit broadcast data among a second ESG and the broadcast data contained in the broadcast service, based on the first ESG; and receiving the broadcast data first from the service provider and displaying the received broadcast data. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mobile communication terminal receiving an Electronic Service Guide (ESG) in a Digital Video Broadcasting-Handheld (DVB-H) system including a service provider providing a broadcast service and the mobile communication terminal receiving the broadcast service from the service provider. The mobile communication terminal includes a Radio Frequency (RF) unit for, upon receipt of a broadcast service request, accessing the service provider providing the requested broadcast service, and first receiving broadcast data among a second ESG and the broadcast data contained in the broadcast service from the service provider based on a first ESG for the broadcast service when the first ESG has been stored; a display for displaying the received broadcast data; and a controller for determining whether the first ESG has been stored, and controlling the RF unit to first receive the broadcast data from the service provider based on the first ESG when the first ESG has been stored. 
     Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses exemplary embodiments of the invention. 
     Before undertaking the DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION below, it may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases used throughout this patent document: the terms “include” and “comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation; the term “or,” is inclusive, meaning and/or; the phrases “associated with” and “associated therewith,” as well as derivatives thereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, or the like; and the term “controller” means any device, system or part thereof that controls at least one operation, such a device may be implemented in hardware, firmware or software, or some combination of at least two of the same. It should be noted that the functionality associated with any particular controller may be centralized or distributed, whether locally or remotely. Definitions for certain words and phrases are provided throughout this patent document, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that in many, if not most instances, such definitions apply to prior, as well as future uses of such defined words and phrases. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and its advantages, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like parts: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a method for receiving ESG data by a mobile communication terminal according to the prior art; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a DVB-H system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a method for receiving ESG data by a mobile communication terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a method for receiving ESG data by a mobile communication terminal according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     Throughout the drawings, the same drawing reference numerals will be understood to refer to the same elements, features and structures. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIGS. 2 through 4 , discussed below, and the various embodiments used to describe the principles of the present disclosure in this patent document are by way of illustration only and should not be construed in any way to limit the scope of the disclosure. Those skilled in the art will understand that the principles of the present disclosure may be implemented in any suitably arranged wireless communications network. 
     The terms and words used in the following description and claims are not limited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by the inventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the invention. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention are provided for illustration purpose only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. 
     It is to be understood that the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a component surface” includes reference to one or more of such surfaces. 
     It is assumed that a mobile communication terminal according to the present invention has already stored ESG data. In accordance with the present invention, the mobile communication terminal, which has already stored ESG data, first receives and displays broadcast data before the ESG data among two kinds of data (ESG data and broadcast data) included in a broadcast service upon receipt of a user input indicating that the user intends to receive broadcast service associated with the ESG data. That is, the mobile communication terminal can send a broadcast service request to a service provider providing the broadcast service, based on the stored ESG data. The mobile communication terminal may receive and update ESG data received from the service provider while receiving broadcast data. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a DVB-H system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the DVB-H system according to an exemplary embodiment includes at least one service provider  30  and a mobile communication terminal  40 . 
     When the mobile communication terminal  40  requests a broadcast service it desires to access, the service provider  30  sends the broadcast service to the mobile communication terminal  40 . 
     The mobile communication terminal  40  includes a Radio Frequency (RF) unit  42 , a key input unit  44 , a display  48 , a memory  46 , a multimedia playback unit  52 , and a controller  50 . 
     The RF unit  42  performs a radio communication function of the mobile communication terminal  40 . The RF unit  42  includes an RF transmitter (not shown) for up-converting a frequency of a transmission signal and amplifying the up-converted signal, and an RF receiver (not shown) for low-noise-amplifying a received signal and down-converting a frequency of the amplified signal. The RF unit  42  receives broadcast data and ESG data transmitted from the service provider  30 . 
     The key input unit  44  includes keys for inputting numerals and letters, and keys for setting various functions, and receives key inputs from a user. The key input unit  44  can receive a user input selecting a particular broadcast service, for example, a broadcast channel or a broadcast program. 
     The display  48 , which can be composed of a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) or the like, outputs various display data generated in the mobile communication terminal  40 . When LCD is realized in a touch screen, the display  48  may serve as an input means. The display  48  can display broadcast data and/or ESG data received from the service provider  30 . 
     The memory  46  may consist of a program memory and a data memory. A variety of information needed to control an operation of the mobile communication terminal  40  is stored in the memory  46 . In accordance with the present invention, the memory  46  may store broadcast data and/or ESG data received from the service provider  30 . Further, the memory  46  may update the stored ESG data under control of the controller  50 . 
     The multimedia playback unit  52  plays back multimedia data stored in the memory  46 , or received through the RF unit  42 . The multimedia playback unit  52 , under the control of the controller  50 , may play back the broadcast data, i.e., video data and audio data, received from the service provider  30 , and display it on the display  46 . 
     The controller  50  controls the overall operation of the mobile communication terminal  40 . If the user input received through the key input unit  42  is for reselecting the received broadcast service, the controller  50  controls the mobile communication terminal  40  to access the service provider  30  providing the broadcast service, depending on the ESG data stored in the memory  46 . 
     When the mobile communication terminal  40  accesses the service provider  30  to receive the broadcast service, the controller  50  may control the mobile communication terminal  40  to first receive broadcast data before ESG data. That is, the controller  50  gives priority to broadcast data among ESG data and broadcast data included in the broadcast service, and controls the RF unit  42  to receive the broadcast data first. The controller  50  controls the multimedia playback unit  52  and the display  48  to display the broadcast data for the user. 
     In this case, the mobile communication terminal  40  can first receive broadcast data before ESG data, thereby contributing to reducing a delay that occurs because it receives broadcast data after receiving the ESG data first, i.e., reducing a waiting time until it displays broadcast data on the display  48 . 
     The controller  50  may compare ESG data stored in the memory  46  with ESG data transmitted from the service provider  30  to determine whether they are the same data. If they are not the same data, for example, if the ESG data provided from the service provider  30  has a later version than the ESG data stored in the memory  46 , the controller  50  controls the memory  46  to update the ESG data stored in the memory  46  with the ESG data of a later version. 
     Conversely, if the user input received through the key input unit  42  is for selecting a new broadcast service rather than the received broadcast program, the controller  50  may control the mobile communication terminal  40  to access the service provider  30  providing the broadcast service. The controller  50  may also control the mobile communication terminal  40  to first receive ESG data from the service provider  30  and display the ESG data. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a method for receiving ESG data by a mobile communication terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     In step S 60 , the key input unit  44  of the mobile communication terminal  40  receives a user&#39;s key input selecting a broadcast service. In step S 62 , the controller  50  determines if a broadcast service corresponding to the key input by the user is a previously received broadcast service. For this purpose, the controller  50  may determine if ESG data for the broadcast service has already been stored in the memory  46 . If the ESG data has already been stored, the controller  50  may determine that the broadcast service is a previously received broadcast service. If the ESG data has not already been stored, the controller  50  may determine that the broadcast service is not a previously received broadcast service. 
     If ‘No’ in step S 62 , the RF unit  42  of the mobile communication terminal  40  requests the service provider  30  to send a broadcast service under the control of the controller  50  in step S 64 . Upon receiving the broadcast service request from the mobile communication terminal  40 , the service provider  30  provides the requested broadcast service to the mobile communication terminal  40 . In step S 68 , the mobile communication terminal  40  first receives ESG data from the service provider  30 . Thereafter, in step S 70 , the mobile communication terminal  40  receives broadcast data from the service provider  30  and displays the received broadcast data. 
     If ‘Yes’ in step S 62 , the RF unit  42  in the mobile communication terminal  40  sends, in step S 72 , a broadcast service requests to the service provider  30  based on ESG data stored in the memory  46  under the control of the controller  50 . The mobile communication terminal  40  first receives broadcast data from the service provider  30  in step S 74 , and then receives ESG data from the service provider  30  while displaying the received broadcast data, in step S 76 . In this manner, the mobile communication terminal  40  first receives broadcast data and then receives ESG data, thereby reducing the waiting time until it displays the broadcast data on the display  48 . 
     The mobile communication terminal  40  may selectively request ESG data or broadcast data from the service provider  30 . That is, the mobile communication terminal  40  may request the service provider  30  to first send broadcast data before ESG data in step S 72 , and request the service provider  30  to first send ESG data before broadcast data in step S 68 . 
     Alternatively, the service provider  30  may selectively send broadcast data or ESG data in response to a request from the mobile communication terminal  40 . That is, the service provider  30  can first send broadcast data, if the mobile communication terminal  40  requests the service provider  30  to first transmit the broadcast data before ESG data. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a method for receiving ESG data by a mobile communication terminal according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     In step S 82 , the key input unit  44  of the mobile communication terminal  40  receives a user&#39;s key input selecting a broadcast service. In step S 84 , the controller  50  determines if ESG data for the broadcast service has already been stored in the memory  46 . 
     For example, the controller  50  may determine if ESG data containing the data given in Table 1 has already been stored in the memory  46 . 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Broadcast network 
                 3G network 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                 PID 
                 URL 
               
               
                   
                 SDP 
                 Charged/Free 
               
               
                   
                 Broadcast frequency 
                 Content ID 
               
               
                   
                 Charged/Free 
                 . . . 
               
               
                   
                 Content ID 
               
               
                   
                 . . . 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Referring to Table 1, data contained in ESG data is different according to a type of the communication network. ESG data for a broadcast network contains Packet IDentification (PID), Session Description Protocol (SDP), Broadcast frequency, Charged/Free, Content ID and the like, while ESG data for a 3 rd  Generation (3G) network contains Uniform Resource Locator (URL), Charged/Free, Content ID and the like. When the mobile communication terminal  40  delivers the above data to the service provider  30 , the mobile communication terminal  40  may receive broadcast data from the service provider  30  without receiving Program Specific Information (PSI)/Service Information (SI) and ESG data needed to receive the broadcast service. 
     If ‘No’ in step S 84 , the mobile communication terminal  40  first receives ESG data from the service provider  30  in step S 86 . Thereafter, in step S 88 , the mobile communication terminal  40  receives broadcast data from the service provider  30  and displays the received broadcast data. 
     However, if ‘Yes’ in step S 84 , the mobile communication terminal  40  requests the service provider  30  to transmit broadcast data based on the stored ESG data in step S 90 . Then the mobile communication terminal  40  may receive ESG data after first receiving broadcast data. 
     In step S 92 , the mobile communication terminal  40  determines if ESG data transmitted from the service provider  30  is identical to the ESG data stored in the memory  46 . If ‘No’ in step S 92 , the mobile communication terminal  40  updates ESG data transmitted from the service provider  30  and stores it in the memory  46  in step S 96 . However, if ‘Yes’ in step S 92 , the controller  50  may maintain the stored ESG data in step S 94 . 
     When maintaining the ESG data stored in the memory  40  in step S 94 , the controller  50  may receive no ESG data from the service provider  30 . 
     As is apparent from the foregoing description, the present invention provides an ESG reception method and apparatus for reducing a waiting time before displaying broadcast data received from the service provider by a mobile communication terminal to serve user&#39;s convenience in a DVB-H system. 
     Although the present disclosure has been described with an exemplary embodiment, various changes and modifications may be suggested to one skilled in the art. It is intended that the present disclosure encompass such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.