Patent Publication Number: US-2005138213-A1

Title: Open cable applying apparatus and method of allowing internet

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119 from Korean Patent Application No. 2003-95511 filed on Dec. 23, 2003, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present general inventive concept relates to an open cable applying apparatus capable of providing an internet search, and an internet providing method using the same. More particularly, the present general inventive concept relates to an open cable applying apparatus capable of performing an internet search using a PCMCIA interface, and an internet providing method using the same.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      An open cable set-top box selectively receives a broadcasting signal depending on whether or not a POD (Point of Development Module) is mounted. If the POD module is mounted, the open cable set-top box processes a toll broadcasting signal as a viewable signal. If the POD module is not mounted, the open cable set-top box cannot process a toll broadcasting signal as a viewable signal. This is because a POD module provides a conditional access system to the subscriber of the open cable set-top box.  
      In general, the open cable set-top box comprises a PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) interface to expand its function. Accordingly, the POD module having PCMCIA standards may be mounted on the PCMCIA interface. PCMCIA stands for international association that has been established to support the compatibility between expansion equipment such as a LAN (Local Area network) card and personal computers. Products employing such PCMCIA standards include various products such as a flash memory, a modem, a LAN card, and a hard disk drive (HDD), as well as the POD module described above.  
      However, even though the expandability of the prior art open cable set-top box is supported by the PCMCIA interface, the set-top box receives only data such as a digital broadcasting signal or an electronic program guide (EPG), and is not able to provide other functions.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present general inventive concept has been developed in order to solve the above drawbacks and other problems associated with the conventional arrangement. Therefore, the present general inventive concept provides an open cable applying apparatus capable of performing internet searches using a PCMCIA interface having expandability, and an internet providing method of the open cable applying apparatus thereof.  
      Additional aspects and advantages of the present general inventive concept will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the general inventive concept.  
      The foregoing and/or other aspects and advantages of the present general inventive concept are achieved by providing an open cable applying apparatus capable of providing an internet search by comprising a Personal Computer Card International Association (PCMCIA) interface unit to mount any one of a point of deployment (POD) module and a local area network (LAN) card complying with PCMCIA standards, a web browser driving unit to drive a web browser to generate a certain web page, and a control unit to switch the mode of the apparatus to an internet mode if it is determined that the LAN card having PCMCIA standards is mounted on the PCMCIA interface unit and then to control the web browser driving unit so that the driving unit may stand-by the driving of the web browser.  
      Specifically, if the LAN card having PCMCIA standards is mounted on the PCMCIA interface unit, the control unit can allow OOB (Out of Band) lines used where the POD module is mounted to be used as address lines to control the LAN card.  
      In an aspect of the present general inventive concept, after switching to the internet mode of the apparatus, the control unit controls the web browser driving unit so that the driving unit is communicatively connected to a certain server through the LAN card to generate the web page.  
      In an aspect of the present general inventive concept, the control unit confirms identification information stored in the replaced LAN card, thereby recognizing the mounting of the LAN card.  
      Also, the open cable applying apparatus may further comprise a display displaying the generated web page.  
      The foregoing and/or other aspects and advantages of the present general inventive concept are also achieved by providing an internet providing method of an open cable applying apparatus by comprising operations of mounting any one of a point of deployment (POD) module and a local area network (LAN) card complying with PCMCIA standards, switching the mode of the applying apparatus to an internet mode if it is determined that the LAN card having PCMCIA standards is mounted, and standing-by the driving of a web browser generating a certain web page.  
      The method may further comprise after the operation of standing-by the driving of a web browser, driving the web browser so that it is connected to a certain server to generate the web page if the LAN card is communicatively connected to the certain server. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      These and/or other aspects and advantages of the present general inventive concept will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:  
       FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram illustrating an open cable applying apparatus capable of providing an internet search according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept;  
       FIG. 2A  is a schematic view illustrating a signal flow where a POD module is connected to the apparatus of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 2B  is a schematic view illustrating a signal flow where a LAN card is connected to the apparatus of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating an internet providing method using the apparatus of  FIG. 1 , according to another exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept;  
       FIG. 4A  is a view illustrating an example of a screen displayed on a television where a POD module is connected to the apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; and  
       FIG. 4B  is a view illustrating an example of a screen displayed on a television where a LAN card is connected to the apparatus of  FIG. 1 .  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Certain embodiments of the present general inventive concept will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
      In the following description, the same drawing reference numerals are used for the same elements even in different drawings. The matters defined in the description such as detailed construction and elements are nothing but the ones provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of the general inventive concept. Thus, it is apparent that the present general inventive concept 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. 1  is a schematic block diagram illustrating an open cable applying apparatus capable of providing an internet search according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept.  
      Referring to  FIG. 1 , the open cable applying apparatus  100  capable of providing an internet search comprises a tuner  105 , a demodulator  110 , an OOB (Out of Band) receiver  115 , an OOB transmitter  120 , a PCMCIA interface unit  125 , a demultiplexer  130  (hereinafter, referred to as ‘DeMUX’), a video processing unit  135 , an audio processing unit  140 , a ROM (read only memory)  145 , a RAM (random access memory)  150 , a web browser driving unit  155  and a control unit  160 .  
      In  FIG. 1 , only blocks associated with the present general inventive concept are shown, and other blocks are omitted for clarity and conciseness. Also, the bold arrows in  FIG. 1  indicate that a PCMCIA card  200  is mounted on the PCMCIA interface unit  125 .  
      First, the open cable applying apparatus  100  shown in  FIG. 1  supports an open cable mode and a POD function and includes, for example, an open cable set-top box. Also, if a LAN card is mounted in place of a POD module, the open cable applying apparatus  100  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept provides an internet search function. At this time, a POD module and the replacement LAN card are represented by the PCMCIA card  200  having PCMCIA standards. The POD module supports a POD function that descrambles the scrambled digital contents, and a LAN card is connected to an internet network to provide the internet search function.  
      The tuner  105  selects a certain channel out of the digital contents (hereinafter, referred to as ‘broadcasting signal’) sent out from a head-end  10 . The head-end  10  is a signal relay for a cable broadcasting. The demodulator  110  demodulates the broadcasting signal of the selected channel.  
      If the PCMCIA card mounted on the PCMCIA interface unit  125  is the POD module, POD module descrambles the demodulated broadcasting signal. The descrambled broadcasting signal is input to the DeMUX  130 . The DeMUX  130  demultiplexes the descrambled broadcasting signal so that the video signal may be provided to the video processing unit  135  and the audio signal may be provided to the audio processing unit  140 .  
      The video processing unit  135  processes an input video signal as a displayable signal. For example, the video processing unit  135  decodes an input MPEG-2 TS (Transport Stream). Furthermore, the video processing unit  135  processes as a displayable signal a web page supplied from the web browser driving unit  155  that will be described below.  
      The audio processing unit  140  decodes an input audio signal into an audible signal.  
      The POD module performs a two-way communication with the head-end  10  using the OOB receiver  115  and the OOB transmitter  120 . As an example, the POD module interprets instructions received from the head-end  10  through the OOB receiver  115 , and then performs the interpreted instructions from the head-end  10  while communicating with the control unit  160 . The POD module sends the commands requested by the user to the head-end  10  through the OOB transmitter  120 .  
      The PCMCIA interface unit  125  is an interface compliant to PCMCIA standards having 68 lines (or 68 pins), and the functions of a part of the lines are modified depending on the type of PCMCIA card  200 . In other words, the properties of signals transmitted through the part lines are modified. In this exemplary embodiment, since a POD module or a LAN card is applied as the PCMCIA card  200 , the functions of a desired number of lines are modified according to the POD module or LAN card.  
       FIG. 2A  illustrates the signal flow where the POD module is connected to the apparatus of  FIG. 1 , and  FIG. 2B  illustrates the signal flow where the LAN card is connected to the apparatus of  FIG. 1 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 2A , if the POD module  200   a  is mounted on the PCMCIA interface unit  125 , the PCMCIA interface unit  125  transmits a control signal (Control Signal), an address signal (Address), an OOB signal (OOB), and a data signal (DATA) through  68  lines.  
      With reference to  FIG. 2B , if the LAN card  200   b  is mounted on the PCMCIA interface unit  125 , the PCMCIA interface unit  125  transmits a control signal (Control Signal), an address signal (Address), and a data signal (DATA) through 68 lines. That is, when the LAN card  200   b  is mounted on the PCMCIA interface unit  125 , at least one line of OOB signal lines is used as an address line to control the LAN card  200   b.    
      Referring back to  FIG. 1 ,the ROM  145  is a non-volatile memory element and is stored with various programs necessary to implement the functions of the open cable applying apparatus  100 . The ROM  145  is stored with identification information capable of identifying the type of the PCMCIA card  200  mounted on the PCMCIA interface unit  125 . In other words, the ROM  145  is stored with different identification information for the type of the PCMCIA card  200 .  
      The RAM  150  is a volatile memory element, and is loaded and stored with programs executed by the control unit  160  or is stored with the resultant data processed by the control unit  160 .  
      The web browser driving unit  155  is a memory element stored with a web program, and includes, for example, a flash memory. The web program is a program that drives the web browser to generate a certain web page, and may include, for instance, Explorer or Netscape.  
      The web browser driving unit  155  is set to a stand-by state to drive the web browser when the LAN card  200   b  is mounted on the PCMCIA interface unit  125 . Alternately, the web browser driving unit  155  may be connected to a server corresponding to URL (Uniform Resource Locator) that is previously set to generate a certain web page when the LAN card  200   b  is mounted on the PCMCIA interface unit  125 . The generated web page is signal-processed by the video processing unit  135  and output.  
      The control unit  160  allows overall operations of the present apparatus to be performed by driving the pre-set various programs. In this exemplary embodiment, the control unit  160  determines the type of the PCMCIA card  200  mounted on the PCMCIA interface unit  125 . For example, the control unit  160  reads out the identification information ID stored in the PCMCIA card  200 , and then compares the read-out ID with ID stored on the ROM  145 , thereby determining the type of the PCMCIA card  200 . Then, the control unit  160  resets the hardware configurations according to the type determined, and then allows the corresponding software applications to be executed.  
      If it is determined that the POD module  200   a  is mounted on the PCMCIA interface unit  125 , the control unit  160  controls the DeMUX  130 , the video processing unit  135  and the audio processing unit  140  so that the signal that is descrambled by the POD module  200   a  is processed as a displayable signal.  
      If it is determined that the LAN card  200   b  is mounted on the PCMCIA interface unit  125 , the control unit  160  switches the mode of the open cable applying apparatus  100  to the internet mode, and then controls the web browser driving unit  155  so that the driving unit  155  may stand-by the driving of the web browser. At this time, the control unit  160  resets the hardware configurations to allow a part of the OOB lines to be used as address lines, as shown in  FIG. 2B .  
      Alternatively, after switching to the internet mode of the open cable applying apparatus  100 , the control unit  160  controls the web browser driving unit  155  so that the driving unit  155  is connected to a server corresponding to a URL that is previously set to generate a certain web page. The web page is generated where the LAN card  200   b  is communicatively connected to an internet network through a LAN cable (not shown). If the LAN card is not communicatively connected to the internet network, the control unit  160  allows a guide message such as ‘Please confirm whether or not LAN card is connected with LAN cable’ to be generated.  
       FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating an internet providing method using the apparatus of  FIG. 1 .  
      With reference to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3 , the control unit  160  determines the type of the PCMCIA card  200  mounted on the PCMCIA interface unit  125  at operation S 310 . Operation S 310  is performed where the power source of the open cable applying apparatus  100  is turned-on or the PCMCIA card  200  is replaced. In the operation S 310 , the control unit  160  confirms ID stored in the memory of the PCMCIA card  200 , and determines that if the confirmed ID corresponds to one of IDs stored in the ROM  145 , the type mapped to the corresponding ID is mounted.  
      In the operation S 310 , if it is determined that the mounted PCMCIA card  200  is the LAN card  200   b , the control unit  160  switches the mode in the open cable applying apparatus  100  to the internet mode at operations S 320  and S 330 . The control unit  160  resets the hardware configurations for the execution of the internet mode at operation S 340 .  
      The operation S 340  includes the operation of reconfiguring the hardware connections of the PCMCIA interface to allow the LAN card  200   b  to be operated. That is, the control unit  160  resets the hardware connections of the PCMCIA interface to allow a part or all of the OOB lines out of  68  lines provided on the PCMCIA interface unit  125  to be used as address lines.  
      When the operation S 340  has been performed, the control unit  160  controls the web browser driving unit  155  so that the driving unit  155  may stand-by the driving of the web browser. Subsequent to the operation S 350 , if the LAN card  200   b  is communicatively connected to a certain server through a LAN cable (not shown), the control unit  160  controls the web browser driving unit  155  to generate a certain web page.  
      The certain web page is an initial screen displayed when driving an initial web browser, and the URL of the web page is previously set in the open cable applying apparatus  100 . The displayed web page is modified by the demand of the user.  
      Meanwhile, if it is determined that the mounted PCMCIA card  200  is the POD module  200   a , the control unit  160  switches the mode of the open cable applying apparatus  100  to the open cable mode at operation S 360 . The control unit  160  resets the hardware configurations for the execution of the open cable mode at operation S 370 . For example, the control unit  160  resets the hardware connections of 68 lines provided on the PCMCIA interface unit  125  to allow the POD module  200   a  to be operated.  
      When the operation S 370  has been performed, the control unit  160  allows the broadcasting signal processing routine corresponding to the open cable mode to be executed at operation S 380 . For example, the control unit  160  executes the software applications decoding the broadcasting signal that is selected by the tuner  105 . Thus, the broadcasting signal descrambled by the POD module is decoded by the video processing unit  135  and the audio processing unit  140  and supplies to a display  20  and a speaker  30 , respectively.  
       FIG. 4A  illustrates an example of a screen displayed on a television where the POD module is connected to the apparatus of  FIG. 1 , and  FIG. 4B  illustrates an example of a screen displayed on a television where the LAN card is connected to the apparatus of  FIG. 1 .  
      When the POD module  200   a  is mounted on the PCMCIA interface unit  125  of  FIG. 1 , the broadcasting screen  400   a  of a prescribed channel is displayed on the TV connected to the open cable applying apparatus  100 , as shown in  FIG. 4A . When the LAN card  200   b  is mounted on the PCMCIA interface unit  125  of  FIG. 1 , the internet search screen  400   b  is displayed on the TV connected to the open cable applying apparatus  100 , as shown in  FIG. 4B .  
      The open cable applying apparatus  100  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept described above is applicable to an open cable TV as well as an open cable set-top box.  
      As described so far, in accordance with an open cable applying apparatus capable of providing an internet search and an internet providing method using the same according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an internet search function as well as an open cable broadcasting using one PCMCIA interface. In other words, it is possible to watch the open cable broadcasting when the POD module is mounted on the PCMCIA interface, and it is possible to perform an internet search when the LAN card is mounted on the PCMCIA interface. This is because the POD module supports the open cable mode and the LAN card supports the internet mode support PCMCIA interface system.  
      The present general inventive concept can be realized as a method, an apparatus, and a system. When the present general inventive concept is manifested in computer software, components of the present general inventive concept may be replaced with code segments that are necessary to perform the required action. Programs or code segments may be stored in media readable by a processor, and transmitted as computer data that is combined with carrier waves via a transmission media or a communication network.  
      The media readable by a processor include anything that can store and transmit information, such as, electronic circuits, semiconductor memory devices, ROM, flash memory, EEPROM, floppy discs, optical discs, hard discs, optical fiber, radio frequency (RF) networks, etc. The computer data also includes any data that can be transmitted via an electric network channel, optical fiber, air, electromagnetic field, RF network, etc.  
      Although a few embodiments of the present general inventive concept have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the general inventive concept, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.