Virtual channel table for a broadcast protocol and method of broadcasting and receiving broadcast signals using the same
A virtual channel table for broadcasting protocol and a method for broadcasting by using the virtual channel table includes identification information identifying and permitting discrimination of active and inactive channels contained in the virtual channel table. At a receiver, the virtual channel table transmitted from the transmitting side is parsed, thereby determining whether the current received channel is an active or inactive channel.
1. A method of processing digital broadcast data in a digital television receiver, the method comprising:
demodulating a digital broadcast signal including program and system information protocol (PSIP) data which include a virtual channel table (VCT) for a digital broadcast, the VCT being segmented into one or more sections, a maximum number of the one or more sections being 256 , the VCT including a section number field and a last section number field, wherein at least one section includes a predefined data field which is set to zero for an inactive channel, wherein the inactive channel is a channel that is not presently carrying a broadcast program, however, the same inactive channel is scheduled to carry a broadcast program at a predetermined later time from a broadcasting station without local viewer interaction; and
separating the demodulated digital broadcast signal into a video stream, an audio stream, and a PSIP data stream.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the digital broadcast is any one of a digital terrestrial broadcast and a digital cable broadcast.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising controlling display of the inactive channel.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein controlling display of the inactive channel comprises inhibiting display of the inactive channel.
5. The method of claim 3 , wherein controlling display of the inactive channel comprises skipping display of the inactive channel.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the predefined data field is positioned in a statement of a for_loop in a bit stream syntax of the VCT.
7. A method of processing digital broadcast data in a digital television receiver, the method comprising:
demodulating a digital broadcast signal including program and system information protocol (PSIP) data including a virtual channel table (VCT), the VCT being segmented into one or more sections, a maximum number of the one or more sections being 256 , the VCT including a section number field and a last section number field, wherein at least one section includes a predefined data field which is set to zero for an inactive channel, wherein the inactive channel is a channel that is not presently carrying a broadcast program, however, the same inactive channel is scheduled to carry a broadcast program at a predetermined later time from a broadcasting station without local viewer interaction;
demultiplexing the demodulated digital broadcast signal into a video stream, an audio stream, and a PSIP data stream; and
controlling display of the inactive channel.
8. A digital television receiver comprising:
a demodulator to demodulate a digital broadcast signal including program and system information protocol (PSIP) data which include a virtual channel table (VCT) for a digital broadcast, the VCT being segmented into one or more sections, a maximum number of the one or more sections being 256 , the VCT including a section number field and a last section number field, wherein at least one section includes a predefined data field which is set to zero for an inactive channel, wherein the inactive channel is a channel that is not presently carrying a broadcast program, however, the same inactive channel is scheduled to carry a broadcast program at a predetermined later time from a broadcasting station without local viewer interaction; and
a separating unit to separate the demodulated digital broadcast signal into a video stream, an audio stream, and a PSIP data stream.
9. The digital television receiver of claim 8 , wherein the digital broadcast is any one of a digital terrestrial broadcast and a digital cable broadcast.
10. The digital television receiver of claim 8 , further comprising a controller to control display of the inactive channel.
11. The digital television receiver of claim 10 , wherein the controller inhibits display of the inactive channel.
12. The digital television receiver of claim 10 , wherein the controller skips display of the inactive channel.
13. The digital television receiver of claim 8 , wherein the predefined data field is positioned in a statement of a for_loop in a bit stream syntax of the VCT.
14. A digital television receiver comprising:
a demodulator to demodulate a digital broadcast signal including program and system information protocol (PSIP) data which include a virtual channel table (VCT), the VCT being segmented into one or more sections, a maximum number of the one or more sections being 256 , the VCT including a section number field and a last section number field, wherein at least one section includes a predefined data field which is set to zero for an inactive channel, wherein the inactive channel is a channel that is not presently carrying a broadcast program, however, the same inactive channel is scheduled to carry a broadcast program at a predetermined later time from a broadcasting station without local viewer interaction;
a demultiplexer to demultiplex the demodulated digital broadcast signal into a video stream, an audio stream, and a PSIP data stream; and
a display controller to control display of the inactive channel.