Method, computer-readable storage medium, reception apparatus, and information providing apparatus for identifying available channels and/or services

1. A method for generating a list of accessible services in a reception apparatus, the method comprising:

transmitting, via a communication network, region information indicating a predetermined geographical region of the reception apparatus to a primary server;

receiving from the primary server, via the communication network, terrestrial broadcast channel information for broadcasters that transmit terrestrial broadcast signals that are estimated to be receivable from at least a part of the predetermined geographical region of the reception apparatus, the terrestrial broadcast channel information indicating estimated broadcast ranges of the broadcasters;

determining whether each of the broadcasters is within a reception range of the reception apparatus based on the estimated broadcast range of the respective broadcaster indicated in the terrestrial broadcast channel information received from the primary server; and

generating the list of accessible services based on whether the broadcasters are determined to be within the reception range of the reception apparatus.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

retrieving, based on the terrestrial broadcast channel information, service information from a secondary server associated with each of the broadcasters determined to be within the reception range of the reception apparatus,

wherein the service information for each of the broadcasters determined to be within the reception range of the reception apparatus includes one or a combination of a respective broadcast channel, one or more modulation modes, metadata describing a broadcast multiplex carried on the respective broadcast channel, a description of one or more services available within the broadcast multiplex, and program guide data.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the terrestrial broadcast signals are digital television broadcast signals.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

tuning to a broadcast channel associated with one of the broadcasters determined to be within the reception range of the reception apparatus; and

when the reception apparatus is tuned to the broadcast channel, determining whether a characteristic of the terrestrial broadcast signal carried on the broadcast channel is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the receiving from the primary server comprises:

receiving the terrestrial broadcast channel information associated with the predetermined geographical region based on one or a combination of country, state, city, province, zip code, and longitude-latitude.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

periodically updating the list of accessible services.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reception apparatus is a mobile device.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the terrestrial broadcast channel information includes a service contour that corresponds to the estimated broadcast range of at least one of the broadcasters.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program which when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform a method for generating a list of accessible services in a reception apparatus, the method comprising:

transmitting, via a communication network, region information indicating a predetermined geographical region of the reception apparatus to a primary server;

receiving from the primary server, via the communication network, terrestrial broadcast channel information for broadcasters that transmit terrestrial broadcast signals that are estimated to be receivable from at least a part of the predetermined geographical region of the reception apparatus, the terrestrial broadcast channel information indicating estimated broadcast ranges of the broadcasters;

determining whether each of the broadcasters is within a reception range of the reception apparatus based on the estimated broadcast range of the respective broadcaster indicated in the terrestrial broadcast channel information received from the primary server; and

generating the list of accessible services based on whether the broadcasters are determined to be within the reception range of the reception apparatus.

10. A reception apparatus, comprising:

circuitry configured to

transmit, via a communication network, region information indicating a predetermined geographical region of the reception apparatus to a primary server;

receive from the primary server, via the communication network, terrestrial broadcast channel information for broadcasters that transmit terrestrial broadcast signals that are estimated to be receivable from at least a part of the predetermined geographical region of the reception apparatus, the terrestrial broadcast channel information indicating estimated broadcast ranges of the broadcasters,

determine whether each of the broadcasters is within a reception range of the reception apparatus based on the estimated broadcast range of the respective broadcaster indicated in the terrestrial broadcast channel information received from the primary server,

generate a list of accessible services based on whether the broadcasters are determined to be within the reception range of the reception apparatus.

11. The reception apparatus of claim 10 , wherein

the circuitry is further configured to retrieve based on the terrestrial broadcast channel information, service information from a secondary server associated with each of the broadcasters determined to be within the reception range of the reception apparatus, and

the service information for each of the broadcasters includes one or a combination of a respective broadcast channel, one or more modulation modes, metadata describing a broadcast multiplex carried on the respective broadcast channel, a description of one or more services available within the broadcast multiplex, and program guide data.

12. The reception apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the reception apparatus further comprises:

a television tuner, wherein

the terrestrial broadcast signals are digital television broadcast signals.

13. The reception apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to

tune to a broadcast channel associated with one of the broadcasters determined to be within the reception range of the reception apparatus; and

when the reception apparatus is tuned to the broadcast channel, determine whether a characteristic of the terrestrial broadcast signal carried on the broadcast channel is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value.

14. The reception apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the circuitry is configured to retrieve the terrestrial broadcast channel information associated with the predetermined geographical region based on one or a combination of country, state, city, province, zip code, and longitude-latitude.

15. The reception apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to periodically update the list of accessible services.

16. The reception apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the reception apparatus is a mobile device.

17. The reception apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the circuitry is configured to

retrieve service information from a secondary server associated with one of the broadcasters determined to be within the reception range of the reception apparatus using URL information included in the terrestrial broadcast channel information, and

attempt to receive a broadcast channel for the one of the broadcasters using the retrieved service information.

18. The reception apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the terrestrial broadcast channel information includes a service contour that corresponds to the estimated broadcast range of at least one of the broadcasters.