Title of Invention

APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING TRAFFIC INFORMATION

Abstract A method for transmitting and receiving traffic information and apparatus therefore are disclosed, by which the traffic information can be efficiently delivered to a broadcast receiving terminal. The present invention includes multiplexing audio data, video data, component data carrying the traffic information, time information for the traffic information, and stream parsing information including descriptor table information for parsing the traffic information into broadcast transport streams, performing error correction encoding on the multiplexed streams and interleaving the encoded signals, mapping a scattered pilot signal changed according to a time and a continual pilot signal fixed according to the time within one frame of the interleaved signals, modulating the mapped signals within the frame by OFDM and inserting portions of the modulated signals within the frame in a guard interval of the modulated frame, and converting the signal having the guard interval inserted therein to an RF signal and transmitting the RF signal.
Full Text Description
METHOD FOR TRANSMITTING AND RECEIVING TRAFFIC
INFORMATION AND APPARATUS THEREOF
Technical Field
[1] The present invention relates to a method for transmitting and receiving traffic information
and apparatus therefor, and more particularly, to a method for transmitting
and receiving traffic information using a broadcast system.
Background Art
[2] Recently, the technical developments for digital signal processing and communications
enable digital contents to be provided by wireless/wire. As the digital
contents are provided, various kinds of information such as news, stock market information,
weather, traffic information, and the like can be carried by broadcast
signals.
[3] Meanwhile, the demand for providing traffic information to vehicle drivers has
risen due to the increased number of vehicles in a downtown area or the increased
number of vehicles for vacation. To meet this demand, methods of providing traffic information
on roads as additional information via satellite or terrestrial broadcasting
have been developed. However, various kinds of differentbroadcast receiving terminals
respectively manufactured by different manufacturers have difficulty in detecting the
related art traffic information provided by wirelessvia broadcast signals and also have
difficulty in interpreting the detected traffic information equally.
Disclosure of Invention
Technical Problem
[4] Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a method for transmitting and
receiving traffic information and apparatus therefor that substantially obviate one or
more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art. An object
of the present invention is to provide a method for transmitting and receiving traffic information
and apparatus therefor, by which the traffic information can be efficiently
delivered to a broadcast receiving terminal.
Technical Solution
[5] The present invention is characterized in transmitting time information useable in
providing traffic information according to broadcast transmitting rules of DVB-H or
DVB-T.
[6] Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description
which follows, and in part will be apparent: from the description, or may be
learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the

invention will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the
written description and claims thereof as well as the appended drawings.
[7] To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the
present invention, as embodied and broadly described, a method for transmitting traffic
information according to the present invention includes the steps of multiplexing audio
data, video data, component data carrying the traffic information, time information for
the traffic information, and stream parsing information including descriptor table information
for parsing the traffic information into broadcast transport streams,
performing error correction encoding on the multiplexed streams and interleaving the
encoded signals, mapping a scattered pilot signal changed according to a time and a
continual pilot signal fixed according to the time within one frame of the interleaved
signals, modulating the mapped signals within the frame by OFDM (orthogonal
frequency division multiplexing) and inserting portions of the modulated signals within
the frame in a guard interval of the modulated frame, and converting the signal having
the guard interval inserted therein to an RF signal and transmitting the RF signal.
[8] To further achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose
of the present invention, a method for transmitting traffic information includes the
steps of converting component data carrying the traffic information and time information
for the traffic information to IP datagram and generating a broadcast
transport stream including the converted IP datagram, multiplexing a broadcast transportstream
including audio data and video data, the broadcast transport stream
including the traffic information, and stream parsing information including descriptor
table information for parsing the traffic information, performing error correction
encoding on the multiplexed streams and interleaving the encoded signals, mapping a
scattered pilot signal changed according to a time and a continual pilot signal fixed accordingto
the time within one frame of the interleaved signals, modulating the mapped
signals within the frame by OFDM (orthogonal frequency division multiplexing) and
inserting portions of the modulated signals within the frame in a guard interval of the
modulated frame, and converting the signal having the guard interval inserted therein
to an RF signal and transmitting the RF signal.
[9] To further achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose
of the present invention, a method for transmitting traffic information includes the
steps of multiplexing descriptor table information for parsing an identifier of an application
indicating the traffic information and an identifier of a service component of
the traffic information with a broadcast transport stream, performing error correction
encoding on the multiplexed stream and interleaving the encoded signals, mapping a
scattered pilot signal changed according to a time and a continual pilot signal fixed accordingto
the time within one frame of the interleaved signals, modulating the mapped

signals within the frame by OFDM (orthogonal frequency division multiplexing) and
inserting portions of the modulated signals within the frame in a guard intervalof the
modulated frame, and converting the signal having the guard interval inserted therein
to an RF signal and transmitting the RF signal, wherein the service component of the
traffic information includes time information for the traffic information.
[10] To further achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose
of the present invention, an apparatus for transmitting traffic information includes a
signal converting unit converting a data signal including the traffic information and
timeinformation for the traffic information to IP (internet protocol) datagram, the
signal converting unit generating a broadcast transport stream including the IP
datagram, a multiplexing unit multiplexing the broadcast transport stream generated by
the signal converting unit, a broadcast transportstream including audio data and video
data, and stream parsing information including descriptor table information for parsing
the traffic information, an encoding unit performing error correction encoding and interleaving
on the signal multiplexed by the multiplexing unit, a mapping unit mapping
a scattered pilot signal changed according to a time and a continual pilot signal fixed
according to the time within one frame of the interleaved signals, a frame configuring
unit modulating the signals within the frame mapped by the mapping unit by OFDM
(orthogonal frequency division multiplexing), the frame configuring unit inserting
portions of the modulated signals within the frame in a guard interval of the modulated
frame, and a transmitting unit converting the signal having the guard interval inserted
therein to an RF signal, the transmitting unit transmitting the RF signal.
[11] To further achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose
of the present invention, an apparatus for receiving traffic information includes a tuner
receiving a broadcast signal including a data signal including the traffic information
and time information for the traffic information and stream parsing information for
parsing descriptor table information for the traffic information, a demodulating unit demodulating
the broadcast signal by considering a position-varying pilot signal and a
position-fixed pilot signal according to a time within a frame of the broadcast signal
received by the tuner, a demultiplexing unit demultiplexing the signal demodulated by
the demodulating unit into the data signal including the traffic information and the
descriptor table information for the traffic information with reference to the stream
parsing information, a data decoding unit outputtingthe traffic information from the
data signal by parsing the descriptor table information, a traffic information storing
unit storing the traffic information outputted by the data decoding unit, and a data
broadcast application manager implementing the traffic information stored in the
traffic information storing unit with a broadcast application according to the time information.

[12] To further achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose
of the present invention, a method of receiving traffic information includes the steps of
receiving a broadcast signal multiplexed with an audio signal, a video signal, a data
signal including the traffic information and time information for the traffic information,
and stream parsing information for parsing descriptor table information for
the traffic information, outputting a broadcast transport stream by performing channel
compensation by considering a scattered pilot signal and a continual pilot signal of the
received broadcast signal and by performing error correction on the demodulated
signal, obtaining the data signal including the traffic information by parsing program
information for the traffic information by demultiplexing the broadcast transport
stream, and implementing to display the traffic information included in the data signal.
[13] To further achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose
of the present invention, a method of receiving traffic information includes the steps of
receiving a broadcast signal multiplexed with an audio signal, a video signal, a data
signal including IP (internet protocol) datagram carrying the traffic information and
time information for the traffic information, and stream parsing information for parsing
descriptor table information for the traffic information, outputting a broadcast transport
stream by performing channel compensation by considering a scattered pilot signal and
a continual pilot signal of the received broadcast signal and by performing error
correction on the demodulated signal, obtaining the data signal including the traffic information
by parsing the descriptor table information for the traffic information by demultiplexing
the broadcast transport stream, and implementing to display the traffic information
included in the data signal according to the time information.
[14] To further achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose
of the present invention, a method of receiving traffic information includes the steps of
receiving a broadcast signal including descriptor table information for parsing an
identifier of an application indicating the traffic information and an identifier of a
service component of the traffic information, outputting a broadcast transport stream
by performing channel compensation by considering a scatteredpilot signal and a
continual pilot signal of the received broadcast signal and by performing error
correction on the demodulated signal, obtaining the data signal including the traffic information
by parsing the descriptor table information for the traffic information by demultiplexing
the broadcast transport stream, and implementing to display the traffic information
included in the data signal, wherein the service component of the traffic information
includes time information for the traffic information and wherein the traffic
information in the displaying step is implemented according to the time information.
[15] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following
detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further

explanation of the invention as claimed.
Advantageous Effects
[16] The present invention enables a driver of a vehicle running in a traffic-jammed
metropolitan area to arrive at a destination in a short time using traffic information for
estimated roads. And, the present invention facilitates the driver to use a parking lot.
[17] Also, the present invention can represent information for timing points, time
intervals or periods used for vehicle operations precisely and in detail. IF the information
is appropriately used, it is able to accurately represent the information for
the period and the like with a small data volume. If iterative information is used, information
to be provided can be efficiently delivered.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[18] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system for transmitting and receiving traffic information
according to the present invention;
[19] FIG. 2 is a structural diagram of traffic information transmitted via a broadcast
signal;
[20] FIG. 3 is a diagram of a syntax structure of a message management container 21;
[21] FIG. 4 is an exemplary diagram of a template of a CTT event container carrying
CTT information and a CTT location container;
[22] FIG. 5 is an exemplary diagram of a template of a CTT component included in the
CTT event container shown in FIG. 4;
[23] FIG. 6 is an exemplary diagram of a template of a CTT location container included
in the CTT event container shown in FIG. 4;
[24] FIG. 7 is an exemplary structural diagram of a congestion and travel time
component included in a CTT event container;
[25] FIG. 8 is an exemplary structuraldiagram of a component if CTT information
shown in FIG. 7 is an average link speed;
[26] FIG. 9 is an exemplary structural diagram of a component if CTT information
shown in FIG. 7 is a travel time;
[27] FIG. 10 is an exemplary structural diagram of a component if CTT information
shown in FIG. 7 is a link delay time;
[28] FIG. 11 is an exemplary diagram of first type time information;
[29] FIG. 12 is an exemplary structural diagram of a component carrying predicted in-
formation for CTT information included in a CTT event container;
[30] FIGs. 13 to 16 are exemplary structural diagrams of components according to types
of the prediction information for the CTT information shown in FIG. 12;
[31] FIG. 17 is an exemplary diagram of second type time information;
[32] FIG. 18 and FIG. 19 are exemplary diagrams of prediction information for CTT in-

formation including second type time information;
[33] FIG. 20 is an exemplary diagram of third type time information;
[34] FIG. 21 is an exemplary diagram of a selector for a day selection of the week and
the repetition of an event;FIG. 22 and FIG. 23 are exemplary diagrams for a method of
calculating prediction information for CTT information;
[35] FIG. 24 is an exemplary structural diagram of a message for parking lot associated
information;
[36] FIG. 25 is an exemplary diagram of an opening hour component of parking lot
associated information;
[37] FIG. 26 is an exemplary diagram of a pricing payment component of parking lot
associated information;
[38] FIG. 27 is an exemplary diagram of a service operation component of parking lot
associated information;
[39] FIG. 28 is an exemplary diagram of a capacity component;
[40] FIG. 29 is a block diagram of an apparatus for transmitting the above-mentioned
traffic information according to one embodimentof the present invention;
[41] FIG. 30 is a diagram of signal arrangement according to a result of a frame
configured by a frame configuring unit shown in FIG. 29;
[42] FIG. 31 is a block diagram of an apparatus for transmitting the above-mentioned
traffic information according to another embodimentof the present invention;
[43] FIG. 32 is a diagram of an example that a DVB-H type sliced service and a service
transmitted on a shared channel by DVB-T and DVB-H are transmitted on channels;
[44] FTG. 33 is an exemplary diagram of a location of a descriptor transmittable by
having descriptor table information for traffic information included therein;
[45] FIG. 34 and FIG. 35 are diagrams of PAT and PMT as program information
transmitted by being included in MPEG-2 TS type signals, respectively;
[46] FIG. 36 is an exemplary diagram of a descriptor capable of parsing a broadcast
signal carrying traffic information according to the present invention;
[47] FIG. 37 is a block diagram of an apparatus for receiving traffic information
according to one embodiment of the present invention;
[48] FTG. 38 is a block diagram of an apparatus for receiving traffic information
according to another embodiment of the present invention;
[49] FIG. 39 is a flowchart of a method of receiving traffic information according to one
embodiment of the present invention;
[50] FIGs. 40 to 43 are diagrams for displaying traffic information provided according to
an embodimentof the present invention and
[51] FIG. 44 is a flowchart of a method of transmitting and receiving traffic information
according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
[52] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system for transmitting and receiving traffic information
according to the present invention.
[53] In a network shown in FIG. 1, a trafficinformation providing server 100 of a
broadcasting service company reconfigures various kinds of traffic information
collected via variouspaths including operator inputs, other servers via the network 101,
and probe cars and other traffic information collected from other servers for example
and then transmits the reconfigured traffic information. A traffic information receiving
device loaded in a vehicle 200 or the like, e.g., a navigation device receives the traffic
information and then displayed the received traffic information.
[54] The traffic information providing server 100 transmits various kinds of traffic information
necessary for vehicle operations such as road CTT information (hereinafter
named congestion and travel time (CTT) information), road block information, parking
lot information, and the like by radio for example.
[55] FIG. 2 is a structural diagram of traffic information transmitted via a broadcast
signal.
[56] Referring to FIG. 2, the CTT (congestion and travel time) information can be exemplarily
carried by a messagestructure. Traffic information has a configuration of a
sequence of message segments. One of the message segments in the sequence can
correspond to a CTT (congestion and travel-time information) message that indicates
CTT information.
[57] The CTT messageincludes a message management container 21, a CTT even
container (application event container) 22, and a CTT location container 23.
[58] And, another traffic information different from the CTT message, e.g., information
30 for occurrences of factors (accident, slippery road, etc.) working as hindrance on
road operations can be delivered by the message structure exemplarily shown in FIG.
2.
[59] The message management container 21 carries message management date and time
information.
[60] The CTT event container 22 carrying the CTT information contains a current-
congestion and travel time status, a prediction of congestion and travel time status, and
the like of each link. In this case, the link can indicates a road section having no
crossroad between diverging points or crossroads. The congestion and travel time
status includes an average link speed, a travel time, a link delay, and the like.
[61] And, the CTT location container 23 carries information for a location of a link.
[62] FIG. 3 is a diagram of a syntax structure of the message management container 21.
[63] Referring to FIG. 3, a message management container contains a message identifier

identifying CTT information, a version number, a CTT message length, and a message
generation time. In this case, the message generation time carries information for
generation time of a messagewith reference to a timing point of a message
transmission.
[64] FIG. 4 is an exemplary diagram of a template of a CTT event container carrying
CTT information and a CTT location container.
[65] Referring to FIG. 4, each of the CTT event container or the CTT location container
can include a number of components and at least one or more CTT components 201.
[66] FIG. 5 is an exemplary diagram of a template of a CTT component included in the
CTT event container shown in FIG. 4.
[67] Referring to FIG. 5, a CTT component includes an identifier for CTT information, a
byte-unit component length and CTT information component data among traffic in-
formation message components.
[68] Yet., FIG. 6 exemplarily shows a template of a CTT location container included in
the CTT event container shown in FIG. 4.
[69] Referring to FIG. 6, a CTT location container contains an identifier for a location
container, a byte-unit component length, and location container data.
[70] If an identifier of the CTT event container 22 is 80h, the CTT event container 22
can include a status component indicating CTT information (current status in-
formation) for an average link speed, a travel time, a link delay, and the like as current
operation information.
[71] FIG. 7 is an exemplary structural diagram of a congestion and travel time
component included in a CTT event container.
[72] Referring to FIG. 7, an identifier 80h ('h' indicates a hexadecimal number) 3a is
assigned to a CTT component. The CTT component includes a field 3b representingan
overall data length of an included status component by byte unit and m status
components 3c.
[73] Information for the aforesaid average link speed, travel time and link delay is
delivered to each of the status components in a format exemplarily shown in FIG. 8,
Fig. 9, or FIG. 10.
[74] An identifier 00 can be assigned to the average link speed shown in FIG. 8. An
identifier 04 can be assigned to the travel time shown in FIG. 9. And, an identifier 05
can be assigned to the link delay shown in FIG. 10. In this case, the link delay indicates
a time delayed according to a current traffic status for a time taken to pass through a
corresponding link at a speed limit regulated for the corresponding link.
[75] FIG. 11 is an exemplarydiagram of first type time information which carries the
travel time shown in FIG. 9 and the link delay shown in FIG. 10.
[76] Referring to FIG. 11, a first type for time information is represented as

. The first type for the time information includes a selector for selecting a time span
and is able to include at least one information among a year span, a month span, a day
span, a time span, a minute span, and a second span.
[77] Syntax for the type shown in FIG. 11 is explained in detail as follows.
[78] First of all, an additional byte can follow each bit for which a value of a selector
corresponding to 'bitswitch' in the first type. In case that at least one byte follows a
selector, a sequence of the byte value becomes a byte according to a byte corresponding
to a bit close to an LSB of the selector. For instance, a select '8 bits'can
indicate year, month, date, time, minute, and second according to digit values of the
respective bits.
[79] And, the byte following the selector becomes the respective bit digit values
according to the LSB sequenceof the selector. If a value according to a
type is '18h 02h 1Eh', the value corresponding to the selector is 18h (00011000), which
represents that a bit value corresponding to a minute and hour is set. So, '02h'
following the selector becomes a value corresponding to 00001000 closer to the LSB
among a value of '1' of the selector, i.e., the hour. And, '1Eh(=30)' corresponding to
'00010000' becomes the minute. Hence, '=18h 02h 1Eh' means a duration
of '2 hours and 30 minutes'. For another instance, '06h 01h 0Fh' indicates a duration of
'1 month and 15 days'.
[80] If a travel time is '30 minutes' according to the example shown in FIG. 9, a status
component for the travel time for the link carries '04h 02h 10h 1Eh'. In this case, the
'04h' in the front is an ID that indicates that a status component is for the travel time.
The '02h' is a value that indicates a length of additional data, i.e., data corresponding to
. And, the '10h 1Eh' is a value coded according to the type
exemplarily shown in FIG. 11 and indicates '30 minutes'.
[81 ] If a travel time is '45 minutes' according to the example shown in FIG. 10, a status
component for the travel time for the link carries '05h 02h 10h 2Dh'. In this case, the
latter '10h 2Dh' is the value according to the type exemplarily shown in
FIG. 13 and is interpreted by the aforesaid method to indicate '45 minutes'.
[82] In another embodimentof the present invention, each of the status components of
the travel time and link delay can have the 1-byte time information instead of
the format of shown in FIG. 11. And, different identifying values, e.g.,01
and 02 can be assigned to the status components of the travel time and link delay
having the 1-byte time information each to be discriminated from the status
components shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, respectively.
[83] Thus, the traffic information receiving apparatus recognizes that time span information
coded according to which type is loaded on a status component and is then
able to decode the corresponding information.

[84] If an identifier of the CTT event container 22 is 8 1h, the CTT event container 22 is
able to carry information for prediction CTT status. In this case, the prediction CTT
status means the prediction information for the CTT information. The prediction CTT
status can include a prediction average link speed, a prediction travel time, and the
like.
[85] FIG. 12 is an exemplary structural diagram of a component carrying predicted in-
formationfor CTT information included in a CTT event container.
[86] Referring to FIG. 12, an identifier 81h (5a) is assigned to a CTT component
carrying prediction information and includes a field 5b representing a lengthof overall
data of the included status components and m status components 5c carrying prediction
information each.
[87] And, the aforesaid prediction average link speed and the prediction travel time can
be carried by the status component for the prediction information.
[88] FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 exemplarily show status components carrying a prediction
average link speed and a prediction travel time, respectively.
[89] Referring to FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, an identifier 00 (FIG. 13) and an identifier 01
(FIG. 4) can be assigned to a prediction average link speed and a prediction travel
time, respectively. A status component carrying prediction information can be carried
by a 4-byte field coded for a predicted future time in a format of the UTC
(universal time coordinated) agreementworld time. In this case, the predicted time
indicates a time for obtaining the prediction information, i.e., a specific date or hour
instead of a current time.
[90] In order to obtain prediction information, a traffic information transmitting
apparatus is capable of generating prediction information for an average link speed, a
travel time, and the like according to current traffic information collected via various
paths and a traffic information database. For instance, the prediction travel time can be
found by a length of a link in the respective links established in its database using the
predicted average speed. A method of generating the prediction information will be
explained in detail with reference to FIG. 23 and FIG. 24 later.
[91] FIG. 15 and FIG. 16 show another formats of status components carrying a
prediction average link speed and a prediction travel time, respectively.
[92] Referring to FIG. 15, a status component for a prediction average link speed among
status components for prediction information can have an identifier 03 and is able to
include a status component data length for the prediction average link speed, the
prediction average link speed, and a predicted time of the speed.
[93] Referring to FIG. 16, a status component for a prediction travel time among status
components for prediction information can have an identifier 04 and is able to include
a status component data length for the prediction average link speed, the prediction

travel time, and a predicted time of the prediction travel time.
[94] In this case, the predicted time is the provided time information for the prediction
information and indicates a second type of the time information for the traffic information.
The second type for the time information is represented as _iterative_time> and indicates a predicted time necessary to transmit the prediction information.
[95] The status components, as shown in FIG. 15 and FIG. 16, of the prediction average
link speed and the prediction travel time having the information 5d and the information
5e for the predicted times configured according to can
have identifiersdifferent from those shown in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, e.g., identifiers 03
and 04, respectively.
[96] In the embodimentshown in FIG. 16, the status component for the prediction travel
time can have information 5f coded according to the aforesaid type for
the prediction travel time.
[97] FIG. 17 is an exemplary diagram of second type time information.
[98] Referring to FIG. 17, second type time information includes a selector for selecting
a random timing point and is able to include at least one of time information indicating
a current time of year, month, date, hour, minute, and second and information
indicating whether the time is periodic information according to a value of the selector.
A second type syntax of the time information is explained with reference to FIG. 17 as
follows.
[99] First of all, a value of the selector corresponding to 'bitswitch' precedes and an
additional byte can follow the selector one by one for each bit having a value of '1' in
the selector. A value of the following byte is carried in a sequence of bytes corresponding
to a bit close to an LSB of the selector. The selector can represent year,
month, date, hour, minute, second, and a time at a position where the selector (i.e., a
time of an undesignated field) is 0 as equality to a present time component and units of
iterative time. The meaning of each of the units is shown in FIG. 17.
[100] For instance, if a value according to a is '58h OEh
1Fh', a value corresponding to a selector is 58h (= 0101 1000). And, '1' close to MSB
indicates that a time component of an undesignated field is the same time component
of a present time. A second '1' from the MSB indicates 'minute and a third '1' indicates
'hour'.
[101] The 'OEh (=14)'following the selector is a value corresponding to '00001000' closer
to LSB and indicates 'hour'. And, the '1Fh (=31)'is a value corresponding to 00010000
and indicates 'minute'. And, the elements for the rest of the fields (year, month, date,
and second) do not exist to indicate a time component corresponding to a present time.
So, if a present date is October 12, 2006, the ':=58h 0Eh

1Fh' means 13:30, October 12, 2006. In this case, it is assumed that 'second' is equal to
that of the present time since the 'second' may be insignificant. Since values greater
than 1 are recorded in the fields of 'year', 'hour', 'minute', and 'second' of the &_iterative_time>, the 'OEh' indicates 13 hours and the '1Fh' indicates 30 minutes.
[102] For another instance, if is '50h 1Fh', it indicates bits
for the 'minute' and 'undesignated fields are equal to those of present date and hour'.
The '1Fh' is a value for 'minute'. If present date and hour are 15:00, October 12, 2006,
the time information indicates 15:30, October 12, 2006.
[103] The type exemplarily shown in FIG. 17 is able to
reduce an information quantity, which is needed to carry information for a random
timing point, smaller than that of the examples shown in Fig. 13 and FIG. 14 using information
for a present time. Of course, it is able to carry information for random date
and hour using all information for a present time for all fields.
[104] For instance, if '15:30 00, October 12, 2006' is coded according to a _iterative_time> type, it becomes '3Fh 07h 0Ah 0Ch 0Eh 1Fh 01h'. In this case, '3Fh' is
a value for a selector and the respective following bytes indicate values for year,
month, date, hour, minute, and second in a sequence of the respective bytes.
[105] Hence, if a travel time predicted for a link at 14:30 today is 30 minutes, a traffic information
transmitting apparatus transmits a value of '04h 05h 10h 1Eh 58h 0Fh 1Fh'
carried by a status component of a prediction travel time for the link. In this case, the
foremost '04h' is an ID indicating that the status component carries a prediction travel
time of the type. The '05h' is a value indicating lengths of
data 5e and 5f corresponding to additional data, i.e., and _iterative__time> types. The 'lOh lEh'is a value according to the type exemplarily
shown in FIG. 11 and is interpreted in the aforesaid manner to indicate '30
minutes'. The '58h 0Fh 1Fh'is a value coded according to the _iterative_time> type shown in FIG. 17 and is interpreted in the aforesaid manner to
indicate a timing point of '14:30 October 12, 2006' if a current date is October 12,
2006.
[106] In the same manner, if a predicted average speed for a random link is 40km/h with
reference to 14:30 today, a value of '03h 04h 28h 58h 0Fh 1Fh' can be carried by a
status component of a prediction average link speed for the link. In this case, the '28h'
is a value indicating a speed 130km/h and the '58h OFh 1Fh' indicates that '14:30
October 12, 2006' is a predicted timing point if a present date is October 12, 2006.
[107] In another embodiment of the present invention, in case that prediction operation information
for a link is carried, it is able to deliver prediction informationfor a specific
period instead of delivering a specific timing point.
[108] FIG. 18 and FIG. 19 are another exemplary diagrams of prediction information for

CTT information, in which a status component of a prediction average link speed for a
specific period and a status component of a prediction travel time are shown, respectively.
A third type of time information is exemplarily shown to carry traffic information
predicted for a specific period, which is represented as
hereof. And, identifiers 05 and 06 can be assigned to the status components carrying
predicted operation information of the average speed and travel time for the specific
period in FIG. 18 and FIG. 19, respectively.
[109] FIG. 20 is an exemplary diagram of third type time information to carry traffic information
predicted for the predicted specific period shown in FIG. 18 and FIG. 19.
[110] Referring to FIG. 20, time informationshown in FIG. 20 includes at least one of a
period information field 7a for a start point and an end point of a specific period
according to the type, a selector corresponding to
'bitswitch', a day selection field following a value of the selector, the specific_&_iterative_time> field shown in FIG. 17, and the field of
which syntax is exemplarily shown in FIG. 13.
[111] FIG. 21 exemplarily shows a syntax of the day selection field.
[112] Referring to FIG. 21, a 1-byte value coded according to the type exemplarily shown
in FIG. 21 can be written in the field. Lower 7 bits of the written byte
designate days of the week, respectively. And, MSB indicates a presence or non-
presence of the repetition of the corresponding day. For instance, if =
01h, the MSB indicates that a day of an event occurrence is Sunday. If
= 84h, the MSB indicates that an event repeatedly occurs on each Tuesday.
[113] And, temporary information repeated everyday in a specific period designated by
the period information field 7a can be carried by the field
selectively following according the selector within the type shown
in FIG. 20.
[114] The selectively following field 7c carries a time interval from the
timing point designated by the field. Of course, if a
timing point within a specific period is carried only, the field may not be
included.
[115] If a construction work is scheduled for a prescribed link from October 1, 2006 to
January 1, 2007 and if the construction work is substantially carried out Monday to
Thursday, a prediction travel time for the link can be provided by the status component
exemplarily shown in FIG. 20 while the construction work is in progress.
[116] In this case, the start time field of the specific period of the field
5g, which is carried by the status component and shown in FIG. 20, can be set to
October 1, 2006 and the end time field there of can be set to January 1, 2007. And, the
selector is set to a value of '01h' indicating that the field follows. The
day_selector> includes a selector for selecting a day and a presence or non-presence of
repetition of the corresponding day. And, the can include at least one
of information indicating one of Monday to Sunday and information for a presence or
non-presence of a traffic event repeated on the corresponding day. In the example
shown in FIG. 20, the field can carry a value of '9Eh (= 1001
1110)'indicating Monday to Thursday and a repetition.
[117] In the same manner, assuming that a construction work is scheduled for a
prescribed link from October 1, 2006 to January 1, 2007 and that the construction work
is supposedto be carried out 10 p.m. to 12 p.m., Monday to Thursday, a prediction
travel time for the link can be provided by the status component exemplarily shown in
FIG. 18. And, the status component can be set to the value according to FIG. 20. In
particular, the start time field of the specific period of the field 5f is
set to October 1, 2006 and the end time field thereof is set to January 1, 2007. And, the
selector carries a value 07h indicting that ,
and fields follow respectively. And, a value of 'BEh (= 1011 1110)'
indicating a repetition of Monday to Friday is carriedby the following
field. A value of '58h 17h 01h' indicating 10 p.m. is carried by the next following specific_&_iterative_time> field. And, a value of '08h 02h' indicating two hours can be
carried by the last following field.
[118] FIG. 22 and FIG. 23 are exemplary diagrams for a method of calculating prediction
information for CTT information. A traffic information transmitting apparatus is able
to store prediction information for each link according to a time to provide prediction
information for CTT information. For instance, an average link speed of operation information
is stored per day, time zone, week, month, and year. For instance, operation
information is databased per 30 minutes to be stored in a format shown in FIG. 22. The
numerical values shown in FIG. 22 are based on the unit of 'km/h' and follows the
speed expressions for the transmission of operation information.
[119] A speed at every 30-mintue timing point of the currentlyprovided average speed of
each link keeps being updated and stored for a prescribed time, e.g., 3 hours and a
pattern of the speed variation is compared to the pattern stored in a database corresponding
to a time zone of a current day.
[120] FIG. 23 exemplarily shows a speed variation pattern on a prescribed day of the
week.
[121] Referring to FIG. 23, if a 3-hour based speed variation pattern-A up to a present
time of 04:30 p.m. on Monday is shown, the pattern-A can be compared to a speed
variation pattern-B between 01:30 p.m. and 04:30 p.m. on Monday in the database
shown in FIG. 22.
[122] If a sum of absolute values of the speed variation pattern differences, e.g., speed

differences of the respective time zones (a sum of speed differences can be found by
giving a weight value greater than a speed difference of a farther time zone to speed
difference of a time zone closer to a present time zone) is equal to or smaller than a
preset reference value, a speed variation pattern can be used. In particular, in case that
a speed variation pattern is decided as usable, an average speed B1 in a time zone after
30 minutes from a present time, i.e., 05:00 p.m. on the database can be carried as a
prediction average link speed. Of course, a prediction average link speed can be
provided togetherwith predicted time information by predicting an operational status
for a time zone after 1 hour, 1 hour and 30 minutes, 2 hours or more hours.
[123] If the speed variation pattern difference is greater than the preset reference value,
the prediction average link speed is not provided. Alternatively, a progress or transition
is calculated from a speed variation pattern for previous three hours and a predicted
value for an average speed after 30 minutes is then obtained to provide as a prediction
average link speed. In a method of obtaining a predicted value from FIG. 23, a highest
weight is given to a present time and a lower weight is given to a time getting farther
from the present time. They are multiplied together to find an average value. Alternatively,
one of various graph estimations can be used to obtain the predicted value.
[124] FIG. 24 shows an example of trafficinformation provided by a traffic information
transmitting apparatus, in which an exemplary structural diagram of a message
carrying parking lot associated information is shown.
[125] Referring to FIG. 24, a traffic information transmitting apparatus is able to provided
various kinds of traffic associated information using the above-described time information
types. The traffic information transmitting apparatus is able to provide
various components, e.g., a parking lot name component, a parking restriction
component, and the like as well as the components exemplarily shown in the formats
of FIG. 24.
[126] One message segment includes a messagemanagement container 91, a parking lot
information component, a capacity component 93, and a location container 94.
[127] And, the parking lot information component 92 can include an opening hour
component 921, a pricing payment component 922, and a facility component 923.
[128] Moreover, the facility component 923 can include a service operation component
922a, a related facility component 922b, a target site component 922c, and other
facility component 922d.
[129] In the following description, details of the components included in the parking lot
information component 92 are explained.
[130] FIG. 25 shows the opening hour component exemplarily shown in FIG. 24.
[131] Referring to FIG. 25, an opening hour component is able to carry opening hours of
a parking lot. Information for a location of a parking lot, information for commands,

and the like can be individually identified by other components, respectively. The
opening hour component includes a type of opening hours (openingHoursType) and is
able to include at least one of a parking lot time type (pkiTimeType), a parking service
type (service_day_type), a vehicle type (vehicleType), and a user type (userType)
according to a value of a selector. In particular, the opening hour component 921,
according to a value of the selector, includes the field 1002 exemplarily
shown in FIG. 11 and the field 1001 shown in FIG. 17.
[132] The field 1001 can carry information for parking lot
opening hours. For instance, if a parking lot is open at 07:00 a.m. everyday, the specific_&_iterative_time> field 1001 is set to 'C8h 08h'. In this case, an MSB '1' of
the 'C8h (=1100 1000)' indicates iterative information.
[133] And, the field 1002 is able to carry information for a parking lot
opening time interval according to FIG. 11. For instance, if a parking lot keeps open
for 15 hours from an opening time, the field 1002 can be set to a value of
•08h OEh1.
[134] FIG. 26 is an exemplary diagram of the pricing payment component exemplarily
shown in FIG. 24.
[135] Referring to FIG. 26, a pricing payment component is provided to indicate a fee
system of a parking lot. The pricing payment component is able to include a parking
fee amount per unit hour. According to a valueof a selector, the pricing payment
component can selectively include at least one of a parking lot time type
pkiTimeType), a vehicle type (vehicleType), a user type (userType), and payment
details (PaymentDetails). The pricing payment component 922 can include a time_span> field 101 according to a value of a selector, And, the field
101 carries information for a parking fee unit hour. For instance, if a parking lot
charges a parking fee designated by the parking fee amount field by a unit of 10
minutes, the field 101 caries a value of '10h 0Ah'.
[136] FIG. 27 is an exemplary diagram of the service operation component exemplarily
shown in FIG. 24.
[137] Referring to FIG. 27, the service operation component 922a is able to indicate a
service provided by a parking lot such as a security service, a supervision service, and
the like. According to a value of a selector, the service operation component 922a can
selectively include at least one of asecurity type (securityType), a parking guidance
type (parkingGuidanceType), a supervision type (supervisionType), and a parking time
type (pkiTimeType).
[138] The service operation component 922a includes a field 1020
according to a value of aselector. In this case, the field 1020 is able
to indicate a period of a service provided by a parking lot. For instance, it is assumed

that a parking lot exemplarily operates a security service every weekdays except
Saturday and Sunday from October 1, 2006 to December 31, 2006. If so, a start time of
the period information field of is set to October 1, 2006 and an end
time of the period information field of is set to December 31, 2006.
A selector is set to a value of '01h' indicating that a field follows. And,
the field is finally set to a value of 'BEh (= 1011 1110)' indicating a
repetition of Monday to Friday.
[ 139] Of course, if the security service is operated for a period of time for permitting a
vehicle parking, e.g., 07:00 a.m. to 06:00 p.m., a field
within the field is set to 07:00 a.m. and the field is set
to 11 hours. Thus, it is able to use all information elements within the > field.
[140] FIG. 28 is an exemplary diagram of the capacity component shown in FIG. 24.
[141] Referring to FIG. 28, the capacity component93, according to a value of a selector,
selectively includes at least one of a number of parking available spaces (spaces), a
parking occupancy (parkingOccupancy), a parking state (fillState), a parking state
varying rate (fillStateRate), and a parking available type (availableType). In particular,
according to a value of a selector, the capacity component 93 enables a
field 1030 to indicate a time taken for parking. For instance, if it takes 5 minutes for
complete parking from a parking lot entry of a vehicle, the corresponding field 1030
caries a value of '10h 05h'.
[142] In case of attempting to transmit the above-explained traffic information by the
traffic information transmitting and receiving method and apparatus according to the
present invention, an example of a type of a transmission signal is explained as
follows.
[143] In the traffic informationtransmitting and receiving method and apparatus according
to the present invention, traffic information can be transmitted/received in a broadcast
signal format of DVB-T (digital video broadcasting-terrestrial) or DVB-H (digital
video broadcasting-handheld).
[144] FIG. 29 is a block diagram of an apparatus for transmitting the above-mentioned
traffic information according to one embodimentof the present invention.
[145] Referring to FIG. 29, an audio/video signal as a broadcast signal is multiplexed into
an MPEG-2 transport stream (TS) by a multiplexing unit 510 and is then outputted.
The aforesaid traffic information can be multiplexed with the audio/video signal by
MPEG-2 TS format.
[146] For energy dispersal, the multiplexing unit 510 multiplexes a signal including
traffic information in an MPEG-2 TS format.
[147] An outer coder 521 encodes multiplexed data to enhance transmission performance

for the multiplexed signal. And, an outer interleaver 522 interleaves the encoded data
to enhance the transmission performance for the multiplexed signal. For instance,
Reed-Solomon coding scheme is usable as the outer coding scheme. And, convolution
interleaving is usable for the interleaving.
[148] An inner coder 531 encodes a signal to be transmitted to prepare for the error
occurrence in the transmission signal. And, an inner interieaver 532 interleaves the
encoded signal to prepare for the error occurrence in the transmission signal. The inner
coder 531 is capable of encoding a transmission signal according to punctured
convolution codes. And, the inner-interleaving can adopt a native or in-depth interleaving
scheme according to a memory use in a transmission mode of 2k, 4k or 8k.
[149] A mapper 535 is capable of mapping a transmission signal into a symbol according
to 16QAM, 64QAM, QPSK, or the like by considering a pilot and TPS (transmission
parameter signaling) according to a transmission mode.
[150] A frame configuring unit 540 modulates the mapped signal by OFDM (orthogonal
frequency division multiplexing) and then configures a frame in a manner thata guard
interval is inserted in a data interval including the modulated signal. In this case, each
frame includes 68 OFDM symbols. Each of the OFDM symbols includes 6,817 carriers
in 8k mode or 1,705 carriers in 2k mode. The guard interval is a sort of a cyclic continuation
that copies data of the data interval and its length varies according to a
transmission mode. An OFDM frame includes a scattered pilot signal, a continual pilot
signal, and a TPS carrier. The structure of the frame configured by the frame
configuring unit 540 shown in FIG. 29 is explained with reference to FIG. 30 later.
[151] A digital-to-analog converting unit 541 converts a digital broadcastsignal having a
guard interval and a data interval to an analog signal. And, a transmitting unit 542is
able to transmit the analog signal as an RF signal. So, the MPEG-2 TS formatted
traffic information can be transmitted by DVB-T. In this case, the MEPG-2 TS
(transport stream) format may have a format of PES (packetized elementary stream) or
section.
[152] FIG. 30 is a diagram of signal arrangement according to a result of a frame
configured by the frame configuring unit shown in FIG. 29.
[ 153] Referring to FIG. 30, 'Tu'indicates a number of usable subcarriers, 'Dt'indicates a
distance between scattered pilots on a time axis, and 'Df indicates a distance between
scattered pilots on a frequency axis. The distance Df between scattered pilots on a frequencydomain
determines a delayed range of a ghost that can be estimated on a
channel. And, FIG. 30 shows a position of a pilot to be interpolated in case of
receiving a signal configured by the frame configuring unit.
[154] Meanwhile, symbols are arranged in a manner that the same pilot pattern can appear
for each four inputted symbols to perform time interpolation at a pilot position in case

of signal reception.
[155] In particular, for a first inputted symbol (t= 1), the same scattered pilot signal of a
symbol inputted at t=5 is arranged. And, time interpolation can be executed for
symbols inputted at t=2, 3, and 4 at a position of a scattered pilot signal in case of
signal reception.
[156] A symbol inputted at t=6 has the same scattered pilot pattern of a symbol inputted at
t=2, And, time interpolation for signals at t=3, 4, and 5 can be performed at a position
of a scattered pilot of the symbol inputted at t=6 and at a position of a scattered pilot of
the symbol inputted at t=2.
[157] If the time interpolation is performed in the above manner after a symbol has been
inputted at t=7 in case of signal reception, the symbol inputted at t=4 has scattered
pilots located at each 4-subcarrier position. So, the interval between scattered pilot
signals on a frequency domain of the symbol inputted at t=4 is reduced into ¼ of the
original interval between the scattered pilot signals. And, the symbol inputted at t=4 is
made to have the pattern configured in a manner that a scattered pilot signal is located
at each 4-subcarrier position. Hence, in case of signal reception, more pilot signals can
be located at the corresponding symbol. If signals are transmitted using a continual
pilot signal and a scattered pilot signal, channel compensation can be adaptively
performed according to a status of a reception channel in case of the corresponding
signal reception.
[158] An apparatus for transmitting traffic information according to another em-
bodimentof the present invention is explained with reference to FIG. 31 as follows.
[ 159] FIG. 31 is a block diagram of an apparatus for transmitting the above-mentioned
traffic information according to another embodimentof the present invention.
[160] Referring to FIG. 31, another example of transmitting the traffic information can
adapt DVB-H (digital video broadcasting-handheld). The DVB-H expands a
broadcasting range to a mobile terminal area and enables transmission information as
IP datagram. In this case, the datagram indicates a signal processingmethod of sending
a signal as a packet by Internet protocol. And, the datagram includes a header
containing an IP address and a data container carrying information. The data container
of the packet-unit IP datagram is able to carry video, audio, and traffic information
signals. In particular, the DVB-H uses IP datacasting that transmits the video, audio,
and traffic information signals by dividing and compressing the video, audio, and
traffic information signals by packet unit.
[161] A signal transforming unit 8 is capable of transforming trafficinformation into data
including IP by compressing the traffic information by separate packet unit together
with audio and video signals. In this ease, IP datais embedded into MPEG-2 TS
(transport stream) by MPE (multi-protocol encapsulation). The MPE can become

MPEG-FEC section data to which a forward error correction(FEC) code is added. If
transmission signals are arranged by MPE-FEC (multi-protocol encapsulation-forward
error correction), it is able to enhancea carrier-to-noise (CN) ratio of the transmission
signals. So, the MPE-FEC data including FEC or the MPE data not including FEC can
include IP data formatted transmission data.
[162] The IP datagram encapsulated by MPE by the signal transforming unit 8 can be
multiplexed by time slicing for the power consumption reduction. And, the
multiplexed signal is transformed into a transport stream to be multiplexed with the
MPEG-2 TS carrying the video or audio signal.
[163] A modulating and encoding unit 50 can include the blocks21 to 42 shown n FIG.
29. The traffic information multiplexed into the MEPG-2 TS can be transmitted via a
broadcast signal through the modulation and encoding of the DVB-T broadcasting
explained in FIG. 29.
[164] FIG. 32 is a diagram of an example that a DVB-H type sliced service and a service
transmitted on a shared channel by DVB-T and DVB-H are transmitted on channels.
[165] Referring to FIG. 32, a program can be transmitted on each channel of DVB-H and
DVB-T. In case that the program is transmitted by DVB-H, each service can be
transmitted by time division multiplexing according to time slicing. Traffic in-
formation is included in IP datagram by DVB-H, transformed into MPE or MPE-FEC,
and then transmitted as MPEG-2 TS in which the transformed MPE or MPE-FEC is
embedded.
[166] A location of descriptor table information for traffic information according to the
present invention is explained with reference to FIG. 33 as follows.
[167] FIG. 33 is an exemplary diagram of a location of a descriptor transmittable by
having descriptor table information for traffic information included therein in case that
the traffic information is transmitted by the encoding and modulation explained with
reference to FIGs. 29 to 31. In the example shown in FIG. 33, for convenienceand fa-
cilitation of explanation, a descriptor for traffic information to be transmitted is named
a traffic service descriptor.
[168] Referring to FIG. 33, table information for parsing traffic information is ex-
emplarily shown if the traffic information transmitted by the present invention is
carried by a broadcast signal.
[169] The table information transmitted by being included in the broadcast signal can
include NIT, BAT, SDT, EIT, or the like. The table shown in FIG. 33 indicates that a
descriptor for parsing a signal included in a broadcast signal is included in which table
of a transmission signal. And, a case that a descriptor is included in a table is marked
by '*'. For instance, 'network_name_descriptor' can be transmitted by being included in
NIT. So, if the NIT is parsed from a broadcast signal, it is able to obtain a transmitted

broadcast signal according to contents of the 'network_name_descriptor'.
[170] A traffic service descriptor, which is the service information for traffic information
according to thepresent invention, can be placed in at least one table of NIT, SDT, and
PMT.
[171] The NIT is the table information for providing a transport stream group such as a
channel frequencyand the like and tuning information. The SDT is used in transmitting
a service name and parameter within a transport stream. And, the TMT carries PID in-
formation for video, audio, data and program clock reference (PCR). If the traffic
service descriptor, which is the service information for the traffic information, is
transmitted by being included in the PMT (program map table), the PMT can be
obtained from parsing PAT (program associated table) from MPEG-2 TS. FIG. 33 exemplarily
shows '0x80'as an identifier tag value of the traffic service descriptor.
[172] FIG. 34 and FIG. 35 are diagrams of PAT and PMT as program information
transmitted by being included in MPEG-2 TS type signals, respectively.
[173] Referring to FIG. 34 and FIG. 35, PAT is a packet having a PID (packet identifier)
of '0' and is able to play a role in allocating a transport packet to each program. The
PID for the packet carrying the PMT can be obtained from the PAT. And, by obtaining
the PID for the packet from the PMT, it is able to what kind of information is carried
by a prescribed packet within a stream. So, if a packet having a PID obtained from
PMT is found, it is able to obtain the video, audio and traffic information included in
the packet.
[174] FIG. 36 is an exemplary diagram of a descriptor capable of parsing a broadcast
signal carrying trafficinformation according to the present invention.
[175] Referring to FIG. 36, a traffic service descriptor inclusive in PMT (program map
table) is capable of parsing a broadcast signal including traffic information.
[ 176] First of all, a traffic service descriptor includes a descriptor tag field
(descriptor_tag), a descriptor length field (descriptor_length), a service component
number field (Number_of_TPEG_Service_Components) indicating a number of
service components included in the descriptor, and a plurality of sets of traffic information
amounting to a value of the service component number field
(Number_of_TPEG_Service_Components). And, each of a plurality of the traffic information
sets can include a service component identifier field
(Service..Component_ID), an application identifier field (Application_ID) field, and a
service information field.
[177] Eight bits are allocated to the descriptor_tag. And, the descriptor_tag is set to a
value to identify the traffic information descriptor from other descriptors.
[178] Eight bits are allocatedto the descriptorjength. And, the descriptor_length indicates
a length to an end of the descriptor after the descriptorjength.

[179] Eight bits are allocated to the Service_component_ID (SCID). And, the
Service_component_ID indicates a value for identifying a service component within
one service. A value of the Service_component_ID (SCID) can be decided by a service
provider.
[180] Sixteen bits are allocated to the Application_ID. And, a value for identifying each
application is assigned to the Application_ID. In particular, an application identifier
(AID) is assigned to each traffic information application. And, a new AID is assigned
each time a new application is defined.
[181] Each traffic information within the iterative statement can include a service name
field (Service_name), a service description field (Service_description), a service logo
field (Service_logo), a subscriber information field (Subscriber_information), a free
text information field (Free_text_information), and a help information field
(Help_information). A length of each of the fields within the service information field
is variable and is represented as one format of text string, numeral and graphic.
[182] The Service_name indicates a service name for traffic information and enables a
user to identify a service. For instance, the Service_name can carry a service name
'Traffic information service by Broadcasting Station-A'.
[183] The Service_description indicates details of a corresponding service and is provided
to explain service contents in detail. For instance, the Service_description can carry a
service description 'Public Traffic Information for Outer City in South Metropolitan
Area'.
[184] The Service_logo indicates a service logo and enables a service or a service
provider to be visually identified. The service logo is mainly transmittable in a bit map
or other image format.
[185] The Subscriber_information indicates subscriber information. For instance, the
Subscriber_Information can carry pricing and payment information for a restricted
service component.
[186] The Free_text_information indicates additional information to be transmitted to a
user. For instance, the Free_text_information can carry a service interruption, information
cancellation, and the like.
[187] And, the Help_information indicates help information to be referred to by a user.
For instance, the Help_information can carry an Internet address, a phone number, and
the like.
[188] Traffic information according to the present invention is explained with reference to
FIG. 37 as follows.
[189] FIG. 37 is a block diagram of an apparatus for receiving traffic information
according to one embodimentof the present invention.
[190] Referring to FIG. 37, an apparatus for receiving traffic information according to one

embodimentof the present invention includes a tuner 701, a demodulating unit 702, a
demultiplexing unit 703, an audio decoding unit 704, a video decoding unit 705, a data
decoding unit 710, and a traffic information storing unit 711.
[191] The tuner 701 tunes a frequency of a specific channel via antenna, cable, or
satellite, down-converts a signal to an intermediate frequency(IF) signal, and then
outputs the down-converted signal to the demodulating unit 702. In this case, the signal
received in a frequency of a specific channel includes an audio signal, a video signal, a
traffic information signal, and DVB-T/H descriptor table information.
[ 192] A channel manager 707 makes a request for a table associated with service information
to the data decoding unit 710 with reference to channel information stored in
a channel map 708 and then received a corresponding result. In this case, the channel
manager 707 is capable of controlling channel tuning of the tuner 701 and can be implemented with a software module.
[ 193] The demodulating unit 702 demodulates the signal outputted from the tuner 701.
[194] The demultiplexing unit 703 separates the demodulated signal into a video signal,
an audio signal, and a signal including traffic information and then outputs the signal
by TS packet unit.
[ 195] And, the demultiplexing unit 703 outputs the TS packet including the traffic information
to the data decoding unit 710.
[196] The data decoding unit 710 is cable of decoding the TS packet including the traffic
information, PSI (program specific information) according to MPEG-2, descriptor
table information according to DVB-SI (DVB-service information). In the example
shown in FIG. 37, it is assumed that the traffic information is transmitted in a format of
DSM-CC (digital storage media-command and control) section of TS packet payload.
[197] In case that a traffic information messageis transmitted in the MPEG-2 TS format
according to DVB-T/H, the data decoding unit 710 is able to parse a traffic service
descriptor included in the PMT of the table information according to MPEG-2 TS and
DVB-SI (DVB-service information).
[198] The data decoding unit 710 parses the traffic information from the DSM-CC section
including the traffic information and then stores the parsed traffic information in the
traffic information storing unit 711.
[199] The data decoding unit 710 configures a table by collecting sections having the
same table identifiers (table_id).
[200] The data decoding unit 710 databases the descriptor table information in the traffic
information storing unit 711 and is able to store the traffic information message.
[201] If the data decoding unit 710 parsesthe traffic service descriptor, it is able to obtain
application identifying information, service component identifying information,
service information (e.g., service name, service description, service logo, subscriber in-

formation, free text information, help information, etc.) and the like of the traffic in-
formation message transmitted on a corresponding channel.
[202] A first application manager 706 shown in FIG. 7 drives a native application
program stored in a storage unit 709 to perform such a general function as a channel
switching and the like. In this case, the native application program means loaded
software since a receiving apparatus has been manufactured.
[203] If there is a user request is made to a receiving system via a user interface (UI), the
first application manager 706 complies with the user requestby displaying a graphic
user interface (GUI) on a screen. The user interface receives the user request via an
input device such as a remote controller, a keypad, a jog dial, a touchscreen on the
screen, and the like and then outputs it to the first application manager 706, a data
broadcast application manager 713, and the like.
[204] The first application manager 706 is able to perform channel associated operations
by controlling a channel manager 707. In particular, the first application manager 706
is able to manage the channel map 708 and control the data decoding unit 710.
[205] The first application manager 706 stores a GUI control of an overall receiving
system, a user request, and a status of the receiving system in the storage unit 709 and
reconstructs them from the storage unit 709.
[206] Meanwhile, if a data service requestis made by the user interface (UI), the data
broadcast application manager 713 provides a data service to a user by processing the
requested data in a manner of driving the corresponding application program stored in
the storage unit 709. For this data service, the data broadcast application manager 713
supports the GUI. In this case, the data service is provided in a format of text, audio,
graphic, still picture, moving picture, and/or the like.
[207] The data broadcast application manager 713 can be a software or hardware platform
to execute an application program stored in the storage unit 709. In this case, the
platform includes a Java virtual machine to execute a Java program for example.
[208] And, the data broadcast application manager 713 executes a traffic information
providing application program stored in the storage unit 709 to process the traffic information
message stored in the traffic information storing unit 711. An exampleof
providing the traffic information service in the above manner is explained as follows.
[209] First of all, a traffic information service, which can be provided by the present
invention, can be provided to a plurality of users via at least one of text, audio, graphic,
still picture and moving picture in a receiver loaded with either an electronic map or a
GPS or a receiver failing to be loaded with both of the electronic map and the GPS.
[210] If the receiving system shown in FIG. 36 is loaded with a GPS module 714, the
GPS module 714 receives satellite signals transmitted by a plurality of low orbit
satellites, extracts current location information (latitude, longitude, altitude), and then

outputs the current location information to the data broadcast application manager 713.
In this case, an electronic map and various kinds of graphic information including a
plurality of links and nodes of roads can be stored in the traffic information storing unit
711, the storage unit 709, or other storage units.
[211] If so, the data broadcast application manager 713 is able to provide the traffic information
service requested by a user based on the current position obtained by the
GPS module 714, the traffic information message stored in the traffic information
storing unit 711, and the like by executing the traffic information providing application
program.
[212] By the request made by the data broadcast application manager 713, the traffic information
messagestored in the traffic information storing unit 711 is read out and then
inputted to the data broadcast application manager 713.
[213] The data broadcast application manager 713 interprets the traffic informationmessage
read from the traffic information storing unit 711 and then outputs
necessary information and/or control signal according to contents of the interpreted
message. For facilitation and convenience of explanation, it is assumed that the user
made a request for a CTT (congestion and travel time) status.
[214] The data broadcast application manager 713 extracts messageidentification information
and information for a message generation time and message transmission
time within the messagemanagement container 102 of the traffic information message
and then recognizes whether a following container is a CTT status container from the
message identification information. In this case, 'message element' informationcontains
a message identifier and a version number. The messageidentifier and the version
number are necessary elements included in all kinds of messages and are used for the
data broadcast application manager 713 to manage the traffic information message.
[215] If the following container is the CTT status container 104, information is obtained
from the CTT component within the CTT status container 104 to activate a display
action according to the road operation status information and the prediction information
for the road operation status. And, location informationcorresponding to the
currently received operation information is obtained from the following location
container 106.
[216] In this case, the location information is position coordinates (longitude or latitude)
of start and end points or a link ID assigned to a link, i.e., a road section according to a
location type of the location container. If necessary, a link correspondingto the
received information is specified with reference to the information for the respective
links and nodes stored in the traffic information storing unit 711. And, the received
location coordinates of the link are converted to the link ID to use, and vice versa.
According to the present invention, if the location type information is the link ID and if

the location information is the text information including the road name associated
with the link, it is able to specify a link corresponding to the received information for
the operation status with reference to the information for the corresponding link. If the
location information is the link ID and if the link ID is a defined code, it is able to
specify a link corresponding to the received information for the operation status using
the information for the corresponding link with reference to a link system stored in the
traffic information storing unit 711.
[217] Meanwhile, the data broadcast application manager 713 reads a necessary electronic
map from the traffic information storing unit 711 centering on the currentlocation coordinates
received from the GPS module 712 and the displays the read electronic map
on a screen. In this case, a point corresponding to the currentlocation can be marked by
a graphic sign.
[218] And, the data broadcast application manager 713 controls average link speed information
received via the traffic information message to be displayed on a link corresponding
to the link ID or the location coordinated of the locationcontainer following
the container carrying the average link speed information. For this, a color can vary
according to an average link speed (e.g., in case of a normal road, red, orange, green
and blue indicate 0~10km/h, 10~20km/h, 20~40km/h, and 41km/h or higher, re-
spectively) or a correspondinglink is indicated by a numeral. If the congestion
transition information extracted from the traffic information message has a value of 1
or 2, a text string ('increase1 or 'decrease') or icon assigned to the valuecan be displayed
on the correspondinglink together. If it is 0 or 3, a displayed status is maintained as it is
without a separate update. If the congestion transition information is the information
for an average speed variation rate, it is displayed on the screen according to a request
made by a user. This is to reduce the visual confusion of a vehicle driver. And, it can
be displayed together with an available range, e.g., a set traveling path or a front path.
[219] If the receiving apparatus fails to be provided with the traffic information storing
unit 711 storing the electronic map and the like or other storage units, an average link
speed of a link ahead of a current traveling path is discriminated by a color or indicated
by a numeral. If a path, on which a vehicle loaded with a receiving apparatus such as a
traffic information receiving terminal is to travel, is set, it is able to display average
link speeds for the links included in the traveling path only.
[220] If the information added to the traffic information messageis the information for a
famous restaurant, a theatre, or the like within a link, the data broadcast application
manager 713 can display the corresponding point to be discriminated on the link
displayed on the screen and control the corresponding information to be displayed as
text on the screen.
[221 ] According to a requestmade by a user, the data broadcast application manager 713

enables information for the travel time, link delay and congestion type for each link,
which is extracted from the traffic information message, to be displayed on the screen
together with or insteadof the average link speed. If a user makes a request for
predicted information about a road operation status by specifying a predicted time, the
data broadcast application manager 713 displays a prediction average link speed
received via the traffic information messageas a color or numeral instead of a present
average speed. Of course, if a user makes a requestfor a display mode as a prediction
travel time mode instead of a present average speed, the data broadcast application
manager 713 displays the received prediction travel time information as an electronic
map or graphic image on the screen.
[222] If an auto search function for a destination is set in the receiving apparatus shown in
FIG. 37, it is able to search or re-search for a preferable path based on the received
prediction average link speed or the received prediction travel time. For instance, for
each link after the node at which a user is supposed to arrive at a present traveling
speed after 30 minutes, it is able to select a link, which takes a shortest time to a set
destination, as a traveling path to be displayed as a path on the screen using the
received prediction average link speed or the received prediction travel time after 30
minutes. In case that the receiving apparatus according to the embodiment of the
present invention shown in FIG. 37 is provided with an audio output means, the
operation status information or the prediction information for an operation status for
the specified link can be outputted as audio.
[223] The information and/or control information extracted from the traffic information
messageis temporarily stored in a volatile memory (not shown in the drawing) such as
a RAM and then usable by the data broadcast application manager 713.
[224] After having used the information stored in the volatile memory, the data broadcast
application manager 713 keeps storing the used information for a prescribed time
instead of deleting the used information. For instance, thedata broadcast application
manager 713 keeps storing the information within a last one hour, and more particularly,
the average link speed or the travel time for each twenty minutes (top of the
hour, 20 minutes after the hour, 40 minutes after the hour). It is able to set the last time
long and a storing interval short according to a memory capacity. In case that an
average speed provided for each link is stored, if a user selects a specific link, the data
broadcast application manager 713 displays a history of the average speed stored for
the specific link, a travel time history and prediction average link speed, or a prediction
travel time on the screen in a graphic format. In this case, a numerical value
represented on a graph is displayed by converting the information to km/h unit in case
of speed information and a represented name of a presentlink, e.g., a road name is
displayed on a top end of the graph together.

[225] A represented name of a link according to the present invention is a link identifier
or aroad name. The represented name of the link is recorded in the location coordinate
component or the link component included in the aforesaid location container and then
received. Alternatively, the represented name of the link is included in the electronic
map within the second storage unit 711. Besides, the present traffic information, the
previous traffic information, and the future prediction information can be displayed in
various ways.
[226] FIG. 38 is a block diagram of an apparatus for receiving traffic information
according to another embodiment of the present invention, in which a navigation
terminal is shown.
[227] Referring to FIG. 38, an apparatus for receiving traffic information according to
another embodimentof the present invention includes a tuner 811, a demodulating unit
812, a decoding unit 813, a storage unit 814, a control unit 815, a display controller
816, a display unit 817, a GPS module 818, and an input unit 819.
[228] The tuner 811 tunes a signal including traffic information having the aforesaid type
time information. The demodulating unit 812 demodulates the tuned signal by a predetermined
scheme and then outputs the demodulated signal. The decoding unit 813
decodes the demodulated signal into a traffic information message sequence, interprets
each message within the sequence, and then delivers contents of the interpreted
messageto the control unit 815.
[229] The decoding unit 813 extracts date/hour and message generation time from a
message management container of each traffic information message and then outputs
information for discriminating the followingdata is a congestion information event
container, a parking lot information component, or the like from the information of information
for 'message component.
[230] The decoding unit 813 decodes location information corresponding to currently
transmitted operation information from a location container flowing the congestion information
event container and then outputs the decoded location information.
[231] The storage unit 814 stores location information for each link or node and information
including time information and traffic information from a received signal.
[232] The control unit 815 enables traffic informationoutputted by the decoding unit 813
or traffic information stored in the storage unit 814 to be displayed to a user.
[233] The display controller 816 enables the display unit 817 to output the traffic information
outputted by the control unit 815.
[234] The input unit 819 receives a control command from a user and then delivers the received
control command to the control unit 315.
[235] If the data of the message management container include the components associated
with the parking lot information, the decodingunit 813 delivers the decoded in-

formation of the components to the control unit 815. The control unit 515 is then able
to control the display unit 817 to display the decoded parking lot associated information.
[236] The control unit 815 reads a necessary part of an electronic map from the storage
unit 814 centering on current location coordinates received from the GPS module 814
and then controls the display unit 817 to display the traffic information as graphic
signs.
[237] A method of receiving traffic information according to one embodiment of the
present invention is explained with reference to FIG. 39 as follows.
[238] FIG. 39 is a flowchart of a method of receivingtraffic information according to one
embodiment of the present invention.
[239] Referring to FIG. 39, in case that traffic information is carried by DVB-T/H, traffic
information is received via a broadcast signal.
[240] First of all, while a power of a receiver is turned on (S721), if a channel selection or
a channel switching is inputted (S722), a physical frequency corresponding to the
selected or switched channel is tuned using a channel map (S723).
[241] If so, stream parsing informationsuch as PMT according to MPEG-2 TS format and
multiplexed traffic information data can be received via the tuned frequencyof the cor-
responding channel. If the traffic information data is received (S724), the de-
multiplexer 703 is able to demultiplex the traffic information message using PID
detection from the stream parsing information (PAT/PMT) and section filtering
(S725).
[242] Tf a traffic information descriptor is parsed from the stream parsing information, it
is able to obtain an application identifier associated with the traffic information, a
service component identifier associated with the traffic information, service information
associated with the traffic information, and the like. In particular, information
for a virtual channel is extracted from the stream parsing information with
reference to a stream type (ES type) and a PID of a stream packet (S726). If there
exists an A/V ES for a broadcast output (S727), A/V PID of the corresponding virtual
channel (VCH) of the channel map is set (S728). A/V demultiplexing and decoding are
then executed (S729). If so, a user is able to view the broadcast corresponding to the
A/V (S730).
[243] Meanwhile, if the A/V ES does not exist n the virtual channel in the step S727, it is
checked whether the traffic information data is transmitted on the virtual channel
(S731). For the presence or non-presence of the traffic information data, an application
identifier, a service component identifier, service information and the like can be
obtained by parsing the descriptor table information for the traffic information from the
stream parsing information. Assuming that the traffic information data is carried by a

DSM-CC section, all DSM-CC formatted traffic information data is received using
PID of ES obtainedfrom PMT (S732). A user specific traffic information service is
then provided (S733).
[244] In the step S731, if the A/V ES does not exist on the virtual channel and if it is
confirmed that the traffic information data does not exist, it is decided that the virtual
channel is an invalid channel. In this case, it is able to display that a valid channel or
signal does not exist (S736). And, the process goes back to the step S724 to newly
receive a valid program information table.
[245] Meanwhile, it is checked whether a channel switching requestis made in the course
of viewing a broadcast (S734). If a channel switching is requestedand if the requested
channel switching is a virtual channel switching, a data broadcast work is reset and the
process then goes back to the step S726. If the requested channel switching is a
physical channel switching, the process goes back to the step S723 to tune a corre-
spondingphysical channel.
[246] If the channel switching request is not made, it is checked whether a version of
stream parsing information such as PAT, PMT, and the like is upgraded (S735). If it is
confirmed that the stream parsing informationversion is upgraded in the step S735, this
means that channel information is changed from a broadcasting station. So, the process
goes back to the step S724 toreceive stream parsing information again. If it is
confirmed that there is no channel information change in the step S735, the corresponding
broadcast cankeep being viewed.
[247] FIGs. 40 to 43 are diagrams for displaying traffic information provided according to
an embodimentof the present invention.
[248] Referring to FIG. 40, a color can vary according to an average link speed (e.g., in
case of a normal road, red, orange, green and blue indicate 0~10km/h, 10~20km/h,
20~40km/h, and 41km/h or higher, respectively) or a corresponding link is indicated
by a numeral.
[249] In case of displaying traffic information including time information, if a user makes
a request for an predicted operation status via an input unit, information for a
prediction average link speed or prediction average link speed for each link can be
displayed.
[250] Meanwhile, a user is able to specify a predicted time via the input unit. For
instance, a user is able to specify a predicted time such as '1 hour later' or '07:30 p.m.'.
[251] FIG. 41 shows an example of displaying a predicted time 1201 on an upper end of a
screen. For a link having a matched predicted time or a non-approximate predicted
time, 'information not acquired' can be represented as a color not used in indicating an
operation status, e.g., gray 1202. In case that a destination auto search function is set
for a destination, it is able to search or re-search for a shortcut based on a prediction

average link speed (or, prediction travel time). For instance, for each link after a
diverging point (crossroad) at which a vehicle will arrive at a current traveling speed
30 minutes later, it is able to select a link, which takes a shortest time to a set
destination, as a traveling path to be displayed as a path on the screen by obtaining
predicted operation information enabling a predicted period or a start time to be used
as a prediction average speed (or a prediction travel time) after 30 minutes from the
currently received predicted operation information.
[252] FIG. 42 shows an exemplary diagram of the provided parking lot associated information.

[253] Referring to FIG. 42, if a user makes a request for 'parking lot information', a traffic
information receiving apparatus searches parking lot associated information and then
displays names of paring lots having location informationin the vicinity of a current
location like FIG. 4. In particular, an example of displaying a number of parking
available spaces obtained from a capacity component for a searched parking lot and a
time taken to complete a parking ( type time) are displayed together.
[254] FIG. 43 exemplarily shows details of one of the searched parking lots.
[255] Referring to FIG. 43, a traffic informationreceiving apparatus is able to display information
for opening hours obtained from an opening hour component, information
for a unit time obtained from a pricing payment component, and the like among
parking lot associated information.
[256] FIGs. 40 to 43 relate to display examples of providing a user with information for
vehicle operation provided by the server 100 via screen. And, these display modes can
be variously modified, corrected, and compensated intuitively. So, although a mode of
displaying the information for the vehicle operation explained in the present invention
on the screen is changed or a mode of the information recognized by a user is changed
(e.g., audio mode), if the invention uses the configuration of the information for the
vehicle operation and the processing method thereof, it is intended that the present
invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention that come within the
scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
[257] FIG. 44 is a flowchart of a method of transmitting and receiving traffic information
according to one embodimentof the present invention.
[258] Referring to FIG. 44, a method of transmitting traffic information may include the
following steps.
[259] First of all, audio data, video data, component data carrying traffic information,
time information for the traffic information, and stream parsing information including
descriptor table information for parsing the traffic information are multiplexed into
transport streams, (S810). In this case, the multiplexed traffic information can be encapsulated
into IP datagram.

[260] Error correction coding is carried out on the multiplexed streams and the encoded
signals are interleaved (S815).
[261] A scattered pilot signal varying according to a time and a continual pilot signal
fixed according to a time are mapped within one frame of the interleaved signals
(S820).
[262] The mapped signals within the frame are modulated by OFDM (orthogonal frequen-
cydivision multiplexing). And, portions of the modulated signals within the frame are
inserted in a guard interval of the modulated frame (S825).
[263] And, a signal having the guard interval inserted therein isconverted to an RF signal
and then transmitted (S830).
[264] A method of receiving the traffic information is explained as follows.
[265] First of all, a broadcast signal generating from multiplexing an audio signal, a video
signal, a data signal including traffic information and time information for the traffic
information, and stream parsing information for parsing descriptor table information
for the traffic information with each other is received (S840).
[266] Channel compensation is carried out by considering a scattered pilot signal and a
continualpilot signal of the received signal and a broadcast transport stream is
outputted by performing error correction on the demodulated signal (S845).
[267] The descriptor table information for the traffic information is parsed by demultiplexing
the broadcast transport stream and the data signal including the traffic information
is obtained (S850).
[268] The traffic information included in the data signal is implemented to be displayed
(S855).
[269] Accordingly, the present invention enables various kinds of traffic information to be
transmitted using DVB-H or DVB-T broadcast signals. In particular, the present
invention enables information for CTT status to be transmitted by DVB-H or DVB-T.
Mode for the Invention
[270] Various embodiments of the present invention are described in the best mode for
the implementation of the invention.
Industrial Applicability
[271] Accordingly, the present invention enables various kinds of traffic information to be
transmitted using a broadcast signal by DVB-H or DVB-T. In particular, traffic information
according to time information can be coherently represented.

Claims
[1] A method for transmitting traffic information, comprising the steps of:
multiplexing audio data, video data, component data carrying the traffic information,
time information for the traffic information, and stream parsing information
including descriptor table information for parsing the traffic information
into broadcast transport streams;
performing error correction encoding on the multiplexed streams and interleaving
the encoded signals;
mapping a scattered pilot signal changed according to a time and a continual
pilot signal fixed accordingto the time within one frame of the interleaved
signals;
modulating the mapped signals within the frame by OFDM (orthogonal
frequency division multiplexing) and inserting portions of the modulated signals
within the frame in a guard interval of the modulated frame; and
converting the signal having the guard interval inserted therein to an RF signal
and transmitting the RF signal.
\2\ The methodof claim 1, wherein the time information includes a selector for
selecting a time interval and wherein according to a value of the selector, the
time information includes at least one information selected from the group
consisting of a period of year unit, a period of month unit, a period of day unit, a
period of hour unit, a period of minute unit, a period of second unit.
[3] The method of claim 1, wherein the time information includes a selector for
selecting a random start time and wherein according to a value of the selector,
the time information includes at least one information selected from the group
consisting of information indicating a currenttime of year, month, date, hour,
minute, and second and information indicating whether the time is periodic information.
[4] The method of claim 1, wherein the time information includes a selector for
selecting a day of the week and a presence or non-presence of the corresponding
day of the week and wherein according to a value of the selector, the time information
includes at least one information selected from the group consisting of
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and a
presence or non-presence of a traffic event repeated on the corresponding day of
the week.
[5] The method of claim 1, wherein the traffic information comprises either current
traffic status information or prediction status information at a prescribed start
time of the traffic and wherein the time information comprises a time indicated

by the status information.
[6] The method of claim 1, wherein the traffic information is information associated
with a parking lot and wherein the time information is time information
associated with a use of theparking lot.
[7] A method for transmitting traffic information, comprising the steps of:
converting component data carrying the traffic information and time information
for the traffic information to IP datagram and generating a broadcast transport
stream including the converted IP datagram;
multiplexing a broadcast transportstream including audio data and video data, the
broadcast transport stream including the traffic information, and stream parsing
information including descriptor table information for parsing the traffic information;
performing error correction encoding on the multiplexed streams and interleaving
the encoded signals;
mapping a scattered pilot signal changed according to a time and a continual
pilot signal fixed accordingto the time within one frame of the interleaved
signals;
modulating the mapped signals within the frame by OFDM (orthogonal
frequency division multiplexing) and inserting portions of the modulated signals
within the frame in a guard interval of the modulated frame; and
converting the signal having the guard interval inserted therein to an RF signal
and transmitting the RF signal.
[8] The method of claim 7, wherein the time information includes a selector for
selecting a time interval and wherein according to a value of the selector, the
time information includes at least one information selected from the group
consisting of a period of year unit, a period of month unit, a period of day unit, a
period of hour unit, a period of minute unit, a period of second unit.
[9] The method of claim 7, wherein the time information includes a selector for
selecting a random start time and wherein according to a value of the selector,
the time information includes at least one information selected from the group
consisting of information indicating a current time of year, month, date, hour,
minute, and second and information indicating whether the time is periodic information.
f 10] The method of claim 7, wherein the time information includes a selector for
selecting a day of the week and a presence or non-presence of the corresponding
day of the week and wherein according to a value of the selector, the time information
includes at least one information selected from the group consisting of
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and a

presence or non-presence of a traffic event repeated on the corresponding day of
the week.
[11] The method of claim 7, wherein the traffic information comprises either current
traffic status information or prediction status information at a prescribed start
time of the traffic and wherein the time information comprises a time indicated
by the status information.
[12] The method of claim 7, wherein the traffic information is information associated
with a parking lot and wherein the time information is time information
associated with a use of theparking lot.
[13] A method for transmitting traffic information, comprising the steps of:
multiplexing descriptor table information for parsing an identifier of an application
indicating the traffic information and an identifier of a service
component of the traffic information with a broadcast transport stream;
performing error correction encoding on the multiplexed stream and interleaving
the encoded signals;
mapping a scattered pilot signal changed according to a time and a continual
pilot signal fixed according to the time within one frame of the interleaved
signals;
modulating the mapped signals within the frame by OFDM (orthogonal
frequency division multiplexing) and inserting portions of the modulated signals
within the frame in a guard interval of the modulated frame; and
converting the signal having the guard interval inserted therein to an RF signal
and transmitting the RF signal,
wherein the service component of the traffic information includes time information
for the traffic information.
[14] The method of claim 13, wherein the time information includes a selector for
selecting a time interval and wherein according to a value of the selector, the
time information includes at least one information selected from the group
consisting of a period of year unit, a period of month unit, a period of day unit, a
period of hour unit, a period of minute unit, a period of second unit.
[15] The method of claim 13, wherein the time information includes a selector for
selecting a random start time and wherein according toa value of the selector, the
time information includes at least one information selected from the group
consisting of information indicating a currenttime of year, month, date, hour,
minute, and second and information indicating whether the time is periodic information.
[16] The method of claim 13, wherein the time information includes a selector for
selecting a day of the week and a presence or non-presence of the corresponding

day of the week and wherein according to a value of the selector, the time information
includes at least one information selected from the group consisting of
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and a
presence or non-presence of a traffic event repeated on the corresponding day of
the week.
[17] The method of claim 13, wherein the traffic information comprises either current
traffic status information or prediction status information at a prescribed start
time of the traffic and wherein the time information comprises a time indicated
by the status information.
[18] The method of claim 13, wherein the traffic information is information
associated with a parking lot and wherein the time information is time information
associated with a use of theparking lot.
[19] An apparatus for transmitting traffic information, comprising:
a signal converting unit converting a data signal including the traffic information
and time information for the traffic information to IP (internet protocol)
datagram, the signal converting unit generating a broadcast transport stream
including the IP datagram;
a multiplexing unit multiplexing the broadcast transport stream generated by the
signal converting unit, a broadcast transportstream including audio data and
video data, and stream parsing information including descriptor table information
for parsing the traffic information;
an encoding unit performing error correction encoding and interleaving on the
signal multiplexed by the multiplexing unit;
a mapping unit mapping a scattered pilot signal changed according to a time and
a continual pilot signal fixed according to the time within one frame of the interleaved
signals;
a frame configuring unit modulating the signals within the frame mapped by the
mapping unit by OFDM (orthogonal frequency division multiplexing), the frame
configuring unit inserting portions of the modulated signals within the frame in a
guard interval of the modulated frame; and
a transmitting unit converting the signal having the guard interval inserted
therein to an RF signal, the transmitting unit transmitting the RF signal.
[20] The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the time information includes a selector for
selecting a time interval and wherein according to a value of the selector, the
time information includes at least one information selected from the group
consisting of a period of year unit, a period of month unit, a period of day unit, a
period of hour unit, a period of minute unit, a period of second unit.
[21] The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the time information includes a selector for

selecting a random start time and wherein according to a value of the selector,
the time information includes at least one information selected from the group
consisting of information indicating a current time of year, month, date, hour,
minute, and second and information indicating whether the time is periodic information.
[22] The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the time information includes a selector for
selecting a day of the week and a presence or non-presence of the corresponding
day of the week and wherein according to a value of the selector, the time information
includes at least one information selected from the group consisting of
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and a
presence or non-presence of a traffic event repeated on the corresponding day of
the week.
[23] The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the time information includes a selector for
selecting a day of the week and a presence or non-presence of the corresponding
day of the week and wherein according to a value of the selector, the time information
includes at least one information selected from the group consisting of
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and a
presence or non-presence of a traffic event repeated on the corresponding day of
the week.
[24] The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the traffic information comprises either
current traffic status information or prediction status information at a prescribed
start time of the traffic and wherein the time information comprises a time
indicated by the status information.
[25] The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the traffic information is information
associated with a parking lot and wherein the time information is time information
associated with a use of theparking lot.
[26] An apparatus for receiving traffic information, comprising:
a tuner receiving a broadcast signal including a data signal including the traffic
information and time information for the traffic information and stream parsing
information for parsing descriptor table information for the traffic information;
a demodulating unit demodulating the broadcast signal by considering a position-
varying pilot signal and a position-fixed pilot signal according to a time within a
frame of the broadcast signal received by the tuner;
a demultiplexing unit demultiplexing the signal demodulated by the demodulating
unit into the data signal including the traffic information and the
descriptor table information for the traffic information with reference to the
stream parsing information;
a data decoding unit outputtingthe traffic information from the data signal by

parsing the descriptor table information;
a traffic information storing unit storing the traffic information outputted by the
data decoding unit; and
a data broadcast application manager implementing the traffic information stored
in the traffic information storing unit with a broadcast application according to
the time information.
[27] The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the time information includes a selector for
selecting a time intervaland wherein according to a value of the selector, the time
information includes at least one information selected from the group consisting
of a period of year unit, a period of month unit, a period of day unit, a period of
hour unit, a period of minute unit, a period of second unit.
[28] The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the time information includes a selector for
selecting a random start time and wherein according to a value of the selector,
the time information includes at least one information selected from the group
consisting of information indicating a currenttime of year, month, date, hour,
minute, and second and information indicating whether the time is periodic information.
[29] The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the time information includes a selector for
selecting a day of the week and a presence or non-presence of the corresponding
day of the week and wherein according to a value of the selector, the time information
includes at least one information selected from the group consisting of
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and a
presence or non-presence of a traffic event repeated on the corresponding day of
the week.
[30] A method of receiving traffic information, comprising the steps of:
receiving a broadcast signal multiplexed with an audio signal, a video signal, a
data signal including the traffic information and time information for the traffic
information, and stream parsing information for parsing descriptor table information
for the traffic information;
outputting a broadcast transport stream by performing channel compensation by
considering a scatteredpilot signal and a continual pilot signal of the received
broadcast signal and by performing error correction on the demodulated signal;
obtaining the data signal including the traffic information by parsing program information
for the traffic information by demultiplexing the broadcast transport
stream; and
implementing to display the traffic information included in the data signal.
[31] The method of claim 30, wherein the time information includes a selector for
selecting a time interval and wherein according to a value of the selector, the

time information includes at least one information selected from the group
consisting of a period of year unit, a period of month unit, a period of day unit, a
period of hour unit, a period of minute unit, a period of second unit.
[32] The method of claim 30, wherein the time information includes a selector for
selecting a random start time and wherein according to a valueof the selector, the
time information includes at least one information selected from the group
consisting of information indicating a currenttime of year, month, date, hour,
minute, and second and information indicating whether the time is periodic information.
[33] The method of claim 30, wherein the time information includes a selector for
selecting a day of the week and a presence or non-presence of the corresponding
day of the week and wherein according to a value of the selector, the time information
includes at least one information selected from the group consisting of
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and a
presence or non-presence of a traffic event repeated on the corresponding day of
the week.
[34] A method of receiving traffic information, comprising the steps of:
receiving a broadcast signal multiplexed with an audio signal, a video signal, a
data signal including IP (internet protocol) datagram carrying the traffic information
and time information for the traffic information, and stream parsing information
for parsing descriptor table information for the traffic information;
outputting a broadcast transport stream by performing channel compensation by
considering a scatteredpilot signal and a continual pilot signal of the received
broadcast signal and by performing error correction on the demodulated signal;
obtaining the data signal including the traffic information by parsing the
descriptor table information for the traffic information by demultiplexing the
broadcast transport stream; and
implementing to display the traffic information included in the data signal
according to the time information.
[35] The method of claim 34, wherein the time information includes a selector for
selecting a time interval and wherein according to a value of the selector, the
time information includes at least one information selected from the group
consisting of a period of year unit, a period of month unit, a period of day unit, a
period of hour unit, a period of minute unit, a period of second unit.
[36] The method of claim 34, wherein the time information includes a selector for
selecting a random start time and wherein according to a value of the selector,
the time information includes at least one information selected from the group
consisting of information indicating a currenttime of year, month, date, hour,

minute, and second and information indicating whether the time is periodic information.
[37] The method of claim 34, wherein the time information includes a selector for
selecting a day of the week and a presence or non-presence of the corresponding
day of the week and wherein according to a value of the selector, the time information
includes at least one information selected from the group consisting of
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and a
presence or non-presence of a traffic event repeated on the corresponding day of
the week.
[38] A method of receiving traffic information, comprising the steps of:
receiving a broadcast signal including descriptor table information for parsing an
identifier of an application indicating the traffic information and an identifier of a
service component of the traffic information;
outputting a broadcast transport stream by performing channel compensation by
considering a scatteredpilot signal and a continual pilot signal of the received
broadcast signal and by performing error correction on the demodulated signal;
obtaining the data signal including the traffic information by parsing the
descriptor table information for the traffic information by demultiplexing the
broadcast transport stream; and
implementing to display the traffic information included in the data signal,
wherein the service component of the traffic information includes time information
for the traffic information and wherein the traffic information in the
displaying step is implemented according to the time information.
[39] The method of claim 38, wherein the time information includes a selector for
selecting a time interval and wherein according to a value of the selector, the
time information includes at least one information selected from the group
consisting of a period of year unit, a period of month unit, a period of day unit, a
period of hour unit, a period of minute unit, a period of second unit.
[40] The method of claim 38, wherein the time information includes a selector for
selecting a random start time and wherein according to a value of the selector,
the time information includes at least one information selected from the group
consisting of information indicating a currenttime of year, month, date, hour,
minute, and second and information indicating whether the time is periodic information.
[41 ] The method of claim 38, wherein the time information includes a selector for
selecting a day of the week and a presence or non-presence of the corresponding
day of the week and wherein according to a value of the selector, the time information
includes at least one information selected from the group consisting of

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and a
presence or non-presence of a traffic event repeated on the corresponding day of
the week.

A method for transmitting and receiving traffic
information and apparatus therefore are disclosed, by which
the traffic information can be efficiently delivered to a broadcast
receiving terminal. The present invention includes multiplexing
audio data, video data, component data carrying the
traffic information, time information for the traffic information,
and stream parsing information including descriptor table
information for parsing the traffic information into broadcast
transport streams, performing error correction encoding
on the multiplexed streams and interleaving the encoded signals,
mapping a scattered pilot signal changed according to a
time and a continual pilot signal fixed according to the time
within one frame of the interleaved signals, modulating the
mapped signals within the frame by OFDM and inserting portions
of the modulated signals within the frame in a guard interval
of the modulated frame, and converting the signal having
the guard interval inserted therein to an RF signal and transmitting
the RF signal.

Documents:

http://ipindiaonline.gov.in/patentsearch/GrantedSearch/viewdoc.aspx?id=tJjZx5y3vmBzXWG1DpUvpg==&loc=wDBSZCsAt7zoiVrqcFJsRw==


Patent Number 269222
Indian Patent Application Number 3127/KOLNP/2008
PG Journal Number 42/2015
Publication Date 16-Oct-2015
Grant Date 12-Oct-2015
Date of Filing 30-Jul-2008
Name of Patentee LG ELECTRONICS INC.
Applicant Address 20, YOIDO-DONG, YOUNGDUNGPO-GU, SEOUL
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 KIM, SEUNG WON 3-9, EUNGAM 1-DONG, EUNPYEONG-GU, SEOUL 122-905
2 SEO, CHU HYUN 205-1706, JUGONG 2-CHA APT., SILLIM 10-DONG, GWANAK-GU, SEOUL 151-794
3 PARK, SANG O 101-101, JINDO APT., #935, MOK 1-DONG, YANGCHEON-GU, SEOUL 158-821
4 KIM, YOUNG IN 101-102, BROWNSTONE GWANAK #1721, BONGCHEON 2-DONG, GWANAK-GU, SEOUL 151-052
PCT International Classification Number G08G 1/0968
PCT International Application Number PCT/KR2007/000324
PCT International Filing date 2007-01-19
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 60/759,963 2006-01-19 U.S.A.
2 10-2006-0116370 2006-11-23 U.S.A.