Method for controlling a channel and an iptv receiver

Abstract

A method for controlling an inactive channel for building a channel map in an internet protocol television (IPTV) receiver and the IPTV receiver thereof are provided. The method includes receiving a master service information (SI) table including a first element defining location of a virtual channel map table, parsing the first element in the received master SI table, receiving the virtual channel map table including a second element defining location of a virtual channel description table based on the parsed location element, parsing the second element in the received virtual channel map table, receiving the virtual channel description table, which includes a third element indicating designation of times when a virtual channel service is active, based on the parsed second element, parsing the third element in the received virtual channel description table, and controlling display of a virtual channel according to the parsed third element.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A method of receiving a broadcast stream, the method comprising:
 receiving a virtual channel map table, signaling a plurality of virtual channels in the broadcast stream, including a first element; and   obtaining information of the plurality of virtual channels, including a first virtual channel, based on the virtual channel map table,   wherein the first element is a default element providing information of every virtual channel of the plurality of virtual channels, and   wherein a second element, which is an override element providing information of the first virtual channel, overrides the first element, when a virtual channel map table includes the second element.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 determining whether the first virtual channel is inactive or active based on a third element, which is included in the virtual channel map table; and   controlling display of the first virtual channel according to the third element,   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the third element includes a time at which the first virtual channel is changed from being inactive to being active and a time at which the virtual channel is changed from being active to being inactive.