Master guide table for digital broadcast protocol and method of broadcasting and receiving broadcast signals using the table

Abstract

A master guide table for a digital broadcast protocol, and a method of broadcasting and updating an electronic program guide using the table, uses identification information included in a bit stream syntax of the master guide table to classify whether contents of an event information table are merely shifted in time, or are actually changed. The master guide table is transmitted in accordance with a program and system information protocol (PSIP) for an advanced television system committee (ATSC) defined standard digital television broadcast protocol. A digital television receiver of a receiving party, or a digital cable broadcast receiver, can determine whether the contents of the event information table EIT are merely shifted in time or actually changed by parsing the identification information in the master guide table MGT. If the parsed contents of the identification information indicate that the event information table contents are merely shifted in time without any change, then a database maintaining previous event information table is not updated. Accordingly, time wasted in unnecessarily updating the database can be decreased.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A method of receiving a digital broadcasting signal, the method comprising:
 receiving the broadcasting signal in which a master guide table including a version number and an identifier, and event information tables (EITs) are multiplexed, the respective event information tables corresponding to respective time intervals:   parsing the identifier from the master guide table;   shifting a first time interval of event information table (EIT) in the EITs to a second time interval of event information table (EIT) in the EITs according to the parsed identifier.   wherein the first time interval is next to the second time interval, and the identifier indicates whether or not the first time interval of event information table is shifted to the second time interval of event information table.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the identifier is set in one bit field in the master guide table. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the identifier is set between table_type_PID field and table_type_version_number filed in the master guide information. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the version number indicates that the master guide table and a table managed by the master guide table is updated or not. 
     
     
         21 . A method of processing a digital broadcasting signal, the method comprising:
 receiving the broadcasting signal in which a master guide table (MGT) including a version number and an identifier, and program information tables including broadcasting information are multiplexed, the respective program information tables corresponding to respective time intervals;   generating an electronic program guide (EPG) using the broadcasting information in the program information tables; and   providing the EPG,   wherein the identifier indicates whether a first time interval of program information table of the program information tables is shifted to a second time interval of program information table of the program information tables or not, the EPG is provided in accordance with the shifted program information table.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , the method further comprising,
 receiving the program information tables newly if the version number is changed; and   generating and providing the EPG using broadcasting information in the newly received program information tables.   
     
     
         23 . A method of transmitting a digital broadcasting signal, the method comprising:
 generating and multiplexing a master guide table including a version number and an identifier, and event information tables, the respective event information tables corresponding to respective time intervals;   generating a broadcasting signal including the generated the master guide table and the event information tables; and   transmitting the broadcasting signal,   wherein the identifier indicates whether a first time interval of event information table in the EITs is shifted to a second time interval of event information table in the EITs or not in a receiver, and the first time interval is next to the second time interval in time.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the identifier is set in one bit field in the master guide table.