KR100327772B1 - Auto-channelling apparatus and method of the internet television - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention proposes a channel linkage apparatus and method for an Internet TV that enables a user to easily move to a desired channel by using a TV channel service function of a web server.

The present invention provides an Internet TV comprising a TV unit and an Internet unit, wherein the Internet unit outputs a channel change command and corresponding channel information to the TV unit when selecting a TV channel from a web site providing TV channel information. A CPU which receives a current TV channel number and transmits it to a web server if necessary; A storage means for storing a broadcasting station name and a real channel number of a corresponding region corresponding to the broadcasting station name, wherein the TV unit controls to change a channel to a corresponding channel according to a channel change command output from the CPU and corresponding channel information. It comprises a means.

The present invention is more convenient by linking the web and the TV because it can be easily moved to the channel to watch the broadcast information using the TV channel service of the web, compared to performing TV watching and web browsing separately in the conventional Internet TV It is possible to watch TV.

Description

Channel Interlocking Device and Method of Internet TV {AUTO-CHANNELLING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF THE INTERNET TELEVISION}

The present invention relates to an Internet TV, and more particularly, to a channel interlocking apparatus and method for easily moving to a desired channel using a TV channel service function of a web server.

The Internet has become one of the very useful communication means in real life due to the rapid development of information and communication, and it is intended to connect to a server using an online access device.

Currently, the most widely used online access device is a PC, and various devices for connecting to the Internet without using a PC have been developed, and one of these devices is an Internet TV.

Internet TV is a device that combines the general TV function and the communication function of the PC, it is possible to watch a general television broadcast in the TV mode, and to communicate in the Internet mode.

In such Internet TV, the mode is changed by pressing the corresponding key when switching from TV mode to Internet mode or when switching from Internet mode to TV mode, and when switching from TV mode to Internet mode to perform Internet function and then back to TV mode, Before switching to the mode, the user was watching the broadcast channel, and in order to switch to another broadcast channel, it was inconvenient to input the corresponding key again.

For example, when watching MBC broadcast, the Internet mode is switched to Internet mode, and then when the TV mode is switched back to watch MBC broadcast, and to watch the KBS broadcast had to enter the corresponding key again.

In addition, the broadcast program information can be known only by reading a newspaper or a magazine, which was also very inconvenient for the user.

In view of the above, the present invention is connected to a web site providing TV channel information, and when a user clicks a desired channel while viewing broadcast information, the channel is automatically switched to the corresponding channel without switching to the TV mode or key input for switching of the corresponding channel. It is an object of the present invention to provide a channel interlocking device and method for switching Internet TV.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an Internet TV including a TV unit having a TV broadcasting reception function and an Internet unit having an Internet communication function, wherein the Internet unit stores a real channel number corresponding to a broadcasting station name and a broadcasting station name. Storage means; When selecting a TV channel from a web site providing TV channel information, a channel change command and an actual channel number of a corresponding region corresponding to the name of a broadcasting station stored in the storage means are output to the TV unit. A remote controller receiving means for receiving a channel number and transmitting the channel number to a web server if necessary, wherein the TV unit receives a remote controller transmission signal; And control means for controlling a channel change to a corresponding channel according to a channel change command output from the CPU and corresponding channel information.

When the CPU accesses the web server, the CPU transmits information about the currently connected device and the channel being viewed at a predetermined time period to the web server.

The storage means is characterized in that the broadcasting station name and the actual channel number of the region corresponding to the broadcasting station name is stored in a mapping table.

The control means analyzes the remote control reception signal and converts the control signal into a predefined code if the control signal is transmitted to the CPU.

In addition, the present invention comprises the steps of automatically connecting to the Internet when the TV on; Selecting a hyperlink of a desired broadcast by accessing a web server providing TV channel information; Analyzing the script of the selected hyperlink to determine whether it is a hyperlink or a general hyperlink for channel change; If it is determined that the general hyperlink is connected to the connected link, and if the hyperlink is for channel change, outputting the corresponding channel information stored in the control signal for changing the channel and the mapping table to the control unit of the TV unit; And changing the channel to the corresponding channel according to the control signal output from the controller.

The script of the hyperlink is characterized in that it includes channel number information and information that the hyperlink is a hyperlink for changing the channel.

1 is a conceptual diagram of a channel interlocking apparatus of an Internet TV according to the present invention;

2 is a detailed configuration diagram of the Internet portion of FIG.

3 is a detailed configuration diagram of the TV unit of FIG. 1.

4 is a data flow diagram when changing a channel in the present invention.

5 is a flow chart for performing a channel linking method of the Internet TV according to the present invention.

6 is a flowchart of the current channel information inquiry in the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

10: Internet part 20: TV part

15: CPU 18: flash memory

30: control unit 31: voice selection switch

32: Video selection switch

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings the present invention will be described in detail.

1 is a conceptual diagram of a channel interlocking apparatus of an Internet TV according to the present invention, and the Internet unit 10 performing the Internet function and the TV unit 20 performing the TV function can exchange information with each other. Are connected in both directions.

2 illustrates a detailed configuration diagram of the Internet unit 10 of FIG. 1.

As shown in the figure, a modem 11, a keyboard demodulator 12, a web demodulator, and a web demodulation device, which are connected to the Internet network and perform a function of transmitting and receiving various data for web browsing (Web Browsing) ROM 13, which stores various programs, RAM 14, which stores temporary data for web browsing, and a web browser program capable of web browsing, and controls the keyboard or the TV unit 20 to be described later. A CPU 15 that outputs a corresponding control signal according to a command input from a remote controller through 30 and is connected to the control unit 30 of the TV unit 20 to exchange data necessary for changing a channel, and the CPU 15 Video and audio processors 16 and 17 for converting the video and audio signals received from the video into audio and video signals in a format that can be received by the TV, and the name of the broadcasting station and actual channel information of the region. It consists of a flash memory 18 stored in a blow.

Here, the modem 11 can be a variety of connection devices, such as a general modem, ADSL modem, ISDN.

FIG. 3 is a detailed configuration diagram of the TV unit of FIG. 1. The tuner 22 outputs a basic video signal and an audio signal by tuning the broadcast signal received by the antenna 21 to a specific frequency, and the tuner ( A voice processor 23 for processing the basic voice signal outputted from the voice signal 22 as an actual voice signal, a voice amplifier 24 for amplifying the output signal of the voice processor 23 and outputting it as a speaker (SP) driving signal; And an image processing unit 25 and an electron gun driving signal generator 26 for converting the basic video signal output from the tuner 22 into an electron gun driving signal, and a CRT tube as an output signal of the electron gun driving signal generator 26. An electron gun driver 27 for driving the electron gun of the CRT, a system memory 28 and a remote controller receiver 29 for receiving the remote controller signal.

In addition, the controller 30 controls the respective units 22-28 by receiving a remote control signal, and is connected to the CPU 15 of the Internet unit 10 so as to exchange data for channel change, and thereby control the channel change. And a voice selection switch connected between the voice processor 23 and the voice amplifier 24 to select an output of the voice processor 23 or an output of the audio processor 17 under the control of the controller 30. And an image selection unit connected between the image processor 25 and the electron gun driving signal generator 26 to select an output of the image processor 25 or the video processor 16 under the control of the controller 30. It consists of a switch 32.

As a possible bus method of the CPU 15 and the controller 30, existing general data transmission / reception methods such as I ² C or a serial communication method may be used, or a simple 8-bit or 4-bit data bus and a clock line may be installed and operated. In addition, it is possible to implement a necessary command by giving a unique code value between the CPU (15) and the control unit (30).

And the remote control or other key input device (not shown) of the TV unit 20 is provided with a key for performing the function of the present invention.

According to the present invention configured as described above, the audio selection switch 31 and the video selection switch 32 are switched to the ① terminals according to the control signal of the controller 30 in the TV mode.

Accordingly, the voice signal received by the antenna 21 and tuned through the tuner 22 is output to the speaker SP through the ① terminal of the voice processing unit 23-voice selection switch 31-the voice amplifier 24. The video signal is output to the CRT via the image processing unit 25-① terminal of the image selection switch 32-the electron gun driving signal generator 26-the electron gun driving unit 27.

In the Internet mode, the audio selection switch 31 and the image selection switch 32 are switched to terminals ② according to the control signal of the control unit 30, respectively.

Therefore, the Internet voice signal received through the modem 11 is output to the speaker SP through the CPU 15-audio processor 17-② terminal of the voice selection switch 31-voice amplifier 24, The Internet video signal is outputted to the CRT via the CPU 15, the video processor 16, the ② terminal of the image selection switch 32, the electron gun driving signal generator 26, and the electron gun driver 27.

The Internet TV uses TV channel information provided by a web server for channel linkage switching according to the present invention, and when the Internet unit 10 browses the web, the CPU 15 indicates that the currently connected device is an Internet TV. It transmits a control signal so that the web server can know it so that the web server can be distinguished from general PC users.

In order to switch the channel linkage using the TV channel information provided by the web server, the user connects to the web server in the Internet mode and provides a TV channel information. The browser transmits the TV channel change command signal and the corresponding channel number to the control unit 30 of the TV unit 20 by the CPU 15 of the Internet unit 10.

At this time, the CPU 15 draws the actual channel information of the channel selected by the user from the mapping table stored in the flash memory 18 and sends it to the controller 30.

Channel information set in the TV may vary from region to region and from TV to TV. For example, MBC may be number 11 in Seoul but different in the province.

Therefore, when switching channels with a button mounted on a remote control or a set, there is no big problem. However, when switching channels automatically using information displayed in a web browser, there must be a solution for channel information.

Therefore, the web server has a mapping table of broadcasting station names and actual channel information of the region, and the mapping table of the region is stored in the flash memory 18 of the Internet unit 10 from the web server so that it can be used when necessary. The mapping table is updated periodically.

The control unit 30 controls the tuner 22 to change the channel according to the TV channel change command signal and the corresponding channel number, and sets the audio selection switch 31 and the image selection switch 32 in the TV mode switching state. Switch to the terminal so that it can be changed to the desired channel without additional key input.

Here, the controller 30 sends the channel number currently being watched to the CPU 15 at a predetermined time period, which is necessary for showing information about a channel being watched when the TV returns to the Internet mode.

That is, as the controller 30 sends the channel number currently being watched to the CPU 15 at a predetermined time period, the web browser can always know the channel state of the TV, and thus the viewer was watching when the viewer entered the Internet screen. It becomes possible to show the information of the channel.

When the channel is changed, the data transmission / reception order between the CPU 15 of the Internet unit 10 and the control unit 30 of the TV unit 20 is as shown in FIG. 4. After sending to the control unit 30 of the control unit 30, the control unit 30 of the TV unit 20 sends a signal (Acknowledge) that has received the channel change command signal to the CPU 15 of the Internet unit 10, CPU 15 The channel number is transmitted to the controller 30, and the controller 30 sends a signal indicating that the channel number information has been received to the CPU 15.

The controller 30 performs tuning control of the tuner 22 and switching control of the audio selection switch 31 and the image selection switch 32, and then sends a switching completion signal to the CPU 15 of the Internet unit 10. In this way, the CPU 15 transmits a signal indicating that the switching completion signal has been received to the controller 30.

In addition, the present invention allows the control unit 30 of the TV unit 20 to receive and analyze the remote control input signal to be transmitted to the CPU 15 of the Internet unit 10.

This is compared to a method in which the CPU 15 of the Internet unit 10 directly receives and analyzes a remote control signal related to the Internet, when the control unit 30 of the TV unit 20 receives and analyzes all remote control signals. The control unit 30 of the TV unit 20 and the CPU 15 of the Internet unit 10 overlap with each other by converting a code defined between the control unit 30 and the CPU 15 and transmitting the converted code. The control unit 30 of the TV unit 10 only analyzes the remote control signal that has been worked so that efficiency can be achieved.

Corresponding remote control signals are, for example, arrow keys (▲, ▼, ◀, ▶), setting keys, ...

In the present invention, viewing reservation is possible, and when the user selects viewing reservation on the web screen, this information is transmitted to the web server and stored in the web server.

When the start time of the reserved program is reached (web server can know the start information of the program by using KBPS information or G code information), the web server sends a command to change the channel and the name of the station to the web browser. Accordingly, the CPU 15 finds a channel number corresponding to the broadcast station name received from the web server in the mapping table stored in the flash memory 18 and transmits the channel number to the control unit 30 of the TV unit 20.

Accordingly, the controller 30 controls the tuner 22 to watch the corresponding channel.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method for interlocking a channel of an Internet TV according to the present invention. When the Internet TV is turned on, a web browser is executed to automatically access the Internet to provide a web channel service. Step (S1, S2), moving the cursor to the hyperlink of the desired broadcast to select the hyperlink (S3, S4), and analyzing the script of the selected hyperlink to determine whether it is a hyperlink for channel change. Steps S5 and S6 are made.

If it is determined that the general hyperlink is not a hyperlink for changing a channel, the connected link is connected. If the hyperlink is for changing a channel, the CPU 15 transmits a channel change command and corresponding channel information to the controller 30 ( S7 and S8, a step of switching channels (S9), and a step of switching to an Internet mode when there is a screen switching key input to a web screen (S10 and S11).

Referring to the channel linking method of the Internet TV consisting of the above steps as follows.

First, when the Internet TV is turned on, a web browser is executed to automatically access the Internet (S1). After accessing the Internet, the user accesses a web site that provides a TV channel service. At this time, the web browser sends information about the type of the connected device to the web server to inform that the currently connected device is the Internet TV (S2).

The cursor is moved to a hyperlink of a desired broadcast by using a cursor moving method used in the Internet TV such as an arrow of a remote controller or other pointing device (S3, S4). The web browser analyzes the script of the selected hyperlink to determine whether it is a hyperlink for channel change (S5, S6).

As a result of the determination, if the general hyperlink is connected to the site connected to the selected hyperlink (S7), if the hyperlink for changing the channel, the CPU 15 of the Internet unit 10 is determined by the user in the mapping table of the flash memory 18. The actual channel information (channel number) of the selected channel is fetched and transmitted to the controller 30 together with the channel change command (S8).

The control unit 30 changes the channel by controlling the tuner 22 according to the command, and switches the audio selection switch 31 and the image selection switch 32 to the ① terminals so that the broadcast signal of the corresponding channel is output. (S9).

It is determined whether there is a screen change key input for converting to a web site screen in the Internet mode (S10). If there is a screen change key input to the web site screen, the control unit 30 of the TV unit 20 controls the sound selection switch 31. ) And the image selection switch 32 to the terminal ② to switch to the Internet mode (S11), and returns to the above step (S3).

6 is a flowchart illustrating the current channel information inquiry in the present invention.

This is for inquiring broadcast information by switching from TV mode to Internet mode. When the current broadcast information inquiry key is input, the web browser sends data such as channel number and information inquiry of the currently broadcast program to the web server (S21, S22). . Of course, since the control unit 30 of the TV unit 20 periodically sends information about the current TV channel number to the CPU 15 of the Internet unit 10, the web browser always sends a channel for the currently watching program. You know the number.

The web server receives the data in step 22, searches the database with the channel number and the current time, and finds the data for the program currently broadcasting on the channel based on the search result and transmits the data to the web browser (S23, S24). ).

Therefore, the user can determine whether to watch the corresponding program by referring to the inquiry information displayed on the screen.

That is, it is available when the user switches TV to another channel and wants to know the information about the program being broadcast on the channel. The information on the currently broadcast program can be inquired as described above to determine whether to view the program.

As described above, according to the present invention, the web and TV can be easily moved to a desired channel by using the TV channel service of the web, compared to the conventional TV viewing and web browsing on the Internet TV. In conjunction with this, more convenient TV viewing becomes possible.

Claims (9)

In the Internet TV having a TV unit having a TV broadcast receiving function and an Internet unit having an Internet communication function, The internet unit storing means for storing a broadcasting station name and an actual channel number of a corresponding region corresponding to the broadcasting station name; When selecting a TV channel from a web site providing TV channel information, a channel change command and an actual channel number of a corresponding region corresponding to the name of a broadcasting station stored in the storage means are output to the TV unit, and the current TV is output from the TV unit. CPU to receive the channel number and send it to the web server if necessary, The TV unit remote control receiving means for receiving a remote control transmission signal; And control means for controlling a channel change to a corresponding channel according to a channel change command output from the CPU and corresponding channel information. The channel interlocking apparatus of claim 2, wherein the CPU transmits information about a device currently connected to the web server and a channel being watched at a predetermined time period to the web server when the CPU is connected to the web server. The channel interlocking apparatus of claim 2, wherein the storage means stores a broadcasting station name and a real channel number corresponding to the broadcasting station name in a mapping table. The channel interlocking apparatus of claim 2, wherein the control unit analyzes a remote control reception signal and converts the remote control signal into a predefined code if the control signal is transmitted to the CPU. 3. The channel interlocking apparatus of claim 2, wherein the CPU and the control unit transmit and receive in parallel with a predetermined data bus and a clock line. The channel interlocking apparatus of claim 2, wherein the CPU and the control unit transmit and receive serially through a predetermined data bus and a clock line. Automatically accessing the Internet when the TV is on; Selecting a hyperlink of a desired broadcast by accessing a web server providing TV channel information; Analyzing the script of the selected hyperlink to determine whether it is a hyperlink or a general hyperlink for channel change; If it is determined that the general hyperlink is connected to the connected link, and if the hyperlink is for channel change, outputting the corresponding channel information stored in the control signal for changing the channel and the mapping table to the control unit of the TV unit; And changing the channel to the corresponding channel according to the control signal output from the control unit. 10. The method of claim 8, wherein the web browser transmits information on the type of device currently connected to the web server when the web server is connected to the web server. The method of claim 8, wherein the script of the hyperlink includes channel number information and information that the hyperlink is a hyperlink for changing a channel.