KR100651686B1 - Real-time categorical channel navigation remote control system - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a remote control system having a real-time channel movement function for real-time category movement so that viewers can select a desired category (field) and watch a program broadcast by each broadcaster in real time without a separate checking procedure.

The present invention for this purpose is a database that stores information such as category, channel and time for the broadcast program; A terminal device (computer) connected to a network such as the Internet and transmitting information stored in the database to a remote controller; And a remote controller for receiving and storing information of the database transmitted by the terminal device, wherein the remote controller analyzes the stored information and moves a program channel in real time according to a desired category.

Description

Real-time categorical channel navigation remote control system}

1 is a conceptual block diagram of a remote control system having a real-time category-specific channel movement function according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of a remote control system having a real-time category-specific channel movement function according to the present invention.

Figure 3 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of a remote control system having a real-time category-specific channel movement function according to the present invention.

4 is an operation flowchart of the remote control system of FIG.

Figure 5 is a block diagram of a third embodiment of a remote control system having a real-time category-specific channel movement function according to the present invention.

6 is an operational flowchart of the remote control system of FIG.

Figure 7 is an illustration of a remote control according to the present invention.

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

100: remote control 110: receiving RF module

200: Database 300: Television Set

400: computer 410: transmit RF module

600: mobile phone 700: set-top box

710: signal input unit 720: EPG analyzer

730: channel determination unit 740: signal output unit

The present invention relates to a remote control having a channel moving function for each real-time category, and more specifically, to watch a program broadcast by each broadcaster in real time without a separate checking procedure by selecting only a desired category (field) to move the channel for viewing. It relates to a remote control system having a real-time category-specific channel movement function.

At present, broadcast viewers have been able to watch numerous programs of various broadcasts such as satellite broadcasting and cable broadcasting due to the development of broadcasting technology. In order to watch a desired program, a viewer needs to change a broadcast channel to a desired channel. A method of changing a channel is generally a method of changing a channel one by one. However, a method of selecting a desired channel while changing channels one by one takes a lot of time and has the disadvantage of increasing power consumption due to channel movement.

On the other hand, as another method for changing the broadcast channel to the desired channel, the viewer checks the time and channel for broadcasting the program through a newspaper, magazine, etc., and then selects a channel. This method has the trouble of finding and checking exactly which channel the viewer wants from among the many channels due to the characteristics of cable broadcasting and satellite broadcasting.

In addition, there is a method of moving a channel after checking a desired program by opening a separate window on the television screen, but this method has a problem of covering part of the screen being watched, and it is precisely based on a title displayed in a separate window of the television screen. If you are not sure whether it is a program, it has a problem of having to check the channel again.

In addition, a method of selecting a channel by designating a preferred channel has been introduced. However, this method has a disadvantage in that a channel that a viewer has never watched is not continuously viewed.

Therefore, the technical problem to be achieved by the present invention is to have a real-time channel movement function for allowing viewers to move and watch channels by selecting only a desired category (field) for a program broadcast by each broadcaster in real time without a separate checking procedure. To provide a remote control system.

Another technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a remote control system that enables channel movement to a desired category (field) by analyzing the information in real time by downloading the relevant information from a database (DB) server connected to a network such as the Internet. There is.

Another technical problem to be achieved by the present invention is to provide a remote control system capable of moving a channel only to a desired category (field) by analyzing EPG (Electronic Program Guide) information provided in connection with a set-top box.

The present invention is a database that stores information such as category, channel and time for the broadcast programs to achieve the above technical problem; A terminal device connected to a network such as the Internet and transmitting information stored in the database to a remote controller; And a remote controller for receiving and storing information of the database transmitted by the terminal device, wherein the remote controller analyzes the stored information and moves a program channel for each category in real time. A remote control system with a function is provided.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the terminal apparatus includes information transmitting means for transmitting the information stored in the database to the remote controller, and the remote control unit receives the information transmitted from the information transmitting means of the terminal apparatus. Information receiving means;

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the category information code is set to any number of 00 to 99 corresponding to various categories such as sports, cartoons, dramas, and the channel information code corresponds to a channel watched by an actual viewer. It is set to any number of 000 ~ 999, the time information code is set by encoding the start time and the end time of the corresponding program or set by encoding the information of the current program every predetermined time.

In order to achieve the above technical problem, the present invention provides a database including information on categories, channels, and times of broadcast programs; And a mobile communication terminal configured to receive and store information stored in the database via a wireless network such as wireless internet, wherein the mobile communication terminal is equipped with a remote control function for remotely selecting a broadcast program. The mobile communication terminal is provided with a remote control system having a real-time category channel moving function, characterized in that for moving the program channel for each category in real time by analyzing the information received from the database through the on-board remote control function.

The present invention also provides a remote control for remotely transmitting a signal for selecting a broadcast channel according to the user's operation to achieve the above technical problem; A set-top box which receives a signal of the remote controller and moves a channel to a channel desired by a user in real time; And a television set configured to display a program of a corresponding channel according to the signal of the set top box.

The set top box is; Whether the signal input unit receiving the signal of the remote controller, the EPG analyzer for analyzing the EPG of each channel according to the signal transmission from the signal input unit, and the channel analyzed according to the analysis result signal of the EPG analyzer is a channel desired by the user And a channel output unit for outputting a signal for changing the channel to the channel when the channel determination unit determines that the analyzed channel is the channel desired by the channel determination unit. There is provided a remote control system having a real-time category-specific channel movement function.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail a preferred embodiment of a remote control system having a real-time category-specific channel movement function according to the present invention. In the following description of the present invention, when it is determined that detailed descriptions of related well-known technologies or configurations may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention, the detailed description will be omitted. In addition, terms to be described below are terms defined in consideration of functions in the present invention, which may vary according to the intention or custom of a user or an operator. Therefore, the definition should be made based on the contents throughout the specification.

1 is a conceptual block diagram of a remote control system having a real-time category movement channel function according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of a remote control system having a real-time category movement channel function according to the present invention 3 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of a remote control system having a real-time category-specific channel movement function according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 is an operation flowchart of the remote control system of FIG. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a third embodiment of a remote control system having a channel moving function according to a real-time category according to the present invention, and FIG. 6 is an operation flowchart of the remote control system of FIG. 7 is an exemplary view of a remote controller according to the present invention.

2, a remote control system of a first embodiment of the present invention includes a database 200 in which information such as a category, a channel, and a time for broadcast programs is stored; A computer 400 connected to a network 450 such as the Internet and transmitting the information stored in the database 200 to the remote controller 100; It comprises a; remote control 100 for receiving and storing information of the database 200 transmitted by the computer 400. The remote controller 100 analyzes the information and moves the program channel in real time according to a desired category. The computer 400 includes a transmitting RF module 410 for transmitting information stored in the database 200 to the remote controller 100, and the remote controller 100 is connected to the transmitting RF module 410 of the computer 400. It includes a receiving RF module 100 for receiving the transmitted information and a time recognition unit 120 for recognizing the time.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the category information code used by the remote control system of the present invention is set to any number of 00 to 99 corresponding to various categories such as sports, cartoons, dramas, and the channel information code is actually The time information code is set by encoding a start time and an end time of a corresponding program or by encoding information of a program currently being performed every predetermined time. Is set.

Referring to FIG. 3, a remote control system according to a second embodiment of the present invention includes a database 200 in which information such as a category, a channel, and a time for broadcast programs is stored; And a mobile communication terminal that receives and stores information stored in the database 200 through a wireless network 650 such as wireless Internet. The mobile phone 600 is equipped with a remote control function that enables to select a broadcast program remotely. Accordingly, the mobile phone 600 may analyze the information received from the database 200 through the on-board remote control function and move the program channel in real time according to a desired category.

5, a remote control system of a third embodiment of the present invention includes a remote controller 100 for remotely transmitting a signal for selecting a broadcast channel according to a user's operation; A set-top box 700 which receives a signal from the remote controller 100 and moves the channel in real time to a channel desired by the user; And a television set 300 displaying a program of a corresponding channel according to the signal of the set-top box 700. The set-top box 700 may include a signal input unit 710 for receiving a signal from the remote controller 100, an EPG analyzer 720 for analyzing the EPG of each channel according to signal transmission from the signal input unit 710, and an EPG. If the channel analyzed by the channel analysis unit 730 and the channel determination unit 730 for determining whether the analyzed channel according to the analysis result signal of the analysis unit 720 is the channel desired by the user And a signal output unit 740 for outputting a signal for changing the channel to the channel to the television set 300.

The operation of the remote control system having a real-time category moving function according to the present invention configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7.

First, a remote control system having a real-time category moving channel function according to the present invention is largely divided into two methods. The first method is to provide a channel information to the remote controller 100 through the network 450, 650 by building a separate database 200. The second method is a method of inserting a program capable of moving a channel for each category by analyzing the EPG in the set-top box 700 (FIG. 5). 1 to 4 are views related to the first scheme, and FIGS. 5 and 6 are views related to the second scheme.

1 is a schematic diagram of a remote control system having a real-time category-specific channel movement function according to the present invention. Information is transmitted from the database 200 storing category information, channel information, and time information to the remote controller 100 through a network such as the Internet, and the contents are stored in the remote controller 100. When the user wants to move by the desired category, the remote controller 100 operates by analyzing this information. The operation of the remote controller 100 is associated with a corresponding code. Looking at the contents of the code, the code associated with the operation of the remote controller 100 includes category information, channel information, and time information. The code may be configured as coded information rather than a separate character as follows.

The category information may be preferably set to a code of 00 to 99. Each code corresponds to a category such as sports, cartoons, dramas, and the like. It is desirable that the code once assigned to the category is not changed. The channel information may be preferably set to a code of 000 to 999. The channel that the actual viewer watches and the channel that varies depending on the region are all stored in the DB and the appropriate channel is transmitted according to the region. The time information may include a method of encoding a start time and an end time of a program, and a method of storing information of a current program every predetermined time.

2 is a block diagram showing the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, category-specific information is received from the database 200 using the computer 400. The received information is transmitted to the remote controller 100 equipped with the receiving RF module 110 through the transmitting RF module 410. In this case, the transmission method may use various methods capable of wireless communication as well as the RF module. In addition, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that if the RF module is directly equipped with a network communication function without passing through the computer 400, information may be directly transmitted from the database 200.

The second embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 3 is similar to that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2 except that a mobile phone 600 equipped with a remote control function is used, and thus no separate RF module is mounted. The program is executed using the wireless Internet 650 connection and download function.

An implementation algorithm of the remote controller 100 will be described with reference to FIG. 4 as follows.

Referring to FIG. 4, if a user (viewer) wants to move by category, the user selects a category-specific moving mode through a button provided on the remote controller 100 as shown in FIG. 7 (S110), and then selects a desired category. (S120).

When the user selects the desired category in step S120, the remote controller 100 recognizes when the current time is through the time recognition unit 120 (S130). Next, when the user presses a channel up of the remote controller 100 shown in FIG. 7, the remote controller 100 searches for the channel next to the channel currently being displayed in the remote controller 100 (S140). After checking whether the code to be analyzed matches the current time and moving to a code that matches the current time (S150), after confirming whether the user wants the category (S160), the user shows the corresponding channel if the category is desired (S170). If it is not the program of the desired category in step S160, after moving to the next channel and repeats again from step S150 (S180).

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a case of a third embodiment of the present invention, and illustrates a case in which a program is embedded in the set-top box 700. In this case, unlike in the case of the first and second embodiments, the EPG information transmitted in the digital broadcast is analyzed without a separate database so that the channel is moved only to the category desired by the user (viewer).

Looking in more detail, if the user selects the movement mode for each category using the remote control 100, the set-top box 700 analyzes the EPG of each channel, determines whether the analyzed channel is the desired channel, the desired channel If it is determined that the channel signal output to the television set 300 is implemented. FIG. 6 is the same as the operation flow of FIG. 4 except that the desired category can be found only by EPG analysis without an additional time recognition function (S135) and S145.

As described above, the present invention provides an advantage of allowing a viewer to move and watch a channel by selecting only a desired category (field) for a program broadcast by each broadcaster in real time without a separate checking procedure.

That is, the present invention makes it easy for the first-time user to select and view only channels of a desired category, and also reads textual information and immediately checks and sees a program without recall, thereby solving the problems of existing methods. Provide an advantage.

Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may make various changes without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. It will be appreciated that modifications or variations may be made. Therefore, changes in the future embodiments of the present invention will not be able to escape the technology of the present invention.

Claims (5)

A database storing information such as a category, a channel, and a time for broadcast programs; A terminal device connected to a network such as the Internet and transmitting information stored in the database to a remote controller; And a remote controller for receiving and storing information of the database transmitted by the terminal device. The remote control analyzes the stored information to move the program channel in real time for each desired category, The terminal device includes information transmitting means for transmitting the information stored in the database to the remote control, the remote control includes information receiving means for receiving information transmitted from the information transmitting means of the terminal device, The category information code is set to any number of 00 to 99 corresponding to various categories such as sports, cartoons, and dramas, and the channel information code is any number of 000 to 999 corresponding to a channel watched by an actual viewer. The time information code is set by encoding a start time and an end time of a corresponding program, or a remote control system having a channel moving function according to a real time category, which is set by encoding information of a program currently being performed every predetermined time. . delete delete A database storing information such as a category, a channel, and a time for broadcast programs; And And a mobile communication terminal configured to receive and store information stored in the database through a wireless network such as wireless internet. The mobile communication terminal is equipped with a remote control function that allows to select a broadcast program remotely, The mobile communication terminal analyzes the information received from the database through a built-in remote control function to move the program channel for each category in real time, The category information code is set to any number of 00 to 99 corresponding to various categories such as sports, cartoons, and dramas, and the channel information code is any number of 000 to 999 corresponding to a channel watched by an actual viewer. The time information code is set by encoding a start time and an end time of a corresponding program, or a remote control system having a channel moving function according to a real time category, which is set by encoding information of a program currently being performed every predetermined time. . A remote controller for remotely transmitting a signal for selecting a broadcast channel according to a user's operation; A set-top box which receives a signal of the remote controller and moves a channel to a channel desired by a user in real time; And And a television set configured to display a program of a corresponding channel according to the signal of the set top box. The set top box is; A signal input unit for receiving a signal of the remote controller, an EPG analyzer for analyzing an EPG (Electronic Program Guide) of each channel according to the signal transmission from the signal input unit, and a channel analyzed according to the analysis result signal of the EPG analyzer A channel determination unit for determining whether the channel is desired by the user and a signal output unit for outputting a signal to the television set to change the channel to the channel if the analyzed channel is determined to be the channel desired by the user Remote control system having a channel movement function for each real-time category characterized in that it comprises.

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