KR101096804B1 - Broadcasting terminal and method for providing broadcasting service by cooperation with other terminals based on overlay multicast environment - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed are a broadcast terminal for creating a channel through collaboration in an overlay multicast environment, and a broadcast service providing method using the same. The broadcast terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention provides a broadcast in real time by creating a virtual channel according to a graded content and setting a virtual channel to provide content through collaboration with other broadcast terminals.

Overlay, Multicast, Channel, Collaboration

Description

Broadcasting terminal for creating a channel through collaboration in an overlay multicast environment and a broadcast service providing method using the same {broadcasting terminal and method for providing broadcasting service by cooperation with other terminals based on overlay multicast environment}

One aspect of the present invention relates to an overlay multicast technology, and more particularly, to a broadcast terminal and a broadcast service providing method in an overlay multicast environment.

This study was derived from the research conducted as part of the experimental project for the development of optical subscriber network (FTTH) services by the Ministry of Knowledge Economy and the Ministry of Information and Communication Research.

Services considering the user's participation and the characteristics of each user have been continuously developed and applied. For example, network media services such as IPTV and Internet broadcasting are being changed from a structure that is divided into a provider and a consumer to a structure that a user such as UCC produces and broadcasts in real time.

In the broadcasting environment to be linked with the Internet, Internet media and personal participation contents are important programs. Unlike the reservation-based premium contents, the contents are immediately generated and distributed without systematic planning or management methods. Therefore, in most cases, it cannot be serviced through a regular channel, so it is in principle impossible for a user to service his own media through a broadcast service.

In addition, many service channels that are broadcast on a personal basis require many channel changes to users and flicker according to extremely content provided. For example, in a P2P based broadcasting service, a broadcaster sets up a channel according to content to be provided and publishes it. The service user recognizes the posting channel information on the network and participates in receiving the stream of the broadcaster.

In the above-described broadcasting environment, in order to service shared media, the broadcaster and the program provider must be distinguished, and the broadcaster finds, selects and organizes a desired program, and the receiver merely selects and receives a channel.

Furthermore, the IPTV's bi-directionality allows the receiver to communicate his / her intention directly to the broadcaster, but all services are provided at the broadcaster's will, except for the right to select the channel. If the receiver needs to broadcast his content without destroying the channel, he must create a new channel and notify the receiver again.

According to an aspect, a broadcast terminal for establishing a channel through terminal-to-device collaboration in an overlay multicast environment and a broadcast service providing method using the established channel are proposed.

According to an aspect, a broadcast terminal may include a channel generator that generates a virtual channel according to a graded content and a virtual channel for providing content through collaboration with other broadcast terminals, and provide content through the set virtual channel. It includes a decision part.

Meanwhile, a method of providing a broadcast service according to another aspect includes generating a virtual channel according to a graded content and setting a virtual channel to provide the content through collaboration with other broadcast terminals and providing the content to the set virtual channel. Steps.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, as a broadcast channel is established through terminal-to-terminal collaboration, several broadcast channels may be merged or divided under one set broadcast channel to provide a broadcast service in real time. In this case, the broadcast provider may provide a desired broadcast through one set broadcast channel without changing the channel.

Furthermore, since a broadcast service using one broadcast channel is provided through terminal to terminal collaboration, channel search and channel management are simplified. Furthermore, by applying the hierarchical content classification to the delivery tree structure, it is easy to manage the delivery tree and manage the collaboration channel for each classification of the content.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described embodiments of the present invention; In the following description of the present invention, if it is determined that detailed descriptions of related well-known functions or configurations may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention, the detailed description thereof 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 intention or custom of a user or an operator. Therefore, the definition should be based on the contents throughout this specification.

1 is a block diagram of a broadcast terminal in an overlay multicast environment according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, the broadcast terminal 1 according to an embodiment includes a channel generator 10 and a channel determiner 20.

In the overlay multicast environment to which the present invention is applied, a plurality of agents are installed in a current unicast-based Internet network to configure related transceivers and agent systems in a tree structure, and then the sender uses a plurality of receivers using the relay function of the agent. The multicast data can be transmitted between them, which means a kind of multicast transmission technology in an upper layer.

In the overlay multicast environment to which the present invention is applied, a user terminal may establish a broadcast service through a P2P relay transmission scheme. In this case, the broadcast terminal 1 according to an embodiment performs collaboration between terminals so that content provided by a broadcast receiving terminal or another broadcast providing terminal may be serviced in real time in a P2P relay transmission environment without requiring a channel setting process through a new session. Set broadcast channel through Multiple broadcast channels may be merged or split in real time under one set broadcast channel.

The channel generator 10 generates a virtual channel according to a graded content. In this case, the content is a personal participant program that the broadcast terminal broadcasts to other terminals. The content is differentiated according to the content of the content with reference to the meta information storing the type of content and the providing format. For example, the content has a hierarchical structure in the form of large classification (movie)-middle classification (Korean movie)-small and medium classification (drama)-small classification (melo). A detailed description of the layered content tree will be given later with reference to FIG. 2.

The channel determiner 20 sets the virtual channel to provide the content among the virtual channels generated by the channel generator 10 and provides the content through the set virtual channel. At this time, the virtual channel is set through collaboration between broadcast terminals. That is, the channel determiner 20 may set one virtual channel through a method of merging virtual channels generated from each broadcast terminal. Alternatively, when the generated virtual channel is destroyed, another broadcast terminal may create a new virtual channel connected to the destroyed virtual channel to provide content in real time.

Accordingly, the user can receive a desired program through the virtual channel of the desired classification without changing the channel and can transmit his program through the virtual channel. In this case, the broadcast receiver reduces the program search cost, and the channel operator can easily procure the channel program.

2 is an exemplary diagram illustrating a hierarchical content tree referenced when generating a channel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2, a broadcast terminal according to an embodiment creates a virtual channel using a layered content tree. The content may be layered according to the content of the content. For example, the content may be hierarchically organized in the form of large category (movie)-medium category (Korean movie)-small category (drama)-small category (melo) as shown in FIG. The hierarchization of content may be set with reference to meta information storing the type of content and the providing format.

This layering of content determines a range to be serviced through the virtual channel, and serves as a criterion for merging and dividing the virtual channel. That is, when a plurality of virtual channels providing content of the same classification are generated, when a broadcast terminal providing a program through a specific virtual channel stops providing a program, virtual channels providing content of the same layer may be merged. Alternatively, when there is a broadcast terminal that provides the content of the sub-classified layer rather than the content of the current layer, the virtual channel providing the content of the current layer may be divided into a virtual channel that provides the content of the sub-classified layer.

3 is a reference diagram for explaining a virtual channel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the first broadcast establisher creates a virtual channel. The virtual channel is generated based on the type of the content formed hierarchically. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the channel creator User1 may create a virtual channel for content corresponding to (movie-korea-drama-melo). The virtual channel generated here is not a temporary channel for serving content but a channel for the purpose of long-term survival according to the provided content category.

According to the present invention, a virtual channel is maintained under one virtual channel through collaboration between broadcast terminals. For example, assume that User1 first creates virtual channel 1 as shown in FIG. 3. The hierarchical classification of the created virtual channels is the melodious material of the drama classification of Korean movies. User1 starts broadcasting through this virtual channel, and virtual channel participants receive a broadcasting service for User1's xx program using the channel name and channel classification information of the virtual channel.

Here, when User1, the channel owner, terminates the broadcast of a program, the virtual channel may be merged into another broadcast channel corresponding to the same classification as the channel of User1. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the virtual channel created by User1 may be merged into the virtual channel of User3. Accordingly, it is possible to provide contents in real time under one virtual channel through collaboration between User1 and User3. At this time, channel ownership is passed from User1 to User3. Referring to FIG. 3, the channel participant User3 broadcasts his own media following User1, User2 and User4 of User2 on a virtual channel.

4 is a reference diagram for explaining a generation structure of a virtual channel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, the broadcast terminal generates identification information for recognizing a virtual channel, virtual channel establishment time information, virtual channel extinction time information, and rating information of content provided through the virtual channel when the virtual channel is generated. Here, the virtual channel is layered according to the rating information of the content and its level is determined. For example, when the content provided by the virtual channel generated as shown in FIG. 4 is a movie / Korean / drama, the level of the virtual channel is set to two.

Meanwhile, in the layered virtual channel, a channel corresponding to an upper layer may generate a channel corresponding to a lower layer. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the channel 410 corresponding to the level 1 may generate the channel 400 corresponding to the level 2.

In addition, a channel corresponding to a lower layer may be merged into a channel corresponding to a higher layer. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the channel 430 or 440 corresponding to the level 3 may be merged into the channel 400 corresponding to the level 2.

At this time, the channel derived from the upper layer is controlled to assign the channel due date only within the deadline of the upper channel. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the virtual channel 400 corresponding to level 2 may be merged into two channels 410 and 420 corresponding to level 1, which is a higher level when the channel disappears. The channel may be selected by.

5 is a reference diagram for explaining a hierarchical structure of a virtual channel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, a channel is created by a user according to a hierarchical structure defined by an administrator. The administrator creates one channel of the root layer and the other channel is automatically managed by the broadcast channel creator.

6 is a flowchart illustrating a virtual channel setting method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, the broadcast terminal compares content ratings of a user terminal and another user terminal to set a virtual channel (S600). As a result of the comparison, if the content provided by the broadcast terminal and the content provided by the other broadcast terminal have the same grade, the virtual channel may be maintained to provide content of another broadcast terminal through the virtual channel generated by the broadcast terminal (S620). In operation S670, a virtual channel for providing content of the maintained virtual channel is set.

In contrast, when the content provided by the broadcast terminal and the content provided by the other broadcast terminal have the same grade, the virtual channel generated by the broadcast terminal is merged into the virtual channel generated by another broadcast terminal (S660) to provide the content. The virtual channel may be set (S670).

Meanwhile, as a result of the content rating comparison (S600), if the content provided by the broadcast terminal and the content provided by the other broadcast terminal are different from each other, whether the content provided by the other broadcast terminal is lower than the content provided by the broadcast terminal. Determine (S630).

As a result of the determination (S630), when the content provided by the other broadcast terminal is lower than the content provided by the broadcast terminal, the virtual channel generated by the broadcast terminal is destroyed (S640). When another broadcast terminal generates a virtual channel (S650), the generated virtual channel is set as a virtual channel to provide content (S670).

Meanwhile, as a result of determination (S630), when the content provided by the other broadcast terminal corresponds to a higher level than the content provided by the broadcast terminal, the virtual channel generated by the broadcast terminal is merged into the virtual channel generated by the other broadcast terminal (S660). In step S670, a virtual channel for providing content is set.

FIG. 7A is a reference diagram for describing a virtual channel configuration when content has the same grade according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

Referring to FIG. 7A, when a content provided by a broadcast terminal and a content provided by another broadcast terminal have the same grade, a virtual channel is set to provide content of another broadcast terminal through a virtual channel generated by the broadcast terminal. Accordingly, the content may be provided in real time under one virtual channel by cooperation between the terminal and another terminal.

At this time, the broadcasting right is transferred from the broadcasting terminal to another broadcasting terminal. For example, as shown in FIG. 7A, when a content provided by a broadcast terminal and a content provided by another broadcast terminal are the same as (movie / korea / drama / melo), the permission of the virtual channel is received by the broadcaster. Is changed to 5.

FIG. 7B is a reference diagram for explaining a change in a transmission tree according to a virtual channel configuration when contents are of the same grade according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7B, when the content is the same grade, the transmission structure may be changed as shown in FIG. 7B, and the withdrawal of the broadcaster is also restored in the same manner as the general overlay transmission structure recovery mechanism. However, when a new broadcast terminal leaves the tree of the broadcast terminal, the corresponding virtual channel may be maintained by merging with other broadcast trees of the same classification.

FIG. 8A is a reference diagram for explaining merging of virtual channels when content has the same grade according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

Referring to FIG. 8A, when the content provided by the broadcast terminal and the content provided by the other broadcast terminal have the same grade, the virtual channel generated by the broadcast terminal is merged into the virtual channel generated by the other broadcast terminal to provide content. You can set the channel. Accordingly, the content may be provided in real time under one virtual channel by cooperation between the terminal and another terminal.

For example, as shown in FIG. 8A, when the program provision of the broadcast terminal of the virtual channel 1 is terminated and there is no broadcast terminal to supply the program, the virtual channel 1 is classified in the same layer as the virtual channel 1 (movie / Korean / It may be merged into the virtual channel 2 corresponding to Drama / Mello).

FIG. 8B is a reference diagram for explaining a change in a transmission tree according to merging of virtual channels when content has the same grade according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 8B, when the ratings of the contents are the same, the transmission structure may be changed as shown in FIG. 8B. For example, as shown in FIG. 8B, a broadcaster may subscribe to a new channel through a general overlay multicast participation process. When the broadcaster 1 leaves the transmission tree, the broadcaster 1 may re-subscribe to the virtual channel 2 through the re-subscription of the receivers 1. 2 and 3.

9A is a reference diagram for explaining generation of a virtual channel when a grade of content is different according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 9A, when content provided by another broadcast terminal is lower than content provided by the broadcast terminal, the virtual channel generated by the broadcast terminal is destroyed, and the other broadcast terminal is generated when the virtual channel is generated. The virtual channel may be set as a virtual channel to provide content. Accordingly, the content may be provided in real time under one virtual channel by cooperation between the terminal and another terminal.

For example, as shown in FIG. 9A, the channel 2 (movie / korea / drama) generated by the broadcast terminal is destroyed, and the other broadcast terminal is generated when the channel 3 (movie / korea / drama / melo) is generated. Channel 3 is set as a virtual channel to provide content.

On the other hand, if the content provided by the other broadcast terminal is higher than the content provided by the broadcast terminal, the virtual channel to merge the virtual channel generated by the broadcast terminal into the virtual channel generated by the other broadcast terminal to provide a virtual channel Can be set. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 9A, channel 2 (movie / korea / drama) generated by the broadcast terminal may be merged with channel 1 (movie / korea) generated by another broadcast terminal.

In summary, a new virtual channel can only create a subclass of the current virtual channel. This is to ensure that channels are only merged into their higher layers when the tree is merged. As the channel classification is subdivided, a channel for a specific group is generated. Therefore, in order to minimize the number of channels, the channel creator should create a channel in the upper layer of the classification that he / she wants to create.

9B is a reference diagram for explaining a change in a transmission tree according to generation of a virtual channel when a grade of content is different according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 9B, when a participant who newly requests channel ownership after the program of the broadcaster sets a virtual channel having a lower hierarchy than the current hierarchy, a new transport tree is created.

FIG. 10A is a reference diagram for explaining generation of a virtual channel by providing an inserted content according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

Referring to FIG. 10A, a broadcast terminal receives content provided from a broadcast terminal providing content corresponding to a lower level while providing content through a set virtual channel, and provides the received content to another broadcast terminal through a set virtual channel. can do.

The broadcast terminal may allow the interpolation of other media in the middle of a broadcast with the authority of a broadcast provider, thereby supporting an intermediate commercial. This is to allow real time advertising with the program provider's authority. For example, as shown in FIG. 10A, when virtual channel 2 is merged into virtual channel 1, an advertisement during broadcast may be inserted through virtual channel 1. Accordingly, the intermediate video inserted during the real time broadcasting such as the advertisement or the reference image is immediately reflected in the programming, and the broadcasting terminal can provide the real time service to the channel participating terminals.

FIG. 10B is a reference diagram for explaining a change in a transmission tree according to generation of a virtual channel according to provision of an inserted content according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

Referring to FIG. 10B, the transmission tree structure is changed according to the movement of the channel right. [0039] Changing the channel management right refers to handing over a broadcast from one terminal to another. The channel management authority is in principle owned by the broadcasting terminal. If the channel authority is transferred to another broadcast terminal, the transferred terminal continues broadcasting. However, when no terminal is transferred, the channel is merged with another channel or the channel disappears. In channel merging, a broadcast terminal of another merged channel has channel authority.

The embodiments of the present invention have been described above. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be implemented in a modified form without departing from the essential features of the present invention. Therefore, the disclosed embodiments should be considered in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. The scope of the present invention is shown in the claims rather than the foregoing description, and all differences within the scope will be construed as being included in the present invention.

1 is a block diagram of a broadcast terminal in an overlay multicast environment according to an embodiment of the present invention;

2 is an exemplary diagram illustrating a hierarchical content tree referenced when generating a channel according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3 is a reference diagram for explaining a virtual channel according to an embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a reference diagram for explaining a structure of creating a virtual channel according to an embodiment of the present invention;

5 is a reference diagram for explaining a hierarchical structure of a virtual channel according to an embodiment of the present invention;

6 is a flowchart illustrating a virtual channel setting method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

7A and 7B are reference diagrams for explaining the configuration of a virtual channel and a change in a transmission tree according to the same case in which content levels are the same according to an embodiment of the present invention;

8A and 8B are reference diagrams for explaining virtual channel merging and a change of a transmission tree when contents have the same grade according to another embodiment of the present invention;

9A and 9B are reference diagrams for explaining virtual channel generation and change of a transmission tree when contents have different grades according to an embodiment of the present invention;

10A and 10B are reference diagrams for explaining virtual channel generation and a change of a transmission tree according to an insertion content provided according to an embodiment of the present invention.

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

1: broadcast terminal 10: channel generator

20: channel determination unit

Claims (12)

In a broadcast terminal in an overlay multicast environment, A channel generator for generating a virtual channel according to the graded content; And And a channel determiner configured to set a virtual channel to provide content by comparing the content class with other broadcast terminals and to provide content to the set virtual channel. The method of claim 1, wherein the channel determination unit, If the content provided by the broadcast terminal and the content provided by another broadcast terminal have the same rating, Set the virtual channel to provide the content of the other broadcast terminal through the virtual channel generated by the broadcast terminal, or provide the content by merging the virtual channel generated by the broadcast terminal into a virtual channel generated by the other broadcast terminal. A broadcast terminal, characterized in that for setting the virtual channel to be. The method of claim 1, wherein the channel determination unit, If the content provided by the broadcast terminal and the content provided by another broadcast terminal are different from each other, If the content provided by the other broadcast terminal is lower than the content provided by the broadcast terminal, the virtual channel generated by the broadcast terminal is destroyed, And when the other broadcast terminal generates a virtual channel, sets the generated virtual channel as a virtual channel for providing the content. The method of claim 1, wherein the channel determination unit, If the content provided by the broadcast terminal and the content provided by another broadcast terminal are different from each other, If the content provided by the other broadcast terminal is higher than the content provided by the broadcast terminal, the virtual channel generated by the broadcast terminal is merged into the virtual channel generated by the other broadcast terminal to provide the content. A broadcast terminal, characterized in that for setting the virtual channel. The method of claim 1, wherein the channel determination unit, And a right to manage a virtual channel to the set broadcast terminal. The method of claim 1, wherein the channel determination unit, Receiving content provided from a broadcast terminal providing a content corresponding to a lower level during the content providing through the set virtual channel, and provides the received content to the other broadcast terminal through the set virtual channel. Broadcast terminal. The method of claim 1, wherein the channel generator, And generating identification information for recognizing the virtual channel, virtual channel establishment time information, virtual channel extinction time information, and rating information of contents provided through the virtual channel when the virtual channel is generated. The method of claim 1, wherein the channel generator, And when the virtual channel is generated, content information differentiated according to the content of the content is used with reference to meta information storing the type and the providing format of the content. A broadcast service providing method of a broadcast terminal in an overlay multicast environment, Creating a virtual channel according to the graded content; And And setting a virtual channel to provide the content by comparing the content rating with another broadcast terminal and providing the content to the set virtual channel. The method of claim 9, wherein the setting of the virtual channel and providing content to the set virtual channel include: If the content provided by the broadcast terminal and the content provided by another broadcast terminal have the same rating, Set the virtual channel to provide the content of the other broadcast terminal through the virtual channel generated by the broadcast terminal, or provide the content by merging the virtual channel generated by the broadcast terminal into a virtual channel generated by the other broadcast terminal. A broadcast service providing method comprising setting a virtual channel to be performed. The method of claim 9, wherein the setting of the virtual channel and providing content to the set virtual channel include: If the content provided by the broadcast terminal and the content provided by another broadcast terminal are different from each other, If the content provided by the other broadcast terminal is lower than the content provided by the broadcast terminal, the virtual channel generated by the broadcast terminal is destroyed, And when the other broadcast terminal generates a virtual channel, sets the generated virtual channel as a virtual channel for providing the content. The method of claim 9, wherein the setting of the virtual channel and providing content to the set virtual channel include: If the content provided by the broadcast terminal and the content provided by another broadcast terminal are different from each other, If the content provided by the other broadcast terminal is higher than the content provided by the broadcast terminal, the virtual channel generated by the broadcast terminal is merged into the virtual channel generated by the other broadcast terminal to provide the content. A broadcast service providing method comprising setting a virtual channel.

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