KR101426811B1 - Decision System Of Channel - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a channel determination system and a method thereof, and more particularly, to a channel determination system and method for determining a channel viewed by a viewer watching a TV based on video information of a currently transmitted screen.

Description

≪ Desc / Clms Page number 1 > Decision System Of Channel &

The present invention relates to a channel determination system and a method thereof, and more particularly, to a channel determination system and method for determining a channel viewed by a viewer watching a TV based on video information of a currently transmitted screen.

With the development of technology, TV with unidirectional has evolved into an interactive device capable of interacting in both directions, and smart TV is evolving into a computing device capable of executing various applications.

The conventional TV is connected to a set-top box having middleware for bidirectional communication, and the set-top box is connected through a return path server managed by a cable provider to provide various contents and applications.

As described above, in the case of a TV to which a set-top box is connected (when a program and an application are simultaneously provided in a set-top box), channel information transmitted by the cable provider includes channel identification information. However, since the TV itself transmits only the image data transmitted from the set-top box, the TV device itself can not determine the channel viewed by the viewer.

Accordingly, since execution of various applications provided on a channel-based basis viewed by the viewer is dependent on the set-top box, it is possible to transmit and execute the application only through the set-top box in an environment in which the set- There is a problem that the content providing route is limited.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a channel determination system and method for extracting screen information transmitted to a TV without help of a set-top box to determine a channel currently being watched by a viewer There is.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a channel determination system and method that can provide an application mapped to a channel in real time through the channel determination that is currently being viewed.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a channel determination system including a TV receiver for extracting reference image information from image data of a currently viewed channel, reference image information extracted from the TV receiver, And an application server for comparing the extracted channels to determine a channel by extracting coincident channels.

The TV receiver includes a video data receiving module for receiving video data, a reference video information extracting module for extracting reference video information for channel determination among the received video data, and a video output module for outputting the received video data .

Also, the application server compares the reference image information received from the TV receiver with the reference image information of each channel currently being broadcast, extracts a matching channel, and determines a channel And an application manager for extracting an application mapped to the channel determined through the channel determination unit from the database and transmitting the extracted application to the TV receiver.

The reference image information may include image information of all pixels, image information of specific pixels set arbitrarily on a point-by-point basis, image information of pixels corresponding to coordinates connected by horizontal and vertical lines on a line basis, blended average image information thereof, The image information of the pixel groups which are a cluster of specific pixels or the blended average image information of the pixel groups.

As described above, since the channel determination system according to the present invention can discriminate the channel currently viewed by the viewer from the video information through the TV receiver, there is an excellent effect of determining the channel to be watched without a device such as a set-top box do.

FIG. 1 is a system block diagram schematically showing a channel determination system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a detailed block diagram of an application server.
FIG. 3 illustrates point-by-point image information according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention set as reference image information.
FIG. 4 is a view illustrating that face-based image information according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is set as reference image information.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating line-based image information according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention set as reference image information.
FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating a channel determination method using line-based image information according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
7 is a system configuration diagram schematically showing a channel determination system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

≪ Embodiment 1 >

FIG. 1 is a system block diagram schematically showing a channel determination system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a detailed block diagram of an application server.

1 and 2, a channel determination system according to the present invention includes a TV receiver 10 for extracting reference image information from image data of a currently viewed channel, reference image information extracted from the TV receiver, And an application server 20 for comparing the video information and extracting a matching channel to determine a channel.

Here, the image data refers to data obtained by capturing specific frame data among transmitted frame data.

The TV receiver 10 includes a video data receiving module 110 receiving video data, a reference video information extracting module 120 extracting reference video information for channel determination among the received video data, And a video output module 130 for outputting video data.

The video data may be video data directly received from a broadcasting station, or may be video data received through a set top box via a cable provider.

The reference image information extraction module 120 extracts only predetermined reference image information from the image data.

Here, the reference image information may be image data of the entire one frame. However, if the entire image data is set as the reference image information, accuracy of channel determination can be improved. However, since the amount of extracted data is large, It is preferable to set some of the image data as reference image information.

The reference image information may include identification information of a TV receiver. The application server needs to identify each TV receiver because the TV receiver collectively judges the channels, and the TV receiver can function as a single computing device, so that independent IP address information or ID information is utilized as identification information .

FIG. 3 illustrates point-by-point image information according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention set as reference image information.

Referring to FIG. 3, the reference image information may be image information of a specific pixel in the image data.

More specifically, the pixel at the specific position for the reference image information may be set as the reference pixel, and the image information extraction module 120 may extract only the image information (RGB value) of the reference pixel set as shown in FIG.

As a result, since the reference pixel is composed of one point, the reference image information is composed of point-by-point image information.

For example, when a pixel having a resolution of 1920 * 1080 (1000, 1000) is set as a reference pixel, a horizontal 1000th pixel and a vertical 1000th pixel become reference pixels.

If the image information is composed of 8-bit data, one of the 256 pieces of RGB data is RGB value.

Then, only the reference image information can be extracted from the image data of a specific frame among the image frame data received according to the image frequency (for example, 60 Hz).

For example, in the case of 60 Hz, 60 image frame data are transmitted to the screen in one second, and each image frame data forms one image data. Therefore, when the even-numbered image frame is set to a specific frame, the reference image information extraction module can be configured to extract the reference image information for every even-numbered image frame.

Also, the reference image information can be extracted by extracting image data of a specific frame (for example, 30th image frame data) set out of 60 image frame data. FIG. 4 is a view illustrating that face-based image information according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is set as reference image information.

Referring to FIG. 4, reference image information may be composed of image information of a specific pixel group which is a cluster of a specific pixel.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 4A, the reference image information can be set to a plurality of specific pixel groups, and the reference image information extraction module extracts only the image information of each specific pixel group.

On the other hand, the pixel blending value (average value) of the specific pixel group can be extracted as image information.

When the image information of all the pixels included in the specific pixel group is extracted, the amount of data becomes large. Therefore, when all the pixels included in the specific pixel group are blended, only one blending value is provided for each specific pixel group. .

To this end, the reference image information extraction module may include a blending module for calculating an average value by blending image information of pixels included in a specific pixel group.

For example, when the resolution is 1920 * 1080, the image information (RGB values) of 400 pixels belonging to 1900, 1060, 1920, and 1080th pixels in the case of (1900, 1060) ) Is blended to extract the average RGB value.

As shown in FIG. 4B, the entire screen may be divided into a plurality of partial surfaces, and the blended average value of the divided partial surfaces may be set as the reference image information. Here, if at least one divided surface is divided, it can be arbitrarily set.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating line-based image information according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention set as reference image information.

Referring to FIG. 5, the reference image information extraction module may extract and set a pixel corresponding to a linear coordinate in a specific horizontal or vertical coordinate as a reference pixel.

Also, it is obvious that the average value obtained by blending the image information of the pixels extracted in the line unit can be extracted. When the reference image information is extracted through the reference image information extraction module, the extracted reference image information is transmitted to the application server.

Basically, the TV receiver is a computing device capable of bidirectional communication with IP, so data can be transmitted and received through the application server and the Internet network.

The application server 20 includes a channel management unit 210 for managing reference image information of all channels stored in a database, reference image information received from the TV receiver, and all channels of each currently broadcast channel transmitted from the channel management unit A channel determination unit 220 for comparing the reference video information of the channel with the reference video information and extracting a matching channel to determine a channel, and an application management unit 230 for managing applications mapped to reference video information, TV receiver information, And a database 240 for storing reference image information and applications of all the channels.

Here, the application includes various image content information related to a channel being broadcasted. For example, if the channel being broadcast is a home shopping channel, it may include all applications that are manufactured and installed in relation to a channel being broadcast, such as a product purchase application for purchasing a home shopping product on air.

The channel management unit 210 manages reference video information of all channels generated by extracting only reference video information from all channels currently broadcasting.

Herein, the reference image information of all the channels means information extracted from the set reference image information among the programs transmitted to each channel, and the reference image information of the program is divided and stored in a time shorter than the entire running time of the program, Thereby providing image contents or providing information of the image contents.

The channel determination unit 220 compares the reference image information with the reference image information of all the channels by a TV receiver identification module 221 that identifies the TV receiver from the identification information included in the reference image information received from the TV receiver And a channel determination module 222 for extracting coincident channels and determining viewing channels.

When the channel being watched is determined, the application management unit 230 extracts application information mapped to the channel being watched from the database 240 and transmits the application information to the TV receiver through the Internet network.

The TV receiver receives the received application information, mixes it with video data output through a video output unit, and transmits the mixed video data.

When the viewer who has viewed the application information requests application detailed information, the application management unit 230 extracts the application corresponding to the detailed information from the database 240 and transmits the extracted application to the TV receiver, Or stores the contained contents in a memory (not shown).

Here, the application detailed information may include a program for executing a specific function or data composed of various contents. The content may include image content.

Hereinafter, a specific channel determination method will be described.

When the pixel unit is set as the reference image information, the channel determination module 222 compares the pixel value (RGB value) of the specific pixel set as the reference image information with the channel corresponding to the reference image information of all matching channels It is determined that the channel is being watched.

In addition, when the reference information is composed of a plurality of pixels, the difference between the plurality of pixels may be measured, and the difference between the measured pixels may be compared to determine the channel.

More specifically, the difference d between pixels can be calculated by the following equation.

Here, pn and pm are RGB values for a specific pixel corresponding to n and m, x, y and z represent bit values of R, G and B, and d (pn, pm) As a distance concept, and the smaller the difference is, the higher the similarity of the two pixels.

4, when the pixel value (RGB value) of the image information of each specific pixel group received from the TV receiver and the reference image of all the channels And compares the pixel values (RGB) of the information with each other to determine a coincident channel as a channel being watched.

On the other hand, as described above, the pixel blending value (average value) of the specific pixel group can be extracted as image information.

When the reference image information is set to a pixel corresponding to a linear coordinate in a specific horizontal or vertical coordinate as shown in FIG. 6, the channel can be determined by comparing the average value blended with the image information of the pixel extracted in the line unit.

In addition, when the reference pixel is set in the line unit, the channel determination module may compare the graphs connected with the pixels corresponding to the linear coordinates, or may compare the graph with a compression function.

First, as shown in FIG. 6A, the reference image extraction module can generate R, G, and B RGB graphs of R, G, and B values of each pixel pn in horizontal or vertical linear coordinates, As shown in FIG. 6B, the envelope of the reference RGB graph may be compared with the RGB graph of FIG. 6B, or the channel may be determined by comparing the position of the pixel exceeding the set RGB value with the reference RGB graph.

In addition, the channel can be determined by comparing the slopes between specific points on the envelope of the RGB graph.

If the channel being watched through the TV receiver is determined through the channel determination unit as described above, the application mapped to the channel stored in the database is extracted and transmitted to the TV receiver.

≪ Embodiment 2 >

In the first embodiment, the TV receiver transmits reference video information of a channel that a viewer is viewing to an application server, and the application server analyzes the reference video information to determine a channel. On the contrary, The TV receiver directly determines the channel from the reference image information of all channels transmitted from the server.

7 is a system configuration diagram schematically showing a channel determination system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, the channel determination system according to the second embodiment of the present invention extracts reference image information from the image data of the currently viewed channel, compares the reference image information with reference image information of all channels transmitted from the application server, An application server (40) for transmitting reference channel information of all channels to the TV receiver and managing viewing channel information determined by the TV receiver And the like.

Here, the TV receiver 30 includes a video data receiving module 310 receiving video data, a reference video information extracting module 320 extracting reference video information for channel determination among the received video data, And a channel determination module 330 for comparing the reference image information of all the channels received from the reference image information of the current channel and the reference image information of the currently viewed channel to extract a matching channel to determine a channel.

That is, the channel determination unit 220 included in the application server 20 of the first embodiment is replaced with the channel determination module 330 of the TV receiver 30 in the second embodiment. Accordingly, the first embodiment is a method in which an application server integrally determines channels of all TV receivers, whereas the second embodiment is divided into a method in which a TV receiver independently determines channels.

Accordingly, the application server 40 may include a database 430 for storing and managing applications mapped to a broadcasting channel, a channel management unit 410 for storing and managing viewing channel information received from the TV receiver in the database, And an application manager 420 for extracting an application mapped to the channel determined by the determination unit from the database and transmitting the extracted application to the TV receiver.

The channel determination method performed by the channel determination unit of the application server in the first embodiment is the same as the channel determination method performed by the channel determination module of the TV receiver in the second embodiment, and thus a detailed channel determination method will be omitted.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

10: TV receiver 20: application server

Claims (11)

A reference image information extracting module for extracting reference image information for determining a channel among the received image data and a video output module for outputting the received video data, A TV receiver for extracting reference image information from the image data of the image data;
A channel management unit for managing reference image information of all channels stored in the database; a reference management unit for receiving reference image information received from the TV receiver and reference image information of each channel currently being broadcasted; And extracting from the database an application mapped to the channel determined by the channel determination unit and transmitting the extracted application to the TV receiver, wherein the application management unit extracts And an application server for comparing the reference image information and the reference image information of all channels to extract a matching channel to determine a channel;
The channel determination unit
Wherein the reference image information is set as image information of pixels corresponding to coordinates connected by horizontal and vertical lines in a line unit,
G and B generated by arranging the R, G, and B values of each pixel pn in the horizontal or vertical linear coordinates, and comparing the envelope of the RGB graph of each of the R, G, and B with the reference RGB graph, And compares the position of the pixel with the reference RGB graph to determine the channel.
delete delete A reference image information extraction module for extracting reference image information of a channel currently being watched for determining a channel among the received image data, a reference image information extraction module for extracting reference image information of all channels received from the application server, A TV receiver including a channel determination module for comparing the extracted reference image information to extract a matching channel and determining the channel;
A database for storing and managing an application mapped to a broadcasting channel; a channel management unit for storing and managing viewing channel information received from the TV receiver in the database; and an application mapped to the viewing channel stored in the channel management unit, An application server including an application management unit for transmitting the application program to a TV receiver;
The channel determination module
Wherein the reference image information is set as image information of pixels corresponding to coordinates connected by horizontal and vertical lines in a line unit,
G and B generated by arranging the R, G, and B values of each pixel pn in the horizontal or vertical linear coordinates, and comparing the envelope of the RGB graph of each of the R, G, and B with the reference RGB graph, And compares the position of the pixel with the reference RGB graph to determine the channel.
delete delete delete delete delete delete The method according to claim 1 or 4,
The channel management unit
The reference image information of the program is divided into a time shorter than the entire running time of the program,
Wherein the application management unit compares and searches the reference image information to provide content or provide information on the content.

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