KR102372667B1 - Method and apparatus for providing content mapping with virtual channel - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a content providing server and method using a virtual channel. The method of the present invention comprises: allocating a virtual channel according to a request of a first user terminal; receiving a viewing request for the virtual channel from a second user terminal; and transmitting the content from the second user terminal to the second user terminal so that the content provided from the first user terminal is reproduced through the virtual channel.
Through the present invention, self-produced content can be provided to users using a broadcasting service as if watching a general channel, and content can be easily provided to others other than the user through the sharing of a virtual channel number, so that content playback Accessibility can be improved.

Description

Content providing server and method using virtual channel {METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING CONTENT MAPPING WITH VIRTUAL CHANNEL}

The present invention relates to a content providing server and method, and more particularly, to an invention for providing content through a virtual channel.

Recently, Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) has been commercialized in Korea and is in service. In the case of over-the-air waves, frequency resources are limited, whereas IPTV has a fairly large number of channels due to its characteristics. In the case of IPTV currently in service, tens of hundreds of channels are already secured and the service is being performed.

However, even in IPTV, which provides much more channels than over the airwaves, viewers have no choice but to be provided with content determined according to a schedule organized by an operator having the broadcasting right. On the other hand, due to the development of SNS (Social Network Service), the content produced by individuals is explosively increasing, not limited to the content provided by CP (Content Provider). There is an urgent need for technical implementation that enables personalized content to be provided in a convenient way such as a TV channel.

In order to solve this problem, the present invention provides a content providing server and method using a virtual channel allocated to each individual.

Here, the content provided by the first user terminal may be stored in a database mapped to a virtual channel by the first user terminal or in an external storage device such as a cloud. In addition, the present invention can provide a variety of contents including personally created contents to the second user terminal through a virtual channel set by the first user terminal.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a content providing method using a virtual channel is provided. The method includes: allocating a virtual channel according to a request of a first user terminal; receiving a viewing request for the virtual channel from a second user terminal; and transmitting the content from the second user terminal to the second user terminal so that the content provided from the first user terminal is reproduced through the virtual channel.

Here, the receiving of the viewing request for the virtual channel may include determining whether the second user terminal has an authority to access the virtual channel. The transmitting of the content to the second user terminal may include transmitting the content to the second user terminal when the second user terminal has an authority to access the virtual channel. .

The determining whether the user has the right to access the virtual channel may include checking a password input from the second user terminal to access the virtual channel. In addition, the determining of whether the user has the right to access the virtual channel may include: notifying the first user terminal of a viewing request for the virtual channel of the second user terminal; and receiving, from the first user terminal, a virtual channel access authorization of the second user terminal.

In addition, the method includes: receiving a virtual channel inquiry request to which the access of the second user terminal is allowed from the second user terminal; and providing virtual channel information to which the second user terminal is permitted to access. The providing of the virtual channel information may include providing a list of virtual channels to which the second user terminal is allowed to access.

In addition, the method includes: receiving a virtual channel change request from the first user terminal; and changing, by the first user terminal, the virtual channel through which content is provided to another virtual channel in response to the virtual channel change request. Allocating the virtual channel may include automatically allocating one of available channels to the virtual channel when a specific virtual channel is not designated by the first user terminal.

The method may further include: generating a content list for content provided from the first user terminal through the virtual channel; and providing the content list to the second user terminal so that the second user terminal can select specific content to be played.

In addition, the method includes the steps of: receiving a request to stop playback of the content from the second user terminal; storing information on when the reproduction of the content was stopped; receiving, from the second user terminal, a request for re-viewing of the content whose reproduction has been stopped; and transmitting the content to the second user terminal from a point in time when the reproduction is stopped.

In addition, the content provided from the first user terminal may be stored in a memory or database of a content providing server, or may be obtained from a cloud server or a uniform resource locator (URL) address through a wired/wireless communication network.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a content providing server using a virtual channel is provided. The server allocates a virtual channel according to a request of a first user terminal, receives a viewing request for the virtual channel from the second user terminal, and the first user through the virtual channel in the second user terminal a processor configured to transmit the content to the second user terminal so that the content provided from the terminal is played; and a memory coupled to the processor.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a content providing service system using a virtual channel is provided. The system allocates a virtual channel according to the request of the first user terminal, and transmits the content to the second user terminal so that the content provided by the first user terminal is reproduced in the second user terminal through the virtual channel. a content providing server configured to transmit; a first user terminal configured to request allocation of a virtual channel to the content providing server and to provide content to be provided through the allocated virtual channel number; and a second user terminal configured to request the content providing server to view the virtual channel and to receive the content provided through the virtual channel from the content providing server.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, an application stored in a medium for executing a content providing method using a virtual channel is provided. The application includes instructions for allocating a virtual channel according to the request of the first user terminal; instructions for receiving a viewing request for the virtual channel from a second user terminal; and instructions for transmitting the content from the second user terminal to the second user terminal so that the content provided from the first user terminal is played through the virtual channel.

The present invention provides a content providing server when a user who uses a first user terminal wants to provide content to another person who uses a second user terminal, and selects a corresponding virtual channel from the second user terminal as if turning a general TV channel may transmit the corresponding content to the second user terminal. For this reason, the second user terminal can easily view content according to the intention of the user of the first user terminal, thereby increasing the convenience of content reproduction.

Furthermore, it is possible to prevent the exposure of personalized content to a third party by setting the access right to another virtual channel to provide content only to the user terminal to which the access right is granted.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a content providing service system using a virtual channel according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a flowchart of a method for providing a content providing service using a virtual channel according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a flowchart of a method for determining a virtual channel number according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for providing a content list according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing content when re-viewing content after stopping playback according to an embodiment of the present invention.
6 is an exemplary screen for selecting a virtual channel in a user terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.
7 is an exemplary screen on which content is reproduced in a selected virtual channel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. First of all, in adding reference numerals to the components of each drawing, it should be noted that the same components are given the same reference numerals as much as possible even though they are indicated on different drawings. In addition, in describing the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of a related known configuration or function may obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Various aspects of the invention are described below. It is to be understood that the inventions presented herein may be embodied in a wide variety of forms and that any specific structure, function, or both presented herein is exemplary only. Based on the inventions presented herein, those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains will recognize that one aspect presented herein may be implemented independently of any other aspects, and that two or more of these aspects may vary in various ways. It will be understood that they can be combined with For example, an apparatus may be implemented or a method may be practiced using any number of the aspects set forth herein. Further, such an apparatus may be implemented or such a method may be practiced using other structure, function, or structure and functionality in addition to or other than one or more aspects described herein.

Throughout the specification, when a part "includes" a certain element, it means that other elements may be further included, rather than excluding other elements, unless otherwise stated.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a content providing service system using a virtual channel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1 , the content providing service system using a virtual channel according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a first user terminal 200 , a content providing server 100 , and a second user terminal 300 . can

The first user terminal 200 is a device capable of using an Internet broadcasting service. For example, the first user terminal 200 may be any one of a TV having an IP set-top box built-in, an IP set-top box connected to the user's TV, a computer, a laptop computer, or a personal portable terminal. Also, the first user terminal 200 may include one of a set-top box and a device having an image output device, an IPTV, a smart TV, and a mobile communication terminal.

The IP set-top box is a hardware layer consisting of STB hardware such as CPU, media processor, flash RAM, and Ethernet module, a system software layer including system software such as a device driver and an operating system, a Java Virtual Machine (JVM), Conditional Access System (CAS) module and Digital Rights Management (DRM) interface module, middleware layer with streaming protocol (RTP, RTSP), MPEG2, MPEG4, MPEG7, H.264, WMV- 9 and the like, and may include 4 layers of an application layer including an Electronic Program Guide (EPG) for selecting an IPTV service channel.

The first user terminal 200 accesses the content providing server 100 using a virtual channel to register content that the user has produced or previously broadcast content, such as the title, description, genre, and character of the registered content. You can enter content information.

Also, the first user terminal 200 may set a user range that can view content or a range of content that can be viewed through a virtual channel and provide it to the content providing server 100 . For example, the user range may be family, friends, co-workers, people on a pre-designated list, etc., and the first user terminal 200 is the content providing server 100 so that virtual channel access is possible only from terminals in the user range. ) can be requested. In addition, for example, the range of content that can be viewed is, when the content provided by the first user terminal 200 through the virtual channel consists of content that can expose personal information and content that provides general information, all registered content for the family It may be to set the content so that it can be provided, and to set the scope of the serviced content so that the content that can expose personal information is not provided to co-workers.

Here, the content may include at least one of content produced by a user and a video on demand (VOD) provided by a service provider.

The content providing server 100 using the virtual channel number may include a processor 120 , a memory 110 , and a communication unit 130 .

The processor 120 may be configured to perform operations for providing content using a virtual channel described herein. Specifically, the processor 120 allocates a virtual channel according to the request of the first user terminal 200 , receives a viewing request for the virtual channel from the second user terminal 300 , and the second user terminal 300 . may be configured to transmit the content to the second user terminal 300 so that the content provided from the first user terminal 200 is played through the virtual channel. In addition, the processor 120 performs an operation of allocating a virtual channel, an operation of checking a permission to access a virtual channel, an operation of providing virtual channel information, and a virtual channel allocation operation through communication with the first user terminal 200 or the second user terminal 300 . A channel change operation may be performed. These operations may be expressed as a functional module (eg, a virtual channel allocation module) depending on the implementation.

The memory 110 may be connected to the processor 120 to store instructions for the processor 120 to perform the above-described operations. In addition, according to the embodiment, the memory 110 stores the content provided by the first user terminal 200 , and the content providing server 100 provides the content to the second user terminal 300 through a virtual channel. can The content provided from the first user terminal 200 may be stored in the memory 110 or database of the content providing server 100 as described above, or from a cloud server through a wired/wireless communication network or a uniform resource locator (URL) ) from the address.

The communication unit 130 may include a transmission/reception function capable of communicating with the first user terminal 200 and/or the second user terminal 300 . Such communication is not limited to a communication method according to a specific communication protocol, and an appropriate communication method may be used according to an implementation, and the communication unit 130 may be configured to provide such a communication method. For example, when configured as an Internet Protocol (IP)-based system such as IPTV, the communication unit 130 may be configured to provide wired/wireless Internet communication, and the user terminal 200 or 300 is a mobile communication terminal. When implemented as a communication unit 130 may be configured to provide wireless network communication such as a cellular network or a WLAN (Wireless LAN) network, if the user terminal 200 or 300 is implemented as an image output device such as a television, the communication unit ( 130) may be configured to provide wired network communication, such as a telephone line cable.

The first user terminal 200 and the second user terminal 300 may be connected to the content providing server 100 using a virtual channel through a network.

The network may include a wired/wireless communication network, and the wired/wireless communication network includes wired/wireless Internet and CDMA, cellular, GSM, W-CDMA, Bluetooth, Zigbee, and a wireless LAN ( Wireless LAN, WLAN), Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi), may include a WiBro (WiBro) method.

The content providing server 100 using the virtual channel may receive various content including content that the user has created by the user from the first user terminal 200 and store it in the memory 110 or the database, or receive the content from an external cloud server. It may be provided or may receive URL information from which content can be obtained.

In addition, the content providing server 100 using the virtual channel number may process the received content into a format suitable for reproduction in the second user terminal and store it in the memory 110 or the database.

In addition, the content providing server 100 using the virtual channel may receive, from the first user terminal 200 , meta information of the content such as the title, description, genre, and character of the content, and the viewing range of the content.

Furthermore, the content providing server 100 using the virtual channel may receive a content list creation request from the first user terminal 200 to generate the content list. The content list may be generated including the type, order, and playback start time of the content that the user of the first user terminal 200 wants to provide to the second user terminal 300 . This list of contents may also be stored in the memory 110 or the database, or may be obtained from an external cloud server.

In addition, the content providing server 100 using the virtual channel may provide the content list to the second user terminal 300 so that the second user terminal 300 can select specific content to be reproduced through the virtual channel.

Here, the second user terminal 300 is a device capable of using the Internet broadcasting service, and may include one of a device having a set-top box and an image output device, an IPTV, a smart TV, and a mobile communication terminal.

Meanwhile, in FIG. 1 , the function has been described focusing on components of the content providing service system using a virtual channel, but the implementation of the present invention is not limited to such an apparatus or system. Specifically, the functional implementation of the content providing service using the virtual channel of the present invention may be implemented as a computer program or application executable in a computer or portable terminal. In addition, such a computer program or application may be stored in any kind of computer-readable medium, and the functions of the present invention described above may be performed by any processor capable of executing the computer-executable instructions stored in the computer-readable medium. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention can be implemented.

The processor 120 of the content providing server 100 may allocate a virtual channel number according to the request of the first user terminal 200 . To this end, the processor 120 may perform an operation for managing channel information, an operation for providing a user interface screen, an operation for receiving a user input, an operation for determining a virtual channel number, and the like.

Specifically, the processor 120 may manage channel information including a previously allocated channel number according to a user's request or a broadcaster's request and an unassigned channel number among available channels.

In addition, the processor 120 may be configured to provide channel information including a unique channel number predetermined by an existing service so that the virtual channel can be allocated by the content providing server 100 using the virtual channel. Information on each such channel includes a channel number, channel name, channel genre (eg, news channel, movie channel, music channel, etc.), and channel type identification information (eg, whether it is an over-the-air channel, a cable channel, or an HDTV channel). cognition, etc.).

The processor 120 may provide an interface screen for setting a virtual channel number desired by the user for each channel. For example, when the user requests to set a specific channel as a virtual channel, a predetermined unique channel number may be presented, and further, if there is an already assigned virtual number, the virtual number may also be presented. In addition, the processor 120 may operate to enable setting and change of a virtual channel number for a specific channel by providing a function for a user to input a virtual channel number on the interface screen.

The processor 120 may receive a number input for setting a virtual channel number or receive a number input for changing a virtual channel number from a user input through the first user terminal 200 . That is, the content providing server 100 may receive the number input by the user to set the virtual channel number on the interface screen described above. For example, in a situation in which the user wants to set number 99 as the virtual channel number, the content providing server 100 may receive the number 99 input on the user interface screen to allocate it as a virtual channel number.

The processor 120 may determine the channel number received from the user as the virtual channel number. For example, if the user designates two pieces of content to be provided through the virtual channel through the first user terminal 200 and inputs number 99 as the number of the virtual channel, the processor 120 provides content number 99 It can be determined by the number of the virtual channel to be become. Therefore, if channel 99 is selected in the second user terminal 300 after performing this operation, the content providing server 100 transmits two pieces of content provided by the first user terminal 200 to the second user terminal through channel 99. (300) can be broadcast.

Also, when a specific virtual channel is not designated by the first user terminal 200 , the processor 100 may automatically allocate one of the available channels as a virtual channel for providing content. For example, when a virtual channel number is not designated, the processor 100 may arbitrarily allocate one of unassigned channel numbers among available channels as a virtual channel number to be used.

The processor 120 may manage access rights to the virtual channel that allow other user terminals to access the virtual channel. To this end, the processor 120 may perform a virtual channel viewing request reception operation, an access right determination operation, and the like.

The processor 120 may receive a viewing request for a virtual channel from the second user terminal 300 , and when the second user terminal 300 has an authority to access the virtual channel, through the virtual channel Content may be provided to the second user terminal 300 . Here, the verification of the access right to the virtual channel may be implemented in various ways.

The first user terminal 200 may notify the second user terminal 300 of a password or an access number so that the second user terminal 300 can access the corresponding virtual channel. In this case, the processor 120 may check the access right of the second user terminal 300 by checking the password or access number input from the second user terminal 300 to access the virtual channel.

Also, when the second user terminal 300 makes a viewing request for the virtual channel, the processor 120 notifies the first user terminal 200 of the viewing request for the virtual channel of the second user terminal 300 . When receiving the virtual channel access approval of the second user terminal 300 from the first user terminal 200, the second user terminal 300 may be allowed to access the virtual channel.

In addition, the second user terminal 300 may be registered with the content providing server 100 as having an access right to the virtual channel, and the processor 120 may be configured as the second user terminal 300 such as mobile subscriber identity (MSI). ), it is possible to determine the access right of the second user terminal 300 by checking the terminal identification information.

That is, by allowing access to the virtual channel only to the user terminal having the authority to access the virtual channel number, illegal viewing of content or information leakage to unauthorized persons can be prevented.

* The processor 120 may operate to provide content through the virtual channel to the second user terminal 300 when the second user terminal 300 has permission to access the virtual channel.

In addition, when the processor 120 receives a virtual channel inquiry request to which the access of the second user terminal 300 is allowed from the second user terminal 300 , the virtual channel information to which the access of the second user terminal 300 is allowed is received. may operate to provide In addition, the virtual channel information may be a list of virtual channels to which the second user terminal is permitted to access, and according to an embodiment, the list of virtual channels includes not only the channel number of the virtual channel, but also the genre of the channel, the channel establisher, and content to be provided. It may include additional information such as the type of

The processor 120 may provide the content provided from the first user terminal 200 to the second user terminal 300 through a virtual channel. To this end, the processor 120 may perform a content reception operation, a content transmission operation, a content list creation operation, a content list provision operation, and a content reproduction time information generation operation.

The processor 120 may receive the content from the first user terminal 200 and store it in the memory 110 or obtain the content through a cloud server or a URL through which the content can be received, and through a virtual channel. The content may be provided to the second user terminal 300 .

In addition, when the processor 120 receives a request to stop playback of the content from the second user terminal 300 , the processor 120 stores information about when the playback of the content is stopped, and stops the playback from the second user terminal 300 . Upon receiving a request for re-viewing of the content, the content may be provided to the second user terminal 300 from the point in time when the reproduction is stopped.

For example, when the second user terminal 300 stops playing the content, the processor 120 calculates the difference between the play end time and the play start time of the corresponding content to generate the current play time information. . Thereafter, when the second user terminal 300 requests to reproduce the suspended content again, the processor 120 may provide the content to the second user terminal 300 based on the reproduction time information.

In addition, the first user terminal 700 can input the information of real-time content to the content providing server 100, and then, when the URL information of the content transmitted to the second user terminal 300 is a real-time streaming URL, The second user terminal 300 may receive the corresponding URL information through a virtual channel and reproduce the content in real-time streaming.

2 is a flowchart of a method for providing a content providing service using a virtual channel number according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2 , the first user terminal 200 may transmit a virtual channel assignment request to the content providing server 100 ( S1010 ), and the content providing server 100 may establish a virtual channel in response to the request. can be allocated (S1020).

The second user terminal 300 may transmit a viewing request for the virtual channel to the content providing server 100 (S1030). In this case, the content providing server 100 may determine whether the second user terminal 300 has access to the virtual channel (S1040). When it is determined that the second user terminal 300 does not have access right, the content providing server 100 may transmit a connection unavailable notification (or a notification that there is no access right to the corresponding virtual channel) to the second user terminal 300 . There is (S1050). On the other hand, when it is determined in step S1040 that the second user terminal 300 has the access right, the content providing server 100 plays the content provided from the first user terminal 200 through the virtual channel to the second user terminal. The content may be transmitted to 300 (S1060).

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the step of determining the playback time of the content reproduced in the second user terminal 300 may be determined by the control of the first user terminal 200 .

For example, when user A of the first user terminal 200, who has created the virtual channel number 99 through the present invention, wants to show user B of the second user terminal 300, the video he has created, A can instruct B to move to channel 99. Then, when B receives virtual channel number access authority authentication and accesses virtual channel number 99, A checks whether B is connected and then enables content playback to start in B's second user terminal 300 . That is, B can watch the content whose playback time point is selected by A no matter what time it is accessed.

3 is a flowchart of a method for determining a virtual channel number according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3 , the method for determining a virtual channel number includes receiving information about a channel including a pre-allocated channel number and an unassigned channel number among available channels from the channel management server 150 (S2010) ), providing an interface screen for setting a virtual channel number (S2020), receiving an input number for setting a virtual channel number (S2030), and determining a virtual channel number (S2040). can do.

Furthermore, in order to help the user select a virtual channel number, when a channel number is input, only an empty channel number is displayed on the interface screen so that it does not overlap with an existing channel number can be set. Alternatively, in the present invention, when a number input by a user through the user interface screen overlaps with an existing assigned channel number, resetting may be requested by notifying that the virtual channel number cannot be used.

Furthermore, when the number input by the user corresponds to the pre-allocated channel number, the channel information associated with the channel number is changed to another channel number, and a case of designating the channel number as a virtual channel number may be included.

In addition, the method includes the steps of providing an interface screen for changing a virtual channel number in order to change the previously set virtual channel number, receiving an input number for changing the virtual channel number, and changing the virtual channel number It may include further steps.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for providing a content list according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The method includes the steps of generating a content list for content provided from the first user terminal 200 through a virtual channel (S3010), a content list from the second user terminal 300 (having access to the virtual channel) The method may further include receiving a request for providing (S3020) and providing the content list to the second user terminal 300 in response to the request (S3030). In addition, in step S3030, if there is a limit to the content viewing range allowed to the second user terminal 300 (eg, when access is received so as not to be able to access the content to which personal information is exposed) within the permitted access right It is also possible to provide a list of contents that can be viewed in the second user terminal 300 .

5 is a flowchart of a method for transmitting content when re-viewing content based on content reproduction stop time information according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 5 , the method includes the steps of receiving a request to stop the reproduction of the content from the second user terminal 300 that reproduces the content ( S4010 ), and receiving and storing information on when the reproduction of the content is stopped (S4020), receiving a re-viewing request of the content that has stopped playing from the second user terminal 300 (S4030) and transmitting the content to the second user terminal 300 from the time when the playback is stopped (S4030) ( S4040) may be further included.

Through the above method, even when viewing is stopped while viewing the content through the virtual channel, there is an advantage in that the content can be viewed again from the point in time when the content is stopped when re-viewing.

Meanwhile, the present invention may be implemented as computer-readable codes stored in a computer-readable storage medium. The computer-readable storage medium may include any type of storage device in which data readable by a computer system is stored.

According to another aspect of one embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide a computer-readable storage medium storing a program for executing a content providing method using a virtual channel.

The program stored in the computer-readable storage medium may include some or all of the content providing method using the virtual channel described above.

In addition, the computer readable code may be configured to perform steps of implementing the content providing method according to the present invention when the computer readable code is read and executed by the processor from the computer readable storage medium.

The computer readable code may be implemented in various programming languages. In addition, functional programs, codes, and code segments for implementing the embodiments of the present invention may be easily programmed by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains.

Examples of the computer-readable storage medium include ROM, RAM, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, floppy disk, optical data storage device, etc., and may include implementation in the form of a carrier wave (eg, transmission over the Internet). there is.

In addition, the computer readable storage medium may be distributed in networked computer systems, so that the computer readable code may be stored and executed in a distributed manner.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the present invention provides a content providing service system using a virtual channel including the first user terminal 200, the content providing server 100 and the second user terminal 300 as described above. can

The content providing server 100 allocates a virtual channel according to the request of the first user terminal 200 , and the content provided by the first user terminal 200 through the virtual channel is transmitted to the second user terminal 300 . It may be configured to transmit the content to the second user terminal 300 to be played in . The first user terminal 200 may be configured to request virtual channel allocation to the content providing server 100 and provide content to be provided through the allocated virtual channel number. In addition, the second user terminal 300 may be configured to request the content providing server 100 to view the virtual channel and to receive the content provided through the virtual channel from the content providing server 100 . there is.

6 is an exemplary screen for selecting a virtual channel in a user terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In order to access the virtual channel set by the first user terminal 200 , the second user terminal 200 may search for a corresponding virtual channel and make a viewing request. As shown in FIG. 6 , for example, when the virtual channel is set to No. 99, the second user terminal 200 may search for channel No. 99 by using a keyboard, a touch panel, or any input means. According to an embodiment, when 99 is input, a channel list including 99 may be displayed in a predetermined area 650 of the display device 600 of the second user terminal 200 , and the second user terminal 300 . may select channel 99 among the displayed channels 99 and 999 for access to the virtual channel.

7 is an exemplary screen on which content is reproduced in a selected virtual channel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 6 , when the second user terminal 300 selects a virtual channel (channel 99), the content providing server 100 provides the content 750 provided by the first user terminal 300 through the corresponding virtual channel. ) may be provided to the second user terminal 300 . As a result, as shown in FIG. 7 , the second user terminal 300 can view the content 750 provided through the virtual channel through the display device 600 .

It is to be understood that any specific order or hierarchy of steps in any presented processes is an example of exemplary approaches. Based on design priorities, it is to be understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the processes may be rearranged within the scope of the present invention. The appended method claims present elements of the various steps in an exemplary order, but are not meant to be limited to the specific order or hierarchy presented.

The terms “component,” “module,” “system,” and the like, as used herein, may refer to a computer-related entity, hardware, firmware, software, a combination of software and hardware, or execution of software. For example, a component can be, but is not limited to being, a process running on a processor, a processor, an object, a thread of execution, a program, and/or a computer. For example, both an application running on a computing device and the computing device may be a component. One or more components may reside within a processor and/or thread of execution, and a component may be localized within one computer, or distributed between two or more computers. In addition, these components can execute from various computer readable media having various data structures stored therein.

The description of the presented embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not to be limited to the embodiments presented herein but should be construed in the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features presented herein.

100: content providing server
110: memory
120 : processor
130: communication department
200: first user terminal
300: second user terminal
600: display device

Claims (22)

A method for providing content, which operates through a processor of a content providing server using a virtual channel,
allocating a virtual channel according to a request of the first user terminal;
generating a content list for content provided from the first user terminal through the virtual channel;
setting a range of users who can view content and a range of content that can be viewed through the virtual channel, including content that can expose personal information and content that provides general information excluding personal information;
providing the content list to the second user terminal so that the second user terminal can select specific content to be played;
receiving a viewing request for the virtual channel from the second user terminal; and
The second user terminal transmits the content to the second user terminal so that the content provided from the first user terminal is played through the virtual channel, wherein the personal information exposure is performed based on the user range and the content range. Selecting and transmitting content that can be used or the general information providing content; and
generating current playback time information by calculating a difference between a playback end time and a playback start time of the corresponding content when the second user terminal stops playing the content; and
transmitting the content to the second user terminal based on the generated reproduction time information when the second user terminal requests to reproduce the content that has been stopped again;
including,
The content list is a content providing method using a virtual channel, including the type, order, and playback start time of the content that the user of the first user terminal wants to provide to the second user terminal. The method of claim 1,
Receiving the viewing request for the virtual channel includes determining whether the second user terminal has an authority to access the virtual channel,
The transmitting of the content to the second user terminal includes transmitting the content to the second user terminal when the second user terminal has a right to access the virtual channel.
How to provide content using virtual channels. 3. The method of claim 2,
The step of determining whether or not the user has the right to access the virtual channel,
notifying the viewing request for the virtual channel of the second user terminal to the first user terminal; and
Receiving a virtual channel access approval of the second user terminal from the first user terminal, the content providing method using a virtual channel comprising the step of. The method of claim 1,
receiving a virtual channel inquiry request allowing access of the second user terminal from the second user terminal; and
providing virtual channel information to which access of the second user terminal is permitted;
A method for providing content using a virtual channel, further comprising a. 5. The method of claim 4,
The providing of the virtual channel information comprises:
and providing a list of virtual channels to which the second user terminal is permitted to access, the content providing method using a virtual channel. The method of claim 1,
receiving a virtual channel change request from the first user terminal; and
In response to the virtual channel change request, the first user terminal further comprising the step of changing the virtual channel providing content to another virtual channel,
How to provide content using virtual channels. The method of claim 1,
The step of allocating the virtual channel includes automatically allocating one of available channels to the virtual channel when a specific virtual channel is not designated by the first user terminal.
How to provide content using virtual channels. delete The method of claim 1,
receiving a request to stop playback of the content from the second user terminal;
storing information on when the reproduction of the content was stopped;
receiving, from the second user terminal, a request for re-viewing of the content whose reproduction has been stopped; and
Transmitting the content to the second user terminal from a point in time when the reproduction is stopped
A method for providing content using a virtual channel, further comprising a. The method of claim 1,
The content provided from the first user terminal is obtained from a cloud server or a uniform resource locator (URL) address through a wired/wireless communication network, the content providing method using a virtual channel. As a content providing server using a virtual channel,
Allocating a virtual channel according to the request of the first user terminal, creating a content list for the content provided from the first user terminal through the virtual channel, and including content that can be exposed to personal information through the virtual channel; Setting a user range and a viewable content range including general information providing content excluding personal information, and displaying the content list so that the second user terminal can select a specific content to be played back to the second user terminal to the second user terminal, receiving a viewing request for the virtual channel from the second user terminal, and playing the content provided from the first user terminal through the virtual channel in the second user terminal When the content is transmitted, the content that can expose the personal information or the general information providing content is selected and transmitted based on the user range and the content range, and playback of the content is stopped in the second user terminal , calculates the difference between the reproduction end time and the reproduction start time of the corresponding content to generate current reproduction time information, and when the second user terminal requests to reproduce the suspended content again, based on the generated reproduction time information a processor configured to transmit the content to the second user terminal; and
memory coupled to the processor
Including, wherein the content list includes the type, order, and playback start time of the content that the user of the first user terminal wants to provide to the second user terminal, the content providing server using a virtual channel. 12. The method of claim 11,
The processor is
It is determined whether the second user terminal has the authority to access the virtual channel, and when the second user terminal has the authority to access the virtual channel, the content is transferred to the second user terminal further configured to transmit to
Content providing server using virtual channel. 13. The method of claim 12,
The processor is
In order to determine whether or not the user has the authority to access the virtual channel, the second user terminal notifies the viewing request for the virtual channel to the first user terminal, and the second user from the first user terminal A content providing server using a virtual channel, further configured to receive a virtual channel access approval of the terminal. 12. The method of claim 11,
The processor is
Providing content using a virtual channel, further configured to receive a virtual channel inquiry request to which the second user terminal is permitted to access from the second user terminal, and to provide virtual channel information to which the second user terminal is permitted to access server. 15. The method of claim 14,
The processor is further configured to provide a list of virtual channels to which the access of the second user terminal is allowed as the virtual channel information, a content providing server using a virtual channel. 12. The method of claim 11,
The processor is
Using a virtual channel, further configured to receive a virtual channel change request from the first user terminal, and change the virtual channel through which the first user terminal provides content to another virtual channel in response to the virtual channel change request Content delivery server. 12. The method of claim 11,
The processor is further configured to automatically allocate one of the available channels to the virtual channel when a specific virtual channel is not designated by the first user terminal. delete 12. The method of claim 11,
The processor is
receiving a request to stop playback of the content from the second user terminal, storing information about when the playback of the content is stopped, receiving a request for re-viewing the content that has stopped playing from the second user terminal, and A content providing server using a virtual channel, further configured to transmit the content to the second user terminal from the point in time when the reproduction is stopped. 12. The method of claim 11,
The content provided from the first user terminal is obtained from a cloud server or a uniform resource locator (URL) address through a wired/wireless communication network, a content providing server using a virtual channel. A content providing service system using a virtual channel, comprising:
Allocating a virtual channel according to the request of the first user terminal, creating a content list for the content provided from the first user terminal through the virtual channel, and including content that can be exposed to personal information through the virtual channel; Setting a user range and a viewable content range including general information providing content excluding personal information, and displaying the content list so that the second user terminal can select a specific content to be played back to the second user terminal and transmits the content to the second user terminal so that the content provided by the first user terminal is reproduced in the second user terminal through the virtual channel, based on the user range and the content range When content that can expose personal information or the general information providing content is selected and transmitted, and playback of the content is stopped in the second user terminal, the difference between the playback end time and the playback start time of the corresponding content is calculated. a content providing server that generates current playback time information and transmits the content to a second user terminal based on the generated playback time information when the second user terminal requests to play the content that has been stopped again;
a first user terminal configured to request allocation of a virtual channel to the content providing server and to provide content to be provided through the allocated virtual channel number; and
a second user terminal, configured to request the content providing server to view the virtual channel, and to receive the content provided through the virtual channel from the content providing server
Including, wherein the content list includes the type, order, and playback start time of the content that the user of the first user terminal wants to provide to the second user terminal, the content providing system using a virtual channel. As an application stored in a medium for executing a content providing method using a virtual channel,
instructions for allocating a virtual channel according to a request of the first user terminal;
instructions for generating a content list for content provided from the first user terminal through the virtual channel;
instructions for setting a user range and a viewable content range including content that can be exposed to personal information through the virtual channel and general information providing content excluding personal information;
instructions for providing the content list to the second user terminal so that the second user terminal can select specific content to be played;
instructions for receiving a viewing request for the virtual channel from a second user terminal; and
The second user terminal transmits the content to the second user terminal so that the content provided from the first user terminal is played through the virtual channel, wherein the personal information exposure is performed based on the user range and the content range. Instructions for selecting and transmitting content that can be used or the general information providing content;
instructions for generating current playback time information by calculating a difference between a playback end time and a playback start time of the corresponding content when the second user terminal stops playing the content; and
Commands for transmitting the content to the second user terminal based on the generated reproduction time information when the second user terminal requests to reproduce the content that has been stopped again
including,
The content list includes the type, order, and playback start time of the content that the user of the first user terminal wants to provide to the second user terminal, the application.

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