KR20020005559A - Exclusive Contents Providing Method For PC Basis TV Settop Box - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A method of providing exclusive contents using a PC-base TV set-top-box is provided, which allows the set-top-box to be controlled by driving software installed in a PC so that the set-top-box cannot be used for transmitting contents and shows only a dedicated browser screen on TV all the time, to permit only contents allowed to be connected to the browser to be displayed on TV screen. CONSTITUTION: A serial number is inputted into a PC-based TV set-top-box when the set-top-box is manufactured for the purpose of operating the set-top-box only by authentication of a PC or a server. Driving software installed in the PC reads the serial number when the set-top-box is initiated installed to register the serial number in the PC or server. Whenever the set-top-box is used, the driving software reads the serial number to transmit the number to the PC or server, and the serial number is compared with user information to be authenticated to control the operation of the set-top-box.

Description

Exclusive Contents Providing Method For PC Basis TV Settop Box}

A TV set-top box has been developed and commercially available for accessing the Internet and providing various services and contents through TV, which is the main medium of home culture.

These set-top boxes connect to specific servers by built-in software and connect these servers.

It is designed to receive services through the Internet, but it is basically designed to allow users to navigate the Internet site with the built-in Internet browser. This is an attempt to use the Internet through a TV screen with the same concept as a PC.

However, this approach is inconvenient to see the actual internet site because the screen of the internet site is partially visible due to the limitation of the TV screen resolution (640X480) (mostly the internet page is designed to fit 1024X740) and the text is also broken. Often come out. This is because Setopbox hardware performance is lower than that of PCs, and the type of fonts is limited. Therefore, it is almost impossible to use Internet functions such as searching and exchanging mail through a TV screen, and it is impossible to use high quality media services compared to a PC by using low-end hardware.

Unlike the design concept of the set-top box, the new set-top box design method (Utility Model Application No. 20-2000-0035861) that intends to provide content to the TV using a PC that is distributed in the home utilizes the performance of the home PC. In addition, it can freely provide high-quality multimedia contents that can be provided on a PC.

In addition, the current Internet-based content provider is a user of the content provider (site)

The content has been registered on the processing site and is waiting for the user to use it in a structure that has the authority to select

With the number of users approaching saturation, the increase in content providers is causing a relative decline in these market sizes and competition among operators.

The present invention provides a home PC-based set-top box device and a PC so that an Internet user can select a content provider (site) to convert a current content provider-user relationship structure to a content provider exclusively providing the Internet user. The present invention relates to a design for improving internal driving software.

The PC-based Setopbox, previously filed (Utility Model Application No .: 20-2000-0035861), relates to a method of displaying a PC screen on a TV and realizing PC control by a remote controller or a wireless keyboard / mouse in front of the TV. Therefore, while the invention product is installed and the program is executed, the TV screen is actually replaced by the computer screen. Therefore, when a user sitting in front of the computer executes another program or an unwanted program is executed automatically, the top screen license is automatically executed. Can have In this case, it is difficult to realize a proprietary business model that connects the set-top box and contents, and the set-top box is just a simple external device connecting the PC and the TV.

Accordingly, the present invention has devised a new technology for securing the status of an exclusive gateway for providing a content service on the TV screen. In other words, the STOP box, which is a transmission device, is controlled by a driving SW installed in a PC so that it can not be used for any content transmission, and only a browser screen is always displayed on a TV so that only content allowed to be connected to a browser appears on the TV screen. Invented the invention.

1. An effective mutual authentication method between the software installed on a PC and the TOPS box for the purpose of not being able to see the PC screen on the TV screen without the set-top box driving software installed on the PC.

2. A dedicated browser showing only the specific content allowed by the dedicated software when the Setopbox is running and an effective way to provide the screen as the top screen on the TV screen.

Representative diagram (FIG. 2) of the present invention describes a circuit operation process of providing only a specific content to a TV screen when driving a set-top box, and the u1 must be controlled by a PC. Designed to communicate with PC).

U1 of FIG. 2 is a TV controller chip that converts a VGA signal of a PC into a TV signal, and when the VGA signal R.G.B signal, HS, and VS signals of the PC are input to u1, it is a chip that outputs a video signal of the TV.

In addition, u2 is a one-chip microprocessor that has input and output ports (control terminals) and OSC (oscillator) inputs.EEPROM is built-in so that the program can be executed automatically after the initial power is applied to the u2 chip. The built-in program is a program to perform the functions of the set-top box.

Communication method uses u3 (RS-232C driver) as serial communication and used to maintain communication level between u2 and PC. u2 The reset terminal and the control terminal are used as the signals necessary for the CPU to control u1, and the u1 is controlled by the control terminal to operate only a specific program (contents).

u1 is designed to operate only under the control of u2.

R.G.B. of PC VGA to u1 And when the VS and HS signals are input, they are converted into TV signals (video signals) and output on the TV screen. In addition, the sound is designed so that the left and right speaker signal outputs of the PC sound card are converted into left and right audio signals through u1 sound control.

When the power button is pressed with the set-top box remote controller, a signal is applied to IR sensor u4, and u2 interprets the signal and sends a signal to u3 Tx, and u3 converts it into a serial communication signal and transmits the signal to the PC. The PC determines what signal it is, and instructs u2 again via u3. u2 drives u1 by sending a command to u1's Control terminal. From this point, the content is outputted to the screen for each specific content according to the operation button of the remote controller.

In addition, if the power button is pressed again to turn off the power, the signal is interpreted by u2 and applied to the PC via u3. Then, the PC receives u2 through u3 and applies the control signal of u1 through the control terminal. u1 stops working and nothing appears on the TV screen. The sound signal also controls the left and right Audio Auxes of u1 through the Control terminal of u2. Therefore, when the power is turned off with the set-top box remote control, video and audio signals are cut off to the TV. At this time u1 goes to standby mode.

The present invention is devised not to be driven without the Setop box drive software installed on the PC, and devised to provide a dedicated browser and its screen as the top screen on the TV screen showing only the specific content allowed when the Setop box is driven Consists of two

1) How to drive the tower with only software for driving the tower

Settop box is a device that connects the output of VGA card to TV, so it can show the screen of any application on PC.

In this environment, users cannot restrict the right to select and use contents on the Internet. Therefore, it is difficult to realize a proprietary business model that connects the set-top box with the content, and the set-top box is just a simple external device connecting the PC and the TV. Therefore, in order to develop a PC-based set-top box (Utility Model Application No.:20-2000-0035861) which has an ultra low-cost property into an electronic product that connects only specific content, the method does not allow the set-top box to run without driving software installed on the PC. Need devise

In the present invention, in order to solve this problem, the specific code for each tower is stored in the inside of the tower, and when the tower software driving software of the PC confirms the specific code, the tower can be driven only inside the tower. The device was improved.

First, the configuration of the PC-based set-top box for the detailed description of the invention as follows.

A PC connected to the Internet is connected to E, a seismic box for connecting PCs (hereinafter referred to as a mosquito), and a mosquito E is configured and used to connect to F, a sedan box for connecting TVs (hereinafter referred to as self) via a connecting cable.

Inside the PC, programs are installed to run the three-top boxes E and F.

This drive program is automatically executed when the PC is turned on.

In the present invention, the microprocessor existing inside the circuit of the mosquito E is improved to embed a unique code during manufacture.

The individual code of the built-in mosquito E is read by the PC's operating program when the set-top box is turned on, and it is transmitted to the PC itself or the server for authentication.

To do this, the driver program reads this code when it registers the first set-top box installation and transmits it to PC or server.

The following is the driving method of the set-top box that is actually implemented by using the user's registration number in this way for authentication with the user.

The contents of the invention are described in [Table 2] as follows.

First of all, inside the mosquito, a separate code (eg, 12 digits) is embedded inside the microprocessor during manufacture.

When the first set-top box is installed and registered, the driving program installed inside the PC reads the code of the mosquito and registers it with the subscriber number in the DB of the server.

After registration, the drive request for the user's set-top box is sent to the PC's drive program via the user's remote control, magnetic and mosquito.

The driver program requests the code embedded in the mosquito's microprocessor and sends it to the server along with the subscriber's number.

When the server compares these data with the existing DB and sends the code confirmation to the PC, the driving program installed inside the PC sends the set-top box drive permission signal to the microprocessor inside the mosquito. .

Therefore, when the present invention is applied, the three-top box does not operate unless the PC's drive program authenticates the individual code.

In this way, when installing the software for driving the tower in the PC to use the lost equipment, the server can recognize the unique number of the tower, but the password of the user PC does not match each other, it is impossible to drive the tower.

In the case of a duplicated device, the password of the user's PC can be recognized by the server.

2) How to provide specific content only on TV screen

By the above design, the three-top box is software for driving the three-top box installed in the PC

It is only powered by, but still allows you to display the screens of other applications on your PC (such as Internet sites) on your TV screen.

Therefore, the driving software (set-top box drive) through the set-top box

We need to devise a way to control only certain Internet content

In the present invention, in order to implement such a function, ① designing a dedicated browser driven by a PC-based set-top box and combining it with the set-top box driving software, and ② by using the user deliberately set other software such as a general-purpose browser to the top screen, Invented a scheme for preventing a dedicated screen provided by a box from being blocked on a TV screen

First, since the dedicated browser is installed in the PC together with the Setopbox drive, it is only intended to display this TV screen when the Setopbox is running. In this way, if you include a page with a link to a specific content that you want to provide to a dedicated browser, you can control the Setopbox user to provide only the content linked to the page provided on the dedicated browser. At this time, the dedicated browser blocks the path of internet shuffling and configures the screen to provide only a simple link setting menu.

This design allows Setopbox to control the gateway to content on the TV screen.

Thus, it is possible to create a proprietary business model that combines the set-top box with specific content, and the set-top box can exhibit a single entertainment box function combined with the software.

In FIG. 2, a description will be given of a circuit operation process of providing only a specific content to a TV screen when driving the set-top box. U1 is a TV controller chip which converts a VGA signal of a PC into a TV signal. And HS, VS signal is input, it is a chip to output as a video signal of TV

In addition, u2 is a one-chip microprocessor that has an input / output port (control terminal) and an OSC (oscillator) input.EEPROM is built in so that the program can be executed automatically after the initial power is applied to the u2 chip. The built-in program is a program to perform the functions of the set-top box.

Communication method uses u3 (RS-232C driver) as serial communication and used to maintain communication level between u2 and PC. u2 The reset terminal and the control terminal are used as the signals necessary for the CPU to control u1, and the u1 is controlled by the control terminal to operate only a specific program (contents).

u1 is designed to operate only under the control of u2.

R.G.B. of PC VGA to u1 And when the VS and HS signals are input, they are converted into TV signals (video signals) and output on the TV screen. In addition, the sound is designed so that the left and right speaker signal outputs of the PC sound card are converted into left and right audio signals through u1 sound control.

When the power button is pressed with the set-top box remote controller, a signal is applied to IR sensor u4, and when u2 interprets the signal and sends a signal to u3 Tx, u3 converts it into a serial communication signal and transmits the signal to the PC. The PC determines what signal it is, and instructs u2 again via u3. u2 drives u1 by sending a command to u1's Control terminal. From this point, the content is outputted to the screen for each specific content according to the operation button of the remote controller.

In addition, if the power button is pressed again to turn off the power, the signal is interpreted by u2 and applied to the PC via u3. Then, the PC receives u2 through u3 and applies the control signal of u1 through the control terminal. u1 stops working and nothing appears on the TV screen. The sound signal also controls the left and right Audio Auxes of u1 through the Control terminal of u2. Therefore, when the power is turned off with the set-top box remote control, video and audio signals are cut off to the TV. At this time u1 goes to standby mode.

Therefore, only certain content can be watched on TV through a dedicated browser.

Second, how to keep the screen of the dedicated browser as the top screen

How to control screen refresh periodically

In the present invention, as a method of periodically updating to the top screen as shown in FIG. 3, the system timer provided by the operating system is set to a predetermined time, and the system timer periodically devises a method of informing the program of the screen update cycle periodically. This will send a signal based on the refresh rate from the system timer, which will keep the user's intended misuse by updating the dedicated browser back to the top level.

B, how to prepare for users who use dual monitors

As shown in FIG. 4, when two monitors are provided in one computer, one monitor is used for the TV set-top box and the other is independent to perform general computer tasks. Logically, however, two monitors can be connected to a series of screen spaces so that a program run on the first monitor can be dragged to the TV. In this case, we devised a method to prevent the newly executed program from entering the TV area by limiting the operation of the keyboard and mouse, which are input devices of the computer.

In order to perform this function, as shown in FIG. 5, the exchange of information between the input / output device and each application program is performed in a step-by-step process. The driving history of the input / output device is processed in the BIOS as a first step, and the BIOS of the computer system is It takes care of all the input and output devices, and the details processed in the BIOS are processed by the operating system to be transferred to the appropriate application program. At this time, this role can be processed once again, such as the Korean input system. The mouse and keyboard filters implemented in the present invention are replaced with the set-top box program as the intention of the present invention, and a method of securing the superiority of system control over other programs is applied.

Through the devising of the present invention

1. PC-based set-top box (utility model application number: 20-2000-0035861) provides a specific content on the TV screen and allows the user to select and utilize in specific content, combining PC-based set-top box with content sales It can be used as a media business terminal.

2. It is possible to protect user's property and prevent confusion of billing system by preventing PC-based set-top box from operating when connected to other PCs by theft.

Claims (3)

For the purpose of operating a PC-based TV set-top box only by authentication of the PC or server, a serial number (eg 12 digits) is entered inside the set-top box during manufacture, and the driver SW installed on the PC is read by the PC when the set-up box is first installed. Or after registering it on the server every time the operating SW reads this number and sends it to a PC or server and compares it with user information to control the operation of the set-top box. In order to implement a gateway device function that provides only TV-based specific contents to a TV-based set-top box. ① Integrate the dedicated browser into the SWTOP box drive SW so that only the browser screen is displayed on the TV automatically when the TOPS box starts up. ② The TV screen is controlled so that only the contents controlled by the operator can be accessed by making the screen visible on the TV only through a dedicated browser. ③ Dedicated browser removes the search address input window to prevent internet surfing and provides only a simple link selection menu. The purpose of this screen is to keep the screen of other application from being seen on TV ① Using the system timer provided by the operating system to set the screen refresh cycle at regular intervals and periodically update the dedicated browser screen to the top screen. ② Control the keyboard mouse to prevent monitor switching of the dedicated browser screen when using dual monitor