KR20050045028A - Internet television capable of a efficient managing for url information - Google Patents

Abstract

An internet television capable of efficiently managing URL information is disclosed. The television includes a URL detector that detects URL (Uniform Resource Locator) information included in a broadcast signal received from a tuner, a URL editor that edits the detected URL information into a URL icon corresponding to the URL information, and a URL icon in a hierarchical structure. A storage unit for storing the information, a input unit for inputting an optional operation command of the user, and a URL editing unit for editing the URL icon in response to the operation command, and storing the URL icon in a hierarchical structure in response to the operation command. It has a control unit for controlling the storage unit. Therefore, by implementing the URL information by iconizing it, it is possible to manage it more efficiently by storing it concisely and hierarchically.

Description

Internet television capable of efficiently managing URL information

The present invention relates to an internet television capable of internet service, and more particularly, to an internet capable television and a method for managing a website address thereof, which can facilitate management of a website address on the Internet.

In recent years, as communication interests have increased, PC communication TVs, which include a part of a TV for viewing general channel programs in a PC having a communication function, and a PC for facilitating access to the Internet in a TV, Internet television is being introduced that includes some of the features.

In the conventional Internet television, a web channel concept is used to access a web site by registering a web site address desired by a user in advance and inputting a corresponding channel number.

In other words, if a user wants to use the Internet on an Internet set top box (STB) or an Internet television, a website that is a uniform resource locator (URL) through an internet browser operated on the set top box or the TV. Access was made by directly entering the address.

As described above, in order to access the web browser, the operation mode of the television is switched to the internet mode, the web browser is activated, and the web site address to be searched is directly input.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention for solving the above problems is to provide an Internet-capable television and a website address management method according to the present invention that can provide convenience to a user by more efficiently managing a website address on the Internet.

Internet capable television according to the present invention for solving the above problems is a television (Uniform Resource Locator) contained in a broadcast signal received from the tuner in a television having a communication unit connected to the Internet to transmit and receive information data A URL detection unit for detecting information, a URL editing unit for editing the detected URL information into a URL icon corresponding to the URL information, a storage unit for storing the URL icon in a hierarchical structure, and a user's selective operation command An input unit for inputting and controlling the URL editing unit to edit the URL information into the URL icon in response to the operation command, and controlling the storage unit to store the URL icon in a hierarchical structure in response to the operation command. It includes a control unit.

The URL editing unit provides an editing menu for editing the URL icon,

The editing menu edits the form of the URL icon into at least one of a text form and a picture form, and the URL editing unit displays an icon menu screen for presenting icons of various pictures in order to edit the URL icon. In addition, the icons of the various types of pictures are pre-stored.

Preferably, the icon menu screen has a request icon for requesting a content provider to receive an icon in a picture form other than the icons in the various picture forms.

The controller provides a storage menu screen corresponding to the hierarchical structure of the storage unit, and stores the URL icon in a predetermined layer according to the user's selection.

And a display unit which displays the broadcast signal and the URL icon to the outside, wherein the controller displays the icon of the main directory including the URL icon existing in the highest hierarchy based on the hierarchical structure. .

By using the icon of the main directory displayed on the display unit, the user moves to a lower layer in which a predetermined URL icon exists and connects to a website corresponding to the predetermined URL icon by selecting / applying the predetermined URL icon. do.

Therefore, the received URL information is edited into a predetermined icon desired by the user, and the URL icon is stored hierarchically. As a result, the URL information displayed on the screen can be iconized and implemented to be more concise, and the URL information can be grouped by the user and stored hierarchically for more efficient management.

Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings will be described the present invention in more detail.

1 is a schematic block diagram of an internet enabled television according to the present invention.

The Internet TV includes a tuner unit 111, a demodulator 112, a selector 113, a video signal processor 114, an OSD (on-screen display) processor 115, a display unit 116, and an audio signal processor ( 117, a speaker 119, a communication unit 121, a signal converter 123, a URL editing unit 125, a storage unit 127, an input unit 129, and a controller 130, and a remote controller 140, etc. Have

The tuner 111 tunes a broadcast signal of a predetermined channel among the broadcast signals transmitted from the content provider, and the demodulator 112 demodulates the tuned broadcast signal. In the transmitted broadcast signal, URL information, which is a web site address, is included and transmitted.

The video signal processor 114 processes the video signal among the broadcast signals in a predetermined manner.

The OSD processing unit 115 generates an OSD screen implemented with characters, images, symbols, and the like other than the video signal of the broadcast signal to display various messages. That is, the predetermined OSD screen generated by the OSD processing unit 115 is input to the image signal processing unit 114 and synthesized with the video signal processed for signal output.

The display unit 116 is a display device such as an LCD, a PDP, a CRT, or the like. The input video signal is displayed on the outside.

The voice signal processor 117 processes the voice signal among the broadcast signals in a predetermined manner and outputs it to the speaker 119, and the signal signal is output to the outside through the speaker 119.

The communication unit 121 is a communication module such as a LAN card, a modem, or the like, which connects to an external communication network to enable transmission and reception of data. According to the present invention, the communication module 121 is a module that enables connection with the Internet network. do.

The signal converter 123 converts the Internet information data received from the communication unit 123 into a signal of a predetermined type that can be processed by the video signal processor 114 and the audio signal processor 117.

The selector 113 may include a broadcast signal demodulated by the demodulator 112, an external input signal input from an external signal input unit (not shown), and internet degree data received through the communication unit 123. According to the control, a predetermined signal is selected and output. As a result, the video signal and the audio signal of the signal selected by the selector 113 are signal-processed by the video signal processor 114 and the audio signal processor 117, respectively, and are output to the outside through the display unit 116 and the speaker 119. .

The URL detector 124 detects URL information included in the received broadcast signal.

Accordingly, when the detected URL information is icon data, the controller 130 displays an icon corresponding to the URL on the display unit 116. If the detected URL information is text data, the controller 130 detects the detected character using a preset default icon. The default icon is displayed on the display unit 116 by mapping with the data.

The URL editing unit 125 performs an editing function such as changing, deleting, and adding a URL icon displayed on the display unit 116 by a user's selective manipulation.

For example, the user can freely edit a URL icon such as changing a pre-stored URL icon to a new shape of an icon, a picture, or a character, deleting a pre-stored URL icon, or the like.

That is, the URL editing unit 125 is provided with a program for performing the function of editing the URL icon as described above, thereby providing various menu screens. Therefore, the URL icon is variously edited by the user's selection operation. The editing function of the URL icon according to the present invention will be described later in detail with reference to the drawings.

The storage unit 127 stores various programs for executing the operation of the entire system, and data during execution.

According to the present invention, the storage unit 127 stores the received URL information hierarchically by a user's manipulation. That is, a plurality of URLs and corresponding icons may be divided into various categories by the user, and thus are stored in a hierarchical structure having an upper layer and a lower layer.

In addition, various kinds of icons are stored to facilitate the editing function of the URL editing unit 125. The default icons described above are also stored.

The input unit 129 has an operation panel (not shown) provided with a plurality of operation buttons, and a command receiving unit (not shown) for receiving a user's operation command from the remote controller 140.

Hereinafter, a method of editing a URL icon and a hierarchical storage method thereof will be described in detail so that a user can more efficiently manage the received URL information.

2A and 2B illustrate an example in which URL information included in a received broadcast signal is displayed on a screen. 2A illustrates an example in which the URL information is mapped to default icons 210 preset by the control of the controller 130 and displayed on the screen when the URL information is character data, and FIG. 2B illustrates that the URL information is icon data. The example in which the icons 220 of the URL are displayed on the screen is illustrated.

First, a method of editing an icon corresponding to the received URL information, for example, the default icon 210 illustrated in FIG. 2A, will be described with reference to FIGS. 3A to 3E.

As shown in FIG. 3A, a default icon 211 to be edited is selected using the direction keys on the remote controller 140 among the default icons 210, and a menu key, which is a function key on the remote controller 140, is operated. Accordingly, as shown, the main menu 310 for editing and storing the selected icon is displayed on the OSD screen.

When selecting "Edit" to perform the editing function of the main menu 310, the "Picture" key 312 and "Text" key 321 to select the icon type, and to select whether to delete the icon When a menu such as a "delete" key is displayed, a submenu screen is displayed.

When the "picture" key 312 is selected, as shown in FIG. 3B, an icon menu window 314 is displayed which presents icons of various types of pictures previously stored in the storage unit 127. By selecting the desired icon 315 among the picture-shaped icons displayed in the icon menu window 314 and applying the "setting" key 315, as shown in FIG. 3C, the default icon 211 is selected by the user. The new icon 315 is edited.

Here, when there are no icons desired by the user among the icons presented in the icon menu window 314, the user may request an icon from the content provider side (not shown).

That is, when the "request" key 317 provided in the icon menu window 314 is applied, the controller 130 controls the communication unit 121 in response to the request command. The communication unit 121 uploads a request command to a server (not shown) of the content provider through the Internet network, downloads new icons provided from the content server (not shown), and stores the new icons in the storage unit 127.

As a result, new icons acquired from the content provider side are displayed on the icon menu window 314, and the user can select a desired icon.

Meanwhile, when the "character" key 321 is selected from the types of icon types shown in FIG. 3A, as shown in FIG. 3D, a predetermined input field 322 for inputting a character is displayed. Herein, the input field 322 may be displayed overlapping with the icon 211, or may be displayed at a position adjacent to the icon 211.

The user inputs a character such as "SAM" by using an operation key provided in the remote controller 140. When the input is completed, by applying a function key to determine whether the setting is provided on the remote control 140, as shown in Figure 3e, the default icon 211 to the URL icon 323 of the character type desired by the user Edit. Selecting / applying the edited URL icon 323 connects to a URL corresponding to the URL icon 323, for example, a website at http://www.samsung.net.

In this way, the preset URL icon may be newly changed and edited into an icon desired by a user, that is, a picture or text.

Next, a method of hierarchically storing a URL icon, for example, the URL icon 220 of FIG. 2B will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 4A to 4F.

As shown in FIG. 4A, an icon 221 to be stored is selected using the direction keys on the remote controller 140 among the icons 220, and a menu key, which is a function key on the remote controller 140, is operated. Accordingly, as shown, the main menu 411 for performing the editing function and the storage function of the selected icon is displayed on the OSD screen.

Accordingly, when "save" is selected to perform a storage function in the main menu 411, as shown in FIG. 4B, icons existing in the main directory 412 of the highest hierarchy among the currently stored icons are displayed. Here, the icons included in the directory may be a URL icon that can be directly linked to a web site, and an icon of a sub directory including a URL icon of a lower layer thereof (hereinafter referred to as a "folder").

Accordingly, the icon 221 to be stored may be stored in the main directory 412, in a similar group folder in the main directory 412, or a new folder may be created and stored.

In order to store the icon 221 in the main directory 412, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the "save" key 413 is applied while the main directory 412 is displayed, the icon 221 becomes the highest level. It is stored in the main directory 412 which is a hierarchy.

To store the icon 221 in a folder in which URL icons of a similar classification are stored, a folder 421 of a similar group among the icons displayed in the main directory 412 is selected / applied. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 4C, URL icons stored in the folder 421 are displayed. When the "save" key 423 is applied in this state, the icon 221 is stored in the folder 421 in the main directory 412.

 On the other hand, in order to create and store a new folder in the main directory 412, as shown in FIG. 4D, when the background surface of the main directory 412 is selected / applied, a menu 441 for creating a new folder is displayed. Displayed on the screen.

Selecting / applying the "New Folder" key in the menu 441 creates a new folder 442 in the main directory 412, as shown in FIG. 4E. In order to edit the generated new folder 422, it can be edited in the same manner as in FIGS. 3A to 3E described above. Detailed description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 4E, after creating the new folder 442, selecting / applying the new folder 442 opens a screen for displaying URL icons stored in the new folder 442, as shown in FIG. 4G. When the "save" key 443 is applied in this state, the icon 221 is stored in the new folder 442 created in the folder 421 in the main directory 412.

When storing the received URL icon in the above manner, if the storage space of the storage unit 127 is saturated, it may display a message recommending the deletion of the previously stored icon. This allows the user to store an appropriate amount of URL icons so that they can be managed more efficiently.

Therefore, the received URL information, i.e., the icon edited corresponding thereto, is hierarchically stored in a directory grouped by the user, thereby efficiently managing the URL information.

Hereinafter, a process of efficiently managing URL information received by the icon editing function and the hierarchical storage method as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 5A to 5C.

On the screen where the broadcast signal is displayed, as shown in FIG. 5A, the icon 510 of the main directory including the received URL icons 220 and the icons of the URLs present in the highest hierarchy based on the hierarchical structure are displayed. do. Of course, the icon 510 of the main directory may be an icon of a URL that can be directly linked to a predetermined web site.

For example, when a user watches a broadcast and wants to access a web site "daum" of "http://www.daum.net", the user selects / applies an icon 510 corresponding to a main directory.

When the main directory icon 510 is selected / applied, as shown in FIG. 5B, a plurality of icons included in the main directory 510 are displayed on the screen.

A subdirectory 511 grouped into search sites is selected / applied among a plurality of icons in the main directory 510 displayed on the screen. Accordingly, a plurality of icons included in the sub directory 511 are displayed on the screen.

The user selects / applies an icon 521 corresponding to the "Daum" web site in the subdirectory 511 displayed on the screen, thereby linking the "Daum" web page 531 in conjunction with the "Daum" web site on the Internet. Is displayed on the screen. Here, reference numerals 513 and 523 of the icons illustrated in FIG. 5B are icons provided to move to a higher layer.

The broadcast signal and the "Daum" web page displayed on the display unit 116 are displayed in a PIP form or a double window form. As shown in FIG. 5C, as the web page (part A) and the broadcast signal (part B) are implemented in a double window form, the user can navigate the web browser without being interrupted in viewing the currently received broadcast. do.

In addition, without inputting "http://www.daum.net" which is the address of the "Daum" web site, the "Daum" web page is connected by selecting / applying the corresponding icon 521 at once. Therefore, by grouping only search sites and storing them hierarchically, the URL of "Daum" among a plurality of pre-stored URLs can be easily accessed.

Therefore, the received URL information is edited into a predetermined icon desired by the user, and the URL icon is stored hierarchically. As a result, the URL information displayed on the screen can be iconized and implemented to be more concise, and the URL information can be grouped by the user and stored hierarchically for more efficient management.

According to the present invention, first, the received URL information is edited into a simple icon for the user's convenience. As a result, the URL information can be simplified, and the connection to the website can be simplified by clicking the icon at once without inputting a separate URL for connecting to the website.

Second, the received URL information is grouped into similar categories by the user and stored hierarchically. As a result, the user can manage a plurality of stored URL information more conveniently.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described above, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, and the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments of the present invention without departing from the spirit of the present invention as claimed in the claims. Anyone skilled in the art can make various modifications, as well as such modifications are within the scope of the claims.

1 is a schematic block diagram of an internet enabled television according to the present invention;

2A and 2B illustrate an example in which a URL icon corresponding to URL information received by a television according to the present invention is displayed on a screen;

3A to 3E illustrate a process of editing a URL icon by a television according to the present invention;

4A to 4G illustrate a method of storing a URL icon by a television according to the present invention;

5A and 5C are diagrams for explaining an example in which URL information is efficiently managed by a television according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

111: tuner section 112: demodulation section

113: selection unit 114: image signal processing unit

115: OSD processing unit 116: Display unit

121: communication unit 123: signal conversion unit

124: URL detection unit 125: URL editing unit

127: storage unit 129: input unit

130: control unit 140: remote control

Claims (7)

In a television having a communication unit connected to an external communication network to enable transmission and reception of information data, A URL detector for detecting URL (Uniform Resource Locator) information included in the broadcast signal received from the tuner; A URL editing unit for editing the detected URL information into a URL icon corresponding to the URL information; A storage unit for storing the URL icon in a hierarchical structure; An input unit for inputting a user's selective operation command; And And a controller configured to control the URL editing unit to edit the URL information into the URL icon in response to the manipulation command, and to control the storage to store the URL icon in a hierarchical structure in response to the manipulation command. TV made bounty. The method of claim 1, The URL editing unit provides an editing menu for editing the URL icon, And editing the URL icon into at least one of a text form and a picture form by the editing menu. The method of claim 2, The URL editing unit provides an icon menu screen for presenting icons of various pictures in order to edit the URL icon. The icons of the various types of pictures are pre-stored. The method of claim 3, wherein The icon menu screen, And a request icon for requesting a content provider to provide an icon in a picture form other than the icons in the various picture forms. The method of claim 1, The control unit, To provide a storage menu screen corresponding to the hierarchical structure of the storage unit, And the URL icon is stored in a predetermined layer according to the user's selection. The method of claim 1, And a display unit for displaying the broadcast signal and the URL icon to the outside. And the control unit causes the display unit to display an icon of a main directory including a URL icon existing in a top hierarchy based on the hierarchical structure. The method of claim 6, By using the icon of the main directory displayed on the display unit, the step is moved to a lower hierarchy where a predetermined URL icon exists, And a web site corresponding to the predetermined URL icon by selecting / applying the predetermined URL icon.