KR20070097678A - Apparatus and method for providing additional information about broadcasting program and mobile telecommunication terminal using it - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for providing additional information about a broadcasting program and a mobile information communication terminal are provided to transmit a sound of a program which is being broadcasted through various media through the information communication terminal and conveniently receive the additional information associated with the broadcasting program without complex key operation. A program storing unit(21) receives and stores broadcasting programs broadcasted according to broadcasting channels. A database unit stores and manages electronic program guide provided from a plurality of broadcasting systems and additional information associated with the broadcasting programs. A wireless transmitting and receiving unit(22) transmits and receives signals to and from a mobile information communication terminal through a wireless communication network by wireless. An audio encoding unit(23) encodes an audio signal received from the mobile information communication terminal through the wireless transmitting and receiving unit. The audio signal is a broadcasting sound of a broadcasting medium received through a microphone of the mobile information communication terminal according to the request of a user. A channel search unit(24) mutually compares the audio signal encoded in the audio encoding unit with the broadcasting programs stored in the program storing unit, and searches an identical channel. An additional information search unit(25) searches additional information associated with a program which is being broadcasted from the channel searched in the channel search unit by referring to the EPG, and transmits the searched information to the mobile information communication terminal through the wireless transmitting and receiving unit.

Description

Apparatus and method for providing additional information about broadcasting program and mobile telecommunication terminal using it}

1 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of a bidirectional broadcast service system to which the present invention is applied;

2 is a block diagram of an additional information providing apparatus linked with a broadcast program according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing additional information linked to a broadcast program according to an embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a block diagram of a mobile information communication terminal having an additional information providing function linked with a broadcast program according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing additional information linked to a broadcast program of a mobile information communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

* Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawing

200: additional information providing apparatus 21: program storage unit

22: wireless transceiver 23: audio encoding unit

24: channel search unit 25: additional information search unit

The present invention relates to an additional information providing apparatus and method interworking with a broadcast program, and a mobile information communication terminal using the same. More specifically, the mobile information communication terminal can be used to provide additional information related to a broadcast program without complicated key manipulation. An apparatus and method for providing additional information linked to a broadcast program and a mobile information communication terminal using the same are provided.

Recently, the broadcasting environment is changing due to the development of technology and changing demands of viewers. In other words, the current broadcasting environment is changed from analog broadcasting to digital broadcasting, diversified broadcasting media such as terrestrial cable, cable, satellite, etc., interworking with a communication network, and increasingly intelligent broadcasting terminals. More severe changes are going through.

Among them, an interactive TV service is a service that can receive digital multimedia contents such as games, education, and life information through a TV. Viewers can use various services such as games, additional information, and shopping with a simple remote control operation. Can be.

That is, an interactive TV service is a service that allows a viewer and a broadcaster to interact with each other, rather than unilaterally transmitting a program from a broadcaster, as in a conventional broadcast. To this end, the broadcasting station may additionally produce content that implements the interactive function in addition to the program and transmit the content to the viewer, and the viewer may express intention through a return channel.

An EPG (Electronic Program Guide) used for such a bidirectional broadcasting service is a kind of data broadcasting service that allows a user to refer to a program list of the day by broadcasting the data for each broadcasting station.

Meanwhile, as the number of users of wireless communication services such as mobile communication terminals, personal communication service (PCS) terminals, personal digital assistants (PDAs), smartphones, and wireless LAN terminals has increased significantly, the demand for mobile contents that can be used in mobile terminals has recently increased. Is also increasing significantly. As a result, the variety of mobile content has become so diverse that not only wallpapers and ringtones are available. The service area of broadcasting contents, ring back tone, music (MP3) files, video files, mobile games, karaoke, photo albums, etc. has become very wide.

Conventionally, as a method of receiving mobile content or additional information related to a broadcast program, a method of directly accessing and downloading the Internet using a WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) from a wireless communication terminal and requesting the transmission of mobile content using a PC Method and the like.

However, this conventional method has to search for mobile content directly, and there is a problem in that the user cannot select a desired mobile content without knowing accurate information (eg, a song title, a singer's name, etc.).

In addition, conventionally, if a mobile communication terminal wants to be provided with mobile contents and additional information related thereto using an EPG (Electronic Program Guide), a complicated key manipulation is required, and the mobile communication terminal does not watch a broadcast program. There is a problem that can not obtain the additional information associated with it.

The present invention has been proposed to solve the above problems, and transmits the sound of a program being broadcast through various media (TV, radio, etc.) through the mobile information communication terminal, and conveniently and without complicated key manipulation It is an object of the present invention to provide an additional information providing apparatus and method interworking with a broadcast program, and a mobile information communication terminal using the same.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention can be understood by the following description, and will be more clearly understood by the embodiments of the present invention. Also, it will be readily appreciated that the objects and advantages of the present invention may be realized by the means and combinations thereof indicated in the claims.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an additional information providing apparatus interworking with a broadcast program, comprising: a program storage unit configured to receive and store a broadcast program broadcast for each broadcast channel; A database unit that stores and manages an electronic program guide (EPG) provided by a plurality of broadcast systems and additional information related to a broadcast program; A wireless transmission and reception unit for transmitting and receiving a signal wirelessly with the mobile information communication terminal via a wireless communication network; An audio encoding unit for encoding an audio signal received from the mobile information communication terminal through the wireless transmitting and receiving unit; At this time, the audio signal is the broadcast sound of the broadcast medium received through the microphone of the mobile information communication terminal at the request of the user; A channel searching unit for searching for a matching channel by comparing the audio signal encoded by the audio encoding unit with a broadcast program stored in the program storage unit; And an additional information search unit for searching for additional information related to a program being broadcast in a channel searched by the channel search unit with reference to the EPG, and transmitting the additional information to the mobile information communication terminal through the wireless transceiver.

The present invention also provides a method for providing additional information linked to a broadcast program, the method comprising: storing and managing an electronic program guide (EPG) provided by a plurality of broadcast systems and additional information related to a broadcast program; A program storage step of receiving and storing broadcast programs broadcasted for each broadcast channel; Receiving a broadcast audio signal of a broadcast medium from a user's mobile information communication terminal; Searching for a matching channel by comparing the audio signal with the stored broadcast program; An additional information searching step of searching for additional information related to a program being broadcast in the searched channel with reference to the EPG; And transmitting the searched additional information to the mobile information communication terminal and outputting the detected additional information.

On the other hand, the present invention provides a mobile information communication terminal having an additional information providing function linked to the broadcast program, the user interface means for receiving a request for providing additional information about the broadcast program from the user; Audio signal conversion means for receiving broadcast sound from an external broadcast medium and converting the sound into an audio signal; According to the additional information provision request signal received through the user interface means, the audio signal conversion means is activated for a predetermined time, and the audio signal of the broadcast medium obtained through the audio signal conversion means is predetermined. Additional information requesting means for wirelessly transmitting to the additional information providing system; And output means for outputting additional information related to the corresponding broadcast program answered from the additional information providing system to the user.

The above objects, features and advantages will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, whereby those skilled in the art may easily implement the technical idea of the present invention. There will be. In addition, in describing the present invention, when it is determined that the detailed description of the known technology related to the present invention may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of an entire system to which the present invention is applied, and shows an example in which the present invention is applied to an interactive broadcasting service system. Here, in addition to the two-way broadcast service system, it is natural that the present invention can be applied to various broadcast systems that provide a broadcast service by a streaming method.

As shown in FIG. 1, the bidirectional broadcasting service system to which the present invention is applied includes a bidirectional broadcasting system 100, an additional information providing apparatus 200, a wireless communication network 300, and a mobile information communication terminal 400. .

The interactive broadcast system 100 may include a storage server for storing broadcast content, a control server (not shown) for transmitting broadcast content to a user terminal and processing a user response signal input from a return channel, and distributing broadcast content. Exchange device (distributor) or the like.

In general, a user terminal for using a two-way broadcasting service may be composed of a digital TV and a set-top box, and receives and outputs broadcast contents from the two-way broadcasting system 100, and returns a user response signal received through a remote controller to return a channel. Transfer to the interactive broadcast system 100 through.

In particular, the bidirectional broadcasting system 100 encodes and stores broadcast content on a TV channel, a radio channel, or the Internet, and additional information related to a program at the time of encoding for each channel (for example, general information about a program and a program). Information about the contents, performer information, location information, PPL (Products in PLacement) product information, background music, travel products, multimedia product information, etc.) are stored. Such additional information may be searched using an EPG (Electronic Program Guide) provided by the interactive broadcasting system 100.

The additional information providing apparatus 200 receives and stores a program currently being broadcast for each broadcasting channel of the interactive broadcasting system 100. At this time, the additional information providing apparatus 200 does not store the entire program being broadcast in each broadcast channel, but stores the broadcast program transmitted by the streaming method with the latest data in a predetermined unit.

That is, the additional information providing apparatus 200 does not accumulate and store broadcast programs for each broadcast channel received from the interactive broadcasting system 100 in a streaming manner, but transmits a program delay due to retransmission and a transmission delay due to a network problem. In consideration of this, the broadcast content of a predetermined unit (for example, 1 minute) is updated and stored in real time.

In this state, when the additional information providing apparatus 200 receives an audio signal from the mobile information communication terminal 400, the additional information providing apparatus 200 searches for a matching channel by comparing with the stored broadcast program. Here, the audio signal transmitted by the mobile information communication terminal 400 is broadcast sound of another medium received through a microphone of the mobile information communication terminal 400 according to a user request. In addition, when searching for a channel, a sufficient time interval is set in consideration of transmission of a program delay due to retransmission and transmission delay due to a network problem.

That is, the user obtains additional information such as information on the program or performer information, shooting location information, products in PLacement product information, background music, travel products, multimedia product information, etc. while watching (listening) a TV or radio. In order to press a specific key of the mobile information communication terminal 400.

Then, the microphone of the mobile information communication terminal 400 is activated, and the broadcast sound of another medium (TV, radio, etc.) input through the microphone is transmitted to the additional information providing apparatus 200.

Meanwhile, the additional information providing apparatus 200 that searches for a channel matching the audio signal transmitted from the mobile information communication terminal 400 refers to an EPG provided by the bidirectional broadcasting system 100 and relates to a program that is being broadcast on the corresponding channel. Retrieve additional information. The searched additional information is transmitted to the mobile information communication terminal 400.

At this time, the program content includes a hyperlink so that the user can request additional information or use related services (broadcasting streaming service, shopping service, etc.). In addition, when two or more channels KBS and SBS are found, all or part of them is provided in order according to priority.

If the additional information providing apparatus 200 can determine the location of the user through a location based service (LBS) of the mobile information communication terminal 400, the platform on which the searched channel is provided (for example, Information on cable broadcasting, satellite broadcasting, FM, etc.) and channel number (or frequency) may be further provided.

Meanwhile, the additional information providing apparatus 200 may manage additional information related to EPG and program provided by the interactive broadcasting system 100 as a separate database, and integrate EPG and additional information provided by a plurality of broadcast service systems. You can also manage.

In addition, the additional information providing apparatus 200 may analyze the influence of each program by accumulating and analyzing additional information requests for broadcast programs of the mobile information communication terminal 400, and use the analysis result to establish a marketing strategy. have. The additional information providing apparatus 200 may feed back the additional information usage information to the broadcast service system.

Hereinafter, a detailed configuration of the additional information providing apparatus 200 and an operation process thereof will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

2 is a block diagram of an additional information providing apparatus linked with a broadcast program according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, the additional information providing apparatus interworking with a broadcast program according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include a program storage unit 21, a wireless transmission / reception unit 22, an audio encoding unit 23, and a channel search. A unit 24 and an additional information search unit 25 are included.

The program storage unit 21 receives and stores a program currently being broadcast for each broadcast channel of the bidirectional broadcast system.

At this time, the program storage unit 21 does not store the entire program broadcast (streamed) in each broadcast channel, but stores a program of a predetermined unit (for example, one minute) currently being broadcast.

The wireless transceiver 22 wirelessly transmits and receives a signal to and from the mobile information communication terminal 400 through the wireless communication network 300. That is, when the wireless transceiver 22 receives an audio signal (broadcast sound) requesting to provide additional information from the mobile information communication terminal 400 through the wireless communication network 300, it transmits it to the audio encoding unit 23. As a result, the additional information retrieved by the additional information retrieval section 25 (information on the program or performer information, location information, products in PLacement product information, background music, travel products, multimedia product information, etc.) is retrieved. It transmits to the mobile information communication terminal 400 through the wireless communication network (300).

Here, the audio signal transmitted by the mobile information communication terminal 400 is a broadcast sound received through a microphone of the mobile information communication terminal 400 according to a user request.

The audio encoder 23 encodes an audio signal received from the wireless transceiver 22.

The channel searcher 24 compares the audio signal encoded by the audio encoder 23 with the broadcast program stored in a predetermined unit by the program storage 21 to find a matching channel. In this case, a sufficient time interval is provided in consideration of transmission of a program delay due to retransmission and transmission delay due to a network problem.

The additional information search unit 25 searches for additional information related to a program currently being broadcast in a channel searched by the channel search unit 24 with reference to an EPG provided by the interactive broadcasting system 100. Then, the additional information related to the searched program is transmitted to the mobile information communication terminal 400 through the wireless transceiver 22.

At this time, the additional information search unit 25 includes a hyperlink in the additional information (for example, information on the content of the broadcast program) so that the user requests additional information or provides a related service (broadcasting streaming service, shopping service, etc.). Make it available. In addition, when two or more channels KBS and SBS are found, additional information is provided for all channels or some channels according to priority.

In addition, the additional information retrieval unit 25 obtains the location information of the mobile information communication terminal 400 using a location based service (LBS), and provides the corresponding channel searched by the channel retrieval unit 24. Information about a platform (eg, cable broadcasting, satellite broadcasting, FM, etc.) and channel number (or frequency) may be further provided.

In general, broadcast channel numbers vary according to local platform operators (eg, Gangnam Cable, Daegu Cable, Skylife, TU Media, etc.). It is desirable to provide information on whether the channel is burned.

For example, if the search result of the broadcasting channel is KBS1, and the user is in the Gangnam region, platform information such as 'Gangnam Cable No. 009, Skylife No. 209 or Terrestrial DMB No. 6' may be provided to the user. Such information may induce a user to subscribe to the broadcast product of the platform operator.

Meanwhile, the additional information providing apparatus 200 may further include a database for integrally managing additional information related to the EPG and the program provided by the interactive broadcasting system 100.

 In addition, the additional information providing apparatus 200 may accumulate and analyze information on a request for providing additional information of the mobile information communication terminal 400 or provide an additional information usage analyzer (not shown) for feeding back to the broadcast service system. It may further include. Hereinafter, the overall operation of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 3.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing additional information linked to a broadcast program according to an embodiment of the present invention.

First, a program currently being broadcast is received and stored for each broadcast channel of the bidirectional broadcast system 100 (S301).

Subsequently, when receiving an audio signal for requesting to provide additional information from the mobile information communication terminal 400, a matching channel is searched by comparing with the stored broadcast program (S302).

After searching for additional information related to the program being broadcast in the searched channel with reference to the EPG provided by the interactive broadcasting system 100 (S303), the searched additional information is transmitted to the mobile information communication terminal 400. Output it (S304).

In the above, the server side for providing additional information related to the broadcast program has been described. Hereinafter, the client side for using such a service will be described.

4 is a block diagram of a mobile information communication terminal having an additional information providing function linked with a broadcast program according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 4, the mobile information communication terminal 400 having an additional information providing function interworking with a broadcast program according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a wireless transmission / reception device 41, a control device 42, and a storage. A device 43, a voice output device (speaker) 44, a display device (LCD) 45, an input device (keypad) 46, and a voice input device (microphone) 47 are included.

The radio transceiver 41 is a device for transmitting and receiving a signal wirelessly with a base station through an antenna.

The controller 42 drives and controls the mobile information communication terminal 400.

In addition, when the control device 42 receives a signal (specific key input signal) for requesting to provide additional information about the broadcast program through the input device (keypad) 46, the control device 42 selects the voice input device (microphone) 47. It activates for a time and receives an audio signal (broadcast sound) output through a TV, a radio, or the like. Then, the received audio signal is transmitted to the service providing side (for example, the additional information providing device) through the wireless transmission / reception device 41 to request the provision of the additional information.

That is, the user may view additional information such as information about a broadcast program, performer information, location information, products in PLacement (PPL) product information, background music, travel products, and multimedia product information while watching (listening) TV or radio. If desired, press a specific key of the mobile information communication terminal 400.

The voice output device (speaker) 44 outputs the voice received from the control device 42 to the outside.

The voice input device (microphone) 47 transmits the voice (audio signal) received from the outside to the control device 42. In particular, the voice input device (microphone) 47 is activated under the control of the control device 42 to receive broadcast sound from other media (TV, radio, etc.).

The input device (keypad) 46 receives a menu selection signal, a receiving telephone number, a request signal for providing additional information, and the like through a button.

The display device (LCD) 45 outputs a screen (including additional information output screen for the broadcast program) according to the control of the control device 42.

The storage device 43 stores file systems (images, characters, icons), address books, short messages, photos, music files, video files, and the like.

Hereinafter, the overall process of providing additional information about a program by the mobile information communication terminal 400 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 5.

First, when the mobile information communication terminal 400 receives a signal for requesting to provide additional information about a broadcast program from a user (S501), the mobile terminal receives an audio signal by activating a microphone for a predetermined time (S502).

Then, the received audio signal is wirelessly transmitted to the additional information providing apparatus 200 to request the provision of the corresponding additional information (S503).

As a result, additional information (for example, program information, performer information, shooting location information, PPL (Products in PLacement) product information, background music, and travel goods) received from the additional information providing device 200 through a wireless communication network. , Multimedia product information, etc.) are output (S504).

In this case, the additional information includes broadcast platform information based on the location of the hyperlink and / or mobile information communication terminal 400 for requesting additional information or using related services (broadcast streaming service, shopping service, etc.) and Channel information may be included.

As described above, the present invention enables the user to receive the additional information quickly and simply using the mobile information communication terminal 400 even for a broadcast program provided through various media such as a TV and a radio.

As described above, the method of the present invention may be implemented as a program and stored in a recording medium (CD-ROM, RAM, ROM, floppy disk, hard disk, magneto-optical disk, etc.) in a computer-readable form. Since this process can be easily implemented by those skilled in the art will not be described in more detail.

The present invention described above is capable of various substitutions, modifications, and changes without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention for those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. It is not limited by the drawings.

As described above, the present invention has an effect of being able to conveniently receive additional information related to a broadcast program without complicated key manipulation using a mobile information communication terminal.

Claims (16)

An apparatus for providing additional information of a broadcast program provided through a broadcasting medium such as a TV or a radio to a user's mobile information communication terminal via a wireless communication network, A program storage unit for receiving and storing broadcast programs broadcasted for each broadcast channel; A database unit that stores and manages an electronic program guide (EPG) provided by a plurality of broadcast systems and additional information related to a broadcast program; A wireless transmission and reception unit for transmitting and receiving a signal wirelessly with the mobile information communication terminal via a wireless communication network; An audio encoding unit for encoding an audio signal received from the mobile information communication terminal through the wireless transmitting and receiving unit; At this time, the audio signal is the broadcast sound of the broadcast medium received through the microphone of the mobile information communication terminal at the request of the user; A channel searching unit for searching for a matching channel by comparing the audio signal encoded by the audio encoding unit with a broadcast program stored in the program storage unit; And Additional information providing unit for searching for the additional information related to the program being broadcast in the channel searched by the channel search unit with reference to the EPG for transmitting to the mobile information communication terminal through the wireless transceiver. Device. The method of claim 1, The program storage unit, the additional information providing apparatus, characterized in that for storing while updating the broadcast program received by the streaming method with the latest data of a predetermined unit. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the additional information search unit, Additional information, characterized by acquiring location information of the mobile information communication terminal from a location based service (LBS) system, and additionally providing a channel number and platform information of the searched channel corresponding to the location information. Provision device. The method of claim 3, wherein The additional information provided to the mobile information communication terminal includes a hyperlink for accessing additional resources. The method of claim 4, wherein the additional information, And at least one of information about a program, performer information, photographing location information, products in PLacement product information, background music, travel goods, and multimedia goods information. The method of claim 5, wherein the channel search unit, An additional information providing device comprising a time interval in consideration of transmission of a program delay due to retransmission and / or transmission delay due to a network problem during channel search. The method according to claim 1 or 2, And an additional information usage analyzer configured to accumulate and analyze information on the request for providing additional information of the mobile information communication terminal or to feed back to the broadcast system. A method for providing additional information of a broadcast program provided through a broadcast medium such as a TV or a radio to a user's mobile information communication terminal via a wireless communication network, Storing and managing electronic program guides (EPGs) provided by a plurality of broadcast systems and additional information related to broadcast programs; A program storage step of receiving and storing broadcast programs broadcasted for each broadcast channel; Receiving a broadcast audio signal of a broadcast medium from a user's mobile information communication terminal; Searching for a matching channel by comparing the audio signal with the stored broadcast program; An additional information searching step of searching for additional information related to a program being broadcast in the searched channel with reference to the EPG; And And transmitting the retrieved additional information to the mobile information communication terminal and outputting the additional information. The method of claim 8, The program storing step, the additional information providing method characterized in that for storing while updating the broadcast program received by the streaming method with the latest data of a predetermined unit. The method according to claim 8 or 9, Obtaining location information of the mobile information communication terminal from a location based service (LBS) system; And providing platform number and platform information of the searched channel corresponding to the location information. The method of claim 10, The additional information provided to the mobile information communication terminal includes a hyperlink for accessing additional resources. The method of claim 11, wherein the additional information, And at least one of information about a program, performer information, photographing location information, products in PLacement product information, background music, travel goods, and multimedia goods information. A mobile information communication terminal capable of voice call and data communication through a wireless communication network, User interface means for receiving a request for providing additional information about a broadcast program from a user; Audio signal conversion means for receiving broadcast sound from an external broadcast medium and converting the sound into an audio signal; According to the additional information provision request signal inputted through the user interface means, the audio signal converting means is activated for a predetermined time, and the additional information which predetermines the audio signal of the broadcasting medium obtained through the audio signal converting means. Additional information requesting means for wirelessly transmitting to the providing system; And And output means for outputting, to the user, additional information related to the corresponding broadcast program that is answered from the additional information providing system. The method of claim 13, And the additional information includes additional information and a hyperlink for accessing a related service. The method of claim 13 or 14, wherein the additional information, A mobile information communication terminal comprising at least one of information about a program, performer information, photographing location information, products in PLacement product information, background music, travel goods, and multimedia goods information. The method of claim 13 or 14, wherein the additional information, And a platform for providing a broadcast program based on the location of the mobile information communication terminal and information on a channel.

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