KR20130026142A - System and method for providing zapping data, and recording medium thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A zapping data providing system, a method thereof, and a recording medium therefor are provided to supply zapping data in real time without an extra memory module in a digital receiving device by transmitting data in real time between a zapping data providing server and the digital receiving device. CONSTITUTION: A database unit(201) stores zapping data to be provided during channel zapping time of digital broadcast. A data schedule and management unit(203) schedules and manages the zapping data according to a time slot and/or a channel of the digital broadcast. If a channel change request is received from a digital receiving device, a data transmitting unit(207) transmits the zapping data corresponding to a time slot and/or a channel to be changed in real time. [Reference numerals] (200) Zapping data providing server; (201) Database unit; (203) Data schedule/management unit; (205) Viewer information management unit; (207) Data transmitting unit; (AA) Channel change request; (BB) Zapping data

Description

A system for providing zapping data, a method of providing the same, and a recording medium for the method {SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING ZAPPING DATA, AND RECORDING MEDIUM THEREOF}

The present invention relates to a system and method for providing zapping data for transmitting and receiving zapping data such as advertisement information in real time during a channel change time of digital broadcasting.

Digital broadcasting refers to TV broadcasting that encodes video and audio information for display on a TV screen and transmits the compressed data in a digital form. Conventional analog broadcasting can only carry one image on one radio wave, and voice has to be transmitted on another radio wave. On the other hand, digital broadcasting can carry a large number of video or audio signals in one radio wave, and can compress information without degrading the quality. Therefore, 4 to 8 channels can be set in the frequency band of the conventional analog broadcasting channel. . In addition, it is easy to control information using a computer, and may also have bidirectionality to export information ordered from the viewer side. Due to these advantages, in recent years, not only cable and satellite broadcasting but also terrestrial broadcasting are gradually converted to digital form, and IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) service, which enables watching TV broadcasting through the Internet, has been commercialized and widely provided.

In order to receive digital broadcasting, a digital receiving apparatus called a set-top box must be installed. Such a digital receiving apparatus receives a digital broadcast signal provided from various broadcasting stations or content providers and converts the digital broadcast signal into a playable audio / video signal on a TV screen. Recently, various digital devices such as smart phones, tablet PCs, and smart TVs implement all the functions of the set-top box in a single device, and thus, a digital receiving device and a display device may be integrated.

On the other hand, when viewing a digital broadcast, each time a viewer changes a channel, there is a time when no video or audio is displayed for about 0.5 to several seconds before moving to the next channel. The digital receiving device receives a digital broadcast signal in response to a user's request for channel change, and separates it into an audio, video signal and various information data for display on a display screen, checks whether an error occurs, and converts it into a playable form. The time it takes to decode. The time required for the broadcast data of the changed channel to be outputted on the screen from the time when the channel change request of the user occurs is called "zapping time".

In a digital broadcasting system, such zapping time can be a very important advertising resource for advertisers. Accordingly, recently, advertisement methods for displaying data including various advertisement information, that is, "zapping data", during a zapping time have been proposed.

The conventional advertising system using the zapping time is implemented by implementing a separate memory module in the user's digital receiving device to store various advertisement data, and outputs the advertisement data stored in the memory when a user's channel change request is input. use. However, in order to actually implement such a method, a large-capacity memory device capable of storing a large amount of multimedia data must be additionally installed in the digital receiving device. In addition, various control circuits capable of inputting / outputting data and periodically updating data in the memory are also required. It must be implemented. This causes a rise in manufacturing costs, which is difficult for a manufacturer of a digital receiver (set-top box), and there is a problem in that a new advertisement system cannot be applied to a digital receiver which is widely used.

The present invention has been proposed to solve the above problems, a system for providing zapping data, a method for providing zapping data in real time in response to a channel change request of a viewer in a digital broadcasting system based on cable, satellite, or the Internet; It is an object to provide a recording medium for the method. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to transmit and receive zapping data in real time without implementing a separate memory module in the digital receiving apparatus.

In addition, it is an object of the present invention to provide a recording medium that records a computer-readable program that can be provided to the zapping data by a new system through a simple program installation even in the existing digital receiver device without replacing the device.

The zapping data providing server according to the present invention for solving the above object comprises a database unit for storing zapping data for providing during a channel zapping time of digital broadcasting, and organizing the zapping data for each channel and / or time zone of the digital broadcasting. A data organization / management unit for managing and a data transmission unit for transmitting the zapping data corresponding to the channel and / or time zone to be changed in real time when a channel change request is received from the digital receiving device.

The zapping data may include broadcast information about the channel to be changed and / or advertisement information about a specific company, goods or services.

In addition, the zapping data providing server according to the present invention further comprises a viewer information management unit for collecting and managing viewer information on the zapping data, the viewer information is a channel, date, the zapping data is provided by the channel change request , Time zone, region, and the number of exposures may be included.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a digital receiving apparatus includes a broadcast receiving unit for receiving digital broadcast, a user input unit for receiving a channel change request of the digital broadcast from a user, and transmitting the received channel change request to a zapping data providing server. A data communication unit for receiving zapping data corresponding to a channel and / or time zone to be changed from a providing server in real time; a data converter for converting the received digital broadcasting or zapping data into an audio / video signal that can be reproduced by a display device; And an A / V output section for outputting the audio / video signal.

When the digital broadcast is received, the data communication unit may maintain a communication connection state by accessing the zapping data providing server even if there is no channel change request of the user.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a system for providing zapping data includes a digital receiving apparatus for receiving digital broadcasting and zapping data provided when changing a channel of the digital broadcasting, and organizing zapping data for each channel and / or time zone of the digital broadcasting. And a zapping data providing server for transmitting the organized zapping data in real time in response to a channel change request of a device.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method of providing zapping data includes: organizing zapping data to be provided when changing a channel of the digital broadcasting for each channel and / or time zone of the digital broadcasting; receiving a channel change request from a digital receiving apparatus of the user; And sending the zapping data corresponding to the channel and / or time zone to be changed in real time in response to the channel change request. The method may further include recording viewer information on the transmitted zapping data.

A method of operating a digital receiving apparatus according to the present invention includes receiving a channel change request from a user during reception of a digital broadcast, transmitting the channel change request to a zapping data providing server, and a channel to be changed from the zapping data providing server. And / or receiving zapping data corresponding to a time zone, converting the zapping data into a playable audio / video signal in a display device, and outputting the converted audio / video signal during a channel zapping time of the digital broadcast. Steps.

According to the present invention, when a channel change request is made, real-time data can be transmitted between the zapping data providing server and the digital receiving apparatus. Accordingly, a system capable of providing the zapping data in real time without a separate memory module in the digital receiving apparatus can be implemented. .

In addition, by implementing the method of providing the zapping data and the operation method of the digital receiving device to a computer-readable recording medium, the installation and execution of a simple program without replacing the device even in the existing widely used digital receiving device The zapping data according to the present invention can be provided.

In addition, the zapping data providing server organizes the zapping data according to the channel to be changed and the broadcasting time zone when the channel of the digital broadcasting is changed, thereby maximizing the advertisement effect by the exposure of the zapping data. In addition, by calculating and managing the viewer information of the provided zapping data in a database, it is possible to more easily calculate an advertisement price and establish an advertisement plan.

1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a zapping data providing system according to the present invention;
2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the zapping data providing server 200 of FIG. 1.
3 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the digital receiving apparatus 300 of FIG. 1.
4 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a zapping data providing server 200 according to the present invention.
5 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a digital receiving apparatus 300 according to the present invention.

The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings, which are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. In the following description, well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail since they would obscure the invention in unnecessary detail. Hereinafter, preferred 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 a zapping data providing system according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a system for providing zapping data according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a digital broadcasting center 100, a zapping data providing server 200, a digital receiving apparatus 300, and a wired / wireless network 400 connecting them. ).

Here, the zapping data may be provided in the form of keyword text, symbolic logo or graphic image, video, and meaningful sound, and may include broadcasting information about a channel to be changed and / or advertisement information about a specific company, product, or service. can do. For example, the zapping data may include information about broadcast content that is currently airing or to be broadcast, representative channel information, and the like, and may also include a logo, product image, address, telephone number, website URL of a particular product or service provider. Advertising information, and the like.

The digital broadcasting center 100 refers to various types of digital broadcasting providing systems such as a terrestrial wave, satellite, cable broadcasting station, or a broadcasting content providing server based on the Internet.

The zapping data providing server 200 organizes the zapping data for each channel and / or time zone of the digital broadcasting, and transmits the zapping data corresponding to the channel to be changed in real time in response to the channel change request of the digital receiving apparatus 300.

The digital receiver 300 receives digital broadcasts through various types of wired / wireless networks 400 such as terrestrial, satellite, cable, and the Internet. In addition, when a user's channel change request is input while receiving digital broadcasting, the channel change request is transmitted to the zapping data providing server 200 during a short zapping time until the video and audio of a new channel are displayed, and the zapping data providing server is provided. The zapping data corresponding to the channel and / or time zone to be changed is received from the 200 in real time and displayed on the user screen.

Such a zapping data providing system provides broadcasting information or advertisement information to viewers by utilizing the zapping time inevitably generated when a channel of digital broadcasting is changed. Boredom can be reduced, and advertisers can obtain high advertising effects on broadcast content, specific products, services, and the like.

In particular, the present invention does not store the zapping data in a memory device in the digital receiving apparatus 300 and output the stored data as in the conventionally proposed method. Instead, the zapping data providing server 200 immediately receives a channel change request from the user. ) Outputs the zapping data received through real-time communication with Therefore, since a separate memory device and various control circuits accompanying the digital receiver 300 are not required, the device configuration can be simplified and the manufacturing cost can be prevented from rising. By installing and executing the program, the functions of the present invention can be added.

2 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of the zapping data providing server 200 of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 2, the zapping data providing server 200 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include a database 201, a data organization / management unit 203, a viewer information management unit 205, and a data transmission unit 207. Include.

The database unit 201 stores zapping data such as various broadcast information and advertisement information for display on a user's screen during the channel zapping time. This may be implemented as a separate database server.

The data organization / management unit 203 combines the zapping data stored in the database unit 201, the channel information to be transmitted, and the time zone to generate the zapping data schedule, and continuously updates and manages the data according to the request of a broadcaster or an advertiser. For example, when the zapping data is organized according to a channel, advertisement data regarding golf equipment may be organized in a golf-related channel, and advertisement data regarding automobiles may be organized in a vehicle-related channel. In addition, for example, the time zone of the zapping data according to the time zone, in the case of the above golf channel, housewives mainly watch advertisements about women's golf goods in the morning time, and the time after evening when men watch a lot after work There is a way to increase the advertising effect, such as by organizing more advertising about men's golf equipment.

Based on the schedule, the data organization / management unit 203 extracts the zapping data corresponding to the channel and / or time zone to be changed when the channel change request is received from the digital receiving apparatus 300 and transmits the data to the data transmission unit 207. do.

The data transmitter 207 transmits the zapping data corresponding to the channel and / or time zone to be changed in real time in response to the channel change request of the digital receiving apparatus 300.

At this time, the broadcasting data transmitted from the digital broadcasting center 100 and the zapping data transmitted from the data transmitting unit 207 of the zapping data providing server 200 may be transmitted to the digital receiving apparatus 300 through different networks. have. For example, in the case of a satellite broadcasting system, broadcast data may be transmitted through a satellite, and zapping data may be transmitted through a cable or an internet network.

The viewer information manager 205 may collect and manage viewer information about the zapping data. In this case, the viewer information includes information on a channel, a date, a time zone, a region, an exposure number, and the like, in which zapping data is provided. That is, the viewer information manager 205 may analyze the channel change request received from the digital receiver 300 to database information such as the number of times of exposure of the zapping data, region, time zone, etc., organized in each channel. These results may be used in the data organization / management unit 203 to prioritize the preparation of the zapping data, or may be used as an input variable of a customized algorithm according to an advertiser. It can also be used as a reference for future advertising plans.

3 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the digital receiving apparatus 300 of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 3, the digital receiving apparatus 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a network interface 301, a data converter 307, an A / V output unit 309, a user input unit 311, and the above. The control unit 313 for controlling the overall configuration of the.

The user input unit 311 receives a user's channel change request through an input means such as a remote controller.

The network interface 301 includes a broadcast receiver 303 for receiving digital broadcasts provided through a plurality of channels, and a data communicator 305 for bidirectional communication with the zapping data providing server 200. If a conventional satellite or cable set-top box performs only a function of unilaterally receiving digital broadcast data, in the present invention, the network interface 301 is a data communication unit 305 capable of bidirectional communication with the existing broadcast receiver 303. By implementing them separately, the channel change request and the corresponding zapping data are performed in real time.

Specifically, the data communication unit 305 immediately transmits a channel change request input from the user to the zapping data providing server 200, and the zapping data corresponding to the channel / and / or time zone to be changed from the zapping data providing server 200. Receive in real time. The received zapping data is converted into an audio / video signal that can be reproduced by a display device (not shown) through the data converter 307, and is output through the A / V output unit 309 to switch broadcasting to a new channel. It is displayed (or played) on the user's screen during the zapping time.

At this time, in order to receive the zapping data from the zapping data providing server 200 in real time and display it on the display device during the zapping time within about 0.5 to several seconds, the data communication process between the data communication unit 305 and the zapping data providing server 200 is performed. This must be done very quickly. To this end, the data communication unit 305 may maintain the communication connection state by accessing the zapping data providing server 200 even though the channel change request of the user is not detected while the digital receiving device 300 is receiving the digital broadcast. .

The data converter 307 may operate in one of a 'digital broadcast output mode' and a 'zapping data output mode' under the control of the controller 313. If a user's channel change request is input during the digital broadcast output mode operation, the controller 313 switches the operation of the data converter 307 to the zapping data output mode and decodes the digital broadcast data of the new channel for a predetermined time. Outputs the zapping data. If the zapping data is not received for a predetermined time due to a communication failure in the zapping data output mode, the operation is switched back to the digital broadcasting output mode.

On the other hand, the digital receiving apparatus 300 of the present invention is a set-top box for receiving satellite or cable broadcasts, a digital TV with a built-in set-top box function, an IPTV based on the Internet network, and DMB (Digital) which is widely used recently. Multimedia Broadcasting) may be a digital device such as a reception device, a PMP (Personal Multimedia Player) capable of viewing digital broadcasts, a smartphone, a tablet PC, or the like.

4 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of the zapping data providing server 200 according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, the zapping data providing method of the zapping data providing server 200 is described. First, the server 200 organizes zapping data for each channel and / or time zone of digital broadcasting (S401).

When the zapping data providing server 200 receives a channel change request from the digital receiving apparatus 300 (S403), the zapping data corresponding to the channel and / or time zone to be changed is transmitted in real time based on the zapping data schedule (S405). ).

In addition, the server 200 may record viewer information on the transmitted zapping data (S407). The viewer information includes information such as a channel, date, time zone, region, and number of exposures to which zapping data is provided.

Specific operations and the effects thereof at each step are the same as described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 above.

5 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a digital receiving apparatus 300 according to the present invention. An operation flow of the digital receiving apparatus 300 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 5.

First, the digital receiving apparatus 300 outputs a broadcast of a predetermined channel among digital broadcasts of a plurality of channels received through the broadcast receiving unit 303 (S501).

While watching a broadcast, the user input unit 311 detects whether a channel change request is received from the user (S503).

When a user's channel change request is input, the data communication unit 305 transmits the data to the zapping data providing server 200 and enters a standby state for receiving zapping data corresponding to a channel and / or time zone to be changed (S505).

When the data communication unit 305 receives the zapping data within a predetermined time (waiting time to convert the digital broadcast data of the channel to be changed into a playable audio / video signal and output the same) after the transmission of the channel change request (S507), The digital receiving apparatus 300 converts the zapping data into a playable audio / video signal and outputs it to the display apparatus (S509), and then outputs the digital broadcast of the changed channel (S511).

If the zapping data is not received within a predetermined time after the transmission of the channel change request due to a communication failure (S507), the digital broadcasting of the changed channel is immediately output without outputting the zapping data (S511).

The method of providing zapping data and the method of operating a digital receiving apparatus according to the present invention described above may be implemented in a computer program and recorded in a computer-readable recording medium. Accordingly, by installing and executing such a program even in a widely used digital receiver, it is possible to receive the zapping data according to the present invention without replacing the device.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

100: digital broadcasting center 200: zapping data providing server
201: database unit 203: data organization / management unit
205: viewer information management unit 207: data transmission unit
300: digital receiving device 301: network interface
303: broadcast receiving unit 305: data communication unit
307: data conversion unit 309: A / V output unit
311: user input unit 313: control unit

Claims (13)

A database unit for storing zapping data for providing during a channel zapping time of digital broadcasting;
A data organization / management unit configured to organize and manage the zapping data for each channel and / or time zone of the digital broadcast; And
When the channel change request is received from the digital receiving apparatus, a data transmitter which transmits the zapping data corresponding to the channel and / or time zone to be changed in real time.
Zapping data providing server comprising a.
The method of claim 1,
The zapping data is
Broadcast information about the channel to be changed and / or advertising information for a specific company, goods or services
Zapping data provision server.
The method of claim 1,
Viewer information management unit for collecting and managing viewer information on the zapping data
Further comprising:
The viewer information includes at least one of a channel, a date, a time zone, a region, and an exposure number of times that the zapping data is provided by the channel change request.
Zapping data provision server.
A broadcast receiver for receiving digital broadcast;
A user input unit for receiving a channel change request of the digital broadcast from a user;
A data communication unit which transmits the input channel change request to a zapping data providing server and receives, in real time, zapping data corresponding to a channel and / or time zone to be changed from the zapping data providing server;
A data converter converting the received digital broadcasting or zapping data into an audio / video signal that can be reproduced by a display device; And
An A / V output unit for outputting the converted audio / video signal
Digital receiving device comprising a.
5. The method of claim 4,
The data communication unit
When the digital broadcast is received, even if there is no channel change request of the user, accessing the zapping data providing server to maintain a communication connection state
Digital receiver.
5. The method of claim 4,
The A / V output unit
Outputting the converted audio / video signal of the zapping data received in real time during the channel zapping time of the digital broadcast;
Digital receiver.
A digital receiver for receiving digital broadcasting and zapping data provided when the channel of the digital broadcasting is changed; And
A zapping data providing server for organizing zapping data for each channel and / or time zone of the digital broadcasting, and transmitting the organized zapping data in real time in response to a channel change request of the digital receiving apparatus.
Zapping data providing system comprising a.
8. The method of claim 7,
The digital broadcasting is provided through a wired / wireless network based on terrestrial, satellite, cable or internet.
Zapping data provision system.
Organizing zapping data to be provided when the channel of the digital broadcast is changed for each channel and / or time zone of the digital broadcast;
Receiving a channel change request from a digital receiving device of a user; And
Transmitting the zapping data corresponding to the channel and / or time zone to be changed in real time in response to the channel change request.
Zapping data providing method comprising a.
The method of claim 9,
Recording viewer information on the sent zapping data;
Further comprising:
The viewer information includes at least one of a channel, a date, a time zone, a region, and an exposure number of times that the zapping data is provided by the channel change request.
How to provide zapping data.
Receiving a channel change request from a user while receiving digital broadcasting;
Sending the channel change request to a zapping data providing server;
Receiving zapping data corresponding to a channel and / or time zone to be changed from the zapping data providing server;
Converting the zapping data into a playable audio / video signal in a display device; And
Outputting the converted audio / video signal during a channel zapping time of the digital broadcast
Method of operation of a digital receiving device comprising a.
A computer-readable recording medium having a program recorded thereon which implements a method of providing zapping data according to claim 9.
A computer-readable recording medium, comprising: a program on which a program for implementing a method of operating a digital receiving device according to claim 11 is recorded.

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