WO2007102719A2

WO2007102719A2 - Application control system and method for digital broadcasting

Info

Publication number: WO2007102719A2
Application number: PCT/KR2007/001158
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yong Hwan Kim
Original assignee: Alticast Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2006-03-09
Filing date: 2007-03-09
Publication date: 2007-09-13
Also published as: WO2007102719A3; KR100752273B1

Abstract

An application control system and method for digital broadcasting are disclosed. The application control system which stores a short cut key of an application provided from a content data providing server and displays the stored short cut key includes: a user interface module for displaying the provided application on a screen of a receiver terminal; a short cut management module for storing an inputted key and a locator in order to store the short cut key of the application displayed by the user interface module; and an application control module for storing keys and locators which a user wants to store in a storage unit of the short cut management module and analyzing the stored key and locators to control the user interface module to display an application desired by a user.

Description

APPLICATION CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR

DIGITAL BROADCASTING

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to an application control system and method for a digital broadcasting set-top box. Background Art

[2] Most of data broadcasting multiplexes a signal with radio or television broadcasting for transmission, but there are data broadcasting which transmits contents related to these broadcasting by using a digital signal and data broadcasting which transmits independent information. Such data broadcasting can be called a mainline multimedia information service in which a radio transmission feature using a television radio wave and a two-way transmission feature of an internet are combined.

[3] In a digital television or a receiver terminal for receiving digital broadcasting, a tuner receives digital broadcasting signals transmitted in the form of a bit stream of a packet unit and tunes a broadcasting signal of a channel selected by a user among the received broadcasting signals, a demultiplexer divides the tuned broadcasting signal into a voice/image signal and a data signal, a voice/image decoder and a data decoder decode the divided broadcasting signal, and a graphic processor synthesizes voice/image data and data according to the decoded format, graphic-processes them and transmits the synthesized data to a display unit. In order to implement various applications, an application developer organizes an application structure and carries out a navigation and graphic work for applying the application structure to a screen. A user (or viewer) navigates menus shown on a screen by using a remote controller to get various information from the application implemented on the screen.

[4] A user can get various information by using an application of data broadcasting data transmitted on the digital broadcasting. The application for the data broadcasting operates in a Java browser based on a graphic user interface and comprises buttons or graphic objects for selecting contents of the data broadcasting. In order to select a desired data broadcasting content, a user moves a screen cursor onto a button of the corresponding content and clicks it. The screen cursor is moved by directional keys of a keyboard or a remote controller. That is, a screen cursor is moved onto a certain button by using the directional keys, and when the corresponding button is clicked, an object corresponding to the clicked button among various content objects shown on the screen is selected, thereby performing a movement to the selected object.

[5] However, such a data broadcasting application has selection efficiency depending on a location of content objects. If several objects are location in the same direction, it is ambiguous to select a desired object. That is, a cursor may move onto an object which a user does not want. Therefore, in order to move the screen cursor onto a desired object, a user should push the directional keys of the keyboard or the remote controller several times, whereby it is inconvenient to a user, and it takes a long time to move to a desired object. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[6] The present invention is directed to an application control system and method in which a movement to a certain screen of an application can be promptly performed. Technical Solution

[7] One aspect of the present invention provides an application control system which stores a short cut key of an application provided from a content data providing server and displays the stored short cut key, comprising: a user interface module for displaying the provided application on a screen of a receiver terminal; a short cut management module for storing an inputted key and a locator in order to store the short cut key of the application displayed by the user interface module; and an application control module for storing keys and locators which a user wants to store in a storage unit of the short cut management module and analyzing the stored key and locators to control the user interface module to display an application desired by a user.

[8] The short cut management module stores and manages the stored short cut key with a hierarchical structure of from an upper menu to a lower menu.

[9] The application control module analyzes a key and locator of the selected short cut key, extracts an application mapped with a lastly inputted locator from a storage unit in which the application is stored, and sequentially generates keys after the lastly inputted locator to be promptly displayed on the user interface module.

[10] Another aspect of the present invention provides an application control method for storing a user's desired application and calling and displaying the stored application, comprising: a short cut storing key selecting step for calling a short cut menu to a user interface module to select a storing key by a key manipulation in order to store a user's desired application; a storing key input step for inputting a key under control of an application control module while moving to a user's desired application by a key manipulation; a short key storing step for generating a short cut key name of the inputted key and locators and storing the short cut key name in a short cut management module when a user's key input for a desired application is completed; a short cut key retrieving step for activating the short cut menu by a key manipulation and calling a short cut list having short cut keys stored in the short cut management module to retrieve a short cut key; and a short cut key selecting step for selecting a user's desired short cut key from the short cut list; and an application display step for, at the application control module, analyzing the selected short cut key and locator, extracting an application mapped with a lastly inputted locator from a storage unit in which the application is stored, and sequentially generates keys after the lastly inputted locator to be promptly displayed on the user interface module.

[11] The application control method further comprises a short cut key storing confirmation step for informing that a short cut key is properly stored through the user interface module after storing the short cut key.

[12] At the storing key input step, a text "storing short cut key" is displayed by the user interface module until the inputted key and the key input are completed.

[13] At the application display step, a short cut key moving screen is not displayed until a corresponding application is displayed, a text "short cut key moving" is displayed, and thereafter a final application screen is displayed.

[14] At the short cut key storing step, a storing key is stored with a hierarchical structure of from an upper menu to a lower menu in the short cut management module.

[15] The application control method further comprises a step for informing a user of the fact that the short cut key is already stored and finishing the short cut key input step when the short cut key is already stored in the short cut management module after a key input for a certain application is completed. Advantageous Effects

[16] As described above, the broadcast content protection and management system of the present invention has the following advantages:

[17] In the conventional art, in order for a user to watch a certain screen of an application which he/she previously watched when he/she is watching a different channel, after powered on, a portal screen is used to move to a corresponding application service, and the application is executed after the directional keys are used in order to select the service. However, according to the application control system and method of the present invention, the short cut menu feature is added to the remote controller to thereby make a movement to a desired portal screen or channel promptly performed. Thus, an unnecessary screen is not shown while moving to a corresponding screen of the selected application, and a desired screen is automatically displayed. Brief Description of the Drawings

[18] FlG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an application control system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[19] FlG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating an application control method according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and [20] FlGs. 3 to 6 are diagrams illustrating an example of an application according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[21] * Description of Major Symbol in the above Figures

[22] 120 : Display 132: User interface module

[23] 133: Short cut management module 134: Application control module

Mode for the Invention

[24] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. However, the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments disclosed below, but can be implemented in various types. Therefore, the present exemplary embodiments are provided for complete disclosure of the present invention and to fully inform the scope of the present invention to those ordinarily skilled in the art.

[25] FlG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an application control system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[26] As shown in FlG. 1, the application control system is installed in a receiver terminal

130 and comprises a user interface module 132 for receiving a key input of a user and displaying the key input on a display 120, a short cut management module 133 for storing keys and locators activated by the user interface module 132 in a memory, and an application control module 134 for analyzing the stored keys and locators to control a movement to a desired application. Here, as the receiver terminal 130, whatever can receive digital broadcasting can be used, for example, a set-top box, a digital television having a set-top box built therein, and a digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) phone.

[27] In case where the receiver terminal 130 is a digital television which a set-top box is built in, the receiver terminal 130 further comprises a tuner for tuning a received broadcasting signal, a demultiplexer for classifying the broadcasting signals into a video signal, an audio signal and data broadcasting data and outputting them separately, a decoder for decoding the respective signals, and a microprocessor for controlling the whole operation of the receiver terminal. The receiver terminal 130 decodes the received broadcasting signal and then transmits the decoded broadcasting signal to the screen of the digital television. Television viewers watch the data broadcasting corresponding to the received broadcasting signal to get various information of, for example, the government.

[28] The user interface module 132 graphic-processes applications such as a selected channel or electronic program guide (EPG) data according to control of the application control module 134 to be displayed on a screen.

[29] The user interface module 132 displays channel information on the display 120 under control of the application control module according to a user's remote controller ma- nipulation.

[30] The short cut management module 133 stores keys and locators when an application displayed by the user interface module 132 is selected by a user's key manipulation.

[31] Here, the applications are stored with a tree structure (i.e., hierarchical structure) in a storage unit of the receiver terminal, and a locator represents a peculiar identification code of each application stored with a hierarchical structure.

[32] Typically, the receiver terminal has a storage unit for storing a received EPG and program reservation information, and the short cut management module 133 may be arranged in the storage unit or may be realized by a discrete storage unit.

[33] Here, the storage unit comprises a non-volatile memory such as nonvolatile random access memory (NVRAM) or electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) to maintain key and locator information even when powered off.

[34] That is, the short cut management module 133 receives a key input of a user from the remote controller through an application control and reads a file for a previously stored key input to move a channel or screen to a desired channel or screen.

[35] The application control module 134 has a microprocessor therein, controls the whole terminal system and executes the applications.

[36] In more detail, the application control module 134 controls the user interface module

132 to display a channel selected by a user's key manipulation, stores a key and locator that a user wants to store in the short cut management module 133, and analyzes the stored key and locator to display an application desired by a user.

[37] In other words, the application control module 134 controls an operation for analyzing keys or locators stored in the short cut management module 133, promptly moving a channel or screen to a screen or channel desired by a user and displaying it through the user interface module 132.

[38] In addition, the user interface module 132 makes it possible to apply various applications implemented in the digital television such as an electronic program, a portal, a T-commerce, an information application, and a game application with a systematical navigation method.

[39] FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating an application control method according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[40] Referring to FIG. 2, by a user's key manipulation, a short cut menu is called to the user interface module, and a storage key is selected (SlOl).

[41] order to move a channel which a user is watching to another channel or to a certain screen, a user manipulates the remote controller to select a "short cut menu" key, so that a screen corresponding to the "short cut menu" key is displayed through the user interface module 132 under control of the application control module 134.

[42] A user inputs a key under control of the application control module while moving to a desired application through a key manipulation (S 102).

[43] When a short cut menu is called and displayed on a screen, a user combines a key manipulation and inputs a key under control of the application module (S 103).

[44] Here, the user interface module 132 graphic-processes applications such as a channel selected by a user or EPG data to be displayed under control of the application control module 134, and sends keys inputted by a user to the short cut management module 133 when a user manipulates keys to sequentially call a "short cut menu" key and a "lower menu" key under control of the application control module. That is, the user interface module 132 activates a short cut menu module to receive keys inputted by a user under control of the application control module 143.

[45] When the key inputs are stored in the short cut management module 133, the inputted keys are displayed on a portion of the television display through the user interface module to be recognized by a user before an "end" key is inputted.

[46] The inputted keys are stored in the storage unit of the short cut management module

133.

[47] The activated short cut management module 133 analyzes the keys and stores information about the keys in a memory of the storage unit and makes the keys displayed on a monitor.

[48] After storing the short cut key, a short cut key storing confirmation for informing that the short cut key is properly stored is outputted through the user interface module.

[49] The short cut menu module stores the stored keys and locators in the non- volatile memory and makes the short cut menu shown on a portion of the television monitor disappeared from a screen by the user interface module 132.

[50] The short cut menu is activated by a key manipulation, so that a short cut list having the short cut keys stored in the short cut management module is called to the user interface module 132 to retrieve the short cut key (S104).

[51] A user selects a "reproduction" key of the remote controller while seeing the display, so that the "short cut list" is displayed.

[52] A user manipulates the remote controller to select the short cut menu from the user interface module to call the "reproduction" key in the lower menu. When the "reproduction" key is selected, a title is shown in the short cut list comprising a plurality of portals on the display.

[53] The user selects the "reproduction" key while seeing the display to make the "short cut list" displayed.

[54] A desired short cut key is selected from the short cut list by the key manipulation

(S 105).

[55] The user interface module 132 calls the short cut menu module to call items of the short cut menu, so that several items of the short cut menu are outputted on the screen. Here, a user selects one of selection keys of the short cut menu to select one item.

[56] A key and locator of the selected short cut key are analyzed, an application mapped with a lastly inputted locator is extracted from the storage unit in which the application is stored, and keys after the lastly inputted locator are sequentially generated and then displayed by the user interface module 132 (S106).

[57] The application control module 134 analyzes the stored keys and locators to command so that a channel change and a screen movement can be promptly performed.

[58] A graphic control is performed so that a short cut key moving screen is not displayed until a desired application is displayed in order to move to a certain screen and instead a text "short cut key moving" is displayed, and thereafter a final application screen is displayed.

[59] As described above, an application moving time can be minimized by tracing a lastly inputted locator among locators stored in the short cut management module 133 to display the corresponding application.

[60]

[61] <Example>

[62] - Changing to a desired screen when a user is watching a certain channel.

[63] A user manipulates the remote controller to sequentially input keys to watch his/her interesting item of his/her registered stock service. That is, a user can watch his/her interesting item of the registered stock service by selecting a desired portal screen, by selecting a desired stock service, and pushing a down key twice to select a desired stock item that he wants to see as shown in the below table.

[64] Table 1

[Table 1] [Table ]

Portal Screen->Left->Left->Ok->Stock Service->Ok->Down Key->Down Key->Ok

[65] In order to input the above short cut item, the short cut menu of the user interface is selected an initial input stage.

[66] After inputting a key in a short cut key storing mode, it is outputted on the screen whether the short cut key is stored properly or not. Here, the inputted keys are shown on a portion of the television display until an "end" key is inputted.

[67] The activated short cut menu module stores the inputted keys in the memory and makes them shown on the display 120 of the television as shown in FlG. 3, and the keys of the above table are sequentially inputted by the remote controller.

[68] The inputted keys and locators on the display 120 are stored in the storage unit.

[69] A user activates the stored short cut key to transfer a channel change and a key event to an application, so that an application special screen stored previously is displayed on the display 120.

[70] When a user selects the short cut menu of the user interface and selects a lower menu list, a title of the list is outputted. When one of the list titles is selected, the list is displayed on a portion of the television display 120. If [my stock] among [my stock], [my news] and [real estate-Bundang city] is selected as shown in FlG. 4, the application control system analyzes the keys stored as "my stock" of the short cut key list.

[71] The stored short cut keys are analyzed, and what a locator which is a lastly selected channel number, i.e., a unique service number in broadcasting is stored is retrieved. A service providing speed is maximized not by generating the stored key from the beginning but by sequentially generating an event based on the last locator.

[72] As shown in FlG. 5, the application control system of the present invention displays a background screen and the short cut key list to move to a corresponding service and displays a text "moving to a corresponding service designated by a user" on the display 120. At the same time, the application management module analyzes the previously stored keys and locators to command a channel change and a movement to a certain screen which are mapped with the corresponding list.

[73] As shown in FlG. 6, the application management module generates the last event for the stored key and locator, informs the user interface module of a green graphic through a discrete buffer so that a text "completed a movement to a corresponding service" is displayed on a portion of the display 120 during a time that a user can recognizes it and then disappears.

[74] Accordingly, a movement to a desired channel or screen can be promptly performed by executing the short cut key button of the application based on a service unlike the method for activating it unconditionally.

Claims

[1] An application control system which stores a short cut key of an application provided from a content data providing server and displays the stored short cut key, comprising: a user interface module for displaying the provided application on a screen of a receiver terminal; a short cut management module for storing an inputted key and a locator in order to store the short cut key of the application displayed by the user interface module; and an application control module for storing keys and locators which a user wants to store in a storage unit of the short cut management module and analyzing the stored key and locators to control the user interface module to display an application desired by a user.

[2] The application control system of claim 1, wherein the short cut management module stores and manages the stored short cut key with a hierarchical structure of from an upper menu to a lower menu.

[3] The application control module of claim 1, wherein the application control module analyzes a key and locator of the selected short cut key, extracts an application mapped with a lastly inputted locator from a storage unit in which the application is stored, and sequentially generates keys after the lastly inputted locator to be promptly displayed on the user interface module.

[4] An application control method for storing a user's desired application and calling and displaying the stored application, comprising: a short cut storing key selecting step for calling a short cut menu to a user interface module to select a storing key by a key manipulation in order to store a user's desired application; a storing key input step for inputting a key under control of an application control module while moving to a user's desired application by a key manipulation; a short key storing step for generating a short cut key name of the inputted key and locators and storing the short cut key name in a short cut management module when a user's key input for a desired application is completed; a short cut key retrieving step for activating the short cut menu by a key manipulation and calling a short cut list having short cut keys stored in the short cut management module to retrieve a short cut key; and a short cut key selecting step for selecting a user's desired short cut key from the short cut list; and an application display step for, at the application control module, analyzing the selected short cut key and locator, extracting an application mapped with a lastly inputted locator from a storage unit in which the application is stored, and sequentially generates keys after the lastly inputted locator to be promptly displayed on the user interface module.

[5] The application control method of claim 4, further comprising, a short cut key storing confirmation step for informing that a short cut key is properly stored through the user interface module after storing the short cut key.

[6] The application control method of claim 4, wherein at the storing key input step, a text "storing short cut key" is displayed by the user interface module until the inputted key and the key input are completed.

[7] The application control method of claim 4, wherein, at the application display step, a short cut key moving screen is not displayed until a corresponding application is displayed, a text "short cut key moving" is displayed, and thereafter a final application screen is displayed.

[8] The application control method of claim 4, wherein, at the short cut key storing step, a storing key is stored with a hierarchical structure of from an upper menu to a lower menu in the short cut management module.

[9] The application control method of claim 4, further comprising, a step for informing a user of the fact that the short cut key is already stored and finishing the short cut key input step when the short cut key is already stored in the short cut management module after a key input for a certain application is completed.