JP6754542B1 - A system that recognizes user operations on the selection screen on the telecommunications carrier server and a user operation recognition method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system or the like for recognizing a user operation on a selection screen by a telecommunications carrier server. SOLUTION: In a system in which a set-top box for allowing a user to operate a TV selection screen using a remote controller and a communication carrier server communicate with each other via a network, the set-top box displays a key sequence detected from the remote controller. , The communication carrier server follows the screen according to the received key sequence for each set-top box, and recognizes the user-operated selection item. The set-top box can play the content distributed from multiple OTT (Over The Top) carrier servers on the TV, and the telecommunications carrier server is the OTT carrier that is playing based on the selection items according to the key sequence. Recognize the server. [Selection diagram] Fig. 2

Description

The present invention relates to a system technology constructed by an OTT (Over The Top) operator that distributes content to a user and a telecommunications carrier that transmits the content to the user.

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram in the prior art.

According to FIG. 1, the set-top box 1 installed in the user's home is connected to the television 2. The set-top box 1 can receive contents of various resources such as online interactive media as well as broadcast media and play them on the television 2.
Of course, the set-top box 1 may be a "Smart TV" (also referred to as a Connected TV or a Hybrid TV) whose function is incorporated in the TV 2.

The set-top box 1 displays a content guide (selection screen) on the display of the television 2. The user can select desired content by using the remote controller 3 that he / she owns while browsing the content guide. At this time, the user follows the selection items displayed on the television 2 while pressing the physical buttons arranged on the remote controller 3. When the desired selection item is reached, the set-top box 1 is made to recognize the selection item by pressing the "OK" button.

As the online interactive media, there is a content stream distributed from the OTT operator server 5. The OTT operator server 5 distributes a large-capacity content stream such as video to a user (set-top box 1 or smart TV) via the Internet or an affiliated communication line (for example, a cable television operator network). As OTT operators, for example, Netflix (registered trademark), Hulu (registered trademark), YouTube (registered trademark), Amazon Prime Video (registered trademark), DAZN (registered trademark), AbemaTV (registered trademark), TVer (registered trademark) and so on. These OTT operators will focus only on the enhancement of content and provide services on a global and large scale.

Here, the OTT operator is irrelevant to the telecommunications carrier (including the Internet service provider). The user will make a separate contract with the OTT operator and the telecommunications carrier.
That is, the telecommunications carrier provides the communication line as a mere data path (earthen pipe), and the OTT operator can directly distribute the content stream to the user's terminal by flowing the content stream into the earthen pipe. ..

"What is OTT (Over the Top) | The tremor of multimedia that shakes the Internet", [online], [Search on April 15, 2nd year of Reiwa], Internet <https://boxil.jp/mag/a3613 ++

First, the set-top box 1 displays a home screen on the television 2 in which selection items (icons) for the user are arranged. Various OTT operators are also lined up as the selection items, and the user who wants to watch the online interactive media can select one OTT operator.

The selected OTT operator server 5 distributes the OTT operator's own selection screen for the user to the set-top box 1 and displays it on the television 2. At this time, the selection screen distributed by the OTT operator may have icons fixedly arranged, or may be variably arranged as recommendations according to each user's viewing preference.

However, from the viewpoint of the telecommunications carrier, it is completely impossible for the user to know which OTT carrier is selected and what kind of content is being viewed. From the viewpoint of security and copyright, the content is encrypted and can only be recognized as a data stream by the telecommunications carrier.
On the other hand, as a telecommunications carrier, the communication band of communication equipment may be tight due to the large amount of content distributed by the OTT carrier. That is, as a telecommunications carrier, it is necessary to stably provide a clay pipe into which a large amount of contents of the OTT carrier can be flowed, and the maintenance cost of the telecommunications equipment is enormous.

On the other hand, the inventors of the present application maintain the communication equipment by recognizing which OTT operator is selected and what content category the user is viewing, even as a telecommunications carrier. I thought it was important information above.
If a particular OTT operator is selected at a high rate, the entire network can be designed so that the communication band of the entire communication facility is directed to the OTT operator. Further, depending on the content category, the communication equipment can be designed according to the data characteristics of the content.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a system and a user operation recognition method for recognizing a user operation for a selection screen on a telecommunications carrier server.

According to the present invention, a set-top box that allows a user to operate a TV selection screen using a remote controller, and an OTT (Over The Top) operator server that distributes content that can be played on the TV to the set-top box are set. a system for the communication with the communication carrier server that manages the network between the top box and the OTT provider server,
The set-top box sends the key permutation detected from the remote controller to the carrier server and sends it to the carrier server.
Carrier server
Screen information that transitions according to the key permutation is accumulated in advance for each OTT operator server.
For each set-top box, as well as recognize the OTT business server, characterized in that it recognizes the user operation has been selected item I Tado the screen to be delivered from the OTT business server in response to the received key permutation ..

According to other embodiments in the system of the present invention
The set-top box sends a start signal to the carrier server at startup to display the home screen, and the selection item of the initial position is instructed.
It is also preferable that the telecommunications carrier server recognizes that when the start signal is received, the home screen is initially displayed on the set-top box and the selection item of the initial position is instructed.

According to other embodiments in the system of the present invention
The set-top box includes the set-top box identifier and / or the user identifier in the activation signal.
When the telecommunications carrier server receives the activation signal, it is also preferable that the home screen corresponding to the set-top box identifier and / or the user identifier is initially displayed.

According to other embodiments in the system of the present invention
For each OTT operator server, for the selection items in the screen information, the key permutation (position of the selection item) up to the selection item that can be operated by the user is the same fixed item for all users, and the variable item that differs for each user depending on the recommendation function. Classified as
It is also preferable that the telecommunications carrier server recognizes only fixed items by the key permutation.

According to other embodiments in the system of the present invention
Carrier server
The viewing ratio for each OTT operator server is calculated, the communication band to be allocated to each OTT operator server is derived according to the viewing ratio, and the headend equipment connected to each OTT operator server is controlled by each communication band. It is also preferable.

According to other embodiments in the system of the present invention
When the selection item "search" is selected by the user operation, the telecommunications carrier server preferably recognizes the keyword by the key permutation received from the set-top box.

According to the present invention, a set-top box that allows a user to operate a TV selection screen using a remote controller, an OTT operator server that distributes content that can be played on the TV to the set-top box, a set-top box, and an OTT business. in the user operation recognition method of the system and a communication company server to communicate to manage network between the provider server,
The set-top box sends the key permutation detected from the remote controller to the carrier server and sends it to the carrier server.
Carrier server
Screen information that transitions according to the key permutation is accumulated in advance for each OTT operator server.
For each set-top box, as well as recognize the OTT business server, characterized in that it recognizes the user operation has been selected item I Tado the screen to be delivered from the OTT business server in response to the received key permutation ..

According to the system and the user operation recognition method in the present invention, the user operation for the selection screen can be recognized by the telecommunications carrier server.

It is a system block diagram in the prior art. It is a system block diagram in this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the home screen displayed on a television. It is explanatory drawing which shows the screen display of application 2. It is explanatory drawing which shows the screen display of application 1. It is explanatory drawing which shows the screen display of application 3. It is explanatory drawing which shows the key input to the search screen.

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

FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram in the present invention.

According to the system of FIG. 2, similarly to FIG. 1, the set-top box 1 to which the television 2 is connected, the telecommunications carrier server 4, and the OTT carrier server (content server) 5 communicate with each other via a network. ..
The network may be, for example, a cable television operator network. In that case, the telecommunications carrier server 4 becomes a cable TV operator server.
A plurality of OTT operator servers 5 exist as content operators, and are freely selected by a user who watches television 2.

[Set-top box 1]
The set-top box 1 installs a smart TV platform application, such as Android TV®. The set-top box 1 displays a "home screen" on the television 2 and allows the user to select the OTT operator server 5 corresponding to the selection item (icon) by using the remote controller 3. Then, the set-top box 1 reproduces the content stream distributed from the OTT operator server 5 selected by the user on the television 2.
The set-top box 1 may be integrally incorporated in the television 2.

The remote controller 3 operated by the user transmits a key operation signal to the set-top box 1 by infrared rays. On the other hand, the set-top box 1 receives the infrared rays and recognizes the key operation signal by the user.
Then, the set-top box 1 of the present invention detects the "key permutation" operated by the remote controller 3 and transmits the key permutation to the telecommunications carrier server 4.

[OTT operator server 5]
When the network is a cable TV operator network, the plurality of OTT operator servers 5 are connected to the cable headend equipment in the cable television operator network.
Then, the selected OTT operator server 5 distributes the menu screen and the content stream to the set-top box 1 of the user to the set-top box 1 via the cable television operator network.
Here, the content stream or the like delivered from the OTT operator server 5 to the set-top box 1 is encrypted. Therefore, it can be decrypted only by the user-authenticated set-top box 1. Further, the telecommunications carrier server 4 that controls the cable TV operator network cannot recognize the contents such as the content stream distributed from the OTT operator server 5.

[Telecommunications carrier server 4]
The telecommunications carrier server 4 manages and operates the network. When the network is, for example, a cable television operator network, it is possible to control the cable headend equipment to which the OTT operator server 5 is connected.

The telecommunications carrier server 4 of the present invention follows the screen according to the key permutation received from the set-top box 1 and recognizes the user-operated selection item. As a result, the telecommunications carrier server 4 can recognize which OTT carrier server 5 has been selected. It is also possible to recognize what category of content stream is being delivered.

In addition, the telecommunications carrier server 4 can also calculate the viewing ratio for each OTT carrier server 5 as a whole. As a result, the communication band to be allocated to each OTT operator server 5 can be derived according to the viewing ratio, and the headend equipment connected to each OTT operator server can be controlled by each communication band.
For example, an OTT operator having a high viewing ratio can be provided with a wide communication band, and the communication equipment can be adapted to a design corresponding to the communication band, and the maintenance cost of the communication equipment can be demanded. Further, for example, when a large amount of content having a specific data characteristic flows, it is possible to make the communication equipment correspond to the design according to the data characteristic.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a home screen displayed on a television.

According to FIG. 3, the set-top box 1 displays a "home screen" on the television 2 at startup. According to the home screen, operable selection items (icons) are arranged at predetermined positions. The set-top box 1 may be activated when the power is turned on or when the dedicated home button of the remote controller 3 is pressed.
On the other hand, the telecommunications carrier server 4 also stores the same "home screen" in advance for each set-top box 1, and also recognizes the position of each icon.

According to FIG. 3, the icons of the content source category are arranged in the left column, and a plurality of applications are arranged in the column row in the center and the right column. Depending on the icon of the selected content source category, the content and arrangement of the app icons will also be changed.
The selection item (icon) may be a thumbnail that is focused when instructed and is displayed in a shaded or three-dimensional manner so as to be conspicuous to the user.
The thumbnail may be a single still image representing the application, or may be, for example, a plurality of still images updated at regular intervals (for example, 2 seconds).

According to FIG. 3, [terrestrial] is instructed as an icon of the selection item of the initial position on the home screen. Then, the set-top box 1 transmits a "start-up signal" to the telecommunications carrier server at the time of starting up to display the home screen.
On the other hand, when the telecommunications carrier server 4 receives the start signal, it recognizes that the home screen is initially displayed on the set-top box 1 and the selection item of the initial position is instructed.

Further, the set-top box 1 may include the set-top box identifier and / or the user identifier in the activation signal. That is, it is assumed that the home screen differs depending on the set-top box identifier and / or the user identifier.
On the other hand, when the telecommunications carrier server 4 receives the activation signal, it can recognize that the home screen corresponding to the set-top box identifier and / or the user identifier is initially displayed.

The telecommunications carrier server 4 stores in advance screen information that transitions according to the key permutation for the set-top box identifier and / or the user identifier. Then, the telecommunications carrier server 4 can trace the home screen according to the key permutation received from the set-top box 1 and make a screen transition according to the selection item operated by the user.

<About selection of application 2>
According to FIG. 3, the user operates the following keys on the home screen displayed on the television 2 by using the remote controller 3.
∨ ∨ ∨ ＞ ＞ [OK]
[Terrestrial]->[BS]->[CS]->[App]-> [App 1]-> [App 2]
The set-top box 1 detects the "key permutation" operated by the remote controller 3 and transmits the key permutation to the telecommunications carrier server 4. This key permutation means that [App 2] has been selected.

The telecommunications carrier server 4 follows the screen according to the received key permutation for each set-top box, and recognizes the user-operated selection item.
According to FIG. 3, the telecommunications carrier server 4 also follows the following keys from the home screen.
∨ ∨ ∨ ＞ ＞ [OK]
[Terrestrial]->[BS]->[CS]->[App]-> [App 1]-> [App 2]
At this time, the telecommunications carrier server 4 can recognize that [App 2] has been selected.

According to FIG. 3, for example, the application 1, the application 2, and the application 3 may select the OTT operator server 5. When the user selects, for example, [App 2], it means that the OTT operator server 5B is selected. At this time, the telecommunications carrier server 4 can recognize that the OTT carrier server 5B based on the selection items according to the key permutation has been selected.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen display of the application 2.

The telecommunications carrier server 4 stores in advance screen information that transitions according to the key permutation for each OTT carrier server (application).
Then, the telecommunications carrier server 4 follows the selection screen (app screen) of the OTT carrier server according to the key permutation received from the set-top box 1, and transitions to the screen according to the selection item operated by the user. be able to.
According to FIG. 4, it is assumed that the application 2 is, for example, a selection screen of the OTT operator server 5B. At this time, the telecommunications carrier server 4 stores the screen information of the application 2 (OTT carrier server 5B) in advance. Then, the screen of the application 2 can be traced according to the key permutation received from the set-top box 1, and the screen can be changed according to the selection item operated by the user.

According to FIG. 4, on the screen of the application 2, the icons of the content category are arranged in the column on the left side, and the icon of the content on the right side is displayed according to the selection.
In the case of the screen of application 2, the icon at the default position is assumed to be [top]. After that, the user operates the following keys on the home screen from the remote controller 3.
∨ ＞ ＞ ＞ [OK]
[Top]-> [Overseas Drama / TV]->[AAA]->[BBB]-> [PB Ryan]
In this case, the content [PB Ryan] is selected.
On the other hand, the telecommunications carrier server 4 can also follow the following keys from [Top] by following the permutation of this key operation.
∨ ＞ ＞ ＞ [OK]
[Top]-> [Overseas Drama / TV]->[AAA]->[BBB]-> [PB Ryan]
As a result, the telecommunications carrier server 4 can also recognize that the content [PB Ryan] has been selected.

Here, the selection items (content icons) in the screen information are classified into the following two for each OTT operator server 5.
Fixed item: The position of the selected item is the same for all users.
That is, if it is the same key permutation, it points to the same selection item for all users.
Variable item: Varies for each user depending on the recommendation function.
That is, even if the key permutation is the same, it points to a different selection item for each user.

(Fixed item)
According to FIG. 4, the first column of the content guide is a fixed item. Therefore, the telecommunications carrier server 4 can recognize which content is selected by the key permutation even on the screen of the application 2. That is, the telecommunications carrier server 4 can recognize that the content [PB Ryan] has been selected.
[Top]-> [Overseas Drama / TV]->[AAA]->[BBB]-> [PB Ryan]

(Variable item)
According to FIG. 4, the second column of the content guide is a variable item, and the content of the content arranged by the recommendation function differs depending on the viewing preference of each user. Therefore, the telecommunications carrier server 4 cannot recognize which content is selected by the key permutation even on the screen of the application 2.
[Top]-> [Overseas Drama / TV]-> [? ]-> [? ]-> [? ]
However, even in such a case, the telecommunications carrier server 4 can recognize the content category [overseas TV drama / TV] selected by the user only by the key permutation.

<About selection of application 1>
It is assumed that the user operates the following keys from the remote controller 3 on the home screen of FIG. 3 to select [App 1].
∨ ∨ ∨ ＞ [OK]
[Terrestrial]->[BS]->[CS]->[App]-> [App 1]
The telecommunications carrier server 4 can also recognize that [App 1] has been selected by following the following keys from the home screen.
∨ ∨ ∨ ＞ [OK]
[Terrestrial]->[BS]->[CS]->[App]-> [App 1]

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen display of the application 1.

According to FIG. 5, the first column of the content guide is a fixed item, and the second column is a variable item.
In the case of the screen of application 1 (OTT operator server 5A), the icon at the default position is [Search]. After that, according to FIG. 5, the user operates the following keys from the remote controller 3 on the screen of the application 1.
∨ ＞ ＞ ＞ [OK]
[Search]->[News]->[CCC]->[DDD]-> [Economic News]
In this case, the content [Economic News] is selected.
The telecommunications carrier server 4 can also recognize the content [economic news] by following the following keys from [search] by following the sequence of key operations.
∨ ＞ ＞ ＞ [OK]
[Search]->[News]->[CCC]->[DDD]-> [Economic News]

<About selection of application 3>
It is assumed that the user operates the following keys from the remote controller 3 on the home screen of FIG. 3 to select [App 3].
∨ ∨ ∨ ＞ ＞ ＞ [OK]
The telecommunications carrier server 4 can also recognize that the application 3 has been selected by following the following keys from the home screen.
∨ ∨ ∨ ＞ ＞ ＞ [OK]

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen display of the application 3.

According to FIG. 6, the icons of the content category are arranged in the upper row, and the content and arrangement of the icons of the lower application displayed according to the selection are changed.
In the case of the screen of the application 3 (OTT operator server 5C), the icon at the default position is assumed to be [Home]. After that, according to FIG. 6, the user operates the following keys from the remote controller 3 on the screen of the application 3.
＞ ＞ ＞ ＞ ＞ [OK]
[Home]->[Original]->[Movies]-> [TV Shows]->[Kids]-> [Search]
In this case, the selection button [Search] is selected.
The telecommunications carrier server 4 can also recognize [Search] by following the following keys from [Home] by following the sequence of key operations.
＞ ＞ ＞ ＞ ＞ [OK]
[Home]->[Original]->[Movies]-> [TV Shows]->[Kids]-> [Search]

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing key input to the search screen.

According to FIG. 7, a search screen is displayed on the television 2, and a Japanese syllabary keyboard is displayed. In this case, the search character (keyword) can be input by pressing the enter button [OK] while operating the up / down / left / right keys of the remote controller 3.
On the other hand, when the selection item "search" is selected by the user operation, the telecommunications carrier server 4 recognizes the search character (keyword) by the key permutation received from the set-top box.

According to the above-described embodiment, the telecommunications carrier server 4 recognizes the selected item from the key permutation by the user operation of the remote controller 3 with respect to the application screen following the home screen displayed on the television 2 by the set-top box 1. It is a thing.
On the other hand, according to another embodiment, the telecommunications carrier server 4 displays the menu screen or the electronic program guide displayed on the television 2 by the set-top box 1 from the key permutation by the user operation of the remote controller 3. It may recognize the selected item.

(Menu screen)
The menu screen may be a setting screen for the set-top box 1, a setting screen for the television 2 or another user peripheral device (home appliances, etc.), or an operation screen. By displaying the setting screen and the operation screen on the television 2 and operating the remote controller 3 by the user, the telecommunications carrier server 4 can recognize the selection item that the user intends to set or operate.

(Electronic program guide)
The electronic program guide (Electronic Programming Guide) may be a table format (late column) of broadcast schedules of programs (contents) according to time zones and channel numbers. The electronic program guide is generally represented as a grid-like cell having a time zone on the vertical axis and a channel on the horizontal axis. Program contents (metadata) such as title and performer name are described in the cell. By displaying this electronic program guide on the television 2 and operating the user from the remote controller 3, the telecommunications carrier server 4 can recognize the program that the user intends to watch.

As described in detail above, according to the system and the user operation recognition method in the present invention, the user operation on the selection screen can be recognized by the telecommunications carrier server.

With respect to the various embodiments of the present invention described above, various changes, modifications and omissions within the scope of the technical idea and viewpoint of the present invention can be easily made by those skilled in the art. The above explanation is just an example and does not attempt to restrict anything. The present invention is limited only to the claims and their equivalents.

1 Set-top box 2 TV 3 Remote control 4 Carrier server 5 OTT carrier server

Claims (7)

A set-top box that allows the user to operate the TV selection screen using a remote control, an OTT (Over The Top) operator server that distributes content that can be played on the TV to the set-top box, and a set-top box and OTT operator. a system for the communication with the communication carrier server that manages the network between the server,
The set-top box sends the key permutation detected from the remote controller to the carrier server and sends it to the carrier server.
Carrier server
Screen information that transitions according to the key permutation is accumulated in advance for each OTT operator server.
For each set-top box, as well as recognize the OTT business server, characterized in that it recognizes the user operation has been selected item I Tado the screen to be delivered from the OTT business server in response to the received key permutation system. The set-top box sends a start signal to the carrier server at startup to display the home screen, and the selection item of the initial position is instructed.
The first aspect of claim 1, wherein the telecommunications carrier server recognizes that the home screen is initially displayed on the set-top box and the selection item of the initial position is instructed when the start signal is received. System. The set-top box includes the set-top box identifier and / or the user identifier in the activation signal.
The system according to claim 2, wherein the telecommunications carrier server initially displays a home screen according to a set-top box identifier and / or a user identifier when receiving an activation signal. For each OTT operator server, for the selection items in the screen information, the key permutation (position of the selection item) up to the selection item that can be operated by the user is the same fixed item for all users, and the variable item that differs for each user depending on the recommendation function. Classified as
The system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the telecommunications carrier server recognizes only fixed items by key permutation. Carrier server
The viewing ratio for each OTT operator server is calculated, the communication band to be allocated to each OTT operator server is derived according to the viewing ratio, and the headend equipment connected to each OTT operator server is controlled by each communication band. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , characterized in that. The telecommunications carrier server according to any one of claims 1 to 7 , wherein when the selection item "search" is selected by the user operation, the telecommunications carrier server recognizes the keyword by the key permutation received from the set-top box. Described system. Between the set-top box that allows the user to operate the TV selection screen using a remote control, the OTT operator server that distributes the content that can be played on the TV to the set-top box, and the set-top box and the OTT operator server. in the user operation recognition method of the system and a communication company server that manages the network communication,
The set-top box sends the key permutation detected from the remote controller to the carrier server and sends it to the carrier server.
Carrier server
Screen information that transitions according to the key permutation is accumulated in advance for each OTT operator server.
For each set-top box, as well as recognize the OTT business server, characterized in that it recognizes the user operation has been selected item I Tado the screen to be delivered from the OTT business server in response to the received key permutation User operation recognition method.

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