KR100313448B1 - Method for controlling vod service system by dynamic channel assignment method in catv network - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A VOD(Video On Demand) service system by assigning dynamic channels in CATV networks and a control method thereof are provided to improve the quality of VOD service by transmitting image promptly with selecting the channel among plural setting channels. CONSTITUTION: A VOD service system is composed of a video information receiving unit(1) receiving MPEG(Moving Picture Expert Group) video information for VOD service through satellite or internet; a video information storage unit(2) storing video information from the video information receiving unit; a signal conversion unit(3) converting information on demand of a subscriber into an analog signal or a digital TV signal; a channel allocation unit(4) modulating the converted video signal, and transmitting to the corresponding channel; a communication unit(5) communicating with the set top box through the CATV network; a control unit(6) dividing the video information frequency band of the CATV network into plural channels, and controlling the system to transmit video information through the channel on demand of the certified subscriber; and a management unit(7) certifying by comparing identification and password of the subscriber through the communication unit with the predetermined information. Expenses are reduced with using the established CATV network, and image is transmitted promptly with selecting the channel on demand of the subscriber.

Description

BASED Dynamic Channel Allocation Method in Cable Networks, VAudio Service System and its Control Method by Dynamic Channel Allocation

The present invention relates to a video on demand (VOD) service system. In particular, a frequency band capable of transmitting video in a CATV cable network is divided into a plurality of channels, and when a video transmission request is received from a subscriber, it is used among a plurality of setting channels. By selecting the available channel and transmitting it to the subscriber, the existing CATV cable network is used, so the overall VOD system construction cost is low, and when the video transmission request is required from the subscriber, the video can be quickly transmitted to the available channel. The present invention relates to a dynamic channel allocation method in a CATV cable network capable of providing a VOD service, a VOD service system by dynamic channel allocation, and a control method thereof.

The VOD service is a VOD service provider and a subscriber, as shown in FIG. Refers to a service that allows viewing on TV.

Since the VOD service connects the system of VOD service provider and each subscriber with expensive leased line, especially dedicated cable such as optical cable, the construction cost of the facility has increased very much. The VOD service is provided only in places where the installation length of the optical cable can be reduced like a building.

In order to solve this problem, a technology using a CATV cable network in which a VOD service has been previously established is provided as shown in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1

According to Table 1, the conventional first VOD service provides video information to a plurality of subscribers through a CATV cable network, but a channel for viewing by the subscriber is fixed, and the VOD service time is fixed by the operator at a predetermined time. Information to be done is also set by the operator unilaterally and transmitted to the subscriber.

The first VOD service has a merit that a plurality of users can share a channel, but since the service information and time are limited by the service provider, there is a problem in that the information desired by each subscriber cannot be viewed regardless of time.

In the second VOD service, the service provider and each subscriber are connected by independent channels, and one subscriber monopolizes one channel.

This second VOD service has the advantage that subscribers can watch the information they want at any time, but since one subscriber monopolizes one channel, many subscribers cannot receive VOD service at the same time. There was a problem of spending a lot of money to build a channel.

Accordingly, the present invention for solving the above problems is to divide the frequency band that can be transmitted in the CATV cable network to a plurality of channels, and when there is a video transmission request from the subscriber by selecting the available channel of the plurality of set channels By using the existing CATV cable network to transmit to the subscriber, the overall VOD system construction cost is low, and when the video transmission request is required from the subscriber, the video can be quickly transmitted to the available channel so that the subscriber can provide the VOD service of the sun. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a dynamic channel allocation method in a CATV cable network and a VOD service system and control method by the dynamic channel allocation.

Features of the present invention for achieving the above object,

In the channel allocation method for VOD service through CATV cable network,

A first step of dividing information transmission frequency bands of a CATV cable network into units of predetermined frequency bands and dividing them into a plurality of transmission channels;

A second step of detecting a channel that can be transmitted by searching for a channel currently in use when there is a request for information from a subscriber;

And a third step of informing the subscriber of the channel detected in the second step and a start time of transmitting information through the channel.

Even if a plurality of subscribers request information at the same time, it is possible to transmit information to each subscriber by dynamically allocating a transmittable channel accordingly.

And, the VOD service system by the dynamic channel allocation method,

Image information receiving means for receiving MPEG (Moving Pictrue Expert Group) image information for VOD service through a satellite or the Internet;

Image information storage means for storing image information received by the image information receiving means;

Signal conversion means for converting the video information transmitted by the subscriber's request into a TV signal;

Channel assignment means for modulating the video signal converted into a TV signal by the signal conversion means to a frequency of a channel to be transmitted and transmitting the signal to a corresponding channel;

Communication means for communicating with a subscriber set-top box via a CATV cable network;

The video information transmission band of the CATV cable network connected to the subscriber is divided into a plurality of channels of a certain frequency band, and when the video transmission request of the subscriber is authenticated, the entire video information is transmitted through the available channel. Control means for controlling the system;

Characterized in that it comprises a management means for performing the authentication process by comparing the ID and password of the subscriber input through the communication means with the preset information.

And, the control method of the configured system,

If there is a request for video information from the subscriber, the authentication process of verifying whether the member has been through the normal registration procedure by comparing the subscriber's ID and password with the previously stored subscriber information;

A channel assignment process of searching for a channel currently in use and detecting one channel capable of transmitting video and informing a subscriber of the channel to which the image is to be transmitted and the start time of the image transmission through communication means;

Loading the image information requested by the subscriber from the image information storage means;

A signal conversion process of converting the loaded MPEG image information into an analog or digital TV signal;

The signal-modulated TV signal is modulated to a frequency of a transmission channel and characterized in that the process of frequency modulation to transmit to the subscriber via the corresponding channel of the CATV cable network.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional VOD service.

2 is a block diagram showing a VOD service configuration of the present invention.

3 is a block diagram showing a VOD service system of the present invention.

4 is a block diagram showing in more detail the VOD service system of the present invention.

5 is a block diagram showing a signal conversion means and a channel assignment means applied to the present invention.

6 is a flowchart showing a control process of the present invention.

7 is a view showing a channel setting state in the CATV cable network applied to the present invention.

8 is a view for explaining the operating state of the present invention.

* Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

1: means for receiving image information, 2: means for storing image information,

3: signal conversion means, 4: channel assignment means,

5: communication means, 6: control means,

7: means of management,

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings 2 to 8 as follows.

According to the drawings, the present invention relates to image information receiving means 1, image information storing means 2, signal converting means 3, channel allocating means 4, communication means 5, control means 6, management. It consists of means 7 roughly.

The image information receiving means 1 is a device that downloads MPEG image information about a program to be serviced to a subscriber, that is, a movie to be serviced to the subscriber from a separate provider through satellite or the Internet.

The image information receiving means 1 receives new image information from time to time in connection with the image information provider.

The image information storage means 2 is a device for storing image information received through the image information receiving means 1, the backup unit 21, the juke box 22, the hard disk 23 It consists of.

The backup unit 21 is to backup and store the image recorded on the video tape, the jukebox 22 stores a plurality of DVD (D ㅑ gital Versatile Disk) and if the video request is recorded A device for playing a DVD and outputting corresponding video information, and the hard disk 23 is a device for storing video information required by subscribers for a relatively short period of time.

That is, the backup port 21, the juke box 22, the hard disk 23 and the like store the image information received from the image information receiving means 1 according to its characteristics.

The signal converting means 3 converts the MPEG video information transmitted to the subscriber into an analog TV signal, and comprises a server 31 and a signal converting unit C.

The server 31 loads predetermined image information from the image information storage means 2 and supplies it to the signal conversion unit C under the control of the control unit 6, and performs the signal conversion operation of the signal conversion unit C. To control.

The signal converter C is composed of a plurality of signal converters C1 to Cn. Each of the signal converters C1 to Cn converts the MPEG image information loaded from the image information storage means 2 into an analog or digital TV signal. The analog or digital TV signal converted by the signal converters C1 to Cn satisfies the NTSC method and the PAL method according to the TV method of the service area.

That is, in Korea, where the TV screen is scanned in NTSC mode, the TV signal converted by the signal converters C1 to Cn is converted to NTSC mode. In Europe, the signal is scanned in the PAL method. The TV signal converted by the converters C1 to Cn is converted to the PAL method.

As such, the reason why the signal converters C1 to Cn convert MPEG image information into analog or digital TV signals is that most TVs are analog type but are not far from digital type TVs.

On the other hand, the channel allocating means (4) modulates the TV signal output from the signal converting means (3) to the frequency of the channel to be transmitted and transmits it to the corresponding channel, and comprises a switching unit (41) and a frequency modulating unit (F). do.

The switching unit 41 switches so that the image signal output from each of the signal converters C1 to Cn of the signal conversion unit C can be modulated to the frequency of the transmission channel under the control of the control unit 6. The modulator F is configured to modulate the video signal input from the switching unit 41 to a frequency of a transmission channel and transmit the modulated image signal to a subscriber through each node.

The frequency modulator (F) is composed of a plurality of frequency modulators (F1 ~ Fn), each frequency modulator (F1 ~ Fn) is a predetermined frequency modulation band is set, the frequency modulation band is a preset image Corresponds to the signal transmission channel.

That is, the number of the frequency modulators (F1 ~ Fn) is set to be the same as the number of channels for transmitting video information to the subscriber in the CATV cable network, the frequency modulation band of each frequency modulator (F1 ~ Fn) is the frequency band of the channel Set differently to correspond with.

For example, if there are 10 channels, the frequency modulator is also configured with 10, and the frequency band modulated by each frequency modulator is one-to-one corresponding to the 10 transmission channels.

The communication means 5 communicates with the set-top box of the subscriber via the CATV cable network, which is a kind of modem.

The management means (7) is an authentication to determine whether the subscriber requesting the current image information is a regular member through the normal subscription procedure by comparing the ID and password of the subscriber input through the communication means 5 with previously stored subscriber information The result of the determination is informed to the control means 6.

The control means 6 divides the video information transmission band to subscribers into a plurality of channels of a predetermined frequency band, and the channel available when there is a video transmission request from the subscriber who has been authenticated by the management means 7. It is configured to control each component so that the image information is transmitted through.

Channel division in the CATV cable network divides the remaining frequency bands (450 MHz to 1 GHz) into a plurality of channels (CH1 to CHn), except for the 50 MHz to 450 MHz band used for CATV service, as shown in FIG. In this case, each channel CH1 to CHn has a bandwidth of about 6 MHz to transmit different image information to each channel CH1 to CHn.

Referring to the effects of the present invention configured as described above are as follows.

The operation of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 6 and the drawings of FIG. 8.

Certification process

In the authentication process, when a subscriber requests image information using his or her set-top box, the management means 7 compares the subscriber's ID and password inputted through the communication means 5 with previously stored subscriber information data. The certification process is performed to determine whether the subscriber is a regular member who has gone through the normal registration process.

If it is determined that the current subscriber is a normal subscriber in this authentication process, the management means (7) informs the control means (6) that the subscriber who has requested the current video information is a full member, so that the video information requested by the subscriber is CATV cable network. To be made available to subscribers.

(Channel Assignment Process)

The control means 6, which is pressurized by the fact that the subscriber who has requested the current image information from the management means 7, is a normal subscriber, searches for the channels CH1 to CHn currently being used and detects one channel capable of image transmission.

That is, one channel is detected among channels for which video is not currently being transmitted to another subscriber.

And, through the communication means 5 to inform the subscriber of the channel number and the image transmission start time the image is transmitted so that the subscriber can receive the image information.

(Loading process)

The loading process is a process of reading the video information requested by the subscriber from the video information storage means (2).

That is, when the control means 6 informs the server 31 of the signal conversion means 3 of the storage position of the video information requested by the subscriber, the server 31 makes a backup unit of the video information storage means 2. Any one of the signal converters C1 to Cn of the signal converter C by loading the corresponding video information stored in the storage area of any one of the 21 and the juke box 22 and the hard disk 23. To the signal converters C1 to Cn.

(Signal conversion process)

The signal conversion process is a process of converting the loaded MPEG digital video information into an analog or digital TV signal, and the signal converters C1 to Cn convert the MPEG video information input from the server 31 into an analog or digital TV signal. This is a process of converting video information into NTSC or PAL method so that it can be output to the subscriber's TV.

(Frequency modulation process)

The frequency modulation process is a process of modulating the frequency of the TV signal signal-converted by the signal converters C1 to Cn to the frequency of the transmission channel, which is implemented by the switching unit 41 and the frequency modulation unit F.

The switching unit 41 switches the TV signal output from any one of the signal converters C1 to Cn to the frequency modulators F1 to Fn under the control of the control means 6, and supplies the frequency modulator F1. ˜Fn) modulates the frequency of the video signal input from the switching unit 41 to the frequency of the transmission channel and transmits the signal to the CATV cable network through the node so that the subscriber can watch on the TV.

That is, when the control means 6 selects one transmission channel, the switching section 41 transmits the TV signal output from the signal converters C1 to Cn by the control means 6 to the frequency band of the transmission channel. By supplying to the frequency modulator (F1 ~ Fn) to be modulated, the analog TV signal output from the signal converter (C1 ~ Cn) is modulated in the frequency band of the transmission channel is transmitted to the subscriber.

The operation of the present invention operating as described above will be described in more detail with reference to FIG.

8 is a view showing the operating state of the present invention, 10 image information (V1 ~ V10) is stored, 10 frequency modulators (F1 ~ F10), 10 channels (CH1 ~ CH10) is set Reference numerals T0 to T6 denote video transmission times, and letters A to Z denote subscribers.

Assuming that the subscribers A, B, and C watch the V1 image for the T2 time from T0 for the first time using the CH1 channel, when the subscriber F requests the V1 image again at the time T2, the control means 6 By selecting one of the channels (CH2 ~ CH10) where no video is being transmitted, that is, the CH2 channel, the V1 video is transmitted to the subscriber named 'F', so that the same video is duplicated through different channels. You can watch.

As described above, when the image is transmitted through the CH2 channel, the switching unit 41 supplies the analog TV signal output from the signal conversion unit C to the second frequency modulator F2 so that the analog TV signal to be transmitted is transmitted through the transmission channel CH2. To be modulated at a frequency of

On the other hand, in the above description, when all channels are in use when the subscriber requests the image information, the control means 6 finds the channel in which the service is terminated as soon as possible, and informs the subscriber of the corresponding channel and the image transmission transmission time. It is possible to determine whether to transmit the video information.

As described above, the present invention divides the frequency band that can transmit video in a CATV cable network into a number of channels, and when a subscriber requests a video transmission, selects available channels among a plurality of set channels and transmits them to the subscriber. By using the existing CATV cable network, the overall VOD system construction cost is low, and it is possible to quickly transmit the video to the available channel when there is a video transmission request from the subscriber, thereby providing a sunny VOD service to the subscriber. A dynamic channel allocation method in a CATV cable network, a VOD service system using dynamic channel allocation, and a control method thereof.

Claims (9)

In the channel allocation method for VOD service through CATV cable network, A first step of dividing a frequency band that can transmit information of a CATV cable network into predetermined frequency band units and dividing the frequency band into a plurality of transmission channels; A second step of searching for a channel that is currently in use and detecting one channel that can be transmitted among other channels that are not currently being transmitted to other subscribers when there is a request for information from the subscriber; A third step of informing the subscriber of a start time of transmitting information through the channel detected in the second step; Even if a plurality of subscribers request information at the same time, the transmittable channel can be dynamically allocated to transmit information to each subscriber so that different subscribers can view the same information over the same channel. Dynamic channel allocation method in CATV cable network. The method of claim 1, If a plurality of subscribers requested the same information, the channel is allocated to the channel so that the information is transmitted to the subscribers simultaneously through a single channel, the dynamic channel allocation method in a CATV cable network. Video information receiving means (1) for receiving MPEG video information for VOD service through a satellite or the Internet; Image information storage means (2) for storing image information received by the image information receiving means (1); Signal conversion means (3) for converting video information transmitted at the request of a subscriber into an analog or digital TV signal; Channel assignment means (4) for modulating the video signal converted into a TV signal by the signal conversion means (3) to a frequency of a channel to be transmitted and transmitting it to the corresponding channel; Communication means (5) for communicating with the set-top box of the subscriber via the CATV cable network; The video information transmission band of the CATV cable network connected to the subscriber is divided into a plurality of channels of a certain frequency band, and when the video transmission request of the subscriber is authenticated, the entire video information is transmitted through the available channel. Control means (6) for controlling the system; By means of dynamic channel assignment in the CATV cable network, characterized in that it comprises a management means (7) for performing an authentication process by comparing the ID and password of the subscriber input through the communication means (5) with preset information. VOD service system. The method of claim 3, wherein The signal converting means 3 includes a server 31 for controlling a signal converting operation of the image information to be normally performed according to a control command of the control means 6, and an image information storing means according to the control of the server 31; And a signal converting section (C) comprising a plurality of signal converters (C1 to Cn) for converting the MPEG video signal supplied from 2) into an analog or digital TV signal and supplying it to the channel allocating means (4), The channel allocating means 4 includes a switching part 41 for switching the video signals output from the respective signal converters C1 to Cn to a channel set under the control of the control means 6, and the switching part 41. Dynamic in CATV cable network comprising a frequency modulator (F) consisting of a frequency modulator (F1 ~ Fn) for modulating the video signal input from the channel to the frequency of the corresponding channel to transmit to the CATV cable network through each node VOD service system by channel assignment. The method of claim 3, wherein In the CATV cable network, the number of frequency modulators F1 to Fn constituting the frequency modulator F is the same as the number of channels CH1 to CHn transmitting video signals to subscribers through the CATV cable network. VOD service system by dynamic channel allocation. In the control method of the VOD service system, If there is a request for video information from the subscriber, the authentication process of verifying whether the member has been through the normal registration procedure by comparing the subscriber's ID and password with the previously stored subscriber information; A channel allocation process of searching for a channel currently in use and detecting one channel capable of transmitting the image and informing the subscriber of the channel to which the image is to be transmitted and the start time of the image transmission through the communication means; A loading process of reading the video information requested by the subscriber from the video information storing means 2; A signal conversion process of converting the loaded MPEG image information into an analog or digital TV signal; The channel conversion process is performed by modulating the signal-converted TV signal to the frequency of the transmission channel and transmitting the signal to the subscriber through the corresponding channel of the CATV cable network. VOD service system control method. The method of claim 6, If a plurality of subscribers request the same video information, the method of controlling the VOD service system by dynamic channel allocation in a CATV cable network, characterized in that for transmitting the video to a plurality of subscribers at a time through one channel capable of video transmission. The method of claim 6, When all channels are in use, the method of controlling the VOD service system by dynamic channel assignment in a CATV cable network, which finds a channel where service is terminated as soon as possible and informs a subscriber of a corresponding channel and a start time of video transmission. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 8, Dynamic channel allocation in CATV cable network, which receives video information requests from subscribers at intervals of about 10 minutes and responds to video information requests accumulated for 10 minutes to satisfy multiple subscribers at once VOD service system control method by