KR100487404B1 - Method of realizing a vod service utilizing web in a vod system - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of implementing a voice service using the web of an on-demand video system that enables subscribers to receive voice service through a web browser.

The present invention installs a web browser on the set-top unit and a web server on the service provider system so that the set-top unit and the service provider system can be connected through the web, and in this state, the subscriber selects the desired video from the video selection menu provided on the web browser. If you select, the service provider system converts the video selection information in the HTTP format transmitted from the set-top unit side into a format suitable for the DSM-CC UU protocol, which is a standard of the on-demand video system, and drives the DSM-CC UU of the set-top unit. After recognizing the video requested by the subscriber from the video selection information converted into the DSM-CC UU protocol format, the set-top unit transmits the requested audio / video information so that the subscriber can enjoy the ordered video.

As a result, subscribers can receive VOD service through a web browser that they can use instead of the conventional MHEG. Therefore, VOD service can be easily provided through the web even when using Internet information, so that subscribers can enjoy convenience. It has an effect.

Description

Method of realizing a VOD service utilizing web in a VOD system}

The present invention relates to a VOD service implementation method of a Video On Demand (VOD) system, and in particular, implements a VOD service using a web of an on-demand video system that enables subscribers to receive a VOD service through a web browser. It is about a method.

In recent years, the standardization of the general VOD service among subscribers of interactive multimedia services (services ordered and watched when desired by subscribers) has been focused on the Digital Audio Visual Council (DAVIC), a private standardization organization of digital audio / video services. Is going on.

DAVIC, a private standardization organization established in March 1994, aims to establish open interfaces and protocols that ensure maximum interoperability between digital voice-visual applications and services.

1A and 1B are block diagrams illustrating a reference model of a system for a VOD service defined in DAVIC. In FIG. 1A, a service provider system (SPS) reference model is shown in detail, and FIG. 1B shows a service subscriber. A Service Consumer System (SCS) reference model is shown in detail.

The service provider system (SPS) includes a content service element, an application service element, a stream service element, and a service gateway element as shown in FIG. 1A. A gateway element is provided, and a session control function, a network control function, a network interface function, and the like are performed.

The content service element manages various audio / video information when it is loaded / unloaded. The application service element accommodates a wide range of VOD services and allows the information provider to provide new and high value-added services. The stream service element stores video, audio, and data streams, and the service gateway element serves as a broker for registering or deleting individual services.

The delivery system (DS) illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B includes a core network and an access network. The core network is responsible for flexible bandwidth allocation, switching, routing, call control, and the like, and the access network is composed of access nodes, forwarding networks, network terminators, and the like.

The service subscriber system (SCS) is composed of a settop unit (STU) and a periphery as shown in FIG. 1B, and the settop unit (STU) includes a presentation entity and an application entity. And an environment entity, a connectivity entity, and a network interface unit (NIU).

The presentation entity receives the VOD service information requested by the actual subscriber from the service provider system (SPS) and displays the information on the terminal (digital VCR, analog VCR, TV, etc.). The application entity performs a function of accepting or creating a VOD service. The environment entity performs a function of setting and terminating an environment (session setting, quality class (QoS)) in which application programs can operate. The connected entity is responsible for error-free reception and transmission of information input and output to the set-top unit (STU). The network interface unit (NIU) receives specific network content information transmitted from the delivery system (DS) and performs a function of providing a general network interface to the connecting entity.

S1 shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B is a media stream channel used to carry high bandwidth bulk data, such as an MPEG-2 transport stream, S2 is an application control channel used to accommodate subscriber needs, and S3 Is a session establishment signaling channel used for establishing a session between a subscriber and a service provider, and S4 is a connection establishment signaling channel used for signaling between a subscriber and a network.

A1 shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B is a reference point defining an interface between a service subscriber system (SCS) and a delivery system (DS), and A9 defines an interface between a service provider system (SPS) and a delivery system (DS). A0, RP2, RP3, RP4, and RP7 are the reference points that define the various interfaces within the service subscriber system (SCS).

In addition, the system for the VOD service (hereinafter referred to as an on-demand video system) "DSM-" which is a standard for common management and control of the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) bit stream stored in the media regardless of the type of digital storage media. Digital Storage Media-Command Control (CC) protocol (ISO / IEC 13818-6) is used for session establishment. Here, session establishment refers to a task of creating an information exchange path between the subscriber and the service provider so that the subscriber can receive the VOD service from the service provider.

In the on-demand video system as described above, the protocol stack for the interface between the service provider system and the set-top unit has a layered structure as shown in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 2, the protocol stacks of the service provider system (SPS) and the set-top unit (STU) are layered into ATM, AAL5, IP, TCP, and DSM-CC UU, and each top layer is a DSM-CC UU protocol. It is defined. Here, the DSM-CC UU is a media control protocol and defines various operation commands (resume, pause, jump, etc.) for the VOD service. In addition, the DSM-CC UU is based on the Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA), a heterogeneous distributed environment standard established by the Object Management Group (OMG), and uses TCP / IP as the underlying communication protocol of CORBA.

Based on the layered protocol as described above, an interface between a service provider system (SPS) and a set-top unit (STU) is conventionally implemented as a multimedia and hypermedia information coding expert group (MHEG). The MHEG is the most comprehensive multimedia / hypermedia information representation and interchange format standard suitable for network-based interaction type applications. The MHEG is a representation of the multimedia / hypermedia information, space-time synchronization, and mutual interaction so that information can be exchanged through a network. It defines encoding / decoding, including exchange, real-time transmission, and final form representation.

In order to use the MHEG, the set-top unit (STU) is provided with an MHEG engine, and the MHEG engine encodes / decodes multimedia / hypermedia information represented by an MHEG object, performs object analysis for presentation processing, Interact with the user, etc. Here, the MHEG object refers to a coded representation of multimedia information.

In addition, the video bit stream compressed in MPEG-2 through the S1 channel shown in FIG. 2 is transmitted from the service provider system (SPS) to the set-top unit (STU), and the control signal or downloaded through the S2 channel. Program information is transmitted to a service provider system (SPS) or set-top unit (STU).

That is, when the subscriber requests the service object from the service provider system (SPS) through the S2 channel by driving the DSM-CC of the set-top unit (STU), the service provider system (SPS) downloads the MHEG object to the set-top unit (STU) side. The set-top unit (STU) interprets the downloaded MHEG object in real-time engine processing, that is, decodes the downloaded MHEG object and calls a representation module.

Then, when an event (selection, location movement) occurs by the subscriber, the set-top unit (STU) transmits a video MHEG object request signal to the service provider system (SPS) through the S2 channel, and the service provider system (SPS) is set-top. The video MHEG object requested from the unit (STU) is downloaded to the set-top unit (STU), and the set-top unit (STU) outputs the downloaded audio / video information to the terminal (digital VCR, analog VCR, TV, etc.).

However, as described above, there is a problem in that the subscribers feel inconvenience and unfamiliar with using the VOD service because the subscribers have to interface with the service provider system using MHEG which is not used to receive the VOD service.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and provides a VOD service through a web browser (Internet search tool) that can be used by subscribers. The purpose is to provide a VOD service implementation method using the web.

In order to achieve the above object, the VOD service implementation method using the web of an on-demand video system according to the present invention orders the desired video from the set-top unit of the subscriber to the service provider system. A method of implementing a video on demand (VOD) service of an on-demand video system for transmitting to the set-top unit, wherein the set-top unit is installed via the web with a web browser installed on the set-top unit and a web server installed on the service provider system. Connecting to a service provider system; providing, by the web server, a video selection menu to the web browser; and when the subscriber selects a desired video from a video selection menu, the web browser sends an HTTP (HyperText Transfer) to the web server. Protocol) Transmitting the video selection information, converting the video selection information in the HTTP format received through the web server into a format suitable for the DSM-CC UU protocol, and simultaneously driving the DSM-CC UU of the set-top unit; And recognizing the required video from the video selection information converted into the DSM-CC UU protocol format and transmitting the requested audio / video information to the set-top unit.

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

On-demand video system to which the present invention is applied is composed of a service provider system (SPS), a delivery system (DS) and a service subscriber system (SCS) as described in the prior art, and the service subscriber system (SCS) includes a set-top unit ( STU) is provided, and a terminal (digital VCR, analog VCR, TV, etc.) for outputting audio / video information is connected to the set top unit (STU).

In addition, in the video-on-demand system to which the present invention is applied, the standard protocol stack for the interface between the service provider system and the set-top unit is layered into ATM, AAL5, IP, TCP, and DSM-CC UU, respectively, as shown in FIG.

In the present invention based on the layered protocol as described above, the interface between the service provider system (SPS) and the set-top unit (STU) is implemented through the web. For this purpose, a web browser is provided in the set-top unit (STU) as shown in FIG. Is installed, and a web server is installed in the service provider system (SPS).

In addition, a video bit stream compressed in MPEG-2 is transmitted from the service provider system (SPS) to the set-top unit (STU) through the S1 channel shown in FIG. 3, and a control signal or a downloaded video is transmitted through the S2 channel. The selection menu information is sent to the service provider system (SPS) or set top unit (STU).

A process of implementing the VOD service according to an embodiment of the present invention by the on-demand video system configured as described above will be described in detail as follows.

First, the subscriber enters the Internet address of the web server of the service provider system (SPS) on the web browser of the set-top unit (STU) to connect with the web server installed in the service provider system (SPS). At this time, various control signals output from the web browser of the set-top unit (STU) are transmitted to the web server of the service provider system (SPS) through the S2 channel.

In the above, the web server of the service provider system (SPS) provides a video selection menu to the set-top unit (STU) of the subscriber through the S2 channel when the subscriber is connected, and then the subscriber views the video selection menu displayed on the web browser. When you select the desired video by operating the mouse or keyboard (if an event occurs), the web browser of the set-top unit (STU) sends the video in HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) format to the web server of the service provider system (SPS) via the S2 channel. Send selection information.

When the service provider system (SPS) receives the video selection information in the HTTP format from the web browser of the set-top unit (STU), the service provider system (SPS) transmits the video selection information in the HTTP format through the Common Gateway Interface (CGI) and the Interface Definition Language (IDL). It converts into a format suitable for the CC UU protocol, and simultaneously transmits a start signal to the set-top unit (STU) DSM-CC UU to prepare for VOD service. That is, since the web browser of the set-top unit (STU) cannot directly drive the corresponding DSM-CC UU, the web server of the service provider system (SPS) must run the DSM-CC UU of the set-top unit (STU). Here, IDL is a language for defining the interface and data structure of objects standardized by ISO / IEC 14750.

Then, the service provider system (SPS) recognizes the required video from the subscriber's video selection information described in IDL according to the corresponding DSM-CC UU protocol, and then the subscriber is already ready to accept the VOD service through the S1 channel. Transmits the corresponding audio / video information (MPEG bit stream) to the set top unit (STU), and the set top unit (STU) restores the MPEG bit stream input through the S1 channel, and then the terminal (digital VCR, analog VCR, TV). Etc.) so that subscribers can watch their order through the terminal.

As described above, the present invention enables subscribers to receive VOD service through a web browser that can be used to familiarize them, so that when they want to receive VOD service while using the Internet information, they can easily access the service provider system through the web and provide the VOD service easily. In addition, the control can be performed through a menu provided on a web browser, and thus, there is an effect that the subscriber can be convenient.

1A and 1B are block diagrams illustrating a reference model of a system for a VOD service defined in DAVIC;

2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a protocol stack for an interface between a service provider system and a set-top unit in a typical video on demand system;

3 is a diagram illustrating a protocol stack for an interface between a service provider system and a set-top unit in an on-demand video system to which the present invention is applied.

Claims (1)

In a method of implementing a video on demand (VOD) service of an on-demand video system in which the service provider system transmits the requested audio / video information to the set-top unit when a desired video is ordered from the set-top unit of the subscriber to the service provider system. Connecting the set-top unit to the service provider system via the web with a web browser installed on the set-top unit and a web server installed on the service provider system; The web server providing a video selection menu to the web browser; When the subscriber selects a desired video from a video selection menu, the web browser transmitting video selection information in a HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) format to the web server; Converting the video selection information of the HTTP format received through the web server into a format suitable for the Digital Storage Media-Command Control User to User (DSM-CC) protocol and simultaneously driving the DSM-CC UU of the set-top unit; , And recognizing the required video from the video selection information converted into the DSM-CC UU protocol format and transmitting the requested audio / video information to the set-top unit side. How to implement a service.