KR100575649B1 - Electronic program guide providing method and system based to home networking - Google Patents

Abstract

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and a system for providing home program based broadcast program information. In particular, the contents of the EPN information of a broadcast program transmitted from various broadcasting stations based on time are based on UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) based CDS (Content Direntory Service) The purpose of the present invention is to facilitate the selection of a broadcast by reflecting the same. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a method of requesting broadcast program information to a media server (120) using a UPnP command in a content directory service (CDS) method of a UPnP-based network system; Requesting, by the server 120, broadcast program information to the EPG_CDS module 150, and analyzing the broadcast program (EPG) data provided from the broadcast station by the EPG_CDS module 150 to correspond to the selection of any higher information, Arranging from upper information to lower information in a tree hierarchy structure so that the information is displayed, creating an XML document, and transmitting the created broadcast program document to the media server 120, and the control point 110 And providing a broadcast program delivered from the media server 120 to the user.

Description

Method and system for providing broadcasting program information based on home networking {ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDE PROVIDING METHOD AND SYSTEM BASED TO HOME NETWORKING}

1 is a block diagram of a network system for an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a structural diagram of a broadcast program directory in an embodiment of the present invention;

3 is a structural diagram of an actual EPG directory to which FIG. 2 is applied;

4 is an operational flowchart for date management in an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is an operational flowchart for time management in an embodiment of the present invention.

6 is an exemplary view showing a program information providing method when a program time overlaps a plurality of time zones in an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 7 is an exemplary view showing a reservation recording process in an embodiment of the present invention.

8 is a flowchart illustrating a process of providing broadcast program information according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

110: control point (CP) 120: media server (MS)

130: Media Renderer (MR) 140: File System

150: EPG_CDS module

The present invention relates to a network service, and more particularly, to a method and system for providing broadcast program information based on home networking.

Recently, as computing power is applied to small and various devices, cheap and universal networking media technologies are emerging or commercialized. For example, a variety of devices such as refrigerators, TVs, washing machines, PCs, and audio devices used in homes are connected by networking and given the computing power, so that they can be easily used and set up so that people can enjoy a higher quality of life. It became possible.

For this purpose, the Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) function has been proposed.

Since the Plug and Play (PnP) feature has been added to the current operating system, installing and configuring PC peripherals has become much easier, but UPnP has built this complete functionality based on Internet standard technologies such as TCP / IP, HTTP and XML. It extends to networks, enabling network devices such as home appliances, network printers, and Internet gates to be networking, especially home networking.

The UPnP network is composed of a device, a service, and a control point (CP).

The device includes a service and various accessory devices. For example, the VCR device includes a tape moving service, a tuner service, a time service, and the like.

The service refers to the smallest small control unit on the network, and the service itself is modeled through a state variable.

The CP (control point) refers to a controller having a function of detecting and controlling other devices.

The current UPnP AV architecture specification includes a control point (CP), a media server (MS) for storing content useful for a home network, and a media renderer (MR) for providing content through a home network. do.

In order to inform the control point CP of the directory information, the media server MS informs the media file of the media file using the direct file system whenever there is an action.

Meanwhile, Microsoft's Media Center edition XP version of the operating system uses EPG (Electronic Program Guide) data provided by local cable stations to provide viewers with detailed information about the broadcast they want to watch, making it easier to select TV programs.

When providing information using such EGP data, an inquiry message is provided regarding whether to record the contents not currently broadcasted at a later time.

If a set-top box with a PVR function is used, recording time can be reserved in the PVR using the EPG.

In addition, if a broadcast service such as Skylife is provided, the EPG can be used to check what channels are currently being played and various attachments to the program.

Therefore, the EPG (Electronic Program Guide) is an 'electronically processed TV program guide' and will be a guide for the viewer to easily select a program in an age of multi-channel and multi-media.

However, although the property name for video broadcast is defined in the version of Content Directory Service (hereinafter referred to as 'CDS'), a method of presenting data about a program provided by an over-the-air broadcast or an EPG to a CDS is currently available. This is not presented.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a method and system for providing home program information based on home networking to easily select an arbitrary program by reflecting EPG information about a broadcast program transmitted from various broadcasting stations in a CDS in order to improve the conventional problem. The purpose is to provide.

In particular, an object of the present invention is to make it easier to select a broadcast and to make scheduled recording at a predetermined time by reflecting the EPG information in the UPnP-based CDS based on the time information.

The present invention provides a content directory service (UPDP) method of a UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) based network system in which a control point (CP) uses a UPnP command to provide a media server (MS). Requesting broadcast program information from the broadcast server; requesting broadcast program information from the media server (MS) to the EPG_CDS module; and analyzing the broadcast program (EPG) data provided from the broadcast station by the EPG_CDS module to perform arbitrary higher level information. Arranging a tree hierarchy from a higher level information to a lower level information so that corresponding lower information is displayed in response to a selection, creating an XML document, and transmitting the created broadcast program document to the media server MS; A point CP performs a step of providing a user with a broadcast program delivered from the media server MS. The features.

In addition, the present invention in the UPnP-based network system in order to achieve the above object, when the EPG content is requested by the browse (browse) action is provided with an EPG_CDS module to deliver the CDS results by EPG_CDS to the media server (MS) It is characterized by the configuration.

The EPG_CDS module provides a process of providing information necessary to view an actual broadcast only when browsing metadata of an item of an actual broadcast program, and in other cases, continuously provides only information for accessing a broadcast program item. Characterized in that configured to perform the process.

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

In an embodiment of the present invention, EPG data for adding to a content directory service (CDS) should have a structure as illustrated in FIG. This is because CDS is basically a service that searches for a hierarchical structure consisting of containers (hereinafter referred to as "folders") and items.

In other words, each broadcast program must be an item, and in order to distinguish the program from other programs, the broadcast program must be represented in a hierarchical structure as shown in FIG.

The EPG contains a program that will be sent to all stations for a period of time.

However, depending on how the external input is selected, the user wants a list of programs provided by the selected external input.

If the external input is selected, the user can browse the list of similar categories (the station category providing the same program). Thereafter, when a specific category is selected, a broadcasting station included in the category can be found, and when a specific broadcasting station is selected, a list of dates / days provided by the EPG can be viewed. At this time, since the date should be able to show not only the contents broadcasted in the future but also the contents of the future, only list the future dates.

After that, selecting a date brings up a list of times. Therefore, if a specific time is selected, the information of the actual program broadcasted at that time can be viewed. Here, the actual program information includes the start time and end time, the name of the channel, the channel number, and the contents of the actual program title.

In the embodiment of the present invention, an EPG_CDS module is provided as a module that can receive EPG data and express it as a directory structure in order to express the hierarchical structure of FIG. 2.

Figure 1 is a block diagram of a system for an embodiment of the present invention, as shown therein, a media renderer 130 for playing files such as video, audio, and browsing of a content directory service (Content Directory Service). manages the media server 120, the media server 120 and the media renderer 130 using the browse) action, and transfers a UPnP command for collecting EPG information to the media server 120. The control point 110 for providing EPG information transmitted from the media server 120 in a user interface (UI) manner, the file system 140 for providing content file information, and the media server 120 are browsed ( When the EPG content is requested by the browse) action, the EPG_CDS module 150 is configured to generate a CDS result of the EPG_CDS as an XML document and deliver it to the media server 120.

Referring to the operation and effect of the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above are as follows.

In the embodiment of the present invention, in providing the CDS (Content Directory Service), the media server 120 delivers a browse action instead of simply searching the file system 140 to obtain file information. Get EPG information.

Accordingly, the EPG information structure obtained by the control point 110 when the media server 120 provides the EPG function is illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a directory structure of an actual EGP based on the concept of FIG. 2.

However, since the EPG data is not in the form of a file existing in the file system 140, when the results of the Browse and Search actions are returned from the CDS, the data received by the EPG is entirely stored in the EPG_CDS module 150. You have to make it.

When the control point 110 calls the UPnP action for the Browse command for the EPG with respect to the CDS of the media server 120, the EPG_CDS module 150 includes a subfolder in which the EPG folder is a parent folder. It is necessary to make a process.

This is because there is no information on the type of input selectable from the media server 120 in the EPG data.

Accordingly, when the Browse request for the EPG is received, the EPG_CDS module 150 should provide information about inputs provided by the media server 120 until the block 210 of FIG. 2. This information can be known by the user specifying in advance which input to use when setting up the media server.

In addition, assuming that the user can give a name for each input, not just input1 and input2, and change the name to an understandable name by reading external inputs such as airwaves, cable TV, skylife, and overseas satellite broadcasting as shown in FIG. have. This is the part that is processed regardless of the EPG data.

Once the EPG folder and input selections are represented, other hierarchies can be created based on the EPG data.

When the user selects a specific input, the EPG_CDS module 150 receives the EPG data corresponding to the specific input and creates a directory structure.

Block 220 of FIG. 2 is a process of creating a category structure through the EPG. When a user selects a specific category, the EPG_CDS module 150 generates a list of broadcasting stations belonging to the category. This is a structure that is made static regardless of time.

On the other hand, block 230 of FIG. 2 is a directory structure created after the selection of a specific broadcasting station 222, and a process of creating a date folder corresponding to a period provided by EPG data and creating a time folder corresponding to a specific day. to be. It is made dynamically over time.

That is, the process of block 230 is processed by the EPG_CDS module 150, and the EPG structure created at that time is maintained even when the power is turned off.

However, what the user is interested in is the list of programs currently being broadcast and programs to be broadcast in the future. However, when a program broadcasted in the past can be viewed, a program is stored and the program is retrieved from the CDS.

Therefore, date and time lists must be maintained.

First, as shown in the operation flowchart of FIG. 4, the date management method may be classified into two types, one of receiving the EPG data for the first time and the other of updating the EPG data while continuing to use the EPG data.

When receiving EPG data for the first time, the EPG_CDS module 150 creates a date folder at that time.

If the EPG data is provided for a week, a folder corresponding to a week is created. If a month is provided, a folder for a month is created.

After that, while comparing the current date by using a timer (Timer), it is to delete the past folder of the date folder once created, and to create a new folder for the program after the current time.

In addition, as shown in the operation flowchart of FIG. 5, the time management method creates or deletes a folder based on a predetermined time with respect to the current date by using the same method as the date management method.

When the broadcast program information first comes in on the current date, a time folder is created in an hour unit based on the current time.

If the broadcast program information of the previous date is received on the basis of the current date, only the time folder corresponding to the later time on the basis of the current time is left, and the folder on the previous time is deleted. This is to eliminate the case where the user wants to watch the previous program in advance.

In addition, the configuration of items stored in the corresponding time folder uses program titles as identifiers, and lists the programs on the basis of the start time.

If the program starts at 2:20 and ends at 3:10, the program should be included in the 2 o'clock folder and the 3 o'clock folder. That is, assuming that the program starts at 13:30 and ends at 14:30, the program is stored in the 13:00 folder and the 14:00 folder as shown in the example of FIG.

Meanwhile, a method for determining playback and recording in an embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

When a program title is selected, time information contained in the item is read and compared with the current time to determine whether to play (ie, watch) or record it.

Accordingly, if the current time is between the program start time and the end time, the broadcast content is sent when a play command is received.

When the user selects a program title, as shown in the example of FIG. 7, if the program starts at a later time than the current time, the user is asked whether or not to schedule recording. Then, when the scheduled time comes, the InstanceID for the program is transmitted to the AVT service to perform recording.

Thereafter, the reserved recorded contents are registered in the CDS through createobject () after the recording is completed.

Therefore, in the embodiment of the present invention, when the EPG_CDS module 150 is to browse the contents of the EPG when Browse (), which is a required action of the CDS, is called to reflect the EPG data in the CDS, This means that the directory structure created for the EPG information should be output as the CDS output.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a process in which the EPG_CDS module 150 provides broadcast program information, and illustrates a process of providing a user with a result value returned when a Browse action is called with a parentID of each folder. This is described as follows.

First, when the parent action is an EPG folder when the Browse action is called, if the flag is BrowseMetadata, the EPG_CDS module 150 writes metadata about the EPG folder in XML and returns it to the media server 120. If the flag is not browse metadata, the input list provided by EPG_CDS is returned.

If the parentID is a specific input when the Browse action is called, the flag is not identical to the browse metadata and the metadata for the specific input is returned or the EPG data is analyzed to determine the category list of similar broadcasting stations. Reply.

In addition, if the parentID is any category, the metadata of any category is returned or the EPG data is analyzed to return a list of stations. If the parentID is a specific station, the metadata is returned or the EPG data is analyzed. Check the list of dates and days provided by the EPG data to create a folder or delete the old folder and reply to it.If the parentID is a specific date, return the metadata for the specific date or check the list of times provided by the EPG data. Create a folder or delete the old folder and reply to it, return the metadata for a specific time if the parentID is a specific time, or list the list of programs contained in a specific time folder.

Finally, if the parentID does not match the parentID of each folder, it is determined as a result of browsing to another CDS folder.

That is, the EPG_CDS module 150 provides the information necessary to view the actual broadcast only when browsing metadata about the item of the actual broadcast program, and in other cases, only the information for accessing the broadcast program item continues. To provide.

As described in detail above, the present invention expresses the EPG information as a Browse result on the CDS of the UPnP AV standard so that the user can easily find a desired program, and the reservation recording can be set through the monitor screen. There is an effect of increasing the convenience.

Claims (8)

In the UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) based Content Directory Service method, And providing broadcast program information collected from a broadcast medium with respect to a browse action for requesting broadcast program information (EPG) of an arbitrary control point. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing broadcast program information Displaying a preset input list when the program is recognized as a broadcast program request; Returning a list of broadcast media of a similar type by analyzing EPG data when an arbitrary input list is selected; Creating and replying to a date folder for a date / day included in the EPG data when any broadcast media is selected from the broadcast media list; Selecting any folder among the date folders to create and reply to a time folder for the time included in the EPG data; When selecting any time folder included in the time folder, the process of returning program information (start time, end time, program title) included in the corresponding folder is configured to perform a home networking based broadcast program information. How to Provide. The system of claim 2, wherein the input list is Method for providing broadcast program information based on home networking, characterized in that the user sets in the media server (MS) and can be arbitrarily changed. The method of claim 2, further comprising: deleting a previous date folder or a time folder on the basis of the current time point. The broadcasting program information based on home networking according to claim 2, further comprising the step of providing metadata for each specific folder to provide information necessary for viewing the actual broadcast. How to Provide. The method of claim 2, further comprising: inquiring a scheduled recording and setting a scheduled recording according to a user's response if the start time of the corresponding broadcast program is later than the current time when the selected broadcast program is selected. How to provide broadcast program information based on home networking. In the UPnP-based home network system that provides a content directory service (Content Directory Service), When a browse action for requesting broadcast program (EPG) information occurs, a tree from upper level information to lower level information is displayed so that corresponding lower level information is displayed in response to selection of upper level information of a broadcasting program provided by a broadcasting medium. A home networking based broadcast program information providing system comprising: an information service module arranged in a hierarchical structure and delivered to a media server. The method of claim 7, wherein the information service module Providing the information necessary to view the actual broadcast only when browsing metadata for the actual broadcast item; In other cases, the home networking based broadcast program information providing system is configured to perform a process of continuously providing only information for accessing a broadcast program item.

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