KR100593788B1 - Calling method and appartus using a set-top box, set-top box - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for telephone connection using a set top box.

In the telephone connection method using the set-top box according to the present invention, (a) a telephone connection server receives the unique code of the set-top box of the TV receiving subscriber and the telephone number of the TV receiving subscriber to associate the unique code with the telephone number. Storing and constructing a subscriber's telephone number database; (b) the telephone number of the receiver and the set-top number of the channel information or broadcast signal of the TV from the set-top box in which the telephone connection server receives a telephone connection command from a predetermined TV remote control; Receiving the unique code of the box itself, (c) the telephone connection server reading the corresponding telephone number based on the received unique code, (d) the telephone connection server channel from the set-top box When the information is received, the current time while transmitting the channel information to the broadcasting station server for transmitting a predetermined TV signal to the set-top box Requesting and receiving a receiving telephone number corresponding to the channel information and receiving the received telephone number; and (e) the telephone connection server connects a call to the read subscriber telephone number and the telephone corresponding to the receiving telephone number of the two telephones. And connecting the call. According to the present invention, the user can conveniently make a phone call by using the TV remote control to the phone number appearing on the screen subtitle while watching TV, thereby increasing the advertising effect such as home shopping broadcasting.

Description

Telephone connection method and apparatus, set-top box using set-top box {Calling Method and appartus using a set-top box, set-top box}

1 is a schematic diagram of a network system for providing a service according to the present invention.

2 is a schematic diagram of another network system for providing a service according to the present invention.

3 is a service flow diagram according to the present invention.

4 is another service flow diagram in accordance with the present invention.

5 is a reference diagram illustrating a system configuration of the present invention.

6 is a flow chart of a telephone connection method using a set-top box according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

7 is a flow chart of a telephone connection method using a set-top box according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

8 is a flow chart of a telephone connection method using a set-top box according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

9 is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of the telephone connection server of the present invention.

10 is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of a set-top box of the present invention.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for telephone connection using a set top box.

In order to talk to the other party using a conventional telephone (PSTN, mobile communication or Internet telephone), the telephone number of the receiver is input by using the transmitter telephone.

That is, when a user watches a TV number (information phone, home shopping inquiry phone, etc.) broadcasted on the TV, the user may memorize the above phone number or memo it elsewhere, and then use the phone to dial the above phone number. Had to be entered.

However, it was inconvenient for the user to memorize the telephone number instantaneously coming out of the TV or to make a call after viewing the contents after making a note of the above telephone number, thereby reducing the effectiveness of the TV advertisement.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for connecting a telephone using a set-top box of a TV and an apparatus and a set-top box.

The telephone connection method using the set-top box according to the present invention for solving the above problems is (a) a specific connection code of the set-top box of the set-top box of the TV receiver subscriber is connected to a predetermined TV set-top box and the Internet Receiving a subscriber's telephone number and storing the unique code in association with the telephone number to construct a subscriber telephone number database; (b) the telephone connection server receives a telephone connection command from a predetermined TV remote control; Receiving, from the set-top box, the receiving telephone number of the channel information or the broadcast signal of the TV and the unique code of the set-top box itself, (c) the telephone connection server corresponding to the telephone based on the received unique code Reading a number; (d) when the telephone connection server receives channel information from the set top box, the set top box Requesting and receiving a receiving telephone number corresponding to the channel information of the current time while transmitting the channel information to a broadcasting station server transmitting a predetermined TV signal to the receiver; and (e) the telephone connection server is configured to receive the read subscriber. And connecting a call between the two telephones by connecting a call to a telephone number and a telephone corresponding to the receiving telephone number.

In the step (a) of the telephone connection method using the set-top box, the telephone connection server receives an occasional telephone number for each broadcasting time zone and TV channel from the broadcasting station server, and stores the telephone number in advance. And the step (d) may be performed when the telephone connection server receives the channel information from the set-top box, and reads the receiving telephone number corresponding to the channel information of the current time. have.

In the step (e) of the telephone connection method using the set-top box, the telephone connection server may be configured that the telephone number corresponding to the subscriber's telephone number or the receiver's telephone number is “calling” or “no answering” or “ If the telephone number is not accurate and the call is impossible, an error message corresponding thereto may be generated and transmitted to the set-top box.

In addition, the step (e) of the telephone connection method using the set-top box is (e1) the telephone connection server connecting the call to the telephone number of the subscriber telephone number, (e2) the telephone connection server of the subscriber telephone number Determining whether the call connection is successful in the telephone call, if the failure fails, sending a call connection failure message to the set-top box to provide the call connection failure message to the TV, (e3) The telephone connection server is the set-top box Providing a call connection failure message to the TV and receiving one of a new subscriber's telephone number received from the remote control, a call connection retry, or termination of a call connection, (e4) the call connection server receiving the received information. If it is a new subscriber telephone number, updating it in the subscriber telephone number database; and (e5) the telephone. Results server may be characterized in that it comprises the step of if the information received the transmission, the new subscriber telephone number or a call connection retries, go to the step (b) or (c) comprises the steps of less.

In the step (b) of the telephone connection method using the set-top box, the telephone connection server is characterized in that the set-top box receives the receiving telephone number and the unique code of the set-top box received by the user from the set-top box. You can do

Telephone connection server using a set-top box according to the present invention for solving the problem is connected to a predetermined TV set-top box via the Internet, the transceiver for transmitting and receiving the necessary information, the unique code of the set-top box of the TV receiving subscriber And a subscriber telephone number management unit which receives a telephone number of the TV receiving subscriber and stores the unique code and the telephone number in association with the telephone number to establish a subscriber telephone number database. The set top box receives a telephone connection command from a predetermined TV remote controller. Subscriber phone number extraction unit for receiving the unique code of the set-top box itself from the transmission and reception unit, and reads the telephone number corresponding to the received unique code based on the transmitted unique code, from the set-top box through the transceiver Receive telephone number of receiver on channel information or broadcasting signal If the channel information is provided, the channel information is transmitted to the broadcasting station server that transmits a predetermined TV signal to the TV set-top box, and the receiving telephone number corresponding to the channel information of the current time is transmitted. The subscriber's telephone number is received from the receiving telephone number extracting unit and the subscriber's telephone number extracting unit, and the receiving telephone number is received from the receiving telephone number extracting unit. It characterized in that it comprises a telephone connection portion for connecting the calls of the two telephones by connecting a call to a telephone corresponding to the telephone number.

In addition, the telephone connection server using the set-top box is further provided with a receiving telephone number for each broadcasting time zone, TV channel from the broadcasting station server in advance to store and store the broadcast telephone number database to build a broadcast telephone number database, The telephone number extracting unit may read the receiving telephone number corresponding to the channel information of the current time from the broadcasting telephone number database.

In addition, the telephone connection server using the set-top box is when the telephone number corresponding to the subscriber telephone number or the receiving telephone number is "calling" or "not answering" or "phone number is not accurate and the call is impossible. The information may be further provided by the telephone connection unit, and may further include an error message transmission unit generating an error message corresponding to the provided information and transmitting the generated error message to the set top box.

The receiving telephone number extracting unit of the telephone connection server using the set top box may be characterized in that the set top box receives the receiving telephone number received from the user through the transmitting and receiving unit.

In addition, the telephone connection unit of the telephone connection server using the set-top box determines whether the call is successfully connected to the telephone number of the subscriber's telephone number, and provides the information to the error message transmission unit if the call fails, and the error message transmission unit is the set-top box. Transmits a call connection failure message to the set-top box to provide the call connection failure message to the TV, and the transceiver transmits a call connection failure message to the TV and the set-top box receives a new subscriber's telephone number received from the remote controller. Or receiving one of a call connection retry or call termination, and the subscriber telephone number management unit receives the new subscriber telephone number from the transmitting and receiving unit when the received information is a new subscriber telephone number. Updating the database It may be characterized.

The set-top box according to the present invention for solving the above problems is a set-top box connected to the Internet and providing a TV signal received through a predetermined communication network to a predetermined TV, the TV signal receiving the TV signal through the communication network. A remote control receiver for receiving a telephone connection command from a predetermined remote controller for transmitting a control signal including a receiver, on / off of a predetermined TV, changing a channel of the TV, and adjusting an output sound volume of the TV; When received from the remote control receiver, receiving side information extracting unit for extracting the receiving telephone number in the current channel information or broadcast signal of the TV, unique code management unit for storing and managing its own code, the telephone connection command from the remote control receiving unit Is received, the receiving telephone number in the current channel information or broadcast signal from the receiving information extracting unit The current channel information to a telephone connection server which receives a call and receives its own code from the unique code management unit and connects a telephone of a telephone number previously registered by the TV receiver with a predetermined receiving telephone; Or a TV signal received from the Internet transmission / reception unit and the TV signal reception unit receiving a predetermined error message from the telephone connection server, and the error message provided from the Internet transmission / reception unit. And a TV transmitter for transmitting to the TV.

In addition, the unique code management unit of the set-top box receives and stores a predetermined telephone number from the remote control via the remote control receiver, and provides the phone number to the Internet transceiver, the Internet transceiver from the remote control receiver When the telephone connection command is provided, the provided telephone number along with the channel information may be transmitted to the telephone connection server.

Hereinafter, terms used in the present invention will be defined.

A "set top box" is a concept that includes all kinds of electronic devices that receive a TV signal through the Internet or over the air or satellite signals and provide the received TV signal to a TV (including a computer) connected thereto.

"TV" is a concept including all electronic devices that receive a TV signal from the set-top box and output it to a screen.

The "search server or return server" refers to a server for searching the telephone number of a TV receiving subscriber.

"Call control device" refers to a device that connects a call to a telephone of a telephone number provided from the search server or the like.

"Telephone connection server" is a concept that includes the functions of the search server and the call control device is a concept that includes the search server and the call connection device regardless of the spatial location.

Hereinafter, the concept of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

The present invention is to provide a very convenient and useful one room convergence service to subscribers / consumers as well as broadcasters and advertisement requesters or operators in the upcoming digital broadcasting age. IP-based call control and announcement broadcasting technology relates to a system and service for calling a desired counterpart or enterprise by interworking with an existing PSTN public telephone network, VoIP telephone network, or mobile communication network. In other words, when you see a phone call or "Call" or "Reservation" or "Order" next to a phone number on the screen during an advertisement or product promotion / promotion in digital broadcasting, press the call button with the TV or digital broadcast remote control. When clicked, it relates to a service and devices that allow each other to make a phone call through a communication network to each other's phone and their own phone.

The service of the present invention is a digital broadcasting set-top box that allows a caller or subscriber to make a call automatically when the user clicks on the remote control on the screen that can make a call in digital or data broadcasting instead of making a direct call. If the call control equipment is physically interlocked through digital satellite or terrestrial broadcasting network or cable network, the subscriber's phone number information is retrieved from the set-top box through the subscriber DB and the information is sent to the call control device. Calls can be made through call processing equipment of VoIP or telephone network operators.

For this purpose, the following roles should be played in the program or system of digital TV or analog TV, set-top box, search server, subscriber DB, call control device, announcement broadcasting device.

1. Set-top box enables digital broadcasting to analog or digital TV, and VoIP phone is connected to VoIP. When the service user clicks the call button on the remote control, the set-top box receives the signal and passes the subscriber's phone number to the call controller through the return server. At this time, the interworking between the set-top box and the call control device exchanges information by interworking with TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) or UDP (User Datagram Protocol).

2. The search server accepts the phone number request of the set-top box, searches the subscriber DB, and sends the subscriber's phone number to the set-top box. However, the search server can send the subscriber's telephone number information directly to the call controller without going through the set-top box, or the call controller can query the subscriber DB directly.

3. Subscriber DB stores telephone number information of digital broadcasting subscribers and enables search server or call control device to search telephone number.

4. The call control device holds the service logic to send the service requester's phone number received through the set-top box or other server and the telephone number of the other party or company to receive the call to the communication network operated by the service provider. Driving system

5. Announcement system is a system to send specific voice message to the called party or company. However, depending on the service configuration, the voice message can be sent to the subscriber or the viewer, and if not necessary, both the calling subscriber and the receiving party may not send the voice message.

1 shows a schematic diagram of a network system for providing a service according to the present invention. In Figure 1, when a person watching a digital or IP TV, a digital cable broadcast or a digital satellite broadcast shows a call to make a call, when the user clicks the call button on the remote control, the set-top box receives a signal through the internal broadcasting system or the set-top box It delivers the phone number information of the counterpart or company who wants to make a phone call to the call control device, and the set-top box requests the subscriber / viewer's phone number inquiry request from the search server, and the search server searches the subscriber DB and then controls the subscriber's phone number information. Pass it to the device. The call controller receiving all the phone number information performs the service logic for the service. That is, request the call processing to the communication network of the service provider by setting the operation and parameter of the protocol corresponding to the call type (PSTN phone, mobile phone, VoIP phone, etc.) of the other party, broadcasting station, or company that wants to call. The system of the communication network (exchanger or switch equipment, etc.) performs an application start call (= Application Initiated Call) to make a telephone communication. Then, if necessary, a request for transmitting a voice message to the guide broadcasting device causes the guide broadcasting device to transmit a voice message suitable for the service to a called party, a broadcasting station, or a company. Depending on the service configuration, this voice message function may or may not be used, and subscribers / viewers may also receive an appropriate voice message if necessary at the moment of picking up the handset. At this time, the communication network may be a PSTN network, a VoIP network or a mobile communication network. In other words, if a subscriber or viewer uses a PSTN phone, the call is made to the PSTN network when the call is made. If a VoIP phone is used, the call is communicated to the mobile phone screen of the mobile communication screen, but the other party's phone is the same type. You do not need to be a telephone service subscriber. Therefore, the telephone fee will be charged by the existing telephone service providers at the previous rate. However, if the other party, the broadcasting station, or the company uses the toll-free telephone number, the subscriber or viewer who made the call will not be charged at all. The core function of the present invention is a telecom convergence service that combines an application start call (= application initiated call) function performed by a call processing device with a data processing function in a digital broadcasting set-top box, and provides a remote control for digital / data broadcasting. With the push of a button, you can call PSTN, mobile, or VoIP phones regardless of the type of phone service. It's a different service than dialing.

FIG. 2 processes the functions of the search server in FIG. 1 in the call controller, and the remaining functions and service contents are the same as in FIG.

3 and 3a and 3b show a flowchart of a call function for a service of the present invention. Specifically, following the flow chart, users and viewers can view phone numbers, “call”, “order”, “inquiry”, “reservation” on digital or data broadcasts, and click the call button on the remote control. When a call is requested, the subscriber phone number is requested to the search server through a TCP / IP or UDP interworking method after receiving a signal from the set-top box, and the search server searches the subscriber DB and delivers the phone number information to the set-top box or calls. Transfer directly to the control unit. And the phone number information of the other party or company to receive the call is transmitted through the digital broadcasting system or the set-top box directly to the call control device.

The call control device that receives the subscriber's telephone number received from the set-top box or search server and the telephone number of the counterpart, broadcasting station or enterprise that the subscriber wants to make a telephone call from the digital broadcasting system or set-top box performs the service logic and performs the PSTN network and VoIP network. A network initiation call is requested from a network or a mobile communication network.

An application initiated call (= Application Initiated Call) is made to an exchange or switching system of a communication network, and the exchange or switching system is a service requester, that is, a subscriber or viewer and a counterpart or Check that the station or company number is a valid number. If a valid number is found, the call is attempted by the service requester (subscriber or viewer) and the other party's or broadcaster's or company's telephone number through an application initiated call (= Application Initiated Call) function. When a call is answered by the other party, a station, or an enterprise, the call is connected, and the announcement broadcaster transmits an appropriate voice message until the call is connected to the calling subscriber or viewer. However, the contents of the voice message may be different according to the service configuration, and the voice message function may not be implemented. If a call is answered by the calling subscriber or viewer, the call is connected.

If there is no answer from the called party, the station, or the calling party or the caller of the subscriber or the viewer, the network sends an unanswered message to the call controller and the call controller receives the unanswered message to the search server or set-top box. The message is transmitted and the digital or data TV broadcaster sends the appropriate announcement and subsequent use right through the set-top box.

4 and 4a are flowcharts of the service functions and contents of FIG. 2, and the functions of the search server are processed by the call controller. The remaining flowcharts are the same as those of FIGS. 3 and 3a and 3b.

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

5 is a reference diagram illustrating the concept of the present invention.

Reference numeral 501 denotes a television (electronic device having a television water function). The TV 501 receives a TV signal from the set-top box 502 and outputs it to a screen.

The set-top box 502 receives a TV signal through the Internet, airwaves or satellite signals and provides it to the TV 501. When the set-top box 502 receives a telephone connection command from the remote control of the TV 501, the set-top box 502 receives the current channel of the TV 501. Or, it reads the receiving telephone number and its own code included in the broadcast signal (TV signal) and transmits it to the telephone connection server 504.

The telephone connection server 504 reads the telephone number of the TV receiver (subscriber) registered in advance using the unique code, and transmits the channel information to the broadcasting station server 505 when the channel information is received from the set-top box. After receiving a predetermined telephone number (for example, a telephone number of a corresponding company in the case of a home shopping channel) (receiving side telephone number) included in a broadcast program broadcasted on the current channel, the telephone number of the subscriber's telephone number ( 503 and a telephone call 506 of the called telephone number.

At this time, if necessary, the set-top box 502 may store the subscriber's telephone number in advance and provide the subscriber's telephone number to the telephone connection server 504 instead of the unique code.

Here, the unique code of the set-top box is used to distinguish one set-top box from another set-top box, and an IP address may be used if necessary.

6 is a flow chart of a telephone connection method using a set-top box according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

First, the telephone connection server receives the unique code of the set-top box and the subscriber's telephone number and stores it (601) to build a subscriber telephone number database.

Meanwhile, the broadcasting station server may receive a receiving telephone number for each TV channel of each broadcasting time zone and store the received telephone number (602) to build a broadcasting telephone number database.

When the set-top box receives the telephone connection command from the remote controller (603), the set-top box extracts the receiving telephone number and its own code from the channel information or broadcast signal of the current TV and transmits it to the telephone connection server (604).

The telephone connection server reads the subscriber's telephone number based on the received unique code (605), determines whether the channel information is received from the set-top box (606), and if true, transmits the received TV channel information to the broadcasting station server. Ask for the side number.

The broadcasting station server reads the receiving telephone number based on the current time and the received TV channel information, and transmits the received channel number to the telephone connection server 607.

The telephone connection server connects the call to the subscriber's telephone number (608). At this time, if necessary, a predetermined guide message can be transmitted to the telephone of the subscriber's telephone number.

Thereafter, the telephone connection server determines whether the call connection is successful (609), and if successful, connects the call to the telephone of the receiving telephone number (610). At this time, if necessary, a predetermined guide message may be provided to the receiving telephone number.

After that, the telephone connection server determines whether the call connection is successful (611) and, if successful, connects the calls of the two phones (612).

On the other hand, if the result of the determination in step 609 or 611 is not successful, a predetermined error message is generated and provided to the set-top box (613), and the set-top box provides the received error message to the TV (614) to the screen. To be printed.

Here, the error message may be "calling", "not answering", "phone number does not exist", and the like.

On the other hand, although not shown in the drawing, in step 604, the set-top box can extract the receiving telephone number and the subscriber's telephone number previously stored in the TV channel information or broadcasting signal and provide it to the telephone connection server. The server may omit steps 601 and 605.

7 is a flow chart of a telephone connection method using a set-top box according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Here, step 701 is the same as step 601, step 702 is the same as step 603, step 703 is the same as step 604, and step 704 is the same as step 605.

After that, the telephone connection server requests the set-top phone number to the set-top box (705), and the set-top box provides the TV with the input of the receiving phone number (706) to be output to the screen, and the receiver phone from the remote control. It receives a number (707) and transmits it to the telephone connection server.

Subsequent steps 708 are the same as step 608, step 709 is the same as step 609, and the subsequent steps are all the same as the steps of FIG.

On the other hand, although not shown in the drawing, step 703 may receive the receiving telephone number from the remote control and transmit it to the telephone connection server. In this case, steps 705, 706, and 707 may be omitted.

8 is a flow chart of a telephone connection method using a set-top box according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

First, when the call connection fails as a result of the determination in step 609 of FIG. 6, the phone connection server generates a call connection failure message and transmits it to the set-top box (801).

The set-top box transmits a call connection failure message to the TV (802), receives a new caller's telephone number (subscriber's telephone number) or information of the call connection retry or termination through the remote controller (803) and dials it. Send to server.

The telephone connection server determines whether the information received above changes the subscriber's telephone number (804), and if true, updates the subscriber's telephone number to the subscriber's telephone number database (805) and proceeds to step 608.

On the other hand, if the determination result of the above step 804 is not true, it is determined whether the received information is a reconnection of the call connection, if true, go to step 608, and if false, go to step 613.

9 is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of a telephone connection server according to the present invention.

The telephone connection server according to the present invention includes a transceiver 901, a subscriber telephone number manager 902, a broadcast telephone number manager 903, a subscriber telephone number extractor 904, a receiver telephone number extractor 905, and a telephone. The connection unit 906 may include an error message transmission unit 907.

The transceiver 901 is connected to a predetermined TV set-top box via the Internet, and performs a function of transmitting and receiving necessary information.

The subscriber telephone number management unit 902 receives a unique code of the set-top box of the TV-receiving subscriber and the telephone number of the TV-receiving subscriber and stores the unique code and the telephone number in association with each other to establish a subscriber telephone number database. Then,

The subscriber's telephone number extraction unit 904 receives the unique code of the set-top box itself from the set-top box, which has received a telephone connection command from a predetermined TV remote control, through the transceiver, and correspondingly based on the received unique code. Read a phone number.

The receiving telephone number extracting unit 905 receives the receiving telephone number of the channel information or the broadcasting signal of the TV from the transmitting and receiving unit, and transmits a predetermined TV signal to the TV set-top box when the channel information is received. Transmits the channel information to the broadcasting station server through the transceiver, and requests and receives a receiving telephone number corresponding to the channel information of the current time;

It may also perform the function of receiving the receiving telephone number from the set-top box through the transceiver.

The telephone connection unit 906 receives the subscriber's telephone number from the subscriber's telephone number extraction unit and receives the receiver's telephone number from the receiver's telephone number extraction unit, and corresponds to the subscriber's telephone number and the receiver's telephone number. A call is connected to a telephone to connect a call between the two telephones.

The broadcast phone number management unit 903 receives a receiving telephone number of each broadcasting time zone and TV channel from the broadcasting station server in advance and stores the received telephone number to store the broadcasting telephone number database, and extracts the receiving telephone number. The unit 905 performs a function of reading the receiving telephone number corresponding to the channel information of the current time from the broadcasting telephone number database.

The error message transmission unit 907 displays the information when the call corresponding to the subscriber's phone number or the receiving party's phone number is "in a call", "no answer," or "phone number is not accurate and the call is impossible." Is provided from the telephone connection unit, and generates an error message corresponding to the provided information and transmits it to the set-top box.

On the other hand, the telephone connection unit determines whether the call is successfully connected to the telephone number of the subscriber telephone number and provides the information to the error message transmission unit, if the failure, the error message transmission unit transmits a call connection failure message to the set-top box The set top box causes the call connection failure message to be provided to the TV, and the transmission / reception unit provides the call connection failure message to the TV and the new subscriber's telephone number or call connection retry or call connection received from the remote controller. Upon receiving any one of the terminations, the subscriber's telephone number management unit receives the new subscriber's telephone number from the transceiver and updates the subscriber's telephone number database when the received information is a new subscriber's telephone number. It may be.

10 is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of a set top box according to the present invention.

The set-top box according to the present invention includes a TV signal receiver 1001, a TV transmitter 1002, a remote controller receiver 1003, an Internet transceiver 1004, a receiver side information extractor 1005, and a unique code manager 1006. do.

The TV signal receiving unit 1001 includes a function of receiving the TV signal through the communication network.

The TV transmitter 1002 includes a function of transmitting the TV signal provided from the TV signal receiver and the error message provided from the Internet transceiver.

The remote control receiving unit 1003 performs a function of receiving a telephone connection command from a predetermined remote controller that transmits a control signal including on / off of a predetermined TV, changing a channel of the TV, and adjusting an output sound volume of the TV.

When the Internet transmitting and receiving unit 1004 receives the telephone connection command from the remote control receiving unit, the receiving side information extraction unit receives the current channel information or the receiving telephone number in the broadcast signal and receives its own code from the unique code management unit. Receiving a telephone number and the unique code of the current channel information or broadcast signal to a telephone connection server for connecting the telephone number of the telephone number pre-registered by the TV receiver with a predetermined receiving telephone; The server receives a predetermined error message from the telephone connection server.

The TV channel extraction unit 1005 includes a function of extracting current channel information of the TV when the telephone connection command is provided from the remote control receiver.

The unique code management unit 1006 stores and manages its own unique code. The unique code manager 1006 receives a predetermined telephone number from the remote controller through the remote controller receiving unit 1003 and stores it. In this case, the Internet transceiver 1004 performs a function of transmitting the provided telephone number along with the channel information to the telephone connection server when receiving the telephone connection command from the remote control receiver.

On the other hand, the method according to the invention can be produced as a computer program that can be executed by a computer, the computer program is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium (CD, hard and floppy disk, various memory devices, etc.) It is possible.

Effects according to the present invention can be divided as follows.

1) Convenience of automatic call on TV

In the past, when viewing a station or advertisement on TV and contacting an advertiser, placing an order, or making a reservation call, viewers or consumers had to dial the phone number directly, but when digital or data broadcasting began in earnest, the phone number or phone number appeared on the TV screen. When you see a screen for making a call such as "Call" or "Schedule" or "Order", simply click the call button on the remote control. Broadcasting companies that want to receive calls through the combined service of broadcasting services or companies that engage in advertisements and public relations can receive more calls from viewers and consumers, and viewers and consumers can easily call through TV. You can easily make inquiries, order, and make reservations for stations and corporate products. The can.

And because the phone-to-phone method is used instead of the web-to-phone method commonly used on the Internet, all telephone services regardless of whether the call of a station or company that wants to receive a call with viewers, subscribers, or consumers is PSTN, VoIP, or mobile phones. It is a service that can be used without restriction and can be made to a large number of unspecified people who want to receive a call through digital or data broadcasting rather than calling a predetermined party on the Internet.

2) variety of services

Unlike the traditional telecommunication market, which is the Internet, this service is applied in the broadcasting market called the terrestrial TV broadcasting, cable or satellite broadcasting. It is advertised, promoted or inquired by the broadcasting companies and companies in the coming digital or data broadcasting era. It can be utilized in various places such as ordering, reservation, etc., and it is a necessary convergence service that is essential for the era of two-way transmission broadcasting using digital technology, away from the current one-way transmission method.

3) Value added

Existing Internet is an automatic telephone service based on call to phone function based on click call in popular broadcasting media rather than communication media. It will be possible to provide better and more convenient services to both consumers and consumers.

Claims (13)

(a) A telephone connection server connected to a predetermined TV set-top box via the Internet receives the unique code of the set-top box of the TV-receiving subscriber and the telephone number of the TV-receiving subscriber and associates the unique code with the telephone number. Storing and constructing a subscriber telephone number database; (b) receiving, by the telephone connection server, a receiving telephone number in the channel information or broadcast signal of the TV and the unique code of the set-top box from the set top box that has received a telephone connection command from a predetermined TV remote control; (c) reading, by the telephone connection server, a telephone number corresponding thereto based on the received unique code; (d) when the telephone connection server receives channel information from the set top box, Requesting and receiving a receiving telephone number corresponding to the channel information of a current time while transmitting the channel information to a broadcasting station server transmitting a predetermined TV signal to the set top box; And (e) The telephone connection server includes a step of connecting a call between the two telephones by connecting a call to a telephone corresponding to the read subscriber's telephone number and the receiving telephone number. How to connect. The method of claim 1, Step (a) is The telephone connection server receives the occasional telephone number of each broadcasting time zone and TV channel from the broadcasting station server in advance, stores it, and further constructs a broadcasting telephone number database. Step (d) And when the telephone connection server receives the channel information from the set top box, reading the receiving telephone number corresponding to the channel information of the current time. The method of claim 1, wherein step (e) The telephone connection server may receive an error message corresponding to the case where the call corresponding to the subscriber's telephone number or the called party's telephone number is in a "call" or "no answer" or "phone number is not correct and the call is impossible." Creating a phone connection method using a set-top box, characterized in that for transmitting to the set-top box. The method of claim 1, wherein step (e) (e1) the telephone connection server connecting the call to the telephone of the subscriber's telephone number; (e2) The telephone connection server determines whether the call is successfully connected to the telephone number of the subscriber's telephone number and transmits a call connection failure message to the set-top box so that the set-top box provides the call connection failure message to the TV. step; (e3) the telephone connection server receiving the call from the set-top box providing a call connection failure message to the TV and receiving a new subscriber's telephone number, a call connection retry, or termination of the call connection received from the remote controller; (e4) if the received information is a new subscriber telephone number, updating the received telephone number database in the subscriber telephone number database; And (e5) if the received information is a new subscriber's phone number or call connection retries, the telephone connection server includes moving to step (b) or (c) and performing the following steps. Telephone connection method using a set-top box. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) The telephone connection server is a telephone connection method using a set-top box, characterized in that the set-top box receives the telephone number and the unique code of the set-top box received by the set-top box from the user. A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a computer program capable of executing the method of any one of claims 1 to 5. A transmission / reception unit connected to a predetermined TV set-top box through the Internet and transmitting and receiving necessary information; A subscriber telephone number management unit which receives a unique code of the set-top box of the TV receiving subscriber and a telephone number of the TV receiving subscriber and stores the unique code and the telephone number in association with each other to construct a subscriber telephone number database; Subscriber phone that receives the unique code of the set-top box itself from the set-top box receiving the telephone connection command from a predetermined TV remote control through the transceiver, and reads the corresponding telephone number based on the received unique code. Number extraction unit; The receiver receives a receiving party's telephone number in the channel information or broadcast signal of the TV from the set top box through the transceiver, and when the channel information is provided, the channel to a broadcasting station server transmitting a predetermined TV signal to the TV set top box. A receiving-side telephone number extracting unit which receives and receives the receiving-side telephone number corresponding to the channel information of the current time while transmitting information through the transmitting / receiving unit; And Receiving the subscriber's telephone number from the subscriber's telephone number extracting unit and receiving the receiving telephone number from the receiving telephone number extracting unit, the call is connected to the subscriber's telephone number and the telephone corresponding to the receiving telephone number. Telephone connection server using a set-top box, characterized in that it comprises a telephone connection portion for connecting the calls of the two phones. The method of claim 7, wherein And a broadcasting telephone number management unit for receiving a receiving telephone number of each broadcasting time zone and TV channel from the broadcasting station server in advance and storing the received telephone number to build a broadcasting telephone number database. Recipient's phone number extractor The telephone connection server using a set-top box, characterized in that for reading the receiving telephone number corresponding to the channel information of the current time from the broadcast telephone number database. The method of claim 7, wherein If the telephone number corresponding to the subscriber's telephone number or the called party's telephone number is "calling" or "no answering" or "phone number is not accurate, the information is provided from the telephone connection, And an error message transmitter for generating an error message corresponding to the received information and transmitting the error message to the set top box. The method of claim 7, wherein the receiving telephone number extraction unit Telephone set-up server using the set-top box, characterized in that the set-top box receives the received telephone number received through the transceiver. The method of claim 7, wherein The telephone connection unit determines whether the call connection is successful by the telephone of the subscriber's telephone number and provides the information to the error message transmission unit when the call fails. The error message transmitter transmits a call connection failure message to the set top box so that the set top box provides the call connection failure message to a TV. The transceiver receives the set-top box provides a call connection failure message to the TV and receives any one of a new subscriber's telephone number or a call connection retry or call termination, received from the remote controller, The subscriber telephone number management unit receives the new subscriber telephone number from the transceiver and updates the subscriber telephone number database when the received information is a new subscriber telephone number. A set-top box connected to the Internet and providing a TV signal received through a predetermined communication network to a predetermined TV. A TV signal receiving unit which receives the TV signal through the communication network; A remote control receiver for receiving a telephone connection command from a predetermined remote controller for transmitting a control signal including on / off of a predetermined TV, changing a channel of the TV, and adjusting an output sound volume of the TV; A receiving side information extracting unit for extracting a receiving telephone number in the current channel information or broadcasting signal of the TV when the telephone connection command is provided from the remote control receiving unit; Unique code management unit for storing and managing their own code; When receiving the telephone connection command from the remote control receiving unit, the receiving side information extracting unit receives the current channel information or the receiving telephone number in the broadcast signal, and receives its own unique code from the unique code management unit, and receives the TV receiver. Transmits the current channel information or the receiving telephone number and the unique code to a telephone connection server that connects a telephone of a telephone number registered in advance to a predetermined telephone and a telephone call; An internet transceiver for receiving an error message; And And a TV transmitter for transmitting the TV signal provided from the TV signal receiver and the error message provided from the Internet transceiver. The method of claim 12, wherein the unique code management unit Receiving a predetermined telephone number from the remote controller through the remote controller receiving unit, storing the predetermined telephone number, and providing the telephone number to the Internet transceiver unit; When the Internet transceiver unit receives the telephone connection command from the remote control receiver, the set-top box, characterized in that for transmitting the provided telephone number with the channel information to the telephone connection server.

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