KR100798150B1 - Moving picture on demand service method - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for providing an MPOD(Moving Picture On-Demand) service is provided to enable a user to view a moving picture through a digital TV in a desired time by enabling the user to store the moving pictures to an MPOD server directly. A user receives a viewer ID/password and an STB(Set-Top Box) ID by registering to the MPOD server. The user stores the STB ID to an STB by using a remote controller. The user selects the moving picture to be downloaded by connecting to the STB through a client after login. The user downloads the selected moving picture to the MPOD server through the client and the MPOD server stores the downloaded moving picture by each user. The MPOD server selects the moving picture to be broadcasted among the stored moving pictures. The MPOD server encodes and modulates the selected moving picture as a digital broadcasting stream, and transmits the modulated to the STB of the viewer. The STB decodes, demodulates, and broadcasts the digital broadcasting stream through a broadcasting output unit in real-time.

Description

Moving picture on demand service method}

1 is a view showing an example of an on-demand video system for implementing an on-demand video service according to the present invention;

2 is a view showing another example of an on-demand video system implementing on-demand video service according to the present invention;

3 is a flowchart dividing the on-demand video service method step by step according to the present invention.

-Explanation of terms for the main parts of the accompanying drawings-

10; Broadcaster server, 20; Broadcast server,

30; Digital TV, 31; Set Top Box,

32; Broadcast output unit, 32a; display,

32b; Speaker, 33; remote,

40a-40n; Client, 50a-50n; Website server,

60; Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server,

70, 70a to 70n; Moving Picture On Demand (MPOD) Server.

The present invention provides a video on-demand service that allows viewers to directly store various types of videos that can be transmitted over the Internet in a moving picture on demand (MPOD) server, and then watch the video through a broadcast output unit of a digital TV at a desired time. It is about a method.

As is well known, the known over-the-air, cable and satellite broadcasts transmit broadcast programs at predetermined times, and viewers simply watch them passively, thus greatly reducing the convenience of viewing.

In the related art, broadcasters put broadcast programs on a broadcaster's Internet homepage as a video, and provide a service that allows viewers to access the homepage through a client (PC) to view broadcast programs already broadcasted at a desired time. In this case, the inconvenience is that the viewer must watch the broadcast program only through the computer monitor.

In order to solve this problem, an interactive video service, such as IP TV (Internet Protocol Television) service or VOD (Video On Demand) service, has been proposed. A set top box for broadcasting and a server providing an interactive video service should be interconnected through the Internet. The VOD service generally provides a video image to viewers through a well-known iTV (interactive TV) broadcasting network, so that Internet video cannot be viewed through a broadcast output unit of a digital TV, whereas an IP TV service is not only broadcast but also Internet video. The content can be viewed through the broadcast output unit of the digital TV, and its use is gradually expanded.

On the other hand, in recent years, the ownership of video recording equipment is becoming more common, and the number of Internet viewers is also gradually increasing, so that various types of user created contents (UCC) videos, which are not broadcast images, are shared on the Internet and watched through a client The number of viewers who want to watch various types of Internet video contents including UCC video through the broadcasting output unit of digital TV is also increasing accordingly.

However, in the conventional bidirectional video service, a viewer operates a remote controller to access a server providing a bidirectional video service through a set-top box, and then selects one video object from a video stored in a server providing the bidirectional video service, and the corresponding video material. Because of the way to watch the video, the choice of videos that can be watched was greatly limited.

Accordingly, the present invention has been invented to solve the above problems, the viewer can directly store the various types of video that can be transmitted to the Internet to the MPOD server, and can watch the video through the broadcast output unit of the digital TV at a desired time The purpose is to provide an on-demand video service method.

The present invention for achieving the above object, the first step of accessing the MPOD server via the client to join the service member, and receives the viewer identifier, viewer password and set-top box identifier; A second step of storing the set-top box identifiers for each MPOD server in the set-top box through the remote controller; A third step of logging into the MPOD server through the client; A fourth step of selecting a video to be downloaded to the MPOD server through the client; Downloading the selected video to the MPOD server via the client, and storing the downloaded video to the MPOD server for each viewer; Selecting a video to be broadcasted from the video of the corresponding viewer stored in the MPOD server; A seventh step of encoding and modulating the selected video into a digital broadcast stream and transmitting the encoded video to a set-top box of a corresponding viewer; The eighth step is performed by decoding and demodulating the transmitted digital broadcast stream in a set top box and broadcasting it in real time through a broadcast output unit.

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

First, the on-demand video service according to the present invention is implemented by the on-demand video system shown in FIG. 1 or 2.

On-demand video system according to Figure 1 includes a broadcast provider server 10 for providing a digital broadcast application and digital broadcast content to the broadcast delivery server 20; A broadcast transmission server 20 connected to the broadcasting network for transmitting the digital broadcasting application from the broadcasting company server 10 and the digital broadcasting contents to the set top box 31 of the digital TV 30 through the broadcasting network; A set-top box connected to a broadcasting network and the Internet, receiving a digital broadcasting application from the broadcasting transmission server 20 and digital broadcasting contents through a broadcasting network, decoding and demodulating the same, and outputting the digital broadcasting contents to the broadcasting output unit 32. And a remote control for remotely controlling the operation of the set-top box 31 and the broadcast output unit 32 that broadcasts the digital broadcast content from the set-top box 31, the display 32a and the speaker 32b. A digital TV 30 equipped with 33; Clients 40a to 40n that are connected to the Internet, request the server for main tasks or information and return the results; Website servers 50a to 50n connected to the Internet and returning the results of execution to the clients 40a to 40n after performing tasks or information requested by the clients 40a to 40n; DHCP server 60 for assigning a fixed IP address to clients 40a to 40n or set-top box 31 and for assigning fixed IP addresses to website servers 50a to 50n or MPOD server 70. ) And; Connected to the Internet, MPOD server 70 for downloading and storing the requested video from the client (40a ~ 40n), converts the stored video into a digital broadcast stream to the set-top box 31 of the viewer.

On the other hand, Figure 2 is a view showing a system-on-demand video system, unlike the on-demand video system shown in Figure 1 with one MPOD server 70, a plurality of MPOD server (70a ~ 70n) is on the Internet Form a connected structure. In this case, the DHCP server 60 individually assigns different static IP addresses to the plurality of MPOD servers 70a to 70n.

The video system on demand according to FIGS. 1 and 2 is a set-top box of a digital TV 30 in a known digital broadcasting system including a broadcaster server 10, a broadcast delivery server 20, and a digital TV 30. 31 forms a structure connected to a known client / server system consisting of clients 40a-40n and servers 50a-50n, 60, 70, 70a-70n.

Since the MPOD server 70 (70a to 70n) according to the present invention has a hardware configuration substantially the same as a server for providing an IP TV service, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Referring to Figure 3 in detail step by step the video on-demand service method according to the invention as follows.

1. A first step of accessing the MPOD server 70 (70a to 70n) through the clients 40a to 40n to join a service member and receiving a viewer identifier, a viewer password, and a set-top box identifier.

The first step is to join the on-demand video service member by accessing the Internet to the MPOD server 70 (70a to 70n) using the clients 40a to 40n. The personal information of the registered viewers is stored in the MPOD server 70; 70a to 70n), a viewer identifier and a viewer password for member authentication, and a set-top box identifier for identifying the viewer's set-top box. If necessary, one identifier may be jointly used as the viewer identifier and the set-top box identifier, or two different identifiers may be separately used as the viewer identifier and the set-top box identifier.

The MPOD server 70 stores the personal information of the registered viewer, the viewer identifier, the viewer password, and the set-top box identifier so that the user of the client 40a to 40n is justified through the viewer identifier and the viewer password. It authenticates the membership and identifies the viewer's set-top box via the set-top box identifier.

2. The second step of storing the set-top box identifier by the MPOD server (70; 70a ~ 70n) in the set-top box 31 via the remote control (33).

In this second step, the MPOD server 70 (70a to 70n) identifies the set-top box 31, and automatically sets the set-top box IP address for the session connection between the set-top box 31 and the MPOD server (70; 70a to 70n). In order to be recognized, the set-top box identifier is stored in the set-top box 31 for each MPOD server 70 (70a to 70n).

The user interface for storing the set-top box identifier for each MPOD server 70 (70a to 70n) in the set-top box 31 is included in an application provided from the broadcasting server 20 and stored in the set-top box 31.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the case of an on-demand video system having one MPOD server 70, in order to store the set-top box identifier in the set-top box 31 for each MPOD server, the viewer dares to select the MPOD server 70. no need. Accordingly, the broadcast transmission server transmits a fixed IP address of the MPOD server 70 for session connection between the set-top box 31 and the MPOD server 70 without displaying a menu for selecting the MPOD server 70 on the user interface. It is preferable to include in the application provided from 20 to store in the set-top box 31.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, when the viewer presses the setup button on the remote control 33, a set-top box configuration screen including a "save set-top box identifier" menu, "confirm set-top box identifier" menu and "close screen" menu Displayed through the display 32a, when the remote control 33 is operated to select the "save set-top box identifier" menu, a prompt "Enter a set-top box identifier" and an input window for inputting the set-top box identifier are displayed. The set-top box identifier storage screen to be included is displayed on the display 32a. In this state, when the viewer operates the remote controller 33 to input the set top box identifier given at the time of membership registration, the set top box configuration screen is displayed on the display 32a. When the set-top box configuration screen is displayed on the display 32a, when the user selects the "confirm the set-top box identifier" menu by operating the remote controller 33, the instruction phrase "the set-top box identifier is XXXXXXXX" and " The set-top box identifier confirmation screen including the "confirmation" menu is displayed on the display 32a. In this state, when the viewer operates the remote controller 33 to select the "confirmation" menu, the set top box configuration screen is displayed on the display 32a. Subsequently, when the set top box configuration screen is displayed on the display 32a, when the remote control 33 is operated to select the “Close screen” menu, the set top box configuration screen disappears from the display 32a.

When the set top box 31 is switched from the OFF state to the ON state, the set top box 31 is connected to the MPOD server 70 through the fixed IP address of the MPOD server 70 stored in the set top box 31. Attempt to access the MPOD server 70 after identifying the set-top box 31 for each member (by the registered viewer) through the set-top box identifier transmitted from the set-top box 31. Set-top box IP address transmitted from) is stored by member. Here, since the IP address of the set top box 31 is automatically updated to the MPOD server 70 whenever an attempt is made to access the MPOD server 70, the IP address of the set top box 31 is either a fixed IP address or a variable IP. Any of the addresses may be used. As such, when the IP address of the set-top box 31 for each member is automatically updated in the MPOD server 70, the MPOD server 70 uses the set-top box identifier and the set-top box IP address to the set-top box 31 of the specific member. Selective connection can be made freely.

On the other hand, as shown in Figure 2, in the case of an on-demand video system having a plurality of MPOD server (70a ~ 70n), among the plurality of MPOD server (70a ~ 70n) MPOD server (70a ~ 70n) that the viewer is a member ), The set-top box identifier given at the time of membership registration must be stored separately for each MPOD server 70a to 70n.

In the case of the embodiment shown in Figure 2, when the viewer presses the setup button on the remote control 33, a configuration screen displaying the "save set-top box identifier" menu, "confirm set-top box identifier" menu and "close screen" menu is displayed Displayed via (32a), and operate the remote control 33, select the "Save Set-Top Box Identifier" menu, the message "Please select the MPOD service provider", "No. 1; AAA company", "No. 2" MPOD service company selection screen including menus such as "BBB company", "No. 3; CCC company", etc. are displayed on the display 32a. In this state, when the viewer operates the remote controller 33 and selects a specific MPOD service provider, for example, "No. 1; AAA company", the prompt "Enter the set-top box identifier provided by the AAA company", The set-top box identifier storage screen including an input window for inputting the set-top box identifier is displayed on the display 32a. In this state, when the viewer operates the remote controller 33 to input the set top box identifier given at the time of membership registration, the set top box configuration screen is displayed through the display 32a. When the set top box configuration screen is displayed on the display 32a, when the remote controller 33 is operated to select the "confirm the set top box identifier" menu, "No. 1 is the set top box identifier of the AAA company is XXXXXXXX". , "No. 2; BBB company's set-top box identifier is not registered", "No. 3; CCC company's set-top box identifier is not registered", and the set-top box identifier confirmation screen including the "OK" menu is displayed. Displayed via the display 32a. In this state, when the viewer operates the remote controller 33 to select the "confirmation" menu, the set top box configuration screen is displayed on the display 32a. Subsequently, when the set top box configuration screen is displayed on the display 32a, when the remote control 33 is operated to select the “Close screen” menu, the set top box configuration screen disappears from the display 32a. In the present embodiment, the fixed IP address of each MPOD server (70a ~ 70n) is included in the application provided from the broadcast transmission server 20 is stored in the set-top box 31. Therefore, the IP address of the set-top box 31 for each member is automatically updated for each of the MPOD servers 70a to 70n, and the MPOD server 70a to 70n uses the set-top box identifier and the set-top box IP address to set the member's set-top. The box 31 can be freely selected and connected.

3. The third step of accessing and logging in to the MPOD server 70 (70a to 70n) via the clients 40a to 40n.

The third step is to connect the viewer's clients 40a to 40n to the MPOD server 70 (70a to 70n).

First, the MPOD server 70 is connected to the MPOD server 70 (70a to 70n) via the client 40a to 40n and requests a session connection by inputting a viewer identifier and a viewer password given at the time of membership registration. The viewer identifier and the viewer password input from the clients 40a to 40n at 70a to 70n are compared with the viewer identifier and the viewer password of the corresponding viewer stored in the MPOD server 70 (70a to 70n). Allowing the client to connect the session (40a ~ 40n) and the MPOD server (70; 70a ~ 70n) to each other, if they do not match each other and sends a login error message to the client (40a ~ 40n).

4. A fourth step of selecting a video to download to the MPOD server 70; 70a to 70n via the client 40a to 40n.

In the fourth step, the viewer views the broadcast to the MPOD server 70 (70a to 70n) via the client 40a to 40n while the clients 40a to 40n and the MPOD server 70 (70a to 70n) are connected to the session. Request to download the desired video.

The video to be downloaded is a video held by the client 40a to 40n, a file shared video held by another client 40a to 40n, or a video held by the website server 50a to 50n. All is possible.

However, if the videos held by the website servers 50a to 50n are provided for a fee, the viewer accesses the website servers 50a to 50n to obtain a membership certification and pay an annual fee, or a separate user authentication. Through the procedure, the video transmission authentication procedure such as the payment of the individual transmission fee should be performed, and the video transmission from the website server 50a to 50n should be allowed.

5. Downloading the selected video to the MPOD server (70; 70a to 70n) via the client (40a to 40n), and the fifth step of storing the downloaded video in the MPOD server (70; 70a to 70n) for each viewer.

The fifth step is a step of storing a video desired to watch the broadcast in the MPOD server (70; 70a ~ 70n) so that the viewer can watch the desired video at the desired time.

The operation of selecting and downloading the video to be downloaded is performed through a user interface for downloading provided by the MPOD server 70; 70a to 70n, which is provided through the web provided by the MPOD server 70; 70a to 70n. It may be displayed on a page, or may be provided to the clients 40a to 40n as a separate user interface program, such as a known messenger program. In the present embodiment, when dragging and dropping a video to be downloaded to a user interface for downloading provided by the MPOD server 70; 70a to 70n, the corresponding video is automatically downloaded to the MPOD server 70; 70a to 70n. The downloaded video is stored in the MPOD server 70 (70a to 70n) for each user. The MPOD server 70 (70a to 70n) allocates a storage space for each viewer subscribed to, the size of the storage space for each viewer can be arbitrarily adjusted by the MPOD server administrator. For example, by providing a storage capacity equivalent to 5G bytes to the viewers subscribed, and set a certain amount of usage fee per 1G bytes, the subscribers request to increase the storage capacity and pay the corresponding amount If so, the storage capacity of the payment amount is additionally provided.

Meanwhile, when the downloaded video is a digital broadcast video format (MPEG2, MPEG4, H.264, etc.), the video is stored without file format conversion. On the other hand, if the downloaded video is not a digital broadcast video format such as MPEG1, MOV, RealVideo, Avi, etc., converts them to a digital broadcast video format and stores them in the MPOD server (70; 70a to 70n), or the MPOD server in its original format. After the sixth step is performed, the video data may be converted into a digital video format and encoded and modulated into a digital broadcast stream.

After performing the fifth step, the following sixth step may be performed while the session connection between the clients 40a to 40n and the MPOD server 70 (70a to 70n) is maintained. 40a to 40n) and the session connection between the MPOD server 70 (70; 70a to 70n), and then log in to the MPOD server 70 (70a to 70n) again at the desired time to watch a video broadcast, and then the client (40a to 40n) and the MPOD. The following sixth step may be performed while the session is connected between the servers 70 (70a to 70n).

6. The sixth step of selecting a video to watch the broadcast from the video of the viewer stored in the MPOD server (70; 70a ~ 70n).

The sixth step is a step in which a registered viewer requests to broadcast a video to the MPOD server 70 (70a to 70n).

The video broadcasting request operation is performed from the video of the viewer stored in the MPOD server 70 (70a to 70n) through the set-top box 31 connected to the MPOD server (70; 70a to 70n) through the remote control 33 as a medium. Selecting a video to watch or selecting a video to watch from among the videos of the viewers stored in the MPOD server 70 (70a to 70n) via the clients 40a to 40n connected to the session to the MPOD server 70 (70a to 70n). do.

The video broadcast request operation is performed through a user interface for a broadcast request provided by the MPOD server 70 (70a to 70n), and the video broadcast request is transmitted to the MPOD server 70 (70a to 70n) via the remote controller 33. When the session is connected through the set-top box 31, the user interface for the broadcast request is displayed through the display of the digital TV 30, and the video broadcast request is session-connected to the MPOD server 70 (70; 70a to 70n). ~ 40n), the user interface for the broadcast request is displayed through the display of the client (40a ~ 40n).

The list of videos stored by the viewer is displayed on the user interface for the broadcast request, so that the viewer can easily select a video to watch by searching the video list.

Meanwhile, in the sixth step, the MPOD server 70 (70a to 70n) and the set top box 31 are connected to each other through the set top box identifier and the set top box IP address.

7. The seventh step of encoding and modulating the selected video into a digital broadcast stream and transmitting the same to the viewer's set-top box 31.

In the seventh step, the digital broadcast stream is transmitted from the MPOD server 70 (70a to 70n) to the set-top box 31 so that the viewer can watch a video broadcast through the broadcast output unit 32 of the digital TV 30. Step.

8. Eighth step of decoding and demodulating the transmitted digital broadcast stream in the set-top box (31) to broadcast in real time via the broadcast output unit (32).

This eighth step is a step of broadcasting a digital broadcast stream from the MPOD server 70 (70a to 70n) through the broadcast output unit 32 of the digital TV 30.

Since the seventh and eighth stages are already well known and performed, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment as described above, and of course, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the following claims.

For example, in the above embodiment, although the fixed IP address of the MPOD server 70 (70a to 70n) is included in the application provided from the broadcast transmission server 20 and is automatically stored in the set top box 31, If necessary, the viewer may take a method of directly inputting the fixed IP address of the MPOD server 70 (70a to 70n) into the set-top box. In this case, the MPOD service provider must inform the member of the fixed IP address of the corresponding MPOD server (70; 70a to 70n) through online or offline, and the subscribed viewer can access the MPOD server (70; 70a to 70n) through the user interface. ), The fixed IP address must be stored directly in the set-top box (31). However, this method is not preferable because it is very cumbersome and inconvenient to register the MPOD server.

On the other hand, since the moving picture is a series of still pictures, the present invention is not limited to the moving picture but can be applied to broadcasting viewing of still pictures. That is, the viewer may directly store various types of still images capable of Internet transmission in the MPOD server, and then view the still images through the broadcast output unit of the digital TV at a desired time.

According to the present invention as described above, since the viewer directly stores the various types of video that can be transmitted to the Internet in the MPOD server, the viewer can watch the video through the broadcast output unit of the digital TV at a desired time, As long as the video is not limited to the video stored in the server providing the interactive video service, any video that is shared on the Internet can be viewed through the broadcast output unit of the digital TV, and the on-demand video service is individually managed for each viewer. The service satisfaction of the effect is greatly improved.

In addition, the MPOD server can secure various types of videos naturally by viewing activities of viewers who subscribe to the members without performing a separate workforce and work, and thus develop various types of services through such videos. It can also expect the effect that can be provided to viewers.

Claims (4)

A first step of accessing the MPOD server 70 (70a to 70n) through the clients 40a to 40n and subscribing to a service member, and receiving a viewer identifier, a viewer password, and a set-top box identifier; A second step of storing the set-top box identifiers in the set-top box 31 by the MPOD server 70 (70a to 70n) via the remote controller 33; A third step of accessing and logging in to the MPOD server 70 (70a to 70n) via the clients 40a to 40n; A fourth step of selecting a video to download to the MPOD server 70 (70a to 70n) via the clients 40a to 40n; A fifth step of downloading the downloaded video to the MPOD server 70 (70a to 70n) via the clients 40a to 40n and storing the downloaded video to the MPOD server 70 (70a to 70n) for each viewer; A sixth step of selecting a video to be broadcasted from the videos of the corresponding viewers stored in the MPOD servers 70 (70a to 70n); A seventh step of encoding and modulating the selected video into a digital broadcast stream and transmitting the encoded video to the set top box 31 of the corresponding viewer; On-demand video service method comprising the eighth step of decoding and demodulating the transmitted digital broadcast stream in the set-top box (31) to broadcast in real time via the broadcast output unit (32). According to claim 1, The video to be downloaded in the fourth step is a video that is owned by the client (40a ~ 40n), or a file allowed to share files held by other clients (40a ~ 40n), or the web On-demand video service method characterized in that the video is held by the site server (50a ~ 50n). The method of claim 1, wherein the fifth step comprises dragging and dropping a video to be downloaded to the user interface provided from the MPOD server 70 (70a to 70n) to the clients 40a to 40n. 70a to 70n) automatically downloaded and stored in the MPOD server (70; 70a to 70n) for each user on demand video service method. According to claim 1, wherein the sixth step, the corresponding stored in the MPOD server (70; 70a ~ 70n) through the set-top box 31 connected to the session to the MPOD server (70; 70a ~ 70n) via the remote control 33 Select a video to watch from the videos of the viewers, or select a video to watch from the videos of the viewers stored in the MPOD server (70; 70a to 70n) via the client (40a to 40n) session connected to the MPOD server (70; 70a to 70n) On-demand video service method characterized in that the selection.

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