KR100856665B1 - Method and system for providing electronic program guide - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and a system for providing electronic program guide information are provided to allow a user to receive recent EPG information in real time to satisfy the user's demand, reduce load of system and network by transmitting a small amount of EPG information of contents in real time to improve service quality and allow a manger to manage a server efficiently to reduce a management cost. A system for providing Electronic Program Guide(EPG) information includes: an EPG providing server(200) which provides EPG information required to select contents by dividing the EPG information into categories; a user manipulator(600) which can be manipulated by a user; and a set-top box(400) which receives the EPG information. The EPG providing server updates the EPG information and provides the updated information by dividing it into main-menus and sub-menus of the contents and contents lists belonging to the sub-menus, and the set-top box has access to the EPG providing server via a network(300) and uploads EPG information about a contents list corresponding to a first page among the main-menus of the contents, the sub-menus belonging to each main menu, and the contents lists belonging to each sub-menu from the EPG information stored in the EPG providing server, and stores the EPG information. If there is a request from the user manipulator, the set-top box has access to the EPG providing server in real time and receives corresponding EPG information from a second page of the sub-menus.

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDE

The present invention relates to a method and system for providing information of an electronic program guide (EPG) in real time in a digital broadcasting system based on the Internet protocol.

Recently, the broadcasting environment is changing due to the development of technology and changing demands of viewers.

In other words, the transition from analog broadcasting to digital broadcasting, diversified broadcasting media such as cable and satellite from terrestrial broadcasting, and providing interactive services in conjunction with communication networks, the recent broadcasting environment has undergone more severe changes than any other fields. have.

A representative service that emerged from this background is, for example, IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) based on the Internet protocol.

IPTV is an interactive television service provided by using a high-speed Internet network, which is connected to a content providing server through an Internet network through a TV set-top box. The information service, video content, and broadcast content of the content providing server are provided to the television receiver via the set top box.

IPTV is a type of Digital Convergence in that it is a convergence of the Internet and television, and differs from general public broadcasting in that viewers can selectively watch programs they want to watch at a convenient time.

In general, in the IPTV according to the related art, a content provider provides program guide information on a content, and a customer browses the content program using the information, and then selects and views the content program.

As an example of such a method, the customer is conventionally provided with an electronic program guide ("EPG") information provided by a content provider using a set top box (STB), which is the EPG information. For example, the latest EPG information is updated every 1 day, 3 days, or every time of day.

As described above, the IPTV according to the related art transmits EPG information on content through a network, and the set-top box of the customer receives and stores the EPG information and immediately provides the information to the user's request. .

However, according to this conventional method, when the EPG information is transmitted to the set-top box for updating or newly registering, the amount of data to be transmitted becomes very large because the EPG information is uploaded at a time. This causes a problem of overloading the system and network.

In addition, since the time to update the EPG information in the set-top box is set to one day, three days, or a certain time (or number of times) of the day, the user cannot receive the latest information and thus does not satisfy the user's needs. have.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and the technical problem is to reduce the load of the system and network and improve the quality of service by transmitting EPG information of the content in a small amount in real time.

In addition, another technical problem of the present invention is to ensure that the user is always provided with the latest information.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic program guide information providing system comprising: an electronic program guide providing server for dividing electronic program guide (EPG) information necessary for selection of content into categories; User operation means capable of being operated by a user; And a set-top box for receiving the electronic program guide information, wherein the electronic program guide providing server updates the electronic program guide information and updates the updated information with the top menus and sub menus of the content and the sub menu. The set-top box is connected to the electronic program guide providing server through a network, and the top menus of the content and the electronic program guide information are stored in the electronic program guide providing server. After uploading and storing electronic program guide information on the sub-menus belonging to each of the top menus and the content list corresponding to the first page of the content list belonging to each of the sub-menus, there is a request from the user operation means. Characterized by: receiving the electronic program guide information to a real-time connection to the electronic program guide server provides the seobuteo second page of the submenu.

According to an example of the present invention, it may further include a management server for providing pure data for the content.

According to an example of the present invention, the management server may be a VOD server.

According to an example of the present invention, the top menus are menus corresponding to the top category, which is the primary classification of the content.

According to an example of the present invention, the sub-menus belong to each of the top-level menus and have a hierarchical relationship with the top-level menus.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the electronic program guide providing server, an electronic program guide update tracking unit for extracting a change history for the existing electronic program guide information by tracking the update data of the electronic program guide information; An electronic program guide control unit controlling to reflect the change history extracted by the electronic program guide update tracking unit to the existing electronic program guide information; And classify and store updated electronic program guide information under the control of the electronic program guide control unit and newly registered electronic program guide information by the highest menus, lower menus, and contents list belonging to the lower menus of the contents. One electronic program guide information database may be included.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the set top box, the input signal receiving unit for receiving an input signal generated from the user operation means; A data receiver configured to receive electronic program guide information provided by the electronic program guide providing server through the network; Electronic program guide information for the content list corresponding to the first page of the top menus of the contents, the sub-menus belonging to the top menus, and the content list of the sub-menus among the electronic program guide information received by the data receiving unit. A memory unit uploaded and stored only; And when the power is set to the ON state, controls to display the electronic program guide information stored in the memory unit, and when a service request for a next page is input through the input signal receiving unit, the electronic program guide providing server. It may include a control unit for the set-top box for requesting the electronic program guide information for the next page.

At this time, the control unit for the set-top box, according to an example of the present invention, the content corresponding to the first page of the top menus of the content to be stored in the memory unit, the sub-menus and the content list belonging to the sub-menus And requesting the electronic program guide providing server in real time to update the electronic program guide information for the list.

According to an example of the present invention, an example of the user operation means is a remote controller associated with the set top box. Any other means that can be operated by the user to enable communication with the set-top box can be a user operation means without limitation.

On the other hand, the method for providing electronic program guide information according to the present invention for achieving the technical problem comprises the steps of (a) providing an electronic program guide information necessary for the selection of the content to the set-top box electronic program guide (EPG) provider; (b) the set-top box updating and storing electronic program guide information on an initial menu screen of the content in real time among electronic program guide information provided by the electronic program guide provider; (c) a user requesting a search service for a content menu through the set top box; (d) displaying the initial menu screen based on the electronic program guide information stored in the set-top box; (e) determining whether there is a search operation to the next menu screen by a user's operation after displaying the initial menu screen; (f) accessing the electronic program guide providing server in real time and receiving electronic program guide information on the next menu screen when there is a search operation to the next menu screen as a result of the determination; And (g) immediately displaying the received electronic program guide information.

Here, according to an example of the present invention, the step of determining whether there is a search operation in the step (e) may be determined in consideration of whether there is an input signal received from the user operation means.

Further, according to an example of the present invention, the electronic program guide information on the initial menu screen is displayed on the first page of the top menus of the contents, the sub menus belonging to the top menus, and the content list of the respective sub menus. Electronic program guide information for the corresponding content list is included.

According to an example of the present invention, the electronic program guide information on the next menu screen includes top menus of the contents and sub menus belonging to the top menus, and the first page of the contents list of the respective sub menus. And electronic program guide information including a content list corresponding to the remaining pages.

According to the present invention, the user can receive the latest EPG information in real time to meet the needs of the user, the administrator can reduce the load of the system and network to improve the quality of service and efficient server management By doing so, it is possible to reduce the management cost.

Hereinafter, an EPG (Electronic Program Guide) information providing system will be described in detail with reference to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a configuration diagram schematically showing an EPG information providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is a detailed configuration diagram of the EPG information providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

First, referring to FIG. 1, in one embodiment of the EPG information providing system of the present invention, each VOD server 100 and an EPG are basically provided through a VOD server 100, an EPG providing server 200, and a network 300. It may include a set-top box 400, a television receiver 500 and a user operation means 600 connected to the server 200.

In this embodiment, the network 300 collectively refers to a wired and wireless communication network that enables internet communication, and is not limited to a specific form as long as it enables internet communication.

The system according to the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above transmits the EPG information of the content to the set-top box 400 through the network 300, and the set-top box 400 transmits the EPG information to the television receiver at the request of the user. 500) to display. At this time, the operation of the set-top box 400 and the television receiver 500 is performed by the user operating means (600).

In particular, in the present embodiment, the set-top box 400 receives and stores the EPG information on the initial menu screen before the user operation in advance, and then accesses the EPG providing server 200 according to the user's request and then the EPG for the next menu screen. Receive information in real time.

The initial menu screen is a menu screen displayed on the television receiver 500 before selecting content, and includes an uppermost menu of contents, a contents list corresponding to the first page of the lower menus and the contents list of the lower menus. For example, the initial menu screen displayed in FIGS. 5 and 7 is illustrated.

In this case, the top menus correspond to the menus corresponding to the top category of the content, and the bottom menus refer to sub menus belonging to the top menus. Detailed description thereof will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The next menu screen is an additional menu screen to be displayed next to the initial menu screen, and includes a top menu of contents and a list of contents starting from the second page of the contents menu of the submenu and the submenu.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, when the user navigates to the content menu, the first page of the category is rapidly displayed since the content list corresponding to the first page of the submenu is displayed directly on the initial menu screen together with the submenu. Can be viewed. Subsequently, in searching for the next page, a page of the classification can be read with the latest information through a real-time request.

Each component of the system for this purpose is configured as follows.

1 and 2, in one example of the present invention, the VOD server 100 is a content provider is a pure content of a variety of content, including video on demand ("VOD content"), broadcast content, etc. Means a management server to provide data.

The EPG provision server 200 is a management server for providing EPG information necessary for the EPG provider to select VOD content.

EPG information depends on the format of the content, but generally includes the content ID, content title, content description, content duration, and other content related information (such as actor, director, storyline, etc.) of the content.

According to an example of the present invention, the EPG providing server 200 includes an EPG update tracking unit 210, an EPG control unit 220, and an EPG information database 230. In detail, the EPG information database 230 is a content type. The program data 232 and the broadcast channel data 234 may be largely included.

In detail, the EPG update tracking unit 210 tracks update data of the EPG information in real time and extracts a change history for the existing EPG information. Therefore, when there is a change history of EPG information, the EPG information is updated and updated in real time.

The method of tracking update data of EPG information includes a method of directly comparing data of each EPG information and data of updated EPG information, or a method of tracking update data according to a version by generating a version for each EPG information. There is this.

The EPG controller 220 controls to reflect the change history extracted through the EPG update tracker 210 in the existing EPG information, and stores the reflected EPG information in a database.

The EPG information database 230 classifies and stores the EPG information updated through the EPG update tracking unit 210 as well as newly registered EPG information. The classification method, for example, classifies the top menu and the sub menu of the content and the list of contents belonging to the sub menu, by page, like the content classification method.

Therefore, when there is a service request through the set-top box 400, the EPG provision server 200 provides the top menus of the content, the sub menus belonging to the top menus, and the pages belonging to the sub menus.

The EPG information database 230 may be divided into program data 232 and broadcast channel data 234 according to the format of the content, of which program data 232 is associated with a program provided by a program provider (PP). The data may include a PPID, a program ID, a program title, a program description, a start time, an end time, other program related information, and the like.

Here, the PPID means an identification code (ID) of the program provider PP, and the program related information may include all information related to a program such as a program viewing age, actor, director, and plot.

Figure 3a is a diagram showing the program data according to an embodiment of the present invention, code number 500 is a PPID, code number 10000234 is a program ID, "Dragon Ball" is the program title, "goku go to the Dragon Ball Is a program description, code number 20021231010000 is the program start time, and code number 20021231020000 is the program end time.

The broadcast channel data 234 is channel related data provided from the EPG providing server of a broadcaster, and generally includes channel ID, PPID, channel number, channel name, channel description, and other channel related information.

3B is an exemplary view showing channel data according to an embodiment of the present invention, code number 210 is a channel ID, code number 500 is a PPID, code number 655 is a channel number, and a "tunnel" is a channel name. Channels for Children "is a channel description.

The program data 232 and the broadcast channel data 234 configured as described above are stored in the EPG information database 230 to construct a database.

1 and 2, the set-top box 400 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention basically includes a data receiver 410, a controller for the set-top box 420, a memory 430, and an input signal receiver ( 440, the content and EPG information about the content are provided from the VOD server 100 and the EPG providing server 200 according to a user request.

The input signal receiver 440 receives an input signal generated from the user manipulation unit 600. User operation means 600 is provided with a plurality of operation keys to enable the operation by the user. The user operation means 600 is for transmitting the command data by the communication between the set-top box 400, it can be mainly used a remote control.

The data receiver 410 receives the contents provided by the VOD server 100 and the EPG providing server 200 and EPG information necessary for selecting the contents through the network 300. In particular, when receiving EPG information through the EPG providing server 200, the data receiving unit 410 first receives the EPG information for the initial menu screen, and then provides the EPG when the user requests for the next menu screen. Access to the server 200 receives the EPG information in real time.

In this case, the initial menu screen is a screen including all of the contents list corresponding to the first page of the top menu, the lower menu, and the contents list of the lower menu. The next menu screen is a screen including a content list corresponding to the remaining pages except the first page of the content list of the lower menu.

The memory unit 430 stores the EPG information received in the data receiving unit 410. The memory unit 430 stores only the EPG information for the initial menu screen, not all EPG information received in the data receiving unit 410.

That is, it stores only EPG information about the top menus of the contents, the sub menus belonging to the top menus, and the content list corresponding to the first page of the content list belonging to the sub menus.

The set-top box controller 420 controls the display of the EPG information stored in the memory unit 430 as the initial menu screen when the power of the set-top box 410 is booted, and then the input signal receiving unit ( When the service request for the next menu screen is input through 440, the EPG providing server 200 requests EPG information on the next page.

In addition, the control unit 420 for the set-top box controls to update the EPG information of the basic menu screen in real time to upload to the memory unit 430, the EPG information provided by the request for the next menu screen data receiving unit 410 When received via the control to play immediately.

Therefore, the set-top box 400 according to the present exemplary embodiment includes the top menus of the contents, the sub menus belonging to the top menus, and the first content list belonging to the sub menus in the EPG information stored in the EPG provision server 200. Upload the EPG information corresponding to the first page in real time and store it in advance, and if there is a user's request for the corresponding EPG information from the second page of the submenu, the EPG information server 200 accesses the EPG information in real time. Are provided. From the second page of the lower menu, the corresponding EPG information is downloaded to the set-top box 400 and at the same time immediately plays.

According to this, the set-top box 400 updates and receives only EPG information on the initial menu screen, thereby transmitting and receiving a small amount of data. This has the advantage of reducing the load on systems and networks and managing data efficiently.

In addition, since the television set 500 displays the top menu of the content as the initial menu screen, a list of sub menus, a content list corresponding to the first page of the contents list belonging to the sub menus, is quickly displayed. You will be able to browse the first page. Then, since the search for the next page is made through a real-time request, the page of the category can be viewed with the latest information.

4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a content classification method in a system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a general UI screen for providing EPG information according to the content classification method described with reference to FIG. 4.

First, referring to FIG. 4, content according to an embodiment of the present invention is basically classified according to a top menu and a sub menu according to the top menu. Therefore, when the content is provided through a television receiver, the first-stage menu (1) displaying the top menu, the second-stage menu (2) displaying the submenu, and the three-dimensional list of various contents belonging to the submenu are displayed in detail. Only step by step menu 3 is shown.

The first-level menu 1 is an upper category classified according to the category of the content, and the second-level menu 2 is a hierarchical relationship of the top-level menu and corresponds to a lower category of the top-level category. The three-level menu 3 includes a detailed list of contents corresponding to each subcategory.

For example, the first menu may be a movie, sports, drama, music, broadcaster name (eg, KBS, BS, MBC), etc., the second menu may be family film, horror film, SF depending on the genre if the first menu is a movie It may be classified into a movie, an action movie, a romance movie, and the like.

As an example, looking at the classification of the "die hard 4" and the "monster" content in each movie, the "die hard 4" content may be a movie at the top menu, the sub menu may belong to the action movie. The "monster" content may be classified as a horror movie whose top menu is a movie and whose submenu is a movie.

A configuration of a screen on which content menus classified based on these criteria are displayed is shown in FIG. 5.

In general, on the AV area 40 where AV is displayed on the entire screen, a top menu display area 10 for displaying the top menus of the content in a line is provided, and the top menus are displayed on the top menu display area 10. A lower menu display area 20 is provided to display sub menus belonging to the top menus in a hierarchical relationship with each other. In addition, a content detail list area 30 is provided on the submenu display area 20 to display a content list belonging to each submenu by the number of pages.

Therefore, when the user navigates the content menu, the top menu display area 10, the sub menu display area 20, and the content detail list area 30 are simultaneously displayed on the AV area 40, and the sub menu and the sub menu are simultaneously displayed. The screen of the content menu is switched according to the page number selection of the menu.

For example, in the screen displayed in FIG. 5, a plurality of top menus MENU1 to MENU5 are displayed in the top menu display area 10, and among the top menus MENU1 to MENU5 in the lower menu display area 20. Submenus (MENU1-1 to MENU1-5) for the first top menu (MENU1) are displayed. In the content detail list area 30, content lists (contents 1 to 8) of the third submenu MENU1-3 among the submenus MENU1-1 to MENU1-5 are displayed.

In the content details list area 30, the number of pages 30a varies depending on the number of content lists belonging to each sub-menu. In FIG. 5, the number of content lists displayed on a page is arbitrarily shown as eight, but is limited thereto. 7 or 9 can be displayed in various ways.

In this case, it corresponds to the first page of the lower menus (MENU1-1 to MENU1-5) belonging to each of the top menus (MENU1 to MENU5) and the content list belonging to each of the lower menus (MENU1-1 to MENU1-5). Since the EPG information for the content list is stored in the set-top box (not shown), the first page of the category can be read at a high speed even if the user searches for a submenu of another top menu according to the user's operation.

Hereinafter, a method of providing EPG information according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing EPG information according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 7 and 8 are exemplary views illustrating UI screens displayed at respective stages according to the method illustrated in FIG. 6.

Referring to FIG. 6 in conjunction with the UI screens of FIGS. 7 and 8, the EPG information providing method according to an embodiment of the present invention, in the first step, an electronic program guide necessary for the EPG provider to select content through the EPG provision server. Provides information to the set-top box (S100).

In this step, the user can be subdivided into the steps of subscribing to the service, booting the set-top box to request the service, and providing electronic program guide information necessary for selecting contents to the set-top box through user authentication upon request. Can be.

Thereafter, the set-top box updates in real time the EPG information on the initial menu screen of the content among the EPG information provided by the EPG provider and stores it in the memory unit (S110).

The EPG information on the initial menu screen includes electronic program guide information on the top menus of the contents, the sub menus belonging to the top menus, and the content list corresponding to the first page of the content list of each sub menu.

Thereafter, the user requests a search service for the content menu through the set top box (S120).

Then, as shown in FIG. 7, the initial menu screen for the content menu is displayed based on the electronic program guide information stored in the set top box (S130).

That is, the top menus (eg, home, Korean films, foreign films, KBS, MBC, SBS, shopping, etc.) for the content are displayed in the top menu display area 10, and each sub menu display area 20 is displayed. Submenus belonging to the top menus are displayed, and a content list corresponding to the first page 31 of the content list belonging to each submenu is displayed in the content detail list area 30.

In FIG. 7, as the initial menu screen, submenus belonging to the top menu of 'Korean movie' among the top menus are displayed, and in detail, the first page 31 belonging to the submenu of 'new channel' among the submenus. Is displayed.

Thereafter, it is determined whether there is a search operation to the next menu screen by the user's operation (S140).

That is, by receiving an input signal generated from the user's operation means and determining whether the input signal is a search signal to the next menu screen, it is determined whether the search is to the next menu screen.

In this case, the next menu screen is a screen on which pages other than the first page, which is the initial menu screen, are displayed on the page corresponding to the lower menu. That is, the next menu screen is displayed from the second page.

As a result of the determination, if there is a search operation to the next menu screen, the EPG server is accessed in real time to receive EPG information on the next menu screen (S150). The received EPG information may be up to date because the EPG information is directly provided with the latest information provided by the EPG provider.

Thereafter, according to a download & play method, the EPG information on the next menu screen is immediately displayed (S160).

When the search for the next page is operated in the initial menu screen shown in FIG. 7, the menu screen including the second page 32 is displayed as shown in FIG. 8.

Then, when the search is manipulated to view the third page (not shown), the third page may be read in real time by accessing the EPG providing server and receiving a page of the corresponding classification.

Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may implement the present invention in other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features thereof. I can understand that.

Therefore, since the embodiments described above are provided to completely inform the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art, it should be understood that they are exemplary in all respects and not limited. The invention is only defined by the scope of the claims.

1 is a configuration diagram schematically showing a system for providing EPG information according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a detailed block diagram of an EPG information providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3A and 3B are exemplary views illustrating program data and channel data according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a content classification method in a system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a general UI screen for providing EPG information according to the content classification method described with reference to FIG. 4.

6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing EPG information according to an embodiment of the present invention.

7 to 8 are exemplary views showing a UI screen displayed at each step according to the method shown in FIG.

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

100: VOD server 200: EPG provision server

300: network 400: set-top box

500: television award 600: user operation means

210: EPG update tracking unit 220: EPG control unit

230: EPG information database 232: program data

234: broadcast channel data 410: data receiving unit

420: control unit for the set-top box 430: memory unit

440: input signal receiver 1, 2, 3: 1, 2, 3 menu

10: Top menu display area 20: Submenu display area

30: content detail list area 30a: facetime

40: AV area

Claims (13)

An electronic program guide providing server configured to provide electronic program guide (EPG) information necessary for selecting content by category; User operation means capable of being operated by a user; And A set top box for receiving the electronic program guide information, The electronic program guide providing server updates the electronic program guide information, and provides the updated information by dividing the updated information into uppermost menus and lower menus of the contents and a list of contents belonging to the lower menus, The set-top box is connected to the electronic program guide providing server through a network, and the top menus of the content, lower menus belonging to the top menus, and the lower level menus are stored in the electronic program guide information stored in the electronic program guide providing server. Upload and store electronic program guide information for the content list corresponding to the first page of the content list belonging to each sub-menu, and access the electronic program guide providing server in real time when requested by the user operation means. And receiving corresponding electronic program guide information from the second page of the submenus. The method of claim 1, And a management server for providing pure data on the content. The method of claim 2, The management server is an electronic program guide information providing system, characterized in that the VOD server. The method of claim 1, And the top menus are menus corresponding to a top category, which is a primary classification of the content. The method of claim 1, And the lower menus are hierarchical relations with the top menus, which belong to the top menus. The method of claim 1, The electronic program guide providing server, An electronic program guide update tracking unit for tracking update data of the electronic program guide information and extracting a change history of existing electronic program guide information; An electronic program guide control unit controlling to reflect the change history extracted by the electronic program guide update tracking unit to the existing electronic program guide information; And The electronic program guide information updated under the control of the electronic program guide control unit and the electronic program guide information newly registered are classified and stored according to the highest menus, lower menus, and contents list belonging to the lower menus of the contents. Program Guide Information Database Electronic program guide information providing system comprising a. The method of claim 1, The set top box, An input signal receiving unit which receives an input signal generated from the user operation means; A data receiver configured to receive electronic program guide information provided by the electronic program guide providing server through the network; Electronic program guide information for the content list corresponding to the first page of the top menus of the contents, the sub-menus belonging to the top menus, and the content list of the sub-menus among the electronic program guide information received by the data receiving unit. A memory unit uploaded and stored only; And When the power is set to the ON state, the electronic program guide information stored in the memory unit is controlled to be displayed. Subsequently, when a service request for a next page is input through the input signal receiving unit, the electronic program guide providing server is controlled. Control unit for set-top box for requesting electronic program guide information for the next page Electronic program guide information providing system comprising a. The method of claim 7, wherein The control unit for the set-top box, The electronic program guide providing server to update the electronic program guide information for the content list corresponding to the first page of the top menus of the content to be stored in the memory unit, the lower menus, and a content list belonging to the lower menus. Electronic program guide information providing system, characterized in that the request in real time. The method of claim 1, The user operating means is an electronic program guide information providing system, characterized in that for using the remote control associated with the set-top box. (a) providing an electronic program guide information to the set-top box by an electronic program guide (EPG) provider for selection of content; (b) the set-top box updating and storing electronic program guide information on an initial menu screen of the content in real time among electronic program guide information provided by the electronic program guide provider; (c) a user requesting a search service for a content menu through the set top box; (d) displaying the initial menu screen based on the electronic program guide information stored in the set-top box; (e) determining whether there is a search operation to the next menu screen by a user's operation after displaying the initial menu screen; (f) accessing the electronic program guide providing server in real time and receiving electronic program guide information on the next menu screen when there is a search operation to the next menu screen as a result of the determination; And (g) immediately displaying the received electronic program guide information; The electronic program guide information for the initial menu screen may include: an electronic program guide for a content list corresponding to a first page of the top menus of the contents, sub menus belonging to the top menus, and a content list of the respective sub menus; Information providing method for an electronic program guide, characterized in that the information. delete The method of claim 10, Electronic program guide information for the next menu screen, And electronic program guide information including a top menu of the contents and sub menus belonging to the top menus, and a contents list corresponding to the remaining pages except the first page of the contents list of the respective sub menus. How to Provide Electronic Program Guide Information. The method of claim 10, And determining whether or not there is a search operation to the next menu screen in step (e) by considering whether or not there is an input signal received from the user operation means.

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