KR100897151B1 - Distributed Data Broadcasting System and Service over the IP Network - Google Patents

Abstract

1. TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a distributed data broadcasting system and a service method through an IP network.

2. The technical problem to be solved by the invention

The present invention provides a high quality interactive data broadcasting service by overcoming the capacity limitation problem of the data broadcasting application and minimizing the response time to the user. It is an object of the present invention to provide a decentralized data broadcasting system over IP network, a service method thereof, and a computer readable recording medium storing a program for realizing the method.

3. Summary of Solution to Invention

The present invention provides a distributed data broadcasting system over an IP network, comprising: a known broadcasting transmission server for performing a video / audio and data broadcasting transmission function; Distributed data management means for performing a data transmission and deletion function to a locally distributed distributed return server according to the characteristics of the data collected through the data collection unit; A return path server for processing a request from the distributed return server and a user's request and performing a central log management function; The distributed return server for searching and processing a database of the distributed return server itself according to a user's request to find and process a file suitable for the user's request, and performing a relay function with a broadcast headend system; And a user terminal connected to an IP network for providing an image / audio and data service through a TV.

4. Important uses of the invention

The present invention is used in a distributed data broadcasting system.

Decentralized, data broadcasting, two-way, broadband, user terminal, integrated information

Description

Distributed data broadcasting system and service method through IP network {Distributed Data Broadcasting System and Service over the IP Network}

1 is a block diagram of a bidirectional data broadcasting system of a conventional broadcasting network;

2 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of a distributed data broadcasting system through an IP network according to the present invention;

3 is a diagram for explaining a data broadcasting service providing process in a broadcasting headend system among distributed data broadcasting systems through an IP network according to the present invention;

4 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a process of using a distributed data broadcast service in a user terminal of a distributed data broadcast system through an IP network according to the present invention;

5 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a bidirectional data broadcast service process in a distributed return server in a distributed data broadcast system through an IP network according to the present invention.

* Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings

21: broadcast transmission server 22: distributed data management server

23: Return Pass Server 24: IP Network

25: distributed return server 26: user terminal

The present invention relates to a distributed data broadcasting system through an IP (Internet Protocol) network, a service method thereof, and a computer readable recording medium recording a program for realizing the method. Distributed data broadcasting system and service method through IP network that can maximize network efficiency while accommodating existing data broadcasting service by actively utilizing characteristics of IP network having bidirectional broadband transmission characteristics unlike broadcasting network having transmission characteristics, and A computer readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for realizing the method.

Existing data broadcasting systems have been serviced by continuously broadcasting / multicasting the same data in an object carousel method when transmitting data broadcasting applications or data according to characteristics of a broadcasting network having a unidirectional characteristic. In the existing broadcasting network with the limitation of upload bandwidth, minimizing the upload bandwidth was a key issue. Therefore, the service system is constructed / operated in the above manner even though the transmission efficiency is somewhat inefficient and there is a capacity limitation in application development.

1 is a block diagram of a bidirectional data broadcasting system of a conventional broadcasting network.

As shown in FIG. 1, a broadcast headend system in charge of broadcast transmission includes an image encoder for image signal processing, an audio encoder for audio signal processing, a data encoder for data processing, a data collector, and a carousel It consists of a broadcast scheduler, a database, a multiplexing unit for multiplexing video / audio / data, an integrated information generating unit, and a return path system (return pass, database) for bidirectional service processing.

Conventional two-way data broadcasting system has a feature that the bandwidth of the upstream for the processing of the two-way service is relatively much smaller than the bandwidth of the downstream. For example, in the case of satellite networks, the upstream bandwidth is zero by default. Even if a return pass is possible, it is serviced with a bandwidth of tens of KB using a telephone modem. Accordingly, a carousel method that can be multiplexed and processed by broadcasting, such as a video service, has been adopted.

As described above, the data broadcasting transmission in the conventional bidirectional data broadcasting system uses a carousel method for periodically repeatedly transmitting the data module. Since the carousel method is repeatedly transmitted, there is a drawback that if there is no file content in the memory, there may be a significant time delay while waiting for the file to be transmitted when the file is requested. As a result, the amount of data that can be practically loaded can be quite limited. In general, even if the bandwidth of 800Kbps is allocated, it is common to keep the actual data to carry 300 ~ 400KB.

Therefore, a method capable of utilizing the advantages of an IP network that is compatible with the data broadcasting system in the broadcasting network and has a bidirectional broadband feature and free of multicasting and unicasting is required.

The present invention has been proposed to meet the above requirements, and provides a high-quality two-way data broadcasting service by overcoming the capacity limitation problem of data broadcasting applications and minimizing the response time to the user, and the service in which the requests of the user are concentrated. In this case, a computer-readable recording recording of a distributed data broadcasting system, a service method thereof, and a program for realizing the method, to effectively accommodate a user's request through a distributed return path server. The purpose is to provide a medium.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention can be understood by the following description, and will be more clearly understood by the embodiments of the present invention. Also, it will be readily appreciated that the objects and advantages of the present invention may be realized by the means and combinations thereof indicated in the claims.

The apparatus of the present invention for achieving the above object is a distributed data broadcasting system through an IP (IP) network, known broadcast transmission server for performing a video / audio and data broadcast transmission function; Distributed data management means for performing a data transmission and deletion function to a locally distributed distributed return server according to the characteristics of the data collected through the data collection unit; A return path server for processing a request from the distributed return server and a user's request and performing a central log management function; The distributed return server for searching and processing a database of the distributed return server itself according to a user's request to find and process a file suitable for the user's request, and performing a relay function with a broadcast headend system; And a user terminal connected to an IP network for providing an image / audio and data service through a TV.

On the other hand, the method of the present invention, in the distributed data broadcasting service method via an IP (IP) network, the application and data transmission step for transmitting the data broadcast application and data to a distributed return server distributed by region; When providing a distributed data broadcasting service, transmitting a data broadcasting application and an address of data to a user terminal through a known object carousel scheme; A file retrieval step of retrieving a file meeting a user's request through the distributed return server's own database according to a user's request; And if a file search is successful, the corresponding file (data) is immediately transmitted to the user terminal, and if the file search fails, the corresponding data is requested to the return pass server of the broadcast headend system and the data is received. Characterized in that it comprises a data transmission step of transmitting the corresponding data to the terminal.

In addition, the present invention, when receiving a request for the service of the user's request, processing the user's response to generate the integrated information of the distributed return server itself, and then the broadcast via the return pass server of the broadcast headend system The method may further include transmitting the integrated information generation unit of the headend system.

On the other hand, the present invention, the distributed data broadcast system over the IP (IP) network having a processor, the application and data transmission function for transmitting the data broadcast application and data to the distributed return server distributed by region; When providing a distributed data broadcasting service, transmitting a data broadcasting application and an address of data to a user terminal through a known object carousel scheme; A file retrieval function for retrieving a file corresponding to a user's request through the distributed return server's own database according to a user's request; And if a file search is successful, the corresponding file (data) is immediately transmitted to the user terminal, and if the file search fails, the corresponding data is requested to the return pass server of the broadcast headend system and the data is received. Provided is a computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for realizing a data transfer function for transferring the data to a terminal.

The present invention relates to a distributed data broadcasting system and a service method through an IP network, and a patent application for a data broadcasting service is disclosed in the domestic publication No. '10 -2003-0070407 'on August 30, 2003. Broadcasting transmission / reception system and data broadcasting transmission / reception method using the same, digital radio broadcasting for download service of data files for broadcasting contents released on May 3, 2005 by domestic publication No. 10-2005-0040395 Transmitting and Receiving System and Service Method thereof, and related patent applications related to return path system include 'Return Pass Management System and Method' published on November 9, 2004 under Korean Publication No. '10 -2004-0094021 '. have.

The present invention relates to a distributed data broadcasting system through an IP network, which is further advanced in a bidirectional data broadcasting system and a return path system, which are disclosed in the published patents as described above. When the service is provided, the data transmission application and data address are transmitted to the terminal through the existing object (data) carousel method, and the terminal receives the application and data by accessing the optimal distributed return server to the terminal. Then, by executing the actual application, there is an advantage that can provide a data broadcast service suitable for the broadband bidirectional characteristics of the IP network.

In addition, by ensuring high transmission efficiency and fast response time, it is possible to overcome the capacity limitations of the applications and data that the existing data broadcasting application makers had, and the return path system is also distributed, so that the real time of the program linked data broadcasting service can be achieved. In the case of services where user requests are concentrated, such as quiz applications, the user agent of the return path system that accepts user requests and provides final answers can be distributed by region to distribute the load on the system and minimize the response time to users. There is an advantage.

The above objects, features and advantages will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, whereby those skilled in the art may easily implement the technical idea of the present invention. There will be. In addition, in describing the present invention, when it is determined that the detailed description of the known technology related to the present invention may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

2 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of a distributed data broadcasting system through an IP network according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, the distributed data broadcasting system through the IP network according to the present invention includes a well-known broadcast transmitting server 21 and a data collecting unit 213 which perform a video / audio and data broadcast transmitting function. Distributed data management server 22 for performing data transmission and deletion functions to the distributed return server 25 distributed locally according to the characteristics of the data collected through the user, and requests from the distributed return server 24 and the user. The return path server 23 for processing the request, performing the centralized log management function, and the distributed return server 24 own database 244 according to the user's request to find a file suitable for the user's request. A distributed return server 24 for processing and performing a relay function with a broadcast headend system, and a user terminal 25 connected to an IP network for providing video / audio and data services through a TV. It should.

Here, the well-known broadcast transmission server 21 includes an image encoder 211 for image signal processing, an audio encoder 212 for audio signal processing, and a data collector for data collection and processing from an external system. 213, a database 217 for storing / managing data collected through the data collection unit 213, a carousel broadcast scheduler 214 for schedule management for data transmission in a carousel manner, and Integrated information on the result of the user's participation according to the characteristics of the service such as data encoder 215 for data transmission in the russel method, multiplexer 216 for multiplexing image / audio and data signals and services such as questionnaires and quizzes Integration information generation unit 218 for providing a.

On the other hand, the return path server 23 includes a return path database for service log management serviced through the return path.

In addition, the distributed return server 24 communicates with the distributed data management server 22 of the broadcast headend system and distributes the distributed management unit 241 for managing data integrity between the broadcast headend system and the distributed return server 24. A broadcast unit 242 for performing a data broadcast transmission function based on the data stored in the database 244 in the return server 24, and a return path unit 243 for receiving and processing a user's request.

The operation of the distributed data broadcasting system through the IP network according to the present invention having the above configuration will be described in detail as follows.

3 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a data broadcasting service providing process in a broadcasting headend system among distributed data broadcasting systems through an IP network according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, in order to provide a data broadcasting service in a broadcasting headend system, the AP (Application Provider), DP through the data collecting unit 213 of the broadcasting headend system is provided in the same manner as the existing data broadcasting service providing method. After collecting the data broadcasting application and data from the data provider, etc. (301), the collected application and data are stored in the database 217 (302), and the application and data are distributed to the distributed return server 24. It is determined whether or not to do (303). At this time, the determination of the distribution is determined in a policy or systemic manner according to the decision point of the business policy of the service provider, the file size of the application and data, the popularity.

As a result of the application and data distribution determination, if it is determined to distribute, the application and data are transmitted to the distributed return server 24 distributed locally through the distributed data management server 22 of the broadcast headend system (304). The data management server 22 performs a continuous management function to ensure the integrity of the distributed files stored (305).

After the above application and data distribution work is preceded, the application is registered in the carousel (data) broadcast scheduler 214 in the same manner as the existing data broadcasting service providing method (306), and the registered application is encoded by the carousel method. In operation 307, video / audio / data are multiplexed (308) and transmitted (309).

4 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a process of using a distributed data broadcast service in a user terminal of a distributed data broadcast system through an IP network according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 4, the user terminal 25 receiving the broadcast stream is divided into a video stream, an audio stream, and a data stream through a demultiplexing module (401, 402), and then a video screen is played through each decoder. Playback is performed (403, 404), and the data module interprets the received data (405) and, if necessary, connects to the distributed return server 24 to request data (406), receives the requested data (407) and then the video. The final screen is generated by synthesizing / audio / data (408).

In the existing data broadcasting system, the data is continuously waiting for data to be repeatedly transmitted. On the other hand, the system according to the present invention connects to the distributed return server 24 and actively requests data and receives necessary data. I use it. Although the conventional method is simple, the distributed return server (IP) can be transmitted at a speed of 10MB or more rather than waiting for data to be transmitted at 300 ~ 400KB due to a limitation on the transmission speed that can be transmitted simultaneously with video / audio. 24), the processing time in the request / reply method takes less as the amount of data to be transmitted increases.

As a method of determining the distributed return server 24 in the above process, various methods used in a general content distribution system may be used, and according to the characteristics of the user terminal 25, a service provider may be used at the time of distribution of the user terminal 25. A method of determining and distributing according to a policy is also possible. A method of determining a distribution algorithm based on a predetermined algorithm from a list available from a user terminal 25 by broadcasting a list of distributed return servers 24 available for data transmission in a broadcast headend system. This can be implemented in various ways.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a process of providing a bidirectional data broadcast service in a distributed return server in a distributed data broadcast system through an IP network according to the present invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, in order to provide a bidirectional data broadcasting service in a distributed return server, when a request for a specific file is received from the user terminal 25 (501), the distributed return server 24 may have its own database 244. Search (502) to find a file that meets the user's request (503).

If the search is successful in the above process, the file (data) is immediately transmitted to the user terminal 25 and the usage log is stored (506).

However, if the search fails in the above search process, the corresponding data is requested to the return pass server 23 of the broadcast headend system (504), the requested data is received (505), and then the corresponding data is transmitted to the user terminal (25). Send 506. In the above process, the distributed return server 24 stores and manages the file in its database 244.

On the other hand, for certain applications such as "T-poll" and "Quiz", it is also necessary to provide integrated information on the answers of users. In the above case, when the distributed return server 24 processes the user's answer and then generates integrated information of the distributed return server 24 (507), the integrated return server 23 generates the integrated information through the return pass server 23 of the broadcast headend system. After transmitting to the unit 218 (508), the usage log is stored (509). On the other hand, if the integrated information is not generated immediately stores the usage log (509).

Here, the integrated information generation unit 218 of the broadcast headend system generates integrated information such as statistical information and provides the corresponding information to the user terminal 25 through a carousel method.

By following the above process, the generation of regional statistical information and the generation of centralized statistical information can be made more easily.

As described above, the present invention provides a distributed data broadcasting service through an IP network having a bidirectional broadband characteristic, unlike a broadcasting network having a unidirectional characteristic, thereby maximizing network efficiency while accommodating existing data broadcasting services. It is possible to provide high quality interactive data broadcasting service by overcoming the capacity limitation problem of broadcast applications and minimizing the response time to the user. In addition, the present invention can effectively accommodate the user's request through a distributed return pass server in the case of a service that the user's request is concentrated, such as a real-time quiz data broadcasting application linked to the quiz broadcasting program.

As described above, the method of the present invention may be implemented as a program and stored in a recording medium (CD-ROM, RAM, ROM, floppy disk, hard disk, magneto-optical disk, etc.) in a computer-readable form. Since this process can be easily implemented by those skilled in the art will not be described in more detail.

The present invention described above is capable of various substitutions, modifications, and changes without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention for those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. It is not limited by the drawings.

As described above, the present invention provides a distributed data broadcasting service through an IP network having a bidirectional broadband characteristic, thereby maximizing network efficiency while accommodating existing data broadcasting services and overcoming the capacity limitation problem of existing data broadcasting applications. And by minimizing the response time to the user there is an effect that can provide a high quality interactive data broadcasting service.

In addition, the present invention has an effect that can effectively accommodate the user's request through a distributed return pass system in the case of a service that the user's request is concentrated, such as a real-time quiz data broadcasting application linked to the quiz broadcasting program.

Claims (11)

In the distributed data broadcasting system via IP network, A well-known broadcast transmission server which performs a video / audio and data broadcast transmission function; Distributed data management means for performing a data transmission and deletion function to a locally distributed distributed return server according to the characteristics of the data collected through the data collection unit; A return path server for processing a request from the distributed return server and a user's request and performing a central log management function; The distributed return server for searching and processing a database of the distributed return server itself according to a user's request to find and process a file suitable for the user's request, and performing a relay function with a broadcast headend system; And User terminal connected to IP network to provide video / audio and data service through TV Distributed data broadcasting system via an IP network including a. The method of claim 1, The distributed return server, Distributed management means for communicating with said distributed data management means and for managing data integrity between said broadcast headend system and itself (distributed return server); Broadcast transmission means for performing a data broadcast transmission function based on data stored in the database of the server (distributed return server); And User request processing means for receiving and processing a user request Distributed data broadcasting system via an IP network including a. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The distributed data management means, Distributed data broadcasting system via an IP network, characterized in that to perform a continuous management function for ensuring the integrity of the files stored distributed in the distributed return server. The method of claim 3, wherein The distributed return server, When a request for a service focused on a user's request is received through the user terminal, the user's response is processed to generate integrated information of the distributed return server itself, and then integrated information of the broadcast transmission server is generated through the return pass server. Distributed data broadcasting system via an IP network, characterized in that the transmission to the negative. The method of claim 4, wherein The user terminal, The distributed data broadcasting system through the IP network, characterized in that for accessing the distributed return server to request data and receive the necessary data. In the distributed data broadcasting service method through an IP network, An application and data transmission step of transmitting the data broadcast application and data to a distributed return server distributed by region; When providing a distributed data broadcasting service, transmitting a data broadcasting application and an address of data to a user terminal through a known object carousel scheme; A file retrieval step of retrieving a file meeting a user's request through the distributed return server's own database according to a user's request; And As a result of the search, if the file search is successful, the corresponding file (data) is immediately transmitted to the user terminal. If the file search fails, the user terminal requests the data from the return pass server of the broadcast headend system and receives the data. Data transfer step to transfer the data to the Distributed data broadcasting service method through an IP network comprising a. The method of claim 6, When receiving a request for a service focused on the user's request, processing the user's responses to generate the integrated information of the distributed return server itself, and then transmitting to the integrated information generation unit of the broadcast headend system Distributed data broadcasting service method through an IP network further comprising a. The method according to claim 6 or 7, The distributed return server, A distributed management function for communicating with a distributed data management unit of the broadcast headend system and managing data integrity between the broadcast headend system and itself (distributed return server), and data stored in the database of the own (distributed return server). A distributed data broadcasting service method through an IP network, comprising: a broadcasting transmission function for performing a data broadcasting transmission function and a return path function for receiving and processing a request of a user. The method of claim 8, The distributed data management unit, The distributed data broadcasting service method through the IP network, characterized in that to perform a continuous management function for ensuring the integrity of the files distributed distributed in the distributed return server. The method of claim 8, The user terminal, A method for distributed data broadcasting service over an IP network, comprising accessing the distributed return server to request data and receiving necessary data. In a distributed data broadcasting system through an IP network having a processor, An application and data transmission function for transmitting the data broadcast application and data to a distributed return server distributed by region; When providing a distributed data broadcasting service, transmitting a data broadcasting application and an address of data to a user terminal through a known object carousel scheme; A file retrieval function for retrieving a file corresponding to a user's request through the distributed return server's own database according to a user's request; And As a result of the search, if the file search is successful, the corresponding file (data) is immediately transmitted to the user terminal. If the file search fails, the user terminal requests the data from the return pass server of the broadcast headend system and receives the data. Data transfer function to transfer the corresponding data to A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for realizing this.

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