KR100942788B1 - Server, set-top box for interactive TV system, Interactive TV system including the same, Methods of changing channel thereof, and Method of transmitting multimedia thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a server of an interactive TV system, a set-top box and an interactive TV system including the same, a channel changing method of an interactive TV, and a multimedia transmission method of an interactive TV. More specifically, by providing a channel information channel including a plurality of channels in addition to the channel currently being watched, and when the viewer requests a channel change, the channel information channel to find and display the corresponding channel to request the selected channel to the server, The present invention relates to a server of an interactive TV system, a set-top box and an interactive TV system including the same, a channel changing method of an interactive TV, and a multimedia transmission method of an interactive TV.

To this end, the present invention provides a server for transmitting multimedia data; And a set-top box configured to receive the multimedia data from the server, wherein the server includes a channel currently viewed in the multimedia data and a plurality of channels before and after the currently viewed channel. The present invention provides an interactive TV system including a channel for transmitting channel information to the set top box.

Interactive TV, Interactive TV, IPTV, Channel Info Channel

Description

Server of interactive TV system, set-top box and interactive TV system including same, method of changing channel of interactive TV, and multimedia transmission method of interactive TV {Server, set-top box for interactive TV system, Interactive TV system including the same, Methods of changing channel approximately, and Method of transmitting multimedia approximately}

The present invention relates to a server of an interactive TV system, a set-top box and an interactive TV system including the same, a channel changing method of an interactive TV, and a multimedia transmission method of an interactive TV. More specifically, by providing a channel information channel including a plurality of channels in addition to the channel currently being watched, and when the viewer requests a channel change, the channel information channel to find and display the corresponding channel to request the selected channel to the server, The present invention relates to a server of an interactive TV system, a set-top box and an interactive TV system including the same, a channel changing method of an interactive TV, and a multimedia transmission method of an interactive TV.

Recently, as convergence of communication and broadcasting due to digital convergence is accelerated, a new paradigm of communication convergence is being developed to satisfy various viewing needs of customers by watching multimedia contents through a high-speed internet network.

Among them, Internet Protocol Television (“IPTV”) is a new concept service that provides digital video service, interactive data service, and various personalized services using a high-speed broadband network. IPTV is a representative convergence service between heterogeneous industries such as telecommunication and broadcasting, and pilot or commercial service is provided by more than 280 operators around the world. IPTV is a type of digital convergence in that the Internet and television converge. Unlike conventional Internet TVs, IPTV uses a television receiver instead of a computer monitor and a remote control instead of a mouse. IPTV is not different from general cable broadcasting or satellite broadcasting in that it provides general multimedia contents including video, but it is different from general cable broadcasting or satellite broadcasting in that it adds bidirectionality.

In order to provide an IPTV service, a television receiver, a set-top box connected to the Internet, a server for transmitting multimedia data of an IPTV broadcasting channel to the set-top box, and a channel information providing server for providing IPTV channel information and the like are required.

The set top box may be integrated with the television receiver. In the interactive TV, data corresponding to each channel is not broadcast but transmitted separately by streaming or the like. If real-time transmission is required, such as sports relaying, bandwidth can be efficiently utilized using techniques such as multicast.

In an interactive TV service such as IPTV, a viewer needs a change time of about 0.5 to 2 seconds to change a channel. This is because whenever a new channel is established between the server and the set-top box, authentication and connection setup for the new channel occur. That is, when the viewer requests a channel change, the set-top box transmits this information to the server, and the server transmits data corresponding to the selected channel. In this process, several authentication procedures may be required, and the channel change may take considerable time due to delay due to information exchange. This is a major disadvantage in interactive TVs, including IPTV. As a result, viewers may not be able to change channels quickly because of the time required to change channels when searching for a desired channel using the remote control. do.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and in particular, in addition to the channel currently being provided with a channel for the channel information including a plurality of channels before and after the channel currently being watched separately and according to the channel change request of the viewer The server of the interactive TV system, set-top box and the interactive TV system including the same, which eliminate the waiting time when changing the channel of the interactive TV by requesting the server for the selected channel while searching and displaying the corresponding channel in the information channel. An object of the present invention is to provide a channel changing method of a TV and a multimedia transmission method of an interactive TV.

In order to achieve the above object, a server of an interactive TV system according to the present invention transmits multimedia data in an interactive TV system, wherein the multimedia data includes a channel currently being watched and channels surrounding the channel being watched. And transmitting channel data for channel information. In the present invention, the multimedia data refers to data including video, audio, and text data.

In addition, the channel information channel data may include channels included in the channel information channel in a matrix form.

In addition, the channel information channel may include position information occupied on the matrix to extract multimedia data corresponding to one of the channels included in the channel information channel.

The server may transmit multiplexing channels included in the channel information channel to one streaming data.

In addition, the server may transmit the channel occupied by the channel included in the channel information channel less bandwidth than the channel currently being viewed.

In addition, the server may monitor the channel habits of the viewer to include the channel having a frequency of more than a certain number of times in the channel information channel for transmission.

The server may add an audio signal together with the video signal of the channels included in the channel information channel.

The server may change and transmit channels included in the channel information channel so that the channel currently being viewed is located at a specific position in the channel information channel.

The set-top box of the interactive TV system according to the present invention receives the multimedia data in the interactive TV system, and includes the channel data for channel information including the channel currently being watched and the channels surrounding the channel being watched. If a channel change request is received, the selected channel is found and displayed in the channel information channel, and the selected channel is requested, received, and displayed.

In addition, when the channel change request is made, the set-top box finds and enlarges a channel selected from the channel for channel information. Here, the display of the set-top box means outputting a corresponding signal to a display device such as a television receiver.

In addition, the set-top box requests the selection channel to the server while performing the enlarged display, and displays the requested selection channel data when it is received.

In addition, an audio signal may be added to the channel information channel together with the video signals of the channels.

In addition, the audio signal may be a mono or stereo signal.

In addition, the server may be transmitted to the set-top box by adjusting the channel currently being watched to be located at a specific position in the channel information channel. Preferably, the channel currently being watched is located in the middle of the channel information channel. If the channel information channel can include only a part of the entire channel, it is desirable to avoid the channel currently being viewed at both ends of the channel information channel. To this end, the server may monitor the channel being watched and dynamically change the channel content for channel information.

In addition, when the total number of channels is large, two or more channels for channel information may be provided.

An interactive TV system according to the present invention includes a server for transmitting multimedia data; And a set-top box for receiving the multimedia data from the server, wherein the server includes channel data for channel information including channels currently being watched in the multimedia data and channels around the currently being watched channel. Including, but the channel information channel further comprises data location information to be transmitted to the set-top box to extract multimedia data corresponding to one of the channels included in the channel information channel. do.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a method of changing a channel of an interactive TV may include: (a) inputting a channel change signal to a set-top box in the interactive TV system; (b) requesting, by the set-top box, the channel corresponding to the channel change signal to the server while searching for and displaying a selected channel corresponding to the input channel change signal among the channel information channel; And (c) displaying the requested channel when the requested channel is received.

In addition, after the step (c), the server may further comprise the step of adjusting the channel currently being watched is located at a specific position in the channel information channel.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of changing a channel of an interactive TV may include: (a) displaying an entire channel for channel information in the interactive TV system; (b) outputting audio of the specific channel when selecting a specific channel among the channel information channel; (c) the set-top box requesting the server for the selected channel corresponding to the channel change signal while expanding and displaying the specific channel; And (d) displaying the requested channel when the requested channel is received.

The multimedia transmission method of the interactive TV according to the present invention comprises the steps of: (a) receiving a selected channel; And (b) transmitting the channel information channel including the selected channel and the channels before and after the selected channel, wherein the channel information channel corresponds to one of channels included in the channel information channel. The method may further include transmitting the data location information to extract the data.

According to the present invention, when a channel change request is received in an interactive TV, the channel is changed to find and display the changed channel in the channel information channel until the corresponding channel is received, thereby eliminating the time required for the channel change, and the viewer can perform the channel change in real time. It has the effect of making it possible.

In addition, according to the present invention by transmitting the audio signal to the channel for the channel information, there is an effect that can provide more accurate channel information, realism and realism to the viewer when changing the channel.

According to the present invention, the server monitors the channel currently being watched in real time and adjusts the channel being watched at a specific position in the channel information channel, so that the channel information channel cannot accommodate the entire channel. By adaptively changing the contents of the channel for channel information, the time required for channel movement can be minimized.

In addition, according to the present invention, the entire channel information channel is displayed on the screen, and through this, the viewer can select a desired channel, thereby providing convenience in selecting the channel of the viewer.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, in adding reference numerals to the components of each drawing, it should be noted that the same reference numerals are assigned to the same components as much as possible, even if shown on different drawings. In addition, in describing the present invention, when it is determined that the detailed description of the related well-known configuration or function may obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. In addition, the following will describe a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the technical idea of the present invention is not limited thereto and may be variously modified and modified by those skilled in the art.

1 is a block diagram of an interactive TV system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

An interactive TV system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, referring to FIG. 1, includes a server 100, a network 120, a set top box 130, and a display device 140. In some cases, the set top box and the display device may be integrally provided.

The server 100 transmits multimedia data to the set top box 130. The multimedia data may include channel data currently being viewed and a broadcast channel information table prepared by a broadcast service provider. The server 100 generates broadcast data using video compression standards such as MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) 2, etc., and receives the video data received from the content provider. To the viewer via network 120. In this case, the network 120 may include a network switch. The network switch, also called a router, can manage members who want to join or leave a broadcast channel multicast group according to a join message and a leave message using the Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP).

The set top box 130 that receives the channel data through the network 120 is displayed on the display device 140.

The set top box 130 may access a channel information providing server (not shown) that provides channel information, receive the channel information, and display the channel information on the display device 140. In addition, the channel information may be transmitted through meta data or the like, and may be written in a web page format using HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) and Java Script. In addition, one or more multicast group addresses configured for each channel may be included for efficient data transmission and reception. The set top box 130 may include a web browser or the like for displaying the channel information written in the web page format by HTML and Javascript on the display device 140. In addition, when there is a selection of a channel among the channel information displayed on the display device 140, the set-top box 130 may generate a participation message to participate in the multicast group address set in the corresponding broadcast channel and transmit it to the Internet. have.

The display device 140 displays the received channel, and various methods may be applied, including a CRT, a liquid crystal display (LCD), and a plasma display panel (PDP).

According to the present invention, the server 100 transmits a channel information channel including the entire channel or a plurality of channels before and after the selected channel to the set top box 130 together with the selected channel.

The channel for channel information may include all channels, and when the number of channels is large, may include multiple channels before and after the selected channel. For example, the channel information channel may be configured in a form in which a plurality of channels are arranged in a matrix shape, and a case in which a total of 16 channels are included in the channel information channel is illustrated in FIG. 2. In this case, information about the position on the matrix of specific channel data is needed, and this information can be transmitted using caption data, metadata, and the like.

For example, when channels are arranged as shown in FIG. 3B, the set top box 130 finds the position of the selected channel by sending subtitle data or meta data as shown below.

matrix channels: 16 ch13: 1 ch14: 2 ch15: 3 ch16: 4 ch17: 5 ch18: 6 ch19: 7 ch20: 8 ch21: 9 ch22: 10 ch23: 11 ch24: 12 ch25: 13 ch26: 14 ch27: 15 ch28 : 16

Here, "matrix" indicates that a plurality of channels are transmitted in a matrix form, and "channels: 16" indicates that all 16 channels are included in a channel information channel. The subsequent data represents the position on the matrix of each channel. The advantage of this approach is that it maintains compatibility with existing systems. That is, even if the set-top box 130 does not support such a function, the operation is possible. In order to reduce the amount of data, the following information can be provided even if the following subtitle data or meta data is sent.

matrix 16 c13 c14 c15 c16 c17 c18 c19 c20 c21 c22 c23 c24 c25 c26 c27 c28

The number of channels included in the channel information channel may vary according to the number of programs, and the arrangement of the channel information channel may be implemented in other ways.

For example, a plurality of channels may be multiplexed onto one channel data and transmitted as shown in FIG. 3A. Here, each frame of the plurality of channels may be multiplexed and transmitted to each frame of the channel for channel information. In this case, information about a start point and an end point of specific channel data is required, and this information may be transmitted using caption data, metadata, and the like.

The following string shows an example of transmitting the information about the start point and the end point of the channel data using the caption data.

data channels: 16 ch13: 0-1000 ch14: 1001-2000 ch15: 2001-3000 ch16: 3001-3500 ch17: 3501-4200 ch18: 4201-5000 ch19: 5001-5300 ch20: 5301-5800 ch21: 5801-6000 ch22 : 6001-7000 ch23: 7001-7500 ch24: 7501-8000 ch25: 8001-8400 ch26: 8401-8600 ch27: 8601-9000 ch28: 9001-9400

Here, "data" indicates that a plurality of channels are transmitted in a data streaming form, and "channels: 16" indicates that all 16 channels are included in a channel information channel. The subsequent data represents the start point and end point of each channel data. When configuring a channel for channel information in this manner, the amount of data allocated to the included channel is of course reduced. This can be solved using a method of increasing the compression ratio. This approach requires a special protocol between the server and the set-top box. In addition, the same information may be provided even if the following subtitle data or meta data is sent in order to reduce the amount of data. Here, it is assumed that the beginning starts at "0", and the number after the channel number indicates the end position according to the channel number.

data 16 ch13: 1000 ch14: 2000 ch15: 3000 ch16: 3500 ch17: 4200 ch18: 5000 ch19: 5300 ch20: 5800 ch21: 6000 ch22: 7000 ch23: 7500 ch24: 8000 ch25: 8400 ch26: 8600 ch27: 9000 ch28: 9400

2 is a conceptual diagram in which a display device is enlarged and displayed when a specific channel is selected in a channel for channel information.

In order to reduce the amount of data, the channel information channel including a large number of channels may be configured to have a smaller screen than a normal channel, and when a viewer requests a channel change through a remote controller, the requested channel may be enlarged and displayed. For this purpose, the channel information channel should include location information on a matrix of channels arranged. When a channel change signal is input to the set-top box 130, the channel information is accurately located and enlarged on the display device 140. Make it visible. For example, such location information may be transmitted using caption data, metadata, and the like. When the viewer selects a specific channel, the set-top box 130 calculates the position of the corresponding channel, divides the selected channel video, and displays the enlarged image.

Each channel of the channel information channel is composed of a small screen, but is displayed temporarily until receiving the selected channel data, so that the viewer can identify the channel. Therefore, in order to reduce the bandwidth, the channel included in the channel information channel is preferably lower in resolution than the normal channel. However, the resolution should be lowered to the extent that the viewer can identify the selected channel.

Since the channel for channel information is temporarily displayed to identify the channel selected by the viewer as described above, the channel for channel information may be composed of only a screen. On the other hand, audio information may be included to provide viewers with more accurate channel information, realism and realism. However, since a number of channels are included in the channel information channel, the amount of information of the audio signal can increase greatly. Therefore, it is desirable to reduce the amount of information of the audio signal and to transmit it. For example, when audio is implemented as 5.1 channels, a mono or stereo audio signal may be allocated to a channel included in a channel for channel information. When supporting 5.1 audio channels, audio signals of five channels among channels for channel information may be allocated to each audio channel. In addition, the following string may be used to indicate allocated information.

5.1 channels: c: ch1 fl: ch2 fr: ch3 rl: ch4 rr: c5

Here, among the 5.1 audio channels, channel 1 is assigned to the center, channel 2 to the front left, channel 3 to the front right, channel 4 to the rear left, and channel 5 to the rear right.

If the amount of audio data is large, the compression rate of the audio signal can be increased and transmitted. If additional bandwidth is required, the audio signal can be sent in the form of metadata, data file transfer, or the like. Since audio data is also multiplexed and transmitted, information necessary for extracting an audio signal corresponding to a specific channel is of course transmitted. Such information may be transmitted through caption data, metadata, and the like similar to video data. For example, you can use the following string:

audio 16 ch13: 1000 ch14: 2000 ch15: 3000 ch16: 3500 ch17: 4200 ch18: 5000 ch19: 5300 ch20: 5800 ch21: 6000 ch22: 7000 ch23: 7500 ch24: 8000 ch25: 8400 ch26: 8600 ch27: 9000 ch28: 9400

Here, "audio" indicates that a plurality of channel audios are multiplexed and transmitted, and "16" indicates that all 16 channel audios are included in a channel for channel information. The subsequent data represents the start point and the end point of each channel data. In addition, it is also possible to use the 5.1 audio channel and the audio data together.

The audio signal of the selected channel is simultaneously output while the specific channel of the channel information channel is enlarged and displayed according to the channel change request.

4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an operation method when there are two channels for channel information.

In many cases, it may be difficult to include the entire channel in one channel information channel due to the large number of channels provided. To solve this problem, a plurality of channels for channel information can be operated. Hereinafter, for convenience, the upper channel information channel is referred to as a first channel information channel and the lower channel information channel as a second channel information channel in FIG. 4.

In general, two or more channels for channel information may be provided when the number of selectable channels is large.

When the viewer browses the channel using the remote control, if the currently displayed channel is the last channel of the first channel information channel or the first channel of the second channel information channel, the set-top box requests the server for the requested channel. When changing the channel for channel information is required. For example, if the channel currently being displayed is the last channel of the channel for the first channel information, when the viewer requests channel-up with the remote controller, the set-top box receives the channel for the second channel information from the channel for the first channel information. For this purpose, the server requests the first channel of the channel for the second channel information while requesting the server for the channel information for the second channel information.

At this time, a time delay may occur. In order to solve this problem, a plurality of channels for channel information can be transmitted at the same time, but this causes a waste of bandwidth. In addition, as a method of avoiding such a time delay, a plurality of channels for channel information may be configured as partially overlapped with each other as illustrated in FIG. 5. The server transmits the channel for the second channel information when the current channel is located at the end of the channel for the first channel information while monitoring the channel change situation of the viewer and increasing the channel number. That is, the server monitors the channel currently viewed by the viewer while operating a plurality of channel information channels, and selects and transmits the most appropriate channel information channel. On the contrary, a similar method may be applied to channel-down.

Another way to solve the problem that the number of channels provided is difficult to include the entire channel in one channel information channel, the server monitors the channel currently being watched by the user in real time to monitor the channels included in the channel information channel It is an adaptive adjustment. For example, if the channel for channel information includes 16 channels from ch17 to ch32, and the viewer changes to ch25 while the channel currently being viewed is ch24, the server selects channels from ch18 to ch33 for the channel information channel. Send it. That is, the server adjusts the channels included in the channel information channel so that the currently displayed channel is located in the center of the channel information channel, so that the number of channels provided is large enough to include the entire channel in one channel information channel. Avoid time delays that may occur in the absence of a situation.

6 is a flowchart of a method of changing an interactive TV channel according to an embodiment of the present invention when a channel for channel information is configured in a matrix form.

In step 10, a channel change signal is input to the set-top box. The viewer allows a channel up or channel down signal to be input to the set-top box through the remote control.

In step 20, the channel corresponding to the input channel change signal among the channel information channels is found and expanded. The channel information channel includes position information of each aligned channel, and the set-top box searches for a channel corresponding to the input channel change signal in the channel information channel using the position information of each channel and enlarges the display device. To be displayed. In this case, the channel selected from the channel information channel may output an audio signal together with the enlarged screen. If the selected channel does not exist in the channel information channel for various reasons, wait for the channel information channel to be updated or proceed to the next step (not shown). Since this process takes place in real time after the viewer selects a channel, the viewer does not have to wait for the channel of his choice to be displayed.

In step 30, the set-top box requests the server for the selected channel corresponding to the channel change signal. It takes some time for the set-top box to request the server for the selected channel and for the server to transmit the selected channel and the set-top box to receive this signal. The enlarged screen is displayed.

Step 40 is a step of determining whether to receive the requested channel. If the server transmits the requested channel and the set-top box receives this signal, the received channel is displayed (step 60).

Meanwhile, while the viewer is waiting, the set-top box continues to monitor the channel change request signal. In many cases, the viewer continuously presses the channel change button UP or DOWN, and thus it is necessary to continuously monitor the channel change request signal (S50). If there is a channel change request signal, the process returns to step 20 again.

7 is a flowchart illustrating a process of adjusting a channel included in a channel for channel information.

The server monitors the channel currently being viewed by the user in real time and adjusts the channel included in the channel for channel information. When the set-top box transmits a channel change signal (S110), the server transmits the selected channel to the set-top box (S120) and adjusts the contents of the channel information for the channel information so that the currently viewed channel is located at the center (S130).

In this way, when a channel change request is received from the interactive TV, the channel information for the channel information is displayed until the corresponding channel is received, thereby eliminating the time required to change the channel so that the viewer can perform the channel change in real time. . In addition, the server monitors the channel currently being watched in real time and adjusts the current channel to be in a central position in the channel information channel, so that even if it is difficult to include the entire channel in one channel information channel due to the large number of channels provided Minimize the time spent on the move.

The change of channels by the viewer is mainly performed by channel-up or channel-down, but the channel number may be directly input. In this case, there is no problem when the channel information channel includes all channels, but a delay problem may occur when the channel information channel includes only some of all channels. In order to alleviate this problem, the channel habits of the viewers may be monitored to include channels that are frequently viewed in the channel information channel. For example, in FIG. 9, ch21, ch33, ch43, and ch55 are channels that viewers frequently watch.

10 is a conceptual diagram when multiplexing a channel currently being watched and a neighboring channel to one streaming data and transmitting the same. In FIG. 10, the channel 3 is currently viewed, and the headend transmits the neighboring channel using a relatively small bandwidth. That is, data is transmitted in one frame of channel 3, and data corresponding to one frame of the peripheral channel is multiplexed and transmitted. In this case, as shown in FIG. 3D, location information occupied by each channel should be additionally transmitted. Of course, in this case, it is desirable to transmit the surrounding channels by reducing the screen or by using a much smaller bandwidth than the channel currently being viewed. If there are channels that viewers watch frequently, it is also possible to add and transmit channels that are frequently watched as shown in FIG.

According to the interactive TV channel changing method according to another embodiment of the present invention, the entire channel for channel information is displayed so that the viewer can change the channel. First, as shown in FIG. 8, the entire channel information channel is displayed and the viewer selects a desired channel. As a box-shaped cursor moves, an audio signal of a corresponding channel may be output. The set-top box sends the selected channel information to the server and enlarges the selected channel for display. When the selected channel is received, it is replaced and displayed.

Specifically, the interactive TV channel changing method according to another embodiment of the present invention is the first step of displaying all channels included in the channel information channel in the interactive TV system in the form of a matrix, and among the channel information channel When the specific channel is selected, the specific channel is enlarged and displayed, and the set-top box includes a second step of requesting the server for a channel corresponding to the channel change signal, and a third step of displaying the requested channel.

In the first step, the entire channel included in the channel information channel is displayed on the screen of the display device, which is received through the channel information channel. That is, in the first step, all channels selectable by the viewer are displayed in a matrix form (see FIG. 8) on the screen. The viewer selects a desired channel by using a remote controller among several channels shown on a small screen. As the cursor moves, the audio signal of the corresponding channel may be output.

Since the third step proceeds similarly to steps 40 and 60 of FIG. 6, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

By doing so, the entire channel information channel is displayed on the screen, and through this, the viewer selects a desired channel, thereby providing convenience in selecting a channel of the viewer.

On the other hand, the multimedia transmission method of the interactive TV according to the present invention comprises the steps of (a) receiving a selected channel; And (b) transmitting the channel information channel including the selected channel and the channels before and after the selected channel, wherein the channel information channel corresponds to one of channels included in the channel information channel. It further comprises the step of transmitting the data location information so as to extract. Since the multimedia transmission method of the interactive TV has been sufficiently described in the interactive TV system and its channel changing method, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The above description is merely illustrative of the technical idea of the present invention, and various modifications, changes, and substitutions may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention. will be. Accordingly, the embodiments disclosed in the present invention and the accompanying drawings are not intended to limit the technical spirit of the present invention but to describe the present invention, and the scope of the technical idea of the present invention is not limited by the embodiments and the accompanying drawings. . The protection scope of the present invention should be interpreted by the following claims, and all technical ideas within the equivalent scope should be interpreted as being included in the scope of the present invention.

The present invention provides convenience to viewers by transmitting channels for channel information so that viewers do not have to wait when changing channels in an interactive TV, and can be used in various ways for interactive TV including IPTV.

1 is a block diagram of an interactive TV system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an enlarged display of a specific channel when a specific channel is selected from channels for channel information arranged in a matrix form; FIG.

3A is a conceptual diagram of a channel for channel information in which multiple channels are multiplexed on one channel data and transmitted;

3B is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of channels for channel information arranged in matrix;

4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an operation method when there are two channels for channel information;

5 is a conceptual diagram in which a plurality of channels for channel information are configured to overlap in order to avoid time delay;

6 is a flowchart of an interactive TV channel changing method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

7 is a flowchart illustrating a process of adjusting a channel included in a channel for channel information;

8 is a conceptual diagram of displaying an entire channel for channel information and selecting a desired channel by a viewer;

9 is a conceptual diagram of a channel information channel including a frequently viewed channel;

10 is a conceptual diagram in the case of multiplexing and transmitting a channel currently being watched and a neighboring channel in one streaming data;

FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram of a channel for channel information including a frequently viewed channel in FIG. 10.

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

100-server 120-network

130-Set Top Box 140-Display Devices

Claims (17)

Send interactive data from an interactive TV system, And the channel data for channel information including the channel currently being watched and the channels surrounding the channel being watched in the multimedia data. The method of claim 1, The channel data for channel information is a server of the interactive TV system, characterized in that the channels included in the channel information channel is arranged in a matrix (matrix) shape. The method of claim 1, And the channel information channel comprises data location information to extract multimedia data corresponding to one of the channels included in the channel information channel. The method of claim 1, The server is a server of the interactive TV system, characterized in that for multiplexing the channels included in the channel information channel to one streaming data. The method of claim 4, wherein The server of the interactive TV system, characterized in that for transmitting less than the bandwidth occupied by each channel included in the channel information channel compared to the channel currently being viewed. The method of claim 1, The server monitors the channel habits of the viewer, the server of the interactive TV system, characterized in that for transmitting the channel with a frequency of more than a certain number of times included in the channel information channel. The method of claim 1, Wherein the channel for channel information comprises an audio signal together with a video signal of the channels. The method of claim 1, The server of the interactive TV system, characterized in that for changing the channel included in the channel information channel for transmission so that the channel currently being watched is located at a specific position in the channel information channel. The method of claim 1, The server of the interactive TV system, characterized in that two or more channels for the channel information. Send interactive data from an interactive TV system, The data location information is transmitted to the multimedia data so that the data of the channel currently being watched and the channels around the channel being watched are transmitted in one streaming data, and the multimedia data corresponding to one of the channels are extracted. The server of the interactive TV system, characterized in that the transmission further. Receive multimedia data from your interactive TV system, The multimedia data is transmitted including channel data for channel information including a channel currently viewed and channels surrounding the currently viewed channel. If there is a channel change request, the selected channel is found and displayed in the channel for channel information. Set-top box of the interactive TV system, characterized in that for requesting, receiving and displaying the selected channel. Receive multimedia data from your interactive TV system, The data location information is received in the multimedia data so that the data of the channel currently being watched and the channels around the channel being watched are transmitted as one streaming data, and the multimedia data corresponding to one of the channels is extracted. Receive more, When a channel change request is made, the selected channel is found and displayed in the surrounding channels. Set-top box of the interactive TV system, characterized in that for requesting, receiving and displaying the selected channel. In an interactive TV system, A server for transmitting multimedia data; And A set-top box for receiving the multimedia data from the server, The server may include channel data for channel information including a channel currently viewed in the multimedia data and channels surrounding the currently viewed channel, wherein the channel information channel is one of channels included in the channel information channel. And transmitting data to the set-top box further including data location information so as to extract multimedia data corresponding to a channel. In the channel changing method of the interactive TV, (a) inputting a channel change signal to the set-top box in the interactive TV system according to claim 13; (b) the set-top box requesting the selection channel from the server while searching for and displaying a selection channel corresponding to the input channel change signal among the channel information channel; And (c) displaying when the requested selection channel is received. Channel changing method of the interactive TV comprising a. The method of claim 14, After the step (c), the server changes the channels included in the channel information channel so that the channel currently being watched is located at a specific position in the channel information channel. In the channel changing method of the interactive TV, (a) displaying the entire channel for channel information in the interactive TV system according to claim 13; (b) the set-top box requesting the selection channel from the server when the specific channel is selected from the channel information channel and displayed together with the audio of the selection channel; And (c) displaying when the requested selection channel is received. Channel changing method of the interactive TV comprising a. In the multimedia transmission method of the interactive TV, (a) receiving a selected channel; And (b) transmitting the channel information channel including the selected channel and the channels before and after the selected channel together, wherein the channel information channel includes multimedia data corresponding to one of the channels included in the channel information channel. Transmitting further including data location information for extraction Multimedia transmission method of an interactive TV comprising a.

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