KR100950161B1 - Set top box for internet protocol television and method for changing chennel using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a set-top box for an IPTV and a method of changing a channel using the same, which enables a user to easily change a desired channel while watching content or performing other tasks on a menu screen. In the method of changing a channel according to the present invention, if there is a selection for a channel key while a specific application is running, the method of identifying a type of a screen currently being executed and a menu group belonging to a content being executed on the screen may be performed. Extracting channel list information, activating a channel list window for the extracted channel list information on the screen, and if there is an UP or DOWN operation of a channel in the channel list window, moving to and focusing on a corresponding channel; And if there is a selection input of a channel in the channel list window, changing to the corresponding channel.

IPTV, Set Top Box, Channel List, Watching

Description

SET TOP BOX FOR INTERNET PROTOCOL TELEVISION AND METHOD FOR CHANGING CHENNEL USING THE SAME}

The present invention relates to a set-top box for providing an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) service, and more particularly, to easily select a channel desired by a user while watching content or performing other operations on a menu screen. The present invention relates to an IPTV set-top box and a channel changing method using the same.

Nowadays, with the spread of broadband media and the increase in communication speed, the Internet is emerging as a new medium for enabling One source Multi Service. That is, the multimedia contents provided by various internet operators as well as a large number of airwave televisions and radio channels are provided as a broadcasting service through the Internet. There is also an increasing trend.

A representative service that emerged from this background is an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) service based on the Internet Protocol.

IPTV service is a two-way television service provided by using a high-speed Internet network, which is a connection between a TV (television receiver) and a content providing server through an IPTV set-top box connected to the Internet network. Accordingly, the user is provided with an information service, a video content, a broadcast content, and the like of a content providing server through an IPTV set-top box.

This IPTV is a type of digital convergence in that it is a convergence of the Internet and television, and users can interact with the TV beyond just channel, volume, and videotape manipulation. Thus, payment, banking, shopping, booking, gaming or karaoke functions can be performed.

In recent years, as the technology of IPTV has evolved and the services provided to users have been diversified, various user interface schemes for conveniently using the various services have been proposed.

In the user interface for changing the channel, conventionally, when the UP & DOWN key is manipulated to change the channel while watching, the currently playing content is terminated and the channel is directly switched to the corresponding channel.

According to this, when a user incorrectly manipulates a button differently from his or her intention, there is a problem in that the channel being watched is changed at the same time as the operation, causing a user to be dissatisfied.

In addition, when the channel to be changed is not the immediately preceding or next channel of the current channel, there is a disadvantage in that the channel is continuously moved or a channel number is directly selected until the desired channel is executed. Alternatively, there is a disadvantage in that the corresponding channel must be searched or found individually as a lower menu on the upper menu screen.

In addition, in the related art, in addition to playing a content, there is a function of not having a function of a channel button in another operation such as a home screen or downloading, and thus there is a disadvantage in that it cannot move to another channel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and the present invention provides an easy operation for changing a channel by displaying related group channel information in a state of maintaining the screen without being terminated when the channel is changed. It is a task.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a set-top box for an IPTV includes: a network interface for performing communication with an external server; An input signal receiver configured to receive and process an input signal according to a user's operation; Storage in which a channel map including various channel list information is stored; If a channel input signal is input through the input signal receiver during the operation, the channel list information stored in the storage is extracted and activated on a display screen. When the input signal for channel movement is input from the input signal receiver, the activated channel list window is activated. A processor for focusing by moving the position of the pointer and switching to a selected channel when an input signal of channel selection is input from the input signal receiver; And an output unit for outputting and displaying data output through the processor as an AV signal.

In this case, the channel list window may be overlaid and displayed on the current screen during the operation.

In addition, the display screen is characterized in that the background image mapped to the screen being worked on the background is maintained as it is.

In addition, the channel map may be configured differently according to the type of the screen being executed on the display screen.

According to an example of the present invention, when the display screen is a home menu screen, the channel map may include channel list information belonging to the next menu group except the home menu among menu groups classified by large categories.

According to another example of the present invention, when the display screen is a synopsis screen displaying detailed information of the content before playing the content, the channel map includes channel list information of a menu group to which the executed content belongs to the synopsis screen. can do.

According to another example of the present invention, when the display screen is a download screen, the channel map may include channel list information of a menu group to which the downloaded content belongs.

According to another example of the present invention, when the display screen is a screen for watching a specific content, the channel map may include channel list information of a menu group to which the content being viewed belongs.

Here, the channel list information may be a channel number or content name of content belonging to the menu group.

When the channel list information is a channel number of the content, the channel list information may be arranged in ascending or descending order of the channel number in the channel list window.

When the channel list information is a content name of the content, the channel list window may be arranged in alphabetical or alphabetical order of the content name.

On the other hand, the channel change method using the set-top box for IPTV according to the present invention for achieving the technical problem, (a) if there is a selection for the channel key during the operation, the type of the screen currently running and the content running on the screen Identifying a menu group to which the menu belongs; (b) extracting channel list information of a menu group to which the content belongs; (c) activating a channel list window for the extracted channel list information on the screen; (d) moving to and focusing on a corresponding channel if there is an UP or DOWN operation of a channel in the channel list window; And (e) changing to a corresponding channel if there is a selection input of the channel in the channel list window.

According to the present invention as described above, by providing a changeable channel list information on the current screen before changing the channel, it provides the ease of use to easily perform the channel movement.

In addition, since the channel list information is displayed on the current screen when the channel is changed, it is not necessary to stop the currently running screen in the middle, and it is convenient to show the contents list of the same category to facilitate the user's purchase and use of the content. It can be effective.

In addition, the channel button function can be used to perform other tasks such as a home screen or a download, in addition to playing a content, thereby eliminating user inconvenience.

Hereinafter, an IPTV set top box according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a diagram showing a network configuration of an IPTV system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

1, the system using the set-top box for IPTV according to an embodiment of the present invention is provided with a plurality of set-top box 100 on the user side, the plurality of set-top box 100 is external through the network 300 The VOD server 400, the broadcast server 500, the EPG server 600, and the like to interoperate with each other.

The plurality of set-top boxes 100 are connected to the display device 200 such as a TV or a monitor provided in a home or office, respectively, to visually display various data information provided from external servers 400, 500, and 600. The manipulation for this may be performed through a user manipulation means including a remote controller, a keypad, and the like.

The network 300 may be an IP-based network, but the present invention is not limited to using an IP-based network, and is not limited to a specific form as long as the network 300 enables a network. For example, the VOD server 400 and the EPG server 600 may perform wired communication through a local area network (LAN) or a TCP / IP connection.

The VOD server 400 refers to a web site or database for providing video on demand (VOD) content.

A VOD content DB (not shown) in which data of VOD content is stored may be provided inside the VOD server 400. In some cases, a plurality of content supply servers may be constructed below the VOD server 400 to provide respective contents. VOD content can be stored on the supply server. According to this configuration, the VOD server 400 may collectively manage the list of content supply servers and the content stored therein.

The broadcast server 500 is distinguished from VOD content and is a service provider that provides a real-time over-the-air broadcasting service.

The EPG server 600 is for providing program information of contents capable of VOD service, that is, electronic program guide (EPG) information. The EPG server 600 is integrated and stored in an EPG file DB (not shown). can do.

When the IPTV system configured as described above receives a request for a service from the set-top box 100, the IPTV system may store VOD content, broadcast content, and EPG information stored in the VOD server 400, the broadcast server 500, and the EPG server 600 in response thereto. By providing the set-top box 100, the display device 200 visually displays data information of the corresponding service.

At this time, the set-top box 100 provides the channel information belonging to the menu group running by the user on the current screen when changing the channel so that the user can select the desired channel to change the channel.

Set-top box 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention for this purpose is configured as follows.

Figure 2 is a block diagram showing a set-top box for IPTV according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, the set-top box according to the embodiment of the present invention basically performs an interface with an external server, an input signal receiver 120, a data processor 130, and a processor 140. ), The storage 150, and the output unit 160. Such a configuration is a component for processing and serving VOD content, and may further include a broadcast application 180 for processing an over-the-air broadcasting service.

Specifically, the network interface 110 is configured to communicate with a VOD server (400 in FIG. 1), a broadcast server (500 in FIG. 1), and an EPG server (600 in FIG. 1), which are external servers. Support network environment.

The input signal receiving unit 120 receives an input signal according to a user's manipulation, converts the input signal into an electrical signal, and transmits the converted signal to the processor 140. In this case, the user's manipulation may be performed through a user interface such as the remote controller illustrated.

The storage 150 stores software for executing a VOD application or a broadcast application, and stores a VOD content received from an external server, program information (EPG information) of the VOD content, and a channel map including various channel information. Memory space. The storage 160 may be a hard disk drive (HDD) or flash memory.

When the channel input signal is input through the input signal receiving unit 120, the processor 140 extracts a channel list stored in the storage 150 and activates it on the display screen, and an input signal for channel movement is input from the input signal receiving unit 120. When input, the position of the pointer moves in the channel list window and focuses, or when the input signal of the channel selection is input from the input signal receiving unit 120, it switches to the selected channel.

This series of processes may be performed while the processor 140 executes another application. For example, while viewing or downloading content, a channel list may be extracted and activated according to a user's request input, and focusing or channel changing may be performed.

The output unit 160 is a module for converting the data output from the processor 140 into an AV signal and outputting it to a screen, in order to visually show a user a series of processes performed by the processor 140.

The data processor 130 codes or encodes the VOD content and the EPG information input through the network interface 110 in a format that can be easily controlled by the processor 140.

The broadcast application 180 is connected with the processor 140.

The broadcast application 180 is performed to change the mode through the switching unit 170 to provide a real-time over-the-air broadcasting service unlike the VOD service.

That is, when there is a selection input for a broadcast channel from the user through the input signal receiver 120, the tuner 182 of the broadcast application 180 may be tuned and provided.

3 is a diagram illustrating a channel map form stored in storage.

As illustrated, the channel map and the background image information are configured differently according to the type of the screen executed on the display screen.

Referring to the example screen of FIG. 4, when the screen executed on the display screen according to the first embodiment is the home menu screen (chmap1 of FIG. 3), the background image 1-1 is an image mapped to the home screen. It stays the same. In addition, the channel list window activated on the screen includes channel list information (1-3) belonging to the next menu group (1-2) except the home menu among the menu groups classified by the large categories.

For example, as shown in FIG. 4, when the next menu of the home menu of Hana TV is the Korean movie menu group, police line, the strongest romance, the gangster wife 3 belonging to the Korean movie menu group, the secret attraction of the professor, elegant Channel list information such as the world is displayed in a sorted manner.

In this case, the channel list window is overlaid and displayed on the background image 1-1, and the background image 1-1 is applied while maintaining the image of the screen being executed before selecting the channel function. For example, the background image of the screen executed before the channel function is selected may be an advertisement image of newly registered content or a poster image of content with high popularity or recommendation number.

As shown in the figure, if the UP & DOWN key of the channel key is operated in the activated channel list window, the position of the point is moved in the channel list window to focus, and the channel select key (for example, ok). Key) (1-4) to switch to the channel.

Next, the example screens of FIG. 5 will be described in connection. In the second embodiment, when the screen executed on the display screen is the synopsis menu screen (chmap2 of FIG. 3), the background image 2-1 is mapped to the synopsis screen. The retained image is maintained as it is, and the channel list window activated in the background image 2-1 includes channel list information 2-3 of the menu group to which the synopsis-executed content belongs.

Here, the synopsis menu screen is a screen displaying detailed information of the content (eg, content name, paid / free viewing information, episode, director, performer, brief plot information, etc.) before playing the content.

For example, assuming that a menu group to which content displayed on the synopsis menu screen belongs is a Disney channel, as shown in FIG. 5, the channel list window displays a plurality of channel list information grouped in the Disney channel menu group 2-5. (2-3) In other words, Donald's Penguin and others (Uri_), Donald's Penguin and others (English_), Donald's Penguin and others (English_), Mickey's Clubhouse (right _), Mickey's Clubhouse (Young_ ), Mickey's Clubhouse (English).

Here, the menu group of the content displayed on the synopsis menu screen may be a group of large menus classified by large categories, or may be a group of sub menus classified by genres in the large menu in detail. Alternatively, both may be provided in order of a large menu and submenus belonging to the large menu.

Reference numerals 2-4 are channel selection keys.

Next, in conjunction with the example screen of FIG. 6, in the third embodiment, when the screen executed on the display screen is a menu screen (chmap3 of FIG. 3) being downloaded, the background image 3-1 is downloaded. The image mapped to the screen is maintained as it is, and the channel list window activated on the background image 3-1 includes channel list information 3-4 of the menu group to which the content being downloaded belongs.

Here, the menu screen being downloaded refers to a screen for downloading the corresponding content from an external server to play the content. Accordingly, the image mapped to the download screen may be provided with a poster of the content to be downloaded for promotion, a video of the content to be downloaded in a preview format, or the advertisement content is provided regardless of the content to be downloaded. It can be applied in various ways.

Reference numeral 3-4 denotes a channel selection key, and 3-6 denotes a page table of channel list information.

Next, the example screen of FIG. 7 will be described in connection. As a fourth embodiment, when the screen executed on the display screen is the menu screen (chmap2 of FIG. 3) of viewing content, the background image 4-1 is played back. The current screen is maintained as it is, and the channel list window activated on the background image 4-1 includes channel list information 4-3 of the menu group to which the content being played belongs.

As described above, the menu group to which the contents belong to in the first to fourth embodiments may include at least one of a large menu group classified by a large category, or a sub menu classified by genre in the large menu.

For example, the Lord of the foreign currency ring is classified in the foreign movie submenu of the movie large menu in the large menu classified into home, movie, drama, news, KBS, MBC, SBS and the like. In the above embodiment, if synopsis is executed, downloaded, or viewed, the content of the ring is Lord of the Rings, the menu group to which the content belongs is a group of movie menus, which is a large menu, or a foreign movie menu group, which is a submenu of a large menu. Can be. Accordingly, the display screen may be provided with channel list information belonging to a movie menu as a large menu, or channel list information belonging to a foreign movie menu as a submenu.

In this embodiment, the channel information may be a channel number or content name of the content.

In the case of the channel number of the content, the channel information may be sorted in descending order of number, but is not limited thereto.

In the case of the content name, the channel information may be sorted alphabetically or alphabetically, but is not limited thereto.

As described above, according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when changing a channel, the channel list information belonging to the menu where the user is located on any screen can be easily moved without stopping the running screen.

Hereinafter, a method of changing a channel using an IPTV set-top box according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8 is a flowchart illustrating a channel change method using an IPTV set-top box according to an embodiment of the present invention.

First, the set-top box determines whether there is an input for a channel key while an application that executes a specific function is executed, and if there is an input, the set-top box determines a screen that is currently running and a menu group to which the content that is being executed belongs to the screen (S100). , S200).

For example, the currently running screen may be a home menu screen, a synopsis screen, a screen being downloaded, or a screen being watched, and a menu group to which content is being executed may be classified into a large menu group or a large menu classified into large categories. It may be a group of one submenu.

Thereafter, the set-top box extracts channel list information of the menu group to which the content belongs through the channel map stored in the storage (S300).

Thereafter, the set-top box provides the extracted channel list information on the screen (S400).

That is, the channel list window is activated on the screen and the corresponding menu group and channel list information is displayed on the channel list window.

Thereafter, in the channel list window, it is determined whether there is an UP or DOWN key operation of the channel (S500).

As a result of the determination, if there is no UP or DOWN key operation, it returns to the previous S400 step and keeps activating the channel list window, and if there is an UP or DOWN key operation, the position of the point to the corresponding channel. Move to focus (S600).

Thereafter, it is determined whether there is a selection input of a channel in the channel list window (S700).

If there is no selection input of the channel, the process returns to the previous step S500 to monitor whether there is an operation of an UP or DOWN key of the channel in the channel list window.

If there is a selection input of the channel, it is changed to the selected channel and the corresponding content is played (S800, S900).

In this channel change method, the channel list information activated on the display screen is differently displayed according to the menu group to which the content belongs, and the display screen may be differently displayed according to the currently executing screen before selecting the channel change.

9 to 12 are diagrams illustrating a method of providing different channel list information according to the type of screen as described above.

First, referring to FIG. 9, if the currently running screen is the home menu screen (S210), the background image mapped to the home menu screen is maintained (S211), and the channel list information of the menu group is extracted except for the home menu. The image is displayed on the background image (S212, S213).

Extraction of channel list information may be possible through channel maps stored in storage in the set-top box.

For example, the background image mapped to the home menu screen may be an advertisement image of newly registered content or a poster image of content having high popularity or recommendation number.

Next, referring to FIG. 10, if the currently running screen is a synopsis screen in which detailed information is displayed before playing the content (S220), the background image mapped to the synopsis screen is kept as it is (S221), and an overlay method thereon. In operation S222 and S223, channel list information belonging to the menu group of the synopsis is extracted and displayed.

Next, referring to FIG. 11, if the currently running screen is a screen for downloading content (S230), the background image mapped to the screen being downloaded is kept as it is (S231), and the content being downloaded in the form of an overlay on the screen. The channel list information of the menu group to which the belongs is extracted and displayed (S232 and S233).

Next, referring to FIG. 12, if the currently running screen is a viewing screen (S240), the video being played is still maintained (S241), and in the form of an overlay on the screen, channel list information of the menu group to which the content being played belongs. Is extracted and displayed (S242, S243).

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, it should be understood that the above-described embodiments are provided so that those skilled in the art can fully understand the scope of the present invention. Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, The invention is only defined by the scope of the claims.

1 is a diagram showing a network configuration of an IPTV system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a block diagram showing a set-top box for IPTV according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a diagram illustrating a channel map according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is an example screen illustrating a user interface in which a channel list window is activated on a home menu screen.

5 is an exemplary screen illustrating a user interface in which a channel list window is activated in a synopsis screen.

6 is an exemplary screen illustrating a user interface in which a channel list window is activated on a download screen.

7 is an exemplary screen illustrating a user interface in which a channel list window is activated on a screen being viewed.

8 is a flowchart illustrating a method of performing a channel change during the operation by using the set-top box for IPTV according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a method of changing a channel in a home menu screen of the method of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a method of changing a channel in a synopsis screen among the methods of FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a method of changing a channel in a screen being downloaded from the method of FIG. 8.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart for describing a method of changing a channel in a screen being watched among the methods of FIG. 8.

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

100: a plurality of set-top box 200: display device

300: network 400: VOD server

500: broadcast server 600: EPG server

110: network interface 120: input signal receiving unit

130: data processing unit 140: processor

150: storage 160: output unit

170: switching unit 180: broadcast application

182: tuner section

Claims (22)

In the set-top box for television (IPTV) based on the Internet protocol that provides a user desired content connected to the server via a network, A network interface for interfacing with the server via the network; An input signal receiver configured to receive and process an input signal according to the user's manipulation; Storage for storing a channel map classifying channel list information for each menu group for classifying the contents according to a category or genre; When the user downloads or watches a predetermined content, or when a channel input signal is input through the input signal receiving unit during the operation of executing a home menu, a menu group or the menu group to which the predetermined content belongs is determined by identifying a state in which the user is currently working. After extracting the channel list information of the other menu groups except the home menu from the storage and activating the channel list window on the display screen, and then inputting the channel shift signal from the input signal receiver, A processor for shifting a position to focus and for switching to a selected channel when an input signal for channel selection is input from the input signal receiver; And An output unit for outputting and displaying data output through the processor as an AV signal Set top box including. The method of claim 1, The channel list window is overlaid and displayed on the current display screen for downloading or watching the predetermined content or executing a home menu. The method of claim 1, The display screen is a set-top box, characterized in that the screen during the operation is maintained in the background. delete The method of claim 1, If the current operation is in the state of executing the home menu, The channel map includes channel list information belonging to a menu group other than the home menu among menu groups classified at the same level as the home menu. The method of claim 1, When the current work state is a synopsis screen that displays detailed information of the content before viewing the predetermined content, The channel map may include channel list information of a menu group to which content executed on the synopsis screen belongs. The method of claim 1, When the state of being in the current work state is downloading the predetermined content, The channel map includes channel list information of a menu group to which the content being downloaded belongs. The method of claim 1, When the state of being in the current work state is watching the predetermined content, The channel map includes channel list information of a menu group to which the content being viewed belongs. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 8, The channel list information is a set-top box, characterized in that the channel number or the content name of the content belonging to each menu group. 9. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 8, And the menu group to which the content belongs is any one of a group of a large menu to which the content belongs or a group of a sub-menu to which the content belongs among the sub-menus of the large menu. 9. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 8, The menu group to which the content belongs comprises a group of a large menu to which the content belongs in a large menu classified by a large category, and a group of a sub-menu to which the content belongs among the sub-menus of the large menu. 10. The method of claim 9, If the channel list information is a channel number of the content, Set-top box, characterized in that sorted in ascending order of the channel number in the channel list window. 10. The method of claim 9, If the channel list information is the content name of the content, Set-top box, characterized in that arranged in alphabetical or alphabetical order of the content name in the channel list window. In the Internet protocol-based television (IPTV) service method that provides the desired content by connecting the set-top box and the server via a network, (a) When the user downloads or watches predetermined content through the set-top box, or when the user selects a channel key during the operation of executing the home menu, Identifying a menu group to which the running content belongs; (b) extracting channel list information of a menu group to which the content belongs from storage; (c) activating a channel list window configured to selectively manipulate the extracted channel list information on the screen; (d) moving to and focusing on a corresponding channel if there is an UP or DOWN operation of a channel in the channel list window; And (e) changing to a corresponding channel if there is a selection input of the channel in the channel list window Channel change method using a set-top box for IPTV comprising a. The method of claim 14, In the step (c), the channel change method using the set-top box for IPTV, characterized in that for overlaying the channel list window on the screen. The method of claim 14, And the screen maintains a background image mapped to the currently running screen as it is. The method of claim 14, In the step (b), If the currently running screen is a home menu screen, The channel change method using the set-top box for IPTV, characterized in that for extracting the channel list information belonging to the next menu group except the home menu from the menu classified by the large category. The method of claim 14, In the step (b), If the currently running screen is a synopsis screen that displays detailed information of the content before playing the predetermined content, And a channel list information of a menu group to which the content executed on the synopsis screen belongs to. The method of claim 14, In the step (b), If the currently running screen is a screen being downloaded, And extracting channel list information of a menu group to which the downloaded content belongs. The method of claim 14, In the step (b), If the currently running screen is a screen for watching a specific content, And a channel list information of a menu group to which the content to be watched belongs is extracted. The method according to any one of claims 17 to 20, The channel list information is a channel number or content name of the content belonging to the menu group, the channel change method using the set-top box for IPTV. The method according to any one of claims 17 to 20, The menu group to which the content belongs is a channel change method using a set-top box for IPTV including at least one of a group of large menus classified by a large category, a group of sub-menus belonging to the large menu.

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