KR100975533B1 - Method and Apparatus for providing content link service - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for providing a content link service. The present invention provides a method for providing a content link service in a server connected to a user terminal through a network, the method comprising: transmitting an AV according to a preset schedule or a user's selection and link information about the content linked to the AV to the user terminal The link information may include at least one of execution time information of the content output when the preset trigger condition is satisfied and return time information to the AV after the execution of the content ends. According to the present invention, by linking predetermined content to a video, a user can conveniently check various contents.

Video, av, link, content, trigger, return, point in, execution, start

Description

Method and apparatus for providing content link service {Method and Apparatus for providing content link service}

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing a content link service, and more particularly, to a method and an apparatus capable of providing useful information desired by a user during video playback.

In the related art, a general method of watching a moving picture including a general audio and video (AV) is to receive / output a broadcast signal transmitted from a broadcasting station or the like through a television receiver. In the provision of the moving picture, the broadcaster transmits the broadcast signal in one direction only at a predetermined time, and the viewer selects a desired broadcaster to watch the broadcast program.

Since then, according to the compression technology of the AV signal and the increase in data transmission speed, various videos can be received and viewed through a PC or a set top box. In particular, there is a situation in which a real-time video on demand (RVOD) service is provided in which viewers can select a video to be watched according to their convenience and taste without viewing any time limit.

Meanwhile, according to the generalization of video production devices and the development of personal media such as blogs, UCC videos produced by individuals are provided through the Internet. Accordingly, the number of videos that viewers can watch has exploded.

However, as the number of videos increases and the contents thereof also diversify, it becomes difficult to search for videos that viewers want to watch as well as to select what to watch. That is, even though a large number of videos are mass produced and present on the Internet, the videos are not organized systematically, and viewers cannot easily and quickly search for videos that they want to watch.

As a result, even when a large number of moving pictures and various contents are provided on the Internet, viewers cannot efficiently view them, and therefore, active provision of moving images and various contents has become meaningless.

Although a service that provides various video contents by category is currently provided on the Internet, there is a problem in that the user cannot check the video belonging to an individual category and thus does not help the user to efficiently watch the video.

The present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for providing a content link service that allows the user to quickly output and view the content linked to the video while the video is running in order to solve the problems of the prior art as described above. .

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for providing a content link service that enables content to be executed corresponding to a selected time point when a user selects a link during execution of a video.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for providing a content link service that allows an initial video to be played corresponding to a time point when the execution of content according to link selection ends.

In order to achieve the above object, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in a method for providing a content link service in a server connected with a user terminal through a network, AV and the according to a predetermined schedule or a user's selection And transmitting link information about the content linked to the AV to the user terminal, wherein the link information includes execution time information of the content output when a preset trigger condition is satisfied and return time to the AV after completion of execution of the content. A content link service providing method including at least one of information is provided.

According to another aspect of the present invention, in a method for providing a content link service in a server connected to a user terminal through a network, the AV information according to a predetermined schedule or a user's selection and link information about the content linked to the AV is provided. And transmitting to the user terminal, wherein the link information includes at least one of trigger condition information for switching to linked content, content switching time, content execution time, and returning time to the AV. A provision method is provided.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is tangibly embodied a program of instructions that can be executed by a user terminal connected through a network with a server for content linking, and a recording medium recording a program that can be read by the user terminal device. A method comprising: receiving link information about an AV and content linked to the AV; Interpreting the link information; Determining whether a trigger condition for outputting a linked content is satisfied while executing the AV; And a recording medium having a computer readable program recorded therein for executing the content from the execution time according to preset content execution time information when the trigger condition is satisfied.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for providing a content link service connected to a user terminal via a network, the apparatus comprising: a database storing link information about content linked to an AV; An encoding unit for encoding an AV according to a preset schedule or a user's selection; And a transmission unit for transmitting the AV and link information corresponding to the AV to the user terminal, wherein the user terminal is provided with a content link service providing apparatus for executing linked content during the AV reproduction according to the link information. .

According to the present invention, there is an advantage that can quickly check the content of the desired content during video viewing.

In addition, according to the present invention has the advantage that the content can be executed at a predetermined time and to return to the initial video to prevent the duplicate viewing of the same content.

As the invention allows for various changes and numerous embodiments, particular embodiments will be illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the written description. However, this is not intended to limit the present invention to specific embodiments, it should be understood to include all modifications, equivalents, and substitutes included in the spirit and scope of the present invention. Like reference numerals are used for like elements in describing each drawing.

When a component is referred to as being "connected" or "connected" to another component, it may be directly connected to or connected to that other component, but it may be understood that other components may be present in between. Should be. On the other hand, when a component is said to be "directly connected" or "directly connected" to another component, it should be understood that there is no other component in between.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this application, the terms "comprise" or "have" are intended to indicate that there is a feature, number, step, operation, component, part, or combination thereof described in the specification, and one or more other features. It is to be understood that the present invention does not exclude the possibility of the presence or the addition of numbers, steps, operations, components, components, or a combination thereof.

Unless defined otherwise, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. Terms such as those defined in the commonly used dictionaries should be construed as having meanings consistent with the meanings in the context of the related art and shall not be construed in ideal or excessively formal meanings unless expressly defined in this application. Do not.

 Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In order to facilitate a thorough understanding of the present invention, the same reference numerals are used for the same means regardless of the number of the drawings.

1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a content link service providing system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the content link service providing system according to the present invention may include a content server 100, and the content server 100 is connected to one or more user terminals 102 through a network.

Here, the network may include both a wired network including the Internet and a dedicated line and a wireless network including the wireless Internet, a broadcasting network, a mobile communication network, and a satellite communication network.

The user terminal 102 is a terminal capable of connecting to a network, and may include all set-top boxes, desktop PCs, notebook computers, mobile phones, PDAs, and mobile broadcast system (MBS) phones.

As described below, the user terminal 102 plays a video including audio and video streams (hereinafter referred to as 'AV'), and any terminal capable of executing content linked to the AV may be applied without limitation.

The content server 100 may be a broadcaster server that transmits the AV to the user terminal 102 according to a preset schedule, or may be a VOD server that transmits the AV when the user terminal 102 requests.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the content server 100 provides the user terminal 102 with the link information about the content linked to the AV.

Here, the linked content includes a video, text, an image, or audio, and the link information includes switching to the linked content, executing the content, terminating the content, and returning to the AV after the content is played back in the user terminal 102. Contains all information for

According to the present invention, the AV transmitted to the user terminal 102 may be a video for introducing a plurality of contents such as music video top 10, recommended movie, recommended drama, recommended UCC, etc. of the week.

For example, if the AV is a movie introducing five movies, such as movie1 to movie5, the content server 100 sets link information about the content including a trailer or other detailed information about each movie to the corresponding AV. And transmit it to the user terminal 102.

The user terminal 102 performs a predetermined procedure so that the user can obtain detailed information of the currently introduced movie during AV playback while simultaneously analyzing the link information while playing the received movie introduction AV.

In addition, the user terminal 102 may return to the movie introduction AV after the user's end selection or execution of the content is terminated according to the link information.

According to the present invention, by linking one or more contents to an AV, the user can naturally obtain detailed information about the plurality of contents even while checking one AV.

Hereinafter, a system for providing a content link service according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5.

2 is a diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of a content server according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, the content server according to the present invention includes an AV storage unit 200, a link information storage unit 202, an encoding unit 204, a terminal communication unit 206, and a content storage unit 208. can do.

The AV storage unit 200 stores an AV to be transmitted to the user terminal 102.

The AV storage unit 200 may receive and store an AV including audio and video signals from an external service provider or a broadcaster. As described above, the AV according to the present invention may be a video for introducing a plurality of contents.

The link information storage unit 202 stores link information set for a predetermined AV.

According to the present invention, the link information can be set in advance corresponding to each AV, and is transmitted to the user terminal 102 as additional data together with the AV.

The link information according to the present invention may include link valid section information, content execution information, and return information.

The link valid duration information may include a link validity start point (validity_start) in the AV and a link duration (validity_duration) regarding a period in which the link is valid.

The user terminal 102 may output an interface for link selection during the corresponding time using the link valid period information.

The content execution information may include a condition (trigger, trigger condition) for switching to linked content during AV playback, a content switching point (link_timing), and a content execution point.

The trigger condition may be set to execute the linked content automatically when a specific time point is reached during AV playback or when there is a user's selection through the link selection interface.

Content switching time is information on when switching to linked content when the trigger condition is satisfied. Immediately when the trigger condition is satisfied (IMMEDIATE), execute at a predetermined time (AT), or execute after a preset time delay (DELAY). It may be defined as at least one of.

3 is a diagram illustrating an example of switching to and returning to linked content according to the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the P1, P5, and P6 time points may be defined as immediate execution during the playback of the AV, and the P2 time point may be defined as execution at the P3 time point when the trigger condition is satisfied. In this case, the P3 time point may be defined as execution of a time point at which a content switching time is determined or execution after a time delay.

For example, when 10 seconds to 20 seconds of the AV is a link valid section, when the content switching time is defined as 25 seconds, if the user selects a link in the 10 seconds to 20 seconds section, the user switches to the content at 25 seconds. Can be. In addition, when the content switching time is defined as a 5 second delay, when the user selects a link in 12 seconds, the content switching time may be switched to the linked content after the 5 second delay, that is, 17 seconds.

The content execution time point is information regarding a time point at which execution of the linked content starts. Basically, the content execution time point may be set to be played from the beginning of the content when the trigger condition is satisfied as illustrated in FIG. 3.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the execution time of the content according to the present invention may be defined differently according to the trigger condition satisfaction time.

In this case, the linked content may be divided into a plurality of sections, and the content execution time may be defined as one of a plurality of section starting points.

4 illustrates another example of switching to and returning to linked content according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, when the AV is a video introducing a plurality of broadcast accidents, a first section AV1 may be introduced to introduce the first broadcast accident, and the first content corresponding to the first broadcast accident may be present in the AV1 section. (LC1) can be linked. Here, the linked content may be an actual video including a first broadcast accident and may be divided into a plurality of sections as shown in FIG. 4.

According to the present invention, the content execution time for the first content may be defined as one of L1 to L3 according to the trigger condition satisfaction time point in the AV1 section.

According to the content execution time point, when the link selection, that is, the trigger condition is satisfied at P1, playback starts from the L1 time point of the LC1, and when there is a link selection at the P2 time, the playback may start from the L2 time point.

For example, L2 may be a point where a broadcast accident starts in the linked content.

When the content execution time is defined differently according to the trigger satisfaction time as in the present invention, when the trigger condition is satisfied at the initial time of introducing the first broadcast accident, the linked content is played from the beginning, but after the introduction is somewhat If the trigger condition is satisfied, playback can be started from the highlight point of the broadcast accident to increase the user's satisfaction.

The return information according to the present invention is information about returning to the initial AV after completion of content execution, and may include a return condition, a return method, and a return time point.

The return condition is a condition for terminating content execution, and may be defined as a user's end selection, completion of execution of the linked content, or execution up to a specific time point of the linked content. If the defined return condition is satisfied, the user terminal 102 performs a procedure according to a preset return method.

The return method is information about whether to return to the initial AV after the execution of the linked content, and may be defined as at least one of returning to the AV according to the termination of the execution of the content and termination of the AV together with execution of the content.

That is, the reversion scheme according to the present invention may be set such that playback of the AV is also terminated upon completion of the execution of the linked content such as the return to the initial AV and the LC4 as shown in LC1 to LC3 of FIG. 3.

The return time point is information about from which point in time AV playback starts when the return method is set to return to the initial AV.

As shown in FIG. 3, the return time point may be defined as time points P1 and P5 converted to content such as LC1 and LC3 or end point P4 of linked content such as LC2.

In addition, the return time point according to the present invention may be defined differently according to the execution end time point of the content as shown in FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 4, when the P2 is switched to the LC2 during the playback of the AV2 section, the return time may be defined differently according to L3, L4, and L5 during the execution section of the LC2. That is, if the user terminates at L3, the terminal returns to P3, which is the initial switching time point. If the terminal is terminated at L4, the terminal returns to P4. Can be.

In addition, when ending in the section before L3, it may be set to return to P4 when ending in the sections P3 and L3 to L4.

According to the present invention, when the contents of the P3 and P4 sections of the AV and the contents of the L3 and L4 sections overlap, the return point information may be differently defined according to the execution end point of the linked content as described above, so that the user may have the same content. It is possible to prevent double viewing.

In addition, when the content is finished, the user may return to the section for introducing another content of the AV, thereby preventing the user from repeatedly watching the same content.

Again, referring to FIG. 2, the encoding unit 204 converts an audio and video signal AV requested by a preset schedule or user into a preset data format. In this case, the encoding unit 204 may convert the audio and video signals into a Moving Picture Experts Group2-Transport Stream (MPEG2-TS) format corresponding to a data broadcast standard.

In addition, the encoding unit 204 may encode the link information corresponding to the AV together with the AV.

However, the link information according to the present invention may be encoded separately from the AV and transmitted to the user terminal 102 through the DSMCC (Digital Storage Media-Command and Control) Carousel.

The terminal communication unit 206 establishes a connection with the user terminal 102 to receive the user's AV request, and also transmits the encoded AV and corresponding link information to the user terminal 102.

Meanwhile, the content storage unit 208 stores the content linked to the AV.

When the trigger condition is satisfied while the AV is being played, the terminal communication unit 206 receives a content request from the user terminal 102, and the content requested by the user among the contents stored in the content storage unit 208 is the user terminal 102. Is sent to.

However, the linked content may be transmitted to the user terminal 102 in advance. In this case, the content request of the user terminal 102 and the individual content transmission to the user terminal 102 may not be performed.

Meanwhile, in the above description, link information is set in advance in the AV, but according to another embodiment of the present invention, link information corresponding to the AV may be dynamically generated.

In this case, the link information storage unit 202 according to the present invention may store link information about content linked to at least one AV.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, one content may be provided linked to a plurality of AVs. For example, when AV1 is an introductory video about movie1 and movie2, and AV2 is an introductory video about movie2 and movie3. , content including detailed information about movie2 may be provided in link with each of the first AV and the second AV.

In this case, the content server 100 according to the present invention may further include a link information matching unit, and when the link information matching unit determines an AV to be transmitted to the user terminal 102 according to a preset schedule or a user's request, The link information matching the AV is extracted from the link information storage unit 202 and transmitted to the user terminal 102.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of a user terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and illustrates only a configuration necessary for switching to linked content and returning to AV during AV playback.

As shown in FIG. 5, the user terminal according to the present invention may include a link information analyzer 500, a content output unit 502, a link processor 504, and a content storage unit 506.

The link information analyzer 500 analyzes the link information transmitted from the content server 100 and transmits the link information to the link processor 504.

The content output unit 502 decodes the AV received from the content server 100 and outputs the decoded AV to a display (not shown).

In addition, the content output unit 502 receives a predetermined control signal from the link processing unit 504 at the same time as the AV video, and informs that the user can select a link during AV playback, and outputs an interface for executing the linked content. According to the user's selection, a process such as AV playback upon executing and returning the linked content is performed.

The link processor 504 performs a procedure such as a link selection process of the user by using the information transmitted from the link information analyzer 500.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the link processor 504 may include an interface activation determiner 510, a trigger determiner 512, a content requester 514, a control signal output unit 516, and a return processor 518. It may include.

The interface activation determination unit 510 determines whether the link valid starting point has arrived using the link valid period information included in the link information, and also determines whether the link valid period has expired.

When the link valid start point arrives, the control signal output unit 516 outputs a control signal for outputting the interface to the content output unit 502, and when the link valid period expires, the link selection interface to the content output unit 502. Outputs a control signal for terminating the output.

6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a link selection interface according to the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 6A to 6C, the interface activation determining unit 510 outputs an interface such as an area where a mouse is clickable and a key input guide during a link valid period during AV playback.

As shown in FIG. 3, two or more contents may be linked in one link valid period P1 (LC1 and LC1 ′), and the interface activation determining unit 510 according to the present invention may be connected to the same as in FIG. 6A. You can output an interface (Blue_key and Red_key) that allows you to select one of two or more pieces of content.

The trigger determination unit 512 determines whether a trigger condition for executing the linked content is satisfied during AV playback.

The trigger determination unit 512 determines whether the trigger condition is satisfied based on whether a specific time point of the AV is reached or whether there is a user input in the link selection interface.

When the trigger condition is satisfied, the content request unit 514 requests the content to be output according to the trigger condition satisfaction from the internal content storage unit 506 included in the content server 100 or the user terminal 102 through the network. .

When the corresponding content is received, the control signal output unit 516 transmits a control signal corresponding to the execution time and execution time information of the content to be output to the content output unit 504, and the content output unit 504 described above. In accordance with the control signal, playback of the AV is stopped and the requested content is output.

On the other hand, the return processing unit 518 determines whether the currently executed content is terminated by using the return condition, the return method, and the return time information included in the link information. The playback of the AV is restarted at a specific time of the AV according to the return time information.

Hereinafter, a process of providing a content link service according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 7 to 8.

7 is a flowchart illustrating a content link service process according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, the content server 100 sets link information corresponding to an AV (step 700), and when an AV transmission request is received from the user terminal 102 (step 702), the requested AV and its corresponding content. And transmit the link information to the user terminal 102 (step 704).

The user terminal 102 reproduces the received AV (step 706) and simultaneously interprets the link information (step 708).

The link information according to the present invention includes link valid section information, content execution information and return information, and the user terminal 102 outputs an interface for selecting a link in the link valid section according to the analyzed link information (step 710). .

When the user selects a link through the interface (step 712), the content server 100 requests the selected content (step 714).

When the content server 100 transmits the selected content to the user terminal 102 (step 716), the user terminal 102 executes the received content (step 718), and after the content execution ends, the content returned to the preset return information. A return procedure is then performed (step 720).

8 is a flowchart illustrating a process of executing and returning content in a user terminal according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates a case in which the AV and the content linked to the AV are videos divided into preset sections.

Referring to FIG. 8, the user terminal 102 plays an AV received from the content server 100 (step 800).

The user terminal 102 determines whether a trigger condition is satisfied in a preset link validity interval (step 802).

The user terminal 102 checks execution point information of the content corresponding to the trigger condition satisfaction point (step 804), and starts playback of the content from that point (step 806).

On the other hand, when the reproduction of the linked content is terminated (step 808), the user terminal 102 determines whether it is necessary to return to the AV (step 810). The return point is checked (step 812).

The user terminal 102 starts playback of the AV from the return point described above (step 814).

Preferred embodiments of the present invention described above are disclosed for purposes of illustration, and those skilled in the art will be able to make various modifications, changes, and additions within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Additions should be considered to be within the scope of the following claims.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a content link service providing system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of a content server according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 illustrates an example of switching to and returning to linked content in accordance with the present invention.

4 illustrates another example of switching to and returning to linked content according to the present invention.

5 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of a user terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a link selection interface according to the present invention;

7 is a flowchart illustrating a content link service process according to the present invention.

8 is a flowchart illustrating a process of executing and returning content in a user terminal according to the present invention.

Claims (13)

A method for providing a content link service in a server connected to a user terminal through a network, the method comprising: And transmitting, by the server, the AV information according to a preset schedule or a user's selection, and link information about the content linked to the AV to the user terminal. The link information includes at least one of execution time information of content output when a preset trigger condition is satisfied, return time information to the AV after completion of execution of the content, and content change time information. The content switching time point information is defined as at least one of immediate execution, preset time point execution, and execution after a predetermined time delay. And if the user terminal satisfies the trigger condition, executes the content linked to the AV according to the content switching time point information. The method of claim 1, The execution time information of the content is differently defined according to the trigger condition satisfaction time content providing service providing method. The method of claim 1, And at least one of the return time information is defined differently according to the end time of execution of the content. The method of claim 1, And the link information further includes link valid section information regarding a valid start point and a valid period for selecting a content link in the AV. The method of claim 4, wherein The link information further includes trigger condition information for selecting one of a plurality of contents, and the user terminal outputs a link selection interface for selecting one of the plurality of contents. delete The method of claim 1, The link information further includes return method information to the AV, And the return method information is defined as at least one of returning to the AV according to the termination of execution of the content and completion of execution of the content. The method of claim 1, And the return time information is defined as at least one of a content execution time, a preset time point, and a return to the content end time. The method of claim 1, And the content is at least one or a combination of a video, an image, text, and audio. A method for providing a content link service in a server connected to a user terminal through a network, the method comprising: And transmitting, by the server, the AV information according to a preset schedule or a user's selection, and link information about the content linked to the AV to the user terminal. The link information includes a trigger condition for switching to linked content and content switching time information. And if the user terminal satisfies the trigger condition, executes the content linked to the AV according to the content switching time point information. A recording medium having recorded thereon a program that can be executed in a user terminal connected through a network with a server for content linking, Receiving link information about an AV and content linked to the AV; Interpreting the link information; Determining whether a trigger condition for outputting a linked content is satisfied while executing the AV; And And executing the content from the execution time according to preset content execution time information when the trigger condition is satisfied. The method of claim 11, And when the execution of the content ends, executing the AV from the return time according to preset return time information to the AV. An apparatus for providing a content link service connected to a user terminal through a network, the apparatus comprising: A database that stores link information about content linked to the AV; An encoding unit for encoding an AV according to a preset schedule or a user's selection; And A transmission unit for transmitting the link information about the AV and the content linked to the AV to the user terminal, The link information includes a trigger condition for switching to linked content and content switching time information. When the user terminal satisfies the trigger condition, the user terminal executes content linked to the AV according to the content switching time information. Content link service providing apparatus.

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