KR100994021B1 - Iptv settop box and method for providing management screen of preferred channel - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an IPTV set-top box and a method for providing a screen for easily registering and managing a user's preferred channel in an IPTV service.

To this end, the present invention creates a channel display area on a part of the screen according to the user's request, and displays the screens for all channels currently serviced by IPTV in the channel display area so that the user can watch the status of all channels in the channel display area. Provides a screen that allows you to select and prefer channels, and create a favorite channel display area on the screen when you select a certain favorite channel so that the selected favorite channels are displayed on the favorite channel display area. .

IPTV, favorite content, channel registration

Description

IPTV set-top box and method for providing preference channel management screen {IPTV SETTOP BOX AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING MANAGEMENT SCREEN OF PREFERRED CHANNEL}

The present invention relates to an IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) service system. In particular, the present invention provides a screen for more conveniently managing a user when providing a service for registering and managing channels and programs that a user prefers. IPTV set-top box and method.

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, a number of over-the-air television and radio channels, as well as multimedia contents provided by various Internet providers, are provided as broadcast services through the Internet. Demand is also on the rise.

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

An IPTV service is an interactive television service provided by using a high-speed internet network, and refers to a TV (television receiver) connected to an IPTV service providing server through an internet network through a set-top box. Accordingly, the information service, the video content, and the broadcast content of the IPTV service providing server are provided to the TV via the set top box.

IPTV is a type of Digital Convergence in that it is a convergence of Internet and TV. The IPTV service type includes a VOD service that provides VOD (Video On Demand) content and broadcast contents provided by a broadcasting center. There are real-time broadcasting services provided in real time and value added service (VAS) services, which are additional services such as games, karaoke, weather, fortune telling, and my folder.

These IPTV services can be provided by the user selects the desired channel and program directly, if the number of channels is small, there is no problem, but in recent years, as hundreds to thousands of channels are added, users frequently watch their channels You have to take the hassle of changing channels to and from it.

Accordingly, there is a need for a method that enables users to more easily watch channels without searching for channels and programs that their users prefer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is derived from this need, and a technical task of providing a user to easily select and watch a preferred IPTV channel and a program provided by a user who receives an IPTV service.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a screen for allowing a user to manage more conveniently when registering and managing channels and programs that a user prefers.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an IPTV set-top box for providing a preferred channel service screen through an external output device, the storage storing a favorite channel list, and a channel list display key of a viewing screen for a predetermined channel. If there is an input, a channel screen for each of the currently serviced channels is displayed in a channel display area located in a part of the viewing screen.If a predetermined channel screen is selected in the channel display area, the selected channel is registered as a preferred channel and then preferred. And a controller for moving to and displaying a channel area, wherein the preference channel display area is a display area which is located in a partial area of the viewing screen and is set in advance to list and display screens for each of the favorite channels. .

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, if the channel list display key is input when the channel display region is activated, the controller activates the favorite channel display region to move focusing on the preferred channel screen included in the preferred channel display region. When the predetermined preferred channel screen is selected, the selected preferred channel screen is displayed as the main screen.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, if there is a channel list display key input while the main screen is activated, the main screen on which the selected favorite channel screen is displayed is displayed as a full screen.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the preferred channel key is a “♥” key, and the channel list display key is a trackball key.

In addition, the present invention provides a method for providing a preferred channel service screen through an external output device in the IPTV set-top box, if there is a channel list display key input of the viewing screen for a predetermined channel for each channel currently serviced Displaying a screen on a channel display area located in a partial region of the viewing screen, and when a predetermined channel screen is selected in the channel display area, registering the selected channel as a favorite channel and moving the display to the favorite channel display area; And when the channel list display key input is activated while the channel display area is activated, the favorite channel display area is activated to enable focusing movement on the preferred channel screen included in the favorite channel display area, and a predetermined favorite channel screen is selected. If the main screen is displayed, the selected favorite channel screen is displayed. In addition, the preferred channel display area is located in a portion of the viewing screen, characterized in that the display area is set in advance to list and display the screen for each of the preferred channels.

According to the present invention, when the user wants to manage the preferred channel, the user moves the preferred channel to be registered as the preferred channel among the screens for all channels currently serviced by the IPTV displayed on the channel display area to the preferred channel display area. Since it is possible to register and delete a favorite channel, it is possible to see at a glance which preference channel the user himself has registered.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION A detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the same components in the figures represent the same numerals wherever possible.

Specific details are set forth in the following description, which is provided to provide a more thorough understanding of the present invention. In describing the present invention, when it is determined that a detailed description of a related known function or configuration may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

First, before entering the description of the present invention will be described with respect to the terms described in the present invention. The preference channel is a channel preferred by the user and includes both a real time broadcasting channel and a VOD content (ie program) channel. Accordingly, the preferred channel registration and management in the present invention will be described as including the registration and management of the VOD content channel as well as the real-time broadcast channel.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings to provide a service screen that can be more conveniently managed by the user when providing a service for registering and managing the user's preferred channels and programs according to an embodiment of the present invention It will be described in detail for.

Next, a network configuration of an IPTV system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1. 1 is a diagram illustrating a network configuration of an IPTV system for registering and managing a preferred channel in an IPTV service according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, in the IPTV system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of set-top boxes 100 are provided on a user side, and the plurality of set-top boxes 100 provide an IPTV service providing server 300 through a network 200. ) Is connected.

The plurality of set-top boxes 100 are connected to display devices 400 such as TVs or monitors provided in homes or offices, respectively, and visually display various data information provided from the IPTV service providing server 300. The operation may be performed through a user manipulation means including a remote controller and a keypad.

The network 200 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 wired / wireless communication network enables the network. For example, the IPTV service providing server 300 may communicate with a plurality of servers through a local area network (LAN) or a TCP / IP connection.

The IPTV service providing server 300 is a server that stores and manages various data information to provide various services to each user. The IPTV service providing server 300 includes a real time broadcast providing server 305, a content providing server 310, an EPG providing server 320, The authentication management server 330, the charging management server 340, and the preferred channel management server 350 may be included. In addition, a database (not shown) for classifying and storing various data may be separately included.

In this case, a database (not shown) may be composed of an integrated EPG file DB 362, a member information DB 364, a content pay information DB 366, and a favorite channel information DB 368. It may be provided. For example, the integrated EPG file DB 362 to the EPG provision server 320, the member information DB 364 to the authentication management server 330, the content pay information DB 366 to the billing management server 340, The preference channel information DB 368 may be included in the preference channel management server 350.

The real-time broadcasting providing server 305 receives real-time broadcasting contents from a broadcasting center as a web site or database for providing real-time broadcasting contents and provides the real-time broadcasting contents through the network 200 according to the request of the set-top box 100. .

The content providing server 310 refers to a web site or a database for providing video on demand (VOD) content. In addition, the data of the VOD content is stored inside the content providing server 310, and in some cases, a plurality of content supply servers may be built below the content providing server 310 to store VOD content in each content supply server. have. According to this configuration, the content providing server 310 may collectively manage the list of content supply servers and the content stored therein.

The EPG providing server 320 is for providing program information, that is, EPG information of real-time broadcasting content and VOD content provided by the real-time broadcasting providing server 305 and the content providing server 310, and the integrated EPG file DB 362. It can be stored and managed in an integrated way.

The authentication management server 330 stores and manages the member information of the user who subscribes to the service in the member information DB 364 and authenticates whether the user is a registered user for the user accessing the IPTV service providing server 300. To perform. In this case, the authentication method may be performed through an ID given to each set top box 100 or a member ID given to a user when subscribing to a service. The member information DB 364 is member information of a user who has subscribed to the service and includes a member name, a member ID, a password, and personal identification information (eg, age, address, telephone number, etc.).

The billing management server 340 is a server that calculates and manages the cost of using a paid service for VOD content. To this end, the content paid information DB 366 stores related information about each paid service including a purchase amount of paid content, a support service expiration period, and the like.

The preferred channel management server 350 receives a list of preferred channels organized according to each user's preference from the set-top box 100, stores them in the preferred channel information DB 368, manages them for each user, and provides them from the set-top box 100. On request, a preferred channel list can be provided.

At this time, the preference channel list stored in the preference channel information DB 368 may include a preference channel name and a preference channel number for each user.

In addition, the preference channel management server 350 analyzes viewers' viewing habits (habit) by using the user's favorite channel list stored in the preference channel information DB 368 to classify target audiences and to match the IPTVs according to characteristics for each target audience. Can provide services. For example, when providing advertisement content as an additional service, advertisement content related to a preferred channel may be provided for each target audience, thereby providing a more enhanced IPTV service.

2 is an internal configuration of the IPTV set-top box 100 to provide a more convenient channel management service screen to the user when providing a service for registering and managing the user's favorite channels and programs according to an embodiment of the present invention It is also.

Set-top box 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is the IPTV service providing server 300, the real-time broadcast providing server 305, the content providing server 310 and EPG server 320, the authentication management through the network 200 The server 330, the billing management server 340, and the preferred channel management server 350 and the like, and when the user requests a predetermined channel registration or deletion by the user to update the information of the preferred channel requested in the preferred channel list .

Such a favorite channel list may be stored only in the set-top box 100, and the preferred channel list is transmitted to the favorite channel management server 350 at power off or at a preset time point, and is transmitted to the server at power on or preset time point. It may be managed to be provided with the stored preferred channel list. If only the set-top box 100 stores the preferred channel list and registers and manages the preferred channel list, the preferred channel management server 350 and the preferred channel information DB do not need to be configured in the embodiment of FIG. 1.

Here, the network between the set-top box 100 and the IPTV service providing server 300 may be used for communication using an IP (Internet Protocol) network, but is not limited to using the old IP-based network.

The set-top box 100 for this purpose is a control unit 160 including a network interface 110, an input / output unit 120, a content management application 130, a preference channel management application 140, as shown in FIG. The storage 150 stores a favorite channel list.

In addition, the output device 180 is a display device such as an LCD or a CRT, such as a TV, and receives the screen data transmitted from the set-top box 100 and outputs it to the screen.

In addition, the input device (for example, the remote control) 170 according to the present invention includes a favorite channel key and a channel list display key.

At this time, the preference channel key is a hot key for registering and managing a predetermined channel, and when a preference channel key is input, a preference channel key is provided. The preferred channel key may be provided separately on the remote control as a key such as “♥”, or may be used by assigning a function to one of the existing keys.

In addition, the channel list display key is a hot key for viewing the broadcast status of the favorite channels registered while watching. When a channel list display key is input, each channel currently displayed in the channel display area is displayed. Gives the ability to display. Such a channel list display key may be separately provided to the remote controller as a key such as a track ball, or may be used by granting a function to one of the keys provided in the past.

The network interface 110 is in charge of a network interface to facilitate communication between the set-top box 100 and the IPTV service providing server 300. That is, it provides a network environment suitable for remotely transmitting and receiving data between the set-top box 100 and the IPTV service providing server 300.

The input / output unit 120 is responsible for input / output of various data related to real-time broadcast content and VOD content. In particular, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to perform input / output of various data related to the preferred channel.

The controller 160 performs overall control of the set-top box 100 and controls screen display for registering and managing a preferred channel. Such a controller 160 inputs a channel list display key during a viewing screen display for a predetermined channel. If present, display the channel screen for each of the currently serviced channels in the channel display area located in a part of the viewing screen.If there is a selection to register a predetermined channel screen in the channel display area, register the selected channel as the preferred channel. Move to the favorite channel display area and display it. At this time, the preference channel display area is a predetermined area which is located in a part of the viewing screen and displays the screens for each of the favorite channels in a list.

In addition, if a channel list display key is input when the channel display area is activated, the controller 160 activates the favorite channel display area to enable focusing movement on the preferred channel screen included in the favorite channel display area, and the predetermined favorite channel screen. If is selected, the selected favorite channel screen is displayed as the main screen. In this case, the fact that the specific region is activated means that the channel included in the region can be selected. In addition, if one region of the screen becomes active, the other regions become inactive.

Thereafter, if there is a channel list display key input while the main screen is activated, the controller 116 displays the main screen on which the selected favorite channel screen is displayed as a full screen.

In addition, the screens for each of the channels included in the channel display area may be all real-time channel screens, the focused channel screen is displayed as a real-time channel screen, and for the screens other than the focused channel as captured image screens. Can also be displayed.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, in the exemplary screen according to the embodiment of the present invention, the channel display area is positioned on the right side and the preferred channel display area is set on the lower side, but the screen is located at a position where the two areas do not overlap. The storage 150 may be preset to be positioned on one side of each of the upper side, the lower side, the left side, and the right side of the storage unit 150. The storage 150 may be the EPG information and the preference channel management application 140 provided from the EPG provision server 320. Memory space for storing channel list.

Hereinafter, a method of providing a screen for managing a preferred channel in the IPTV set-top box 100 configured as described above will be described. A process of providing a screen for managing a preferred channel in the IPTV set-top box 100 will be described. This will be described with reference to FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 4.

Referring to FIG. 3A, it is assumed that a predetermined channel screen is displayed in step 300. Thereafter, if there is a channel list display key input in step 302, the flow proceeds to step 304 to display channel screens for all channels currently serviced in the channel display area. At this time, in the embodiment of the present invention, it is assumed that the channel list display key is implemented as a track ball.

In addition, the screen displayed in step 304 may be shown as shown in (a) of FIG. Referring to FIG. 4A, an area 610 is a channel display area and an area 600 is a main screen on which a channel screen currently being viewed is displayed.

In addition, all of the screens for each of the preferred channels may be a real-time channel screen, a focused preferred channel screen may be displayed as a real-time channel screen, and a channel image other than the focused preferred channel may be displayed as a captured image screen. have.

In step 304 to step 306, it is checked whether there is a selection for focus movement between channel screens included in the channel display area, and if there is a focus movement selection, the flow proceeds to step 308 to perform the movement between lists according to the selection. In this case, the focus movement between channel screens may be moved using a channel list display key implemented as a trackball. If not implemented as a trackball, navigation keys may be used.

Thereafter, in step 310, when the predetermined channel screen is selected, the IPTV set-top box 100 registers the selected channel as the preferred channel in the preferred channel list in step 312, and moves the displayed channel to the preferred channel display area.

That is, when the user moves the focus between the channel screens included in the channel display area, focuses on the channel screen to register as the favorite channel, and inputs the favorite channel key, the channel screen moves to the favorite channel display area for display. .

In this case, the screen may be illustrated as shown in FIGS. 4B and 4C. Referring to FIG. 4B, when the user inputs the “♥” key while the “BBC Three” channel screen 612 is focused, the “BBC Three” channel screen 612 is displayed as the favorite channel display area 620. ) To move and display. In addition, when the user moves the focusing to the next channel and enters the “♥” key while the “ITV” channel screen 614 is focused, the “ITV” channel screen 614 is also moved to the favorite channel display area 620. Is displayed.

Thereafter, referring to FIG. 3B, in step 314, the IPTV set-top box 100 checks whether there is a request for activating a preferred channel display area, and if so, proceeds to step 316. Activate the channel display area and deactivate the channel display area. In this case, the request for activating the preferred channel display area may be performed by inputting a channel list display key.

In step 316 to step 318, the IPTV set-top box 100 checks whether a predetermined favorite channel screen is selected, and if the predetermined favorite channel screen is selected, the process proceeds to step 322 to display the selected screen as the main screen. If the selection key is pressed in the state of focusing on the “BBC Three” channel screen as the preferred channel display area 620 in FIG. 4C, the “BBC Three” channel screen is displayed on the main screen 600. If the “♥” key is input in the state of being focused on the “BBC Three” channel screen as the preferred channel display area 620 in FIG. 4C, the preferred channel display area 620 is excluded. Do not mark anymore.

After that, if there is a channel list display key input in step 324 to display the main screen as a full screen, the IPTV set-top box 100 displays the main screen displayed on the current screen as a full screen. At this time, in the embodiment of the present invention, the channel list display key is used as a key for displaying the current main screen on a full screen, but may be another key.

As described above, the present invention allows the user to select a favorite channel while watching the video status of all channels displayed in the service channel display area on one screen, and select the preferred channels to be displayed in the preferred channel display area more easily. Provides a screen to register and manage.

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 block diagram of an IPTV service system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

2 is an internal configuration diagram of an IPTV set-top box according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3A and 3B are flowcharts illustrating a screen display process when a user registers a favorite channel and a program in an IPTV set-top box according to an embodiment of the present invention;

4 is an exemplary screen displayed when performing a process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

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

100: multiple set-top boxes 200: network

300: IPTV service providing server 305: real time broadcasting providing server

310: content providing server 320: EPG providing server 330: authentication management server 340: billing management server

350: preferred channel management server 362: integrated EPG file DB

364: member information DB 366: content paid information DB

368: preferred channel information DB 110: network interface

120: input and output unit 130: VOD management application 140: preferred channel management application

150: storage 160: control unit

170: input device 180: output device

Claims (17)

In the IPTV set-top box for providing a preferred channel service screen through an external output device, Storage for storing the favorite channel list, If there is a channel list display key input among the viewing screens for a certain channel, a channel screen for each of the currently serviced channels is displayed in a channel display area located in a portion of the viewing screen, and the predetermined channel screen is displayed in the channel display area. And a controller for storing the selected channel in the preferred channel list stored in the storage and registering the channel as a preferred channel and then displaying the preferred channel list including the selected channel in the preferred channel region. The channel screens for each of the currently serviced channels displayed on the channel display area are all real-time channel screens, The preferred channel display area is located in a portion of the viewing screen so as not to overlap with the channel display area and is a preset display area for listing and displaying the screens for each of the favorite channels. IPTV set-top box to provide picture. The method of claim 1, wherein the control unit, If the channel list display key input is activated while the channel display area is activated, the preferred channel display area is activated to enable focusing movement on the preferred channel screen included in the preferred channel display area. IPTV set-top box for providing a preferred channel service screen, characterized in that to display the selected favorite channel screen as the main screen. The method of claim 2, wherein if there is a channel list display key input while the main screen is activated, the main channel displaying the selected favorite channel screen is displayed as a full screen. IPTV Set Top Box The IPTV set-top box for providing a preferred channel service screen according to claim 1, wherein the preferred channel key is a “♥” key. The IPTV set-top box for providing a preferred channel service screen according to claim 1, wherein the channel list display key is a trackball key. delete delete The IPTV set-top box for providing a preferred channel service screen according to claim 1, wherein the channel display area is located on one side of an upper side, a lower side, a left side, and a right side of the screen. The IPTV set-top box for providing a preferred channel service screen according to claim 1, wherein the preferred channel display area is located on one side of an upper side, a lower side, a left side, and a right side of the screen. In a method for providing a preferred channel service screen through an external output device in an IPTV set-top box, Displaying a channel screen for each of the currently serviced channels in a channel display area located in a part of the viewing screen when there is a key list display key input among the viewing screen display for a predetermined channel; If a predetermined channel screen is selected in the channel display area, registering the selected channel as a favorite channel and moving the display to the favorite channel display area; If the channel list display key input is activated while the channel display area is activated, the preferred channel display area is activated to enable focusing movement on the preferred channel screen included in the preferred channel display area. Displaying the selected favorite channel screen as a main screen; The channel screens for each of the currently serviced channels displayed on the channel display area are all real-time channel screens, The preferred channel display area is located in a portion of the viewing screen so as not to overlap with the channel display area and is a preset display area for listing and displaying the screens for each of the favorite channels. Method for presenting the screen. The method of claim 10, If there is a channel list display key input while the main screen is activated, providing the preferred channel service screen further comprising displaying the main screen on which the selected preferred channel screen is displayed as a full screen. Way. The method of claim 10, wherein the favorite channel key is a “♥” key. The method of claim 10, wherein the channel list display key is a trackball key. delete delete The method of claim 10, wherein the channel display area is located at one side of an upper side, a lower side, a left side, and a right side of the screen. The method of claim 10, wherein the preferred channel display area is located on one side of an upper side, a lower side, a left side, and a right side of the screen.

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