KR101015710B1 - User providing contents service method and system using virtual channel, and set-top box therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a user-provided content service method and system using virtual channel mapping, and a set-top box for a cable therefor. The method according to the present invention includes a step of setting a content output device from a user, and providing user-provided content provided by the set content output device to the set-top box of the user through a cable network. This may be done by an IP (Internet Protocol) address or port information assigned to the output device. According to the present invention, the user can conveniently use the contents provided by the device set by the user, such as watching a cable broadcast through a television at home, and can feel the same fun as operating his own broadcasting station. In addition, when the surveillance camera is used as a content output device, the video recorded by the surveillance camera can be conveniently viewed on a television at home, as in a conventional cable broadcasting, and a mass storage medium for storing the surveillance camera shot at home. The storage space provided by the cable broadcasting service provider can be reliably stored and used anytime and anywhere without having to have a.

Cable, communication, broadcast, camera, surveillance, virtual channel, mapping

Description

USER PROVIDING CONTENTS SERVICE METHOD AND SYSTEM USING VIRTUAL CHANNEL, AND SET-TOP BOX THEREFOR}

The present invention relates to a method and system for providing user-provided content using virtual channel mapping, and a set-top box therefor, and more particularly, to a method for providing a service by mapping user-provided content such as a UCC video or a surveillance camera image to a virtual channel. Systems and set-top boxes for them.

In general, a set-top box is a device that is connected to a video reproducing apparatus such as a television, receives a signal from an external source, converts it appropriately, and displays the contents with the video reproducing apparatus. Devices that provide external signals to the set-top box include Ethernet cables, satellite receiver antennas, coaxial cables, telephone lines, and regular VHF or UHF antennas.

Recently, as well as a function of receiving a cable broadcast signal and displaying it on an image reproducing apparatus, a set-top box that supports a user to use a service such as Internet search by transmitting and receiving an internet data signal through a cable network has emerged.

As such, although an environment in which a broadcast service and an Internet service are available through a cable network is being established, provision of a new service linking both services is not active.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a method and system for mapping a user-provided content such as a UCC video, a surveillance camera video, etc. to a virtual channel and providing a service, and a set-top box therefor.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a set-top box includes a communication unit for receiving user-provided content, and inputting the user-provided content to an image reproducing apparatus when a channel viewing command assigned to the user-provided content is input. And a control unit for outputting.

The controller may display a channel programming table including a channel allocated to the user-provided content on the image reproducing apparatus.

The user-provided content may be provided in a content output device preset from a user.

The content output device may be at least one of an internal surveillance camera, an external surveillance camera, and a content streaming device.

The set top box may further include a storage unit for storing the user-provided content, and the controller may output the user-provided content stored in the storage unit to the image reproducing apparatus according to a user command.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cable broadcasting communication system, comprising: a service setting unit configured to receive a content output device from a user, and user-provided content provided by the content output device through a cable network. It includes a service management unit provided to the set-top box.

The content output device setting may be made by an IP (Internet Protocol) address or port information assigned to the content output device.

The service manager may provide channel information allocated to the content output device together with the user-provided content.

The content output device may be an internal surveillance camera or an external surveillance camera, and the user-provided content may be an image captured by the internal or external surveillance camera.

The internal or external surveillance camera photographed image may be provided to the set top box in real time.

The cable broadcasting communication system may further include a database unit for storing the user-provided content, and provide the user-provided content in a VoD manner according to a request of the set top box.

Surveillance camera system according to another embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object, the set-top box receives the captured image from the surveillance camera and outputs through the cable network, and the surveillance camera provided from the set-top box through the cable network And a cable broadcasting communication system for providing a captured image to an information communication terminal through the Internet.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for controlling a set-top box, the method comprising: receiving user-provided content provided from a preset content output device from a user, and performing a channel viewing selection command assigned to the user-provided content; Receiving an input and outputting the user-provided content to an image reproducing apparatus.

The method may further include displaying a channel programming table including a channel allocated to the user-provided content on the image reproducing apparatus.

The method may further include storing the user-provided content in a storage unit, and output the image stored in the storage unit to the image reproducing apparatus according to a user command.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cable broadcasting communication method, comprising: setting a content output device from a user, and providing user-provided content provided by the set content output device through a cable network. And providing the set top box, and the content output device setting may be performed by an IP (Internet Protocol) address or port information assigned to the content output device.

The cable broadcasting communication method may further include providing channel information allocated to the user-provided content to the set top box.

The content output device may be at least one of an internal surveillance camera, an external surveillance camera, and a content streaming device.

The cable broadcasting communication method may further include storing the user-provided content, and provide the user-provided content in a Video on Demand (VOD) method at the request of the set top box.

As described above, according to the present invention, the user can conveniently use the contents provided by the device set by the user, such as watching a cable broadcast through a television at home, and can enjoy the same fun as operating his own broadcasting station. .

In addition, the user can conveniently watch an image taken by the surveillance camera set by the user through a television at home, as in a conventional cable broadcasting.

In addition, it is possible to reliably store and use anytime, anywhere by using the storage space provided by the cable broadcasting service provider without having to have a mass storage medium for storing surveillance camera photographed images in the home.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art may easily implement the present invention.

1 is a view provided to explain a user-provided content service system using virtual channel mapping according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 illustrates a case of a surveillance camera service among user-provided content services using virtual channel mapping.

Referring to FIG. 1, a user-provided content service system using virtual channel mapping according to the present invention includes a cable network 10, a cable broadcasting communication system 20, a set-top box 30, a video reproducing apparatus 40, a remote controller 50, cameras 61, 62, and 63, the Internet 70, and the information communication terminal 80.

The cable network 10 connects the cable broadcasting communication system 20 (hereinafter referred to as a broadcasting communication system) and the set-top box 30 to exchange various programs, data, and messages with each other. In addition, the cable network 10 may be connected to the camera 62 through a cable modem (not shown) to receive a camera photographed image and transmit the captured image to the broadcast communication system 20.

The cable network 10 uses an optical path from the broadcast communication system 20 to a subscriber optical network terminator (ONU) (not shown), and uses a coaxial cable from the ONU to the set-top box 30. hybrid fiber coax (HFC) may be used. The HFC network is capable of high-speed data transmission of 10 Mbps or more with broadband of 750 MHz (upward (5 MHz to 42 MHz) and downward (54 MHz to 750 MHz)). In the HFC network, the downlink frequency band may be allocated to 54 MHz to 500 MHz (analog (cable TV) broadcasting), 500 MHz to 552 MHz (internet band), and 552 MHz to 750 MHz (additional service band such as digital TV). Of course, according to the development of the technology, the cable network 10 may be implemented in another method capable of high-speed, high-speed data transmission.

The broadcast communication system 20 performs a function of receiving terrestrial / airwave broadcast signals through an antenna (not shown), receiving broadcast contents from a cable TV broadcasting station, or relaying the signals to a user through the cable network 10. In addition, it means a system implemented to provide a variety of additional services such as online games, karaoke, home shopping, video on demand (VoD).

In particular, the broadcast communication system 20 according to the present invention streams images captured by the cameras 61, 62, and 63 set by the user to the set-top box 30 or the information communication terminal 80 in real time, or performs video on Can be provided on demand. A detailed description of the broadcast communication system 20 will be given below in more detail.

The set-top box 30 is connected to the image reproducing apparatus 40 to properly convert the signal from the outside to display on the image reproducing apparatus 40, and transmits various commands input from the user through the remote control 50 to the broadcast communication system ( 20) to deliver the function.

In particular, the set-top box 30 according to the present invention, when a viewing command for a channel (hereinafter referred to as a surveillance camera channel) assigned to an image captured by the camera (61, 62, 63) from the user is input to the image taken by the camera It can be output from the reproduction device 40. The surveillance camera channel may be used by being mapped to an empty channel among the cable broadcasting channels. Detailed description of the set-top box 30 will be described below in more detail.

The image reproducing apparatus 40 is a device for displaying a menu screen for using various contents and services processed and delivered by the set top box 30, and displays such as an LCD monitor, a PDP monitor, an organic EL monitor, and a television. It may be implemented as a device. Although the set top box 30 and the image reproducing apparatus 40 are separately shown in FIG.

The remote controller 50 receives a command from the user and transmits the command to the set top box 30. The remote controller 50 may convert a user command into an infrared signal or an RF signal and wirelessly transmit the set command to the set top box 30.

The cameras 61, 62, and 63 are devices capable of compressing image data obtained by capturing an image and converting the image data into an electrical signal and outputting them externally through a network, and may be implemented as a web camera, an IP camera, or a USB camera. Of course, according to an embodiment, the cameras 61, 62, and 63 perform only a task of capturing an image and converting the image into an electrical signal, and the image data compression or network transmission function may be performed by a personal computer ( Not shown) or a cable modem (not shown). Meanwhile, if necessary, the camera 61 located in the home 100 in which the set-top box 30 is installed is called an internal camera, and the other cameras 62 and 63 are referred to as an external camera.

The information communication terminal 80 is a device for a user to exchange information with the broadcast communication system 20 through the Internet 70 in order to use a surveillance camera service. The information communication terminal 80 is equipped with a memory processor such as a laptop computer, a workstation, a palmtop computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a web pad, etc. as well as a desktop computer, and includes a microprocessor for operation. It may consist of a terminal with the capability.

In particular, according to the present invention, the user may access the broadcast communication system 20 through the information communication terminal 80 and perform the surveillance camera setting operation. In addition, according to an exemplary embodiment, the user may access the broadcast communication system 20 through the information communication terminal 80 to receive a camera photographed image. The surveillance camera setting operation is described in detail below.

Next, the broadcast communication system 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the broadcast communication system of FIG. 1 in more detail.

Referring to FIG. 2, the broadcast communication system 20 includes a broadcast head end 21, a combiner / deplexer 22, a CMTS 23, a management server 24, a database 25, and a surveillance camera service server. 26, a VoD service server 27, and a streaming server 28.

The broadcast head end 21 refers to a broadcast equipment device that receives various broadcast contents through a wired / wireless network or self-produces them and transmits them to the user through the cable network 10. The broadcast head end 21 may transmit the cable broadcast signal obtained by modulating the broadcast content to the cable network 10 through the combiner / deplexer 22. Here, the cable broadcast signal refers to a signal transmitted according to an RF (frequency) method in which an area per channel is assigned to a frequency in advance and transmitted.

The CMTS (Cable Modem Termination System) 23 converts the IP packet transmitted from the broadcast communication system 20 into a cable data signal and passes through the combiner / deplexer 22 through the cable network 20 through the set top box. 30 to perform the function of converting the cable data signal transmitted from the set-top box 30 to an IP packet. Here, the cable data signal refers to a signal based on data over cable service interface specifications (DOCSIS) that specifies a modulation scheme and a protocol for bidirectional signal exchange in the cable network 300.

The management server 24 controls the overall operation of the broadcast communication system 20 and may provide a channel schedule table to the set top box 30. Referring to FIG. 3, the channel schedule table may display not only channel information broadcast in real time by a cable broadcasting station but also surveillance camera (CCTV) channel 900 and 901 information. It can be seen that, among the surveillance camera channels 900 and 901, the channel 901 is assigned to the internal camera 1 and the channel 900 is empty. In this case, the surveillance camera channels 900 and 901 are just examples, and other empty channels may be used, and the number thereof may be increased or decreased. In addition, the channel schedule may include not only the surveillance camera channel information but also detailed information on the surveillance camera set in the corresponding channel. For example, the information may include information on whether the corresponding camera is an internal camera or an external camera, IP address or port information of the camera, and the like. The camera description information directly input by the user for the corresponding camera may be included. For example, if the location of the camera is a kindergarten, the user can check the installation site of the surveillance camera directly on the channel schedule by including information about it. As such, the surveillance camera channel information included in the channel schedule may be provided by the surveillance camera service server 26.

In addition, the management server 24 may perform the charging process for the surveillance camera service requested by the user is a paid service.

The database 25 may store various information and data necessary for providing the surveillance camera service according to the present invention.

In more detail, the database 25 may store and store IP addresses, port information, user set-top box information, surveillance camera channel information, and the like, of the cameras 61, 62, and 63 configured for the surveillance camera service from the user. In addition, the camera photographed image photographed and transmitted from the cameras 61, 62, and 63 may be stored in association with the photographing time, photographing camera information, and the like.

The surveillance camera service server 26 performs various functions for providing the surveillance camera service according to the present invention. In more detail, the surveillance camera service server 26 may include a service setting unit 261 and a service manager 263.

The service setting unit 261 displays and selects channel information available as a surveillance camera channel when the user connects through the set-top box 30 or the information communication terminal 80 and selects the surveillance camera setting menu. In this case, the surveillance camera channel may be automatically set as a default channel.

The service setting unit 261 receives the monitoring camera information to be set in the corresponding channel. The camera information may include a camera IP address or camera description information. In addition, the service setting unit 261 may receive a method of providing a camera photographed image. For example, the camera photographed image may be set to be transmitted to the set-top box 30 in real time, or may be first stored in the broadcast communication system 20 and provided to be provided in a VoD manner when a user requests. Of course, you can also set it up to support both methods.

The service manager 263 provides the image captured and transmitted by the cameras 61, 62, and 63 to the set top box 30 or the information communication terminal 80 in a manner set by the user. For example, when the real-time transmission is selected, it is possible to stream the camera shot image to the set-top box 30 or the information communication terminal 80 through the streaming server 28 in real time, and when the VoD method is set, the cameras 61, 62, and 63 ) Can be stored in the database 25 and provided through the VoD service server 27 at the request of the set-top box 30 or the information communication terminal 80.

The service manager 263 may also provide surveillance camera service channel information when providing the camera photographed image to the set-top box 30. Accordingly, the set top box 30 may process the camera replaying image to be output from the image reproducing apparatus 40 when the user selects viewing the corresponding channel. Meanwhile, in the present exemplary embodiment, the management server 24 and the surveillance camera service server 26 are described as being implemented as separate devices, but the management server 24 may be implemented to include the surveillance camera service server 26.

The VoD service server 27 performs a function of providing on-demand content requested from the user side in a streaming manner, and modulates the corresponding content including E-QAM (edge-QAM: not shown) and transmits it in the form of a cable broadcast signal. can do. In addition, the VoD service server 27 may perform a function of providing on-demand content requested from the user side in a download manner, or may provide a function of providing data corresponding to the on-demand content on an IP basis.

The streaming server 28 may provide the image captured by the cameras 61, 62, and 63 to the set top box 30 by IP streaming under the control of the service manager 263.

Then, the set-top box 30 according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 4.

4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the set top box of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 4, the set top box 30 according to the present invention may include a communication unit 31, a control unit 35, a storage unit 37, and a cable card 38.

The communication unit 31 supports the function of the set top box 30 to exchange various signals and data with the outside. In more detail, the communication unit 31 may include a broadcast receiver 311, a cable modem 313, and a short range communication unit 315.

The broadcast receiver 311 receives a cable broadcast signal transmitted from the broadcast communication system 20, selects a cable broadcast signal of a channel desired by a user, and performs a function of transmitting the cable broadcast signal to the controller 35. To this end, the broadcast receiver 311 may include a tuner (not shown) and a demodulator (not shown).

The cable modem 313 converts the cable data signal into an IP packet or converts the IP packet into a cable data signal. For example, the IP packet transmitted from the control unit 35 is converted into a cable data signal and output through the cable network 10. On the contrary, the cable data signal received through the cable network 10 is converted into an IP packet to the control unit 35. I can deliver it.

The short-range communication unit 315 performs wired / wireless communication with various devices located near and to the place where the set-top box 30 is installed through a universal serial bus (USB) port, a serial port, a parallel port, an infrared port, an RF port, and a Bluetooth port. can do. The short range communication unit 315 may receive various commands of the user transmitted from the remote controller 50 and transmit the various commands to the control unit 35. In particular, according to the present invention, the short range communication unit 315 may be connected to the camera 61 to receive a captured image. Preferably, the camera 61 may be implemented as a USB camera.

The controller 35 controls the overall operation of the set top box 30. The control unit 35 may include a CPU (not shown) and a video decoder (not shown) that supports codecs such as MPEC2, H.264, and VC-1. The set-top box may be stored in the storage unit 37. The set top box 30 is operated by using various programs and data for the operation of the 30. For example, the control unit 35 outputs an image, text, sound, etc. according to cable broadcasting, VoD content, or web service of a channel selected by a user from the image reproducing apparatus 40. In addition, the controller 35 may request a service corresponding to the broadcast communication system 20 according to a selection input from a user.

In particular, according to the present invention, the control unit 35 may display the channel schedule table as shown in FIG. 3 according to a user's request on the video reproducing apparatus 40. The corresponding camera captured image may be transmitted to the image reproducing apparatus 40 to be output. Of course, if the user already knows the channel information, the process of checking the channel schedule may be omitted.

In more detail, the controller 35 may directly output the image reproducing apparatus 40 when the camera photographed image is being transmitted in real time. On the other hand, when the user wants the image captured in the past, the information on the shooting date and time, etc. may be received and transmitted to the broadcast communication system 20 to receive the corresponding camera captured image in a VoD manner.

Meanwhile, when the user selects the surveillance camera setting, the controller 35 may access the service setting unit 261 of the broadcast communication system 20 and perform the surveillance camera setting operation as described above.

In addition, the controller 35 may implement the surveillance camera setting operation by itself. Referring to Figure 5 will be described the process of setting the surveillance camera itself in the set-top box 30.

Referring to FIG. 5, when a surveillance camera setting command is input from a user, the controller 35 may sequentially display the screen as shown in FIG. 5. First, as shown in (a) of FIG. 5, a camera to be set is checked whether it is an internal camera or an external camera. Next, when the user selects the external camera, as shown in (b) of FIG. 5, a screen for receiving an IP address is displayed and set. When the user selects the internal camera, as shown in (c) of FIG. 5, a screen for selecting a port of the near field communication unit 315 connected to the camera is displayed and set. The setting contents are transmitted to the broadcast communication system 20 to be reflected. Although not illustrated in FIG. 5, a screen for displaying and selecting available surveillance camera channel information and a screen for inputting a description of a camera may also be provided to the user and may be selected.

Meanwhile, according to an exemplary embodiment, the controller 35 may provide an image captured by the camera 61 to the broadcast communication system 20 through the cable network 10. In this case, the broadcast communication system 20 may provide a corresponding camera photographed image in real time or in a VoD method at the request of the information communication terminal 80 or another set-top box (not shown).

The storage unit 37 stores various programs and data necessary for the operation of the set top box 30. The storage unit 37 may store a camera photographed image or a channel schedule table provided by the broadcast communication system 20 and provide the same at the request of the controller 35.

The cable card 38 performs a function of descrambles the encrypted cable broadcast signal and transmits the descrambled signal to the controller 35. Meanwhile, the cable card 38 may perform a function for authenticating whether the user is allowed to use the corresponding content in connection with the broadcast communication system 20. In this embodiment, the cable card 38 is described as being mounted on the set top box 300, but the cable card 38 may be implemented to be detachable to the set top box (30).

Next, a surveillance camera service method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 6.

6 is a flowchart of a surveillance camera service method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, first, a user performs a surveillance camera setting operation (S610). In operation S610, the monitoring camera setting operation may be performed in various ways. For example, the camera may be connected to the broadcast communication system 20 through the set top box 30 or the information communication terminal 80 to set up a surveillance camera, or may be set on a menu provided by the set top box 30 itself. The surveillance camera setting operation may include inputting an IP address or port information of a camera used as the surveillance camera, inputting a camera description, and selecting a surveillance camera channel.

Thereafter, when the broadcast communication system 20 receives an image captured by the cameras 62 and 63 set as the surveillance camera from the user (S615), the broadcast communication system 20 provides the set top box 30 to the set top box 30 (S620). When the surveillance camera is the internal camera 61 in step S620, the set-top box 30 receives the process without being transmitted to the broadcast communication system 20.

Next, when watching the surveillance camera channel is selected by the user (S630-Y), the set-top box 30 outputs the camera photographed image corresponding to the channel from the image reproducing apparatus 40 (S640).

Next, a surveillance camera service method according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 7.

7 is a flowchart illustrating a surveillance camera service method according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, first, a user performs a surveillance camera setting operation (S710). Step 710 may be set in the same manner as step S610, but the monitoring camera channel setting may be omitted. The broadcast channel information may not be included since the camera photographed image is provided in the VoD method.

Thereafter, when the broadcast communication system 20 receives an image photographed from the cameras 61, 62, and 63 set as the surveillance camera from the user (S715), the broadcast communication system 20 stores the surveillance camera photographed image in the database 25 (S720).

In response to a request from the set-top box 30 or the information communication terminal 80 (S730-Y), the broadcast communication system 20 transmits a camera-photographed image stored in the database 25 to the corresponding devices 30 and 80. It can be provided as (S740).

So far, the security camera service has been described among user-provided content services using virtual channel mapping. When the content output device is used instead of the cameras 61, 62, and 63 in the system of FIG. 1, not only a surveillance camera image is provided as a user-provided content but also various contents may be provided by using virtual channel mapping. For example, the user-provided content may include all images captured by a camera, content in which music and characters are combined in a continuous still image, and various video contents produced by other users.

Next, a user provided content service system using virtual channel mapping according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.

8 is a block diagram of a user provided content service system using virtual channel mapping according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a user provided content service method using virtual channel mapping according to another embodiment of the present invention. . Among the components of FIG. 8, components that perform the same functions as those of FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 8, a user-provided content service system using virtual channel mapping according to another embodiment of the present invention may include a cable network 10, a cable broadcasting communication system 20, a set-top box 30, and an image reproducing apparatus 40. ), The remote controller 50, the content output devices 91, 92, and 93, the Internet 70, and the information communication terminal 80.

The content output devices 91, 92, and 93 perform a function of outputting user-provided content to the outside. Various devices may be used as the content output devices 61, 62, and 63. For example, a user can create and edit video content using various images and music, such as a personal computer, and then stream the video content over a network. It is also possible to convert the data into electrical data and output it to the outside.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 7, the user wants to allocate an IP address or port number of the content output device 91, 92, 93, or the like for providing user content in the same manner as the surveillance camera setting operation (hereinafter referred to as a user content channel). By performing the setting operation of selecting and mapping), the user-provided content output from the specific content output device can be selected and used as if the user views the cable broadcasting channel in the set-top box 30 of the user. In this way, information on which an empty channel is mapped among the cable broadcasting channel and the IP address or port number of the content output apparatuses 91, 92, and 93 may be classified and stored for each set-top box 30. On the other hand, the identification information of the set-top box 30 may be stored in association with the IP address or port number of the content output apparatuses 91, 92, and 93 and the user content channel. In this case, the identification information of the set top box 30 may be input from the user, but may be provided from the set top box 30 and may be obtained based on a user ID used when accessing the information communication terminal 80.

Next, a user-provided content service method using virtual channel mapping according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 9.

Referring to FIG. 9, first, a user performs an operation of setting a user content channel in the content output apparatuses 91, 92, and 93 (S910). In operation S910, the user content channel setting operation for the content output apparatuses 91, 92, and 93 may be performed by mapping an empty channel among the cable broadcast channels to a virtual broadcast channel (user content channel).

Thereafter, when the broadcast communication system 20 receives user-provided content from the content output devices 91, 92, and 93 (S915), the broadcast communication system 20 provides the set-top box 30 (S920). At this time, the channel information allocated to the content may be sent together with the user-provided content.

Next, when viewing the user content channel is selected by the user (S930-Y), the set-top box 30 outputs the user-provided content corresponding to the corresponding channel from the video reproducing apparatus 40 (S940).

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications and improvements of those skilled in the art using the basic concepts of the present invention defined in the following claims are also provided. It belongs to the scope of rights.

1 is a view provided to explain a user-provided content service system using virtual channel mapping according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the broadcast communication system of FIG. 1 in more detail.

3 is an exemplary view showing a channel programming table according to the present invention.

4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the set top box of FIG. 1.

5 is an exemplary view illustrating a surveillance camera setting menu screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a flowchart of a surveillance camera service method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

7 is a flowchart illustrating a surveillance camera service method according to another embodiment of the present invention.

8 is a block diagram of a user-provided content service system using virtual channel mapping according to another embodiment of the present invention.

9 is a flowchart illustrating a user-provided content service method using virtual channel mapping according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (19)

A communication unit for receiving user-provided content, and And a controller for outputting the user-provided content from the video reproducing apparatus when a channel viewing command allocated to the user-provided content is input. The control unit, Displaying a channel programming table including channel information broadcasted by a cable broadcasting station in real time and channel information assigned to the user-provided content, on the video reproducing apparatus, The channel allocated to the user-provided content is a set-top box, characterized in that an empty channel of the cable broadcasting channel is mapped to a virtual broadcasting channel. delete The method of claim 1, The user-provided content is set-top box, characterized in that provided in the content output device preset from the user. In claim 3, The content output device is at least one of an internal surveillance camera, an external surveillance camera and a content streaming device. The method according to any one of claims 1, 3 and 4, Further comprising a storage unit for storing the user-provided content, The control unit outputs user-provided content stored in the storage unit to the image reproducing apparatus according to a user command. A service setting unit which receives a content output device from a user, and A service management unit for providing user-provided content provided by the content output device to the set-top box of the user through a cable network; The service management unit, A channel programming table including channel information broadcasted by a cable broadcasting station in real time and channel information allocated to the content output device is provided to the set-top box, and a channel allocated to the content output device is a virtual channel that is empty among cable broadcast channels. Broadcast communication system, characterized in that mapped to the broadcast channel. In claim 6, And the content output device setting is performed by IP (Internet Protocol) address or port information assigned to the content output device. delete In claim 6, The content output device is an internal surveillance camera or an external surveillance camera, The user-provided content is a broadcast communication system, characterized in that the image captured by the internal or external surveillance camera. In claim 9, The internal or external surveillance camera capture image is provided to the set-top box in real time broadcast communication system. In claim 6, Further comprising a database unit for storing the user-provided content, And providing the user-provided content in a VoD method according to the request of the set-top box. delete Receiving user-provided content provided from a preset content output device from a user, Displaying a channel programming table including channel information broadcasted by a cable broadcasting station in real time and channel information assigned to the user-provided content, on the video reproducing apparatus; Receiving a channel viewing selection command allocated to the user-provided content, and Outputting the user-provided content to the video playback device; The channel allocated to the user-provided content is a set-top box control method characterized in that the empty channel of the cable broadcasting channel is mapped to the virtual broadcast channel. delete In claim 13, Storing the user-provided content in a storage unit; And outputting the image stored in the storage unit to the image reproducing apparatus according to a user command. Receiving a content output device from a user; Providing a set top box with a channel schedule table including channel information broadcasted by a cable broadcasting station in real time and channel information assigned to the content output device; Providing user-provided content provided by the set content output device to the set-top box of the user through a cable network; and Outputting the user-provided content to an image reproducing apparatus when viewing of a channel assigned to the content output apparatus is selected; The content output device setting is performed by using an IP (Internet Protocol) address or port information assigned to the content output device, and the channel allocated to the content output device includes an empty channel mapped to a virtual broadcast channel among cable broadcast channels. Broadcast communication method, characterized in that. delete The method of claim 16, And the content output device is at least one of an internal surveillance camera, an external surveillance camera, and a content streaming device. In claim 18, Storing the user-provided content; And providing the user-provided content in a Video on Demand (VOD) method according to a request of the set-top box.

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