KR101116966B1 - Program scheduling and providing method of the real-time broadcast in interactive broadcast service - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for programming and providing a real time broadcast in a bidirectional broadcast service.

The present invention extracts program information for real-time broadcasting from terrestrial waves, program providers, or EPG providers that provide real-time broadcasting, reorganizes them by genre, and provides the program information reorganized according to a user's request. To display. At this time, in addition to the program programming information for the real-time broadcast program on one screen, by displaying the program programming information for the VOD content or additional service-related programs to display a variety of services at the same time so that the user can easily use.

IPTV, live broadcasting, programming, genre

Description

PROGRAM SCHEDULING AND PROVIDING METHOD OF THE REAL-TIME BROADCAST IN INTERACTIVE BROADCAST SERVICE}

The present invention relates to a two-way broadcast service, and more particularly, to a method of programming and providing a real-time broadcast.

Recently, with the spread of broadband media and the increase in communication speed, the Internet has emerged as a new medium for enabling One source Multi Service. As an example of such elements multiservice, multimedia contents provided by an internet service provider as well as a plurality of airwave television and radio channels are provided as a broadcast service through the Internet. Along with the rapid increase in the Internet use population, the demand for internet broadcasting that provides OneS multi-service is on the rise.

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

In the IPTV system that provides such an IPTV service, a VOD service that provides video on demand (VOD) content, a real-time broadcasting service provided by a general terrestrial broadcasting center, and a game service, a karaoke service, a weather service, a fortune service, and a My Folder Value added service (VAS) such as service is provided.

In order to receive the IPTV service, users can select a desired service among VOD service, real-time broadcasting service, and additional service through the set-top box, and receive the desired program by selecting one of the sub-categories of the selected service. do.

In particular, the VOD service can be provided with a desired program by classifying the VOD content by genre and selecting one of the categories by genre.

In addition, real-time programs are classified by channels, and if one of the channels is selected, a desired program can be provided according to the current time zone.

Referring to FIG. 1, program programming information for a conventional real time broadcast is shown.

As shown in the figure, program programming information for a conventional real time broadcasting is generally divided into a time zone 14 and a vertical direction by a channel / broadcaster 12 in a horizontal direction, so that a real-time program organized in a corresponding time zone for each channel / broadcaster It shows a broadcast program.

As such, the program programming information for the real-time broadcast has to be changed from time to time according to the airing date and time since the real-time broadcasting itself has characteristics of real time. Therefore, the program information is provided according to the time flow by channel / broadcaster.

For example, in FIG. 1, based on the broadcast date 10 of 5:45 pm as of Thursday, August 20, 2009, program 6-1 is currently being broadcast on CH6, and program 6-2 around 6:30. Will air and program 6-3 is scheduled to air around 7:30.

CH7 shows that program 7-1 is being broadcasted, and that programs 7-2, 7-3, and 7-4 will be aired on an hourly basis.

As a result, when a viewer watches a real-time broadcast program, the viewer may move to a corresponding channel and watch a desired program.

Therefore, in the real-time broadcasting, there is a problem that it is impossible to approach by watching the genre that you want to watch according to the taste or interest of the viewer.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above problems, and to provide a method for programming a real-time broadcast program, which enables a viewer to access desired content for each genre, such as VOD content, for a real-time broadcast program. There is this.

Another object of the present invention is to display and expose all the real-time broadcasting programs, VOD content, and additional services reorganized by genre on one screen, so that the viewers can easily receive VOD services and additional services in addition to the real-time broadcasting service. The present invention provides a method for providing real-time broadcasting in a two-way broadcasting service that allows a viewer to use various services.

In the bidirectional broadcast service of the present invention for achieving the above technical problem, a program configuration and providing method for real-time broadcasting, in the bidirectional broadcast service method for providing a real-time broadcast service, (a) terrestrial wave or program for providing the real-time broadcast Extracting program programming information for the real time broadcasting from a provider or an EPG provider; (b) reorganizing the program programming information extracted in the step (a) according to genres and storing and managing them; And (c) providing the reorganized program programming information according to a user's request to display a real-time broadcasting program on a screen by genre, and the screen displayed through the step (c) is present throughout the screen. The program display information reorganized for the real-time broadcast program is displayed on an AV display area for reproducing the broadcast program or promotion-related video that is being watched, and the selected real-time broadcast program is selected from the displayed program information. A real-time EPG display area including a preview area that can be previewed can be provided.

According to an example of the present invention, the genre may include drama, sports, news, education, and movie categories.

According to an example of the present invention, the program organization information reorganized in step (b) includes category information for each genre divided by at least one or more genres, and information on a plurality of real-time broadcast programs reorganized in the at least one or more genres. Real time broadcast program list information.

In this case, the real-time broadcast program list information may selectively include information on channel names, program names, airing dates, and airing times of the plurality of real-time broadcasting programs reorganized into the at least one genre.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the real-time broadcast program list information may be listed in order of the real-time broadcast program prior to the airing time based on the airing time of the real-time broadcast program.

Alternatively, according to another example of the present invention, the real-time broadcast program list information may be listed in order of popularity of the real-time broadcast program.

Alternatively, according to another example of the present invention, the real-time broadcast program list information may be listed in order of preference based on the viewing degree of the user.

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According to an example of the present invention, the screen displayed through the step (c) may further include a VOD EPG display area for displaying program information on VOD content or additional services in a partial area of the AV display area. can do.

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According to the present invention described above, by organizing and providing the organization information of the real-time broadcast program by genre, the viewer can easily access the real-time broadcast program by genre.

In addition, not only real-time broadcasting programs but also VOD contents and additional services are displayed on one screen, thereby providing convenience for customers to use various services.

In addition, VOD services and additional services other than real-time broadcasting services are frequently exposed to viewers to enhance customer satisfaction and to generate related revenue.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail a program configuration and providing method for the real-time broadcast in the interactive broadcast service according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a diagram illustrating program programming information for real time broadcasting according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Program programming information illustrated in FIG. 2 is program information included in an EPG related to real time broadcasting, and unlike program programming tables accessible by existing channels, the program programming information may be implemented to access real time broadcasting programs according to genres.

Program organization information according to an embodiment of the present invention, as listed in the horizontal direction in Figure 2 category information by genre divided into at least one or more genres, such as drama 321, sports 322, news 323, education 324 320, and real-time broadcast program list information 330 having information about a real-time broadcast program reorganized into categories for each genre.

Since the program programming information is changed in real time according to the airing date and the airing time due to the characteristics of the real-time broadcasting, it may be databased by the airing date 310.

Genre category information 320 is shown only for drama 321, sports 322, news 323, education 324 for convenience of description, it is not limited to this can be divided into various genres.

The real-time broadcasting program list information 330 includes information on the real-time broadcasting program reorganized in each genre, for example, in the channel name 332, program name 334, airing date and airing time 336 of the real-time broadcasting program. Information, and the like.

In this case, the real-time broadcast program list information 330 may be provided in order of the real-time broadcast program prior to the airing time on the basis of the airing time.

For example, if the real-time broadcast program reorganized in the drama genre 321 is 'meet daily drama feed', 'everyday drama hate once again', 'the great drama drama Seondeok Queen', aired on the top of the real-time broadcasting program list information 330 The 'daytime drama feed me', which is 7:20 am, will be provided, and the 'daytime drama hate once again' scheduled for 8:30 pm will be provided sequentially.

However, the display order of the real-time broadcast program list information 330 is not limited thereto and may be displayed in the order of popularity of the real-time broadcast program or in the order of preference based on the user's viewing degree.

As described above, an IPTV system for providing program programming information according to an embodiment of the present invention is configured as follows.

Hereinafter, for convenience of description, only the IPTV service among the two-way broadcasting services will be described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto and may be applied to two-way broadcasting services such as digital cable broadcasting and satellite broadcasting.

3 is a block diagram showing a network configuration of an IPTV service system for providing program programming information for real-time broadcasting according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3, an IPTV service system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an IPTV server 200 as a head end (H / E), an internet network 300 as a delivery network, and a subscriber station as an indoor device. 400. At this time, the Internet network 300 to provide a real-time broadcast, VOD, interactive services and communication services.

First, the IPTV server 200 as a head-end H / E will be described.

The IPTV server unit 200 may include a broadcast server 210 for providing a real time broadcasting service, an operation management system 220, an electronic program guide (EPG) management server 230, and a VOD content. The VOD server 240 includes a VAS server 250 for providing a value added service (VAS).

The broadcast server 210 is a service provider that provides a broadcast channel for a real time broadcast service. The broadcast server 210 provides broadcast streams for a plurality of broadcast channels.

The broadcast server 210 may include a baseband system 211, a compression multiplexing system 212, a network interface 213, and a security system 214.

Although not shown in the drawing, the baseband system 211 basically includes a tuner for receiving broadcast signals such as a program provider (PP) 120 and a terrestrial wave 110, and a received source. Frame Synchronizer for converting and correcting signals to SDI (Serial Digital Interface) signals and synchronizing frames, A / V (Audio / Video) routers that connect / centrate all broadcast signal channels for operational management It includes a signal divider and a monitor for monitoring.

Accordingly, when the baseband system 211 receives a broadcast signal from an external program provider 120 or terrestrial wave 110, the baseband system 211 converts the received broadcast signal into an SDI signal, synchronizes a frame, and a routine switcher. Through the switcher, broadcast video and audio signals of various broadcast channels (eg, 100 channels) are distributed and transmitted to the compression multiplexing system 212.

Then, the compression multiplexing system 212 transmits the broadcast video and audio signals (Video, Audio) received from the baseband system 211 to the A / V encoder (A / V Encoder) for each broadcasting channel (eg, 100 channels). Input to compress the SDI video signal, compressing the audio signal to generate a transport stream (Transport Stream). In addition, the compression multiplexing system 212 IP packetizes the transport stream.

In addition, the compression multiplexing system 212 includes broadcast data and EPG information (PSIP / PSI / SI information) generated by a data encoder and a PSI / SI generator together with a compressed transport stream signal. Multiplex the.

The security system 214 encrypts the security multiplexing system 212 by applying security-related reception restriction techniques to the multiplexed transport stream signal. The encrypted transport stream is transmitted through the internet network 300 through the network interface 213 in an IP multicasting manner.

Therefore, when a request for a predetermined channel is received from the subscriber station 400, the subscriber receives the broadcast stream for the requested channel from among the transport stream broadcast signals (hereinafter, referred to as broadcast streams) transmitted from the IPTV server unit 200. By providing the terminal device 400 to provide a real-time broadcast service.

The VOD server 240 and the VAS server 250 store and manage VOD content and additional service related programs.

The EPG management server 230 is a VOD EPG, which is program information of VOD content pre-stored in the VOD server 240, a channel EPG, which is broadcast program information for a real-time broadcast service, and an EPG associated with additional services previously stored in the VAS server 250. Save it and provide it.

To this end, the EPG management server 230 may integrally store and manage the EPG information in a database.

The channel management server 260 manages a channel allocated to provide a VOD service and a real time broadcast service.

In particular, the channel management server 260 according to the embodiment of the present invention extracts program programming information for real-time broadcasting from the transport stream multiplexed through the compression multiplexing system 212 or EPG according to the process illustrated in FIG. 4. The program scheduling information for the real-time broadcasting is extracted from the EPG information provided from the program provider 120 or the EPG provider 130 through the management server 230 and stored therein (S40 and S42). After storing, the program programming information for the real-time broadcasting is reorganized for each genre (S44). The reorganized program organization information is the same as the data structure described with reference to FIG.

Therefore, when program programming information for real-time broadcasting is requested from the subscriber terminal device 400, the IPTV server unit 200 extracts the program programming information reorganized from the channel management server 260 to the corresponding subscriber terminal device 400. to provide.

Meanwhile, the subscriber station 400 includes a set top box (STB) 420 and a display device 440. In FIG. 3, only one subscriber station device 400 is illustrated for convenience of description, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto and may include a plurality of subscriber station devices that subscribe to a service.

The set top box 420 of the subscriber station 400 is visually displayed with various data information provided from the IPTV server unit 200 by being connected to a display device 440 such as a TV or a monitor provided in a home or an office.

The set top box 420 receives and demultiplexes a broadcast video, an audio signal, and an EPG from the IPTV server 200. Thereafter, the descrambler descrambles the broadcast video and audio signals, decodes the broadcast video and audio signals, and outputs the decoded broadcast video and audio signals to the display device 440 to be displayed on the screen.

In particular, when the set-top box 420 according to the embodiment of the present invention requests the program configuration information for real-time broadcasting to the IPTV server unit 200 according to the process shown in FIG. 5 (S50), the IPTV server according to the request The EPG is received from the channel management server 260 of the unit 200 and visually displayed through the display device 440 (S52 and S54).

Accordingly, the screen displayed on the display device 440 is as shown in FIGS. 6 to 8.

First, referring to FIG. 6, a screen 400 according to an exemplary embodiment may include an AV display region 410 in which a video is played over a screen, and program programming information for a real-time broadcast program on a part of the AV display region 410. It includes a real-time EPG display area 420 is displayed.

Here, the AV display area 410 may display an on-air promotion (OAP) related image or may play a real-time broadcasting program currently being viewed.

The real-time EPG display area 420 displays a real-time broadcast program list 423 according to the genre category 421. In addition, the preview area 422 of the real-time broadcast program may be displayed.

As described above, the genre category 421 includes at least one genre such as drama, movie, sports, news, and education.

However, it is not possible to display all genres in the space of the display area on one screen, and the real-time broadcast program list 423 for multiple genres may be provided by changing the page forward and backward as shown by the arrow.

The real-time broadcast program list 423 lists and displays a plurality of real-time broadcast programs corresponding to each genre. The channel name 423a and the program name 423b of each real-time broadcast program can be displayed simply. Here, the information on the airing date and the airing time may be further included.

In this case, the order of the real-time broadcast program list 423 may be specified in order of airing time as described above, but is not limited thereto and may be specified based on the popularity of the program or the user's preference.

In the real-time broadcast program list 423, the user may select a real-time broadcast program desired by the user while moving up and down using the cursor 424.

The selected real-time broadcast program may be displayed in the preview area 422 in the form of a preview, or in the case of a program that is currently being broadcast, by playing the broadcasted content.

Therefore, the user can access the real-time broadcast program according to the genre rather than the channel through the screen 400, and the real-time broadcast program can be read in the form of a preview 422 before viewing.

Next, referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, a screen 500 according to another embodiment may include a real-time EPG display area 520 in which program information about a real-time broadcast program is displayed on a portion of the AV display area 510; A VOD EPG display area 530 is provided which displays program information about VOD content or additional services.

As such, the screen 500 according to another embodiment is characterized by a screen configuration that can simultaneously display the VOD EPG together with the real-time EPG on one screen. Therefore, the user can easily use not only a real-time service but also a VOD service and an additional service through this screen 500.

In the screen 500 according to another embodiment, the real-time EPG display area 520 is the same as the real-time EPG display area 420 of FIG. 6 implemented on the screen 400 of FIG. 6 according to the above embodiment. Duplicate content is omitted.

In the screen 500 according to another exemplary embodiment, the VOD EPG display area 530 may classify and display a plurality of VOD contents 532 by genre 531 such as popular drama, mid heaven, world drama, and the like.

In addition, the 'more' menu 540 and the 'all channels' menu 550 for the real-time broadcasting program may be additionally implemented in the real-time EPG display area 520.

'More' menu 540 is a function that shows only the real-time broadcast programming information for the genre. Accordingly, if the 'show more' menu 540 is selected, as shown in FIG. 9, the screen moves to the entire schedule table showing only the real-time broadcasting schedule information for the genre.

The 'all channels' menu 550 is a function for showing real-time broadcasting program information for each channel, not for the genre. Accordingly, if the 'all channels' menu 550 is selected, the screen moves to a screen showing a schedule for all channels providing a real time broadcasting service as shown in FIG. 10.

Although the 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, since the embodiments described above are provided to completely inform the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art, it should be understood that they are exemplary in all respects and not limited. The invention is only defined by the scope of the claims.

1 is a diagram illustrating program programming information for a conventional real-time broadcast.

2 is a diagram illustrating program programming information for real time broadcasting according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a block diagram showing a network configuration of an IPTV service system for providing program programming information for real-time broadcasting according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a program organization method for real-time broadcasting according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing program programming information for real-time broadcasting according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an exemplary screen displaying program programming information for real-time broadcasting according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

7 and 8 are exemplary screens showing information on a VOD service and an additional service besides a real time broadcast according to an embodiment of the present invention on one screen.

9 and 10 are exemplary screens illustrating a detailed screen according to an execution menu in the example screen of FIG. 8.

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

310: Date aired 320: Category by genre

330: real-time broadcast program list information

332: channel name 334: program name

336: Date aired and airing 110: Terrestrial

120: program provider 130: EPG provider

200: IPTV server unit 210: broadcast server

211: baseband system 212: compression multiplexing system

213: network interface 214: security system

220: operation management system 230: EPG management server

240: VOD server 250: VAS server

260: channel management server 300: Internet network

400: subscriber station 420: set-top box

440: display device

Claims (11)

In the two-way broadcast service method for providing a real-time broadcast service, (a) extracting program programming information for the real-time broadcast from a terrestrial wave, a program provider, or an EPG provider that provides the real-time broadcast; (b) reorganizing the program programming information extracted in step (a) by genre; And (c) providing the reorganized program formation information according to a user's request and displaying a real-time broadcast program on a screen by genre, The screen displayed through the step (c), An AV display area that plays a broadcast program or promotion-related video that is currently being watched on the entire screen; Real-time EPG display area including a preview area for displaying the program information reorganized for the real-time broadcast program in a partial area on the AV display area, and for previewing the real-time broadcast program selected from the displayed program information. Program organization and providing method for the real-time broadcast in a bidirectional broadcast service comprising the. The method of claim 1, The genre includes drama, sports, news, education, and movie categories. The method of claim 1, The program formation information reorganized in the step (b), Genre category information divided by at least one genre, and Real-time broadcast program list information including information of the real-time broadcast program reorganized in the category by genre Program organization and providing method for the real-time broadcast in a bidirectional broadcast service comprising a. The method of claim 3, The real-time broadcast program list information, And a channel name, a program name, a broadcast date, and a broadcast time of the real-time broadcast program reorganized into the categories according to the genre. The method of claim 3, The real-time broadcast program list information, The method for organizing and providing a program for a real-time broadcast in a bidirectional broadcast service, characterized in that the broadcast time is listed in order of the real-time broadcast program based on the broadcast time of the real-time broadcast program. The method of claim 3, The real-time broadcast program list information, Program organization and providing method for the real-time broadcast in the interactive broadcast service, characterized in that the list in order of popularity of the real-time broadcast program. The method of claim 3, The real-time broadcast program list information, Program listing and provision method for a real-time broadcast in the interactive broadcast service, characterized in that the list in order of preference based on the user's viewing. delete The method of claim 1, The screen displayed through the step (c), VOD EPG display area for displaying program information on VOD content or additional services in a partial area of the AV display area Program programming and providing method for the real-time broadcast in the interactive broadcast service, characterized in that it further comprises providing. delete 10. The method of claim 9, And the VOD EPG display area displays the VOD content or additional service for each genre.

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