KR101187386B1 - Broadcasting Service System and Method Using VoD Content Channel - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a broadcast service system and method through a VOD content channel, and to a broadcast service method according to the present invention, comprising: creating a video on demand (VoD) content channel broadcast schedule; Delivering the currently scheduled VoD broadcast content to a streaming server, receiving a broadcast viewing request for the VoD content channel from a user terminal, and the streaming server currently broadcasting the VoD broadcast content to the user terminal Streaming. According to the present invention, various broadcast contents such as terrestrial broadcasting, cable broadcasting or internet broadcasting can be connected to a single web site, and the user can conveniently watch them anywhere. In addition, the viewer who prefers a specific channel can reduce the need to change the channel every time in order to watch the broadcast of the genre desired.

Description

Broadcasting Service System and Method Using VOD Content Channel

The present invention relates to a broadcast service system and method, and more particularly, to a broadcast service system and method through a VOD content channel.

Recently, various broadcasting contents such as terrestrial broadcasting, cable broadcasting or internet broadcasting have been provided to users. In general, broadcast content is viewed on a television. Terrestrial broadcasting uses a terrestrial broadcasting signal transmitted through the air through an antenna, and in the case of cable broadcasting, a broadcasting signal transmitted through a cable network is received through a set-top box. It is used by. Some users may subscribe to a cable broadcast service to receive and watch terrestrial broadcast signals through a cable network. On the other hand, some viewers watch contents such as terrestrial broadcasting, cable broadcasting or internet broadcasting through the Internet. In this case, users should find and access a website operated by a broadcasting station that provides the contents.

As described above, in the conventional broadcast content viewing method, the user has the following inconvenience. First, when using a television, there is a problem that viewing is possible only in a home with a television, and when using the DMB broadcasting, it can be viewed from the outside, but there is a limitation that the number of contents that can be watched is still limited. In addition, in the case of watching broadcasts using the conventional Internet, there is a hassle of finding and accessing a corresponding web site provided with desired broadcast contents every time.

On the other hand, comprehensive programming channels show content of various genres such as news, drama, sports, music, music, movies, and entertainment, and viewers who prefer a specific channel every time to watch the broadcasting of their desired genre. There was a hassle to change.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a broadcast service system and method through a VOD content channel.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a broadcast service method according to an embodiment of the present invention, comprising: creating a video on demand (VoD) content channel broadcast schedule and presenting a VoD content channel according to a VoD content channel broadcast schedule. Delivering the organized VoD broadcast content to a streaming server, receiving a broadcast viewing request for the VoD content channel from a user terminal, and streaming the currently organized VoD broadcast content to the user terminal by the streaming server. It includes.

The method may further include displaying a broadcast schedule including the VoD content channel broadcast schedule and a real time broadcast schedule on the user terminal, receiving the VoD broadcast content displayed on the VoD content channel broadcast schedule on the broadcast schedule, and selecting the selected content. The method may further include displaying a broadcast view button for the VoD broadcast content and a view button from the beginning, and receiving the selected view. When the view button is selected from the beginning, the currently organized VoD broadcast content may be streamed to the user terminal from the beginning. .

The broadcasting schedule table is arranged with titles of broadcasting contents arranged for each broadcasting channel, and a column including a broadcasting viewing button and a viewing button for the VoD broadcasting contents selected from the user is adjacent to the broadcasting channel of the selected VoD broadcasting contents. It may be inserted and displayed between different broadcast channels.

The method may further include encoding the currently organized VoD broadcasting content into a suitable form for various transmission environments and user terminal models before delivering the currently organized VoD broadcast content to a streaming server.

A broadcast service system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a management server for storing broadcast programming information including a video on demand (VoD) content channel broadcast schedule, and a VoD broadcast content currently arranged on a VoD content channel. A streaming server, and a VoD server delivering the currently organized VoD broadcast content to the streaming server according to the VoD content channel broadcast schedule.

When a broadcast viewing request for the VoD content channel is transmitted from a user terminal, the streaming server may stream the currently organized VoD broadcast content to the user terminal.

The system may further include a web server configured to deliver and display a web page including a broadcast schedule including the VoD content channel broadcast schedule and a real time broadcast schedule to the user terminal.

The system may further include an encoder that receives the currently organized VoD broadcast content from the VoD server, encodes it in a suitable form according to various transmission environments and user terminal models, and then delivers the encoded content to the streaming server.

A computer-readable medium according to an embodiment of the present invention records a program for causing a computer to execute any one of the above methods.

According to the present invention, various broadcast contents such as terrestrial broadcasting, cable broadcasting or internet broadcasting can be connected to a single web site, and the user can conveniently watch them anywhere. In addition, the viewer who prefers a specific channel can reduce the need to change the channel every time in order to watch the broadcast of the genre desired.

1 is a block diagram of a broadcast service system through a VOD content channel according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the head end of FIG. 1 in more detail.
3 is a block diagram illustrating in more detail the web / back end of FIG. 1.
4 is a flowchart provided to explain a broadcast service method through a VOD content channel according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 and 6 are diagrams illustrating a screen including broadcast programming information for a broadcast service through a VOD content channel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

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 block diagram of a broadcast service system through a VOD content channel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a broadcast service system (hereinafter, referred to as a broadcast service system 100) through a video on demand (VoD) content channel according to the present invention may include a head end unit 110 and a web / back end unit 120. ) May be connected to the plurality of user terminals 400 through the communication network 300 to exchange various information and data. In addition, the broadcast service system 100 may be managed by the system administrator through the manager terminal 500.

The head end unit 110 receives a real time broadcast content or a VoD broadcast content from the content provider 200 and performs a function of streaming the broadcast content selected by the user to the user terminal 400 through the communication network 300.

Providing VoD broadcast content of the broadcast service system 100 according to the present invention may be divided into a general method of streaming content selected for each user and a method of unidirectionally streaming in a programming order like real time broadcasting through a VoD content channel. That is, when the user selects to watch the VoD content channel, such as broadcasting the live broadcast content organized in the corresponding channel when the user selects to watch the real time broadcasting channel, the VoD broadcast content organized in the current time is selected. It is to be streamed to the terminal 400.

The web / back end unit 120 provides broadcast programming information to the user to select broadcast contents that the user wants to watch, and performs functions such as member management, billing management, and broadcast schedule management. The broadcast schedule information may include a real time broadcast channel schedule on which real time broadcast content is broadcast and a VoD content channel schedule on which VoD broadcast content is broadcast.

The content provider 200 may provide various real time broadcast content or VoD broadcast content to a terrestrial broadcaster, a cable broadcaster, or another professional broadcast content provider. Here, the real-time broadcast content refers to a program currently being broadcast in real time, that is, a live broadcast program in terrestrial broadcast or cable broadcast. The VoD broadcast content includes all broadcast content in addition to the real-time broadcast program. For example, the VoD broadcasting content may include dramas, music, documentaries, movies, entertainment, entertainment content, and the like, which have already been broadcast in terrestrial broadcasting or cable broadcasting. The VoD broadcast content may be stored in a VoD server (not shown) in the form of a file, streamed according to a user request, or provided to the user terminal 400 through a VoD content channel.

If there is a VoD content channel assigned to the content provider 200, the content provider 200 may prepare a broadcast schedule of the corresponding VoD content channel, and accordingly, the VoD broadcast content may be sequentially broadcasted. Of course, the administrator of the broadcast service system 100 may create a VoD content channel broadcast schedule, and may receive only VoD broadcast content from the content provider 200. According to an exemplary embodiment, there may be a separate VoD content channel organized by the content provider 200 and a VoD content channel organized by the administrator of the broadcast service system 100.

The communication network 300 includes various data communication networks including a local area network (LAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a wide area network (WAN), the Internet, 3G, WIFI, WIBRO, and the like. It can include, wire and wireless, it does not matter which communication scheme is used.

The user terminal 400 is a communication terminal device used by a user to use a broadcast service. The user terminal 400 accesses the headend unit 110 or the web / backend unit 120 through the communication network 300 to give various information and data. Receive. The user terminal 10 is not only a desktop computer but also a laptop computer, a workstation, a palmtop computer, an ultra mobile personal computer, a tablet PC, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a web pad, a mobile phone. It may be made of a terminal having a computing capability by mounting a microprocessor such as a smart phone and the like. In particular, the user terminal 400 according to the present invention is a web browser for checking the organization information of the real-time broadcast content or VoD broadcast content, a DRM agent for decrypting encrypted real-time broadcast content or VoD broadcast content, and P2P with other user terminals. It may include a P2P agent for transmitting and receiving real-time broadcast content or VoD broadcast content in a streaming manner, a player for playing the broadcast content on the screen.

The manager terminal 500 is a communication terminal device used by a system administrator for management of a broadcast service. The manager terminal 500 may be directly connected to the broadcast service system 100 or connected through the communication network 300 to exchange various information and data. The manager may change the schedule of the real-time broadcast channel through the manager terminal 500, and may also generate and change the VoD content channel broadcast schedule.

Next, the head end unit 110 according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the head end of FIG. 1 in more detail.

Referring to FIG. 2, the head end unit 110 may include an encoder unit 111, a streaming server 113, a P2P server 115, a DRM server 117, and a VoD server 119.

The encoder unit 111 applies a multi-profile to the real-time broadcast content provided from the content provider 200 or the VoD broadcast content stored in the file format in the VoD server 119 to apply various transmission environments and user terminals. Performs encoding function suitable for each model. In more detail, the encoder 111 may encode a single format of real-time broadcast content or VoD broadcast content at a codec, resolution, and bit rate suitable for each transmission environment and user terminal type. Meanwhile, the encoder unit 111 may include a plurality of encoders (not shown) to simultaneously encode a plurality of real-time broadcast content or VoD broadcast content in parallel at the same time.

The streaming server 113 performs a function of streaming the real time broadcast content or the VoD broadcast content encoded by the encoder unit 111 to the user terminal 400 through the communication network 300. In more detail, the streaming server 113 may provide live adaptive streaming that automatically detects network conditions and performance environments of user terminals and transmits content at the most suitable bit rate.

According to an exemplary embodiment, when the VoD broadcast content stored in the VoD server 119 in the form of a file does not need an encoding, it may be directly transmitted to the streaming server 113 and transmitted to the user terminal 400.

The P2P server 115 stores various information and data for P2P streaming and provides the same to the user terminal 400. For example, P2P streaming connects the user terminals 400 to each other in a net or tree form so that they can be transmitted from other user terminals 400 instead of being directly streamed from the streaming server 113. To this end, the P2P server 115 may provide information on which user terminal 400 can receive real-time broadcast content or VoD broadcast content. This can prevent excessive concentration of load on the streaming server 115.

The DRM server 117 performs a function of applying digital rights management (DRM) to broadcast content. In more detail, the DRM server 117 generates an encryption key to encrypt real-time broadcast content or VoD broadcast content. The user terminal 400 may decrypt real-time broadcast content or VoD broadcast content that is encrypted and streamed using a DRM agent (not shown).

The VoD server 119 may stream the VoD broadcast content stored in a file form through the streaming server 113 at the request of the user terminal 400. In particular, the VoD server 119 according to the present invention can stream the VoD broadcast content to the user terminal 400 according to the VoD content channel broadcast schedule. Therefore, when the user selects a broadcast view for the VoD content channel, the user may receive and use the VoD broadcast content that is organized at the current time in the corresponding VoD content channel to the user terminal 400. Meanwhile, according to an exemplary embodiment, a file streaming function may be included in the VoD server 119 to transmit VoD broadcast content stored in a file form directly to the user terminal 400.

3 is a block diagram illustrating in more detail the web / back end of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 3, the web / back end unit 120 may include a web server 121, a database unit 123, and a management server 125.

The web server 121 provides a web page related to a web-based broadcast service to the user terminal 400. The user may perform membership registration, user authentication, broadcasting program information checking, broadcasting content selection, and bill payment through a web page provided by the web server 121.

The database unit 123 stores various kinds of information related to broadcast programming information, member information, payment information, broadcast schedule management information, and the like. The broadcast schedule information may include a real time channel broadcast schedule and a VoD content channel broadcast schedule. The real-time channel broadcast schedule may be automatically generated and stored based on the electronic program guide information, and may be modified by the system administrator. For example, some of the contents broadcast in real time from terrestrial broadcasting stations may not be serviced on the Internet due to copyright or the like. In this case, the system administrator may delete the corresponding content from the broadcast schedule and prevent the headend unit 110 from providing the content. The VoD content channel broadcast schedule may be created by the content provider 200 or may be created by a system administrator. The broadcast schedule of the VoD content channel may be organized to insert an advertisement between the VoD content. In addition, the VoD content channel may be divided into genres such as sports, music, and movies, and there may be more detailed channels for each genre.

The management server 125 may control and manage the overall operation of the web-based broadcast service system 100 according to the command and setting of the manager terminal 500. The system manager may perform broadcast programming information management through the manager terminal 500.

Next, a broadcast service method through a VoD content channel according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 4.

4 is a flowchart provided to explain a broadcast service method through a channel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, first, the management server 125 generates broadcast schedule information including a VoD content channel broadcast schedule and stores the broadcast schedule information in the database unit 123 (S410). The VoD content channel broadcast schedule may be organized by the content provider 200 or by the system administrator. The real-time channel broadcast schedule may be prepared based on an electronic program guide (EPG) provided from the content provider 200 or an external professional electronic program guide provider (not shown). In operation S410, management such as modification or deletion of broadcast programming information may be performed by the system administrator.

Next, the VoD server 119 transfers the VoD broadcast content organized in the current VoD content channel to the streaming server 113 according to the VoD content channel broadcast schedule (S420). On the other hand, if the VoD broadcast content is required to be encoded in a form suitable for the transmission environment and the user terminal model in step S420, the VoD server 119 encodes the VoD broadcast content in the encoder unit 111 and then goes to the streaming server 113. It can also be delivered.

The user may access the web server 121 through the user terminal 400 and check broadcast programming information (S430). The web server 121 provides a broadcast schedule as shown in FIG. 5 so that a user can check the broadcast schedule information. The broadcast schedule may include broadcast schedules for the real-time broadcast channels 510 and 530 and the VoD content channel 520, and the titles of the broadcast contents organized for each broadcast channel may be displayed in a form arranged according to the broadcast schedule.

In FIG. 5, only one VoD content channel is displayed, but the number of VoD content channels displayed in the broadcast schedule may vary according to a broadcast schedule.

Afterwards, when the user selects the VoD content channel broadcast view (S440-Y), the streaming server 113 transmits the VoD broadcast content directly transmitted from the VoD server 119 or encoded after being encoded by the encoder unit 111. 400) (S450). According to an embodiment, the user terminal 400 checks information on another user terminal capable of streaming the corresponding broadcast content from the P2P server 115 instead of the streaming server 113, and receives the broadcast content from the user terminal. It may be.

The user terminal 400 reproduces the streamed VoD broadcast content on the screen (S460). If necessary in step S450, the DRM server 117 may be configured to encrypt the VoD broadcast content and to use the licensed user after decrypting the broadcast content using the DRM agent.

Meanwhile, in operation S430, when the user selects the VoD broadcast content 521 that is organized at the current time in the VoD content channel in the broadcast schedule as illustrated in FIG. 5, the channel as illustrated in FIG. 6. A space 540 including detailed information of the corresponding broadcast content is displayed between the block 520 and the neighboring channel 530 so that the user can check the content.

On the other hand, when the user selects the broadcast view button 541 displayed in the box 540 (S440-Y), the user can watch the VoD broadcast content currently being streamed to the user terminal 400 from the middle (S450, S460). ). If the view button 542 is selected from the beginning (S445-Y), the corresponding VoD broadcast content is streamed from the beginning (S455) and can be viewed (S460). That is, when the viewing request is transmitted from the beginning of the VoD broadcast content from the user terminal 400, the web server 121 transmits information for viewing the VoD to the user terminal 400. Then, the user terminal 400 may request a VoD broadcast content from the VoD server 119 through the VoD server 119 through the information for viewing the VoD, and may receive and play the VoD content from the VoD server 119 from the beginning. Of course, the VoD server 119 may transmit the corresponding VoD broadcast content to the user terminal 400 through a separate streaming server.

Embodiments of the present invention include a computer-readable medium having program instructions for performing various computer-implemented operations. This medium records a program for executing the broadcast service method through the VOD content channel described above. The medium may include program instructions, data files, data structures, etc., alone or in combination. Examples of such media include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks and magnetic tape, optical recording media such as CD and DVD, programmed instructions such as floptical disk and magneto-optical media, ROM, RAM, And a hardware device configured to store and execute the program. Or such medium may be a transmission medium, such as optical or metal lines, waveguides, etc., including a carrier wave that transmits a signal specifying a program command, data structure, or the like. Examples of program instructions include not only machine code generated by a compiler, but also high-level language code that can be executed by a computer using an interpreter or the like.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments, Of the right.

Claims (8)

The management server scheduling a video on demand (VoD) content channel broadcast schedule,
Delivering, by the VoD server, the VoD broadcast content currently arranged on the VoD content channel to the streaming server according to the VoD content channel broadcast schedule;
Receiving, by a web server, a broadcast viewing table including the VoD content channel broadcast schedule and a real-time broadcast schedule from a user terminal to a broadcast viewing request for the VoD content channel from the user terminal;
The streaming server streaming the currently organized VoD broadcast content to the user terminal;
The broadcast schedule includes the VoD content channel broadcast schedule and a real-time broadcast schedule, a broadcast content title arranged for each broadcast channel is arranged, and a column including detailed information about the VoD broadcast content selected by the user is selected. Inserted and displayed between a cell corresponding to a broadcast channel of content and a cell corresponding to another neighboring broadcast channel,
Receiving the broadcast viewing request,
Displaying the broadcast schedule on the user terminal;
Receiving a VoD broadcast content displayed on the VoD content channel broadcast schedule on the broadcast schedule; and
And displaying the broadcast view button and the view button from the beginning for the selected VoD broadcast content to be selected.
When the view button is selected from the beginning, the currently organized VoD broadcasting content is streamed from the beginning to the user terminal.
The space including detailed information on the VoD broadcast content selected by the user includes a broadcast view button and a view button from the beginning for the VoD broadcast content selected by the user. . delete delete The method of claim 1,
And encoding, by an encoder unit, the transmission environment and the user terminal type before transmitting the currently organized VoD broadcast content to the streaming server. A management server that stores broadcasting program information including a video on demand (VoD) content channel broadcasting schedule;
Streaming server for streaming VoD broadcast content currently organized in VoD content channels,
A VoD server that delivers the currently organized VoD broadcast content to the streaming server according to the VoD content channel broadcast schedule, and
And a web server configured to deliver a web page including a VoD content channel broadcast schedule and a broadcast schedule including a real-time broadcast schedule to a user terminal for display.
When a broadcast viewing request for the VoD content channel is transmitted from a user terminal, the streaming server streams the currently organized VoD broadcast content to the user terminal.
The broadcast schedule includes the VoD content channel broadcast schedule and a real-time broadcast schedule, a broadcast content title arranged for each broadcast channel is arranged, and a column including detailed information about the VoD broadcast content selected by the user is selected. Inserted and displayed between a cell corresponding to a broadcast channel of content and a cell corresponding to another neighboring broadcast channel,
The column including detailed information on the VoD broadcast content selected by the user includes a broadcast view button and a view button from the beginning for the VoD broadcast content selected by the user.
When the VoD broadcast content displayed in the VoD content channel broadcast schedule is selected on the broadcast schedule, the broadcast view button and the view button for the selected VoD broadcast content are displayed to be selected.
If the view button is selected from the beginning, the broadcasting service system through the VOD content channel, characterized in that to stream the currently organized VoD broadcast content from the beginning to the user terminal. delete delete The method of claim 5,
And receiving an encoder configured to receive the currently organized VoD broadcast content from the VoD server, encode the transmission environment and a user terminal model, and transmit the encoded content to the streaming server.

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