KR101212448B1 - Virtual group Managing device for providing Electronic Program Guide for prefer broadcast channels to user - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a virtual group management apparatus that provides a user with a guide for a corresponding broadcast channel by extracting a user's favorite broadcast channel. The user may be created as a virtual group, and the user may be provided with a guide for selecting a broadcast channel preferred by the created virtual group.

Description

Virtual group managing device for providing electronic program guide for prefer broadcast channels to user}

The present invention relates to a broadcast receiving apparatus of a broadcast communication system, and more particularly, to a virtual group management apparatus that provides a user with a guide for a corresponding broadcast channel by extracting a broadcast channel preferred by the user.

In general, digital televisions (D-TVs) or set-top boxes (STBs) that receive various types of broadcasts such as terrestrial digital broadcasting, satellite digital broadcasting, and cable broadcasting are widely used.

Recently, IP (IP) broadcasting, such as a Video On Demand (VOD) service that provides various content programs through the Internet, has been commercialized.

In the contents provider server providing IP broadcasting, menu items corresponding to category information such as movie, drama, and sports, and genre information such as action, drama, and comedy are displayed. In addition, the user interface is provided as a menu image.

Accordingly, the user can select and specify any one menu item included in the menu image capable of user interface, and can easily select and view a content program such as a category and genre desired by the user.

In general, the user terminal may receive broadcast signals of several channels, and may select and watch one channel among the several channels. Due to the development of compression technology and the expansion of the frequency band, the number of selectable channels is increasing. However, the majority of users do not watch all these many channels at the same time, but rather watch a particular favorite channel.

So, users usually specify a few preferred channels and change channels within those preferred channels. Conventionally, referring to a method for designating a preferred channel, once a whole channel is scanned, a user registers a favorite channel as a favorite channel one by one, and then presses a specific key to change within a preferred channel. This method will take a lot of time to select while checking many channels.

Another method is to select a preferred channel with the help of the Electronic Program Guide (EPG). However, this method is also inconvenient in that a user must directly select a channel that a user prefers.

For the user, it is not desirable for the preferred channel selection or change to be complicated, and this operation is preferably simple and intuitive.

Therefore, as there are a large number of broadcast channels and a large number of categories and genres of programs are rapidly increasing, an efficient solution is provided to allow users to more conveniently select and designate desired categories, genres, and programs. This is urgently required.

A user's favorite broadcast channel may be extracted from various broadcast channels and provided to the user.

By sharing information about a viewing channel of another user having a common interest with the user, a broadcast channel of the user's interest may be provided to the user.

An apparatus for managing a virtual group according to an aspect of the present invention stores a user's identification information and uses a user authentication unit for authenticating the user through the stored identification information, a user's viewing habits for a broadcast channel, or group information subscribed to by the user. A keyword generation unit for generating a virtual keyword indicating a broadcast channel preferred by the user, a group generation unit for generating users with common virtual keywords as a virtual group, and a guide for selecting a broadcast channel preferred by the generated virtual group. It includes a guide generation unit to generate.

In addition, when receiving a request from the user may further include a guide providing unit for providing the user with a guide for the corresponding virtual group.

In addition, the user authentication unit stores the mobile phone number, social security number or biometric information of the user as identification information of the user.

In addition, the keyword generator collects broadcast program information watched by the user for each day of the week and time zone, and extracts a broadcast channel preferred by the user from the collected broadcast program information.

In addition, the keyword generator extracts a user's field of interest from social networking service or group information subscribed to by the user.

In addition, the keyword generator generates at least one virtual keyword indicating a broadcast channel that the user prefers or a broadcast channel that satisfies the user's field of interest.

In addition, the group generating unit generates at least one virtual group in which at least one user is included and at least one user is included in the virtual group.

In addition, the guide provider shares a broadcast channel or a preferred broadcast channel watched by a user in the created virtual group to other users in the virtual group.

Users can find the channel they want more easily.

Information about the interests of other users having a common interest with the user can be easily obtained.

Since a user of a terminal such as a portable TV grasps / stores a preferred channel without additional manipulation so that the user can easily access a preferred broadcast channel, the user can conveniently change to a preferred broadcast channel.

1 is a diagram illustrating a broadcast communication system in which a virtual group management apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is disposed at a broadcast receiving end.
2 is a diagram illustrating a broadcast communication system in which a virtual group management apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is disposed at a broadcast transmitter.
3 is a block diagram showing the detailed configuration of the virtual group management apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a flowchart illustrating a process of providing a broadcast guide to a user according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail an aspect of the present invention.

1 is a diagram illustrating a broadcast communication system in which a virtual group management apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is disposed at a broadcast receiving end.

Referring to FIG. 1, the broadcast communication system includes a user terminal 100, a set top box 110, a streaming providing server 120, and a VOD (Video On Demand) providing server 130.

1 illustrates a case where a virtual group management apparatus is disposed in a broadcast receiving end of a user terminal 100 or a set-top box 110 in a broadcast communication system.

The user terminal 100 may receive broadcast channels such as terrestrial digital broadcast, satellite digital broadcast, and cable broadcast, and may select and display a specific broadcast channel among the received broadcast channels.

The set top box 110 may include a function of receiving broadcast channels such as terrestrial digital broadcasting, satellite digital broadcasting, and cable broadcasting and converting them into signals that can be processed by the user terminal 100.

The set-top box 110 restores and reproduces the video and sound compressed and transmitted from the streaming providing server 120 or the VOD providing server 130, and may send a user's request to each server.

The user terminal 100 or the set top box 110 may include a virtual group management device. The virtual group management apparatus included in the user terminal 100 or the set-top box 110 collects information such as a broadcast program and a broadcast channel that the user watches, and extracts the user's preferred channel and interest from the collected information. And, this can be provided to the user in the form of a guide such as EPG (Electronic Program Guide) or VOD channel.

Details of the virtual group management apparatus will be described in detail below.

The streaming providing server 120 is a server providing video and audio in real time instead of a download method, and may process various multimedia data transmitted through a streaming service as if it is a continuous and continuous flow of water.

The VOD (Video On Demand) provision server 130 may also be referred to as a customized video information service or provision server. Rather than receiving unilaterally receiving a program from terrestrial broadcasting or broadcasting, it is a service that can use the desired contents at a desired time according to the demand of the program. Play, stop, pause, fast forward, fast rewind, and any position in the same way as normal video equipment except for ordering video information through the network. It can provide all the functions to play back.

The streaming providing server 120 or the VOD providing server 130 has a large capacity that can store video or audio.

2 is a diagram illustrating a broadcast communication system in which a virtual group management apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is disposed at a broadcast transmitter.

Referring to FIG. 2, the broadcast communication system includes a user terminal 100, a management server 210, a streaming providing server 120, and a VOD providing server 130.

2 illustrates a case where a virtual group management apparatus is disposed in a broadcast transmitting end such as a management server 210 in a broadcast communication system.

The user terminal 100 may receive broadcast channels such as terrestrial digital broadcast, satellite digital broadcast, and cable broadcast, and may select and display a specific broadcast channel among the received broadcast channels.

The set top box 110 may include a function of receiving a broadcast channel such as terrestrial digital broadcast, satellite digital broadcast, and cable broadcast and converting it into a signal that can be processed by the user terminal 100.

The set-top box 110 restores and reproduces the video and sound compressed and transmitted from the streaming providing server 120 or the VOD providing server 130, and may send a user's request to each server.

The streaming providing server 120 is a server providing video and audio in real time instead of a download method, and may process various multimedia data transmitted through a streaming service as if it is a continuous and continuous flow of water.

The VOD (Video On Demand) provision server 130 may also be referred to as a customized video information service or provision server. Rather than receiving unilaterally receiving a program from terrestrial broadcasting or broadcasting, it is a service that can use the desired contents at a desired time according to the demand of the program. Play, stop, pause, fast forward, fast rewind, and any position in the same way as normal video equipment except for ordering video information through the network. It can provide all the functions to play back.

The streaming providing server 120 or the VOD providing server 130 has a large capacity that can store video or audio.

The management server 210 is located between the streaming provision server 120 or the VOD provision server 130 and the user terminal 100 to collect information about a broadcast channel requested by a user or a broadcast program provided by each provision server. Or manage.

In addition, the management server 210 may include a virtual group management device. The virtual group management apparatus included in the management server 210 collects information on a broadcast program, a broadcast channel, and the like that the user watches, extracts a user's favorite channel, an interest field, and the like from the collected information, and extracts the EPG (Electronic It may be provided to the user in the form of a guide such as a program guide) or a VOD channel.

Details of the virtual group management apparatus will be described in detail below.

3 is a block diagram showing the detailed configuration of the virtual group management apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the virtual group management apparatus 300 includes a user authenticator 301, a keyword generator 302, a group generator 303, a guide generator 304, and a guide provider 305. do.

The user authentication unit 301 stores identification information of the user and authenticates the user through the stored identification information.

The user authentication unit 301 receives unique identification information for identifying the user, such as a user's mobile number, social security number, or biometric information, from the user and stores it as the user's identification information, and uses the stored user's identification information. To authenticate the user.

The stored user identification information may be utilized by the user authentication method such as security and encryption in the user authentication unit 301, and may be implemented in any manner as long as it can identify a user.

The keyword generator 302 generates a virtual keyword indicating a user's favorite broadcast channel by using the user's viewing habits or group information subscribed to the plurality of broadcast channels provided.

The user's viewing habit refers to the user's viewing style of the broadcast program. For example, the broadcast program information viewed by the user for each day and time zone may be collected, and a broadcast channel preferred by the user may be extracted from the collected broadcast program information.

In addition, the keyword generator 302 may collect social networking service or community information subscribed to by the user, and extract the user's field of interest therefrom.

Therefore, a virtual keyword indicating a broadcast channel that the user prefers or a broadcast channel that satisfies the user's interests is generated.

There is no need for one virtual keyword per user, and a plurality of virtual keywords may be generated from one user according to collected information such as viewing habits.

The group generation unit 303 generates a virtual group that combines users having a common virtual keyword among the virtual keywords generated for each user into one group.

One user is not limited to being included in one virtual group, and may be included in several virtual groups according to a virtual keyword.

The guide generator 304 selects broadcast channels that are commonly preferred by users included in the virtual group, and generates a guide that provides the selected broadcast channels. The guide may be generated in the form of EPG or VOD channel.

The guide providing unit 305 provides the user with a guide for the virtual group corresponding to the user when receiving a request from the user or according to a preset method set by the user.

In addition, the guide provider 305 may share information on a broadcast channel or a preferred broadcast channel watched by a user in the virtual group so that other users in the virtual group may be provided.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a process of providing a broadcast guide to a user according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

First, user authentication is performed by a user who uses a broadcasting communication system that provides a plurality of broadcasting channels such as terrestrial digital broadcasting, satellite digital broadcasting, and cable broadcasting.

For user authentication, the virtual group management apparatus receives unique identification information for identifying the user, such as a user's mobile number, social security number, or biometric information, from the user and stores it as the user's identification information. The user is authenticated using the identification information.

Next, the user's viewing habits or group information subscribed to by the user are collected (410).

The user's viewing habit refers to the user's viewing style of the broadcast program. For example, the broadcast program information viewed by the user for each day and time zone may be collected, and a broadcast channel preferred by the user may be extracted from the collected broadcast program information.

In addition, group information, such as a social networking service or group information, to which the user subscribes, may be collected, and the user's field of interest may be extracted therefrom.

Next, in operation 420, a virtual keyword indicating a broadcast channel that the user prefers or a broadcast channel that satisfies the user's interests extracted from the user's viewing habits is generated.

There is no need for one virtual keyword per user, and a plurality of virtual keywords may be generated from one user according to collected information such as viewing habits.

Next, in operation 430, a virtual group is generated, which groups users having a common virtual keyword among the virtual keywords generated for each user, into one group.

One user is not limited to being included in one virtual group, and may be included in several virtual groups according to a virtual keyword.

Next, in operation 440, users who are included in the virtual group select broadcast channels that are commonly preferred, and provide a guide for providing the selected broadcast channels. The guide may be generated in the form of EPG or VOD channel.

When receiving a request from the user or according to a preset method set by the user, the user provides a guide for the virtual group corresponding to the user (450). Information about a broadcast channel or a preferred broadcast channel watched by a user in the virtual group may be shared so that other users in the virtual group may be provided.

One aspect of the present invention may be embodied as computer readable code on a computer readable recording medium. The code and code segments implementing the above program can be easily deduced by a computer programmer in the field. A computer-readable recording medium includes all kinds of recording apparatuses in which data that can be read by a computer system is stored. Examples of the computer-readable recording medium include ROM, RAM, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, floppy disk, optical disk, and the like. The computer-readable recording medium may also be distributed over a networked computer system and stored and executed in computer readable code in a distributed manner.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the above-described embodiments, but should be construed to include various embodiments within the scope of the claims.

100 user terminal
110 set top box
120 streaming server
130 VOD-provided server

Claims (8)

A user authentication unit which stores identification information of the user and authenticates the user through the stored identification information;
A keyword generator for generating a virtual keyword for displaying a broadcast channel preferred by the user using a user's viewing habits for the broadcast channel;
A group generator for generating users with common virtual keywords as a virtual group; And
And a guide generator configured to generate a guide for selecting a broadcast channel that users included in the created virtual group prefer in common. The method of claim 1,
And a guide providing unit which provides the user with a guide for a corresponding virtual group when the user receives a request from the user. The method of claim 1, wherein the user authentication unit
Virtual group management device for storing the user's mobile phone number, social security number or biometric information as the user's identification information. The method of claim 1, wherein the keyword generation unit
The virtual group management apparatus collects the broadcast program information watched by the user for each day of the week and time zone, and extracts the broadcast channel preferred by the user from the collected broadcast program information. delete The method of claim 4, wherein the keyword generation unit
A virtual group management device for generating at least one virtual keyword indicating a broadcast channel preferred by the user. The method of claim 1, wherein the group generating unit
One user is included in at least one virtual group,
Virtual group management device for creating a virtual group containing at least one user. The method of claim 6, wherein the guide providing unit
And a virtual group management apparatus for sharing the watched broadcast program information collected by the virtual keyword generator or information on a preferred broadcast channel to other users in the created virtual group.

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