KR101229982B1 - System for internet protocol television - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an IPTV system.
For example, a middleware server for receiving data excluding the A / V stream from the IPTV transport stream and generating GUI graphics data; And a set-top box that receives an A / V stream from an IPTV transport stream, receives the GUI graphics data from the middleware server, and combines and outputs the A / V stream.

Description

IPP system {SYSTEM FOR INTERNET PROTOCOL TELEVISION}

The present invention relates to an IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) system.

IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) system is a service that provides information service, video contents, and broadcasting through a set top box using a high-speed Internet as a television receiver, allowing viewers to watch programs they want at a convenient time. Make sure In addition, IPTV is gaining widespread attention because of the development of digital communication technology, which can provide interactive multimedia services with little facility investment. Methods, servers, video switches, set-top boxes, and communication protocols are developing.

In general, an IPTV set-top box is connected to a network providing digital broadcasting, analog broadcasting, and video on demand (VOD) service, and has a function of transmitting and receiving information transmitted between a user and the network. In addition, the set-top box may receive digital broadcast and analog broadcast or video on demand services supplied through the headend and output the broadcast through a connected television.

Typically, an IPTV set-top box is equipped with Java or Web-based middleware and may support both. However, low-cost and low-end IPTV set-top boxes are difficult to handle normally because of their lack of performance and resources when running web-based middleware. In addition, in order to support both Java and the web, high-end hardware is required in terms of hardware of an IPTV set-top box, and in terms of software, difficulty of implementation and development period are long.

The present invention provides an IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) system with improved performance of a set-top box.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, an IPTV system includes: a middleware server receiving data excluding A / V streams from an IPTV transport stream and generating GUI graphics data; And a set-top box that receives an A / V stream from an IPTV transport stream, receives the GUI graphics data from the middleware server, and outputs the combined A / V stream.

In addition, the middleware server may receive a service information (SI) channel, a data channel, and an electronic program guide (EPG) data in an IPTV transport stream.

The middleware server may further include: a first transport stream processing module configured to receive and process data other than an A / V stream among IPTV transport streams; A Java and web based middleware module for receiving the data processed by the first transport stream processing module and generating the GUI graphics data; And a view server service module for transmitting and receiving data between the middleware server and the set top box.

The middleware module may receive and process a key event from the set top box and output a control command to be transmitted to the set top box.

The set top box may further include: a second transport stream processing module configured to receive and process an A / V stream among IPTV transport streams; A media player module for receiving and processing A / V streams from the second transport stream processing module; A merging module for combining the GUI graphics data received from the middleware server with the A / V stream processed through the media player module; And a view client service module for transmitting and receiving data between the set top box and the middleware server.

The set top box may further include a key interface configured to receive a key event from an external device and transmit the key event to the view client service module; And an A / V interface for outputting data processed through the merge module to a display device.

In addition, the merging module may output the A / V stream processed through the GUI graphics data and the media player module by performing alpha blending on a pixel basis.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an IPTV middleware server includes: a transport stream processing module configured to receive and process service information (SI) channels, data channels, and electronic program guide (EPG) data in an IPTV transport stream; A Java and web based middleware module for generating GUI graphics data to receive the data processed by the transport stream processing module and to transmit to the set-top box; And a view server service module for transmitting and receiving data with the set-top box.

In addition, the middleware module may receive a key event from the set-top box, process it, and output a control command to be transmitted to the set-top box.

IPTV set-top box according to another embodiment of the present invention, a transport stream processing module for receiving and processing the A / V stream from the IPTV transport stream; A media player module for receiving and processing A / V streams from the transport stream processing module; A merge module which receives GUI graphics data from an external server and combines the A / V stream processed through the media player module; And a view client service module for transmitting and receiving data with the external server.

The IPTV set-top box may further include a key interface configured to receive a key event from an external device and transmit the key event to the view client service module; And an A / V interface for outputting data processed through the merge module to a display device.

In addition, the GUI graphics data may include a service information (SI) channel, a data channel and an electronic program guide (EPG) data in an IPTV transport stream.

In addition, the merging module may output the A / V stream processed through the GUI graphics data and the media player module by performing alpha blending on a pixel basis.

According to the present invention, an IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) system with improved performance of a set-top box can be provided.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an IPTV system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a view showing the operation of the IPTV system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, so that those skilled in the art can easily carry out the present invention.

Here, the same reference numerals are given to parts having similar configurations and operations throughout the specification.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an IPTV system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, an IPTV system 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a middleware server 100 and a set top box 200.

As shown in FIG. 1, the middleware server 100 includes a user datagram protocol / transmission control protocol (UDP / TCP) module 100, a first transport stream processing module 120, a middleware module 130, and a view server. It may be configured as a service module 140. In addition, the middleware server 100 may include an ACAP-J (Advanced Common Application Protocol-Java, 150) and a browser engine (Browser Engine, 160). Accordingly, the middleware server 100 may be based on Java and Web. The middleware may be supported, and the present invention is not limited thereto, and may be implemented to support at least one of Java or web middleware.

The UDP / TCP module 110 may be a virtual logical communication connection means used by UDP and TCP protocols among transport layer protocols of the Internet protocol suite. The UDP / TCP module 110 may receive an MPEG2 transport stream from an external system, and may communicate with the UDP / TCP module 210 of the set-top box 200. For example, the UDP / TCP module 110 receives the MPEG2 transport stream from the IPTV encoder, the IPTV VoD server, and the like, and the data 9 from the set-top box 200, respectively, and processes the data from the middleware server 100. (9) can be delivered to the set-top box 200. The data 9 transmitted from the set-top box 200 may be a key event input to the set-top box 200 through the remote controller 300 or the mouse, and also the middleware server 100. Response message (eg, terminal information), and the like.

The UDP / TCP module 110 receives data 1 excluding the A / V (audio / video) stream from the MPEG2-based transport stream and transmits the data 1 to the first transport stream processing module 120. The data 1 may include a service information (SI) channel, a data channel, and an electronic program guide (EPG) data of IPTV.

The service information (SI) channel may include at least one piece of information for each category classified in advance according to a general theme criterion such as genre, main viewing age, broadcast language, and quality in advance. The electronic program guide (EPG) data is information related to a television broadcast program organization and may support a service that allows a user to select a desired program or to select a desired program through criteria such as time, title, channel, and genre.

The first transport stream processing module 120 transmits the compressed and encapsulated data 1 to the middleware module 130 through a decoding process.

The middleware module 130 is a software engine based on ACAP-J (Advanced Common Application Protocol-Java) and the web. The middleware module 130 receives and receives the processed data 2 through the first transport stream processing module 120. The graphical user interface (GUI) graphics data 3 is output based on the collected data 2. Here, the GUI graphics data 3 refers to data for requesting an event desired by the user or providing information of a program required for viewing on a television, etc., through a graphic when exchanging information between the user and the IPTV system. For example, the program information may include category information, classified by general theme criteria such as genre, main viewing age, broadcast language, and quality, and broadcast program organization. In addition, the user's event means a request for the information. The middleware module 130 receives necessary data at regular intervals when the middleware server 100 is executed for information update and generates and outputs GUI graphics data 3. The middleware module 130 outputs the generated GUI graphics data 3 to the view server service module 140.

In addition, the middleware module 130 may transmit a media control command and other predefined control commands to the view server service module 140.

In addition, the middleware module 130 may process a key event received from the set top box 200.

The view server service module 140 receives the GUI graphics data 3 output from the middleware module 130 and transmits the GUI graphics data 3 to the set top box 200 so as to perform data update. In addition, the view server service module 140 may serve as a buffer for temporarily storing the GUI graphics data 3 output from the middleware module 130. The GUI graphics data 3 output from the view server service module 140 is transmitted to the UDP / TCP module 210 of the set-top box 200 through the UDP / TCP module 110.

In addition, the view server service module 140 may transmit control commands transmitted from the middleware module 130 to the set top box 200 through the UDP / TCP module 110.

As shown in FIG. 1, the set top box 200 includes a UDP / TCP module 210, a second transport stream processing module 220, a media player module 230, a view client service module 240, and a merge module. 250, a key interface 260, and an A / V interface 270.

The UDP / TCP module 210 may be a virtual logical communication connection means used by UDP and TCP protocols among transport layer protocols of the Internet protocol suite. The UDP / TCP module 210 may receive an MPEG2 transport stream from an external system and may communicate with the UDP / TCP module 110 of the middleware server 100. For example, the UDP / TCP module 210 may receive the MPEG2 transport stream from the IPTV encoder and the IPTV VoD server, the GUI graphics data 3 and the control commands from the middleware server 100, and transmit the received GUI graphics data 3 to the corresponding module. The key event 9 and other response messages may be delivered to the middleware server 100. The UDP / TCP module 110 receives the A / V (audio / video) stream 5 from the MPEG2-based transport stream and delivers it to the second transport stream processing module 220.

The second transport stream processing module 220 performs decoding processing of the received A / V (audio / video) stream 5. The second transport stream processing module 220 also classifies the video stream 6a and the audio stream 6b. In addition, the second transport stream processing module 220 delivers the classified video stream 6a to the media player module 230 and delivers the audio stream 6b to the A / V interface 270.

The media player module 230 delivers the video stream 6a delivered from the second transport stream processing module 220 to the merging module 250.

The view client service module 240 may transmit the GUI graphics data 3 transmitted from the middleware server 100 to the merging module 250. In addition, the view client service module 240 may transmit control commands transmitted from the middleware server 100 to each module for controlling the corresponding module.

The merge module 250 combines the GUI graphics data 3 received from the view client service module 240 and the video stream 6a received from the media player module 230, and combines the combined data 8 into the A. / V interface to the (270). The data 8 here consists of GUI information and video information of the program.

The A / V interface 270 outputs the data 8 received from the merging module 250 and the audio stream 6b received from the second transport stream processing module 220 to the display device 400. . The display device 400 may display data received from the A / V interface 270, and a user may view various information about a program and a video of a desired channel.

2 is a view showing the operation of the IPTV system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, first, when the set-top box is powered on, a connection request message is transmitted from the set-top box to the middleware server. The middleware server requests terminal information on the set-top box in response to the connection request message of the set-top box. The set-top box transmits terminal information according to the terminal information request of the middleware server to the middleware server, and IPTV middleware is executed.

Next, when the middleware server is executed, the terminal receives a terminal authentication from the IPTV manager, and receives a Service Informaion (SI) channel and Electronic Program Guide (EPG) data. The set top box also receives an A / V stream from the IPTV manager.

The middleware server then requests the set-top box to play the base channel and receives the data channel from the IPTV manager. Set-top boxes perform basic media play. In addition, the middleware server transmits the GUI graphics data to the set-top box through the GUI graphics data update request to perform data update. The set-top box combines the A / V stream and the updated GUI graphics data and outputs the combined data to the display device 400.

Meanwhile, the middleware server receives the key event input to the set-top box through the remote controller 300 and processes the key event (e.g. GUI graphics data update request).

Thereafter, when the connection termination request of the set-top box is transmitted to the middleware server, the IPTV middleware is terminated.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a browser and middleware are mounted on a server to process GUI-related information, and video / audio information (video information) is processed on a set-top box, so that even if it is applied to a low-spec set-top box, You can run enough middleware. In other words, by separating the hardware and software roles of the set-top box into a server, it is possible to perform normal middleware of the low-end set-top box. In addition, it does not require high-end hardware and can be expected to shorten the development period in terms of software, thereby lowering the cost of performance of the set-top box.

What has been described above is only one embodiment for implementing the IPTV system according to the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the present invention deviates from the gist of the present invention as claimed in the following claims. Without this, anyone skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains will have the technical spirit of the present invention to the extent that various modifications can be made.

10: IPTV system
100: middleware server
110: UDP / TCP module
120: first transport stream processing module
130: middleware module
140: View Server service module
150: ACAP-J
160: browser engine
200: set top box
210: UDP / TCP module
220: second transport stream module
230: media player module
240: View client service module
250: merge module
260: key interface
270: A / V interface
300: remote control
400: display device

Claims (13)

A middleware server that receives a service information (SI) channel, a data channel and an electronic program guide (EPG) data in the IPTV transport stream and generates GUI graphics data; And
And a set-top box which receives an A / V stream among IPTV transport streams, receives the GUI graphics data from the middleware server, and outputs the combined A / V stream. delete The method of claim 1,
The middleware server,
A first transport stream processing module for receiving and processing a service information (SI) channel, a data channel, and an electronic program guide (EPG) data in an IPTV transport stream;
A Java and web based middleware module for receiving the data processed by the first transport stream processing module and generating the GUI graphics data; And
IPTV system comprising a view server service module for transmitting and receiving data between the middleware server and the set-top box. The method of claim 3, wherein
The middleware module,
Receiving and processing a key event from the set top box, and outputting a control command to be transmitted to the set top box. The method of claim 1,
The set top box,
A second transport stream processing module for receiving and processing an A / V stream from the IPTV transport stream;
A media player module for receiving and processing A / V streams from the second transport stream processing module;
A merging module for combining the GUI graphics data received from the middleware server with the A / V stream processed through the media player module; And
And a view client service module for transmitting and receiving data between the set-top box and the middleware server. The method of claim 5, wherein
The set top box,
A key interface which receives a key event from an external device and delivers the key event to the view client service module; And
And an A / V interface for outputting data processed through the merging module to a display device. The method of claim 5, wherein
The merge module,
And outputting the GUI graphics data and the A / V stream processed through the media player module by performing alpha blending on a pixel basis. A transport stream processing module for receiving and processing a service information (SI) channel, a data channel, and an electronic program guide (EPG) data in an IPTV transport stream;
A Java and web based middleware module for generating GUI graphics data to receive the data processed by the transport stream processing module and to transmit to the set-top box; And
IPTV middleware server comprising a view server service module for transmitting and receiving data with the set-top box. The method of claim 8,
The middleware module,
IPTV middleware server, characterized in that for receiving and processing key events from the set-top box, and outputs a control command to be sent to the set-top box. A transport stream processing module configured to receive and process an A / V stream among IPTV transport streams;
A media player module for receiving and processing A / V streams from the transport stream processing module;
A merge module which receives GUI graphics data from an external server and combines the A / V stream processed through the media player module; And
IPTV set-top box comprising a view client service module for transmitting and receiving data with the external server. 11. The method of claim 10,
A key interface which receives a key event from an external device and delivers the key event to the view client service module; And
And an A / V interface for outputting the data processed through the merging module to a display device. 11. The method of claim 10,
Wherein the GUI graphics data comprises a service information (SI) channel, a data channel and an electronic program guide (EPG) data in an IPTV transport stream. 11. The method of claim 10,
The merge module,
And outputting the GUI graphics data and the A / V stream processed through the media player module by performing alpha blending on a pixel-by-pixel basis.

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