KR101243781B1 - System and method of independently activated browser in IPTV platform - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an independent browser system running independently of the IPTV platform environment and a method of providing the same, and particularly, includes a content, and discloses a browser capable of executing content independently on all platforms supported by Java and a method of providing the same.
The present invention is composed of a Java-based independent browser consisting of a browser core and a browser manager running independently of the IPTV platform environment, a download server for providing the browser core, and a content server for providing content, the firmware or the application of the set-top box It can provide a dynamic UI that can provide independent content without modification, the browser can be downloaded and run from the server as needed, if the Java-based platform can provide the content as it is heterogeneous terminal In addition, time and cost problems caused by developing, modifying, distributing, and installing programs for providing contents can be solved.

Description

Independent browser system in which iPitive runs independently of platform environment and its providing method {System and method of independently activated browser in IPTV platform}

The present invention relates to an independent browser system running independently of the IPTV platform environment and a method of providing the same, and more particularly, to a browser capable of executing content independently on all platforms supported by Java and a method of providing the same.

As is well known, the IPTV service is a customized video information service that provides a user's required video at a desired time through a network connection, and provides a desired program at a desired time among numerous programs stored in the server within the service. It is a broadcasting service that can be selected and enjoyed at any time, and users can freely rewind (RW), fast forward (FF), pause, etc. and watch the video in the same way as watching a video. It is an on-demand video information service that orders by and charges per flight.

These IPTV services operate in an IPTV platform environment, and are serviced through a set top box (STB) connected to a television (TV) and a network. The set top box receives a signal from an external source and converts it to a television. Refers to a device that displays. Set-top box is composed of tuner for receiving TV signal, reception limiting system for pay channel, MPEG decoder, CPU, RAM, some flash memory, etc. It can be composed of a bound application (unbound application) and a bound application (bound application), the middleware is connected to different types of hardware, protocols, communication environment, etc. in a distributed computing environment, the application and the environment in which the program is operated The software enables smooth communication between the two and the unbound application is an application that is not limited to a channel. The unbound application is executed when the set-top box is booted and operates until the power is turned off. These include Observer that monitors application execution / exit status and channel change, EPG that provides real-time channel information, home service such as set-top box home, and Q (widget) and communication.

In addition, the bound application is an application that operates limited to a designated channel and is executed by switching channels after the set-top box booting is completed. It mainly provides information and services related to the channel. If you change the channel or press the exit button during the application operation, the service is terminated at the same time as the channel change.

Looking at the operation of such a set-top box, the middleware is executed when the set-top box is booted to initialize the network connection and the set-top box, load the smart card information, initialize the unbound application, guide channel or previous termination point Go to the live channel you were watching and start the home portal service.

When the service selection on the home portal or the shortcut button on the remote control is clicked, the unbound application is stopped, and if there is a running bound application, the unbound application is stopped, and the service UI is started to display the selected service (movie, content, etc.) on the TV. When the service is completed or the stop button is clicked, the service and the service UI are terminated. If there is a bound application that has been stopped, the bound application is started, and the video service is repeatedly provided.

In this way, the application running on the set-top box does not have a main method or constructor, so it is impossible to add another program or application at will without executing a new program and compiling with the set-top box's firmware or program. Since only the application defined by the button input is executed and stopped, only the content provided by the IPTV service can be serviced.

However, with the demand for using contents not provided by the IPTV service through IPTV, various methods of providing contents independent of the IPTV service through the IPTV service have been proposed, and the most basic of them is to provide paid contents. In order to configure additional channels that can be provided in agreement with an IPTV service provider, or to configure additional channels that can provide paid contents in this way, the firmware or applications of the set-top box must be modified as a whole. In this case, the compiled result is distributed to all set-top boxes separately, and the set-top box receives a complicated and time-consuming process such as updating. In order to change the menu or UI to use these additional channels, Again three The above-described process of modification of the box firmware or application, compile, deploy, install, etc., there is a problem that must be continued repeatedly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an independent browser system including a content and running independently of the IPTV platform environment to execute the content, and a method of providing the same.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an IPTV composed of an independent browser composed of a browser core and a browser manager running independently of an IPTV platform environment based on Java, a download server providing the browser core, and a content server providing content. An independent browser system that runs independently of the platform environment,

A registration step in which content to be serviced separately from the IPTV platform environment is registered in the content server, and a browser core that provides a separate UI independent of the IPTV platform environment is registered in the download server,

A notification step in which a browser manager included in the IPTV set-top box as a component for IPTV communicates with the content server to receive a list of contents registered in the registration step to display a notification on a TV connected to the set-top box;

A download step of confirming whether the browser manager includes the browser core in the set-top box according to the confirmation of the notification displayed in the notification step, checking whether the browser core is the latest version, and downloading and calling the browser core from the download server; ,

An independent browser configured to provide a search of the content list by the browser core called in the downloading step, and to analyze log information of the selected content through communication with a content server and subsequently provide the service according to previous usage history of the same user. Provide a method of providing.

In this way, the present invention can provide a dynamic UI that can provide content independent of the IPTV service without modifying the firmware or the application of the set-top box by the independent browser system, the browser is downloaded from the server as needed It can be run and, even if it is a Java-based platform, even if a heterogeneous terminal can provide the content as it is, a useful effect that can reduce the time and cost due to program development, modification, distribution, installation for providing such content There is.

1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a specific embodiment of an independent browser system running independently of the IPTV platform environment according to the present invention.
2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a process of providing content.
Figure 3 is an example of eHTML configuration of an independent browser system running independently of the IPTV platform environment according to the present invention.
4 and 5 are exemplary diagrams illustrating that an independent browser system driven independently of the IPTV platform environment according to the present invention is applied to IPTV.

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

The overall configuration of a specific embodiment of an independent browser system running independently of the IPTV platform environment according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 1, and the process of providing content in FIG. 2 has been described.

As can be seen from the above, the present invention provides a VOD server 10 that provides a video on demand (VOD) service of IPTV, and communicates with the VOD server 10 and is connected to a TV 30 to provide a VOD service. In the browser system consisting of a set-top box 20 provided through 30, and a browser running on the set-top box 20,

The browser is composed of a browser core 110 and a browser manager 120 which is a component for an IPTV, which is driven independently of the IPTV platform environment based on Java.

A download server 200 which provides the browser core 110 to the set top box 20 at the request of the browser manager 120;

It may be configured as a content server 300 that provides content independent of the IPTV platform serviced through the browser.

Here, component is a technology that makes software development as easy as stacking lego blocks, and it is possible to develop the software module in advance from the existing coding method and develop necessary application technology. It refers to assembling the pre-made module during development. Using these component technologies, complex information systems can be built quickly and reusable when building similar information systems.

When describing an independent browser system that is operated independently of the IPTV platform environment according to the present invention in more detail for each component, the browser core 110 illustrates an eHTML source code that can be provided including upload / link of contents. As shown in Figure 3, it supports HTML4.01 based on Java, and runs on heterogeneous terminals that support Java such as set-top box 20, mobile communication terminal, smartphone, PDA, PMP, tablet, TV with Internet access Since the screen can be browsed and can communicate with the content server 300, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the IPTV platform received by the set-top box 20 from the content server 300. The list of independent contents is searched and displayed through the TV 30 to which the set-top box 20 is connected, and the function of IPTV can be provided as a script. You can navigate, select, execute, end, rewind (RW), fast-forward (FF), pause, etc. the list of contents through the button of the mocon or the button of the set-top box 20. In other words, the browser can provide a dedicated UI that is independent of IPTV.

In addition, the browser core 110 communicates with the content server 300 to store the contents of the contents provided through the browser core 110, time, content user information, and the like, as log information in the content server 300. Contents used in the set-top box 20 through the browser core 110 in the set-top box 20 and heterogeneous terminals, such as a mobile terminal, PDA, PMP, tablet, TV, etc., which are supported by Java, a firmware, and an OS. Can be used subsequently.

The browser manager 120 is a component for IPTV that can be included in an Advanced Common Application Platform (ACAP) application. The browser manager 120 communicates with the content server 300 to the set top box 20 to update the content list. Download and display, and check whether the browser core 110 is included in the set-top box 20 when the displayed content list is called, and if it is included, checks whether the browser core 110 is the latest version. 110) to download and run.

In addition, the download server 200 registers a built browser core 110, and checks, stores, and provides core information such as the version and capacity of the registered browser core 110, and the browser manager 120. (C) provides version information of the browser core 110 and the browser core 110 in response to a request of the web server. The content server 300 is a web application server that registers content that is serviced independently of the IPTV platform. A list of contents, contents information, and contents are provided, and the set-top box 20 provides a web page that can be accessed through the browser core 110.

Since the independent browser system that is driven independently of the IPTV platform environment according to the present invention is a component of the IPTV platform, if only the browser manager 120 that is not required to compile is included in the set-top box 20, the browser manager 120 is included in the set-top box 20. The browser core 110, which is newly updated by the server 110, can be downloaded from the download server 200 to the set-top box 20 using the IPTV, and the list of contents updated from the content server 300 can be downloaded. The core 110 may provide a user-friendly UI separately from the IPTV platform, and is linked with a button or a remote controller 40 of the set-top box 20.

The browser manager 120 downloads the newly updated list of contents from the content server 300 to the set top box 20, and sends a notification indicating that there is downloaded data to the TV 30 connected to the set top box 20. On the screen,

The IPTV user who wants to use the content provided by the content server 300, which is independent of the IPTV platform environment, which is not provided by the channel of the IPTV, is connected through the button of the set top box 20 or the button of the remote control 40. When the notification displayed on the TV 30 screen is selected, the browser manager 120 checks whether or not the browser core 110 exists, and if there is a browser core 110, checks the version and registers the download server 200. If it is not the latest version, the browser core 110 of the latest version is downloaded from the download server 200 and called, and if the latest version is called the browser core 110 as it is, the called browser core 110 is called on the screen The content list is displayed and the searched and selected content is downloaded from the content server 300 and provided or streamed according to a button input. In addition, the UI may be provided together to increase the convenience of using the content.

In this case, the UI is a UI provided by the browser core 110 and thus is a separate UI independent from IPTV. Such a UI can be freely created, designed, modified, and the like, and the browser core 110 is downloaded as needed. Since the browser core 110 is generated based on Java, the browser core 110 is generated based on Java, and thus, even if the terminal is Java-based, even the heterogeneous terminal having different OS or hardware may provide the content as it is. Develop, create, modify, distribute, or search for, execute, stop, rewind (RW), fast forward (FF), pause (Pause), etc. all the contents of each device for each platform, OS, etc. This eliminates the need for developing, modifying, deploying, and installing each program for use, reducing development and service time, and reducing costs. It will be, will be able to reuse the same content.

In addition, the independent browser providing method using an independent browser system running independently of the IPTV platform environment according to the present invention is independent of the IPTV platform environment, the content to be serviced separately is created, created, edited and registered in the content server 300, Registration step (S10) in which the browser core 110 providing a separate UI independent of the IPTV platform environment is registered in the download server 200,

The browser manager 120 included in the IPTV set-top box 20 as a component for IPTV communicates with the content server 300 to receive a list of contents registered in the registration step S10 and is connected to the set-top box 20. Notification step (S20) for displaying a notification on the TV (30),

In accordance with the confirmation of the notification displayed in the notification step (S20), the browser manager 120 checks whether the browser core 110 is included in the set-top box 20, and if it is included, checks whether the latest version is included in the download. Download step (S30) for downloading and calling the browser core 110 from the server 200,

The browser core 110 called in the downloading step (S30) provides a search of the content list, and analyzes log information of the selected content through communication with the content server 300 so as to follow the previous usage history of the same user. It may be configured to provide a service step (S40),

Here, the service step (S40) is not limited to providing the content by using only the log using the content in the set-top box 20, but is the same in the heterogeneous terminal to which other platforms and OSs are supported by Java. If the log used by the user is applied and the content used through the browser core 110 in the heterogeneous terminal is the same user even in the IPTV service, the content can be used subsequently, according to the terminal, platform, OS, etc. for providing the content. Develop, modify, and distribute all content one by one, or develop and modify a program for searching, executing, stopping, rewinding (RW), fast-forwarding (FF), pausing, etc. This eliminates the need to deploy and install, reducing development and service time, and reducing costs. The content can be reused as it is.

As described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but can be variously changed within the spirit and concept of the present invention.

10: VOD Server 20: Set Top Box
30: TV 40: remote control
110: browser core 120: browser manager
200: Download server 300: Content server
S10: registration step S20: notification step
S30: Download step S40: Service step

Claims (6)

In a browser system running on a set-top box that provides IPTV services,
The browser is composed of a browser core, which is a component for IPTV, and a browser core that runs independently of the IPTV platform environment based on Java.
A download server providing the browser core to the set top box at the request of the browser manager;
Independent browser system that runs independently of the IPTV platform environment, characterized in that consisting of a content server that provides content independent of the IPTV platform serviced through the browser. The method of claim 1,
The browser core supports HTML4.01 based on Java, and is executed on a set-top box and a heterogeneous terminal supported by Java to browse the screen, communicate the content providing history with the content server, and provide a function of IPTV as a script. An independent browser system that runs independently of the IPTV platform environment. The method of claim 1,
The browser manager communicates with a content server to download the updated content list from the content server to the set-top box and displays it on a display device connected to the set-top box, and whether the browser core is included in the set-top box when the displayed content list is called. Independent browser system that is independent of the IPTV platform environment, characterized in that the check, and if it is included in the latest version to check if it is the latest version to download and run the browser core from the download server. The method of claim 1,
The download server registers the built browser core, checks and stores the core information of the registered browser core, and provides the browser core version information and the browser core at the request of the browser manager. Independent browser system that runs independently. The method of claim 1,
The content server registers and provides contents serviced independently of the IPTV platform, and provides a web page that can be accessed through the browser core. A registration step in which content to be serviced separately from the IPTV platform environment is registered in the content server, and a browser core that provides a separate UI independent of the IPTV platform environment is registered in the download server,
A notification step in which a browser manager included in the IPTV set-top box as a component for IPTV communicates with the content server to receive a list of contents registered in the registration step to display a notification on a TV connected to the set-top box;
A download step of confirming whether the browser manager includes the browser core in the set-top box according to the confirmation of the notification displayed in the notification step, checking whether the browser core is the latest version, and downloading and calling the browser core from the download server; ,
The browser core, which is called in the downloading step, provides a search of the content list, and analyzes log information of the selected content through communication with a content server, and subsequently provides a service step according to previous usage history of the same user. An independent browser providing method using an independent browser system that is driven independently of the IPTV platform environment of claim 1.

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