KR101302136B1 - A personal channel service providing device and the method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for providing an individual channel service according to the present invention includes a key input unit for receiving a request of a user through a key input for an individual channel service; An IPTV set-top box information management module managing an IP address of the IPTV set-top box in order to request channel switching and broadcasting information from the IPTV set-top box; A channel management module for receiving broadcast data of a broadcast channel from the IPTV set-top box and requesting channel switching to the IPTV set-top box; A broadcast information processing module for requesting broadcast information of a specific channel from the IPTV set-top box, and receiving and processing broadcast information according to the request from the IPTV set-top box; And a display control module for controlling broadcast data and broadcast information of the broadcast channel received from the IPTV set-top box to be displayed through the internal display means.

Individual, channel, service, remote, display

Description

System for providing individual channel service and method for providing individual channel service using same {A personal channel service providing device and the method

The present invention relates to an individual channel service providing system and a method for providing an individual channel service using the same. More specifically, an IPTV user uses a separate channel service providing apparatus to provide a method of watching a channel different from the main TV, viewing program information of the channel, or recording a program broadcast on the channel.

The present invention is derived from a study conducted as part of the IT industry source technology project of the Ministry of Knowledge Economy [Task management number: 2009-S-003-01, title: Middleware and security platform technology for IPTV function enhancement and service expansion Development].

IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) is a pay TV system that provides interactive digital TV services such as real-time broadcasting, video on demand (VOD), and information provision through a broadband IP network.

In current commercial IPTV, IPTV subscribers watch HD or SD content transmitted through a TV connected to an IPTV set-top box at home.

The basic channel service in IPTV is a service that broadcasts real-time broadcasts in a multicast manner through an IP network. In an IPTV set-top box, when a user requests to watch a specific channel, the access control system of the set-top box checks the viewing authority for the channel. If there is viewing authority, the middleware obtains a multicast address of another channel, and then receives a multicast stream for that specific channel through a hardware or software IP tuner. Obtain program specific information for the multicast stream and receive audio or video streams transmitted over this channel. If the reception limit function is set and scrambling in the audio or video stream of the channel, the descrambled function is performed using the control word obtained from the reception limiting system to perform the descrambled channel on the TV connected to the IPTV set-top box. Make it available for viewing. The number of broadcast streams received by IPTV is limited by the number of IP tuners. Currently, IPTV set-top boxes are limited by the number of IP tuners installed because they use hardware IP tuners.However, since IPTV set-top boxes are installed in PC game machines or are almost the same as general PCs, IP tuners are implemented in software. In this case, more broadcast streams can be received simultaneously.

Digital TV systems, such as cable, satellite, and IPTV, provide users with an Electronic Program Guide (EPG) that displays a program listing on a TV screen to facilitate searching and viewing of multiple channels. That is, the viewer can select a desired program through a schedule or search for a desired program through criteria such as time, title, channel, and genre. The electronic program guide is divided into mosaic EPG, grid EPG, mini EPG, and navigator EPG according to the method of expressing the program and program information provided by the channel on the screen.

IPTV provides the Personal Video Recorder (PVR), a personal video storage device that allows subscribers to record broadcast programs and encode and store content in digital format. The storage location may be divided into a hard disk in a set-top box or a server of a service provider according to an implementation method. In particular, the method of storing in the service provider's server is also called nPVR (network PVR).

However, in the conventional IPTV set-top box, the main TV shows the action indicated by the key value input by the user through the remote control. For example, when requesting channel switching, the converted channel is displayed through the main TV. If a key is entered on the remote control to execute the EPG while watching, the EPG is shown on the main TV during watching. This method has a problem that other users watching the key input result through the main TV together with the user through the main TV to control the actual remote control have a problem. This has a problem of lowering the concentration of viewing of other users. In addition, when several people are watching TV together, even if the PVR function is used to record a program that is being broadcast on another channel, it may also disturb the viewing of other users.

Nowadays, display means are basically installed in personal portable terminals such as mobile phones and PDAs, and audio-centric multimedia terminals such as MP3Ps basically include display means such as LCDs and TFTs. And since the computing power of personal mobile devices is also increasing, the software for remote controllers can be installed on existing personal mobile devices and used as a remote control for IPTV set-top boxes, or a remote control having display means for IPTV set-top boxes can be manufactured. have.

When the IPTV set-top box receives a plurality of broadcast streams with a plurality of IP tuners based on hardware or software, the individual user can switch to another channel or receive program information of another channel through the display means of the remote controller. The set-top box's PVR supports recording on other channels generated from the remote control, so that programs on other channels not currently viewed on the main TV can be recorded.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method for providing individual channel services that can watch broadcasts of other channels without disturbing others watching main TV.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an individual channel service providing system and method that can display, via a remote controller, a program being broadcast on a channel different from a program broadcast on a main TV.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an individual channel service providing system and method capable of recording a program displayed on a main TV and another program using a remote controller.

An apparatus for providing an individual channel service according to the present invention includes a key input unit configured to receive a user's request through key input for an individual channel service; An IPTV set-top box information management module managing an IP address of the IPTV set-top box in order to request channel switching and broadcasting information from the IPTV set-top box; A channel management module for receiving broadcast data of a broadcast channel from the IPTV set-top box and requesting channel switching to the IPTV set-top box; A broadcast information processing module for requesting broadcast information of a specific channel from the IPTV set-top box and receiving and processing broadcast information according to the request from the IPTV set-top box; And a display control module for controlling broadcast data and broadcast information of a broadcast channel received from the IPTV set-top box to be displayed through an internal display means.

In particular, the recording request module may further include a recording request module for recording the IPTV set-top box according to a recording request of the user input through the key input unit.

In addition, the channel management module, characterized in that it comprises a receiver for receiving a broadcast stream transmitted in a low resolution from the IPTV set-top box.

In addition, the channel management module, characterized in that it comprises a channel switching requestor for requesting the channel switching to the IPTV set-top box according to the user's request.

The broadcast information processing module may further include: a program information requester requesting program information of a specific channel; And a program information receiving and processing unit for receiving the program information from the IPTV set-top box and processing the program information to be displayed on the display unit.

On the other hand, IPTV set-top box of the present invention, a personal remote control management module for managing a remote control; A broadcast stream retransmission module for converting a high resolution broadcast stream to a low resolution and transmitting the same to the remote controller; And a broadcast information providing module configured to generate and transmit broadcast information of a specific channel according to the broadcast information provision request received from the remote controller.

In particular, the method may further include a PVR recording request processing module for receiving a recording request from the remote controller and requesting a recording of a specific channel to a personal video recorder (PVR).

In addition, the personal remote control management module, a remote control register for registering the personal remote control; A remote control terminal information manager managing terminal information of the personal remote controller; And a remote control viewing channel manager that manages a channel being viewed by the personal remote controller.

The broadcast stream retransmission module may include: a resolution converter for converting a high resolution broadcast stream into a low resolution in accordance with a display means provided in the personal remote controller; And a broadcast stream transmitter for retransmitting the broadcast stream whose resolution has been converted by the resolution converter to an address received from the remote controller.

On the other hand, the individual channel service providing method of the present invention relates to a method for providing individual channel service in the individual channel service providing system consisting of a personal remote control and an IPTV set-top box, the IPTV set-top box, the registration request from the remote control; Registering an IP address and display information of the remote controller according to the present invention; Converting a high resolution broadcast stream of a corresponding channel into a low resolution based on the display information when a request for receiving a specific channel is input through the registered remote controller; And transmitting the converted broadcast stream to the registered remote controller.

In particular, the method may further include generating and transmitting broadcast information of a specific channel according to a request for providing broadcast information from the remote controller.

The method may further include requesting recording of a specific channel from a personal video recorder (PVR) according to a recording request from the remote controller.

According to an individual channel service providing system and a method according to the present invention, the following effects can be expected.

First, information about a channel different from the broadcast displayed on the IPTV can be provided to the user of the personal remote control without disturbing other people watching the main TV.

Second, you can record without interrupting other people watching your main TV for a different channel than the broadcast you see on your IPTV.

Third, by recording a program that is not currently available on the main TV, individual users can watch again later.

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Hereinafter, a repeated description, a known function that may obscure the gist of the present invention, and a detailed description of the configuration will be omitted. Embodiments of the present invention are provided to more fully describe the present invention to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the shapes and sizes of the elements in the drawings and the like can be exaggerated for clarity.

Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the apparatus for providing individual channel services and the method for providing individual channel services using the same according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The real-time channel service in IPTV is performed as follows. The IPTV headend system transmits real-time broadcast content as a multicast stream through an IP network. The IPTV set top box receives the multicast stream and displays it on a digital TV.

The user in the home uses the remote control to control the IPTV set-top box. The IPTV set-top box switches channels according to the user's remote key input. Alternatively, the EPG showing the broadcast program information may receive a program schedule or detailed program information of a specific channel.

1 is an exemplary diagram for explaining an individual channel service providing system according to the present invention.

The individual channel service providing system of the present invention includes a remote controller 200 having a display means 202 to provide a personal channel viewing service through the display means 202, and an individual information according to information provided from the remote controller 200. IPTV settop box (100) for providing a channel service is made. Here, the remote controller 200 shown in FIG. 1 corresponds to an individual service providing apparatus according to the present invention.

The apparatus for providing an individual channel service according to the present invention includes not only an IPTV remote controller but also software for remotely controlling the IPTV set-top box 100 in a personal portable terminal having a display means such as a PDA or a smart phone.

2 is a block diagram for explaining in detail the configuration of an individual channel service providing system according to the present invention.

First, look at the configuration of the remote control 200 as follows.

Information such as the IP address of the IPTV set-top box to request channel switching, broadcast information, and recording to the key input unit 260, the IPTV set-top box 100, which receives a user's request through a key input for an individual channel service. IPTV set-top box information management module for managing the 210, the information received from the IPTV set-top box 100, a channel management module 220 for requesting channel switching to the IPTV set-top box, the IPTV set-top box ( The broadcast information processing module 230 for requesting broadcast information of a specific channel and receiving and processing program information from the IPTV set-top box 100, according to a recording request of a user input through the key input unit 260. The recording request module 240 requesting recording to the IPTV set-top box 100 and the broadcast data of the received broadcast channel are displayed on the display means or the program information requested by the user is displayed. Ray comprises a display control module 250 for controlling to express through means.

In more detail, the channel management module 220 includes a receiver 221 for receiving a broadcast stream transmitted at a low resolution from the IPTV set-top box, and channel switching to the IPTV set-top box 100 according to a user's request. Requesting channel switch requester 222. The broadcast information processing module 230 receives program information from the program information requester 231 and the IPTV set-top box 100 for requesting broadcast information of a specific channel, and receives the program information for processing through a display means. Processor 232 is included.

On the other hand, the IPTV set-top box 100 is a personal remote control module 110 for managing the personal remote control 200, broadcast stream retransmission module 120 for converting a high-resolution broadcast stream to a low resolution to transmit to the remote control 200 In response to the request for providing broadcast information received from the remote controller 200, a program broadcast information providing module 130 for generating and transmitting program information and a recording request from the remote controller 200 are received and a personal video recorder: And a PVR recording request processing module 140 for requesting recording to the PVR.

The personal remote controller management module 110 manages a remote controller register 111 for registering a personal remote controller, a remote controller terminal information manager 112 for managing terminal information of the remote controller 200, and a channel being watched by the remote controller 200. It comprises a remote control watching channel manager 113.

The broadcast stream retransmission module 120 converts the resolution of the broadcast stream having a high resolution into a low resolution in accordance with the display means of the remote controller 200 and the resolution is converted by the resolution converter 121. And a broadcast stream transmitter 122 for retransmitting the broadcast stream to the address received from the remote controller 200.

3 is a sequence diagram illustrating a process of registering a personal remote controller with display means in an IPTV set-top box.

Referring to FIG. 3, when the user 300 requests registration through a key input of the personal remote controller 200, the remote controller 200 requests a registration to the IPTV set-top box 100. IPTV set-top box 100 stores the IP address and display information of the remote control 200.

FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram illustrating a process of receiving a specific channel through a personal remote controller when the user requests channel switching through a channel up-down action or a request for reception of a specific channel through program information.

Referring to FIG. 4, when the user 300 requests to receive a specific channel through a change request or program information, the personal remote controller 200 requests a channel reception to the IPTV set-top box 100. The IPTV set-top box 100 receives a broadcast stream with a reception request, converts the resolution of the video into a low resolution, and retransmits the A / V including the converted low resolution video to the remote controller 200. The personal remote controller 200 requesting the channel reception waits for the retransmitted stream to be received, and when the transmission starts from the IPTV set-top box 100, it plays through the display means.

FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram illustrating a channel switching process of switching a channel received through a personal remote controller when a user requests a channel switching through a channel up-down action or a request for receiving a specific channel through program information.

Referring to FIG. 5, first, the user 300 requests a channel switching to the remote controller 200 through a key input for channel switching. Upon receiving the channel switch request, the remote controller 200 requests the IPTV set-top box 100 to switch channels according to a user input.

Next, the IPTV set-top box 100 inquires the device information on which the switching request is turned on, and obtains the address of a reception stream for channel switching by performing up or down channel information in addition to the current channel information. The multicast address of the received stream of the switching channel can be queried by the middleware. After changing the address of the receiving stream, the information on the receiving channel of the remote controller is modified to the switched receiving channel.

6 is a program information providing processing sequence diagram showing a processing procedure for expressing program information on a display when a user requests program information of a current channel or receivable channels.

Referring to FIG. 6, when the user 300 requests information of a program, the remote controller 200 sends the information to the IPTV set-top box 100, and the IPTV set-top box 100 inquires current channel information of the remote controller 200. The program information for the remote control is generated and the program information for the remote control is transmitted to the personal remote controller 200. The remote control 200 receives the program information, processes the received information, and displays the received information on the display means.

FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram of a recording service providing process illustrating a process of processing recording using a PVR function of an IPTV set-top box when a user requests a recording. Referring to FIG. 7, when the user 300 makes a recording request, the personal remote controller 200 transfers it to the IPTV set-top box 100 and requests recording from the PVR function.

According to the present invention as described above, it is possible to provide the information on the channel different from the broadcast displayed on the IPTV to the personal remote control user without disturbing other people watching the main TV. It is also possible to record without disturbing other people watching the main TV for a channel different from the broadcast displayed by the IPTV. It also records programs that are not currently available on the main TV so that individual users can watch them later.

Some steps of the invention may be embodied as computer readable code on a computer readable recording medium. 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 computer-readable recording media may include ROM, RAM, CD-ROM, CD-RW, magnetic tape, floppy disk, HDD, optical disk, magneto-optical storage, and the like. , Transmission over the Internet). The computer readable recording medium can also be distributed over network coupled computer systems so that the computer readable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion.

As described above, an optimal embodiment has been disclosed in the drawings and specification. Although specific terms have been employed herein, they are used for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention as defined in the claims or the claims. Therefore, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications and equivalent embodiments are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the true scope of the present invention should be determined by the technical idea of the appended claims.

1 is an exemplary diagram for explaining an individual channel service providing system according to the present invention.

2 is a block diagram for explaining in detail the configuration of an individual channel service providing system according to the present invention.

3 is a sequence diagram illustrating a personal remote controller registration process.

4 is a sequence diagram illustrating a process of receiving a specific channel in a personal remote controller.

5 is a sequence diagram illustrating a channel switching process.

6 is a sequence diagram showing a program information providing process.

7 is a sequence diagram illustrating a recording service providing process.

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

100: IPTV set-top box 110: personal remote control module

111: remote control register 112: remote control terminal information manager

113: remote control viewing channel manager 120: broadcast stream retransmission module

121: resolution converter 122: broadcast stream transmitter

130: broadcast information providing module 131: program information generator and transmitter

140: PVR request processing module 141: recording request receiver

142: PVR recording requester 200: Remote control

210: IPTV set-top box information management module 211: IPTV set-top box information manager

220: channel management module 221: broadcast stream receiver

222: channel switch requester 230: broadcast information processing module

231: Program information requester 232: Program information receiving and processing

240: recording request module 241: recording requester

250: display control module 260: key input

Claims (12)

A key input unit for receiving a user's request through key input for individual channel service; An IPTV set-top box information management module managing an IP address of the IPTV set-top box in order to request channel switching and broadcasting information from the IPTV set-top box; A channel management module for receiving broadcast data of a broadcast channel from the IPTV set-top box and requesting channel switching to the IPTV set-top box; A broadcast information processing module for requesting broadcast information of a specific channel from the IPTV set-top box and receiving and processing broadcast information according to the request from the IPTV set-top box; And And a display control module for controlling broadcast data and broadcast information of a broadcast channel received from the IPTV set-top box to be displayed through an internal display means. The method according to claim 1, And a recording request module for requesting recording to the IPTV set-top box according to a recording request of the user input through the key input unit. The method according to claim 1, The channel management module, characterized in that it comprises a receiver for receiving a broadcast stream transmitted in a low resolution from the IPTV set-top box, individual channel service providing apparatus. The method according to claim 1, The channel management module, the individual channel service providing apparatus characterized in that it comprises a channel switching requester for requesting the channel switching to the IPTV set-top box in response to a user's request. The method according to claim 1, The broadcast information processing module, A program information requester requesting program information of a specific channel; And And a program information receiver and processor for receiving the program information from the IPTV set-top box and processing the program information to be displayed on the display means. A personal remote control management module managing at least one remote control; A broadcast stream retransmission module that converts a high resolution broadcast stream to a low resolution and transmits the broadcast stream to a remote controller that has requested to receive a channel among the at least one remote controller; And And a broadcast information providing module for generating broadcast information of a specific channel according to a broadcast information provision request received from the remote control requesting channel reception and transmitting the broadcast information to the remote control requesting channel reception. The method of claim 6, And a PVR recording request processing module for receiving a recording request from the at least one remote controller and requesting a recording of a specific channel to a personal video recorder (PVR). The method of claim 6, The personal remote control management module, A remote control register for registering the at least one remote control; A remote control terminal information manager managing terminal information of the at least one remote controller; And IPTV set-top box characterized in that it comprises a remote control viewing channel manager for managing the channel being watched from the at least one remote control. The method of claim 6, The broadcast stream retransmission module, A resolution converter for converting a high resolution broadcast stream into a low resolution in accordance with a display means provided in the remote controller requesting the channel reception; And And a broadcast stream transmitter for retransmitting the broadcast stream whose resolution has been converted by the resolution converter to an address received from the remote controller requesting the channel reception. The present invention relates to a method for providing an individual channel service in an individual channel service providing system consisting of a personal remote controller and an IPTV set top box. Registering an IP address and display information of the remote control according to a registration request from the remote control; Converting a high resolution broadcast stream of a corresponding channel into a low resolution based on the display information when a request for receiving a specific channel is input through the registered remote controller; And And transmitting the converted broadcast stream to the registered remote controller. The method of claim 10, And generating and transmitting broadcast information of a specific channel according to a request for providing broadcast information from the remote controller. The method of claim 10, And requesting a recording of a specific channel to a personal video recorder (PVR) according to a recording request from the remote controller.

Images