KR101352789B1 - Method for providing two-way service and apparatus therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed are a method for providing an interactive service of an interactive service broadcast apparatus and an interactive service broadcast apparatus for the same. The storage unit stores data for providing a bi-directional data service, and when the one or more search terms are input, the controller compares the stored data with the input search terms and stores one or more location information in which the input search terms are located. The display unit displays the extracted one or more location information.

Interactive services, queries, data

Description

A method of providing an interactive service of an interactive service broadcast apparatus and an interactive service broadcast apparatus for the same {Method for providing two-way service and apparatus therefor}

1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an interactive service broadcast apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

2A to 2C are diagrams showing an example of an interactive service screen required for using an interactive data service;

3 illustrates an example of an input window for receiving at least one search word;

4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen on which location information of an interactive service screen including an input search word is displayed;

5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a guide message, and

6 is a flowchart illustrating a bidirectional service providing method of FIG. 1.

Description of the Related Art [0002]

100: interactive service broadcast device 105a: search term input button

140: AV decoder 160: GUI generation unit

165: GUI storage unit 170: data decoder

175: data storage unit 190: control unit

The present invention relates to a method for providing an interactive service of an interactive service broadcast apparatus and an interactive service broadcast apparatus for the same. More particularly, when a user needs to search for necessary information using data provided by an interactive service, the user may search for at least one search term. The present invention relates to a method for providing an interactive service of an interactive service broadcast apparatus that searches for and provides information required by a user, and an interactive service broadcast apparatus for the same.

Recently, with the development of communication technology, the preference for TV service is moving from unidirectional service to bidirectional service. Two-way services are largely divided into interlocked and standalone services. The linked service is a service that provides information related to the channel being watched, for example, information of an actor appearing in a drama, and the standalone service is a service that provides information not related to the channel such as weather, stocks, and life information. .

When a user requests a linked service while watching a current broadcast program, a conventional interactive TV provides a service desired by a user by a small number of key operations by graphically displaying and displaying data related to a channel being watched.

On the other hand, since the stand-alone service is a channel-independent service, the user must operate a user interface such as a remote controller device until information of a desired category is displayed. That is, when a user requests a standalone service to obtain current weather information of Seoul, the interactive TV displays graphic screens classified into various categories. When the user selects a target category (e.g. weather) from among the displayed categories (e.g. weather, stocks, maps), the interactive TV displays a submenu related to the weather, e.g. Seoul, Gyeonggi-do, Chungcheong-do, etc. Display the menu. Again, if the user selects Seoul, the interactive TV displays detailed area names related to Seoul.

In other words, in the standalone service, the user must repeatedly perform a plurality of key operations until the desired information is searched. As a result, the user cannot not only watch the broadcast properly but also spends a lot of time searching. You will complain of inconvenience. In addition, when a situation in which a channel needs to be changed during information retrieval occurs, a user may experience inconvenience of reproducing the information retrieval from the beginning after ending the information retrieval in progress and changing the channel.

Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above problems, the object of the present invention, by shortening the time and path required for information retrieval can quickly obtain the information desired by the user, which is accompanied by information retrieval The present invention provides a method for providing an interactive service of an interactive service broadcast apparatus capable of reducing viewing constraints of a broadcast program, and an interactive service broadcast apparatus for the same.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bidirectional service providing method of a bidirectional service broadcasting apparatus comprising: storing data for providing a received bidirectional data service; Receiving one or more search terms; Comparing the stored data with the input search word and extracting one or more location information in which the input search word is located among the stored data; And displaying the extracted one or more location information.

Preferably, receiving a selection signal for any one of the displayed position information; Generating an interactive service screen linked to the selected location information by using the stored data; And displaying the generated interactive service screen.

The method may further include generating and displaying a message indicating that the input search word does not exist if the search word does not exist in the data.

On the other hand, the interactive service broadcast apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, the storage unit for storing the data for providing the received interactive data service; A controller configured to extract one or more location information in which the input search word is located among the stored data by comparing the stored data with the input search word when one or more search terms are input; And a display unit displaying the extracted one or more location information.

Preferably, the signal receiving unit for receiving a signal for selecting one of the displayed position information; And a signal processor for generating a bidirectional service screen linked to the selected location information by using the stored data, wherein the controller is configured to generate and display the bidirectional service screen when the one location information is selected. The signal processor and the display unit are controlled.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description of the present invention, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention rather unclear.

1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an interactive service broadcast apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the interactive service broadcast apparatus 100 according to the present invention may include a user input unit 105, a signal receiver 110, a communication interface 115, a tuner 120, and a demultiplexer (DeMUX) 130. ), AV (Audio / Video) decoder 140, signal processor 145, display unit 150, speaker 155, GUI (Graphic User Interface) generation unit 160, GUI storage unit 165, data decoder 170, a data storage unit 175, a ROM 180, a RAM 185, and a controller 190.

The interactive service broadcast apparatus 100 is a device that provides an interactive service by using an ACAP (Advanced Common Application Platform) method or an OCAP (Open Cable Application Platform) method, and provides a stand-alone service or a linked service. The ACAP method is a method of receiving broadcast signals and data through airwaves and transmitting data to a service provider through a cable such as a LAN. The OCAP method is a method of transmitting and receiving broadcast signals and data through a cable.

Here, the data is different from the EPG information included in the over-the-air broadcast signal, and includes not only various information related to the broadcast program but also information not related to the broadcast program such as weather, stocks, maps, people, economy, and life information.

First, the user input unit 105 is a user interface for allowing a user to request, set, or change a function supported by the interactive service broadcast apparatus 100, and has a plurality of buttons, numeric keys, direction keys, function keys, shortcut keys, and the like. It may be provided in the main body or implemented as a remote controller device. For example, the user may request a bidirectional service supported by the bidirectional service broadcasting apparatus 100 through the user input unit 105. The interactive service can be used by selecting one of two routes.

One of the two routes enters the main screen 200a of the interactive data service directly, and then selects a target category among a plurality of categories displayed on the main screen 200a, and the user input unit 105 until the desired information is displayed. ) To search for services.

The other of the two routes is to use the bidirectional data service by selecting the search word input button 105a provided in the user input unit 105. When the user selects the search word input button 105a, the controller 190 to be described later generates a GUI window 160 and a signal processor to generate and display an input window 300 for receiving a plurality of search words as shown in FIG. 145 and the display unit 150 are controlled. Detailed description of the two routes will be described later.

The signal receiver 110 receives a signal output from the user input unit 105 and outputs the signal to the controller 190. For example, when a user intends to use a bidirectional data service, the user inputs a specific search word to be searched using the user input unit 105, and the signal receiver 110 may input a search word input through the user input unit 105. To receive a signal.

The communication interface 115 provides an interface to which a LAN cable is connected when the bidirectional service broadcast apparatus 100 provides the bidirectional service by the ACAP method.

The tuner 120 tunes a channel preselected by the pre-international language signal of the controller 190 among the multiple channels received through the antenna, and demodulates the transport stream of the tuned channel.

The demultiplexer 130 separates the demodulated transport stream into AV signals and data, outputs the AV signals to the AV decoder 140, and outputs the data to the data decoder 170.

The AV decoder 140 decodes the audio signal and the video signal input from the demultiplexer 130 using a predetermined compression scheme. For example, the AV decoder 140 decodes an AV signal using an MPEG standard.

The signal processor 145 improves image quality characteristics (eg, white balance, brightness, contrast, etc.) of the decoded video signal, converts it into a viewable signal through signal processing such as scaling, and listens to the decoded audio signal. The signal is processed to a possible signal, amplified to a set volume, and output to the display unit 150 and the speaker 155, respectively. The signal processor 145 synthesizes the GUI window generated by the GUI generator 160, which will be described later, with the video signal which is the main screen, and outputs the GUI window to the display unit 150.

The display unit 150 is a display panel such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), a cathode ray tube (CRT), a plasma display panel (PDP), and displays a video signal output from the signal processor 145. The speaker 155 outputs the amplified audio signal to the outside.

The GUI generator 160 generates various menus under the control of the controller 190 when the user input unit 105 requests generation of a GUI required for setting and confirming functions provided by the interactive service broadcast apparatus 100. . In addition, the GUI generator 160 may use screens 210 and 220 necessary for the use of the bidirectional data service as shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C by using the program stored in the GUI storage 165 and the data stored in the data storage 175. 230, as shown in FIG. 3, an input window 300 capable of receiving a search word is generated.

The GUI storage unit 165 stores a program, text data, image data, etc. necessary for generating a GUI.

The data decoder 170 decodes data input from the demultiplexer 130, and the data storage unit 175 stores the decoded data for each main screen and a plurality of subscreens corresponding to each category. The stored data are data for providing a bidirectional data service and are periodically received through the tuner 120, and thus the decoded data is periodically updated in the data storage unit 175.

The ROM 180 stores various control programs required to implement the functions of the interactive service broadcast apparatus 100 such as a boot program and a system shutdown program.

The RAM 185 is a volatile memory that temporarily stores information processed by the controller 190 and the like.

The controller 190 controls the operations of the two-way service broadcast apparatus 100 corresponding to the above-described operation of the present invention and the user's command input through the user input unit 110 using various programs stored in the ROM 180. do.

For example, when a selection signal of a stand-alone service button (not shown) provided in the user input unit 105 is received through the signal receiver 110, the controller 190 displays data related to stand-alone data for each category as shown in FIG. 2A. The GUI generator 160, the signal processor 145, and the display 150 are controlled to generate and display the main screen 210.

When the user wants to search for information related to the weather in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, when the user manipulates the user input unit 105 and selects 'weather' on the main screen 210, the display unit 150 displays the first sub-screen as shown in FIG. 220 is displayed. When the user operates the user input unit 105 to select 'Seoul' on the first sub screen 220, the display unit 150 displays the second sub screen 230 as shown in FIG. 2C, and the user displays 'Gangseo-gu'. If is selected, the weather information (not shown) of the 'Gangseo-gu' is displayed on the display unit 150. That is, the user acquires the desired information by selecting the user input unit 105 several times from the main screen 200a until the desired information is displayed.

Meanwhile, when a user selects a search term input button 105a and outputs a search term input request signal, the controller 190 generates a GUI to generate and display an input window 300 for receiving a plurality of search terms as shown in FIG. 3. The controller 160, the signal processor 145, and the display 150 are controlled.

After the input window 300 is displayed, when a user inputs at least one search word related to a desired content and selects 'OK', the controller 190 stores at least one input search word and data stored in the data storage unit 175. Compare As a result of the comparison, when the interactive service screen including the search word entered among the stored data, that is, the main screen or the sub screen is confirmed, the controller 190 determines the root of the main screen or sub screen including the input search word, The location information is output to the GUI generation unit 160 to generate and display a GUI screen on which the location information is displayed.

For example, when a user inputs search terms 'Gangseo-gu' and 'weather' in the input window 300 of FIG. 3 to obtain information about weather in Gangseo-gu, the controller 190 inputs 'Gangseo-gu' and 'weather' Check the location information of the main screen or sub screen where the search term is located. As a result, when two pieces of location information of a screen including both search terms 'Gangseo-gu' and 'weather' are searched, the controller 190 displays the GUI generator to display a pop-up window 400 indicating the two pieces of location information. 160, the signal processor 145 and the display unit 150 are controlled.

Here, the pop-up window 400 including two location information is displayed in a partial area of the main screen as shown in Figure 4, for example, '1. Weather → Seoul → Gangseo-gu 'and' 2. Location information of sports → baseball → today 'may be displayed. Among the location information of the displayed pop-up window 400, 'weather' and 'sport' are categories displayed on the main screen 210, and 'Seoul' is a submenu of 'weather' displayed on the first sub-screen 220, 'baseball' 'Means' sports' submenu,' Gangseo-gu 'is the sub-menu of' Seoul 'displayed on the second sub-screen 230,' today 'is a sub-menu of' baseball 'as' baseball scheduled to play today' It can be an interactive service screen with information about.

When the user selects one of the location information displayed on the display unit 150, the controller 190 displays the GUI generation unit 160, the signal processing unit 145, and the display unit 150 to display an interactive service screen linked to the selected location information. To control. For example, if one of the location information displayed is "1. If the weather → Seoul → Gangseo-gu is selected, the controller 190 selects' 1. A third sub screen 230 or a second sub screen 230 corresponding to the weather → Seoul → Gangseo-gu is selected as 'Gangseo-gu' on the second sub-screen 230. The sub screen (not shown) is displayed. Detailed information about the weather in Gangseo-gu is stored in the data storage unit 175.

On the other hand, if the interactive service screen including the input search word does not exist, the control unit 190 as shown in FIG. 5 'the data including the requested search word was not found. Do you want to enter a new? 'Controls the GUI generator 160, the signal processor 145 and the display 150 to generate and display a guide message.

After displaying the guide message as shown in FIG. 5, if 'Yes' is selected, the controller 190 causes the GUI generator 160, the signal processor 145, and the display unit () to display the input window 300 shown in FIG. 3 again. 150).

6 is a flowchart illustrating a bidirectional service providing method of FIG. 1.

1 to 6, when a search term input button 105a is selected while watching a broadcast of one channel and a signal for requesting a standalone service is received (S605), the controller 190 opens the input window 300. The GUI generator 160, the signal processor 145, and the display 150 are controlled to generate and display (S610).

If at least one search word is input by the user input unit 105 after the input window 300 is displayed (S615), the controller 190 compares the at least one search term with the data stored in the data storage unit 175. It is checked whether an interactive service screen on which the input search word is located exists (S620 and S625).

If it is determined in step S625 that the interactive service screen in which the search word input is located, that is, the main screen or sub screen exists, the controller 190 generates a pop-up window 400 indicating the location information of the confirmed interactive service screen. The generation unit 160 is controlled (S630).

In addition, the controller 190 controls the signal processor 145 and the display unit 150 to display the generated pop-up window 400 combined with the main screen (S635).

After the step S635, if the location information of one of the displayed pop-up window 400 is selected (S640), the controller 190 generates a GUI to display the interactive service screen linked to the selected location information, for example, a screen as shown in FIG. 2C. The unit 160, the signal processor 145, and the display unit 150 are controlled (S645).

On the other hand, if there is no interactive service screen including the search word in step S625, the controller 190 generates a GUI message and the display unit 160, the signal processor 145 and the display 150 to generate and display the guide message as shown in FIG. To control (S650).

After the guide message is displayed on the display unit 150, when the user manipulates the user input unit 105 and selects 'Yes', the controller 190 may display the GUI generation unit 300 again to display the input window 300 as shown in FIG. 160, the signal processor 145 and the display unit 150 are controlled (S610). If the user selects 'no', the controller 190 processes the screen currently being viewed to be displayed.

As described above, according to the bidirectional service providing method and the bidirectional service broadcasting apparatus for the bidirectional service broadcasting apparatus according to the present invention, when searching for necessary information using the data provided by the bidirectional service, at least one search term is a user By inputting the information required by the user can be provided quickly and accurately.

In particular, the present invention displays all of the location information where the interactive service screen including the search word entered by the user is located, so that the user can obtain a route where the desired information is located faster, and the user selects one of the displayed location information. Then, by displaying the interactive service screen linked to the selected location information, the user can quickly and accurately obtain the screen where the desired information is located.

In addition, the user may be less disturbed to watching TV by searching for desired information by inputting a search word. After the search word is input, the user may obtain desired information even if a channel is changed without having to re-enter the search word.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims (5)

In the interactive service providing method of the interactive service broadcast device, Storing data for providing a bidirectional data service; Receiving at least one search term; Searching the interactive service screen including the input search word by comparing the input search word among the stored data; Extracting location information indicating a category route of the searched interactive service screen from among a plurality of categories classifying data for a stand-alone interactive service and a plurality of subcategories subordinate to each category; Displaying the extracted location information; And And if the displayed location information is selected, displaying the interactive service screen linked to the selected location information. delete The method according to claim 1, In the searching of the interactive service screen including the input search word, if the interactive service screen is not searched, generating and displaying a message indicating that the input search word does not exist; A bidirectional service providing method of a bidirectional service broadcasting apparatus. A storage unit which stores data for providing a bidirectional data service; A controller configured to search for an interactive service screen including the input search word by comparing the input search word among the stored data when the at least one search word is input, and extract location information of the interactive service screen; And a display unit for displaying the extracted location information. If the displayed location information is selected, the controller displays the interactive service screen linked to the selected location information through the display unit. The location information may include: And information indicating a category route of the searched interactive service screen, from among a plurality of categories classifying data for a standalone interactive service and a plurality of subcategories subordinate to each category. 5. The method of claim 4, Wherein, And if a bidirectional service screen including the input search word is not found, generating and displaying a message indicating that the input search word does not exist.

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