KR20010067808A - Two-way Broadcasting Apparatus and Mehtod - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A bidirectional broadcasting device and a method for the same are provided to furnish additive services by using contents which are included in broadcasting signals. CONSTITUTION: A broadcasting station is connected to a broadcasting network. A web server provides additive information relating to the broadcasting signals. A LAN card and a web browser are installed in a terminal. A control server is provided to transmit a menu bar, a tool bar and a dynamic image advertisement to the terminal. A television is provided to display the broadcasting signals. The first data base is installed in one of the control server and the web server. The second data base is installed in the control server so as to store channels of the broadcasting signals, viewer's information, and program information of the broadcasting signals. A program control device is provided to display the menu bar, the tool bar and the dynamic image advertisement to the terminal.

Description

Two-way Broadcasting Apparatus and Mehtod}

The present invention relates to a two-way broadcasting apparatus and method, and more particularly, to implement two-way communication using a broadcasting network and a communication network and to provide an additional service using contents included in a broadcasting signal. It is about.

Since early telecommunications networks (or Internet networks) had low transmission rates, most sites provided text-based information. However, at present, many sites provide still picture and video information due to the service of a high speed communication network having a high transmission speed.

Many video programs have been proposed to play videos provided by Internet sites. Among these video programs are Windows Media Player and / or Real Network's Real Player developed by Mightro Soft.

1 is a view showing a video providing system using a conventional video program.

Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional video providing system includes a communication network 6, a plurality of terminals 8 connected to the communication network 6, and a web connected to the plurality of terminals 8 via the communication network 6. A server 2 and a video server 4 are provided.

The moving picture server 4 stores moving pictures converted to a specific program format (for example, mpg, asf, avi, and Rm). The web server 2 displays the video list stored in the video server 4 on the terminals 8 connected to it.

Referring to the operation process in detail, first, users access the web server 2 using the terminals 8. The users connected to the web server 2 select a desired video from the video list provided from the web server 2. The web server 2 transmits the title of the video requested from the terminals 8 to the video server 4. The video server 4 receiving the video title transmits the corresponding video to the terminals 8 in the form of a packet.

However, such a conventional video providing system transmits a large amount of video data through the communication network 6, causing a huge load on the speed of the communication network (6). In addition, due to the speed limit of the communication network 6 itself, it is difficult to provide a clear video quality to the terminals (8). In addition, video data transmitted in the form of a packet may be lost due to the traffic of the communication network.

Meanwhile, the user may attach a TV receiving card to the terminal 8 to receive a TV broadcast. The TV receiving card displays the broadcast signal transmitted from the broadcasting network (including coaxial cable) on the TV receiving program of the terminal 8. However, as described above, the TV reception card merely receives a broadcast signal and displays it on the user's terminal, and cannot transmit a user's opinion to a broadcast station or receive additional service associated with the broadcast signal. Accordingly, there is a need for an interactive broadcast apparatus and a method capable of receiving a broadcast signal and transmitting an additional service associated with the broadcast signal and a user's opinion to a broadcast station.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a two-way broadcasting apparatus and method for implementing two-way communication using a broadcasting network and a communication network and providing additional services using contents included in a broadcasting signal.

1 is a view showing a video providing system using a conventional video program.

2 is a diagram illustrating an interactive broadcasting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an interactive broadcasting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a view showing a down method and a display method of a video advertisement according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a flowchart illustrating an interactive broadcasting method when a user is watching a home shopping channel.

6 is a flowchart illustrating a two-way broadcasting method when a user is watching educational broadcasting.

7 is a flowchart illustrating a viewer rating research method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

<Description of Symbols for Main Parts of Drawings>

2: web server 4: video server

6: communication network 8: terminal

10: control server 12,13: broadcasting station

14: TV receiving card 16: LAN card

18: plug-in program 20: web browser

22: Web Server 24: Splitter

26: modem 28: STB

30: television 32: user

34,36,38: Database

In order to achieve the above object, the bidirectional broadcasting apparatus of the present invention includes a broadcasting station connected to a broadcasting network, a web server for providing additional information related to a broadcasting signal transmitted from the broadcasting station, and a television receiving connected to the broadcasting network to receive a broadcasting signal. A terminal on which a LAN card and a web browser are installed for receiving additional information connected to a card and a communication network, a TV for receiving a broadcast signal and displaying a broadcast signal, a menu bar, a toolbar and a video associated with the broadcast signal connected to a communication network A control server for transmitting an advertisement to a terminal, a first database installed in any one of the control server and a web server and storing a broadcast schedule indicating a broadcast sequence of the broadcast signal, and a broadcast signal installed in the control server and displayed on the terminal. Channel, viewer information, viewing time and program information And a second database for storing the broadcast signal, which is installed in the terminal and displays the broadcast signal in a web browser, and transmits the information of the broadcast signal displayed on at least one of the terminal and the television to the control server, and the menu bar and toolbar from the control server. And program control means for receiving a video advertisement and displaying the same on the terminal.

The interactive broadcasting method of the present invention comprises the steps of a user logging in by accessing a control server using the terminal, and the program control means provided from the control server or not provided from the control server. If the program control means of the lower version is installed, transmitting the program control means to the terminal, if the user selects the desired channel, the broadcast signal corresponding to the channel is displayed in the web browser of the terminal, the broadcast signal is displayed When the video advertisement is transmitted from the control server to the terminal, when the broadcast signal is displayed, obtaining program information from a first database in which a broadcast schedule table of the broadcast signal is stored, program information, channel information, user information, and the like. Viewing time is the second time of the control server. Emitter and a step is saved in the base.

Other objects and features of the present invention in addition to the above objects will become apparent from the description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 7.

2 is a diagram illustrating an interactive broadcast apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the interactive broadcasting apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a TV receiving card 14, a LAN card 16, a plug-in program 18, and a web browser 20 installed in the terminal 8. A broadcasting station 12 for transmitting a broadcast signal, a web server 22 for providing various contents, a plug-in program 18, and a control server 10 for transmitting / receiving various information are provided.

The broadcasting station 12 includes CATV broadcasting, public broadcasting and satellite broadcasting, including home shopping broadcasting, educational broadcasting, and the like. The TV receiving card 14 is connected to the broadcasting network and transmits the broadcasting signal transmitted from the broadcasting station 12 to the plug-in program 18.

The control server 10 transmits / receives the plug-in program 18 and each information. The LAN card 16 is connected to the control server 10 and the web server 22 via a communication network.

The plug-in program 18 causes the web browser 20 to display broadcast signals and control information transmitted from the TV receiving card 14 and the LAN card 16. This plug-in program 18 is automatically installed in the terminal 8 when the terminal 8 first accesses the control server 10.

That is, the control server 10 automatically transmits the plug-in program 18 to the terminal 8 when the terminal 8 in which the plug-in program 18 is not installed logs in. In addition, the control server 10 checks the version of the plug-in program 18 when the terminal 8 in which the plug-in program 18 is installed is logged in. At this time, if a lower version than the plug-in program 18 provided by the control server 10 is installed, the plug-in program 18 of a higher version is transmitted to the terminal 8. In other words, once the plug-in program 18 is installed in the terminal 8, it is not down again unless the version of the plug-in program 18 is upgraded.

The operation of the plug-in program 18 will be described in detail. First, a broadcast signal transmitted from the TV reception card 14 is transmitted to the plug-in program 18. The plug-in program 18 causes the web browser 20 to display the broadcast signal transmitted from the TV receiving card 14. At this time, the plug-in program 18 transmits channel information of the broadcast signal transmitted to the web browser 20 to the control server 10 via the LAN card 16. The control server 10 transmits various information corresponding to the TV channel received from the plug-in program 18 to the plug-in program 18, the plug-in program 18 sends the information received from the control server 10 to the web browser. Display. On the other hand, the plug-in program 18 displays a toolbar in the web browser. The toolbar has buttons that contain basic functions, including channel change buttons.

3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a bidirectional broadcasting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, a block diagram of a two-way broadcasting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a broadcasting station 12, a control server 10, a web server 22, and a distributor 24 connected to a communication network 6. Equipped.

The distributor 24 distributes various signals transmitted from the broadcasting station 12, the control server 10, and the web server 22 to the SET TOP BOX (hereinafter referred to as "STB"; 28) and the high-speed dedicated line modem 26. send. In addition, the distributor 24 transmits a broadcast signal to the TV receiving card 14 provided in the terminal 8.

The STB 28 receives the broadcast signal from the distributor 24 and transmits the broadcast signal to the television 30. The television 30 displays the screen by the broadcast signal transmitted from the STB 28. The high speed leased line modem 26 receives communication data from the distributor 24 and transmits it to the LAN card 16 installed in the terminal 8.

On the other hand, the television 30 and the TV receiving card 14 can receive a broadcast signal directly from the terrestrial / satellite broadcasting station 13. When the broadcast signal is displayed in the terminal 8, the video advertisement is down from the control server 10.

This process will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 4. First, the terminal 8 connects to the control server 10 via the communication network 6. The user of the terminal 8 connected to the control server 10 goes through a user log-in process. After logging in, the user selects the channel he wants to watch. After the user selects a desired channel, a video advertisement stored in the hard disk of the terminal 8 is displayed. After the video advertisement is displayed, the plug-in program 18 displays the broadcast signal corresponding to the channel selected by the user in the web browser 20.

While the broadcast signal is displayed in the web browser 20, the control server 10 transmits a video advertisement to the terminal 8. That is, the control server 10 transmits a video advertisement using the LAN card 16 when the user watches a program using the TV receiving card 14. The video advertisement transmitted to the terminal 8 is stored in the hard disk.

Thereafter, when the user changes the channel, the video advertisement stored in the user's hard disk is displayed on the terminal 8. After the video advertisement is displayed, the plug-in program 18 displays the broadcast signal corresponding to the channel selected by the user in the web browser 20.

Meanwhile, when the video advertisement is displayed, the plug-in program 18 displays a menu screen and / or a toolbar including detailed information and / or purchase information of the video advertisement. Toolbars and / or menu screens may include detailed information buttons, purchase buttons, etc. of advertisements. These toolbars and / or menu screens are linked to the web server 22.

For example, if a user sees a video advertisement of a specific product and wants to purchase the product, the user clicks a purchase button included in a toolbar and / or a menu screen. When the purchase button is clicked, the LAN card 16 is connected to a web server 22 capable of purchasing a product. At this time, each information provided by the web server 22 is displayed in the web browser. Thereafter, the user can purchase a desired product on the web server 22.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a two-way broadcasting method when a user is watching a home shopping channel.

Referring to FIG. 5, first, the user 32 logs in to the control server 10 using the terminal 8. (S40) The user 32 who logs in to the control server 10 establishes a home shopping channel. (S42)

When the user 32 selects the home shopping channel, the video advertisement stored in the hard disk of the user 32 is displayed by the plug-in program 18, and then the home shopping broadcast is displayed on the web browser 20 (S44). The plug-in program 18 displays the toolbar associated with home shopping on the web browser 20.

If the user 32 watches the home shopping and wants to purchase something, the user 32 clicks the purchase button included in the toolbar or the menu screen. (S46) When the user 32 clicks the purchase button, a menu for inputting purchase information is provided. Is generated.

The user 32 enters purchase information (purchase quantity, credit card number, etc.) into the generated menu and clicks the purchase button. (S48, S50) When the user clicks the purchase button, the plug-in program 18 connects to a communication network ( It is connected to the first database 34 of the home shopping server via 6). The broadcast schedule is stored in the first database 34. The plug-in program 18 causes the terminal 8 to display a list of products currently being sold on the basis of the broadcasting schedule stored in the first database 34 as a pop-up menu.

The user 32 selects a desired product from a pop-up menu displayed on the terminal 8. (S52) When the user 32 selects a product, the plug-in program 18 checks the content selected by the user. If the content selected by the user 32 in step S54 is incorrect, step S52 is repeated. If the content selected by the user 32 in step S54 is correct, the plug-in program 18 transmits the purchase information input by the user 32 to the home shopping server.

The home shopping server checks the validity of the credit card input by the user 32 (S56). At this time, the home shopping server checks the validity of the credit card in association with the second database 36 or the card company. . To this end, the second database 36 stores credit card information and the like.

If the credit card of the user 32 is not valid at step S56, the home shopping server transmits a message indicating that the credit card is not valid to the plug-in program 18. (S60) The plug-in program 18 sends a message transmitted from the home shopping server. Display on the terminal (8). If the user's credit card is valid in step S56, the home shopping server stores the purchase information of the user 32 in the home shopping database. In step S62, the home shopping server delivers the goods purchased by the user to the user 32.

That is, in the present invention, while watching a broadcast, it is possible to connect to a server related to the current broadcast via a communication network. Therefore, in the present invention, a broadcaster can receive a viewer's opinion in real time.

In other words, if the user is watching a preview program broadcasted in public broadcasting, the plug-in program 18 generates a toolbar and / or a menu screen related to the preview program in the web browser 20. In this case, the toolbar and / or the menu screen may include menus such as opinions and questions. Afterwards, the user can deliver his / her opinion or question in real time while watching the current affairs program. In addition, the broadcasting station may receive a viewer's opinion on their broadcast in real time.

Meanwhile, in the present invention, the same function can be performed when a broadcast is being received from the television 30 as well as the terminal. That is, the distributor 24 transmits a broadcast signal to the STB 28 and also transmits the same broadcast signal to the terminal 8. Therefore, the user can transmit his or her opinions to the broadcasting station by using the web browser generated toolbar of the terminal 8 while watching the television 30.

6 is a flowchart illustrating an interactive broadcasting method when the user is watching an educational broadcast.

Referring to FIG. 6, first, the user 32 logs in to the control server 10 using the terminal 8 (S66). The user 32 who logs in to the control server 10 selects an education channel. (S68)

When the user 32 selects the education channel, the video advertisement stored in the hard disk of the user 32 is displayed by the plug-in program 18 and then the education broadcast is displayed in the web browser 20 (S68). The plug-in program 18 displays the toolbar and / or menu screen related to the education broadcast in the web browser 20.

If the user 32 wants to ask a question while watching the education broadcast, click the question button included in the toolbar. (S70) When the user 32 clicks the question button, the question arrives at the computer of the education broadcaster. A popup window is generated to indicate that the operation has been performed (S72).

The educational broadcaster checks whether the question generated in his computer is accepted. (S74) If the host does not accept the question in step S74, a message is sent to the terminal of the user 32 that the question is not accepted. In step S74, if the host accepts the question, the video screen of the user 32 is displayed on the computer of the education broadcasting host.

That is, the educational broadcaster is displayed on the terminal of the user 32 through the broadcasting network, and the user 32 is displayed on the host computer through the communication network. Therefore, the presenter and the user 32 can answer questions by looking at the other's face.

In addition, the video of the user 32 is displayed on the screen of the educational broadcast viewers as well as the host.

Meanwhile, the interactive broadcasting method of the present invention can be applied to various entertainment programs and current affairs programs as well as educational broadcasting.

7 is a flowchart illustrating a viewer rating research method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, first, the user 32 logs in to the control server 10 by using the terminal 8. (S82) The user 32 who logs in to the control server 10 views himself. At this time, the plug-in program 18 accesses the first database 34 of the control server 10 or the broadcasting station 12 to obtain information on the program currently being viewed. For this purpose, the broadcast schedule is stored in the first database 34. In other words, the plug-in program 18 checks the current time when the user 32 selects a channel, and compares the checked current time with a broadcast schedule stored in the first database 34 to compare the web browser 20. You can get information about the broadcast program that is displayed in.

Thereafter, the plug-in program 18 transmits the information of the broadcast program to the control server 10, and the control server stores the information of the broadcast program in the third database 38. At this time, the third database 38 stores identification information of the user, channel information, a viewing program name, a viewing start time, and the like.

In operation S86, the user 32 watching the specific program changes the channel for viewing another program. (S88) When the user changes the channel, the plug-in program 18 sets the viewing end time to the control server 10. The control server 10 stores the program viewing end time in the third database 38. That is, the viewing information (user ID information, channel information, viewing program, viewing time) of the user 32 is stored in the third database 38.

On the other hand, when the channel is changed, the plug-in program 18 accesses the first database 34 and obtains program information currently displayed on the channel and sends it to the control server 10. The control server 10 stores the program information supplied from the plug-in program 18 in the third database 34.

That is, in the present invention, the television viewing time and viewing program of the user 32 can be stored in the database 34 in real time. Therefore, a program or the like that meets the needs of the user 32 can be easily produced. In addition, a more accurate viewer rating survey than the existing viewer rating is possible.

In addition, in the present invention, a broadcast can be reserved / recorded on the hard disk of the terminal 8 using the plug-in program 18.

In detail, first, the user 32 stores the broadcast time, channel, etc. of a desired program by using the plug-in program 18. The plug-in program 18 compares the current time and the reservation time, and receives a broadcast signal from the broadcasting station 12 using the stored channel information if the current time and the reservation time are the same. At this time, the broadcast signal from the broadcast station is stored in the hard disk. Thereafter, the user 32 displays the broadcast stored in the hard disk on his terminal 8 using the plug-in program 18.

As described above, according to the bidirectional broadcasting apparatus and method according to the present invention, bidirectional communication can be performed using a communication network and a broadcasting room. In other words, a broadcast signal may be received through a broadcast network, and an additional service related to the broadcast signal may be provided through a communication network. In addition, the user may transmit his or her opinion to the broadcasting station while receiving the broadcast.

In addition, accurate viewer rating investigation is possible by storing the user's viewing information in a database in real time. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the number of people and costs input to the ratings survey.

In addition, by applying the present invention to home shopping, home trading, home banking, VOD (Video of Demand) and distance education, it is possible to provide an efficient service to the user.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention. Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention should not be limited to the contents described in the detailed description of the specification but should be defined by the claims.

Claims (10)

A broadcasting station connected to the broadcasting network, A web server for providing additional information related to a broadcast signal transmitted from a broadcasting station; A terminal connected to the broadcasting network and a television receiving card for receiving the broadcast signal, a terminal connected with a communication network, and equipped with a LAN card and a web browser for receiving the additional information; A television for receiving the broadcast signal and displaying the broadcast signal; A control server connected to the communication network to transmit a menu bar, a toolbar, and a video advertisement related to the broadcast signal to the terminal; A first database installed in any one of the control server and the web server and storing a broadcast schedule indicating a broadcast order of broadcast signals; A second database installed in the control server and storing a channel of a broadcast signal, viewer information, a viewing time, and program information of a broadcast signal; Installed on the terminal to display the broadcast signal on the web browser and to transmit the information of the broadcast signal displayed on at least one of the terminal and the television to the control server, and the menu bar, toolbar and video from the control server. And a program control means for receiving an advertisement and displaying the advertisement on the terminal. The method of claim 1, And the control server transmits the video advertisement to the terminal when the broadcast signal is displayed on the terminal, and the program control means stores the video advertisement on a hard disk. The method of claim 2, And the program control means displays the video advertisement in the web browser whenever the channel of the broadcast signal displayed on the terminal is changed. The method of claim 1, The program control means obtains the information of the program being displayed in comparison with the broadcast information stored in the first database when the broadcast signal is displayed in the web browser, the program information, viewer information, viewer viewing time, and the like. And store the data in the second database. The method of claim 1, And a divider installed between the terminal and the communication network for separating the additional information and the broadcast signal transmitted from the broadcasting station and the web server. The method of claim 1, Electronic commerce method using the interactive broadcast device. A two-way broadcasting method comprising a terminal provided with a television receiving card for receiving a broadcast signal and a LAN card connected with a communication network, A user logging in by accessing a control server using the terminal; Transmitting the program control means to the terminal if the program control means provided from the control server is not installed in the terminal or if a program control means having a lower version than the program control means provided from the control server is installed; Displaying a broadcast signal corresponding to the channel in a web browser of the terminal when the user selects a desired channel; Transmitting a video advertisement from the control server to the terminal when the broadcast signal is displayed; Obtaining program information from a first database in which a broadcast schedule of the broadcast signal is stored when the broadcast signal is displayed; And storing the program information, channel information, user information, and viewing time in a second database of the control server. The method of claim 7, wherein Displaying at least one of a menu bar and a toolbar related to the video advertisement when the video advertisement is displayed on the web browser; And when the user clicks a purchase button included in at least one of the menu bar and a toolbar to purchase an item included in the video advertisement, connecting to a purchase site that provides the video advertisement. Interactive broadcast method. The method of claim 7, wherein Displaying at least one of a menu bar and a toolbar related to the home shopping on the web browser when the home shopping broadcasting is displayed on the web browser; When the user inputs a credit card number and a purchase quantity, and clicks a purchase button included in at least one of the menu bar and the toolbar, the user accesses the home shopping server or the control server to check a list of items that are currently being broadcasted. Displaying it on the web browser, Selecting at least one item from a list displayed in the web browser; Confirming the validity of the credit card, and storing the purchase information of the user in a database of the home shopping server. ` The method of claim 7, wherein Storing the channel and broadcast time that the user wants to reserve in the program control means; And the program control means checks the broadcast time and receives a broadcast signal from the reserved channel at the broadcast time and stores the broadcast signal in a hard disk.