KR20020076959A - Guidance method for user friendly program - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A method of guiding a user preference program is provided to allow a user to form a program database suited to his taste, upload the database to the host of a cable provider and download the database if the user wants to use it. CONSTITUTION: Upon the request of upload of user preference program data to a remote host, authentication process is carried out in the remote host and the user preference program data is uploaded to the host. When there is a request of download of the user preference program data to the remote host, authentication is performed in the remote host, and then it is judged if program data currently being stored in a flash memory is to be updated or not. When it is judged that the program data is to be updated, program data from the host of a cable provider is downloaded to the flash memory. When it is judged that the program data is temporarily stored, the program data is downloaded to a volatile memory.

Description

How to guide user preferences {GUIDANCE METHOD FOR USER FRIENDLY PROGRAM}

The present invention relates to a digital cable set-top box, and more particularly to a user preferred program guide method.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a general set-top box for a digital cable (hereinafter, abbreviated as STB). As shown in FIG. 1, a tuner 101 which selects a broadcast signal transmitted from a cable operator's host and separates control data. ), An in-band demodulator 102 that demodulates the broadcast signal of the channel selected by the tuner 101, and an MPEG that decodes the demodulated signal of the in-band demodulator 102 to restore the original signal. A decoder 103, an out-band demodulator 105 for demodulating control data separated by the tuner 101, and a high frequency process after modulating the control data by a user request to a host of a cable operator. Receives control data through the out-band modulator 106 and the out-band demodulator 105, and stores the control data in the memory unit 108 and, if necessary, the graphics processor. It is composed of the CPI 107 is transmitted to the document 104 and displayed on the TV screen and transmits the control data according to the user request input from the user interface unit 109 through the out-band modulator 106.

The outband modulator 106 includes an RF processing circuit.

The memory unit 108 is composed of a RAM and a flash ROM.

Referring to the operation of the general STB as follows.

When the MPEG TP (Transport) stream is transmitted from the cable operator's host through the cable, a broadcast signal desired by the user is selected by the tuner 101 and processed by a quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) through the in-band demodulator 102 and then an MPEG decoder The signal transmitted to 103 and decoded by the MPEG decoder 103 is converted into a format that can be displayed on a TV screen by the graphics processor 104.

Thus, the user can watch the desired broadcast.

The control data transmitted from the cable operator's host through the cable is separated from the tuner 101, processed through a quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) through the outband demodulator 105, and then transferred to the CPI 107 to store the memory unit ( 108 is stored on the TV screen if desired by the user.

On the contrary, when a user requests control data to the cable operator's host, the user inputs the control data through the user interface unit 109 and the CPI 107 transmits the request to the outband modulator 106 and the outband modulator 106. After the modulation and RF processing, the cable is transmitted to the cable operator's host.

Accordingly, the contents requested by the user are transmitted to the CPI 107 through the tuner 101 and the outband demodulator 105 and stored in the memory unit 108, and the CPI 107 is transferred to the graphics processor 104 if necessary. It transmits and displays on TV screen so that user can check the request contents.

That is, control data from the host of the cable operator is transmitted to the CPI 107 through the outband demodulator 105 and control data from the CPI 107 is transmitted to the host of the cable operator through the outband modulator 106. .

Here, In Band is a high-speed transmission in one direction from the cable operator's host to the STB, and Out Band is a bi-directional low-speed transmission method between the cable operator's host and the STB.

For example, if the control data is an EPG (Electronic Program Guide), the STB periodically receives EPG data from the host of the cable operator and stores the EPG data in the memory unit 108.

The EPG data includes information about programs (TP streams) broadcasted in each channel, for example, channel numbers, broadcast program types (movies, entertainment, sports, etc.), program grades, program names, and the like. have.

Accordingly, the user may database a user preference program for himself from the EPG data and store the created user preference program data in a flash ROM of the memory unit 108.

Assuming that the user has created user preference program data for basketball among sports, CPI 107 checks the EPG data transmitted through the outband demodulator 105 and plays basketball on another channel while watching the current channel. If it is recognized that the channel is automatically changed.

However, the user preference program data stored in the flash ROM may be changed by the user at any time.

However, in a conventional digital cable set-top box, a user can easily watch a program between channels by using an EPG to create a database for the user's taste and store it in a flash memory. However, if a user uses a different set-top box (STB) In this case, there is a problem that causes the inconvenience of having to create a new database according to taste and store it in the flash memory.

Therefore, in order to improve the conventional problem, the present invention creates a user-friendly program database, uploads it to a cable operator's host, and downloads and uses the program if necessary, thereby increasing user convenience. The purpose is to provide.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a typical digital cable set-top box.

2 is an operational flowchart for an embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

101: Tuner 102: In Band Demodulator

103: MPEG Decoder 104: Graphics Processor

105: Out Band Demodulator

106: Out Band Modulator

107: CPU (108): Memory section

109: user interface unit

The present invention is a digital cable set-top box in order to achieve the above object, using the EPG to database the program according to the user's preferences uploaded to the host of the cable provider, the user's preferred program data to the host of the cable provider Selecting whether to update the program data currently stored in the flash memory after the authentication process is requested at the download request. If the program data is determined to be updated, the program data from the cable operator's host is downloaded to the flash memory. On the contrary, if it is determined that the program data is temporarily stored, it is configured to perform the step of downloading to the volatile memory (RAM).

In the above-mentioned method, a plurality of databases may be uploaded within a preset storage capacity limit when uploading user preference program data, and a desired data may be selected from a plurality of program data when downloading user preference program data.

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

The apparatus for an embodiment of the present invention is configured in the same way as the block diagram of FIG.

According to an embodiment of the present invention according to such a configuration, as shown in the operation flowchart of FIG. 2, the CPI 107 checks the user interface unit 109 to determine whether it is a download or upload in a user preferred data mode. If the transmission is determined in the above, requesting an upload to the host of the cable operator through the out-band modulator 106 and transmitting a user number (ID) and password to go through the authentication process, and if the authentication for uploading the Uploading the user preference data created by referring to the EPG through the outband modulator 106 to the cable operator's host, and if the download is determined as the download, request the download to the host of the cable operator through the outband modulator 106; Sending the user number (ID) and password to go through the authentication process, and the download When the authentication is authenticated, selecting a desired data list from among a plurality of program data lists transmitted from the cable operator's host through the outband demodulator 105 and selecting whether or not to update the current program data. The program data is received through the outband demodulator 105 and downloaded to the flash ROM. On the contrary, when it is determined to be temporarily stored, the program data is downloaded to the RAM and temporarily used. do.

Referring to the operation and effect of the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above are as follows.

When the user selects the user preference data mode through the user interface unit 109, the CPI 107 determines whether the user selects to download or upload the program data.

First, in order to download user preference program data from a cable operator's host, an upload must be performed.

Therefore, if it is determined as the upload in the above, CPI 107 requests uploading of user preference data through the outband modulator 106 to the cable operator's host.

However, in order to upload user preference data, the user must make a database (DB) of the user preference program using EPG in advance and attach a file name to distinguish it from the previously uploaded program data.

At this time, the host of the cable operator requires the input of a user number (ID) and a password for user authentication, and this requirement is passed to the CPI 107 through the outband demodulator 105, and then through the graphics processor 104. Is displayed on the screen.

Thereafter, when the user enters his own user number and password, the user transmits through the outband modulator 106 to the cable operator's host.

Accordingly, if the host of the cable operator authenticates as a legitimate user, the user selects a specific key from the user interface unit 109 so as to upload the pre-written program data, and the CPI 107 displays the user-preferred program data currently created by the user. With the outband modulator 106 to transmit to the host of the cable provider to store.

On the contrary, if it is determined that the download is the above, the CPI 107 requests the user of the cable operator to download the user preference data through the outband modulator 106.

At this time, the host of the cable operator requires the input of a user number (ID) and a password for user authentication, and this requirement is passed to the CPI 107 through the outband demodulator 105, and then through the graphics processor 104. Is displayed on the screen.

Thereafter, when the user enters his own user number and password, the user transmits his / her user number and password to the cable provider's host through the outband modulator 106, and the cable provider's host performs an authentication process to determine whether the user is a valid user.

Accordingly, when authenticating as a legitimate user, the cable provider's host transmits a list of user preference data (eg, a file name) currently stored to the STB through the cable.

In this case, the STB receives the data list through the outband demodulator 105 and transmits the data list to the graphics processor 104 to display the data list on the TV screen.

After that, the user selects a desired list from the list of data displayed on the TV screen.

In order to indicate whether the user preference program data currently stored in the flash ROM of the memory unit 108 is updated or not, it is selected whether to download to the RAM or the flash memory.

Accordingly, the CPI 107 transmits the download request contents of the user to the host of the cable operator through the outband modulator 106.

Thereafter, when the user preference data is downloaded from the cable operator's host, the CPI 107 downloads the RAM to the RAM or the flash ROM provided in the memory unit 108 according to the user's selection.

The reason for selecting whether to download the user preference data to RAM or the flash ROM is that the user prefers to the user's STB other than his own STB for business trips and vacations. This is to prevent the update of the program data stored in the flash ROM when downloading the program data.

For example, if the user stores the program data in the RAM, the program data stored in the RAM will be erased if the user saves the program data in the RAM but the other user saves the program data in the flash ROM. This is because the program data is not affected.

However, when the program data is stored in the RAM, the storage state is maintained until the power is turned off, so the CPI 107 uses the user's favorite program downloaded to the RAM to provide program guide of the channel. Will be performed.

As described in detail above, the present invention allows the digital cable set-top box to store user preference data on the host through outband so that the user can download user preference data from the SO host when using another STB. The inconvenience of having to rewrite user preference data can be eliminated.

In addition, the present invention can increase the convenience of the user by widening the range of selection by uploading a plurality of user preference data to the host of the SO within the storage capacity allocated per subscriber, allowing the user to download selectively It can be effective.

The present invention exhibiting such an effect is applicable to STBs capable of bidirectional transmission, such as terrestrial digital STBs and satellite STBs having modems.

Claims (3)

In a digital cable set-top box, a first step of uploading user-preferred program data databased using an EPG to a remote host after an authentication process at a remote host when a user uploads user-preferred program data to a remote host. And a second step of selecting whether to update the program data currently stored in the flash memory after the authentication process at the remote host is requested upon downloading of user preference program data to the remote host. If it is determined that the program data from the cable operator's host is downloaded to the flash memory, and conversely, if it is determined that the program data is temporarily stored, the third step of downloading the program data to the volatile memory (RAM) is configured.Way. The method of claim 1, wherein the first step includes uploading a plurality of databases within a pre-allocated storage capacity limit when uploading user preference program data. The method of claim 1, wherein the second step includes selecting a list of data to be downloaded from a plurality of lists of program data received from a remote host.