KR20030038016A - Method for internet browsing in a digital television - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A URL setting and browsing method in a digital TV is provided to allow a user to easily use the Internet using only a remote control while watching TV. CONSTITUTION: When capturing of a display screen of a web site corresponding to a predetermined URL inputted by a user is requested, the display screen is captured to generate a capture image. The capture image and the URL address of the web site are stored. It is judge if a user interface program is executed and, when the user interface program is executed, a list of a plurality of capture images stored is displayed(S306). It is judged if a predetermined capture image is selected according to a direction conversion key signal of a remote control and, when the predetermined capture image is selected, the Internet is connected to the URL address corresponding to the selected capture image(S312).

Description

How to set up and browse RL in digital TV {METHOD FOR INTERNET BROWSING IN A DIGITAL TELEVISION}

The present invention relates to Internet browsing technology in digital TV, and more particularly, to a URL setting and browsing method in a digital TV that can be easily moved to a desired site using a remote controller without a keyboard.

Due to the spread of high speed networks, the daily life of the Internet has been realized, and as is well known to access the Internet, it is assumed that a browser such as a browser such as Internet Explorer or Netscape is started.

On the other hand, digital TVs, which are recently increasing in interest, are basically equipped with such a browsing function, and can provide Internet services such as web surfing, mail, shopping, etc. to users while watching TV.

To implement this, a keyboard for text input is additionally required in addition to a remote controller used in a conventional TV or set-top box. That is, text input means for inputting the URL address of the desired site in the address input window of the browser is required.

In this case, a user who has a high TV viewing rate but who is not familiar with the PC keyboard environment, for example, an elderly person and a child, may not easily use the Internet while watching a TV. Even general users have to perform both remote control and keyboard operation at the same time, which brings a lot of inconvenience. Some browsers have built-in digital TVs, but some of them have been ported to the PC environment.

Therefore, in a digital TV environment, there is a need for a method of using the Internet using only a remote control by registering a mainly site.

The present invention has been made in accordance with the above-described request, and stores the desired URL address and the capture screen corresponding to the address as a channel number which does not use, and stores them by category. For example, an object of the present invention is to provide a method of setting and browsing a URL in a digital TV that implements an Internet connection to a URL address corresponding to a selected capture screen by allowing a user to select a desired capture screen using a direction key.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a method for setting and browsing a URL in a digital TV that allows a user to select a desired website by using a remote controller, wherein the display screen of the website corresponding to the predetermined URL input by the user is captured. Determining if a ring is requested; If the capturing is requested, generating a capture screen by capturing a display screen; Storing the screenshot and the URL address of the website; Determining whether the user interface program is executed, and if the user interface program is executed, displaying a plurality of stored screen shot lists; Determining whether a predetermined capture screen is selected by the direction change key signal of the remote controller; and when the predetermined capture screen is selected, connecting the Internet to a URL address corresponding to the selected capture screen. Provides settings and browsing methods.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a digital TV for implementing a URL setting and browsing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a flowchart of a URL setting process in a digital TV according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3 is a flowchart of a browsing process using a remote controller in a digital TV according to another embodiment of the present invention;

4 is an exemplary TV screen illustrating a list display process for each category of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an exemplary TV screen for describing a process of displaying a capture screen of FIG. 3. FIG.

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

100: key input unit

102: user interface

104: URL DB engine

106: channel setting management unit

108: storage medium

110: display unit

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

1 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a digital TV for implementing a URL setting and browsing method according to an embodiment of the present invention. The key input unit 100, the user interface unit 102, the URL DB engine 104, and a channel are illustrated in FIG. A setting manager 106, a storage medium 108, and a display 110.

The key input unit 100 is a means for generating a predetermined key signal according to a user's input action, and not only a direction change key signal for selecting a capture screen according to the present embodiment, but also a key signal for performing various modes of other digital TVs. Occurs. The key input unit 100 is provided in the remote control of the digital TV, and as described later, it is possible to move to a capture screen of a desired site by up / down / left / right input of a direction switching button on the remote control.

The user interfacing unit 102 outputs database information pre-stored in the storage medium 108, that is, capture screen information on the monitor of the digital TV, and a control signal for changing a mode according to an input signal from the key input unit 100. Occurs. In addition, the user interface 102 performs a function of granting channel rights for each capture screen or each category in response to the channel setting behavior of the channel setting manager 106 described later. For example, a capture screen corresponding to "www.yahoo.com" may be designated as a predetermined channel (for example, ch 50).

The URL DB engine 104 connects a capture screen in the form of an image file with a corresponding URL address, performs an additional information management function, and manages access time, security-related matters, and the like.

The channel setting manager 106 searches for a channel that does not overlap with the broadcast channel of the current digital TV, and provides corresponding channel data (ie, unused channel information other than the broadcast channel) to the user interface 102 when a user requests. Perform the function.

The storage medium 108 stores an initial page of a website desired by a user in a capturing form, and when necessary, capture screens of each website can be stored for each category. This category setting may be used for the purpose of improving the efficiency of the search later.

The display 110 performs a function of externally displaying various types of information described below, for example, a category list, a capture screen, and the like. The display unit 110 can be applied to the conventional display means provided in the digital TV, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Hereinafter, the URL setting and browsing method in the digital TV according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention together with the above-described configuration will be described.

First, for convenience of description, the present embodiment will be described by dividing the capture screen and the URL setting process and the browsing process of the set URL.

First, FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a URL setting process in a digital TV according to an embodiment of the present invention.

When a browser, for example, Internet Explorer, is executed in step S200, the user interface 102 proceeds to step S202 to determine whether a predetermined URL is input by a user's key input action. In other words, it is determined whether a desired website address is input to a URL input window used in a general browser. In this case, the URL input may be input using, for example, a wireless keyboard.

As a result of the determination in step S202, when the input of the predetermined URL is completed, it is connected to the website corresponding to the URL input by the startup of the browser, and the display unit 100 displays the homepage screen of the website, for example. Will be.

Here, the user interface 102 proceeds to step S204 to determine whether a capturing operation of the currently displayed website screen is requested from the user. This capturing operation may be implemented according to a preset key signal of the key input unit 100, and this fact can be easily understood by those skilled in the art, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted. do.

As a result of the determination in step S204, when the capturing operation is requested, the user interface 102 proceeds to step S206 and stores the captured screen and the corresponding URL address through the URL DB engine 104 in the storage medium ( 108).

At this time, the storage of the capture screen and the URL address may be stored for each category suitable for the user, as illustrated in the TV screen of FIG. 4.

Meanwhile, in steps S208, S210, S212, and S214, a process for allocating a URL address and a capture screen currently stored as a predetermined channel number is performed. That is, in step S208, the user interface 102 controls the channel setting manager 106 to search whether there is a channel other than the channel currently being used in the digital TV, for example, a channel other than a broadcast channel, For example, if ch 50 is present (S210) and a user confirmation is input (S212), the process proceeds to step S214 where the capture screen and the URL address are designated as the channel number ch50 described above.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a browsing process using a remote controller in a digital TV according to another embodiment of the present invention.

First, in step S300, the user interface 102 determines whether a user interface program, i.e., performing an Internet browsing mode using a remote controller according to the present embodiment is requested, and if a browsing mode is requested, the user interface. The program is executed and the flow proceeds to step S302.

In operation S302, the user interface 102 may display the category-specific list recorded on the storage medium 108 through the display 110. These lists are exemplarily shown on the TV screen of FIG. 4.

If the categories-specific lists are displayed, the user interface 102 proceeds to step S304 to determine whether a predetermined list of these lists is selected by the user, and if the predetermined list is selected, proceeds to step S306 and stores it. The capture screens corresponding to the selection list recorded on the medium 108 are displayed. These capture screens are illustratively shown in the TV screen of FIG. 5.

In step S308, it is determined whether a predetermined capture screen is selected. In this case, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the selection of the capture screen is implemented to move / select to a desired capture screen by using a direction change key on the remote controller.

As a result of the determination in step S308, if the predetermined capture screen is selected, the user interface 102 proceeds to step S310 to activate the browser and proceeds to step S312.

In operation S312, the user interface 102 allows an internet connection to a URL address corresponding to the selected capture screen. That is, if the selected capture screen is the homepage of "yahoo", it is connected to "www.yahoo.com".

As mentioned above, although this invention was concretely demonstrated based on the Example, this invention is not limited to this Example, Of course, various changes are possible within the range which does not deviate from the summary.

Accordingly, in the digital TV environment, the user can register the website and search the Internet using only the remote control. Therefore, the Internet can be easily used while watching TV, thereby providing a better service to the user. .

Claims (3)

In a method of setting and browsing a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) in a digital TV that can select a desired website using a remote controller, Determining whether the capturing of the display screen of the website corresponding to the predetermined URL input by the user is requested; As a result of the determination of the step, if capturing is requested, capturing the display screen to generate a capture screen; Storing the capture screen and the URL address of the website; Determining whether a user interface program is executed, and displaying a list of a plurality of captured screens stored when the user interface program is executed; Determining whether a predetermined capture screen is selected by the direction change key signal of the remote controller, and when the predetermined capture screen is selected, connecting the Internet to a URL address corresponding to the selected capture screen. How to set up and browse URLs. The method of claim 1, The storing step includes the step of storing the capture screen by category, URL setting and browsing method in a digital TV. The method of claim 1, The method, Searching whether there is a channel other than the channel currently being used in the digital TV; And if the channel is not used and a user confirmation is input, designating the stored capture screen and the URL address as the existing channel number.