KR20030075967A - VOD system using pre-download and Method for providing VOD service - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A VOD system using reservation download and a service method thereof are provided to exclude the influence of communication lines even in the case of video contents of high screen quality by reproducing contents downloaded and stored by reservation instead of real time video contents streaming service. CONSTITUTION: A service method of a VOD system using reservation download includes the steps of generating a reservation code by a reservation management module of a VOD server for a subscriber in response to a reservation request(S10,S20), calling to an internal telephone terminal connected to the VOD set-top box via a telephone terminal from the outside to start the VOD set-top box for the user to download reserved contents(S30), receiving the reservation code from the subscriber(S40), requesting the download of the reserved contents by transmitting the subscriber's ID and reservation code to the VOD server(S50), extracting the contents use information from the reservation code to supply the contents from a contents list to a contents supply server and commanding the download of the requested contents(S60), coding the requested contents extracted from the contents supply server to include the contents use information(S70), and storing the downloaded contents to a contents storing medium(S80).

Description

VOD system using pre-download and Method for providing VOD service}

The present invention relates to a video on demand system and a service method having a download function. More particularly, the present invention relates to a video-on-demand server, and schedules a download of content to a video-on-demand server. The present invention relates to a video-on-demand system and a service method for downloading a reserved content and storing the content in a set-top box so that a subscriber can view the content if desired.

Video On Demand (“VOD”) refers to a set of technologies associated with companies that have a common goal of allowing individuals to select video from a central server through a TV or computer screen. Is a broad term.

Viewers can watch the video program they want on their TV as soon as they choose it, and the programs are sent over a cable or ADSL network. VOD can be used for entertainment (ordering of digitally transmitted movies), education (watching educational video) or videoconferencing (reinforcement of presentation techniques using video clips).

However, although it is used in such a wide range of fields, various problems arise in actual use. Among them, there is still a lack of network infrastructure that can rapidly process the large amount of data required for video transmission. In other words, there is a limit to streaming service using ADSL or cable to provide high quality video contents.

Accordingly, there is a need for a new concept of VOD system and service method capable of using high-definition video content without being affected by a communication line for transmission.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been proposed to meet such demands, and an object of the present invention is to provide a VOD system and a service method capable of using high-definition video content regardless of the speed of a transmission line.

Other objects and features of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the embodiments described below.

1 shows a network configuration to which the VOD system according to the present invention is applied.

2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration of a VOD server and a VOD set-top box.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a VOD service method of the present invention.

According to the VOD system of the present invention, a VOD set-top box having a content storage medium and activated by telephone communication, and a VOD server connected to the VOD set-top box via a network, the VOD server requesting reservation of content download from a subscriber The subscriber receives the reserved content by activating the VOD set-top box using a telephony communication and stores the reserved content in a content storage medium.

Preferably, the apparatus further includes at least one content supply server connected to a network with a VOD server, having contents, and providing reserved contents according to a request of the VOD server.

In one embodiment, the VOD server is a subscriber management module that registers and manages subscribers, receives a content download reservation request from the subscribers, generates a reservation code, and manages the input content usage information. Content providing module for providing the VOD set-top box by encrypting to include the usage information, billing module for generating and managing the billing history of the fee corresponding to the provided content and a control module for controlling each module to operate in relation to each other do.

In addition, the VOD set-top box is a download module for performing a content download reservation request and download the reserved content, a telephony-startup module to start the VOD set-top box by telephony from the outside, and stores the downloaded content in the content storage medium The storage module, the playback module for playing the stored content, and the set-top box control module for controlling the respective modules to operate in association with each other.

According to the VOD service method according to the invention, the step of scheduling the content download through a computer system that can be connected to the VOD server via a network, starting the VOD set-top box via telephone communication, download from the VOD set-top box to the VOD server Requesting, downloading the reserved content and storing the reserved content in a content storage medium.

Preferably, when the reservation is completed, the reservation code is provided to the subscriber from the VOD server, and provides the content usage information including the subscriber information, the number of times of use of the content and the payment method of the fee at the time of reservation.

In addition, when the VOD set-top box requests a download to the VOD server, the VOD set-top box transmits system information of the VOD set-top box to the VOD server.

Preferably, the apparatus further includes at least one content supply server connected to a network with a VOD server and having content, wherein the content supply server encrypts and reserves the reserved content according to a request of the VOD server.

In addition, when the VOD set-top box plays the stored content, the VOD set-top box checks the number of times of use and deletes the elapsed number of times from the content storage medium.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail with respect to the VOD system of the present invention.

1 is a diagram illustrating a network to which a VOD system according to the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration of a VOD server and a VOD set-top box.

As shown, the VOD set-top box 10 is a device that can send and receive data through the Internet, etc., is installed on the subscriber side subscribed to the VOD service, the computer system 20, the telephone terminal 30 and the display device ( Respectively). In addition, the VOD set-top box 10 is connected to the VOD server 100 through a network such as the Internet 300, as will be described later, having a telephone communication module therein, the external telephone terminal 50 and the public telephone network It is configured to be communicable via 400.

Video content may be stored in the VOD server 100. Preferably, the VOD server 100 loads the video content on the content supply servers 200 connected to the VOD server 100 via a network. It can prevent concentration.

In the content supply server 200, the content is converted into a format suitable for a VOD service, for example, MPEG2 or MPEG4, and stored. The list of stored contents is provided to the VOD server for registration.

2, the VOD server 100 is functionally divided into several modules, subscriber management module 130, content supply server management module 120, reservation management module 140, billing module 150, And a content providing module 160 and a control module 110.

The subscriber management module 130 receives a subscriber and performs a function of managing subscriber information.

The reservation management module 140 manages reservation information according to a content download reservation application from a subscriber. When the subscriber requests to download the content, the user inputs content usage information such as subscriber information, the number of times of use of the content, or a payment method of the fee, and the reservation management module 140 receives and manages the information.

The content providing module 160 is provided to the VOD set-top box 100 from the corresponding content supply server 200 for the reserved content. In this case, the content providing module 160 provides system information and content usage information of the corresponding VOD set-top box to the content supply server 200.

The billing module 150 charges a fee corresponding to the provided content through a fee payment method specified by the subscriber and manages billing details.

The content supply server management module 120 manages content supply server related information, manages the addition and release of the content supply server, and manages the provided content.

In addition, the control module 110 controls each module to operate in association with each other.

On the other hand, the VOD set-top box 10 applied to the present invention is a download module 12 for performing a content download reservation request and download the reserved content, an automatic response module 15 for automatically responding to telephone communication, from the outside Telephony-wake-up module (wake-on-call; 16) to activate the VOD set-top box 10 by telephony communication, a storage module 13 for storing the downloaded content in the content storage medium 17, the stored content And a set-top box control module 11 for controlling the playback module 14 for reproducing and operating each module.

The service method using the VOD system of the present invention having the configuration described above will be described in detail below.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a VOD service method of the present invention.

Subscribers to the VOD system to receive the VOD service can access the VOD server 100 through the computer system 20 connected to the VOD set-top box or the external computer system 60 connected to the network such as the Internet to download the content. Apply for reservation (step S10). At this time, the subscriber inputs the content usage information such as subscriber information, the number of times of use of the content or the method of payment of the fee for use, and the fee paid according to the setting of the number of times of use of the content may be differentially applied.

The reservation management module 140 of the VOD server 100 receiving the reservation request generates a reservation code and provides it to the subscriber (step S20). At this time, the generated reservation code is matched with the content usage information and stored in the VOD server 100.

If the subscriber wants to download the reserved content, the user dials the internal telephone terminal 30 connected to the VOD set-top box through the telephone terminal 50 to start the VOD set-top box (step S40).

The VOD set-top box 100 normally performs an autoresponder function through the autoresponder module 15 and the system maintains an off state. When the telephone-communication start module 16 is connected to the external telephone terminal 50 through the public telephone network 400, the VOD set-top box 100 starts and turns on the system.

The download module 12 of the VOD set-top box 100 receives a subscriber ID and a reservation code provided from the VOD server for download from the subscriber (step S40), and receives the received subscriber ID and the reservation code into the VOD server 100. The transmission request for downloading of the reserved content (step S50).

When the content providing module 160 of the VOD server 100 receives a download request from the VOD set-top box 10, the content supply server 200 extracts the content usage information from the transmitted reservation code and has the corresponding content from the content list. ) And instructs download of the content requested for reservation (step S60).

The content supply server 200 extracts the content requested for reservation, encrypts it to include the received content usage information, and transmits the encrypted content to the reservation requested VOD set-top box 10 (step S70).

At this time, when the download of the content is finished, the content supply server 200 and the VOD set-top box 10 notifies the VOD server 100 of the end of the download, respectively. The billing module 150 of the VOD server 100 configures billing details by referring to the content usage information and notifies the subscriber.

The storage module 13 of the VOD set-top box 100 stores the downloaded content in the content storage medium 17 (step S80). When the storage is completed, the telephony-starting module 16 of the VOD set-top box 10 stops the system.

Then, when the subscriber requests playback from the VOD set-top box 10 in order to use the stored contents, the playback module 14 checks and decodes the usage information of the stored contents and plays them back. At this time, as a result of checking the usage information, if the number of times of use is exceeded, the stored contents are deleted from the content storage medium 17.

Therefore, instead of being provided by the streaming service in real time, instead of being provided by the streaming service, a reservation application is pre-downloaded and stored and used to reproduce and use the stored content, so that even high-definition video content is not affected by the communication line at all.

On the other hand, in the above embodiment, a separate content supply server is installed to distribute the load concentrated on the VOD server, but the VOD server itself may store the content. In addition, the content usage information may be set to another item for convenience of management.

Although the above has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, various changes can be made at the level of those skilled in the art, and such changes are within the scope of the present invention without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

As described above, according to the VOD system and the VOD service method according to the present invention, in the case of high-definition video content because the application for reservation and download and store the content instead of the real-time video content streaming service, and reproduces and uses the stored content Even though there is an advantage that the communication line is not affected at all.

In addition, since the content is stored in the VOD set-top box of the subscriber, there is an advantage that can protect the copyright by utilizing the Digital Rights Management (DRM) function.

Moreover, there is an effect of preventing illegal copying or use by encrypting the provided content.

Claims (10)

A VOD set-top box having a content storage medium and activated by telephone communication, and a VOD server connected to the VOD set-top box via a network; The VOD server receives a content download reservation request from a subscriber, and the subscriber activates the VOD set-top box by using the telephone communication to download the reserved content and stores the reserved content in the content storage medium. VOD system with download function. The reservation download function of claim 1, further comprising at least one content supply server connected to a network with the VOD server, having content, and providing the reserved content at the request of the VOD server. Having VOD system. The method of claim 1, wherein the VOD server is A subscriber management module for registering and managing subscribers; A reservation management module for receiving a content download reservation request from the subscriber, generating a reservation code, and managing input content usage information; A content providing module for encrypting the reserved content to include the content use information and providing the reserved content to the VOD set-top box; A billing module for generating and managing billing details of a fee corresponding to the provided contents; And And a control module for controlling each module to operate in association with each other. The method of claim 1, wherein the VOD set-top box A download module which performs a content download reservation request and downloads reserved content; A telephony-starting module for starting the VOD set-top box by telephony from an outside; A storage module for storing the downloaded content in the content storage medium; A playback module for playing the stored content; And And a set-top box control module for controlling each module to operate in association with each other. It is applied to a VOD system including a VOD set-top box having a content storage medium and activated by telephone communication, and a VOD server connected to the VOD set-top box via a network. Scheduling a content download through a computer system accessible via the network to the VOD server; Activating the VOD set-top box via telephone communication; Requesting a download from the VOD set-top box to the VOD server; And downloading the reserved content and storing the reserved content in the content storage medium. The method of claim 5, further comprising providing a reservation code to the subscriber from the VOD server when the reservation is completed. 6. The VOD service method according to claim 5, wherein the content use information including subscriber information, content usage frequency and usage fee payment method is provided at the time of reservation. The method of claim 5, wherein when the VOD set-top box requests a download from the VOD server, system information of the VOD set-top box is transmitted to the VOD server. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising at least one content supply server connected to the VOD server through a network and having content. The content supply server is a VOD service method using a reservation download, characterized in that for providing the encrypted content at the request of the VOD server. 6. The VOD service method of claim 5, wherein the VOD set-top box checks the number of times of use when the stored content is played and deletes the number of times of use from the content storage medium.