KR20050083183A - A purchasing system based on image database using digital set top box and method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention builds an image-based database through catalogs, books, albums, etc. at a content delivery network site, and assigns a purchase code to each image, and displays it on a television through a digital set-top box connected to the content delivery network. The present invention relates to an image-based purchase system and method for searching, reading, purchasing, and paying the image through a remote controller. The content of the catalog, book, album, etc. is databased and the purchase code is assigned to each image to provide the service. A digital set-top box that is connected to a provider, a content delivery network, controls the display of a television, implements a pointer, provides a payment method such as a card reader, and adjusts various functions of the television through a digital set-top box. To move Consists of a clickable remote control and a TV that can display the screen provided by the digital set-top box, unlike conventional text-based purchases, it can be conveniently purchased on an image basis and provides secure payment. For those who are uncomfortable with computers, the TV and remote control can be used for shopping.

Description

Image-based Purchasing System and Method Using Digital Set-Top Box {A PURCHASING SYSTEM BASED ON IMAGE DATABASE USING DIGITAL SET TOP BOX AND METHOD THEREOF}

The present invention relates to an image-based purchase system and method using a digital set-top box that can provide an image through a content delivery network to a television in a digital set-top box, and to purchase the same through a digital set-top box. Establish an image-based database and assign a purchase code to each image, display it on a television via a digital set-top box connected to a content delivery network, and the viewer can search, view, purchase, and pay the image through a remote control. It relates to an image-based purchasing system and method.

In the past, each store or specialty store provided a catalog to a customer, and the customer provided a catalog to look at the inquiry and purchase the product directly, but this was a difficult time, such as the customer to go to a direct store.

In addition, in the past, the book is viewed online, but it does not induce purchase psychology about the various images appearing in the book and also provides a purchase process for the product. This was poor.

In the past, television-based TV TVs could provide products for purchase, but this was also difficult for comb people, expensive, and inferior in stability and convenience.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems. The present invention provides a database of images of catalogs, books, albums, and the like, and a service provider by providing a purchase code to each image, and connected to a content delivery network. A digital set-top box that controls the display of a computer and implements a pointer, provides a payment method such as a card reader, a remote control that can move and click a pointer while controlling various functions of a television through the digital set-top box, An object of the present invention is to provide an image-based purchase system and method using a digital set-top box having a television capable of displaying a screen provided by the digital set-top box of the.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a preferred embodiment of a digital set top box 140 according to the present invention.

1,

The configuration diagram of a preferred embodiment of the digital set-top box 140 is the main device of the present invention,

A / V switching unit for outputting the audio / video signal of the input MPEG content through the audio / video signal output port,

A sub-control unit for outputting MPEG contents input through a VDSL line or a LAN line;

MPEG decoder for decoding MPEG data output from the sub-control unit to the audio / video switching means,

A main control unit which provides a control command necessary for an output operation in the sub control unit to the sub control unit and controls a corresponding operation based on a remote signal from a remote controller;

The digital set-top box is provided with an audio output unit and an image output unit for outputting audio and video of a plurality of channels output from the A / V switching unit according to a user's selection condition under the control of the main controller. have.

The digital set-top box has a card control IC means that the hardware has a card reader function.

The digital set-top box is a two-way transmission / reception apparatus for receiving a user-selected content by using a VDSL and displaying it on a television in real time, as shown in FIG. 1.

The digital set-top box receives a digital audio / video signal input from various types of audio / video input means (eg, TV tuner, movie camera, VTR, cable broadcasting, satellite broadcasting, CCD camera, microphone, etc.). A plurality of analog / digital converters (ADCs) for converting them into signals; The audio / video signal of any one channel selected from the audio / video signals of the multiple channels provided from the analog / digital converters is output through the storage signal output port, and the audio / video signals and MPEG of the multiple channels are output. An audio / video switching unit for outputting the decoded audio / video signal through the audio / video signal output port; An MPEG encoder which receives an audio / video signal output through the storage signal output port of the audio / video switching unit and encodes the MPEG; A storage unit in the form of a hard disk drive (HDD) in which audio / video signals encoded by the MPEG encoder are stored, and MPEG contents input through a VDSL line or a LAN line are stored; A sub-control unit which stores the output data from the MPEG encoder and the MPEG contents input through the VDSL line or the LAN line to the storage unit, and outputs the data stored in the storage unit; A main control unit for providing a control command for storing and outputting data to the storage unit to the sub control unit, and controlling a corresponding operation based on a remote signal from the remote control received from the remote control receiving unit; An MPEG decoder which MPEG-decodes the data output from the sub-controller and transmits it to the audio / video switching unit; A screen generator for making a video signal of any one channel among the video signals of the plurality of channels from the audio / video switching unit as a main screen and a video signal of other channels as a sub picture; Compare the contents of the 24-bit overlay memory of RGB 8: 8: 8 to a specific color key value (i.e. the color key value corresponding to the OSD character (or picture) required for the screens to be output). An OSD synthesizing unit that implements an appropriate graphic OSD on the screen from the screen generating unit; A video output section for displaying a video screen from the OSD synthesizing section on a television monitor (not shown); An audio digital / analog converter for analog converting the audio signal of the active channel to the main screen provided by the audio / video switching unit; An audio output unit for outputting audio from the audio digital / analog conversion unit to the outside through a speaker of a television (not shown); RAM that stores the code of the operating program required for the digital set-top box; And a ROM in which all programs related to driving and control of the digital set-top box are stored.

Here, the audio / video switching unit, the sub control unit and the OSD synthesis unit are field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) which are a type of programmable logic chip.

The main control unit and the sub control unit communicate with each other via a local bus. The ROM additionally stores personal information (eg, name, address, social security number, email address, etc.) of the person using the digital set-top box.

In addition, in FIG. 1, the screen generating unit, the OSD synthesizing unit, the image output unit, the audio digital / analog converter, and the audio output unit are collectively referred to as the main control unit for audio and video of multiple channels output from the audio / video switching unit. It is referred to as audio / video output means for outputting according to the user's selection condition under the control of.

The MPEG encoder has a built-in first-in-first-out (FIFO) buffer (not shown), and the secondary controller directly accesses the buffer of the MPEG encoder, and the main controller processes only the control command. The main control unit processes only the control command and the address index for the storage unit, and the sub control unit is in charge of the remaining large burst transmission.

In addition, in FIG. 1, the VDSL line is a telephone line, and a VOD is realized through the VDSL line, and the LAN line is composed of two content delivery network lines as a content delivery network line. A network interface card (NIC) is installed between the VDSL line and the two LAN lines and the local bus. The network interface card ensures that the digital set-top box and the network are always connected. A network interface card connected to the two content delivery network lines is provided with a network address translation (NAT) function to be used as a home gateway device. In other words, if the user is not in a VDSL environment, the digital set-top box of the present invention may be used by directly connecting to a content delivery network content delivery network (ie, a LAN line).

In addition, the ROM of FIG. 1 includes VOIP software for enabling a digital set-top box to perform Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) function, and a SLIC (SUBSCRIBER LINE INTERFACE CIRCUITS) on a local bus to perform the VOIP function. One output is connected and the other output of the SLIC is connected to an audio / video switching section.

The SLIC outputs an analog audio signal input as a digital audio signal. The digital audio signal output from the output terminal of the SLIC is input to the audio / video switching unit and also to the main control unit via the local bus.

The main control unit controls the VOIP function based on the VOIP software after storing the VOIP software stored in the ROM when the digital set-top box is powered on. Therefore, the digital set-top box of Figure 1 also serves as a VOIP phone. That is, the digital set-top box of FIG. 1 has a built-in VOIP function for transmitting voice and video using IP.

In FIG. 1, an audio / video signal input from the audio / video input source (ie, a signal input through an analog / digital converter) is composed of an RCA input and a super video (S-video), and the four input sources. Only the audio / video signal of one input source is stored in the storage unit through the MPEG encoder and the sub-controller according to the command of the main controller. Since the four input sources are transmitted to the screen generating unit in real time, they are displayed in a combination of up to three channels while displaying the stored contents.

In addition, the digital set-top box of FIG. 1 can be selected and used in a VDSL telephone environment or a LAN environment capable of two-way high-speed communication at tens or hundreds of megabytes per second. The content information is updated and required data is provided at the request of the user. In addition, to facilitate multi-tasking, data input through the network is stored in a hard disk drive (HDD) storage for temporal buffering, and then read from the storage, and the MPEG decoder and audio / video switching unit It is transmitted to the screen generation unit through.

According to the digital set-top box of FIG. 1 configured as described above, various contents can be provided as desired through the VDSL line or the LAN line as well as the normal PVR function, and output is also possible.

2 is an embodiment of an image-based purchasing system using a digital set-top box according to the present invention.

2,

A content provider 110 for building a catalog, a book, an album, and the like as an image database 120 and providing a purchase code to each image;

A digital set-top box (140) connected to the content delivery network (130), controlling a display of a television, implementing a pointer, and providing a payment means such as a card reader; and

A remote control unit 160 for moving and clicking a pointer while adjusting various functions of a television through the digital set-top box; and

An image-based purchasing system using a digital set-top box having a television 150 capable of displaying a screen provided by the digital set-top box 140 is illustrated.

The image database 120 is constructed to build a catalog of various products that are applied to real life as an image, and to give a purchase code and click to purchase.

In addition, the image database 120 has a variety of books are written in the image along with the text and the image of the book has a purchase code in the image of the book can also enter the purchase process by pressing the purchase code profitability to the existing e-book online In addition, it is possible to provide e-book free of charge.

In the image database 120, a family album or a school album as well as an album of a favorite celebrity is built as an image, and in the case of a celebrity album, for example, a purchase code is assigned to the clothes of a celebrity to enter into the purchase process. To make it possible.

It is one of the features of the present invention to give a purchase code to any image as described above to induce it into the purchase process.

The construction of such an image database is by known techniques.

The image database 120 is provided by the content provider 110 to the digital set-top box 140 through the content delivery network. The content delivery network 130 may collectively refer to both the Internet and an intranet.

The digital set-top box 140 is controlled through the remote control 160 of the viewer 170 and is connected to the content delivery to supply and display the image supplied from the content provider 110 to the television 150.

3 is a block diagram of a pointer implementation via a digital set-top box.

An image of a pointer is constructed in the ROM in the digital set-top box 140, and contains an associated system program.

In the digital set-top box controlled by the remote control,

Pointer image storage means for storing the image of the pointer 210; And,

Television output means (220) for outputting the pointer image to a television; and

Remote control receiving means for receiving a signal from the remote control 230; And,

Remote control signal analysis means 240 for analyzing a signal received from the remote control; And,

Coordinate calculation means (250) for determining coordinates to move the pointer to a predetermined position on the television screen according to the result of the remote control signal analysis unit;

There is shown a remote control pointing device associated with a digital set-top box, including; central processing means (260) for controlling and executing the respective means.

In the above description, the pointer image storing means 210 may correspond to the ROM of FIG. 1.

It can be seen that one embodiment of an image 270 of a pointer is shown in FIG. 3.

The television output unit 220 may be the image output unit of FIG. 1.

The remote control receiving unit 230 will be the same as the remote control receiving unit of FIG.

The remote control signal analysis means 240 and the coordinate calculation means 250 and the like are executed by the main control unit according to the program stored in the ROM of FIG. 1 or loaded into the RAM.

The central processing means 260 corresponds to the main control part of FIG.

Based on the set value, how many direction keys are pressed according to the remote control signal analysis unit is calculated by the coordinate calculating means, and the pointer is positioned at the corresponding position through the television output means 220.

4 is a perspective view of a remote control for a purchasing system.

In Figure 4, the mode key can be used as a toggle key between the remote control mode and the pointing mode, and when pressed once in the pointing mode, the mode key is switched to the remote control mode to control the TV tuner of the digital set-top box to change the channel, and to control the remote control functions such as sound control. Press it again to switch to pointing mode.

As an example illustrated in FIG. 4, there are a horizontal right key 310, a horizontal left key 320, a vertical up key 330, a vertical down key 340, an input key 350, and the like of the general remote controller. This mode can be used as up, down, left, and right keys. For example, the horizontal right key can be used as a right key, the horizontal left key can be used as a left key, the vertical up key can be used as an up key, and the vertical down key can be used as a down key. Can be used in the same way.

Therefore, when the mode key of the remote control is pressed to switch from the remote control mode to the pointing mode as described above, the predetermined keys of the remote control are switched to the direction keys and the click keys to adjust the pointer, and the pointer displayed on the screen can be moved up, down, left, and right at a desired position. You can also click.

If the mode key is pressed to switch to the pointing mode and the pointing key is pressed continuously in the pointing mode, the pointer on the television screen continuously moves upwards.

Of course, if the left key is pressed, the pointer moves to the left.

In this way, the viewer can freely move the pointer displayed on the television screen on the screen, and can stop and click at a desired position of the desired screen.

In this way, the viewer can move the pointer to select the image displayed on the television and the purchase code associated with the image by using the remote controller 160.

When the purchase code is clicked, a purchase process is developed.

5 is an embodiment of an image based purchasing process.

Looking at Figure 5,

In the purchase method using an image,

The image arrives at the digital set top box via a content delivery network and the digital set top box displays it on a television.

Buying code click step (S110) that the viewer clicks the purchase code associated with the image; and

A shopping bag storage step (S120) in which the product and information of the image are stored in a shopping bag; and

Viewer order information storage step of storing the order information of the viewer (S130); and

Card insertion step (S140) for inserting the card into the card reader of the digital set-top box; And

An image-based purchase method using a digital set-top box is shown, which comprises: a purchase approval step (S150) of decrypting information of a card and approving a payment.

It can be seen that the card reader of the digital set-top box of the present invention is composed of a card reader IC and a card receiver, and this is by a known technique.

The card that can be inserted into the card reader may be a magnetic card, a smart card or an RF card according to the type of the card reader.

Viewers browse through catalogs, books, and albums with images, and when they are motivated to buy them, they click on the purchase code and the product is stored in a shopping bag.

When the user enters the payment procedure to make a batch payment after storing in a shopping bag, the order information of the viewer is stored, and a card for payment is required to be inserted into the curd rudder of the digital set-top box.

When the viewer inserts the card, the payment is approved and the purchase is eventually approved.

In the payment according to the present invention, the ROM already stored in the digital set-top box is secured because personal information (for example, name, address, social security number, e-mail address, etc.) of the person using the digital set-top box is reached together with the card information. You can do it.

6 is an embodiment of a purchase code associated with an image.

As shown in FIG. 6, the image 420 of the running horse is associated with the purchase code box 410, and it can be seen that the product code and the purchase code price are presented in the purchase code box, and may include other information. .

When the pointer 430 is pointed to and clicked on the purchase code associated with the image, the step according to the purchase method is performed.

While the invention has been shown and described with respect to specific embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated that various changes and modifications can be made in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. Those skilled in the art can easily know, and it is intended that this also belong to the present invention.

Image-based purchasing system and method using a digital set-top box according to the present invention having the above configuration and operation is a converter for preparing a separate computer to operate a pointer to the television and converting the monitor of the computer to a television screen as in the prior art In addition to overcoming the inconvenience of having a mouse and keyboard, and the difficulty of using computers by those who are less familiar with computers, digital set-top boxes provide secure payment and Offers convenient shopping and allows viewers to make selections and purchases with a remote control without the need for complicated devices.

1 is a preferred embodiment of a digital set top box according to the present invention.

2 is an embodiment of an image-based purchasing system using a digital set-top box according to the present invention.

3 is a block diagram of a pointer implementation via a digital set-top box.

4 is a perspective view of a remote control for a purchasing system.

5 is an embodiment of an image based purchasing process.

6 is an embodiment of a purchase code associated with an image.

 * Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

110: content provider 130: content delivery network

140: digital set-top box 160: remote control

150: TV 120: Image Database

210: pointer image storage means 220: TV output means

230: remote control receiving means 240: remote control signal analysis means

250: coordinate calculation means 260: central processing means

Claims (9)

In purchasing system using image A content provider that builds images of catalogs, books, albums, etc. into an image database, and provides a service with a purchase code for each image; and A digital set-top box connected to a content delivery network, controlling a display of a television, implementing a pointer, and providing a payment method such as a card reader; and A remote control for moving and clicking a pointer while controlling various functions of the television through the digital set-top box; and An image-based purchasing system using a digital set-top box having a television (150) capable of displaying the screen provided by the digital set-top box. The method of claim 1, The digital set top box A / V switching unit for outputting the audio / video signal of the input MPEG content through the audio / video signal output port, A sub-control unit for outputting MPEG contents input through a VDSL line or a LAN line; MPEG decoder for decoding MPEG data output from the sub-control unit to the audio / video switching means, A main control unit which provides a control command necessary for an output operation in the sub control unit to the sub control unit and controls a corresponding operation based on a remote signal from a remote controller; A digital set-top box comprising a voice output unit and an image output unit for outputting audio and video of a plurality of channels output from the A / V switching unit according to a user's selection condition under the control of the main controller. Image-based purchasing system using boxes. The method of claim 1, The digital set-top box is an image-based purchasing system using a digital set-top box, characterized in that for providing a pointing device to move the pointer through a card reader and a remote control for the purchase. The method of claim 1, The content delivery network is an image-based purchase system using a digital set-top box, collectively known as the Internet or intranet. The method of claim 3, wherein The card reader is an image-based purchase system using a digital set-top box, characterized in that one of the card reader that can read the magnetic card, smart card, RF card, etc. according to the type. In the purchase method using an image, The image arrives at the digital set top box via a content delivery network and the digital set top box displays it on a television. A purchase code click step of allowing the viewer to click a purchase code associated with the image; and A shopping bag storage step of storing the product and information of the image in a shopping bag; and Viewer order information storage step of storing the order information of the viewer; and Card insertion step of inserting the card into the card reader of the digital set-top box; And The purchase approval step of decrypting the information of the card and approves the payment; Image-based purchase method using a digital set-top box, characterized in that consisting of. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, The image is an image-based purchasing system using a digital set-top box, characterized in that associated with the purchase code. The method of claim 6, The image is an image-based purchase method using a digital set-top box, characterized in that associated with the purchase code. The method of claim 1, The digital set-top box is controlled by a remote control, Pointer image storage means for storing an image of the pointer; Television output means for outputting the pointer image to a television; and Remote control receiving means for receiving a signal from the remote control; Remote control signal analysis means for analyzing a signal received from the remote control; Coordinate calculation means for determining coordinates to move a pointer to a predetermined position on a television screen according to a result of the remote control signal analysis unit; And a central processing means for controlling and executing the respective means. An image-based purchasing system using a digital set-top box is provided with a remote control pointing device in association with the digital set-top box.