KR20060037942A - Messaging service method using a set-top box - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed are a messaging service apparatus using a set top box, and a method thereof. Receiving a message including the receiving party identification number from the subscriber set-top box, and if the identification number included in the received message is the representative number of the messaging service provider, the telephone number of the subscriber is identified by identifying the telephone number of the set-top box subscriber included in the message. The message is sent to the set-top box corresponding to the message. If the identification number is a mobile phone number, the message is transmitted to the mobile communication network corresponding to the mobile phone. As a result, messages can be transmitted and received between the set-top box and the mobile phone between the set-top box.

Description

Messaging service method using a set-top box}

1A to 1C are diagrams showing the structure of a messaging service system to which the present invention is applied;

1d is a diagram illustrating a method of inputting a receiving side number when delivering a message from a set-top box or a mobile phone to a set-top box;

2A illustrates an embodiment of a messaging service providing screen according to the present invention;

2B is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a screen for inputting a received number;

2C is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a screen for inputting a number of a sender;

3A is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a message box screen displayed when the message management box of FIG. 2A is selected;

3B is a view illustrating details of a message that appears when a predetermined message of a sent box is selected;

4 is a diagram illustrating a user guide menu;

5A to 5D illustrate an embodiment of a screen displaying a message during A / V broadcasting of a predetermined channel;

6 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a screen for transmitting a message while viewing A / V of a predetermined channel;

FIG. 7 illustrates a structure of an embodiment of a messaging service system for delivering a message from a mobile phone to a set top box; and

8A to 8B are diagrams illustrating screen configurations for message arrival notification and reply.

The present invention relates to a messaging service method, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method that can easily transmit and receive a message to a set-top box or a mobile phone using a set-top box.

In general, the set-top box is installed in front of each subscriber's TV set to receive CATV or satellite broadcasting service, and the selection of the received TV signal, the restriction of program reception according to the contract contents, the scramble decoding, and the decoding of the compressed image signal (in the digital case) ), Bidirectional operation and so on.

With such a set-top box, a service that enables users to simply watch a broadcast through a satellite or a cable is widely performed, and in a more advanced form, not only a simple image is received but also a control and data to be sent to the head-end. Advanced digital set-top boxes are also being developed and distributed. In this case, a cable modem, a dial modem, or the like may be used as the set-top box to transmit data. The service and application area of the set-top box that can transmit such a control message is gradually expanding, and the Internet set-top box, which adds the function of using a TV as an interface for Internet users, is also widely used. Such set-top boxes can be classified into a broadcast receiver, an Internet set-top box, a cable set-top box, and the like by their functions.

Recently, according to the expansion of the penetration rate of the digital set-top box and the interconnection with various networks, researches on useful technologies and services using the same are being conducted at various angles. However, digital set-top boxes are currently aimed at digital broadcasting services and video on demand (VOD) services provided by content providers. These digital set-top boxes are always connected to the Internet, but few useful applications using the Internet have been developed.

An object of the present invention is to provide a messaging service device and a method for transmitting and receiving a message input by a user through a remote control to a mobile phone or another set-top box using a set-top box while watching a TV.

An object of the present invention is to provide a messaging service method using a set-top box that can create a message while watching a predetermined channel and transmit the message to a specific service company, a mobile phone, and another set-top box.

In order to achieve the above technical problem, an embodiment of a messaging service device using a set-top box according to the present invention, a return path unit for receiving a message including a receiving side identification number from the subscriber-side set-top box; And identifying the telephone number of the set-top box subscriber included in the message and transmitting the message to the set-top box corresponding to the subscriber's telephone number if the identification number included in the received message is the representative number of the messaging service provider. Includes a gateway agent for transmitting a message to a mobile communication network corresponding to the mobile phone when the number is a mobile phone number.

In order to achieve the above technical problem, an embodiment of a messaging service method using a set-top box according to the present invention comprises: receiving a message including a receiving side identification number from a subscriber-side set-top box; And identifying the telephone number of the set-top box subscriber included in the message and transmitting the message to the set-top box corresponding to the subscriber's telephone number if the identification number included in the received message is the representative number of the messaging service provider. If is a mobile phone number, transmitting a message to a mobile communication network corresponding to the mobile phone.

In order to achieve the above technical problem, another embodiment of a messaging service method using a set-top box according to the present invention is selected by selecting a message writing space on one side of the screen and an input mode of Korean / English / special characters for message writing. Composing a message; If the receiving side of the message is a mobile phone, the mobile number is entered into a receiving number. If the receiving side of the message is another set-top box, a predetermined registered messaging service representative number is entered into the receiving number. Entering a subscriber's telephone number; Inputting a telephone number of a sender; And transmitting a message based on the received number and the phone number of another set-top box subscriber.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a messaging service method using a set-top box according to the present invention, the method comprising: displaying a messaging service screen on one side of a screen while overlapping the program during viewing of a predetermined channel; After composing a message through the message service screen, if the receiving party of the message is a mobile phone, the mobile phone number is input to the receiving number. If the receiving party of the message is another set-top box, a predetermined registered messaging service representative number is entered into the receiving number. Inputting the telephone number of the other set-top box subscriber to the message; Inputting a telephone number of a sender; And transmitting a message based on the received number and the phone number of another set-top box subscriber.

Thus, the user can easily exchange messages with the mobile phone or other set-top box through the set-top box.

1A to 1C are diagrams illustrating the structure of a message service system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 1A is a diagram illustrating a structure of an embodiment of a message service system for transferring a message between a set-top box (STB) and a mobile phone. Referring to FIG. 1A, the message service system includes a set-top box 100, a messaging service server 110, and a MT (Mobile Terminate) gateway 120, and the messaging service server 110 includes a return path unit 112. , Messaging service database 114 and MT gateway agent 116.

The set top box 100 transmits a message sending request requested by a subscriber through a display device such as a TV to the messaging service server 110 through a return pass of interactive interactive broadcasting. The message sending request includes the message to be sent and the mobile phone number of the receiving party.

The messaging service server 110 stores the message sending request received from the set-top box 100 in the messaging service database 114 and transmits the request to the MT gateway 120 through the MT gateway agent 116. The messaging service server 110 calculates a fee for each subscriber based on the information stored in the messaging service database 114.

The MT gateway 120 transmits a message stored in the messaging service database 114 of the messaging service server 110 to the mobile phone through the mobile communication company, and informs the transmission result.

1B illustrates the structure of one embodiment of a messaging service system for transferring messages between a set-top box and a particular operator system. Referring to FIG. 1B, the messaging service system includes a set top box 130, a messaging service server 140, and a specific operator system 150. In FIG. 1B, the specific operator system 150 is an example of an operator system that provides a music specialty channel (m.net).

The set-top box 130 transmits a message sending request to the messaging service server 140 through a return pass to display a predetermined message on a channel broadcasting m.net from the user.

The messaging service server 130 stores the message sending request received through the return pass in the messaging service database 144 and then through a mobile originate (MO) gateway agent 146 through a specific operator system (here, the m.net system). 150).

The MO gateway (m.net gateway) 152 of the m.net system 9150 receives the message stored in the messaging service database 144 through the MO gateway agent 146 and then the message management system 154 of the m.net system. ).

The message management system 154 transmits the message to the head-end (H / E) system 148 of the messaging service server 149 along with the A / V of the music channel according to the received message sending request. The H / E system 148 transmits the message combined with the A / V to the display device of each subscriber.

FIG. 1C illustrates the structure of an embodiment of a messaging service system for transferring messages between a set top box and a set top box. Referring to FIG. 1C, the messaging service system is composed of set-top boxes 160 and 180 and a messaging service server 170 for transmitting and receiving messages, and the messaging service server 170 includes a return pass system 172 and messaging service data. Base 174 and MO message delivery manager 176.

Message transfer between the set-top box 160 and the set-top box 180 does not require a separate gateway and is delivered through the return pass system 172 of the messaging service system.

When the set-top box 160 receives the message sending request from the user, the set top box 160 transmits the message sending request to the return path system 172 of the messaging service server 170 through the return path.

The messaging service server 170 stores the received message sending request in the messaging service database 174 and transmits the message to the receiving set-top box 180 through the MO message delivery manager 176.

1D is a diagram illustrating a method of inputting a receiving party number when a message is transmitted from a set top box or a mobile phone to a set top box.

When the message is transmitted from the set-top box to the mobile phone (FIG. 1A), the message is transmitted to a place corresponding to the receiving mobile phone number through a predetermined gateway and mobile communication company using the receiving mobile phone number.

When the message is transmitted from the set top box to the set top box, the receiver number 192 and the identification number 194 are included. The receiver number 192 is a representative number of the messaging service servers 110, 140, and 170 providing a service according to the present invention, and the identification number 194 is a telephone number of each subscriber in which the set top boxes 160 and 180 are installed. When a user wants to deliver a message to a set-top box of a specific subscriber through a mobile phone, the user inputs a representative number 192 in the receiving party number and inputs an identification number 194 at the beginning of the message.

If you want to deliver a message to a specific service provider system, enter the representative number 192 of the specific service provider system.

2A is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a message service providing screen according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2A, a message service providing screen includes a message input unit 210, a message manager 220, and an advertisement display unit 230.

The message input unit 210 includes a message input field 212, an input mode 214, an input text amount 216, and up and down arrows. The message input field 212 is a space for displaying an input message on the screen. Preferably, the message input field 212 can be input up to 80 Kbytes in consideration of the data size of a short message server (SMS) of a general mobile phone.

The input mode 214 provides a screen for selecting Korean, English, and special characters for message input. When the subscriber presses the mode switch key on the remote controller, the input mode window displays a selectable input mode. For example, 1 Korean alphabet, 2 numbers, 3 facial expressions, 4 English uppercase letters, 5 English lowercase letters, 6 special symbols, 7 symbols, 8 figures, 9 figures, and so on, correspond to each of the 9 numeric keys on the remote control. Is displayed on the screen. The subscriber selects a predetermined input mode through the numeric keys of the remote controller. When a predetermined input mode is selected, a keyboard layout corresponding to the input mode is displayed corresponding to each of the numeric keys of the remote controller.

The Korean / English / special character mode can be selected by using a predetermined button of the remote controller for the set-top box, and the current mode is displayed on the screen of the message input unit 210. The subscriber inputs each character corresponding to the current input mode through the remote controller.

The input text amount 216 displays information indicating the size of the input text, and displays the value obtained by dividing the currently input text by the maximum input text in%. If it exceeds 100%, text input is not possible.

The up and down arrows allow the user to move using the up and down arrows when the size of the message inputted so far is larger than the size of the screen provided by the message input field. For example, when the length of the message input field 212 is 5 lines and the size of the input message is 5 lines or more, an up and down arrow appears to the right of the message input field 212.

The message manager 220 includes menus of each of the inbox, the sent box, the message box, and the phone book, and when the subscriber selects the message manager by using a predetermined button, the inbox area (FIG. 2B) Go to). Each inbox displays the maximum storage capacity and the current storage capacity using '/'. For example, 'inbox 18/30' indicates that 18 messages are currently stored in an inbox having a maximum capacity of 30. If there is a new message in the received message box of the message manager 220, 'new' is indicated to indicate that there is a new message.

The advertisement display unit 230 displays a predetermined advertisement. When the subscriber selects the advertisement display unit 230 by using a predetermined button of the remote controller, the advertisement display unit 230 moves to a specific channel associated with the current advertisement. The banner display is advertised on the advertisement display unit according to a predetermined schedule. The schedule has a predetermined date and time set by the administrator.

The message manager 220 and the advertisement display unit 230 have a button of a predetermined color, and the subscriber may move to the message manager 220 and the advertisement display unit 230 by pressing the same color button on the remote controller.

When the message input is completed through the message input unit 210, the receiving telephone number of the side to receive the message is input. Completion of message input is performed by pressing a predetermined button (confirmation button) on the remote control.

2B is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a screen for inputting a received number.

Referring to FIG. 2B, the receiving number input screen is displayed on the message input unit of FIG. 2A and includes a window 242 for selecting a receiving device and a window 244 for receiving a receiving party number. The receiving device includes a mobile phone, a predetermined service provider and a set top box. If the receiving device is a mobile phone, a conventional mobile phone number may be entered. If you want to send a message to an m.net service provider to display a message on a music channel such as m.net, enter the pre-assigned m.net connection number.

At the bottom of the received number input screen 240, the price information according to the service is displayed. For example, the messaging service to m.net is 200 won per case, and the mobile phone is 30 won per case. If you send a message to two places, m.net and cell phone, the price is 230 won.

If the number entered on the number input screen 244 is not a number capable of receiving a message (for example, a general landline telephone number, etc.), an error is displayed through a pop-up window. And, among the numbers input on the number input screen, the error number is represented in a different color to facilitate the user's identification.

After the receiving number is input, the sending party's number is input (FIG. 2C).

2C is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a screen for inputting a number of a sender.

Referring to FIG. 2C, there is a window 252 for inputting a number of a sender and a window 254 asking whether a message is stored. In addition, there is a send and cancel button at the bottom to select message transmission and cancellation.

When the message is transmitted through the process of FIGS. 2A to 2C, the message transmission result is displayed through a pop-up window, and when the transmission fails, the transmission failure result and a button asking whether to retransmit is displayed through the pop-up window. If you choose to resend, the message is resent.

3A is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a message box screen displayed when the message manager 220 of FIG. 2A is selected.

Referring to FIG. 3A, there are a message box 310, a message box 312, a phone book 314, and a message box 316. When the user selects the message box or the phone book by using the left and right arrow keys on the remote control, details about the selected message box or the phone book are displayed on the screen.

The sent box 310 displays items of a sent date, a recipient, and contents, and when there are many messages stored in the sent box, messages are displayed through scrolling (using up and down arrow keys) and page up / down functions. The subscriber can move between the messages through the up and down movement keys of the remote control. When a predetermined message is selected (confirmation key), the details of the message are displayed as shown in FIG. 3B.

At the bottom of the sent box 310, there are colored buttons for sending a message, deleting a message, and a first menu. The user selects a message to be sent, a message deleted, or the first menu by pressing the corresponding colored button on the remote control.

The inbox 316 has a received date, a sender, and a content item, and each message is displayed through a scrolling function, such as the inbox 310.

The message archiver 312 stores a message selected to be saved among the sent messages. If there are many messages stored in the message archive, scroll and page up / down to move and select a message.

The phone book 316 stores a name and a phone number, and the subscriber can delete, add, or edit a predetermined phone number by using a remote controller.

When the user selects the usage guide button of FIG. 2A, the usage guide menu as shown in FIG. 4 is displayed, and when a predetermined menu is selected through the remote controller, details of the menu are displayed.

5A is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a screen displaying a message during A / V broadcasting of a predetermined channel.

Referring to FIG. 5A, a message sent by users is displayed on the bottom 510 of a screen during a broadcast like a music broadcast channel (m.net). The user sends a message to the service provider of the channel so that the message is displayed at the bottom of the screen.

In detail, when the user presses the text service button of the remote controller, a message input screen (520 of FIG. 5B) for providing a text service is displayed on the screen. As described with reference to FIG. 2A, the user inputs a message through the message input field 522 and the input mode 524 displayed on the screen.

When the message input is completed, enter the receiving number (Fig. 5c). In the received number field, the telephone number of the operator corresponding to the current channel is automatically entered. After entering the incoming number, enter the outgoing number and choose whether to save the message. The process of sending such a message is the same as that shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C except that a message service providing screen is displayed on a part of a channel currently being broadcast. If the message is transmitted after the telephone number is entered, the message is displayed on one side of the screen according to the system shown in FIG. 1B (510 of FIG. 5D).

Each service menu screen (message input screen, incoming number, outgoing number input screen, etc.) has predetermined buttons. If the buttons are color-coded buttons, they can be selected by pressing the corresponding color buttons on the remote control.

6 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a screen for transmitting a message during A / V viewing of a predetermined channel.

FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 5B but FIG. 5B is a case where a message is displayed directly on the current channel, and FIG. 6 is a case where a message is created and transmitted to a mobile phone or another set-top box.

When the user selects the message service button through the remote controller, a message input screen 610 is displayed. The message is transmitted through the system configuration of FIGS. 1A and 1C by inputting a message through a message input screen 610, and then receiving and inputting a received number.

FIG. 7 illustrates a structure of an embodiment of a message service system for delivering a message from a mobile phone to a set-top box.

Referring to FIG. 7, the mobile communication user composes and transmits a message through the mobile phone 700. At this time, the representative number of the operator 730 that provides message delivery to the set-top box is entered in the received number, and the number of subscribers of the set-top box 740 that receives the message is entered in the first line of the message.

When the mobile communication company 710 receives the message transmission request from the mobile phone 700, the mobile communication company 710 transmits the message to the receiving number side 730 of the message. That is, since the receiving number of the message is a service provider 730 that provides a messaging service using a set-top box, the mobile communication company 710 uses the MO gateway 720 to provide a messaging service server 730 of the message service provider company according to the present invention. Forward the message).

The messaging service server 730 receives the message from the MO gateway 720 via the gateway agent 732 and stores the message in the messaging service database 734. The message transmitter 736 transfers the message stored in the messaging service database 734 to the subscriber set top box based on the subscriber telephone number of the set top box 740 written in the first line of the message.

8A to 8B are diagrams illustrating screen configurations for message arrival notification and reply.

Referring to FIG. 8A, when receiving a message from a mobile phone or another set-top box while broadcasting a program through a predetermined channel, the set-top box displays an alarm message 810 indicating the arrival of a message on one side of the screen. There is a colored button in the alarm message, and the user can select the alarm message using the same colored button on the remote control.

When the user selects an alarm message, the message is displayed superimposed on the channel program, and a reply button exists below the message display (810 in FIG. 8B). When the user presses the reply button 820, a message composition screen as shown in FIG. 6 appears, and the number of the person who sent the message is automatically entered in the received number.

The invention can also be embodied as computer readable code on a computer readable recording medium. The computer-readable recording medium includes all kinds of recording devices in which data that can be read by a computer system is stored. Examples of computer-readable recording media include ROM, RAM, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, floppy disk, optical data storage, and the like, and may also be implemented in the form of a carrier wave (for example, transmission over the Internet). Include. The computer readable recording medium can also be distributed over network coupled computer systems so that the computer readable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion.

So far I looked at the center of the preferred embodiment for the present invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be implemented in a modified form without departing from the essential features of the present invention. Therefore, the disclosed embodiments should be considered in descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. The scope of the present invention is shown in the claims rather than the foregoing description, and all differences within the scope will be construed as being included in the present invention.

 According to the present invention, a user may move to a messaging service menu screen to receive a messaging service, or write a message while watching a predetermined channel and transmit or receive the message to a mobile phone and another set-top box.

In addition, as the user's TV viewing time increases, when members want to send and receive a predetermined message between members using the same space, a message may be left using a messaging function through a set-top box instead of a conventional paper message.

Claims (7)

A return path unit for receiving a message including a receiving side identification number from the subscriber settop box; And If the identification number included in the received message is a representative number of a messaging service provider, the telephone number of the set-top box subscriber included in the message is identified, and the message is transmitted to the set-top box corresponding to the subscriber's phone number. If the mobile number is a gateway agent for transmitting a message to the mobile communication network corresponding to the mobile phone; Messaging service device using a set-top box comprising a. The method of claim 1, When the gateway agent receives the message from the mobile phone, the messaging service device using the set-top box, characterized in that for transmitting the message to the set-top box corresponding to the telephone number of the set-top box subscriber included in the message. The method of claim 1, And the gateway agent transmits the message to a server for the specific service if the identification number is assigned to a specific service provider registered in advance. Receiving a message including a receiving side identification number from the subscriber settop box; And If the identification number included in the received message is a representative number of a messaging service provider, the telephone number of the set-top box subscriber included in the message is identified, and the message is transmitted to the set-top box corresponding to the subscriber's phone number. If the mobile number is a mobile communication network corresponding to the step of transmitting a message; Messaging service method using a set-top box comprising a. Selecting a message writing space on one side of the screen and an input mode of Korean / English / special characters for writing a message to create a predetermined message; If the receiving side of the message is a mobile phone, the mobile number is entered into a receiving number. If the receiving side of the message is another set-top box, a predetermined registered messaging service representative number is entered into the receiving number. Entering a subscriber's telephone number; Inputting a telephone number of a sender; And And transmitting a message based on the received number and the phone number of another set-top box subscriber. The method of claim 5, wherein the screen, A message input area for providing the message composition space and the mode selection button; A message archive area for displaying a message archive including the number of received messages and the number of sent messages; And Messaging service method using a set-top box comprising a; advertising area for displaying a banner advertisement on a side of the screen according to a predetermined schedule. Displaying a messaging service screen on one side of the screen while overlapping the program while watching a program of a predetermined channel; After composing a message through the message service screen, if the receiving party of the message is a mobile phone, the mobile phone number is input to the receiving number. If the receiving party of the message is another set-top box, a predetermined registered messaging service representative number is entered into the receiving number. Inputting the telephone number of the other set-top box subscriber to the message; Inputting a telephone number of a sender; And And transmitting a message based on the received number and the phone number of another set-top box subscriber.

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