KR20060114546A - System and method for vod service in digital multimedia broadcasting - Google Patents

Abstract

A system and a method for providing a VOD(Video On Demand) service in digital multimedia broadcasting are provided to easily perform a reservation setting related to broadcasting programs of various channels. A program storage member(100) stores a digital multimedia broadcasting program broadcasted from a channel of each broadcasting company. A communication connection member(20) is a communication interface member and connected to a reservation information setting device(200) and a reception terminal(300) via a network. A meta data generating member(30) generates meta data related to the reservation setting program according to the user's reservation setting information. A reservation information storage member(40) stores the user information and meta data of the reservation setting program.

Description

System and Method for VOD Service in Digital Multimedia Broadcasting

1 is a block diagram illustrating an operation state of a VOD service system in digital multimedia broadcasting according to the present invention.

2 illustrates an example of a reservation setting screen provided by a web page of a VOD service system according to the present invention.

3 shows a detailed configuration of a VOD service system according to the present invention.

4 illustrates an example in which user information and metadata are stored in a reservation information storage unit.

5 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a service process provided by a VOD service system according to the present invention.

The present invention relates to a video on demand (VOD) service system and method of digital multimedia broadcasting, and more particularly, to allow a user to set a reservation for a program scheduled to be broadcast in digital multimedia broadcasting. The present invention relates to a VOD service system and method for digital multimedia broadcasting for providing a service for transmitting a corresponding part of the reserved broadcast program to a user's receiving terminal according to a user's request.

Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (hereinafter, also referred to as 'DMB') is a type of broadcast that enables viewing of high-definition digital broadcasting through a dedicated terminal. DMB can watch any program anytime, anywhere, compared to the conventional fixed-type broadcasting, where traditional terrestrial TV, cable TV, satellite broadcasting, etc. can be watched only by sitting in front of the TV receiver at a fixed time. The so-called 'mobile personal viewing form' can be called a broadcast. The DMB is a next generation mobile multimedia medium, and it is possible to provide various programs such as music videos, movies, games, and the like, provided in the existing broadcasting.

In a DMB environment where various broadcast programs are provided, each broadcaster may provide a Video On Demand (hereinafter referred to as VOD) service for a user who wants to watch a program once broadcast.

For example, the VOD service is a method of allowing a user to select and watch a broadcast program that he / she wants to watch from among programs provided on the web site while being connected to an internet web site operated by a broadcasting company. In this case, after accessing the website, the user can go through the process of membership authentication and the like, and then select the program that he / she wants to watch.

However, in a digital multimedia broadcasting environment in which various broadcasting programs (broadcast contents) are provided through various channels, it is inconvenient for a user to find and watch a broadcasting program desired by the user.

For example, in general, the VOD service is provided through a different website for each broadcaster. Therefore, when a user wants to watch a broadcast program on a channel of several broadcasters, the user must access the website for each member and go through a member authentication process. There is a hassle. In addition, when there are a plurality of service requests for a specific broadcast program in the same time zone, problems such as streaming interruption may occur due to load of a server.

On the other hand, as another method for the user to watch the already broadcast program, there is a method using a reservation recording system having a separate VOD set-top box and data storage means. This is a method of setting a reservation recording in advance so that a user can see a program that he / she wants to watch later. However, such a reservation recording system must provide a separate recording device and storage means, and because the size of the file capacity is large due to the characteristics of the broadcast program, it takes up a lot of file data storage space, and therefore it is necessary to purchase these devices from the user's point of view. There is a burden. In this case, when making reservations for various broadcasting programs provided by various channels, it is necessary to check the broadcasting time or program name of the channel and program to be reserved and input them through the input key button of the reservation recording device. There is this.

Furthermore, in such a reservation recording system, there is a problem in that programs that are broadcast at the same time on different channels cannot be reserved and recorded at the same time. Therefore, even if there are a plurality of programs that the user wants to reserve recording, if a program overlaps broadcasting time, only one program should be selected.

As described above, the conventional VOD service is inconvenient for a user to use in an environment in which various broadcasting companies provide various broadcasting programs through several channels, particularly in a digital multimedia broadcasting environment.

Therefore, in a broadcasting environment in which various programs are provided through various channels, there is a demand for a VOD service system that can be more conveniently used by a user.

Accordingly, the present invention is to enable a user to use the VOD service more conveniently in a digital multimedia broadcasting environment. To this end, the present invention allows a user to reserve a desired broadcast program, and when a user's request for reservation is set, the program, which is reserved according to the setting information, can be transmitted to the user's receiving terminal. To provide a VOD service system and method in a digital multimedia broadcasting environment.

The VOD service system of the present invention for achieving the above object, the program storage unit for storing a broadcast program; A communication connection unit for accessing a network to receive broadcast program information reserved by a user; A metadata generator for generating metadata on a corresponding part of a digital multimedia broadcasting program reserved by a user according to the reservation information; A reservation information storage unit for storing user information and the metadata; And when a request for receiving a broadcast program reserved by the user is received, extracting a corresponding part of the program reserved by the user from a program storage unit according to the information recorded in the metadata, and transmitting the extracted part to a user's receiving terminal. It characterized in that it comprises a control unit.

In addition, the VOD service method according to an embodiment of the present invention, receiving the reservation setting information of the broadcast program from the user; Generating metadata of a reserved program according to the received reservation setting information; Generating a video clip for a corresponding broadcast part according to the information recorded in the metadata when a request for receiving a broadcast program is received from the user; And extracting the generated video clip and transmitting the extracted video clip to a receiving terminal of the user.

Hereinafter, a VOD service system and method in digital multimedia broadcasting of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram showing the operation of the VOD service system 100 in the digital multimedia broadcasting according to the present invention. As shown, the service system 100 of the present invention is connected to the user's reservation information setter 200 and the user's receiving terminal 300 through the network (1), respectively.

The reservation information setter 200 is a terminal for a user to input reservation setting information of a program. The user may access the service system 100 through the reservation information setter 200 and reserve the program that he / she wants to watch among programs scheduled for broadcasting. As the reservation information setter 200, a personal computer 210 or a portable terminal 220 having an internet access function may be used. In addition, it is possible to configure the user to access the ARS automatic guidance system provided by the VOD service system 100 through the voice call phone 230 to make a reservation setting.

FIG. 2 is program information of a broadcast program provided by a web page of the VOD service system 100 so that a user may easily set a reservation. As shown in the drawing, the program information includes information about a program name (A1, B1, C1, D1 ...), a broadcast time, and the like that are scheduled to be broadcast in each channel.

The user may make reservations by setting a program unit for each channel or reserve a logical program by directly inputting a desired time while checking the organization information through the screen of the reservation information setter 200 configured as shown in FIG. 2. The selection of the program may be input through, for example, an input means such as a mouse or a keyboard on a window screen.

The reservation setting state of FIG. 2 will now be described in detail. In the upper left of the program listing table of FIG. 2, the display of 'User1' is an ID of a currently connected user, and the date in the upper right ('October 10, 2005') is a date when the program is broadcast. Arrows on either side of the date can be configured to move the date, thereby allowing the user to check the program schedule of the desired date.

At the top of the screen of FIG. 2, a plurality of channels are arranged so that a user can select a specific channel. As such, the user may be provided with broadcasting schedule information of a desired channel and a desired date.

On the other hand, looking at the state set by the user, it can be seen in the upper portion of the screen of FIG. The table at the bottom of the screen in FIG. 2 is for setting a logic program. The logic program is a kind of edited broadcast program, which allows a user to watch a plurality of reservation setting programs set by the user as if they were a single broadcast program.

Referring to the setting information of the logic program shown in FIG. 2, the user broadcasts the program 'B1' broadcasted on October 10, 2005 on channel 1 and on October 13, 2005, 09: 45-10: 40 on channel 3. To be included in the first logical program 'LP1'.

As described above, when a plurality of broadcast programs broadcasted at different times and different channels are set as one logical program, they are continuously provided as if they were provided to a user.

The user can manage these logical programs by giving them their desired names. For example, names such as 'sports highlights' and 'music video collection' may be given.

Through the logical program setting table at the bottom of FIG. 2, a user may combine a desired broadcast program to generate a logic program, or modify or delete a logic program that has already been created.

As the second logical program 'LP2', it can be seen that a broadcast portion broadcasted from 11:00 to 11:50 on October 11, 2005 on channel 4 is set.

On the other hand, in the case of reservation setting through the ARS service provided by the VOD service system 100, a voice guidance service is provided so that a user connected to the ARS system can select a broadcast date, a broadcast channel, a broadcast program, and the like. Here, instead of selecting a broadcast program directly, voice guidance may be performed so that a user may directly input a desired reservation time.

In the VOD service system 100 of the present invention, metadata for a program that is reserved according to the reservation setting information is generated and stored in the reservation information storage unit 40 together with the user information. In the state of storing the user information and metadata, if there is a request from the user for the reserved program, the corresponding program information is extracted from the program storage unit 10 and the corresponding program information is received through the network. To send). Here, the program storage unit 10 is a storage means for storing a digital multimedia broadcasting program. The program storage unit 10 stores a program that has already been broadcasted and provides a corresponding program when a user request is made. Detailed configuration of the VOD service system 100 of the present invention will be described later.

The receiving terminal 300 accesses the VOD service system 100 through a network and receives a program reserved by the user from the VOD service system 100. The VOD service system 100 provides the user with reservation setting information of the connected user, so that the reserved program can be easily selected and viewed.

As the receiving terminal 300, a personal computer 310, a digital multimedia broadcasting terminal 320 having a mobile communication function, a digital multimedia broadcasting terminal 330, and the like may be used. The network to which a program is transmitted is packet-based. It can be configured to transmit over either a network or a circuit-based network.

Referring to Figure 3 described in detail the configuration of the VOD service system 100 in the digital multimedia broadcasting of the present invention. As shown, the VOD service system 100 of the present invention includes a program storage unit 10, a communication connection unit 20, a metadata generation unit 30, a reservation information storage unit 40, and a control unit 50. Can be configured.

The program storage unit 10 is a storage unit for storing the digital multimedia broadcasting program broadcast in the channel of each broadcaster. The program storage unit 10 may be configured to store all the programs broadcast in the digital multimedia broadcasting channel one by one. Alternatively, the program may be configured to store only a program broadcast from a digital multimedia broadcasting channel having a reservation setting from a user.

The communication connection unit 20 is a communication interface means for connecting with the reservation information setter 200 and the receiving terminal 300 via a network. The communication connection unit 20 becomes a passage for receiving reservation setting information set by the user from the reservation information setter 200, and receives a requested program when a request is received from the user for the reserved program. It is a passage for transmitting to the terminal 300. The reservation setting information of the user input from the reservation information setter 200 is applied to the metadata generator 30.

The metadata generator 30 generates metadata about a program that is reserved according to the user's reservation setting information. For example, if a user sets a reservation for a specific program of a specific channel or sets a reservation by setting a specific time range, the channel on which the program is broadcast, the broadcast date of the corresponding program, the start time and end time of the broadcast, the reserved time Generate metadata such as Such metadata is stored in the reservation information storage unit 40 together with the user information. Here, the user information may include user registration information of the user, a terminal number of the receiving terminal 300 to receive the reserved program, and the like.

The reservation information storage unit 40 is a storage means for storing user information and metadata of a reserved program. An example of a form in which user information and metadata are stored in the reservation information storage unit 40 is illustrated in FIG. 4.

Specifically, a user having an ID of 'User1' reserves the 'A1' program and the 'D1' program among the broadcasts on October 10, 2005 of the channel 1, and also, as the logical program, the LP1 (*) and You can see that 'LP2 (*)' is reserved. The broadcasts included in the logical program 'LP1 (*)' are recorded from 09:45 to 10:40 during the October 10, 2005 broadcast of channel 1 and the October 13, 2005 broadcast of program B1. It can be seen that the broadcast. The broadcast portion included in the logical program 'LP2 (*)' can be seen that the broadcast portion of the broadcast on October 11, 2005 of the channel 4 is from 11:00 to 11:50.

In this way, the reserved program information can be stored and managed for each user. For a logical program set by the user, a mark such as '(*)' can be displayed after the program name to distinguish it from other broadcasting programs. In addition, the remarks column may display the name (eg, 'B1') of a broadcast program included in the logical program.

On the other hand, in Figure 4, a user having an ID of 'User2', reserved for the program 'E1' of the broadcast on October 11, 2005 of Channel 1, a user having an ID of 'User3', 2005 in the channel 5 You can see that 'F5' program is set as a reservation on October 15, 2011.

If there is a request for reception of a broadcast program reserved by the user, the controller 50 stores the corresponding part of the program reserved by the user according to the information recorded in the reservation information storage unit 40. Extract from the) and transmits to the receiving terminal 300 of the user. In this case, the controller 50 generates a video clip of the corresponding program according to the preset time and transmits the video clip to the receiving terminal 300 of the user.

For example, in the state of reservation as shown in FIG. 4, a user having an ID of 'User1' accesses the service system 100 of the present invention and checks his own reservation setting information, and then selects the 'A1' program of channel 1. Then, the control unit 50 will generate a video clip for the 'A1' program broadcasting part of channel 1 stored in the program storage unit 10 according to the reservation setting information of the metadata and transmit it to the receiving terminal 300. .

In addition, if the user receives a request for the logical program, the video clip for the broadcasting part included in the logical program will be generated and transmitted to the user's receiving terminal 300. For example, when the reception request for the logical program 'LP1 (*)' is made in the reserved state as shown in FIG. 4, the channel 1, which is the broadcast included in the logical program 'LP1 (*)', is October 10, 2005. On the broadcasted program 'B1' and channel 3, the broadcast portion during October 13, 2005 09: 45 ~ 10: 40 is extracted from the program storage unit 10, and a video clip is generated and the generated video clip is generated. It transmits to the receiving terminal 300 of the user.

Meanwhile, when the user accesses the service system 100 of the present invention to watch a program set by the user, the reservation setting information provided to the user may be provided in a format as shown in FIG. 4. In this case, the description part of the reserved program (for example, 'A1' and 'LP1 (*)') is processed as a hyperlink so that when the user selects the description part, the user can watch the corresponding broadcast program. Can be.

5 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a service process provided by a VOD service system in a digital multimedia broadcasting of the present invention. Referring to this, the service process of the present invention will be described below.

A user who wants to set a reservation for a program to be broadcasted, first accesses the VOD service system of the present invention through a network (S10). The VOD service system 100 may induce a user who is initially connected to join a member, and input a terminal number of the receiving terminal 300 to receive a program when registering. If you access later, you can log in using the ID and password you set when you registered.

As such, when the user accesses the VOD service system 100 through the receiving terminal 300, the VOD service system 100 may allow the user to easily set a program that he / she wants to reserve, for example, a broadcast program. It is possible to provide the user's organization information. As described above with reference to FIG. 2, in this case, the user may easily select a desired program and set a reservation while viewing the knitting information displayed on the screen of the receiving terminal 300 (S20). The user can create a logical program by setting a reservation by a program unit or by setting a reservation by a specific range of time units.

When reservation is set by the unit of time, the user may set only a portion that he / she wants to watch in a specific program. For example, if a user wants to view only the headline information and weather information of a news program, in general, in the news program, the headline information and weather information are broadcast at the beginning and the end of the program, respectively, so that the user can start after the first start of the news program. You can only schedule 5 minutes and 5 minutes before the end. In addition, the user can set a reservation time range to include two or more programs that are continuously broadcast.

The reservation setting information of the user set as described above is transmitted to the metadata generator 30 in the VOD service system 100. Under the control of the control unit, the metadata generating unit 30 generates metadata corresponding to the reserved program based on the reservation setting information (S30). The configuration information of the metadata may include a broadcast channel, a broadcast date and a broadcast time of a corresponding program, a range of a reservation time set by a user, and the like.

The metadata generated by the metadata generator 30 is stored and managed in the reservation information storage unit 40 together with the user information. By generating and storing the metadata as described above, when the user checks the reservation setting information of the user and selects a specific program to receive the request, the control unit 50 quickly requests the requested program according to the information recorded in the metadata. Can be provided to the user. In addition, it is possible to easily grasp information about which program has a plurality of reservation settings. Therefore, the system administrator may be prepared for a program that is reserved from a plurality of users, for problems such as simultaneous connection.

In the state in which the reserved user information and the metadata are stored as described above, if the reserved broadcast program is stored in the program storage unit 10 and there is a request for program reception from the user, the controller 50 according to the contents recorded in the metadata. Create a video clip of a reserved program (S40). The controller 50 transmits the video clip generated as described above to the receiving terminal 300 of the receiver (S50).

On the other hand, the V-audio service system according to the present invention, when a program set by the user is stored in the program storage unit 10 becomes a viewable state, it can notify the user through a text message (SMS), etc. have. Furthermore, even when the programs stored in the program storage unit 10 are already stored in the operation policy, the user who has made a reservation for the programs to be deleted may be notified of this through a text message (SMS).

While specific embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, the technical spirit of the present invention is not limited to the accompanying drawings and the above description, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. It is self-evident to those who have the common knowledge of.

For example, instead of configuring the program storage unit inside the VOD service system in the digital multimedia broadcasting, the VOD service system broadcasts by connecting the VOD service system in the digital multimedia broadcasting of the present invention and a program database owned by each broadcasting company through a network. It would also be possible to configure the program to be received from the operator's program database and provided to the user, and variations of this type would fall within the scope of the claims of the present invention without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

According to the present invention, a user can easily set a reservation for programs broadcast on various channels, and can easily search for and view a reserved program.

Claims (11)

A program storage unit for storing a digital multimedia broadcasting program; A communication connection unit connected to a network to receive reservation information of a digital multimedia broadcasting program set by a user; A metadata generator for generating metadata on a corresponding part of a digital multimedia broadcasting program reserved by a user according to the reservation information; A reservation information storage unit for storing user information and the metadata; And If there is a request for receiving a broadcast program reserved by the user, the control unit extracts a corresponding portion of the program reserved by the user from a program storage unit according to the information recorded in the metadata and transmits the corresponding part to the receiving terminal of the user. V-audio service system in a digital multimedia broadcasting comprising a. The method of claim 1, And a web server which provides a web page on which the program schedule information is displayed to the user's reservation information setter so that the user can set the reservation. The method of claim 2, The web page is configured to display a program scheduled to be broadcast for each channel, and allow the user to set a reservation for each broadcast program or set a reservation for each time by inputting a specific range of time. VOD service system in multimedia broadcasting. Receiving reservation setting information of a broadcast program from a user; Generating metadata of a reserved program according to the received reservation setting information; Generating a video clip for a corresponding broadcast part according to the information recorded in the metadata when a request for receiving a broadcast program is received from the user; And And extracting the generated video clip and transmitting the extracted video clip to a receiving terminal of a user. The method of claim 4, wherein Prior to receiving the reservation setting information from the user, further comprising the step of providing the user with the programming information of the broadcast program so that the user can search for the program that he wants to reserve VOD service method. The method of claim 4, wherein The user's reservation setting is a VOD service method for digital multimedia broadcasting, characterized in that the reservation is set in units of broadcast programs or the time is set in units of time by inputting a specific range of time. The method of claim 4, wherein The reservation setting of the user, V-audio service method in the digital multimedia broadcasting, characterized in that the broadcasting time and / or channel can be set to overlap for the program broadcast on the same date. The method of claim 4, wherein When the user reserves two or more broadcast parts to be included in one logical program, when the user receives a request, one video clip is generated for the two or more broadcast parts and transmitted to the user's receiving terminal. V-audio service method in digital multimedia broadcasting. The method of claim 4, wherein The metadata may include information on a broadcast channel, a broadcast date and a broadcast time of the reserved program, and a range of a reserved time set by a user. The method of claim 4, wherein When the program set by the user becomes available for transmission to the user, notifying the receiving terminal of the user through a text message (SMS). . The method of claim 4, wherein In the case of deleting the already stored programs in the program storage unit, further comprising the step of notifying to the user's receiving terminal through a text message (SMS) to the user who made a reservation for the deletion target programs; VOD service method in digital multimedia broadcasting.

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