KR20070014333A - Method and apparatus for providing broadcasting agent service - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for providing a broadcasting agent service are provided to supply information about a broadcasting program corresponding to watching propensity and tastes of a user, thereby extending supplementary functions in television watching and improving convenience of the user. An apparatus for providing a broadcasting agent service comprises an EPG(Electronic Program Guide) extractor(260), a program memory(274), a controller(270), and a taste database(276). If a user inputs a key input for setting a broadcasting agent, the controller(270) provides a screen for inquiring plural personal tastes and stores taste data inputted by the user. The controller(270) cumulatively collects statistics of watching frequency for a channel and broadcasting program that the user usually watches and stores the statistic result. The controller(270) extracts EPG information from a broadcasting signal when the user watches the broadcasting program and compares personal tastes with watching propensity. If there is a broadcasting program corresponding to the personal tastes and the watching propensity, the controller performs a control process so as to display and output information about the broadcasting program on a broadcasting screen that the user currently watches.

Description

Method and apparatus for providing broadcast agent service {Method and Apparatus for Providing Broadcasting Agent Service}

1 illustrates a TV screen which provides only conventional fragmentary broadcast information.

2 is a configuration diagram schematically showing a configuration of a digital TV apparatus to which a broadcast agent service providing method according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a broadcast agent service providing method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a broadcast agent service according to the present invention.

<Description of Symbols for Main Parts of Drawings>

200: digital TV device 210: tuner

220: Demux 230: Video Buffer

232: video decoder 240: audio buffer

242: audio decoder 250: data buffer

260: EPG extraction unit 262: EPG analysis unit

270: main control unit 272: memory

274: program memory 276: symbol database

280: OSD generation unit 290: Key input processing unit

292 remote control

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing a broadcast agent service. More particularly, the present invention relates to a broadcast signal based on a viewing tendency of a channel or a broadcast program frequently watched by a user, and a broadcasting taste, preference, preference, etc. input by the user. The present invention relates to a broadcast agent service providing method and apparatus for providing information on a broadcast program suitable for a user's viewing preference and preference through electronic program guide (EPG) information included in the information.

In general, digital television broadcasting provides dozens or hundreds of channels, which increases the choice of viewers and makes the program selection more complex. In order to solve such a problem, the channel mainly used by the user in all channels stored in the digital TV is designated as a favorite channel through a channel editing function.

That is, when the user executes the favorite channel function through the remote control while watching the digital broadcast, the digital TV displays the channel table on the OSD (On Screen Display) screen. Accordingly, the user selects a channel number to be designated as a favorite channel by using an up or down key on the remote controller and sets it as the preferred channel. If the user decides only the preference channel setting for the selected channel, the digital TV stores the list of channels set as the preferred channel as the preferred channel list.

Then, in the TV, when the user wants to switch to the favorite channel on the current broadcast channel, when the user selects the favorite channel function, the OSD screen shows the channel registered as the preferred channel, and the user remote control or key panel Through the up or down key to change the channel, or whenever pressing the preferred channel key provided on the remote control to change the channels registered as the preferred channel in order.

However, in addition to the aforementioned preference channel setting function, the digital TV device requires various additional functions in addition to the original function of watching a broadcast program due to a change in the broadcasting environment.

However, the existing broadcast apparatuses support only a fragmentary function for a user such as displaying a corresponding channel number of a broadcasting program currently viewed as shown in FIG. 1, and do not support a consistent and comprehensive function. There is a problem in that it lacks in many ways to provide convenience.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is included in a broadcast signal based on a viewing tendency of a channel or a broadcast program frequently watched by a user in a digital TV or the like, and a broadcasting taste, preference, preference, etc. input by the user. It is an object of the present invention to provide a broadcast agent service providing method and apparatus for providing information on a broadcast program that matches a user's viewing preference and preference through electronic program guide (EPG) information.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a broadcast agent service providing apparatus, comprising: an epiji extractor configured to extract EPG information from a broadcast stream; A program memory for storing a program for setting a broadcast agent and a program for providing a broadcast agent service by obtaining information on a broadcast program corresponding to a user's preference and viewing tendency from the information of the user; When there is a key input related to a broadcast agent setting by a user, a screen for querying a plurality of personal symbols is provided to store the symbol data input by the user, and to watch the channels and broadcast programs that the user normally watches. Cumulative statistics are stored and stored, and when the user watches a broadcast program, the user information is extracted from the broadcast signal, compared with the personal preference and the viewing tendency, and the broadcasting program corresponding to the personal preference and the viewing tendency If present, the control unit for controlling to display and output the information on the broadcast program on the currently viewed broadcast screen; And a preference database storing preference data for the personal preferences and storing viewing propensity data for channels and broadcast programs viewed by the user.

In addition, the broadcast agent service providing method according to the present invention includes a first step of setting a broadcast agent function; A second step of extracting effigy information from the received broadcast signal; A third step of determining whether there is a broadcast program suitable for personal preference and viewing tendency based on the information of the effigy; And a fourth step of providing a broadcast agent service on the current broadcast output screen.

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

First of all, in adding reference numerals to the components of each drawing, it should be noted that the same reference numerals are used as much as possible even if displayed on different drawings.

In addition, in describing the present invention, when it is determined that the detailed description of the related well-known configuration or function may obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a digital TV apparatus to which a broadcast agent service providing method according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

The digital TV device 200 to which the present invention is applied includes a tuner 210, a demultiplexer 220, an audio buffer 230, an audio decoder 232, and a video. Video Buffer 240, Video Decoder 242, Data Buffer 250, EPG Extractor 260, EPG Parser 262, Main Main Controller 270, Memory 272, Program Memory 274, Taste Database 276, On Screen Display Generator (OSD) Generator 280 ), A key input processor 290, a remote controller 292, and the like.

Here, the tuner 210 is for receiving a digital broadcast signal by tuning a specific broadcast channel according to a channel tuning command from the main controller 270, and the demux 220 is a digital broadcast received through the tuner 210. For parsing MPEG transport streams of signals into video, audio and data signals.

In addition, the audio buffer 230 is for buffering and temporarily storing the audio signal parsed by the demux 220, the audio decoder 232 is capable of decoding and outputting the audio signal through the audio buffer 230 It is to restore the original audio signal.

In addition, the video buffer 240 is for buffering and temporarily storing the video signal parsed by the demux 220, and the video decoder 242 decodes the video signal through the video buffer 240 to enable playback output. The data buffer 250 is for buffering and temporarily storing the data signal parsed by the demux 220.

In addition, the EPG extractor 260 extracts data related to the EPG from the TS (Transport Stream) stream, and the EPG analyzer 262 analyzes and interprets the EPG data input from the EPG extractor 260. do.

On the other hand, the main control unit 270, if there is a key input for setting the broadcast agent by the user, provides a screen for querying a plurality of personal symbols, and stores the symbol data input by the user in the symbol database 276, In addition, cumulative statistics are stored in the preference database 276, such as the frequency of viewing the channel and the broadcast program that the user normally watches. When the user watches a broadcast program, the EPG information is extracted from the broadcast signal, compared to correspond to the personal taste and the viewing tendency, and when there is a broadcast program corresponding to the taste and the viewing tendency of the user, Displays and outputs the information on the currently watched broadcasting screen as the OSD screen.

In addition, the memory 272 temporarily stores a channel selected by the user, or stores EPG information extracted from the TS stream, and the program memory 274 stores a program related to a broadcast agent setting and a user's preference and viewing tendency from the EPG information. The program stores information for outputting a broadcast agent service on a picture in picture (PIP) screen of an OSD screen by obtaining information about a broadcast program corresponding to the broadcast program. In this case, the broadcast agent service displays, for example, an OSD screen when a recently watched broadcast is currently being broadcast, displays a next broadcast or a recommended broadcast considering the user's preferences when the current broadcast ends, or the user manually. The relevant information about the registered channel is displayed.

The preference database 276 stores user response data, that is, preference data for a query of a personal preference, and stores viewing propensity data for channels and broadcast programs that the user watches.

The OSD generator 280 generates and outputs query information on personal preferences and broadcast agent service information suitable for a user's preference as a PIP image.

The key input processor 290 wirelessly receives a command signal for data selection from the remote controller 292, and the remote controller 292 functions to select a channel from a plurality of channel lists.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for providing a broadcast agent service according to an embodiment of the present invention.

First, in order to receive a broadcast agent service, a user operates a remote controller 292 or the like to perform key input for setting a broadcast agent function (S302).

Accordingly, the main controller 270 outputs a plurality of query contents for querying a user's preference according to a program related to a broadcast agent setting on an OSD screen (S304). Here, the contents of querying the user's preferences may include the contents of the broadcasting viewing habits such as what broadcasting programs are preferred and at what time. In addition, the query form may be a multiple choice form, and in the case of the short answer, the user may input the response contents in the Korean form using the remote controller 292.

The user inputs personal preference data in response to the preference query through the remote controller 292 or the like for each inquiry on the preference (S306).

The main controller 270 stores the personal symbol data input by the user in the symbol database 276 (S308).

Subsequently, when the user views a broadcast program, the main controller 270 accumulates statistics of the viewing frequency of the broadcast channel and the broadcast program to be viewed based on the user's channel selection and the EPG information of the broadcast program aired at that time. The obtained viewing tendency data is stored in the symbol database 276 (S310).

Meanwhile, after the broadcast agent function is set in the above-described process, the digital TV device 200 receives the video signal of the TS stream received through the tuner 210 according to the channel selection of the user through the demux 220. And separated into an audio signal and outputs to the screen or a speaker (S320).

Subsequently, the main controller 270 demultiplexes the TS stream tuned through the tuner 210 through the demux 220, and then, through the EPG extractor 260, information on each channel information and broadcast program in the broadcast signal. Extract the electronic program guide (EPG) information that is included, and analyzes the EPG information through the EPG analysis unit 262 (S322).

Here, the EPG information extracted from the broadcast signal is defined as one in PSIP (Program and System Information Protocol) together with system information (SI). Here, PSIP is a standard of the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) for terrestrial and cable digital broadcasting. It is defined to provide various information about a program by parsing MPEG-2 encoded messages. .

In addition, PSIP transmits and receives A / V data in MPEG-2 video and AC-3 audio formats, and transmits information about channels of each broadcasting station and information about each program of channels. Consists of In addition, a channel may be selected to support a main function of providing an A / V service of a desired broadcast and an EPG of a broadcast program, that is, an additional function of a broadcast guide service. At this time, channel information for channel selection and packet identification number (PID) for receiving A / V are transmitted through a virtual channel table (VCT), and EPG information of broadcast programs of each channel is EIT. It is transmitted through each event information table. The EIT has a title, a start time, etc., which are information about an event of a virtual channel, and one event is in most cases a typical TV program.

In addition, the table constituting the EPG includes an ID (unique number) for each information table included in the PSIP information, a size of each information table, a plurality of virtual channels (VCs) included in the current physical channel, and a frequency. MGT (Master Guide Table) / VCT (Virtual Channel Table) composed of name, channel number, modulation method, ID information of transport stream corresponding to channel, etc. RTT (Rating Region Table) for transmitting information about the system, ETT (Extended Text Message) containing the brief description of each channel and information about each program within each channel, ETT including channel ETM information and event ETM information (Extended Text Table), PAT (Program Association Table), PMT (Program Map Table) and the like.

Therefore, the main controller 270 stores the EPG information extracted from the broadcast signal in the memory 272 (S322).

Subsequently, the main controller 270 is based on the personal symbol data and the viewing propensity data stored in the preference database 276, and event information corresponding to the personal preference data and the viewing propensity data in the EPG information, that is, the broadcast channel and the like. It is checked whether a broadcast program exists (S324).

When there is a broadcast program corresponding to the user's personal preference data and viewing tendency data (S326), the main controller 270 currently broadcasts the screen through the OSD generator 280 as shown in FIG. 4. In operation S328, a broadcast agent service is provided. In this case, as shown in FIG. 4, the broadcast agent service displays an on-screen display that a program that is frequently watched recently by a user while watching channel 9 and a program called “My name is Sam Soon” of channel 11 is being broadcast. To display the output. In addition, at the end of the current broadcast, the next broadcast or a recommendation station considering the user's preferences is displayed, the schedule contents set by the user are displayed, or channel information registered manually by the user is displayed on the OSD screen. Can be.

As described above, according to the present invention, an electronic program guide (EPG) included in a broadcast signal based on a viewing tendency of a channel or a broadcast program that a user frequently watches, a broadcasting taste, a preference, a preference, etc. input by the user. Through the information, a broadcast agent service providing method and apparatus for providing information on a broadcast program corresponding to a user's viewing preference and preference may be realized.

The above description is merely illustrative of the technical idea of the present invention, and those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may make various modifications and changes without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention.

Therefore, the embodiments disclosed in the present invention are not intended to limit the technical idea of the present invention but to describe the present invention, and the scope of the technical idea of the present invention is not limited by these embodiments.

The protection scope of the present invention should be interpreted by the following claims, and all technical ideas within the equivalent scope should be interpreted as being included in the scope of the present invention.

As described above, according to the present invention, by providing information on a broadcasting program suitable for the user's viewing tendency and preferences, it is possible to expand additional functions in TV viewing and improve user convenience. There is.

Claims (7)

An epitaxial extracting unit for extracting EPG information from a broadcast stream; A program memory for storing a program for setting a broadcast agent and a program for providing a broadcast agent service by obtaining information on a broadcast program corresponding to a user's preference and viewing tendency from the information of the user; When there is a key input related to a broadcast agent setting by a user, a screen for querying a plurality of personal symbols is provided to store the symbol data input by the user, and to watch the channels and broadcast programs that the user normally watches. Cumulative statistics are stored and stored, and when the user watches a broadcast program, the user information is extracted from the broadcast signal, compared with the personal preference and the viewing tendency, and the broadcasting program corresponding to the personal preference and the viewing tendency If present, the control unit for controlling to display and output the information on the broadcast program on the currently viewed broadcast screen; And And a preference database for storing preference data for the personal preferences and storing viewing tendency data for channels and broadcast programs viewed by the user. The method of claim 1, The broadcast agent service may display an OSD screen when a recently watched broadcast is currently being broadcast, or display a next broadcast or a recommended broadcast in consideration of a user's preference when the current broadcast is terminated. And displaying related information on a manually registered channel. The method of claim 1, And a memory for storing the easy-to-be information extracted from the broadcast signal. The method of claim 1, The control unit, the broadcast agent service providing apparatus for generating and outputting the query information on the personal preferences and the broadcast agent service information according to the preferences of the user as a PIP image of the OS screen. Setting a broadcast agent function; Extracting effigy information from the received broadcast signal; A third step of determining whether there is a broadcast program suitable for personal preference and viewing tendency based on the information of the effigy; And And providing a broadcast agent service on a current broadcast output screen. The method of claim 5, In the first step, when there is a key input related to a broadcast agent setting by a user, a plurality of contents for querying a personal preference of the user are provided, the symbol data input by the user is stored, and the user A method for providing a broadcast agent service, comprising: accumulating and storing a viewing frequency of a channel and a broadcast program that are normally watched. The method of claim 5, The broadcast agent service of the fourth step may display an OSD screen when a broadcast which has been frequently watched recently is currently being broadcasted, or a recommendation broadcast considering the next broadcast or the user's preference at the end of the current broadcast. Or displaying related information about a channel manually registered by a user.

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