KR20070083280A - Search apparatus and method for broadcasting program - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for searching a broadcasting program are provided to extract user search preference on the basis of viewing pattern information and history information of a user and reflect the extracted user search preference to the search of the program. A search preference extracting unit(214) extracts user search preference from broadcasting viewing information of a user. The first program search unit(216) searches program information corresponding to the program search of the user. The second program search unit(217) reflects the searched result of the program to the extracted user search preference and researches program information. A search result output unit(218) outputs the searched result of the second program search unit(217) on a screen.

Description

Search apparatus and method for broadcasting program

1 is a block diagram showing a broadcast receiving apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a detailed configuration diagram of the search preference management unit of FIG. 1. FIG.

3 is a diagram illustrating a program search result according to the present invention.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a broadcast program search method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of setting a broadcast program search option according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings>

110 Tuner and demodulator 120 Demultiplexer

130 ... Decoder 131 ... Audio Decoder

132 Video Decoder 133 Data Decoder

141 Speaker 142 Display

150 ... memory 160 ... storage control

170 storage unit 180 graphics processing unit

190 ... controller 200 ... EPG generator

210 ... Search Preference Manager 211 ... User Input Interpreter

212 ... Viewing pattern table 213.History table

214 ... Search Preferences Extractor 215 ... Search Preferences Store

216 ... First Program Searcher 217 ... Second Program Searcher

218 ... search result output

The present invention relates to a broadcast program search apparatus and method for improving a program search function by using a viewing pattern and / or history of a user.

Recently, as digital broadcasting is accelerating, high quality and high quality broadcasting through satellites, terrestrial waves, and cables are being started. Compared to the existing analog TV, digital broadcasting provides not only high definition and high sound quality but also various additional services.

Digital broadcasting uses QPSK / VSB / QAM transmission method through existing satellite / ground / cable band by compressing high quality / high quality A / V using video / audio compression method (MPEG-2, AC-3). It can be delivered to each user, thereby providing a variety of services in one channel accordingly.

In digital broadcasting, video and audio streams are compressed into digital information, and system information and program information are compressed and broadcast in accordance with the Program and System Information Protocol (PSIP) standard. At this time, the information related to the broadcast program is decoded from data other than the video and audio information, and the program related information is displayed on the screen and informed to the user through an electronic program guide (EPG).

The EPG information is stored in the internal memory, and the stored EPG information is provided in the form of a table so that the user can check it through the user interface and use convenient functions such as channel change, reservation recording, and reservation viewing on the screen. .

In addition, the digital TV is provided with a storage device for implementing a convenient function, and the user can record a digital broadcasting program desired by the user. That is, the storage device performs the functions of scheduled recording, instant recording, and scheduled viewing.

In the case of terrestrial waves, it is possible to provide more than 4 channels of SD grade and 1 channel of HD grade in one existing channel. Unlike in the past, it was possible to receive various broadcasting channels through cable or satellite broadcasting. At the present time, there are several ways to effectively isolate and manage at least 50 and as many as 100 channels.

As such, the user searches for a desired program among broadcast programs received from many channels and programs recorded in the storage device by using a program guide (EPG) or a keyword.

However, when the list of searched programs is large, there is an inconvenience in that the user re-searches using the up / down keys of the input device on the search screen.

It is a first object of the present invention to provide a broadcast program search apparatus and method for performing a program search faster based on a viewing pattern information and / or usage history information of a user.

It is a second object of the present invention to provide a broadcast program search apparatus and method for extracting a user search preference based on viewing pattern information and history information and reflecting the same in a program search.

Broadcast program search apparatus according to the present invention for achieving the above object,

Means for extracting a user search preference from broadcast viewing information of the user; First searching means for searching for program information corresponding to a program search of a user; Second search means for re-searching the search results of the program by reflecting the extracted user search preferences; And output means for outputting a search result of the second search means on a screen.

Preferably, the apparatus further comprises user input analysis means for receiving a user's input key signal and analyzing the broadcast, and means for storing broadcast viewing information analyzed by the user input analysis means.

Preferably, the broadcast viewing information is a user's broadcast viewing pattern and usage history information.

Preferably, the first search means is for searching from the recorded program, the reserved program, and the electronic program guide information.

Preferably, the second search means is characterized by reflecting the user search preference by the user's hot key the results searched by the first search means.

The broadcast program search method according to another embodiment of the present invention includes extracting a user search preference using broadcast viewing information of a user; Searching for a corresponding program by a program search request of a user; Re-searching the program search result by reflecting a user search preference; And providing the re-searched program search result to the user.

Preferably, the broadcast viewing information includes a broadcast viewing pattern and / or usage history information of the user.

The method may further include extracting and storing the user's key signal input from the input apparatus as broadcast viewing information.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings as follows.

1 is a block diagram showing a broadcast receiving apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, one or more tuners and demodulators 110 for receiving and demodulating broadcast data, a demultiplexer 120 for demultiplexing the demodulated broadcast data into video, audio, and additional data; A decoder 130 for decoding and outputting the demultiplexed video, audio, and additional data; a speaker 141 for outputting the decoded audio to the outside; a display unit 142 for outputting the decoded video; Memory 150 for storing additional information, a storage controller 160 for controlling the storage of broadcast programs, a storage device 170 for storing broadcast programs, and various types of information for a user interface. The graphic processing unit 180 for output to the display unit 142, the user's key input, such as watching, recording, reservation function, the control unit 190 for guiding the broadcast program information, additional day From a block containing a search rating management unit 210 for managing the preference search for the EPG generating unit 200, a search program for generating the EPG information.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the search preference manager 210 may include a user input analyzer 211 that interprets a user's key signal, a viewing pattern table 212 that stores the analyzed user viewing pattern, A history table 213 storing a usage history according to a seed key input, a search preference extracting unit 214 extracting search preferences from the viewing pattern table and the history table, and a search preference storing unit storing the extracted search preferences 215, a first program search unit 216 for searching for a program, a second program search unit 16 for re-searching the program search result based on a user search preference, and the second program search result. It is a configuration including a search result output unit 218 to output.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, a broadcast program search apparatus and method according to the present invention configured as described above will be described.

Referring to FIG. 1, the tuner and demodulator 110 tunes and demodulates a broadcast signal and outputs the demodulated signal. Here, the tuner and the demodulator 110 may be configured in plural for a function such as a PIP, and the broadcast signal includes a broadcast received through a satellite / terrestrial wave / cable.

The demultiplexer 120 demultiplexes the demodulated data in the inverse of the multiplexing method in the transmission system, and the demultiplexed audio, video, and additional information are output to the decoder 130.

The decoder unit 130 decodes the encoding scheme in the transmission system, and includes an audio decoder 131, a video decoder 132, and a data decoder 133. The audio decoder 131 decodes the demultiplexed audio signal and outputs the demultiplexed audio signal to the speaker 141. The video decoder 132 decodes the demultiplexed video signal and outputs the demultiplexed video signal to the display unit 142. Here, the display unit 142 processes the decoded video signal by a video processor (not shown) and outputs the processed signal.

The data decoder 133 decodes the demultiplexed side information and outputs side information data such as program specific information (PSI) and broadcast guide information. Here, the PSI information and the broadcast guide information may include a program map table (PMT), a program association table (PAT), a virtual channel table (VCT), a conditional access table (CAT), and a network information (NIT). Table) and the like.

The program specific information (PSI) includes information required to perform a basic operation of the receiver, and includes a program association table (PAT), a conditional access table (CAT), a program management table (PMT), and the like. The information consists of practical information for program guidance. The information includes a network information table (NIT), a service description table (SDT), a time date table (TDT), and an event information table (EIT).

Meanwhile, the digital broadcast program transmitted by the ATSC method may be recorded on a recording medium of a recording / reproducing apparatus through an external interface (for example, IEEE1394). For example, the IEEE 1394 is specified to transmit information on a program using PAT, PMT, etc. of PSI (Program specification information).

The EPG generator 200 processes the PSI and the broadcast guide information into EPG information and then outputs it through the display unit 142 if desired by the user. In this case, the graphic processor 180 is an on screen display (OSD) or a graphical user interface (GUI), and processes and outputs the EPG information or program information on a screen of the display unit 142 as a graphic.

The memory 150 stores the generated EPG information and other additional information. The memory 150 may be configured as an EEPROM.

The storage controller 160 records the broadcast program received from the user or data input from the outside in the storage device 170 when there is a recording request, a reservation recording request, recording playback, or the like from the user. Here, the storage device 170 may be configured as, for example, an HDD as a mass storage device.

The controller 190 receives a user's key signal and controls broadcast signal channel control, channel up / down, and a function corresponding to various setting items.

In addition, the user can watch a broadcast program or search for information such as a program guide (EPG) by using an input device such as a remote controller. Since the input device is assigned an alphabet, a Korean alphabet, etc. together with the numeric keys, the program can be searched by inputting or selecting a keyword or genre using such a key signal.

The search preference manager 210 analyzes various pieces of information input from the input device to store and accumulate the broadcasting viewing information of the user, extracts the search preference of the user using the accumulated information, and then reflects the result in the program search result. Done.

The broadcast viewing information uses a user's viewing pattern and usage history information. Here, the viewing pattern information is information representing the viewing pattern of the user divided by genre, channel, time zone, day of the week, and the like. The usage history information records a series of commands that the user recently input (for example, one week). It is a data set, and includes key signals to be input, most selected channels, keywords, and the like.

The search preference manager 210 extracts a user search preference using the broadcast viewing information of the user as described above, and reflects it in the program search result.

In detail, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the search preference manager 210 may include a user input analyzer 211, a viewing pattern / history table 212 and 213, a search preference extractor 214, and a search preference store 215. ), A first program search unit 216, a second program search unit 217, and a search result output unit 218.

The user input analyzer 211 interprets a key signal input from the input apparatus, and stores the key signal input in the viewing pattern table 212 or / and the history table 213 according to the analyzed result. In addition, keyword or genre information for program search is also recorded as the broadcast viewing information.

The search preference extracting unit 214 extracts a user search preference using the viewing pattern table and the history table. In this case, the user search preference may use some information having a relatively high frequency as search preference information by using a broadcasting station, a genre, a channel, and a word. That is, the search preference information is extracted in proportion to the frequency or usage count information by the broadcasting station, genre, channel, word, or a combination thereof.

The search preference storage unit 215 stores the extracted user search preferences. These user search preferences are manually or automatically updated at intervals of one day, one week, and the like.

The first program search unit 216 is provided with a user interface, and performs a program search using search criteria such as a keyword or genre that the user wants to search for broadcast program guide or recording, and reserved programs, and The searched program search result is output to the second program search unit 217.

The second program search unit 216 compares the program search result with search preference information stored in the search preference storage unit 215 and outputs a program search result based on a user search preference. That is, the second program search unit 217 reflects the user preference information in the search result of the first program search unit 216.

When the second program search unit 217 performs a program search, the first program search unit 216 alphabetizes a broadcast program guide, a program genre, and a recording or scheduled recording program in a personal video recorder (PVR, etc.) product. Or, before showing the search results in the order of Hangul consonants or genres, the search is performed by reflecting the user search preference base. Accordingly, since the program search result of searching and re-search is reflected in the user search preference, the program list desired by the user is displayed.

The search result output unit 218 outputs the search result of the second program search unit 217 on the screen through a user interface. This search result output is output to the screen 220 as shown in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 3, a program search result is displayed with information such as a title (or genre) 221, a date 222, a time 223, a broadcasting station 224, a channel 225, and a user search preference. The higher (H) the higher the output.

The program search result screen may include a menu item 226, an option item 227, a hot key item 228, and the like. The menu item 226 is a menu of user search start, search end, etc. The option item 227 is an item in which the user can set the priority of the user search preference, and can set a broadcasting station, genre, and channel. . The hot key item 228 is an item to selectively use a user search preference. For example, when a user list is not checked in the option and a program list is displayed that does not reflect the user search preference, a program search result reflecting the user search preference may be obtained by selecting the provided hot key. This may vary according to the user's TV environment. For example, if the user only looks at the cable or does not have a lot of reserved recording programs, even if the program is searched, all the searched programs can be displayed on one screen, thereby preventing unnecessary calculations. . Therefore, the second search means is operated by the selection of the hot key to reflect the user search preferences in the program search results.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a broadcast program search method according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, input information of a user is analyzed (S101), and viewing pattern / history information is stored as broadcast viewing information of the user (S102).

Thereafter, search preferences are extracted and stored using the stored viewing pattern and history information (S103). Subsequently, if there is a program search command from the user (S104), the program search is performed from information such as a reserved program, a recorded program, a broadcast program guide, etc. based on the input keyword or genre (S105).

The searched program is compared with the search preferences to perform a re-search (106), and outputs the re-search result on the screen (S107). Accordingly, on the search result screen, the search result having the most preference is first displayed to the user. That is, among the searched results, the search result corresponding to the word or genre that the user watches or searches for is shown to the user first.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a search example using options for user search preferences according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, when a program search result is output (S111), it is checked whether there is an option adjustment of a broadcasting station, a genre, a channel item, and the like (S112). At this time, if there is an option adjustment, the search preference is updated based on the adjusted at least one option (S113). That is, when selecting a broadcasting station as an option, the user search preference having the broadcasting station as the highest priority is extracted.

Thereafter, if there is a re-search request (S114), the search result list is compared with the updated search preferences (S115), and the search results according to the search preferences are output (S116).

So far, the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments, and those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains to the detailed description of the present invention and other forms of embodiments within the essential technical scope of the present invention. Could be implemented. Here, the essential technical scope of the present invention is shown in the claims, and all differences within the equivalent range will be construed as being included in the present invention.

According to the broadcast program search apparatus and method according to the present invention, a program search method that is more convenient for a user is provided based on a user's program search preference extracted using a user's program viewing pattern and / or history.

In addition, there is an effect that it is possible to eliminate the inconvenience of the user's program search in a broadcast viewing environment with a relatively large number of channels.

Claims (9)

Means for extracting a user search preference from broadcast viewing information of the user; First searching means for searching for program information corresponding to a program search of a user; Second search means for re-searching the search results of the program by reflecting the extracted user search preferences; And output means for outputting a search result of the second search means on a screen. The method of claim 1, And a means for storing the broadcast viewing information analyzed by the user input analyzing means and receiving the input key signal of the user. The method of claim 1, And the broadcast viewing information is a broadcast viewing pattern and / or usage history information of a user. The method of claim 1, And said first search means searches from the recorded program, the reserved program, and the electronic program guide information. The method of claim 1, And the second search means reflects the user search preferences by the user's hot key with the results searched by the first search means. Extracting a user search preference using the broadcast viewing information of the user; Searching for a corresponding program by a program search request of a user; Re-searching the program search result by reflecting a user search preference; And providing the re-searched program search result to the user. The method of claim 6, The broadcast viewing information includes a broadcast viewing pattern and / or usage history information of the user broadcast program search method. The method of claim 6, And extracting and storing the user's key signal input from the input apparatus as broadcast viewing information. The method of claim 6, The user search preferences are adjusted by selection options for broadcasting stations, genres, and channels.

Images