KR20080010862A - Telephone connecting method usign set-top box and apparatus for thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for a telephone connection service are provided to achieve telephone connection between a transmitter-sided terminal and a receiver-sided terminal just only by clicking a remote control unit button. A set-top box(210) transmits information, which is inputted from a remote control unit(101) of a user, to a return server(220), and displays information, which is transmitted from the return server, through a display device(102). The return server controls a telephone connection request of the set-top box, and communicates with an external network to perform telephone connection between a transmitter-sided terminal(500) and a receiver-sided terminal. A user information database(230) includes subscriber information, which is required for the return server to authenticate the set-top box, and information, which is required to perform a telephone connection service.

Description

Telephone connection service method using set-top box and device therefor {TELEPHONE CONNECTING METHOD USIGN SET-TOP BOX AND APPARATUS FOR THEREOF}

1 is a view schematically showing an entire telephone connection system including a telephone connection device using a set-top box according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a schematic flowchart of a telephone connection service method using a set-top box according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a schematic flowchart of a telephone connection service method using a set-top box according to another embodiment according to the present invention.

4 is a schematic flowchart of a telephone connection service method using a set-top box according to another embodiment according to the present invention.

The present invention relates to a service method for using a two-way Internet protocol television system based on a set-top box, a service method and an apparatus therefor for mutual telephone connection with the other party displayed on the television (hereinafter, 'TV') screen.

Internet Protocol Television (“IPTV”) is an interactive TV service provided by using a high-speed Internet network, and refers to a service that provides information service, video content, and broadcasting to a TV receiver using high-speed Internet. It is a type of digital convergence in terms of the convergence of the Internet and TV. The difference from the existing Internet TV is that it uses a TV receiver instead of a computer monitor and a remote controller instead of a mouse.

In order to use IPTV, only a TV set, a set-top box, and an Internet line need to be connected. Soon, you can add a set-top box or dedicated modem to your TV and turn it on just as you would turn it on. Therefore, even a person who is not familiar with a computer can use the remote controller to provide various contents and additional services provided by the Internet such as watching movies, home shopping, home banking, online games, and MP3s as well as searching the Internet.

IPTV has no difference from general cable broadcasting or satellite broadcasting in that it provides broadcasting contents such as video, but it is characterized by the added interactivity. Unlike general public broadcasting, cable broadcasting or satellite broadcasting, viewers can see only the programs they want to watch at a convenient time. Therefore, the initiative of TV broadcasting is passed from the broadcaster or the broadcaster to the viewer.

Due to the bi-directionality of IPTV, the demand for direct communication with the counterpart, which is a content provider provided by IPTV, is increasing. However, since IPTV provides a means for obtaining telephone number information of a content provider, that is, a counterpart, but does not provide a means for direct remote communication, the user uses a separate remote communication means to provide the IPTV system. There was a problem that the phone call to the other party was only available by pressing the phone number searched directly.

The present invention provides a telephone connection service method using a set-top box that enables the user of an IPTV to connect a telephone line between a calling party terminal, which is a user's communication device, and a called party terminal, which is a communication device of the other party, by simply clicking a remote control unit button. And an apparatus for this purpose.

Set-top box-based telephone connection device according to an embodiment of the present invention for realizing the above object,

A set-top box which transmits the information input from the user's remote controller unit to the return server and displays the information transmitted from the return server on the display device;

A return server controlling a telephone connection request of the set-top box and communicating with an external network to establish a telephone connection between the calling terminal and the called terminal; And,

And a user information database containing subscriber information necessary for the return server to authenticate the set-top box and information necessary to perform a telephone connection service.

In addition, the set-top box-based telephone connection service method according to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object,

In an Internet protocol television using a set top box,

Receiving, by the set-top box, a telephone connection service request message from the remote controller;

Generating, by the set-top box, a call connection service request message including the calling party terminal information and the called party terminal information to a return server; And,

The return server is configured to transmit the call connection request message to the service gateway through the parlay application server so that the calling terminal and the called terminal are connected.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, the same reference numerals are used for parts having similar functions and functions throughout the drawings.

1 is a view schematically showing an entire telephone connection system including a telephone connection device using a set-top box according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a telephone connection system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a user interface 100 including a remote controller unit 101 and a display device 102, and a telephone connection device 200 using a set-top box. , An open API system 300, a telephone connection network 400, a calling terminal 500, and a called terminal 600.

The user interface 100 displays a remote controller unit 101 which transmits a telephone connection service selection message or a telephone connection service request message to the set-top box 210, and displays the processing progress and results by the selection or request of the service. It includes a display device 102 for.

The telephone connection apparatus 200 using the set top box includes a set top box 210, a return server 220, and a user information database 230.

The set-top box 210 is a device used to receive cable or satellite broadcasting at home. The set-top box 210 is a device that enables various additional functions such as watching satellite or cable broadcasting on a TV or accessing the Internet. Connecting a communication line, such as a telephone line, cable TV network, ADSL to the set-top box 210, it is possible to easily search the Internet without a computer. The set top box 210 according to the present invention transmits the information input from the remote controller unit 101 to the return server 220, and again displays the information transmitted from the return server 220 on the display device 102. do. For example, the set top box 210 displays a service image on the display device 102 and simultaneously displays the other party's phone number and a target phone number corresponding to the selected service on the display device 102.

The return server 220 controls the call connection request of the set-top box 210 and communicates with an external network, such as a Parlay open API (Application Programming Interface) system. In FIG. 1, one set top box 210 is connected to the return server 220 for convenience of description, but the return server 220 according to the present invention is connected to two or more set top boxes 210. There may be.

The user information database 230 performs a telephone connection service as well as subscriber information such as subscriber ID and service ID for each set-top box 220 required for the return server 220 to authenticate the set-top box 210. Necessary information such as telephone number data of the calling terminal 500 and the called terminal 600 is included. The user information database 230 according to the present invention may not only exist as a separate device from the return server 220 as shown in FIG. 1, but is not shown in FIG. 1, but the return server 220 is shown. It is also preferable that it is built in.

The open API system 300 utilizes an open API that is a standardized open interface formed between the parlay application server 310 and the service gateway 320. As such, the open interface can develop a service independent of the characteristics of each network while using the network resources of the network operator using a standardized API, and can easily and quickly receive the service. Therefore, service developers can create services using communication network functions through simple API calls regardless of the type of communication network, and can naturally increase the use of the network in terms of network operators. You can enjoy the service.

The parlay application server 310 is located at a service layer of a communication network and accommodates an application using an open API. The parlay application server 310 applicable to the present invention preferably includes service logic for connecting the calling terminal 500 and the called terminal 600 to a telephone. In particular, the parlay application server 310 calls an open API by binding a network function necessary for transmitting and receiving messages with the user terminals 500 and 600.

The service gateway 320 is a gateway device that provides an abstracted network function as a service and performs an open API requested by the parlay application server 310. That is, when a call connection request between the calling terminal 500 and the called terminal 600 is received from the parlay application server 310, the service gateway 320 transmits the calling terminal through the dialing network 400. The call connection request is made to each of the 500 and the called terminal 600 in a manner suitable for each network type, and then the two terminals are connected by connecting a call path between the calling terminal 500 and the called terminal 600. Make a telephone connection between (500, 600).

The telephone connection network 400 is a network used to connect the calling terminal 500 and the called terminal 600 by the telephone connection service of the present invention. In FIG. 1, SSP, Soft-switch, PSTN, VoIP, H.323, SIP, NGN, and MSC are described as such a network, but it is used to connect the calling terminal 500 and the called terminal 600. It is intended to illustrate the type of network to be used, and not to limit the type.

The calling party terminal 500 and the called party terminal 600 connected to the telephone by the telephone connection service of the present invention are communication devices used at the calling party and the called party, as well as a telephone using a public telephone network, VoIP, H.323 And Internet telephones such as SIP.

Hereinafter, a telephone connection service method using a set top box according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4.

2 is a flowchart schematically showing a method for connecting a telephone service using a set-top box according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

First, when the set-top box 210 receives the telephone connection service request message from the remote controller unit 101 (S200), the set-top box 210 provides information necessary for telephone connection, for example, a call connection value, a user ID, and a calling terminal. The telephone number and the called terminal terminal number are transferred to the return server 220, and a telephone connection service is requested (S205). At this time, the information required for the telephone connection transmitted to the return server 220 may be written in HTTP form.

Next, the return server 220 authenticates whether the user 100 of the set-top box 210 has a right to use a telephone connection service through the user information database 230 (S210, S215). ). As a result of the authentication, if the user has the authority to use the telephone connection service, parly the telephone connection request information, for example, return server information, the calling terminal 500 telephone number, and the called terminal 600 telephone number. A call connection request is made while passing to the parlay application server 310 such as / OSA API and JAIN (S220). In this case, the information required for the telephone connection transmitted to the parlay application server 310 may be written in HTTP form.

Next, the parlay application server 310 receiving the telephone connection request makes a telephone connection request to the service gateway 320 (S225). At this time, the service gateway 320 requests a telephone connection while transferring the calling terminal 500 telephone number and the called terminal 600 telephone number to the service gateway 320 according to the message type defined in the standard. Accordingly, the service gateway 320 makes a call connection request to each of the calling terminal 500 and the called terminal 600 through the telephone connection network 400 in a manner suitable for each network type, and then the calling terminal. By connecting a call path between the 500 and the called terminal 600, a telephone connection between the two terminals 500 and 600 is attempted.

Next, the service gateway 320 collects the result value of the telephone connection of the step S230 (S235) and delivers it to the parlay application server 310 (S240), the parlay application server 310 returns it to the server 220 In step S245. At this time, the parlay application server 310 preferably writes the result value for the telephone connection in the form of HTTP and delivers it to the return server 220. Receiving a result value for the call connection request server 220 stores it in the user information database 230 (S250), and delivers it to the set-top box 210 (S255). The set top box 210 interprets the result of the transmitted telephone connection request, converts the result value into a message that can be understood by the user, and outputs the message to the display apparatus 102 (S260).

Next, when the called terminal 600 responds to the telephone connection attempt for the called terminal 600, for example, when the user of the called telephone 610 picks up the receiver, the calling terminal 500 and the called terminal ( The call path is connected between 600 and the telephone connection is completed.

3 is a flowchart schematically showing a method for connecting a telephone service using a set-top box according to another embodiment of the present invention. In particular, when the set-top box 210 user selects and calls the telephone connection service and then requests the telephone connection service, information about the telephone connection service is displayed on the display device according to the user's call. It is about a method.

Referring to FIG. 3, first, when the set-top box 210 receives a call connection service call request message from the user interface 100 (S300), the set-top box 210 may include information data regarding a call connection service, for example, subscriber information. And request the service information to the return server 220 (S305). At this time, the information request message about the telephone connection service transmitted to the return server 220 may be written in HTTP form.

Next, the return server 220 retrieves the information on the telephone connection service from the user information database 230 (S310), collects the result value (S315), and sets the result value into the set-top box. It transmits (S320). The set-top box 210 interprets the transmitted result value, converts the result value into a message that can be understood by the user, and outputs the message to the display apparatus 102 (S325). At this time, the user's telephone number of the user of the set-top box 210 and the target telephone number corresponding to the selected service are displayed on the display apparatus 11.

4 is a schematic flowchart of a telephone connection service method using a set-top box according to another embodiment according to the present invention. In particular, when the telephone connection service is called as shown in FIG. 3 and the information on the service is displayed on the display apparatus 11, the user 100 is connected to the telephone connection service displayed on the display apparatus. It further includes a method of modifying the information.

Referring to FIG. 3, first, when the set-top box 210 receives a phone number modification request message from the user interface 100 (S400), the set-top box 210 requests the message to the return server 220 (S400). S405). At this time, the telephone number modification request message transmitted to the return server 220 may be written in HTTP form.

Next, the return server 220 retrieves the information that is the target of the telephone number modification request from the user information database 230, and corrects and stores it (S410). After the modification and storage is completed, the modified result is collected (S415), and the result is transmitted to the set-top box (S420). The set-top box 210 interprets the transmitted result value, converts the result value into a message that can be understood by the user, and outputs the message to the display apparatus 102 (S425).

The present invention described above is not limited to the above-described embodiments and the accompanying drawings, and it is common in the art that various substitutions, modifications, and changes can be made without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

According to the present invention, a user of a set-top box-based IPTV simply clicks a remote control unit button, thereby enabling a telephone connection with a counterpart to establish a mutual telephone connection.

Claims (12)

A set-top box which transmits the information input from the user's remote controller unit to the return server and displays the information transmitted from the return server on the display device; A return server controlling a telephone connection request of the set-top box and communicating with an external network to establish a telephone connection between the calling terminal and the called terminal; And, And a user information database including subscriber information necessary for the return server to authenticate the set top box and information necessary to perform a telephone connection service. The method of claim 1, Set-top box-based telephone connection device, characterized in that the external network that the return server communicates to make a telephone connection between the calling terminal and the called terminal. The method of claim 1, Set-top box-based telephone connection device, characterized in that two or more set-top boxes are connected to the return server. The method of claim 1, The user information database includes a subscriber ID and a service ID for each set-top box required for the return server to authenticate the set-top box, the calling party terminal telephone number and the telephone number data information of the called terminal required to perform a telephone connection service. Set-top box-based telephone connection device comprising a. In the telephone connection service method based on the set-top box of the Internet protocol television, Receiving, by the set-top box, a telephone connection service request message from the remote controller; Generating, by the set-top box, a call connection service request message including the calling party terminal information and the called party terminal information to a return server; And, And returning the telephone connection request message to the service gateway through the parlay application server to connect the calling terminal and the called terminal to the call gateway. The method of claim 5, The call connection service request message generated by the return server includes a call connection value, a user ID, a calling party terminal phone number, and a called party terminal phone number information. The method of claim 5, Set-top box-based telephone connection service method characterized in that the message sent to the return server is written in the form of HTTP. The method of claim 5, A right for the set-top box to use a dial-up service between the step of sending a call connection service request message written in the set-top box to the return server and the step of sending a call connection request message from the return server to the parlay application server. And the authentication is performed by the return server. The method of claim 8, Set-top box-based telephone connection service method characterized in that the message transmitted from the return server to the parlay application server is written in HTTP form. The method of claim 5, Before the set top box receives the service request, Receiving a call service request request message from the remote controller; Delivering the message from the set-top box to the return server; Retrieving, by a return server, the telephone connection service information through a user information database; And displaying the result value on a display device. The method of claim 10, And modifying the telephone connection service information displayed on the display device between displaying the result value on the display device and receiving the service request from the set top box. How to dial in. The method according to claim 10 or 11, wherein The set-top box-based telephone connection service method, characterized in that the message is written in the set-top box and sent to the return server is written in HTTP form.

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