KR20080023891A - Method for widget type user interface and digital tv thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for a widget type UI(User Interface) and a DTV(Digital TV) thereof are provided to enable a user to use additional information such as stock, weather, and traffic information without operation of other UIs, and check the information while viewing the DTV by forming the widget type UI displaying the selected information in a predetermined position of a screen during a predetermined time. A UI setting part sets additional information displayed on a screen. A DTV receiver(10) receives the set additional information from a broadcasting station in real-time. A widget processor(80) processes/displays the received additional information to the screen and keeps the displayed additional information for a predetermined time. A displaying unit(90) displays the processed additional information in the predetermined position of the screen. A data divider(20) divides a signal received from the broadcasting station into an IB(In Band) and OOB(Out Of Band) signal, and separates and processes an image signal and the additional information according to each band. A widget type UI(60) displays the needed additional information by using a predetermined function such as a watch, calendar, weather, stock, memo pad, map, and search function.

Description

Widget-type user interface method and its digital TV {Method for Widget type User Interface and Digital TV}

1 is a block diagram showing a transport stream (TS) structure of a general digital TV transmission standard.

2 is a control flowchart illustrating a user interface (UI) method of a conventional digital TV.

3 and 4 is a control flowchart showing a widget-type user interface method according to the present invention.

Figure 5 is a block diagram showing a widget-type user interface digital TV according to the present invention.

6 and 7 are screen configuration diagrams showing the display state of the widget type user interface according to the present invention.

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

10: DTV receiver 20: data separation unit

30: image processing unit 40: additional data storage unit

50: data request unit 60: UI setting unit

70: scaler unit 80: widget processing unit

90 display unit

The present invention relates to a digital TV, and more particularly, to a widget-type user interface method and a digital TV.

In general, a digital television receiver (HDTV) can convert a received broadcast signal into a digital code and add high quality screen reproduction and various functions. Moreover, digital TV is a so-called third generation television that passed through the black and white era and the color era, and is equipped with a separate IC (Integrated Circuit) that can add various functions, and converts the analog signal from the broadcasting station into a digital signal. Not only does it prevent deterioration of the audio signal, but it also restores it accurately, so you can't see the double screen caused by the reflection of analog radio waves and there's no noise at all.

In addition, in digital broadcasting, video and audio streams are compressed and broadcast as digital information, and system information and program information are compressed and broadcast in accordance with the Program and System Information Protocol (PSIP) standard. The PSIP is an ATSC standard for terrestrial and cable digital broadcasting that defines program and system information standards. The PSIP parses signals encoded in the MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) standard to provide various information about a program. It is defined to provide.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a transport stream structure of a general digital transmission standard. As shown in FIG. 1, a transport stream (TS) of a digital transmission standard includes an audio signal (AC3 audio) and a video signal (MPEG-2). Video), control signal (MPEG-2 Control), and PSIP data. In digital broadcasting using a transport stream of such a digital transmission standard, a plurality of broadcast programs encoded on the basis of MPEG are multiplexed and transmitted in the form of a transport stream (TS), which is installed on the receiving side. A plurality of broadcast programs received at the set-top box and included in the transport stream are demultiplexed so that only one desired broadcast program is selected. The decoder decodes the selected broadcast program and delivers the original audio and video signal to a video display device such as a television. Such an image display apparatus not only outputs a received image on a screen but also adds a function of storing, editing, and playing the received broadcast signal on a storage medium.

Such a digital TV basically includes a user input device such as a remote controller, a data processor for separating audio / video information and additional information from a broadcast signal, and separating various channel information from service information. A / V processing unit for decoding audio / video information, and a control unit for controlling the overall operation of the TV and the display of EPG (Electronic Program UIde), which is broadcast program information.

Meanwhile, recent digital TV receivers provide a user interface (UI) function for receiving a broadcast signal as described above and displaying a corresponding video and EPG screen.

The user interface function described above refers to a work environment in which a user exchanges information with a device through a graphic. In the user interface, a user selects one of menus on the screen using a remote controller or the like to instruct an operation.

The EPG (Electronic Program Guide) refers to a broadcast program schedule displayed on a screen of a digital TV through data broadcasting using an empty frequency band or a spare channel. Viewers can use the remote control to manipulate the EPG to easily identify which station is broadcasting which program on the day and about a week later. If a desired program name is specified, more detailed program information can be obtained than in the table. Depending on the service, the program name can be designated from the EPG screen and reserved recording can be performed.

2 is a control flowchart illustrating a user interface (UI) method of a conventional digital TV.

As shown, the prior art configuration is as follows.

First, various additional information, for example, EPG information, is provided from a broadcaster to a user (S101).

The provided information is controlled only by a user's search and a request for information. In particular, the UI structure includes a structure in which the user searches for information by writing a specific command.

Therefore, among the EPG information displayed on the screen, the corresponding information is displayed according to the user's selection (S102 to S103).

In this way, the information displayed on the screen is deleted from the screen after the user's cancellation or a predetermined time elapses (S104).

However, in the conventional digital TV as described above, the information provided from the broadcaster has a pop-up form in which the user selects or shows it arbitrarily, and the current UI has a structure for showing only information on the user's operation. Since the display of the information is possible only at the request of the user.

Therefore, in the case of the information that needs to be confirmed in real time, there is a limitation in the current user interface structure to be displayed on the screen continuously. In other words, the user has to call the corresponding function through the selection of the menu command every time and display it on the screen.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a widget-type user interface method for continuously displaying selected additional information for a predetermined time in a specific place on a screen and a digital TV thereof. There is this.

A widget type user interface method according to the present invention for achieving the above object comprises the steps of: setting a widget type UI of additional information to be displayed on the screen; Receiving the additional information set in the step from a broadcaster in real time and displaying the additional information in a predetermined position on a screen; And maintaining the additional information displayed on the screen for a preset time.

For example, the widget type UI shows additional information required by using a specific function such as a clock, a calendar, a weather, a stock, a notepad, a map, a search, and the like.

The additional information is periodically updated with information newly received from the broadcaster.

The additional information is processed by dividing the in-band IB and the out-of-band OBO, and separating the video signal and the additional information according to each band.

The method may further include determining whether the additional information is basically provided information, and if not, prepare a data list of necessary information and request the necessary information.

In addition, the widget-type user interface digital TV according to the present invention comprises: a digital TV displaying additional information, comprising: a UI setting unit for setting a widget-type UI of additional information to be displayed on a screen; A DTV receiver configured to receive additional information set by the UI setter from a broadcaster in real time; A widget processing unit which processes the additional information received by the DTV receiver to display the screen and maintains the additional information displayed on the screen for a preset time; And a display configured to display the additional information processed by the widget processor at a predetermined position on a screen.

For example, the widget type UI shows additional information required by using a specific function such as a clock, a calendar, a weather, a stock, a notepad, a map, a search, and the like.

The additional information is periodically updated with information newly received from the broadcaster.

The apparatus may further include a data separator configured to distinguish between the in-band IB and the out-of-band OOO, and to separate and process the video signal and the additional information according to each band.

The apparatus may further include a data request unit for determining whether the additional information is basically provided information, and if not the basic information, prepare a data list of necessary information and request the necessary information.

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

3 and 4 are control flowcharts illustrating a widget-type user interface method according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, the present invention provides a method of setting widget type UI of additional information to be displayed on a screen (S301 to S302); Receiving additional information set in the step from a broadcaster in real time and displaying the additional information at a predetermined position on a screen (S303 to S309); And maintaining the additional information displayed on the screen for a preset time (S310 to S311).

For example, the widget type UI shows additional information required by using a specific function such as a clock, a calendar, a weather, a stock, a notepad, a map, a search, and the like.

The method may further include determining whether the additional information is basically provided information, and if it is not the basic information, create a data list of necessary information and request the necessary information (S303 to S305).

The additional information is processed by dividing the in-band IB and the out-of-band OBO, and separating the video signal and the additional information according to each band (S306 to S308).

In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, the additional information is periodically updated with information newly received from the broadcaster (S201 to S207).

5 is a block diagram illustrating a widget-type user interface digital TV according to the present invention.

As shown in the present invention, the DTV receiver 10, the data separator 20, the image processor 30, the additional data storage 40, the data requester 50, the UI setup unit 60, the scaler It is composed of a unit 70, a widget processing unit 80 and a display unit 90.

The DTV receiver 10 receives the additional information set by the UI setting unit 60 from a broadcaster in real time.

The data separator 20 divides the received signal into in-band IB and out-of-band OOO, and separates and processes the video signal and the additional information according to each band. The additional data storage unit 40 stores the additional information. In this case, the additional information is periodically updated with information newly received from the broadcaster.

The data request unit 50 determines whether the additional information is basically provided information, and if it is not the basic information, prepares a data list of necessary information and requests necessary information.

The UI setting unit 60 sets a widget type UI of additional information to be displayed on the screen. The widget-type UI shows additional information required by using a specific function such as a clock, a calendar, a weather, a stock, a notepad, a map, and a search.

The widget processing unit 80 processes the additional information received by the DTV receiving unit 10 to be displayed on the screen and maintains the additional information displayed on the screen for a preset time.

The display unit 90 displays the additional information processed by the widget processing unit 80 at a predetermined position on the screen.

Reference numeral 30 denotes a conventional image processing unit including a demux, a decoder, and the like, and 70 denotes a scaler unit for scaling and outputting an aspect ratio of various sizes.

6 and 7 are screen configuration diagrams showing the display state of the widget-type user interface according to the present invention, the UI of the present invention is configured in the form of a widget as shown, the user selects a widget corresponding to a variety of information and Adjustment (position, transparency, etc.) is possible. In addition, when the user needs continuous information, when the widget is activated, the widget screen displayed separately regardless of the UI menu can be checked.

Referring to the operation of the present invention configured as described in more detail as follows.

First, the present invention performs a step of setting the widget-type UI of the additional information to be displayed on the screen (S301 ~ S302).

In this case, the user sets the widget type UI of additional information to be displayed on the screen through the UI setting unit 60.

Widgets in the present invention are elements of a graphical interface that helps users interact with applications and operating systems, such as windows or text files. Widgets communicate with users in various forms, including icons, pull-down menus, buttons, selection boxes, check boxes, scroll bars, windows, toggle buttons, and forms.

In other words, a multi-form widget uses features such as clock, calendar, notepad, map, and search to show the information you need and help you to act in a variety of ways. In programming, a widget can refer to a program written to describe how the user behaves while interacting with the UI.

Thereafter, the additional information set in the above step is received in real time from the broadcaster and displayed on a predetermined position on the screen (S303 to S309).

That is, the DTV receiver 10 receives the additional information set by the UI setting unit 60 from a broadcaster in real time. In this case, it is determined whether the additional information is basically provided information, and if it is not the basic information, a step of making a data list of necessary information and requesting necessary information is performed (S303 to S305).

That is, the data request unit 50 determines whether the additional information is basically provided information, and if the basic information is performed, performs the procedure of the next step, and if not the basic information, creates a data list of necessary information. Send the created data list and request the necessary information.

Thereafter, the additional information is processed by dividing the in-band IB and the out-of-band OBO, and separating the video signal and the additional information according to each band (S306 to S308).

Accordingly, the data separator 20 separates the received signal into the in-band IB and the out-of-band OBO, and separates the video signal and the additional information in the case of the in-band and separate separation process in the out-of-band. Receive and process the additional information without going through. The additional data storage unit 40 stores the additional information.

Accordingly, the display unit 90 displays the additional information processed by the widget processing unit 80 at a predetermined position on the screen.

On the other hand, the step of maintaining the additional information displayed on the screen for a predetermined time is performed (S310 ~ S311).

Accordingly, the widget processing unit 80 processes the additional information received by the DTV receiving unit 10 to be displayed on the screen, and as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the widget processing unit 80 presets the additional information displayed on the screen. Keep for hours.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, the additional information is periodically updated with information newly received from the broadcaster (S201 to S207).

That is, when the widget type user interface is selected by the user (S201 to S202), the display unit 90 displays the additional information processed by the widget processing unit 80 at a predetermined position on the screen and checks the display time. (S203).

In this case, in case of the general UI, the corresponding screen is deleted after a predetermined time (S204), and in the case of the widget UI, the corresponding information is collected while continuing to display the screen, and when there is a new change, the updated information is updated in real time. Display (S205 to S207).

Therefore, by configuring the UI in the form of a widget to display the additional information continuously selected for a predetermined time on a specific place on the screen, the additional information on the stock status, weather information, and traffic information is related to other UI operations such as EPG. It can be used without any information, and you can always check the information when watching TV.

The present invention described above can be applied to a DVR including a PVR, a DVR having a recording function, and a flat panel display device such as an OLED, a PDP, and an LCD, as well as a set-top box that does not include a display device. In addition, it can be applied to projection TV, general TV, monitor, and other video equipment, and can be equally applied to TV using various media such as analog / digital airwave, cable and satellite. In addition, it can of course be applied to all NTSC, PAL, SECAM method.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention as claimed in the claims. Anyone skilled in the art can, of course, make various changes and make such changes as fall within the stated claims.

As described above, the widget-type user interface method and the digital TV according to the present invention comprise a widget-type UI to display additional information continuously selected for a predetermined time in a specific place on the screen. Additional information on weather information and traffic information can be used regardless of other UI operations such as EPG, and there is always an effect of checking the corresponding information when watching TV.

Claims (10)

In the user interface method of the digital TV, Setting a widget type UI of additional information to be displayed on a screen; Receiving the additional information set in the step from a broadcaster in real time and displaying the additional information in a predetermined position on a screen; Widget type user interface method comprising the step of maintaining the additional information displayed on the screen for a predetermined time. The method of claim 1, The widget-type UI, widget-type user interface method characterized in that showing the necessary additional information using a specific function, such as clock, calendar, weather, stock, notepad, map, search. The method of claim 1, The additional information is widget type user interface method characterized in that it is periodically updated with information newly received from the broadcaster. The method of claim 1, The additional information is classified into an in-band (IB) and an out-of-band (OOB), and is processed by separating the video signal and the additional information according to each band. The method of claim 1, And determining whether the additional information is basically provided information, and if the basic information is not basic information, preparing a data list of necessary information and requesting necessary information. A digital TV displaying additional information, A UI setting unit for setting a widget type UI of additional information to be displayed on a screen; A DTV receiver configured to receive additional information set by the UI setter from a broadcaster in real time; A widget processing unit which processes the additional information received by the DTV receiver to display the screen and maintains the additional information displayed on the screen for a preset time; And a display unit configured to display the additional information processed by the widget processor at a predetermined position on a screen. The method of claim 6, The widget-type UI is a widget-type user interface digital TV, characterized in that for showing additional information required by using a specific function, such as clock, calendar, weather, stock, notepad, map, search. The method of claim 6, The additional information is widget type user interface digital TV, characterized in that it is periodically updated with information newly received from the broadcaster. The method of claim 6, Widget type user interface digital, characterized in that further comprising a data separation unit for separating the received signal in-band (IB) and out of band (OOB), and separate the image signal and the additional information according to each band TV. The method of claim 6, And a data request unit which determines whether the additional information is basically provided information, and if not, prepares a data list of necessary information and requests necessary information.

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