KR20090017762A - System and method for providing community during playing broadcasting signal - Google Patents

Abstract

A system and a method for offering a community for communication during playback of a broadcasting signal are provided to enable users selecting the community related to a broadcasting program to communicate with each other in real-time while the broadcasting program is played. A community server(200) stores broadcasting program community information and enable users selecting a community related to a broadcasting program to communicate with each other. An STB(Set-Top Box)(300) receives the broadcasting program community information from the community server. When the community is selected, the STB enables the users selecting the community to communicate with each other in real-time while the broadcasting program is played by transmitting a selected community joining request message to the community server.

Description

System and Method for providing community during playing broadcasting signal

The present invention relates to a system and method for providing a community during broadcast signal reproduction to enable communication between users who are watching the same broadcast program.

Recently, the program information of each channel is highly efficiently compressed based on the MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) coding standard and the like, and the programs corresponding to a plurality of channels are highly efficiently multiplexed according to the digital modulation method of each transmission medium. There is provided a digital broadcasting service for transmission. The digital broadcasting service can broadcast tens to hundreds of channels without using a large amount of repeaters as in analog broadcasting.

Such digital broadcasts include digital terrestrial broadcasts, digital satellite broadcasts, and cable digital broadcasts according to transmission media, and are provided through an Internet Protocol (IP) network according to the development of high-speed Internet.

In addition, a digital broadcasting system for providing digital broadcasting may include a digital broadcasting server providing broadcast data through an IP network and a set-top box connected to the IP network to receive broadcast data provided from the digital broadcasting server and providing the same to a user. have.

The digital broadcasting server converts the analog broadcasting data received from the broadcasting station into digital broadcasting data through encoding and compresses the packet generated by the multicasting to the IP network. That is, the digital broadcast server multicasts broadcast data for an arbitrary channel to the IP network. Accordingly, the set-top box displays broadcast data obtained by decompressing a packet received from an IP network through decoding on a television screen.

However, even in the digital broadcasting as described above, only one-sided service in which a user simply watches a broadcast program is possible, and it is not possible to exchange opinions between users watching the same program.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for providing a community during reproduction of a broadcast signal such that communication is performed in real time between users who select a specific community associated with the broadcast program while playing a broadcast program.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a system and a method for providing a community during a broadcast signal reproduction in which a set-top box transmits a broadcast program community establishment request message to a community server according to a user input to generate a specific community.

According to an aspect of the present invention to achieve the above object, in the system for providing a community during the reproduction of the broadcast signal, the community server for storing the broadcast program community information, the communication between the users who selected a specific broadcast program community is performed Receiving the broadcast program community information from the community server, and when a specific community is selected, transmits the selected community participation request message to the community server, in real time, among users who have selected the specific community while playing the broadcast program. A community providing system is provided during reproduction of a broadcast signal including a set-top box for performing communication.

The set top box may generate a broadcast program community establishment request message according to a user input and transmit the generated message to the community server.

The community server may communicate with one or more set-top boxes through an IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) network.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for providing a community during broadcast signal reproduction in a set-top box that receives and reproduces a broadcast signal through a broadcast network, the method comprising: (a) receiving broadcast program community list information from a community server; b) receiving a selection of a specific community from the received community list, (c) transmitting a participation request message for the selected specific community to the community server, and (d) receiving a response message for the participation request message. The present invention provides a method of providing a community during a broadcast signal reproduction, including performing communication in real time between users who select the specific community while playing the corresponding broadcast program.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a community server for providing a community during broadcast signal reproduction, the subscriber management unit for performing authentication based on subscriber information stored in a database when receiving a community service subscriber authentication request message from the set-top box, When a specific community selection information is received from the broadcast program community list from the set-top box and the community information management unit providing the broadcast program community list stored in the database and the respective broadcast program community information through the set-top box, communication between users who select the specific community is established. A community server is provided that includes a communication processing unit to be performed.

The community information management unit may generate a corresponding broadcast program community when receiving a broadcast program community establishment request message from the set-top box.

The community server may further include a communication unit for communicating with at least one set-top box through an IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) network.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a set-top box for providing a community while playing a broadcast signal, a community list providing unit for outputting the broadcast program community list information received from the community server on the screen, the specific of the broadcast program community list When a community is selected, a set-top box is provided that transmits the selected community participation request message to the community server so that communication is performed in real time between users who select the specific community while playing the broadcast program. .

The set top box may further include a community generator for generating a broadcast program community establishment request message according to a user input and transmitting the generated message to the community server.

The set top box may further include a communication unit communicating with the community server through an IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) network.

The set top box may further include a control unit for switching to and playing a broadcast program corresponding to the specific community when the specific community is selected while the broadcast program is being played.

The set top box may be connected to at least one of a keyboard, a speaker, a microphone, and a camera so that communication is performed in real time between users who select the specific community.

The set top box may further include a display processor configured to configure a screen layer including at least one of a broadcast screen, a communication screen, and a menu screen.

The display processor may provide a GUI (Graphical User Interface) screen capable of adjusting transparency.

The display processor may provide at least one of a picture in picture (PIP) mode, a UI transparent overlay mode, a basic UI mode, and a UI hiding mode as a user interface (UI) mode for a broadcast program community. .

The display processor displays a community information providing screen including at least one of a community search area, a community list area, a community information area, a participation request icon, and a community establishment request menu on the broadcast screen, wherein the community establishment request menu is selected. In this case, the community establishment screen is added and displayed.

When the participation request icon is selected, the display processing unit includes at least one of the broadcast screen, a corresponding community information area, a corresponding community participant list area, a chat area, a message input area, a recommendation / deprecated selection area, a flashcon menu, and an emoticon menu. While displaying a communication screen including a, if the particular flashcon included in the flashcon menu is selected, characterized in that the selected flashcon is displayed in real time on the broadcast screen of the participants for the corresponding community.

The display processor may include a caller screen, a caller screen, a phone number input area, an alternative video selection area, a media sharing selection area, a numeric key area, a dialing icon, a call-off icon, a speaker volume control area, and a microphone volume control on the broadcast screen. And displaying a video call screen including at least one of the areas.

The display processor may include a minimum mode user interface (UI) screen including at least one of a phone number input area, a call icon, a call-off icon, a speaker volume control area, a microphone volume control area, and a screen size control area on the broadcast screen. And displaying at least one of a caller screen and a called party screen, and providing an auto-hiding function for the minimum mode UI screen when a preset time elapses.

The display processing unit displays at least one of a video conference screen and a video conference invitation screen including a plurality of participant screens on the broadcast screen, and enlarges and displays a specific participant screen among a plurality of participant screens included in the video conference screen. Characterized in that.

The display processor may display at least one of a messenger friend list screen, a message input screen, and a friend add screen on the broadcast screen.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a system and a method for providing a community during reproduction of a broadcast signal such that communication is performed in real time between users who select a specific community associated with the broadcast program while playing the broadcast program.

In addition, the set-top box may provide a system and method for providing a community during the reproduction of a broadcast signal capable of generating a specific community by transmitting a broadcast program community establishment request message to a community server according to a user input.

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

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a community providing system during broadcast signal reproduction according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a system for providing a community during reproduction of a broadcast signal includes a broadcast server 100, a community server 200, and a set top box 300. In addition, the set-top box 300 may be connected to or provided in a television, interworking with the broadcasting server 100 through a broadcasting network, and interworking with the community server 200 through the Internet. In this case, the Internet may be provided as, for example, an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network.

The broadcast server 100 is a device for transmitting a broadcast signal from a broadcasting station, and may provide services such as terrestrial broadcasting, cable broadcasting, or IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) broadcasting.

The community server 200 stores broadcast program community information and allows communication between users who select a specific broadcast program community.

In addition, the community server 200 communicates with one or more set-top boxes 300 through the Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network.

The Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS, hereinafter referred to as IMS) is a subsystem for providing a multimedia service based on the Internet Protocol. IMS has been standardized as a subsystem of third generation networks and is applied to not only third generation mobile communication networks but also wired networks such as wired communication networks and digital broadcasting networks. In addition, IMS adopts Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) as a signaling protocol for establishing a multimedia connection. In this case, SIP is one of the protocols for implementing VoIP (Voice over IP) service, but is not a protocol for only voice telephony service, but supports text message, video, and instant message service.

In this case, the community server 200 may communicate with one or more set-top boxes 300 through a wired / wireless internet, and is not limited to those made in an IMS network.

On the other hand, the set-top box 300 receives the broadcast program community information from the community server 200, when a specific community is selected, transmits the selected community participation request message to the community server 200, the corresponding broadcast program During playback, communication is performed in real time between users who have selected the particular community.

In addition, the set-top box 300 generates a broadcast program community opening request message according to a user input and transmits it to the community server 200.

Referring to the above configuration, a method of providing a community during reproduction of a broadcast signal according to the present invention will be described as follows.

The set-top box 300 receives broadcast program community list information from the community server 200, and receives a specific community from the received community list by a user.

Thereafter, the set-top box 300 transmits a participation request message for the selected specific community to the community server 200.

Accordingly, the set-top box receives a response message to the participation request message from the community server 200, so that communication is performed in real time between users who select the specific community while playing the corresponding broadcast program.

Meanwhile, the set top box 300 generates a broadcast program community opening request message according to a user input and transmits the generated message to the community server 200.

2 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of a community server according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the community server 200 includes a communication unit 202, a subscriber management unit 204, a community information management unit 206, a communication processing unit 208, and a database 220. A subscriber information storage area 222 and a broadcast program community information storage area 224 are included.

The communication unit 202 may communicate with one or more set top boxes through an IMS network.

When the subscriber management unit 204 receives the community service subscriber authentication request message from the set-top box, the subscriber management unit 204 performs authentication by referring to the subscriber information storage area 222 in the database 220.

The community information manager 206 provides a broadcast program community list and each broadcast program community information stored in the broadcast program community information storage area 224 in the database 220 to the set-top box.

In addition, when receiving the broadcast program establishment request message from the set-top box, the community information manager 206 generates a corresponding broadcast program community and stores the information in the broadcast program community information storage area 224.

For example, the communication processor 208 provides an instant message service so that communication is performed between users who select the specific community when receiving specific community selection information from the set-top box.

Figure 3 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of a set-top box according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the set-top box 300 according to the present invention includes a communication unit 302, an interface unit 304, a control unit 306, a memory 308, and a community providing unit 400. It is connected to an external device, such as camera 312, microphone 314, speaker 316, keyboard / remote control 318 through the 304. In addition, the community provider 400 includes a community list provider 402, a community generator 404, a communication processor 406, and a display processor 408.

The communication unit 302 may communicate with a community server through an IMS network.

The community list providing unit 402 outputs the broadcast program community list information received from the community server through the screen.

The community generator 404 generates a broadcast program community establishment request message according to a user input and transmits the generated community message to the community server.

When a specific community is selected from the broadcast program community list, the communication processor 406 transmits the selected community participation request message to the community server so that communication is performed in real time between users who select the specific community while playing the corresponding broadcast program. do. In this case, the communication may be performed through a chat, a video call, a video conference, a messenger, etc. among the participants who select a specific community.

The controller 306 controls the overall function of the set-top box, and when a specific community is selected while a broadcast program is being played, the controller 306 may switch to the broadcast program corresponding to the specific community and play the broadcast.

The set top box 300 is connected to the camera 312, the microphone 314, the speaker 316, the keyboard / remote control 318 through the interface unit 304 to receive an instant message from the user to select a specific community Allows communication in real time between users.

The display processor 408 configures a screen layer including at least one of a broadcast screen, a communication screen, and a menu screen, and provides a graphical user interface (GUI) screen with transparency control.

For example, the display processor 408 may display a community information providing screen as shown in FIG. 4 through a display unit (not shown), a communication screen as shown in FIG. 5 as shown in FIG. 5, and FIG. 6. A screen for providing various types of UI (User Interface) modes for a broadcast program community as shown in FIG. 7, a channel selection screen for playing a broadcast signal as shown in FIG. 7, and a video call during playback of a broadcast signal as shown in FIG. 8. A screen, a video conference screen during reproduction of a broadcast signal as shown in FIG. 9, and a messenger screen during reproduction of a broadcast signal as shown in FIG. 10 may be displayed.

That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the display processing unit 408 opens a community (eg, “watching room”) search area, community list area, community information area, participation request icon, and community establishment on the broadcast screen. A community information providing screen including at least one of the request menus may be displayed. If the community establishment request menu is selected, the community establishment screen may be added and displayed.

In addition, when the participation request icon is selected, the display processor 408 selects a corresponding community information area, a corresponding community participant list area, a chat area, a message input area, a recommendation / deprecated selection area, and a flash as shown in FIG. 5. Displaying a communication screen and the broadcast screen including at least one of a cone menu and an emoticon menu, when a specific flashcon included in the flashcon menu is selected, the selected flashcon is displayed in real time on the broadcast screen of the participants for the corresponding community. Can be displayed.

On the other hand, the display processor 408 is a UI (User Interface) mode for the broadcast program community, as shown in Figure 6, Picture In Picture (PIP) mode, UI transparent overlay (overlay) mode, basic UI mode, At least one of the UI hiding mode may be provided.

In addition, the display processor 408 may display a caller screen and a called party screen as shown in FIG. 8 while a broadcast signal corresponding to a specific channel selected through the channel selection screen is being played back as shown in FIG. 7. Display a video call screen that includes at least one of a phone number entry area, alternate video selection area, media sharing selection area, numeric key area, dialing icon, hang up icon, speaker volume control area, and microphone volume control area. Can be.

In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the display processor 408 includes at least one of a phone number input area, a call icon, a call-stop icon, a speaker volume control area, a microphone volume control area, and a screen size control area. Display the minimum mode UI (User Interface) screen at the bottom center of the broadcast screen, display the caller screen at the bottom right of the broadcast screen, and display the called party screen at the bottom left of the broadcast screen. Auto hide function can be provided for minimal mode UI screen.

Meanwhile, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the display processing unit 408 displays at least one of a video conference screen and a video conference invitation screen including a plurality of participant screens on the broadcast screen, and includes the video conference screen in the video conference screen. A specific participant screen may be enlarged and displayed among the plurality of participant screens.

Meanwhile, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the display processor 408 may display at least one of a messenger friend list screen, a message input screen, and a friend add screen on the broadcast screen.

11 is a flowchart illustrating a community providing method during broadcast signal reproduction according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 11, when the set-top box drives a community application (S100), the set-top box requests subscriber authentication by transmitting a community service subscriber authentication request message to the community server (S102).

Accordingly, the set-top box receives the subscriber authentication response message from the community server to determine whether the community service subscriber authentication is successful (S104).

As a result of the determination, if the community service subscriber authentication is not successful, the set top box performs the community service subscription process in association with the community server (S106).

On the other hand, if the community service subscriber authentication is successful as a result of the determination, the set-top box displays the community list through the display unit (108).

For example, the set top box may display a community of various criteria such as a community by category or a channel by community such as drama, sports, documentary, music, and movie.

Accordingly, the set-top box may receive a specific community from the user (S110), which may provide a broadcast program community (eg, a watching room) service according to the present invention.

On the other hand, when a specific community selected by the user is a subscription type, for example, when only the corresponding members can participate as a community corresponding to a specific group, the set-top box interoperates with the community server to determine whether the community member authentication succeeds (S112). ).

As a result of the determination, if the community subscriber authentication is not successful, the set-top box interworks with the community server and performs, for example, a community subscription process corresponding to the community (S114).

On the other hand, if the community service subscriber authentication is successful as a result of the determination, the set-top box displays the watching room list through the display unit (S116).

Accordingly, when the set-top box receives a specific watching room from the user (S118), the set-top box converts and reproduces the broadcast signal being played to the broadcast signal corresponding to the specific watching room (S120). .

Meanwhile, the set-top box transmits the selected community participation request message to a community server so that communication is performed in real time between users who select the specific community while playing the corresponding broadcast program (S122).

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and many variations are possible by those skilled in the art within the spirit of the present invention.

The community providing method during the reproduction of the broadcast signal of the present invention described above may be applied to a set-top box capable of receiving and reproducing a broadcast signal through a broadcast network and allowing a broadcast program community participant selected by a user to perform communication in real time.

1 is a view showing the configuration of a community providing system during broadcast signal reproduction according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of a community server according to the present invention.

Figure 3 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of a set-top box according to the present invention.

4 is a diagram illustrating a community information providing screen during broadcast signal reproduction according to the present invention;

5 is a diagram illustrating a communication screen during broadcast signal reproduction according to the present invention;

6 illustrates various types of UI (User Interface) mode screens for a broadcast program community according to the present invention.

7 illustrates a channel selection screen during broadcast signal reproduction.

8 is a view showing a video call screen during broadcast signal playback according to the present invention.

9 is a view showing a video conference screen during broadcast signal reproduction according to the present invention.

10 is a view showing a messenger screen during broadcast signal reproduction according to the present invention.

11 is a flowchart illustrating a community providing method during broadcast signal reproduction according to the present invention.

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

200: community server 300: set-top box

402: community list provider 404: community generator

406: communication processing unit 408: display processing unit

Claims (23)

In the system for providing a community during broadcast signal reproduction, A community server that stores broadcast program community information and allows communication between users who select a specific broadcast program community; When the broadcast program community information is received from the community server and a specific community is selected, the selected community participation request message is transmitted to the community server to communicate in real time between users who select the specific community while playing the broadcast program. Set top box to be performed; Community providing system during the broadcast signal playback comprising a.       The method of claim 1,  The set top box generates a broadcast program community establishment request message according to a user input and transmits to the community server, the community providing system during the broadcast signal playback. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The community server communicates with at least one set-top box through an IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) network.   In the method of providing a community during the playback of the broadcast signal in the set-top box for receiving and playing the broadcast signal through the broadcast network (a) receiving broadcast program community list information from a community server; (b) receiving a selection of a specific community from the received community list; (c) sending a join request message for the selected specific community to the community server; And (d) receiving a response message to the participation request message so that communication is performed in real time between users who select the specific community while playing the corresponding broadcast program; Community providing method during the playback of the broadcast signal comprising a. The method of claim 4, wherein The set-top box further comprises the step of generating a broadcast program community establishment request message according to a user input and transmitting to the community server. The method according to claim 4 or 5, The community server communicates with at least one set-top box through an IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) network. A community server that provides a community during broadcast signal reproduction, A subscriber manager configured to perform authentication based on subscriber information stored in a database when receiving a community service subscriber authentication request message from a set-top box; A community information manager configured to provide a broadcast program community list and respective broadcast program community information stored in a database to the set top box; And A communication processor configured to perform communication between users who select the specific community when receiving specific community selection information in the broadcast program community list from the set-top box; Community server comprising a. The method of claim 7, wherein The community information management unit generates a corresponding broadcast program community when receiving the broadcast program community establishment request message from the set-top box. The method of claim 7, wherein The community server further comprises a communication unit for communicating with at least one set-top box through an IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) network. Set-top box that provides a community during broadcast signal playback, A community list providing unit for outputting broadcast program community list information received from a community server through a screen; A communication processor for transmitting a selected community participation request message to the community server when a specific community is selected from the broadcast program community list, so that communication is performed in real time between users who select the specific community while playing the broadcast program; Set top box comprising a. The method of claim 10,   The set top box further comprises a community generating unit for generating a broadcast program community opening request message according to a user input and transmitting to the community server.     The method of claim 10, The set top box further comprises a communication unit for communicating with the community server through an IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) network.     The method of claim 10, The set-top box further comprises a control unit for switching to play the broadcast program corresponding to the specific community when the specific community is selected while the broadcast program is playing.     The method of claim 10, The set top box is connected to at least one of a keyboard, a speaker, a microphone, a camera and set-top box, characterized in that the communication is performed in real time between the user selected the specific community.     The method of claim 10, The set top box further comprises a display processing unit for configuring a screen layer including at least one of a broadcast screen, a communication screen, a menu screen. The method of claim 15, The display processor is a set-top box, characterized in that to provide a graphical user interface (GUI) screen capable of adjusting the transparency.     The method of claim 15, The display processing unit may provide at least one of a picture in picture (PIP) mode, a UI transparent overlay mode, a basic UI mode, and a UI hiding mode as a user interface (UI) mode for a broadcast program community. Set Top Box. The method of claim 15, The display processor displays a community information providing screen including at least one of a community search area, a community list area, a community information area, a participation request icon, and a community establishment request menu on the broadcast screen, wherein the community establishment request menu is selected. If the set-top box, characterized in that the display by adding a community establishment screen. The method of claim 15, When the participation request icon is selected, the display processing unit includes at least one of the broadcast screen, a corresponding community information area, a corresponding community participant list area, a chat area, a message input area, a recommendation / deprecated selection area, a flashcon menu, and an emoticon menu. Displaying a communication screen including a, but when a specific flashcon included in the flashcon menu is selected, the set-top box characterized in that the selected flashcon is displayed in real time on the broadcast screen of the participants for the community. The method of claim 15, The display processor may include a caller screen, a caller screen, a phone number input area, an alternative video selection area, a media sharing selection area, a numeric key area, a dialing icon, a call-off icon, a speaker volume control area, and a microphone volume control on the broadcast screen. And a video call screen including at least one of the areas. The method of claim 20, The display processor may include a minimum mode user interface (UI) screen including at least one of a phone number input area, a call icon, a call-off icon, a speaker volume control area, a microphone volume control area, and a screen size control area on the broadcast screen. And displaying at least one of a caller screen and a called party screen, and providing an auto-hiding function for the minimum mode UI screen when a preset time elapses. The method of claim 15, The display processor displays at least one of a video conference screen and a video conference invitation screen including a plurality of participant screens on the broadcast screen, and enlarges a specific participant screen among a plurality of participant screens included in the video conference screen. Set-top box characterized in that the splay. The method of claim 15, And the display processor displays at least one of a messenger friend list screen, a message input screen, and a friend add screen on the broadcast screen.

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