KR20090041558A - System and method for providing electronic program guide classified by user interface - Google Patents

Abstract

A system and a method for providing electronic program guide classified by a user interface are provided to increase a user satisfaction and convenience by allowing to customize a user interface depending on a user preference. An authentication management server(330) authenticates about a user connected to a web server(320) whether it is the authorized user or not. According to the set condition, a discrete EPG management server(350) produces the discrete EPG information according to the user preference. The discrete EPG management server stores and manages the generated discrete EPG information as described above in the discrete UI(User Interface) related information database(380). An integrated EPG database(370) stores an integrated EPG information including the discrete EPG information. An EPG providing server(340) discriminates and provides the discrete EPG information which is delivered through the discrete EPG management server and the common EPG information stored in the integration EPG database.

Description

System and method for providing electronic program guide by user {SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDE CLASSIFIED BY USER INTERFACE}

The present invention relates to a method for providing an electronic program guide (EPG), and more particularly, a system for providing a user-specific electronic program guide and a method for providing a user-specific customized user interface to each user's preferences. It is about.

Currently, digital broadcasting is being expanded nationwide, starting with terrestrial test broadcasting. In particular, the digital broadcasting via satellite has already begun to commercialize, and the market is expanding greatly, and it is expected that the digitalization of cable broadcasting, which is currently used in the majority of households, will be introduced to commercialization sequentially from this year.

Thus, digital broadcasts are transmitted to the electrodes through all broadcast media, and viewers will be able to access broadcast programs of countless channels with high image quality and sound quality anytime and anywhere. One of the most useful services that viewers use in such digital broadcasting is the EPG service.

EPG service is a service that provides digital broadcasting transmission method to private section area as defined in each transmission medium through MPEG-2.

All set-top boxes extract this EPG information and provide a broadcast program timetable for a certain period. For example, terrestrial waves configure and provide a weekly program schedule for broadcast channels that are currently being viewed, and broadcast via satellite waves constitute and provide timetables for all programs broadcast through all channels.

The set-top box for such a service extracts and stores EPG information included in service information of digital broadcasting in the system, and provides the stored EPG information to the display device as requested by the user through a user interface.

Accordingly, a user having a set top box may visually identify a broadcast channel or a broadcast program that he / she desires through a user interface.

By the way, the set-top box according to the above method should provide a user interface according to the user's input or event information is generated, regardless of the user's preferences, the set-top box provides a user interface specified by the service provider in common. .

Therefore, the user has an uncomfortable problem of spending a lot of time and effort to become familiar with the user interface displayed in common in each set-top box.

In addition, as the functions of broadcasting and IPTV services are gradually increasing, the user interface is becoming more diverse and complex. Nevertheless, according to the related art, the user interface is provided with the complex user interface regardless of the user's convenience. There is a problem that does not meet, the user does not utilize various functions efficiently. In addition, there is a problem that it is impossible to create added value using the user interface.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and the technical problem is to provide and manage individual EPG information in order to provide a user interface adapted to each user's preferences or a user-specific environment.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a user-specific EPG providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. An individual EPG management server that generates and manages individual EPG (electronic program guide) information based on setting conditions set according to the preferences for each user; An integrated EPG database in which integrated EPG information including the individual EPG information is stored; And an EPG providing server for providing the integrated EPG information stored in the integrated EPG database for each user.

Here, the member information database for storing the member related information for the user authentication may be further included.

In this case, the individual EPG information is EPG information changed according to the setting conditions for each user in the integrated EPG information.

In particular, the individual EPG information, characterized in that configured to include any one or more of the menu order changing mode, the viewing grade control mode, the purchase display mode, the viewing display mode, the popular display mode.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a user-specific EPG providing system according to the present invention, which includes an authentication management server that is in charge of user authentication to provide a service for each user; An individual EPG management server that generates and manages individual EPG (electronic program guide) information based on setting conditions set according to the preferences for each user; And an EPG providing server that provides common EPG information that is commonly applied to all users in addition to the individual EPG information. And a common EPG connected to the respective users through the Internet to process authentication of a user connected through the authentication management server and provided through the EPG providing server and the individual EPG management server when a service request is received from the user. It may include a web server for delivering information and individual EPG information.

According to an example of the present invention, the user-specific EPG providing system includes a member information database storing member related information for the user authentication; An integrated EPG information database storing the common EPG information; And an individual EPG information database storing individual EPG information generated through the individual EPG management server, setting conditions set according to the preferences for each user, and skin information of the user interface for each user.

The individual EPG information may include one or more of a menu order change mode, a viewing grade control mode, a purchase display mode, a viewing display mode, and a popular display mode.

On the other hand, the set-top box according to the present invention for achieving the technical problem is an input / output unit that is responsible for the input and output of various data related to the content; EPG management for parsing and displaying common EPG information input through the input / output unit on the screen, and if there is individual EPG information set according to user preferences, parsing the individual EPG information according to the user's request and displaying it on the screen. Application; And storage for classifying and storing various data including the individual EPG information.

Here, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the EPG management application, a user-specific setting condition detection unit for detecting and detecting the setting conditions set according to the user-specific preferences; An EPG engine that stores and processes the common EPG information and the individual EPG information input through the input / output unit in the storage; And an EPG browser for parsing and displaying common EPG information or individual EPG information stored and processed by the EPG engine on a screen.

According to an example of the present invention, the storage includes: a user-specific setting condition information database storing setting condition information set according to each user-specific preference; An individual EPG information database storing the individual EPG information; And a user interface skin information database storing skin information of the user interface.

On the other hand, the user-specific EPG providing method according to the present invention for achieving the technical problem, the step of the user connected to the server through the user authentication; Integrally downloading electronic program guide information through the server when the user authentication is successful; Requesting individual electronic program guide information set according to the user-specific preferences; Determining whether there is individual electronic program guide information set according to the user-specific preferences; As a result of the determination, parsing and displaying the individual electronic program guide information on a screen; And if not determined, parsing common electronic program guide information downloaded through the server and displaying the same on the screen.

According to the present invention described above, each user can use a user interface set according to his or her preference, thereby improving user convenience, satisfying user satisfaction, and further creating various added values.

According to the present invention, if a user sets a user interface (UI) according to his or her own preference, the user inputs this as a user setting condition, and then provides a customized UI to each user according to a preset setting condition.

As such, the set-top box for providing a user-specific UI requires an application for detecting individual EPG information according to the user-defined UI and processing a user input in this regard. In this case, the UI-related information for each user may be stored in a storage unit in the set-top box or in a storage unit of an external server.

In the present invention, a user is defined as a user who provides a user-specific UI service using a set-top box, and the user condition is a condition that a user directly or indirectly provides for a specific UI desired by the user, and generates a specific UI. It is defined as the selection condition required to do so.

Hereinafter, a user-specific EPG providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a view for explaining the concept of a user-specific EPG providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a characteristic configuration of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, in a user-specific EPG providing system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, EPG information transmitted to set-top boxes 100-1 and 100-2 on each user side through the EPG providing servers 340 and 420 is the same. Instead, different individual EPG information (EPG 1, EPG 2) is transmitted for each user.

That is, when the UI shown to the user is set according to each user's own preference, the set-top box of the user (user 1, user 2) side of each user (user 1, user 2) through the network as shown in the EPG providing server (340, 420) Different individual EPG information (EPG 1, EPG 2) is transmitted to 100-1 and 100-2).

For example, the EPG providing servers 340 and 420 transmit the EPG 1 set according to the preference of the user 1 to the set top box 100-1 of the user 1, and the user 2 of the set top box 100-2 of the user 2. Send EPG 2 set according to your preference. Then, each set-top box (100-1, 100-2) has a user interface GUI 1, GUI 2 based on EPG 1 and EPG 2 received from the EPG providing server 340, each display device 400-1 , On the screen of 400-2).

Therefore, each user (User 1, User 2) can be provided with a customized UI according to their preferences, which is convenient to use and can be a very attractive service for the strong personality.

In this case, the EPG providing system for each user may be classified into various embodiments according to a method of providing individual EPG information.

Here, the individual EPG information to be described is a subordinate concept and may mean EPG information changed according to setting conditions for each user in common EPG information that is commonly provided to all users.

Based on this, according to an example of the present invention, the user-specific EPG providing system distinguishes common EPG information and individual EPG information (EPG 1, EPG 2), common EPG information is commonly provided to all users, and other changed EPG information For each user, each individual EPG information is provided to each user to provide a user-specific UI.

According to another example of the present invention, the EPG providing system for each user does not divide the EPG information into common EPG information commonly applied to all users and individual EPG information set differently for each user, and integrates these two types of EPG information. Provides EPG information corresponding to each user.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a network configuration of an EPG providing system for each user according to an embodiment of the present invention as the former case, and FIG. 3 is an EPG providing system for each user according to another embodiment of the present invention as the latter case. Is a diagram illustrating a network configuration of a network.

First, referring to FIG. 2, the overall configuration of the EPG providing system for each user according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is provided with a plurality of set-top boxes 100 on a user side, and the plurality of set-top boxes 100 are connected to a network ( It is connected to the external server 300 through the 200.

The plurality of set-top boxes 100 are connected to the display device 400 such as a TV or a monitor provided in a home or an office, respectively, to visually display various data information provided from an external server 300, and the operation for the remote control may be performed. It may be performed through a user operation means, including a keypad.

The network 200 may be an IP-based network, but the present invention is not limited to using an IP-based network, and is not limited to a specific form as long as the wired / wireless communication network enables the network. For example, the external server 300 may communicate with a plurality of servers through a local area network (LAN) or a TCP / IP connection.

The external server 300 is a server that stores and manages various data information in order to provide various services to each user. The external server 300 schematically provides a content providing server 310, a web server 320, an authentication management server 330, and an EPG. Server 340, individual EPG management server 350, and a database (not shown). The database (not shown) may include a member information database 360, an integrated EPG database 340, and an individual UI related information database 380.

Specifically, the content providing server 310 refers to a web site or a database for providing video on demand (VOD) content.

Data of the VOD content is stored in the content providing server 310, and in some cases, a plurality of content supply servers may be constructed below the content providing server 3100 to store VOD content in each content supply server. . According to this configuration, the content providing server 310 may collectively manage the list of content supply servers and the content stored therein.

EPG providing server 340 is to provide EPG information including the program information of the VOD content provided from the content providing server 310, the integrated EPG database and the individual EPG information received through the individual EPG management server 350 Common EPG information stored in 370 may be classified and provided.

The common EPG information stored in the integrated EPG database 370 is the integrated EPG information that is commonly provided to all users, and the individual EPG information is EPG information changed according to user preferences. In this embodiment, the individual EPG information is the common EPG information. Treat it as a subordinate concept.

The common EPG information is collectively stored in the integrated EPG database 370, and the individual EPG information is separately managed in the individual EPG management server 350 but provided through the EPG provision server 340 when provided to the user side. Alternatively, in another embodiment, when providing individual EPG information to the user side, the EPG providing server 340 may deliver directly from the individual EPG management server 350 without being involved.

The web server 320 may be a site or a program that accesses the set-top box 100 of each user side through the network 200 and performs various user interfaces for web services such as membership registration, provision of related information, and login.

The web server 320 is connected to the content providing server 310, the authentication management server 330, and the EPG providing server 340, respectively, to provide the user with the data provided through the respective servers. And transmit via 310. That is, the input from each user is received and processed, and the data provided from the content providing server 310, the authentication management server 330, and the EPG providing server 340 is transmitted to the corresponding user.

Therefore, the user may log in to the web server 310 and receive desired data according to the user's request.

The authentication management server 330 stores and manages member-specific information (for example, personal information, ID, password, contact information, etc.) that subscribe to the service in the member information database 360, and manages the user accessing the web server 310. It authenticates the registered user.

The individual EPG management server 350 generates individual EPG information according to setting conditions set for user preferences, and stores them in the individual UI related information database 380 to manage them.

In the present embodiment, the setting condition set for each user's preference is that the screen of the UI that is common to all users is easy for the individual to see, prioritizes frequent use by the individual, or personality of the user. It is a condition to change to the screen which can be saved. For example, the setting condition may include any one or more of a skin change mode, a menu order change mode, a viewing grade control mode, a purchase display mode, a viewing display mode, and a popular display mode of the UI.

Here, the skin changing mode of the UI is to change the screen configuration of the UI, the menu order changing mode is to rearrange the menus for providing various functional services in a convenient order for their own use, and the audience rating control mode is harmful Adjusting your ratings to limit your children's viewing from the program. In addition, the purchase display mode, the viewing display mode, the popular display mode, and the like, as well as whether or not to purchase a particular content, as well as display the user's favorite popularity so that the user can easily check the details used.

To this end, the individual UI related information database 380 is set according to the individual EPG information database 382 storing the individual EPG information of each user, the UI skin information database 384 including various skin information of the UI, and the user's preferences. A user-specific setting condition information database 386 including one setting condition information may be provided.

4 is a diagram illustrating a detailed diagram of an individual UI related information database according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG.

As shown, a user ID exists for each user, and individual information for each user is classified and stored according to the user ID. The individual information for each user may be composed of skin information and menu order change information of the UI according to the user's setting conditions. In addition, information about rating adjustment, purchase display information, viewing display information, and popularity display information about the content may be included. It can be configured in various ways.

For example, the user userA has a user ID of AXXXX, the UI skin provided to userA is S1 and SA2 versions, and the menu order may be implemented in a form recorded in 'AAA.yyy'. 'AAA.yyy' refers to the file type, where yyy corresponds to the file extension.

As such, the menu order can be easily implemented through file compilation by storing the corresponding information in a file format, but is not limited thereto. In the following description, the user users B and user C, which have not been described, are also identical to the storage structure of user A, and thus detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Therefore, the user-specific EPG providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention provides the user-side set-top box 100 with common EPG information through the EPG providing server 340 for the UI commonly applied to all users. In addition to the UI applied to each user's own preferences by using the individual EPG management server 350, by providing additional EPG information, that is, individual EPG information to the user-side set-top box 100 to provide a customized UI for each user to provide.

Next, referring to FIG. 3, the EPG providing system for each user according to another embodiment of the present invention is provided with a plurality of set-top boxes 100 on the user side, as in the embodiment of the present invention, and the plurality of set-top boxes 100. ) Is connected to the external server 500 via the network 200.

In this embodiment, if only the configuration different from the configuration of the system according to an embodiment of the present invention, the external server 500 according to another embodiment of the present invention is the content providing server 510 and the authentication management server 520 , EPG providing server 530, individual EPG management server 540, member information database 550, and integrated EPG database 560.

Here, the EPG providing server 530 is for providing EPG information of the VOD content provided by the content providing server 510 and transmits the entire EPG information including individual EPG information for each user.

The individual EPG management server 540 generates individual EPG information according to setting conditions set according to user preferences, and stores them in the integrated EPG database 560 to manage them collectively.

Therefore, the user-specific EPG providing system according to another embodiment of the present invention is stored in the individual EPG information integrated EPG database 560 generated through the individual EPG management server 540 when the UI is set according to the preference of each user. After the request, the entire EPG information including the individual EPG information is provided to the user through the EPG providing server 530.

That is, as in an embodiment of the present invention, EPG information is not divided into common EPG information commonly applied to all users and individual EPG information set differently for each user. The included EPG information is provided for each user.

5 is a view showing the internal configuration of a set-top box according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The set-top box 100 applied to the user-specific EPG providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention has a network interface 110, an input / output unit 120, a VOD management application ( 130, the EPG management application 140, and the storage 150.

The network interface 110 performs an interface for mutual communication between the set-top box 100 and the external server 300 of FIG. 1 through a network 200 of FIG. 1. That is, it provides a network environment suitable for smoothly transmitting and receiving data between the set-top box 100 and external servers.

The input / output unit 120 is responsible for input / output of various data related to the VOD content.

The VOD management application 130 processes information about the VOD content and an interface for implementing the information, and receives and sends an order request from a user to an external server (300 in FIG. 1). Carry out charge.

The storage 150 is a memory space for classifying and storing various data including VOD contents, common EPG information, and individual EPG information.

The EPG management application 140 is responsible for processing EPG related data for parsing and displaying common EPG information or individual EPG information provided through an external server, that is, the EPG provision server 340 of FIG. . The EPG management application 140 for this needs an application program for detecting individual EPG information and processing user input.

In detail, the EPG management application 140 stores the common EPG information and the individual EPG information input through the user-specific setting condition detecting unit 142 and the input / output unit 120 to detect the setting condition set according to the user-specific preference. EPG engine 144 for storing and processing, and EPG browser 146 for displaying the EPG information stored and processed by the EPG engine 144 on the screen.

Accordingly, the storage 150 includes user-specific setting condition information database 152 in which data including user-specific setting condition information is stored, individual EPG information database 156 storing individual EPG information according to user-specific setting conditions, and user-specific. The UI skin information database 154 may store the skin information of the UI according to the setting condition. In this case, the UI skin information database 154 may store only skin information of the UI set by the user, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and various types of UI skin information may be stored to directly change the skin of the UI within the set-top box itself. have. In this case, the UI skin information may be periodically updated through an external server.

Therefore, when the set-top box 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention turns on the power to provide a service, the user-specific setting condition detecting unit 142 detects whether there is a setting condition for each user, and if there is a setting condition, the EPG engine. After extracting and parsing the respective EPG information using 144, the EPG browser 143 displays the screen on the screen of the display device to provide a customized UI set according to a user's preference.

Hereinafter, the operation process of the user-specific EPG providing system configured as described above will be described.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a user-specific EPG providing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the initial stage, the user accesses an external web server and undergoes user authentication through login (S100 and S200).

The user has a digital broadcast set-top box capable of networking with a web server, and the set-top box is connected to a display device for display.

In this case, a device such as a set-top box can perform a user authentication process because a unique ID exists in its own hardware device, and the user authentication process is performed using a user ID and password given to the user when the service is subscribed. Since it can carry out, it can apply in various ways, without restricting to any one method.

Subsequently, if the authentication is successful through the user authentication process, EPG information for the broadcast service is downloaded through the web server, and stored and managed in the internal storage of the set-top box (S300).

At this time, the EPG information stored in the storage corresponds to common EPG information to be shown to all users regardless of the user's preference.

Thereafter, the set-top box determines whether there is a setting condition for each user, and more specifically, whether individual EPG information exists (S400).

If the individual EPG information exists, the individual EPG information is extracted from the storage and parsed, and then a UI for each user is displayed on the screen (S510 and S520).

If the individual EPG information does not exist, the common EPG information downloaded in the previous step is parsed to display a common UI on the screen (S610 and S620).

In the present embodiment, the individual EPG information is information for implementing the UI screen according to the setting conditions set by the user, and may be any one of a menu order changing mode, a viewing grade adjustment mode, a purchase display mode, a viewing display mode, and a popular display mode. It may contain the above.

Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may implement the present invention in other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features thereof. I can understand that.

Therefore, since the embodiments described above are provided to completely inform the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art, it should be understood that they are exemplary in all respects and not limited. The invention is only defined by the scope of the claims.

1 is a view for explaining the concept of a user-specific EPG providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a diagram illustrating a network configuration of an EPG providing system for each user according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a diagram illustrating a network configuration of an EPG providing system for each user according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a detailed view of an individual UI related information database according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a view showing the internal configuration of a set-top box according to an embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a flowchart illustrating a user-specific EPG providing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

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

100: multiple set-top boxes 200: network

300: external server, 500 400: display device

310, 510: content providing server 320: web server

330, 520: authentication management server 340, 530: EPG providing server

350, 540: Individual EPG Management Server 360, 550: Member Information Database

370, 560: Integrated EPG Database

380: Database of individual UI related information

382, 156: Individual EPG Information Database

384, 154: UI skin information database

386, 152: user-specific setting condition information database

110: network interface 120: input / output unit

130: VOD management application 140: EPG management application

142: user-specific setting condition detection unit 144: EPG engine

146: EPG Browser 150: Storage

Claims (17)

An authentication management server in charge of user authentication to provide a service for each user; An individual EPG management server that generates and manages individual EPG (electronic program guide) information based on setting conditions set according to the preferences for each user; An integrated EPG database in which integrated EPG information including the individual EPG information is stored; And EPG providing server for providing the integrated EPG information stored in the integrated EPG database for each user User-specific EPG providing system comprising a. The method of claim 1, And a member information database storing member related information for the user authentication. The method of claim 1, The individual EPG information is a user-specific EPG providing system, characterized in that the EPG information changed according to the setting conditions for each user in the integrated EPG information. The method of claim 1, The individual EPG information, the user-specific EPG providing system, characterized in that it comprises any one or more of the menu order change mode, the viewing grade control mode, the purchase display mode, the viewing display mode, the popular display mode. An authentication management server in charge of user authentication to provide a service for each user; An individual EPG management server that generates and manages individual EPG (electronic program guide) information based on setting conditions set according to the preferences for each user; And An EPG providing server that provides common EPG information that is commonly applied to all users in addition to the individual EPG information; And Common EPG information provided through the EPG providing server and the individual EPG management server when the user requests a service request from the user, which is connected to each user through the Internet and is connected through the authentication management server. And web server for delivering individual EPG information User-specific EPG providing system comprising a. The method of claim 5, A member information database storing member related information for user authentication; An integrated EPG information database storing the common EPG information; And Individual EPG information database storing individual EPG information generated through the individual EPG management server, setting conditions set according to the preferences of each user, and skin information of the user interface for each user. User-specific EPG providing system further comprising. The method of claim 5, The individual EPG information, the user-specific EPG providing system, characterized in that it comprises any one or more of the menu order change mode, the viewing grade control mode, the purchase display mode, the viewing display mode, the popular display mode. The method according to claim 1 or 5, And a set-top box for receiving the individual EPG information and visually displaying it on a screen. The method of claim 8, The EPG providing system for each user, characterized in that the network for communication between the set-top box and the external server using an IP (Internet Protocol) network. The method of claim 8, The set top box, A network interface for performing an interface through a network between respective servers; An input / output unit responsible for input / output of various data related to the contents; An electronic program guide management application for parsing the common electronic program guide information and the individual electronic program guide information input through the input / output unit according to a request of the user and displaying the same on a screen; And Storage storing the common electronic program guide information and the individual electronic program guide information User-specific EPG providing system comprising a. An input / output unit responsible for input / output of various data related to the content; EPG management for parsing and displaying common EPG information input through the input / output unit on the screen, and if there is individual EPG information set according to user preferences, parsing the individual EPG information according to the user's request and displaying it on the screen. Application; And Storage that classifies and stores various data including the individual EPG information Set top box comprising a. The method of claim 11, The EPG management application, A user-specific setting condition detection unit for detecting and detecting a setting condition set according to the user-specific preferences; An EPG engine that stores and processes the common EPG information and the individual EPG information input through the input / output unit in the storage; And EPG browser for parsing and displaying common EPG information or individual EPG information stored and processed by the EPG engine. Set top box comprising a. The method of claim 11, The storage, A user setting condition information database storing setting condition information set according to each user preference; An individual EPG information database storing the individual EPG information; And A user interface skin information database storing skin information of the user interface Set top box comprising a. The method according to claim 12 or 13, The setting condition may include at least one of a skin mode, a menu order change mode, a viewing grade control mode, a purchase display mode, a viewing display mode, and a popular display mode of the user interface. The method of claim 11, The individual EPG information may include at least one of a menu order change mode, a viewing grade control mode, a purchase display mode, a viewing display mode, and a popular display mode. A user accessing a server and performing user authentication; Integrally downloading EPG information through the server when the user authentication is successful; Requesting individual EPG information set according to the user-specific preferences; Determining whether there is individual EPG information set according to the user-specific preferences; As a result of the determination, parsing the individual EPG information and displaying it on the screen; And If not determined, parsing common EPG information downloaded through the server and displaying it on the screen. User-specific EPG providing method comprising a. The method of claim 16, The individual EPG information may include any one or more of a menu order change mode, a viewing grade control mode, a purchase display mode, a viewing display mode, and a popular display mode.

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