KR20090120920A - Service method for providing related contents information in internet protocol television service and set-top box for materializing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An IPTV service related contents information providing method and a set-top box for implementing the same are provided to enable a user to continuously receive the IPTV service by conveniently selecting the contents. CONSTITUTION: The contents information providing system comprises the content providing server, EPG(Electronic Program Guide) providing server, and set-top box. The content providing server(32) stores one or more contents. The content providing server provides the contents corresponding to the request. The EPG providing server(34) offers the information about the contents stored in the content control server and the EPG information including a contents list. The set-top box(10) receives the EPG information and stores the information. The set-top box displays the related contents list on the screen.

Description

TECHNICAL INFORMATION FOR PROVIDING RELATED CONTENTS INFORMATION IN INTERNET PROTOCOL TELEVISION SERVICE AND SET-TOP BOX FOR MATERIALIZING THE SAME}

The present invention relates to a television service using an internet protocol network (hereinafter referred to as an Internet Protocol Television Service (IPTV) service). In particular, the present invention relates to a VOD content before or immediately after the end of providing Vedio On Demend (VOD) content. A method for providing a list of information on VOD contents related to a keyword and a set top box (STB) for implementing the same.

Recently, with the spread of broadband media and the increase in communication speed, the Internet has emerged as a new medium for enabling One source Multi Service. As an example of such one multis services, a number of airwave television and radio channels, as well as multimedia contents provided by an internet service provider are provided as a broadcast service through the Internet. Along with the rapid increase in the Internet use population, the demand for internet broadcasting that provides OneS multi-service is on the rise.

A representative service that emerged from this background is IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) based on Internet Protocol.

The biggest feature of IPTV is that it provides interactive TV broadcasting service through high speed internet.

The IPTV connects a content providing server and a display device connected to the Internet through a set-top box, and displays an information content service, a video content providing service, and a broadcasting content providing service on the display device through the content providing server. To the user.

In general, a content selection method in IPTV may select desired content by selecting a main menu for selecting content and an item of a sub category related to the main category. That is, in order to select a category item several times, the user may select content only when the user inputs several keys with the remote controller.

On the other hand, there are many users who want to watch a lot of content and active users who continue to connect to other content after watching a specific content to provide services, and passively end the viewing by watching one content and not selecting the next content There are also users.

In the case of the active user, the user can continuously select the desired content and continue to receive the service. However, in the case of the passive user, it is difficult to select the desired content so that the continuous service cannot be provided.

In addition, in order to view content associated with the content watched after the user views the predetermined content, the user can think of the corresponding keyword and find the content related to the keyword in order to view the content.

As a result, when a keyword related to the current watched content is not remembered, the viewer has no choice but to give up on viewing the content corresponding to the related keyword.

Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention is to provide a method for reducing a user's trouble for watching another content after watching a predetermined content in an IPTV service, and a set-top box for implementing the same.

In addition, the present invention is characterized by providing a method for providing a list of information on the VOD content related to the keyword of the VOD content before or immediately after the end of the VOD content provision in the IPTV service and a set-top box for implementing the same.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for providing related content information in an Internet Protocol Television Service (IPTV) service, comprising: a content providing server storing at least one content and providing the corresponding content on request; And an EPG providing server for providing EPG (Electronic Program Guide) information including information on content stored in the content providing server and a related content list including contents related to keywords of the content, and receiving the EPG information. And a set-top box for storing and displaying the stored related content list on a screen at the time of providing the related content list during playing of predetermined content.

According to an example of the present invention, if one content for viewing is selected from among contents included in the related content list displayed on the screen, the set-top box requests the selected content to the content providing server, and provides the content. And when the requested content is received from the server, playing the received content.

According to an example of the present invention, the point of time for providing the related content list during the play of the predetermined content is a predetermined time before the end of the content currently being played.

According to an example of the present invention, the point of providing the related content list during the play of the predetermined content may be the end point of the content currently being played.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the point of providing the related content list during the playback of the predetermined content is a point of time when a request for viewing the list is received from the user.

According to an example of the present invention, the set-top box checks whether a predetermined time elapses after displaying the related content list on the screen, and displays a general list on the screen when the predetermined time elapses, and the predetermined time Before this elapses, the related content list is continuously displayed on the screen.

According to an example of the present invention, the number of contents included in the related content list may be a number that can be checked on one screen.

According to an example of the present invention, the related content list may be displayed in a bar shape at one of the left, right, top, and bottom positions of the screen.

According to an example of the present invention, the content included in the related content list may be displayed as a thumbnail image.

In addition, the present invention provides a method for providing related content information in an Internet Protocol Television Service (IPTV) service, comprising: an EPG including information about at least one content and a related content list including contents related to keywords of the content; Electronic Program Guide) receiving and storing information, and displaying the stored related content list on the screen at the time of providing the related content list during playing of predetermined content.

According to an example of the present invention, if one of the contents included in the related content list displayed on the screen is selected for viewing, the requested content is received after requesting the selected contents from the content providing server for providing contents. The method may further include the step of reproducing.

According to the present invention described above, an IPTV service provides a list of information on VOD contents related to a keyword of VOD contents being played before or immediately after the end of VOD contents, and the user is contemplating watching other contents after viewing predetermined contents. There is an advantage that can be reduced. In addition, there is an advantage in that the content selection can be more convenient for the passive user to select the content to continue to receive the IPTV service.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION A detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the same components in the figures represent the same numerals wherever possible. Specific details are set forth in the following description, which is provided to aid a more general understanding of the present invention. In describing the present invention, when it is determined that a detailed description of a related known function or configuration may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Hereinafter, a method for providing a list of information on VOD contents related to a keyword of VOD contents before or immediately after the end of providing VOD contents according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, a network configuration of an IPTV service according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1.

IPTV service according to the present invention can be largely implemented through the set-top box 10, the network 20 and the server unit 30 of the user side.

The server unit 30 includes a content providing server 32, an electronic program guide (EPG) providing server 34, an authentication management server 36, a monitoring server 38, and the like.

Here, although the server unit 30 is illustrated to be configured independently for each function for convenience of description, the above functions may be integrated and provided in one or more servers, and provide various functions other than the illustrated servers as necessary. Additional servers may be included.

The content providing server 32 of the server unit 30 includes a database storing various video-on-demand (VOD) contents, and provides the user side through the network 20 at the request of the user.

In some cases, the content providing server 32 may establish a plurality of content supply servers below, and store and manage data of content in each content supply server. According to this case, the content providing server 32 collectively manages the list of content supply servers and the content stored therein.

The EPG provision server 34 generates electronic programming guide (EPG) information on VOD contents provided by the content provision server 32 and provides the EPG information to the user terminal (eg, the set-top box 10).

At this time, the information of the VOD contents related to the keyword of each VOD content in the embodiment of the present invention is listed, and the EPG information includes the related VOD content list for each VOD content. That is, in the past, only information on each VOD content was provided using EPG. However, in the present invention, information on VOD contents related to keywords of the VOD content is also provided for each VOD content.

At this time, the keyword for the VOD content is provided by the operator, and provides information on the VOD content related to the keyword. Accordingly, the user can select and watch one of the related VOD contents provided through the EPG after viewing the predetermined VOD contents.

That is, according to the present invention, as VOD contents are difficult to be provided by providing a lot of VOD contents, the present invention provides a list of related VOD contents before or immediately after the VOD contents currently being viewed is provided to the user, and recommends VOD contents to the user. Makes it easier to choose the next VOD content to watch.

In addition, the number of recommended VOD content may be limited to the number that can be checked on one screen. In another embodiment, the present invention may be provided without limiting the number, and when displaying the VOD content list, the VOD content list may be checked through one or more screens by switching to the previous screen or the next screen by scrolling.

The authentication management server 36 stores and manages basic information (eg, personal information, ID, password, contact information, etc.) for each member who subscribed to the IPTV service in a database, and authenticates whether the user is already registered when using the service. In charge. To this end, the authentication management server 36 may request or grant an ID for each user when the user subscribes to the IPTV service.

The monitoring server 38 monitors the system operation of the server unit 30 and monitors whether the user is using the service, what the user is watching, what the user has requested, and the like.

The network 20 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 it is a wired or wireless communication network that enables the network.

The plurality of set-top boxes 10 are connected to the server unit 30 via the network 20, request the content selected by the user to the content providing server 32, and displays the content downloaded according to the request (display screen ( Output via 40). In addition, the set-top box 10 receives the EPG information from the EPG providing server 34 and outputs it through the display screen 40 to guide the menu screen to the user.

The display screen 40 connected to the set top box 10 may be a television receiver or a monitor, and may include a personal mobile terminal. In the case of a personal mobile terminal, all data is transmitted and received through the mobile communication network.

Then, with reference to Figure 2 with respect to the specific internal configuration of the set-top box 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a view showing in detail the configuration of the set-top box 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2, the set-top box 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is a network interface unit 11, data receiving unit 12, input signal receiving unit 13, control unit 14, output unit 15, Storage 16.

The network interface unit 11 is connected to the server unit 30 of FIG. 1 through an IPTV-based network to perform data communication.

The data receiver 12 encodes and processes data received through the network interface unit 11.

The input signal receiver 13 receives a signal input by a user through an input means such as a remote controller and provides the same to the controller 14.

The storage 16 stores an associated control program for providing the IPTV service, and stores data (eg, content data, EPG information) provided through the network interface 11.

In addition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the storage 16 corresponds to and stores each VOD content information provided through EPG information and a list including information of VOD contents related to keywords of each VOD content. That is, a list of related VOD contents for each VOD content is stored.

The storage 16 also stores relevant VOD content list presentation time setting information. That is, setting information regarding when to provide a VOD content list related to the VOD content being displayed on the display device 40 through the current output unit 15 is stored.

The VOD content list provision time may be before a predetermined time from the end of the current VOD content, immediately after the end time, or may be a time when a request for viewing the list is received from the user. Among these, preferably, it is provided before a predetermined time at the end of the current VOD content, and accordingly, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the VOD content list is provided at a time before the current VOD content is terminated. Assume and explain.

The output unit 15 converts and outputs the content data output through the control unit 14 into an audio / video (AV) signal for display on the display screen 40.

The controller 14 controls the overall operation of the set top box 10.

In particular, the control unit 14 according to an embodiment of the present invention determines whether it is time to display a related content list for the VOD content currently displayed on the display device 40 through the output unit 15. That is, since the present invention assumes that the VOD content list is provided before the predetermined time at the end of the current VOD content, it is determined whether the content is before the predetermined time at the end of the content being played. .

For example, if it is set to display the related content list one minute before the end, it is checked whether it is one minute before the end time of the content currently being played, and if it is one minute before the end, the related content list is displayed on the screen.

If it is time to display a related content list for the currently playing VOD content, the related content list stored in the storage 16 is displayed on the display device 40 through the output unit 15. In this case, a screen displaying a list of related contents on the display device 40 may be illustrated in FIG. 4. Referring to FIG. 4, the related content list may be displayed in a separate display area. In an embodiment of the present invention, the related content list may be displayed on the lower part of the content currently being played. have. In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, the related content list may be displayed in a bar shape at a corresponding position and may be displayed as a thumbnail image.

In addition, the controller 14 displays a related content list and controls to receive and play the selected content when one of the contents included in the displayed list is selected.

At this time, if there is no input from the user so that a predetermined time elapses after displaying the related content list, the controller 14 changes to the general list screen and displays it.

Next, FIG. 3 illustrates a process for providing a user with a related content list for recommending related VOD content at a predetermined time before the end of the VOD content being played in the set-top box 10 configured as shown in FIG. 2. See it for reference.

In step 300, the set-top box 10 maintains the standby state and checks whether there is a selection for viewing content in step 302. At this time, the standby state is a state waiting for a predetermined event to occur.

If the result of the check in step 302 is to select a predetermined content, the set-top box 10 proceeds to step 304 and requests the content providing server 32 to receive the selected content, and plays the received content.

Thereafter, in step 306, the set-top box 10 checks whether it is time to display a related content list for the content while playing the received content and displaying it on the screen. In other words, it is checked whether a predetermined time elapses before the end of the content currently being played.

If the content is being played, the set-top box 10 proceeds to step 308 and displays a related content list for the content being played on the screen.

Thereafter, in step 310, if there is a selection for viewing one of the contents included in the displayed related content list, the set-top box 10 receives the selected content and plays the received content. Mark on.

After the set top box 10 displays the related content list, the set top box 10 checks whether a predetermined time has elapsed.

If the predetermined time has elapsed after displaying the related content list, the set-top box 10 displays the general list on the screen in step 314.

As described above, in the embodiment of FIG. 3, an example of a case in which the VOD content list provision time is set to a predetermined time before the end of the current VOD content has been described.

However, if the VOD content list is provided to be provided immediately after the end of the content playback, the set-top box 10 plays back the received content in step 306 and displays it on the screen. At the time of inspection, it is checked immediately after the end of the content currently being played. If immediately after the end of the content currently being played, the set-top box 10 proceeds to step 308 and displays a related content list for the content being played on the screen, and then performs steps 310 to 314.

In addition, if it is set to provide a related content list when a request for viewing the list is made from the user at the time of providing the VOD content list, the set-top box 10 reproduces the received content in step 306 and displays the content on the screen. When checking whether it is time to display a related content list, it checks whether there is a request from the user to view the VOD content list. That is, in this case, the user may request through a key input provided for the request separately for the request for viewing the VOD content list. Thereafter, the set-top box 10 proceeds to step 308 and displays a related content list for the content being played on the screen, and then performs steps 310 to 314.

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 network diagram of an IPTV service according to an embodiment of the present invention;

2 is an internal configuration diagram of a set top box 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention,

3 is a flowchart illustrating a process for providing a related content list to a user before a content playback end time according to the present invention;

4 illustrates an example of a screen displaying a related content list according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

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

10, 10-1 to 10-m: set top box 20: network

30: server unit 32: content providing server

34: EPG provision server 36: authentication management server

38: monitoring server 40, 40-1 to 40-m: display screen

11: network interface unit 12: data receiving unit

13: input signal receiver 14: controller

15: Output 16: Storage

Claims (18)

In the system for providing related content information in the IPTV (Internet Protocol Television Service) service, A content providing server that stores at least one content and provides the content according to a request; An EPG provision server providing EPG (Electronic Program Guide) information including information on content stored in the content providing server and a related content list including contents related to keywords of the content; And a set-top box for receiving and storing the EPG information and displaying the stored related content list on a screen at the time of providing the related content list during playing of a predetermined content. The method of claim 1, wherein the set top box, When one content for viewing is selected from among contents included in the related content list displayed on the screen, the content providing server requests the selected content, and when the requested content is received from the content providing server, the received content is received. Content information providing system further comprising the playback. The content information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the relevant content list providing time point during the playing of the predetermined content is a predetermined time before the end time of the content being played. The content information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the relevant content list providing time point during the playing of the predetermined content is the ending time point of the content currently being played. The content information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the relevant content list providing time point during the playing of the predetermined content is a time point when a request for viewing the list is received from a user. The method of claim 1, wherein the set top box, After displaying the related content list on the screen, it is checked whether a predetermined time has elapsed, and when the predetermined time has elapsed, a general list is displayed on the screen, and the related content list is continuously displayed before the predetermined time elapses. Content information providing system, characterized in that displayed on. The system of claim 1, wherein the number of contents included in the related content list is a number that can be checked on one screen. The system of claim 1, wherein the related content list is displayed in a bar shape at one of left, right, top, and bottom positions of the screen. The system of claim 1, wherein the content included in the related content list is displayed as a thumbnail image. In the method for providing related content information in the Internet Protocol Television Service (IPTV) service, Receiving and storing electronic program guide (EPG) information including information on at least one content and a related content list including contents related to keywords of the content; And displaying the stored related content list on a screen at the time of providing the related content list during playing of predetermined content. The method of claim 10, If one content for viewing is selected from among contents included in the related content list displayed on the screen, requesting the selected content from a content providing server for providing content and then playing the received content if received; Content information providing method, characterized in that. The method of claim 10, wherein the providing of the related content list during the playing of the predetermined content comprises: Content information providing method characterized in that the predetermined time before the end of the content currently playing. The method of claim 10, wherein the providing of the related content list during the playing of the predetermined content comprises: Content information providing method characterized in that the end of the content currently being played. The method of claim 10, wherein the providing of the related content list during the playing of the predetermined content comprises: Content information providing method characterized in that it is the time when a request for viewing the list from the user. The method of claim 10, wherein after performing the process of displaying the related content list on a screen, Checking whether a predetermined time has elapsed, And displaying the general list on the screen when the predetermined time elapses, and continuously displaying the related content list on the screen before the predetermined time elapses. The method of claim 10, wherein the number of contents included in the related content list is a number that can be checked on one screen. The method of claim 10, wherein the related content list is displayed in a bar shape at one of left, right, top, and bottom positions of the screen. The method of claim 10, wherein the content included in the related content list is displayed as a thumbnail image.

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