KR20100062869A - Method for controlling restriction to viewing multimedia contents and system thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: Watching restriction method and system of the multimedia contents are provided, which configure the watching limitation condition about the contents in advance, and restrict the contents of terminal from the network according to the watching limitation condition. CONSTITUTION: A watching restriction system includes the database(30), a web server(20), and an administrator terminal(70). The Database stores the watching restriction conditions. The web server receives the watching restriction conditions from the terminal(10) or a user. The web server manages the viewing limitation conditions. The manager terminal is connected to the web server. The manager terminal inputs the data about the watching restriction condition to the web server.

Description

Method for controlling restriction to viewing multimedia contents and system

The present invention relates to a method and a system for restricting viewing of multimedia content, the method of using the multimedia content, the method of restricting the viewing of multimedia content according to the user through the setting and authentication of viewing restrictions using a network and It's about that system.

The present invention is derived from the research conducted as part of the IT growth engine technology development of the Ministry of Knowledge Economy and the Ministry of Information and Communication Research and Development. [Task management number: 2006-S-058-03, Task name: All-IP-based integrated network service control] Technology development].

Recently, various contents are provided to users as multimedia contents services such as cable broadcasting, satellite broadcasting, and DMB are increased, as well as over-the-air broadcasting.

Such multimedia content services are mainly transmitted from the headends such as terrestrial, cable, and satellite, and are provided in the form of receiving from the set-top box. Therefore, when it is necessary to restrict viewing according to the user, the limitation of viewing of the multimedia content is mainly set-top. Implemented in the box.

However, if you want to restrict the viewing of content on the set-top box, you need to create an account for each viewer and enter viewing restrictions such as the viewing age and viewing time for each viewer on the set-top box, and perform user authentication when the viewer turns on the set-top box. If the multimedia content is selected, it is determined whether to play the multimedia content according to the viewing restriction condition.

The present invention provides a method of restricting viewing by storing viewing restriction information in a set top box and extracting and comparing the viewing restriction related information from a received broadcast program.

In addition, there is a method of setting a viewer's account and parental control conditions online via a network. However, in order to remotely change the parental control conditions, each set-top box must be equipped with a server function such as a web server, or a set-top box and a server must be linked. There is this.

Although the parental control method as described above is used, it is inconvenient to change or manage the conditions for the parental control, so that the actual parental control is not effectively effected, and thus the user indiscriminately watches the content.

Accordingly, a method for more effectively restricting viewing of content should be sought.

An object of the present invention, in providing multimedia content to a terminal, by limiting the content transmitted to the terminal on the network in accordance with the set parental control conditions, effectively limit the viewing of the content according to the user, and facilitates the parental control conditions The present invention provides a method and system for restricting viewing of multimedia contents to manage and provide additional services.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for limiting viewing of multimedia content, in response to receiving a session setting request for a predetermined channel or content from a terminal, in response to a viewing restriction condition of the terminal or the user of the terminal. Determining whether the terminal is viewable, relaying the terminal or the media server providing the channel or the content so that the terminal provides the content to the terminal when the terminal meets the viewing restriction condition and is available for viewing; If the terminal is not satisfied because the terminal does not meet the viewing restriction conditions, and rejecting the session establishment request of the terminal.

In addition, the system for restricting viewing of multimedia contents according to the present invention includes a terminal for viewing a predetermined channel or content in response to a stored program guide, a web server for setting a viewing restriction condition for the terminal or the user of the terminal, and the web server. A database storing the viewing restriction conditions set by the user, a media server providing multimedia contents to the terminal through a predetermined channel, and performing user authentication for the terminal, and responding to a request of the terminal for a predetermined channel or content. It includes a call control server to determine whether or not to be able to view and relay the media server and the terminal when the view is possible, the content is provided to the terminal.

According to the present invention, a method and system for restricting viewing of multimedia content may preset a parental control condition for the content in the network, and limit the content provided to the terminal in response to the parental restriction in the network, thereby specifying content designated according to the user. Can be used and effective content restriction can be effectively blocked by limiting the restricted content. In addition, by allowing the administrator to change the viewing restrictions remotely, it is possible to centralize the management of viewing restrictions, and to easily change the viewing restrictions, so that additional services can be applied to the multimedia contents. Effective management.

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

1 is a diagram referred to the configuration of the parental control system for multimedia content according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the system for restricting viewing of multimedia content according to the present invention includes a terminal 10 for receiving and playing multimedia content, at least one media server 50 for providing multimedia content, and a reception in the terminal 10. EPG server 60 that provides a program guide for possible multimedia content, and the call control server 40 for controlling the connection so that the terminal 10 can receive the multimedia content.

In addition, the system is connected to the web server 20 and the web server 20 which receives the parental control condition from the database 30, the terminal 10 or the user, and stores and manages the parental control condition in the database 30. And a manager terminal 70 for inputting data on the parental control condition.

The system for restricting viewing of multimedia contents according to the present invention will be described by way of example, which is basically applied to a Next Generation Network (NGN) environment based on a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), but is not necessarily limited thereto. It can be applied to other network environment that satisfies the condition according to the present invention to provide.

The terminal 10 includes a reproduction means, an output means, a storage means, and a communication means capable of receiving, playing back and displaying multimedia content. For example, the terminal 10 may be a display device including a set top box, a computer or a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone, PDA, PMP.

The terminal 10 connects to the call control server 40 to request user authentication and performs an initialization operation for receiving multimedia contents when the power is driven or when the user is changed.

When the initialization operation is performed, the terminal 10 receives and outputs a program guide for multimedia content that can be viewed from the EPG server 60. When a channel or content is selected and input by the user, the terminal 10 requests the call control server 40 to set up a multimedia session to receive the channel or content.

The terminal 10 receives the multimedia content through a session established in connection with the media server 50 having the selected channel or content in response to the call control server 40, and outputs the same through the output means provided therewith.

When the session setting is rejected from the call control server 40 by the preset viewing restriction condition, the terminal 10 outputs a guide message for viewing restriction and outputs a program guide again so that another channel or other content is selected. do.

The manager terminal 70 connects to the web server 20 on the basis of the data input according to the manager's operation, and sets the parental control condition for receiving the multimedia content in advance. At this time, the manager terminal 70 may be a device such as a mobile phone, PDA, netbook (Netbook) as a device capable of network connection.

In addition, the administrator can add or change the viewing restriction conditions for a specific user anywhere, regardless of the location of the terminal 10 to receive the content through the administrator terminal 20, call control server in some cases If remote authentication for the parental control condition is requested from (40), it can be approved or rejected.

Here, the administrator may receive a guide for the remote approval request from the call control server 40 through the manager terminal 70 to approve or reject the remote approval request.

The web server 20 performs an authentication procedure for checking whether or not the user is authorized according to the parental control setting, and sets the input data as the parental control condition to be stored in the database 30. At this time, the setting or change of the parental control condition may be changed and managed by a user whose specific authority is set, that is, an administrator of the parental control service or an administrator in the home.

That is, the general viewer cannot watch the multimedia content or the content according to the viewing restriction condition set by the administrator.

The database 30 stores a parental control condition registered by the web server 20. In this case, the viewing restriction condition includes a reference value for at least one of a viewing age, a viewing time, a viewable channel, a viewable device, a viewing time for each channel, and a viewing time for each genre. The viewing restrictions may be set according to the terminal and the user, respectively.

The EPG server 60 receives channel information and program information from at least one media server 50 and provides a program guide to the terminal 10. In this case, the electronic program guide is a channel selection guide that divides a plurality of multimedia contents for the terminal 10 by channel and time, and may be provided by arranging one of channels, times, types and genres of multimedia contents. have.

The EPG server 60 is periodically connected to the media server 50 to receive content and channel information, update the program guide, and provide the updated data to the terminal 10.

When the terminal 10 is driven, the call control server 40 performs a user authentication operation for checking whether the user is a registered user who can use normal services, and connects the terminal 10 to the media server and transmits multimedia contents. Perform initialization

In addition, the call control server 40 compares the viewing restriction conditions and responds to the request of the multimedia session establishment request for receiving the multimedia contents of the terminal 10 and the media server 50 having the corresponding contents is connected to the terminal 10. Relay as much as possible.

The call control server 40 performs authentication using user account information and password for a user registered using user data of a separate user DB. In addition, the call server 40 stores the connection information for each media server 50 that is provided with content or provides a service of a predetermined channel, and requests the corresponding media server 50 to set up a multimedia session. To be connected to.

At this time, the call control server 40 performs a user authentication for the terminal 10, and then calls the viewing restriction condition for the user of the terminal 10 from the database 30, and the channel or multimedia from the terminal 10 When the multimedia session is requested for the content, it is determined whether the requested channel or the content can be viewed based on the viewing restriction condition.

The call control server 40 rejects the requested session setup when viewing is not possible due to the viewing restriction condition, and requests the multimedia server setup to the media server 50 having the content when viewing is possible, and according to the response result, the terminal ( 10), the session setup is completed and the session is established between the terminal 10 and the media server 50, and the content is relayed to the terminal 10 to be provided.

In addition, even when viewing is not possible, the call control server 40 may request a remote approval from the administrator terminal 70 in response to the contact of the registered manager without immediately rejecting the session setup. The call control server 40 may reject the session establishment as described above or request the media server 50 to establish the session according to the remote approval. At this time, when there is no response within a predetermined time when the remote control request, the call control server 40 determines that the remote approval is rejected and rejects the session setup to the terminal 10.

When the session control is rejected, the call control server 40 may transmit a guide message on the reason for rejection to the terminal 10 based on the parental control condition.

2 is a flowchart referred to for explaining a data flow in a system for restricting viewing of multimedia content according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, in the reception and playback of multimedia content in the terminal 10, the multimedia content that can be viewed by the terminal 10 or the user of the terminal may be set.

A user who has the authority to set the parental control, that is, an administrator in the home or an administrator of the parental control service may access the web server 20 and set the parental control condition for the terminal 10 or a specific user. That is, the administrator may access the web server 20 through a manager terminal 70 such as a computer or a portable terminal connected to a network, netbook, and authenticate the administrator, and then register or change the parental control condition.

The web server 20 registers the input data as a parental control condition and stores it in the database 30 (S310 and S320). In this case, the web server 20 may first determine whether the connected user has an authority for setting the parental control condition.

The viewing restriction condition includes at least one of a viewing age, a viewing time, a viewable channel, a viewable genre, a viewing time for each channel, and a viewing time for each genre of the channel or content.

The EPG server 60 periodically requests and receives program information about a channel or content from at least one media server 50. If there is a request from the EPG server 60 or if the channel or content information is changed, the media server 50 transmits the related information to the EPG server 60 (S330).

When power is supplied to the terminal 10 and driven or when the user of the terminal is changed, the terminal 10 requests user authentication to the call control server 40 (S340). At this time, the terminal 10 receives a user account and password from the user through the graphical user interface, and transmits the user account and password to the call control server 40. The call control server 40 performs user authentication using the received user account and password, and transmits a response to the terminal when the user check is completed (S350).

In this case, the call control server 40 requests and receives a viewing restriction condition from the database 30 by using the received user account after the user authentication for the terminal 10 (S360, S370).

The terminal 10 requests a program guide to the EPG server 60 (S380), and receives a program guide including information about the channel or content and programming information (S390). The terminal 10 periodically receives and updates a program guide from the EPG server 60.

The terminal 10 displays a program guide, and when one channel or one content is selected and input by the user (S400), the multimedia session is set up by the call control server 40 to watch the selected channel or content. Request (S410).

The call control server 40 determines whether the selected channel or content meets the viewing restriction condition in response to the session establishment request of the terminal 10.

If the viewing of the selected channel or content is limited, the call control server 40 rejects the multimedia session establishment request of the terminal 10 (S420). When viewing is possible, the call control server 40 requests the media server 50 having the selected channel or content to establish a multimedia session (S430). In response to the request of the call control server 40, the media server 50 transmits a response to the call establishment server 40 to the call control server 40 (S440), and the call control server 40 establishes a session therewith. The response according to the completion is transmitted to the terminal 10 (S450).

Accordingly, the session setting for the transmission of the multimedia content is completed between the terminal 10 and the media server 50, and the content is transmitted from the media server 50 to the terminal 10 (S460). Play the received content.

3 is a flowchart referred to for describing an operation method according to a method for restricting viewing of content according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As described above, when content is requested from the terminal, the network determines whether to provide the content to the terminal by blocking or providing the content to the terminal by determining whether the requested content can be viewed in response to a preset viewing restriction condition. Since the viewing restrictions are registered or changed through the web server 20 and stored in the database 30, the administrator may use the administrator terminal 70 regardless of the position of the administrator or the position of the terminal 10 viewing the content. Through the server 20, the parental control condition may be set or changed.

The viewing restriction method according to the determination of whether the content is provided by the call control server 40 and the session setup to the terminal is illustrated in FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 3, as the terminal 10 is driven, the call control server 40 receives a user account and a password from the terminal 10 (S550), corresponding to the input user account and password, and authenticates the user. Perform (S550). At this time, the call control server 40 performs authentication using user account information and password for a user registered using user data of a separate user DB.

In the case of the normal user, the call control server 40 receives a viewing restriction condition from the database 30 for the authenticated user (S570). When the user is not a normal user, that is, a user who is not registered, the call control server 40 transmits a message according to the user authentication failure to the terminal 10 (S640), and releases the connection (S650).

When a multimedia session request is received for a predetermined channel or content from the terminal 10 (S580), the user's information is compared with the viewing restriction condition for the selected channel or content (S590), and it is determined whether or not the viewing is possible (S600). .

In this case, the viewing restriction includes at least one of a viewing age, a viewing time, a viewing channel, a viewing genre, a viewing time for each channel, and a viewing time for each genre of the channel or content, so that each of the items included in the viewing restriction condition is possible. Determine whether or not.

For example, when the viewing age for the channel or the content selected by the terminal 10 is set to 15 years old or over, it is determined that the user is 15 years old or older.

In addition, if the viewable channel or the content of the channel does not match the viewing age or viewable genre, it is determined that viewing is impossible. In addition, the call control server 40 can view the channel or content, but it is determined that viewing is impossible when the viewing time or viewing time of each channel is exceeded.

The call control server 40 may request the media server 50 to release the multimedia session when the viewing time or the viewing time for each channel is exceeded even while the content is being transmitted to the terminal 10.

The call control server 40 requests the media server 50 providing the selected channel or content to establish a multimedia session with the terminal, and relays the connection to the terminal 10 (S610). At this time, the call control server 40 stores the connection information for each media server 50 that is provided with content or provides a service of a predetermined channel, and requests the corresponding media server 50 to establish a multimedia session.

In response to the response received from the media server 50, the call control server 40 transmits a response to the terminal 10 to the terminal 10 when the session setup is accepted, thereby transmitting the terminal 10 and the media server 50. To be connected (S620).

Accordingly, the terminal 10 receives and plays the content from the media server 50, and the call control server 40 manages the set session (S630).

On the other hand, if a channel or content requested from the terminal 10 cannot be viewed due to viewing restrictions, a message informing that the channel or content is not viewable is transmitted to the terminal 10 (S660). In addition, the mobile station 10 rejects the request for multimedia session establishment (S670).

After the session establishment rejection, if a multimedia session establishment request for another channel or content is received from the terminal 10 (S680), the call control server 40 meets the viewing restriction conditions for the requested channel or content as described above. It is determined whether or not to request the session setting to the media server (S610 ~ S630), or refuses to establish a session to the terminal (S660 ~ S670).

On the other hand, if the user of the terminal 10 is changed after the user authentication, the same process as described above (S560 ~ S630 or S560 ~ S680).

4 is a flowchart referred to for explaining the flow of data according to approving or changing a parental control condition remotely in a parental control system for multimedia content according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The call control server 40 may request a remote approval from an administrator before confirming a session setting request for a channel or content that is not viewable due to a viewing restriction condition, and may receive viewing permission or restriction in real time.

Referring to FIG. 4, when the multimedia session establishment request is received for a predetermined channel or content from the terminal 10 (S470), the call control server 40 may determine the terminal 10 or the terminal 10 according to a viewing restriction condition. It is determined whether the user can view the corresponding channel or the content.

The call control server 40 suspends the rejection of the multimedia session setting when the request of the terminal 10 does not meet the viewing restriction conditions, that is, when the viewing is limited to a channel or content, and remotely approves the registered administrator contact. Request (S480).

At this time, the call control server 40 transmits a remote approval request to the administrator for the user through a mail, a message, and the like. The manager may check the mail, message, etc. according to the remote approval request through the manager terminal 70, and may transmit a response to the approval or rejection through the manager terminal 70 in response thereto. When the response to the remote approval request is received from the manager through the manager terminal 70 (S490), the call control server 40 establishes a session or rejects the session establishment request accordingly.

If the remote approval is rejected for the remote approval request from the manager, the call control server 40 rejects the request for the multimedia session establishment to the terminal 10 (S500).

On the other hand, if the viewing restrictions are not met, but is remotely approved by the administrator, the call control server 40 requests the media server 50 to provide the requested channel or content from the terminal 10 to establish a multimedia session ( S510).

As the call control server 40 receives the response according to the session setup from the media server 50 (S520), the multimedia session transmits the response according to the completion of the setup to the terminal 10.

Accordingly, contents designated to the terminal 10 or contents of the selected channel are transmitted from the media server 50 through the multimedia session established between the terminal 10 and the media server 50 (S540). The terminal 10 plays the received content.

5 is a flowchart referred to for explaining an operation method for changing or approving a viewing restriction condition according to content viewing restriction according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, as described above, the call control server 40 corresponds to a session establishment request of the terminal 10, and the user of the user stored in the database 30 for the channel or content selected by the terminal 10. It is determined whether or not the view is possible by comparing with the viewable condition (S690).

The call control server 40 satisfies all items for each item included in a viewing restriction condition including at least one of a viewing age, a viewing time, a viewable channel, a viewable genre, a viewing time for each channel, and a viewing time for each genre. If not, it is determined that viewing is possible, and if there is any item that cannot be viewed, it is determined that viewing is impossible.

When viewing is possible, the call control server 40 requests the media server 50 to establish a multimedia session for the terminal 10 as described above, thereby establishing a multimedia session between the terminal 10 and the media server 50. The content is provided to the terminal 10 (S720 to S740).

If it is impossible to view, as shown in FIG. 3 described above, but rejects the session establishment request to the terminal 10, when the remote control is set to perform, the call control server 40 withholds the session establishment rejection and the Request remote approval by sending a mail or message to your contact.

At this time, if the response is not received within a predetermined time after the remote approval request, the call control server 40 determines that the approval is denied.

When the request is approved and the user of the terminal 10 is allowed to watch the content, the call control server 40 uses the terminal to the media server 50 that provides the channel or the content even if the viewing restriction condition is not met. The multimedia session set up request (10) (S720).

When the response according to the multimedia session setup from the media server 50 is received, the call control server 40 notifies the terminal 10 that the multimedia session is established (S730), and the multimedia content of the media server 50 is connected to the terminal (S730). Relay to be provided to 10) (S740).

Accordingly, when the session setup is finally completed, the terminal 10 receives and plays the content of the predetermined channel or the designated content from the media server 50.

On the other hand, when viewing the content of the user of the terminal 10 via the remote approval is not approved and rejected, or if a response to the remote approval for a predetermined time is not received, the call control server 40 is the terminal 10 Informs that viewing is not possible, and rejects the multimedia session setup (S750).

As described above, the method and system for restricting viewing of multimedia contents according to the present invention have been described with reference to the illustrated drawings, but the present invention is not limited thereto by the embodiments and drawings disclosed herein, It can be applied by those skilled in the art.

1 is a view referred to the configuration of the parental control system for multimedia content according to an embodiment of the present invention;

2 is a flowchart referred to for explaining a data flow in a system for restricting viewing of multimedia content according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3 is a flowchart referred to for describing an operation method according to a method for restricting viewing of content according to an embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a flowchart referred to for explaining the flow of data according to approving or changing a viewing restriction remotely in a system for restricting viewing of multimedia content according to an embodiment of the present invention;

5 is a flowchart referred to for explaining an operation method for changing or approving a viewing restriction condition according to content viewing restriction according to an embodiment of the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols on main parts of the drawings>

10: terminal 20: web server

30: database 40: call processing server

50: media server 60: EPG server

70: manager terminal

Claims (10)

When the session establishment request for a predetermined channel or content is received from the terminal, determining whether the terminal is viewable according to a viewing restriction condition of the terminal or the user of the terminal; Relaying the terminal or the media server providing the content with the terminal so that the terminal provides the content to the terminal when the terminal meets the viewing restriction condition; And rejecting the session establishment request of the terminal when the terminal is not satisfied because the terminal does not meet the viewing restriction condition. The method of claim 1, The viewing availability determining step may include at least one of a viewing age, a viewing time, a viewable channel, a viewable genre, a viewing time for each channel, and a viewing time for each genre with respect to the channel or the content requested from the terminal. A method of restricting viewing of multimedia content to determine whether viewing is possible based on a restriction condition. The method of claim 2, The determining of whether or not to view may be performed by determining whether to view or not for each item of the viewing restriction condition. If it is determined that viewing is not possible for at least one item, it is determined that viewing is impossible, and when viewing is possible for all items, the multimedia which determines that the terminal or the user of the terminal can watch the channel or the content. How to restrict viewing of content. The method of claim 1, In the relaying step, requesting the media server establish a session for the channel or the content to the terminal, and in response to the response of the media server, notifying the terminal of the session setting completion, between the media server and the terminal. A method of restricting viewing of multimedia content by relaying session settings to enable content transmission. The method of claim 1, If it is determined that the channel or the content cannot be viewed before the rejection step, before rejecting the session establishment request of the terminal, a remote request for permission to view the channel or the content for the terminal or the user of the terminal Sending the approval request to the pre-registered manager terminal further comprising the method of limiting viewing of multimedia content. The method of claim 5, In the remote approval step, when the remote approval, the media server providing the channel or the content and the terminal by relaying the viewing of the multimedia content so that the channel or the content is provided to the terminal. The method of claim 5, Receiving the viewing restriction conditions for the terminal and the user of the terminal, registered by an administrator through a web server and stored in a database after the user authentication for the terminal, before the viewing availability determination step How to restrict viewing of multimedia content. A terminal viewing a predetermined channel or content in response to the stored program guide; A web server for setting viewing restriction conditions for the terminal or the user of the terminal; A database storing the parental control condition set by the web server; A media server providing multimedia content to a terminal through a predetermined channel; And Performs user authentication on the terminal, determines whether to view a predetermined channel or content in response to a request of the terminal, and relays the media server and the terminal when viewing is possible, and relays the channel or the content to the terminal. System for restricting viewing of multimedia content comprising a call control server to be provided. The method of claim 8, The call control server rejects the request of the terminal when it is determined that viewing of at least one item is impossible with respect to the viewing restriction condition, and when viewing of all items of the viewing restriction condition is possible, the media server. A system for restricting viewing of multimedia content, wherein a request for session establishment is performed to relay the channel or the content to the terminal. The method of claim 8, The call control server transmits a remote approval requesting viewing permission to the terminal or the user of the terminal to a registered manager terminal when it is determined that viewing is not possible for at least one item with respect to the viewing restriction condition. , System for limiting viewing of multimedia content relaying the media server and the terminal to provide the channel or the content to the terminal upon remote approval.

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