KR20110013934A - Method and apparatus for providing private channel service on iptv - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A method and an apparatus for providing a private channel service on an IPTV are provided to enable a user to watch preferable contents in a mode in which the user watches a general channel through an IPTV individual channel allocated by individual. CONSTITUTION: An organization list providing unit(122) provides first and/or second contents list to a terminal, and a channel organization table generator(123) generates a channel organization table. An individual channel number allocator(124) allocates personal channel number corresponding to a channel organization table, and an information sharing and managing unit(125) manages the access right for the first contents and an individual channel. A service providing unit(126) provides the terminal with the channel organization table of each individual channel.

Description

Method and apparatus for providing personal channel service of IPTV {METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING PRIVATE CHANNEL SERVICE ON IPTV}

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing a personal channel service, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for providing a service by allocating a broadcast channel of an IPTV for each individual.

Since TV channels generally have a limited channel band, viewers have no choice but to receive content according to a schedule organized by an operator having a broadcasting right. Therefore, it is practically difficult to allocate TV broadcast channels for each individual to service contents produced by the individual or to organize the contents preferred by the user to their taste.

Similarly in IPTV, in case of live channels provided through multicasting networks, not only bandwidth is limited, but also bandwidth and channel services are required for each channel, so only a limited number of channels can be serviced, and channels are allocated to individuals. Thus, providing a service as described above also has a lot of practical difficulties.

Accordingly, in Korean Patent Registration No. 872,284 (VOD content providing method using a personal channel number), a personal channel number corresponding to a specific VOD content is designated, and when a user later selects a predetermined personal channel number, the selected personal channel is selected. Although a technology for providing a VOD corresponding to a number is disclosed, it merely serves as a shortcut number for a specific channel or VOD, and allocates a broadcasting channel to each individual to service content produced by an individual or to a user's preference. The user's demand for organizing the content to their tastes still does not go away.

In order to solve the above problems of the prior art, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for allocating channel numbers of IPTV for each individual.

In addition, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for providing a broadcast service by organizing content produced by a person or a VOD preferred by a user.

The objects of the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned objects, and other objects not mentioned can be clearly understood from the following description.

In order to achieve the above object, a method for providing a personal channel service according to an aspect of the present invention, (a) receiving a user-organized broadcast programming information from the terminal, (b) based on the broadcast programming information Generating a channel schedule table and allocating a personal channel number corresponding to the channel schedule table; and (c) when receiving a viewing request for the personal channel number from the terminal or another terminal, based on the channel schedule table. And transmitting the content to the corresponding terminal after the request reception time.

In order to achieve the above object, the apparatus for providing a personal channel service according to an aspect of the present invention, by using at least one of the first content registered by the user and the second content provided by the IPTV service system, the user itself A channel schedule generator for generating a channel schedule based on the organized broadcast schedule information, a personal channel number assigner for allocating a personal channel number corresponding to the channel schedule, and allowing the first content to be used by other users for channel programming An information sharing manager that manages at least one of access rights to the first content and a personal channel access right for allowing another user to access the personal channel number, and requests a viewing request for the personal channel number from a terminal. When receiving, the content to be played back at the present time according to the channel schedule table. And a service provider for transmitting the URL and information on the time to start playback to the terminal, and a content provider for transmitting the content so that the content is reproduced from the viewpoint information based on the URL and the viewpoint information.

In order to achieve the above object, an apparatus for providing a personal channel service according to another aspect of the present invention, in response to a user's request for creating a channel schedule table, the list of the first content registered by the user or another user and the IPTV service system Interface providing unit for providing a list of the second content to provide, a broadcast programming information transmitter and the first to transmit the broadcast programming information organized by the user with reference to at least one of the first content list and the second content list And a rights setting request unit for transmitting the rights setting information for accessing at least one of the contents and the broadcasting schedule information that the user self-produced and registered in the content, wherein the rights setting request unit is for each user or a plurality of users as members. The permission setting is requested for each community.

Specific details for achieving the above object will be apparent with reference to the embodiments described below in detail with the accompanying drawings.

The present invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. It is provided to fully inform the owner of the scope of the invention.

According to one of the problem solving means of the method and apparatus for providing a personal channel service of the present invention described above, a user is the same as watching a general channel according to a channel schedule table organized by the user through a personal channel of an IPTV allocated for each individual. Can watch the preferred content.

In addition, individual-produced content or live streaming can be shared with others in the form of channels.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily carry out the present invention.

The present invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

In the drawings, parts irrelevant to the description are omitted for simplicity of explanation, and like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the specification.

For reference, in the entire specification, when a part is "connected" to another part, it is not only "directly connected" but also "electrically connected" with another element in between. Also includes.

Also, when an element is referred to as "comprising ", it means that it can include other elements as well, without departing from the other elements unless specifically stated otherwise.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a general IPTV broadcasting system.

The IPTV broadcasting system includes a broadcaster 1000, a headend system 2000, a network network 3000, and a user terminal 4000.

In addition, the headend system 2000 includes a baseband system 2010, a compression multiplexing system 2020, a conditional access system (CAS) 2030, a back office system 2040, a monitoring system 2050, A media management core (MOC) 2060, a subscriber management system 2070, a data broadcasting system 2080, an electronic program guide (EPG) system 2090, and a return path server system 2100.

The broadcaster 1000 serves to produce, edit, and change broadcast content to provide to the headend system 2000. The broadcaster 1000 may include a program provider (PP), a terrestrial wave, or a content provider (CP). In addition, the broadcast content provided by the broadcaster 1000 may include existing broadcast content and rich content on the Internet.

The headend system 2000 receives and manages broadcast content from the broadcaster 1000 and distributes content to the user terminal 4000 to provide broadcast / recording / playback services. The received broadcast content may include related additional information and an EPG for this additional information.

The head-end system 2000 includes EPG information (PSIP / PSI /) including a subscriber concentrator, a broadcast video and audio signal, data broadcasting data, and a program recommendation service menu through a router supporting a multicast routing protocol. SI information) can be transmitted to IP set-top boxes of multiple subscribers by multicasting.

The baseband system 2010 receives an MPEG2 broadcast signal from an external program provider (PP) or an analog broadcast signal from terrestrial waves, converts the received source broadcast signal into a SDI (Serial Digital Interface) signal, and converts a frame ( Frames), and distributes video and audio signals from multiple broadcast channels (e.g. 100 channels) via a routine switcher, subtitle generator (CG) and automatic program controller (APC). At least one of an advertisement, a logo, or a subtitle is inserted into the broadcast video and audio signal (signal editing and processing) and transmitted to the compression multiplexing system 2020.

The SDI (Serial Digital Interface) signal is, for example, a digital signal standard having a transmission rate of 270 Mbps, and a composite digital image and four channels of digital audio signals may be mixed.

The baseband system 2010 is basically a tuner for receiving analog broadcast signals through a receiving device (eg, a DS-3 station, a Yagi antenna, and an IRD) for receiving broadcast signals such as a program provider (PP) and terrestrial waves, respectively. (Tuner)), a frame synchronizer for converting and correcting a source signal received from a receiving device into an SDI signal, synchronizing frames, and A connecting / centralizing all broadcast signal channels for operation management. A signal splitter such as a / V router, and a subtitle generator for inserting an advertisement, a logo, and a subtitle into the SDI signal to edit and process the signal.

The compression multiplexing system 2020 uses an A / V encoder (A / V Encoder) for broadcasting video and audio signals (Video, Audio) received from the baseband system 2010 for each broadcasting channel (eg, 100 channels). ) To compress the SDI (Serial Digital Interface) video signal to H.264, and to compress the audio signal to MPEG-2 AAC to generate MPEG-2 TS (Transport Stream), and to compress compressed broadcast video and audio -2 after multiplexing data broadcasting data and EPG information (PSIP / PSI / SI information) generated by a data encoder and a PSI / SI generator together with the TS signal When the received MPEG-2 TS signal is used in the reception restriction technique, the TS-2 may be inputted to a scrambler, encrypted, and finally IP packetized to transmit an IP packetized TS (Transport Stream) broadcast signal.

Also, optionally, the reception restriction system 2030 may be used to prevent illegal viewing and illegal copying of program recommendation content.

The reception restriction system 2030 performs encryption on the real-time channel and pre-encryption of the VOD content, and controls viewing authority so that only the authenticated user can use the channel and the content. In order to prevent illegal copying of IPTV contents, a digital rights management (DRM) scheme may be used instead of the reception restriction system 2030.

The back office system 2040 is a provisioning system and provides a billing processing function for the use of the IPTV program service for each subscriber.

The monitoring system 2050 is a control system. The monitoring system 2050 may monitor a transmission failure of an A / V broadcast signal for IPTV broadcasting, a reception failure by monitoring a downlink of an IPTV headend system, and confirm subtitles.

The media management system 2060 is a system that manages various business process information (program organization information, location information, contract information, product information, etc.) for operating a broadcasting business. The media management system 2060 integrates and manages the information flow through organic coupling with each system in the center of the broadcasting center.

The media management system 2060 manages broadcast program organization information, content and media management information, contract information of a program provider (PP) and a content provider (CP), and product information, and manages each system in the center of a broadcasting center. Through organic integration, it can act as a coordinator to manage and manage the flow of information.

In addition, the media management system 2060 includes contract management in terms of acquisition, management of media and content metadata, EPG information acquisition / management of broadcast schedule information, and real-time broadcasting and VOD in terms of operation. It provides channel formation management, agent management, interworking with each subsystem, VOD catalog creation management, and various product management.In terms of analysis, marketing analysis reporting, delivery such as settlement of CP / CA, subscriber viewing propensity, etc. In terms of broadcasting transmission monitoring, video server transmission management and VOD subscriber authentication, transmission result recording / management for settlement with CP / CA, and data synchronization with each subsystem connected.

The subscriber management system 2070 provides membership registration and termination and member information management for IPTV services.

The data broadcasting system 2080 authors, verifies, organizes, and transmits the data broadcasting data.

The data broadcasting system 2080 includes a data agent manager (PSI) for managing data encoding, a PSI / SI generator (PSI) for generating program specific information / service information (SI). / SI Generator), Data Server / Data Encoder for encoding data broadcasting data into broadcast video and audio signals, and Multiplexer Manager for managing multiplexing functions of data into the broadcast video and audio signals Manager) and a scheduler user interface (Scheduler UI).

In addition, the data broadcasting system 2080 may use the A / V encoder to provide the A / V data provided from the A / V server according to the terrestrial Application Configuration Access Protocol (ACAP) data broadcasting standard. Compresses the broadcast video and audio signals by using a data server / data encoder and PSI / SI (Program Specific Information / Service Information), and compresses the compressed video and audio signals from an application by the authoring tool. ) Is multiplexed by a multiplexer together with data broadcasting data and EPG information (PSIP / SI information) generated by the generator to encode and transmit broadcast program data and related information from collection and storage of data broadcasting programs. .

The EPG system 2090 includes an EPG server and provides an electronic program guide (EPG) service to the user terminal 4000.

The return path server system 2100 processes bidirectional data by a data provider (DP), provides online bill transfer from the user terminal 4000, usage history / billing interworking processing of bidirectional data, and personalization authentication processing. , And receive bidirectional data for the program recommendation service and transmit the corresponding response data to the user terminal 4000 in unicasting.

The network 3000 receives the broadcast content from the headend system 2000 and delivers the received broadcast content to the user terminal 4000. The network network 3000 includes a backbone network and an access network, and the access network includes Ethernet, xDSL (ADSL, VDSL), Hybrid Fiber Coaxial Ca (HFC), and Fiber To The Curb), and may be configured in any one topology of a fiber to the home (FTTH) structure.

The user terminal 4000 is an apparatus for using an Internet broadcasting service, and generally includes an IPTV, a set top box (STB), and a remote controller. The IPTV outputs the broadcast content received from the headend system 2000 and transmits the user response signal received through the remote controller to the headend system 2000 through the return channel of the set top box.

The user terminal 4000 may use any one of a TV with an IP set-top box or an IP set-top box, a computer, a notebook, or a personal portable terminal connected to the user's TV.

The IP set-top box (hereinafter referred to as 'terminal') is a hardware layer composed of STB hardware such as CPU, media processor, flash RAM, Ethernet module, system software layer including system software such as device driver and operating system, Java virtual machine. Middleware layer with Java Virtual Machine (JVM), Conditional Access System (CAS) module and Digital Rights Management (DRM) interface module, streaming protocol (RTP, RTSP), MPEG2, MPEG4, It can support multiple multi codecs such as MPEG7, H.264, WMV-9, etc. and can include four layers of application layer including Electronic Program Guide (EPG) for selecting IPTV service channel. have. In this case, the subscriber's IP set-top box may be assigned an IPv4 address or an IPv6 address.

2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a system for providing a personal channel service of an IPTV according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The system for providing a personal channel service of an IPTV according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a user terminal 110, a personal channel providing server 120, and a terminal 130.

To describe each component in detail, first, the user terminal 110 is connected to the personal channel providing server 120 to register (upload) the content produced by the user, and to the title, content of the registered (uploaded) content Meta information of content such as a description, genre, and characters, and a viewing range of the content may be input.

Herein, the content includes at least one of video on demand (VOD), which is already provided by a service provider, and user-produced content, and a viewing range of the content is defined by a user who can watch the content. By specifying the range, the viewing range may be set to a user allowed by the content registrant, a community or a whole user including a plurality of users as members.

In addition, the viewing range may be set or changed through the terminal 130 described later.

On the other hand, the personal channel providing server 120 receives the content produced by the user from the user terminal 110, and processes the received content into a format suitable for broadcasting and stores it in a DB.

In addition, the personal channel providing server 120 may receive the meta information of the content such as the title of the content, the description of the content, the genre and the character, and the viewing range of the content from the user terminal 110.

In addition, the personal channel providing server 120 provides the terminal 130 with a content list for allowing a user to directly organize a channel schedule. At this time, the content list provided by the personal channel providing server 120 is a content that the user self-produced and registered (uploaded) and content that another user self-produced and registered (uploaded) with which the user is allowed to access ( Hereinafter, at least one of the first content may be included, and in addition to the content provided as a service (hereinafter, referred to as second content), it may also be included.

In addition, the personal channel providing server 120 receives, from the terminal 130, broadcast programming information directly organized by the user. Here, the user-organized broadcast program information (hereinafter, referred to as user broadcast program information) is information that a user selects and organizes a date, broadcast time, and content to be broadcasted by the user. 120 generates a channel schedule based on the user broadcast schedule information received from the terminal 130, and stores the channel schedule in a storage (not shown) of the personal channel providing server 120.

Accordingly, the channel schedule table is a broadcast schedule table in which a user directly selects a date, broadcast time, and content to be broadcast.

In addition, the personal channel providing server 120 allocates a personal channel number (hereinafter referred to as a personal channel) corresponding to each channel schedule. In this case, the allocated personal channel may be assigned a number within a preset range. Hereinafter, numbers within a preset range for allocating a personal channel are referred to as "personal channel regions."

In addition, the personal channel providing server 120 may control at least one of another user's access rights and other user's access rights to the personal channel among the first content. Manage.

Here, the other user includes at least one of a user individual and a community of a plurality of users, and the personal channel providing server 120 manages each member of the community as a shared group.

If any one member of the community registers (uploads) the self-produced content, the personal channel providing server 120 may allow all members of the community to access the corresponding content. Of course, you can grant access to each member, rather than all members of the community.

Subsequently, upon receiving a request for creating a channel schedule table from the terminal 130, the personal channel providing server 120 provides the terminal 130 with a list of first contents to which the user (terminal) has permission to access. The user can select a desired content among the contents shown in the list and use it for program formation.

Similarly, when any user of a member of the community organizes their own broadcast and is assigned a personal channel, the personal channel providing server 120 may grant all members of the community access to the corresponding personal channel. You can also grant access to each member, rather than all members. In addition, other users who have been set to allow access rights to the user may be allowed to access the channel.

If there are a plurality of personal channels that are allowed access to a specific user, if the user requests an accessible personal channel, the personal channel providing server 120 provides the user with a list of personal channels that are allowed access. can do.

Thereafter, when the channel is changed to the personal channel in the terminal 130, the personal channel providing server 120 checks whether the changed channel is included in the personal channel area, checks whether the user has access to the corresponding channel, and then accesses the channel. If authorized, the channel schedule corresponding to the changed personal channel is retrieved from the repository (not shown).

Thereafter, the personal channel providing server 120 grasps the content to be played at the current time point in the channel schedule and transmits the content to the terminal 130 from the current time point, which is the time point at which the content starts playing.

Here, the start time of the content playback is calculated based on the difference between the current time and the start time of playback of the content specified in the channel schedule. A detailed description of when to start playing content will be described later with reference to FIG. 5.

For reference, if there is a separate content providing server (not shown) that does not provide content from the personal channel providing server 120, the personal channel providing server 120 may determine a URL of the content and a time point at which to start playback. The content is calculated and transmitted to a content providing server (not shown), and the content providing server (not shown) transmits the corresponding content to the terminal 130 from the time when the content starts to be played.

Meanwhile, the terminal 130 receives a request for creating a channel schedule from the user, and accordingly, provides the personal channel with at least one of a list of first content allowed to the user and a list of second content previously provided as a service. Received from the server 120 and provided to the user.

In this case, the terminal 130 may display the first content list and the second content list, and provide the user with a predetermined interface for allowing the user to create a channel schedule.

In addition, the terminal 130 transmits the user broadcast programming information to the personal channel providing server 120 so that a personal channel number corresponding to the user (terminal) can be assigned.

Subsequently, the user (terminal) assigned to the personal channel may watch the personal channel alone, or may allow other subscribers to view the channel by granting channel access to another user or a community of a plurality of users.

To this end, the terminal 130 sets the authority for accessing at least one of the personal channels corresponding to the content channel schedule table created and registered by the user for each other user or another community, and sets the set authority setting information to the personal channel providing server. Send to 120.

In this case, the terminal 130 may provide a user with a predetermined interface to set the authority for each other user or another community.

In addition, when a channel change request is made from the user, the terminal 130 checks whether the channel change request signal is a normal channel or a number within a personal channel region.

As a result of the check, if the number is in the private channel region, the terminal 130 accesses the private channel providing server 120 instead of accessing the multicasting network.

In this case, the terminal 130 may check whether the user has the right to access the corresponding personal channel from the personal channel providing server 120, and may watch the corresponding personal channel only when the user has the access right.

For reference, when a plurality of paid contents exist in a channel schedule table organized in a personal channel, there may be a hassle of having to purchase the corresponding contents every time the paid contents are watched. Therefore, when changing a channel to a personal channel, it is possible to select and purchase the contents that are intentionally purchased among the paid contents organized in the channel.

Thereafter, the terminal 130 receives content to be broadcasted (played) from the personal channel providing server 120 at the present time point according to a channel schedule corresponding to the personal channel.

At this time, the terminal 130 receives the content after the time of changing the channel to the personal channel. That is, if the time when the channel is changed to the personal channel has elapsed 30 minutes from the broadcast start time of the content, the terminal 130 receives the content from 30 minutes after the broadcast start time.

For reference, when the content is provided by a separate content providing server (not shown) rather than the content is provided by the personal channel providing server 120, the terminal 130 may use the URL of the content from the personal channel providing server 120. Time information (hereinafter referred to as play time information) is provided.

Thereafter, the terminal 130 transmits the URL of the content and the information on the playback time to the content providing server (not shown) to request the content, and receives the content from the content providing server (not shown) from the time point at which the playback starts. Display.

In this case, when the URL information of the content received from the personal channel providing server 120 is a URL of real time streaming, the terminal 130 may access the URL and request the real time streaming to play the content.

Subsequently, when the reproduction of the content is finished, the terminal 130 requests and receives the information on the content to be reproduced later (the URL information of the content and the information of the reproduction time point) from the personal channel providing server 120 and again provides the content providing server (not shown). Information may be provided from the time of reproduction by transmitting the information on the content.

For reference, when the user stops watching the content while watching the personal channel, the terminal 130 transmits the current playback time of the content that was being watched to the personal channel providing server 120. The playback time of the content where the viewing is stopped transmitted to the personal channel providing server 120 is stored in the viewing history information. In the future, when viewing the content again, the terminal 130 provides the personal channel whether the stored playback time information exists. The server 120 may be queried and the content may be viewed again from the stored playback time.

For reference, the method of changing the channel from the terminal 130 to the personal channel region may include receiving a personal channel number from a user (remote control) and transmitting the received personal channel number to the personal channel providing server 120 or a user's unique identification value or the user. It may be made by receiving the alias of the designated personal channel from the user (remote control) and transmits to the personal channel providing server 120.

3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a personal channel providing server 120 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Personal channel providing server 120 according to an embodiment of the present invention is the content processing unit 121, the organization list providing unit 122, the channel organization table generation unit 123, personal channel number assignment unit 124, information sharing The management unit 125 and the service providing unit 126 are included.

Referring to each component in detail, first, the content processing unit 121 receives the content produced by the user directly from the user terminal 110 and processes it into a format suitable for broadcasting. At this time, the viewing restriction age or broadcast suitability of the corresponding content may be monitored.

Meanwhile, the organization list providing unit 122 provides the terminal 130 with at least one list of the first and second content lists that can be organized so that the user can organize the channel schedule.

In this case, the first content may include content that is produced by the user and registered in the personal channel providing server 120, and the user has an access right among the content produced by the user and registered in the personal channel providing server 120. Allowed content may also be included.

In addition, the second content includes content provided as a service in the IPTV service system.

For reference, the list of the first content and the second content may be a system such as content by user's preference or latest content, topical content, popular content, era (for example, 80's or 90's) content, genre content, etc. The automatic recommendation contents may be classified and provided in various ways.

On the other hand, when the user schedule information is received from the terminal 130, the channel schedule table generation unit 123 generates a channel schedule table based on this.

Here, the 'user broadcast schedule information' refers to at least one of the first content list and the second content list, and the user directly organizes the broadcast date, the broadcast time, and the content broadcasted at the corresponding time. Information about the content (for example, the ID of the content, the title of the content, description (plot), cast, etc.) In addition to this, in addition to the access authority setting information for accessing the personal channel may be further included.

Meanwhile, the personal channel number assignment unit 124 allocates a personal channel number corresponding to the channel schedule table generated by the channel schedule table generation unit 122.

In this case, the allocated personal channel is a number in the personal channel region, and the assigned personal channel is used as a channel number for accessing the corresponding personal channel in the terminal 130.

On the other hand, the information sharing management unit 125 has access to the first content for allowing other users to use the content produced by the user for programming and access to the personal channel for allowing other users to access the personal channel. Manage at least one of the privileges.

Here, the access right to the first content and the access right to the personal channel may be granted to at least one of a user individual and a community. Access rights for the first content may be set when the user registers the self-produced content, and access rights for the personal channel may be set when the user directly organizes the channel schedule.

Of course, the access right to the first content and the access right to the personal channel may be separately designated later by the user who produced or organized them.

In addition, the information sharing management unit 125 manages each member of the community as a shared group when there are communities with a plurality of users as members, and when any one of the members of the community registers self-produced content, registration Access to the content can be granted to members of the community.

In addition, when one of the members of the community organizes the channel schedule itself, the information sharing management unit 125 may allow the members of the community to access the corresponding personal channel.

In addition, when the information sharing management unit 125 receives a request for accessing a personal channel from the terminal 130, the information sharing management unit 125 may provide the terminal 130 with a personal channel (in the case of one or more, which is accessible to the corresponding user). have.

On the other hand, the service provider 126 provides the channel schedule of each personal channel to the terminal 130, and later, when the terminal 130 requests the content broadcast (playing) of the personal channel, stored in the terminal 130 It is possible to check whether the channel schedule is up-to-date, and if not, the latest channel schedule may be provided to the terminal 130.

Subsequently, when the terminal 130 changes the channel to the personal channel, the service provider 126, in response, grasps the content to be played back at the current time in the channel schedule corresponding to the corresponding personal channel, and displays the current time. And the playback time information is generated by calculating a difference from the playback start time of the corresponding content specified in the channel schedule.

Thereafter, the service provider 126 provides the content to the terminal 130 based on the playback time information.

For reference, in the present invention has been described a case in which the service providing unit 126 provides the content to the terminal 130, when there is a separate content providing server (not shown) that provides the content to the terminal 130, The service provider 126 transmits the URL of the content requested by the user and the play time information to the terminal 130.

Thereafter, the terminal 130 transmits the URL of the content received from the service providing unit 126 and the play time information to the content providing server (not shown), and the content providing server (not shown) plays the content requested by the user. The information may be transmitted to the terminal 130 based on the information.

A detailed description of the playback time point at which content is to be started will be described later with reference to FIG. 5.

4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a terminal 130 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The terminal 130 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an interface providing unit 131, a broadcasting program information transmitting unit 132, a permission setting requesting unit 133, a broadcasting requesting unit 134, and a broadcasting time point information receiving unit 135. And a content reproducing unit 136.

Referring to each component in detail, first, the interface provider 131 provides a predetermined interface for creating a channel schedule table according to a user's request for creating a channel schedule table. In this case, the interface provider 131 may provide at least one of a list of first content to which the user is allowed to access and a list of second content provided as a service.

In addition, the interface provider 131 receives a request from a user to access another user's personal channel (that is, the channel schedule table that the other user has organized), and the personal channel allowed to be accessible to the user. (List) can be received and displayed.

On the other hand, the broadcasting program information transmitting unit 132 transmits the user broadcasting program information to the personal channel providing server 120.

Here, the user broadcast programming information includes a broadcast date, a broadcast time, content broadcast at that time, and information on the content (for example, the ID of the content, the title of the content, the description (the plot), the cast member, etc.). .

On the other hand, the authority setting request unit 133 transmits to the personal channel providing server 120 the setting information on the access authority for the contents registered and produced by the user or the authority for allowing other users to access the personal channel. do.

Here, the access authority may be set for each user or community for which a plurality of users are members, and the authority setting information may include an ID of a user (terminal) or an ID of a community.

Meanwhile, the broadcast request unit 135 receives a channel change signal from a user (remote control) and requests the personal channel providing server 120 to broadcast the corresponding personal channel.

For reference, in the case where the content is provided by a separate content providing server (not shown) instead of the personal channel providing server 120, the broadcast requesting unit 135 receives the broadcast time information receiving unit 134 at the present time. URL information and playback time information of the content to be played are transmitted to a content providing server (not shown).

On the other hand, the broadcast time point information receiving unit 134, from the personal channel providing server 120, URL information of the content to be reproduced at the current time point and the start time point information according to the channel schedule table of the personal channel corresponding to the channel change signal. Receive

On the other hand, the content reproducing unit 136 plays the content from the corresponding time point on the basis of the information on the time point at which the content starts to be reproduced. Herein, the time point at which playback starts is the difference between the current time at which content is requested to be played and the playback start time of the content specified in the channel schedule.

For reference, components shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 according to an embodiment of the present invention mean software components or hardware components such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and have a predetermined role. Perform them.

However, 'components' are not meant to be limited to software or hardware, and each component may be configured to be in an addressable storage medium or may be configured to reproduce one or more processors.

Thus, as an example, a component may include components such as software components, object-oriented software components, class components, and task components, and processes, functions, properties, procedures, and subs. Routines, segments of program code, drivers, firmware, microcode, circuits, data, databases, data structures, tables, arrays, and variables.

Components and the functionality provided within those components may be combined into a smaller number of components or further separated into additional components.

5 is a diagram illustrating a channel programming table of a personal channel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 5, a channel schedule exists in the personal channel 74, and the user changes to the personal channel 74 at 9:10 pm and starts watching the channel.

According to the organization information of the personal channel 74, "Terminator 3" is currently being broadcast at 9:10 pm, and Terminator 3 is broadcast from 8:30 pm to 10:10 pm.

In this case, since there is a difference of 40 minutes between the broadcast start time of the terminator 3 and the time when the user changes the channel, the service provider 126 may play the current time of 9:10 pm and the playback start time of the terminator 3 specified in the channel schedule. On the basis of the difference from 8:30, the time to start playback is calculated.

That is, the playback time of the terminator 3 is set to 40 minutes after the playback start time.

Therefore, the user watches the terminator 3 from 40 minutes after the start time of playback, which has the advantage of viewing the personal channel in the same manner as the general channel.

6 is a flowchart illustrating a process of providing a personal channel service according to an embodiment of the present invention.

For convenience of description, it will be described with reference to the terminal 130 among the components of the system shown in FIG.

First, the terminal 130 provides an interface for creating a channel schedule table according to a user's request for creating a channel schedule table (S601).

After step S601, the terminal 130 receives at least one of a list of first content to which the user is allowed to access and a list of second content previously provided as a service from the personal channel providing server 120, and receives the interface. Provided to the user through (S602).

After step S602, the terminal 130 receives user broadcast programming information selected based on the list of the first content or the list of the second content from the user (S603).

After step S603, the terminal 130 receives permission setting information from the user that allows access to the channel schedule to be generated based on the user broadcast schedule information (S604).

In this case, the authority to access the channel schedule may be set for each user or for a community in which a plurality of users are members.

After the step S604, the terminal 130 transmits the user broadcast program information and the authority setting information to allow access to it to the personal channel providing server 120 (S605).

7A and 7B are flowcharts illustrating a process of providing a personal channel service according to another embodiment of the present invention.

For convenience of description, it will be described with reference to the personal channel providing server 120 among the components of the system shown in FIG.

First, in response to a user's request for creating a channel schedule, the personal channel providing server 120 may include at least one of a list of first contents allowed to be accessed by the user and a list of second contents previously provided as a service. Provided to (S701).

After step S701, the personal channel providing server 120 receives user broadcast schedule information from the terminal 130 (S702).

After step S702, the personal channel providing server 120 generates a channel schedule table based on the user broadcast schedule information received in step S702, and assigns a personal channel number corresponding to the channel schedule table (S703).

After the step S703, the personal channel providing server 120 receives the authority setting information from the terminal 130 to access (view) the personal channel (S704).

After the step S704, when receiving a viewing request for the personal channel from the terminal 130, the personal channel providing server 120 checks whether the terminal 130 has access to the corresponding personal channel (S705).

After step S705, if it is determined that the authority to watch the corresponding personal channel exists, the personal channel providing server 120 checks the version of the channel schedule stored in the terminal 130 (S706).

As a result of the check, if the channel schedule stored in the terminal 130 is not the latest version, the personal channel providing server 120 transmits the latest channel schedule and a message informing it to the terminal 130 (S707).

After step S707, the personal channel providing server 120 inquires a channel schedule corresponding to the corresponding personal channel number (S708).

After step S708, the personal channel providing server 120 checks the current content to be played on the channel schedule table, calculates the playback time for the corresponding content, and transmits the content after the time when the viewing request is received (S709). .

The foregoing description of the present invention is intended for illustration, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention may be easily modified in other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features of the present invention. will be.

It is therefore to be understood that the above-described embodiments are illustrative in all aspects and not restrictive.

For example, each component described as a single type may be implemented in a distributed manner, and similarly, components described as distributed may be implemented in a combined form.

The scope of the present invention is shown by the following claims rather than the above description, and all changes or modifications derived from the meaning and scope of the claims and their equivalents should be construed as being included in the scope of the present invention. do.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a general IPTV broadcasting system.

2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a system for providing a personal channel service of an IPTV according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a personal channel providing server according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a diagram illustrating a channel programming table of a personal channel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a flowchart illustrating a process of providing a personal channel service according to an embodiment of the present invention.

7A and 7B are flowcharts illustrating a process of providing a personal channel service according to another embodiment of the present invention.

<Description of the code | symbol about the principal part of drawing>

121: content processing unit

122: organization list provider

123: channel schedule generation unit

124: private channel number assignment unit

125: information sharing management

126: service provider

Claims (19)

In the method for providing a personal channel service, (a) receiving, by the user, broadcast programming information organized by the user from the terminal; (b) generating a channel schedule table based on the broadcast schedule information, and assigning a personal channel number corresponding to the channel schedule table, (c) if the viewing request for the personal channel number is received from the terminal or another terminal, transmitting the content to the corresponding terminal after the viewing request reception time based on the channel schedule table; Including a personal channel service providing method. The method of claim 1, (d) providing the terminal with at least one of a list of first contents registered by the user or another user and a list of second contents provided by an IPTV service system in response to the user's request to create a channel schedule table; Further comprising, a personal channel service providing method. The method of claim 2, And the first content includes at least one of content that is created and registered by the user and content which is allowed access to the user in content produced and registered by another user. The method of claim 1, (e) receiving authority setting information from the terminal to access the personal channel number; Further comprising, a personal channel service providing method. The method of claim 4, wherein The authority setting information is a personal channel service providing method for setting the authority to access the personal channel number for each user or for a community of a plurality of users as a member. The method of claim 1, In the step (c), when receiving the viewing request, confirming whether the terminal has access authority to the personal channel number. The method of claim 1, In the step (c), when the viewing request is received, the version of the channel schedule stored in the terminal is checked and the lower version is provided, and the latest version of the channel schedule is provided to the terminal. In the device for providing a personal channel service, A channel scheduler generation unit configured to generate a channel schedule based on broadcast programming information that the user has organized using at least one of first content registered by a user and second content provided by an IPTV service system, A personal channel number assignment unit for allocating a personal channel number corresponding to the channel schedule table; Information for managing at least one of access rights to the first content for allowing other users to use the first content for channel formation and personal channel access rights for allowing other users to access the personal channel number; Shared management department When receiving a viewing request for the personal channel number from the terminal, according to the channel schedule, the service providing unit for transmitting the URL of the content to be played at the current time point and the start time information to the terminal; A content provider which transmits the content so that the content is played from the viewpoint information based on the URL and the viewpoint information; Personal channel service providing apparatus comprising a. The method of claim 8, An organization list providing unit which provides one list of at least one of the first and second contents lists that can be organized so that the user can organize the channel schedule. The first content may further include content that is allowed to be accessible to the user among contents that are produced and registered by another user. The method of claim 8, And the information sharing management unit manages each member of the community as a shared group when there are communities having a plurality of users as members. The method of claim 8, The information sharing management unit allows a member of the community to grant access to the registered first content when any one of the members of the community registers the first content. The method of claim 8, The information sharing management unit allows a member of the community to grant access to the channel listing when any one of the members of the community organizes the channel listing. The method of claim 8, And the information sharing management unit provides the channel programming table corresponding to the access right granted to the terminal when receiving the channel programming table inquiry request accessible from the terminal. The method of claim 8, And the service provider generates the viewpoint information by calculating a difference between the current time and a playback start time of the content specified in the channel schedule. The method of claim 8, And the service provider stores the viewing history information on the content viewed through the personal channel number, and analyzes the viewing history information later to provide user viewing tendency information. The method of claim 8, The service providing unit receives and stores information on the time point at which playback is stopped while viewing content from the terminal, and transmits the content from the time point at which the playback is stopped to the terminal when a viewing request of the content is stopped. Device for providing personal channel service. In the device for providing a personal channel service, An interface provider for providing a list of first contents registered by the user or another user and a list of second contents provided by the IPTV service system in response to a user's request for creating a channel schedule table; A broadcast program information transmitter for transmitting broadcast program information organized by the user with reference to at least one of the first content list and the second content list; A permission setting request unit which transmits permission setting information for accessing at least one of content and a broadcasting schedule information that the user self-produces and registers in the first content. Include, wherein the authority setting request unit requests the authority setting for each user or for a community of a plurality of users as a member. The method of claim 17, The interface providing unit may receive and display a list of personal channels allowed to be accessible to the user when the user receives a request from another user to access a channel schedule organized by the user, wherein the personal channel is displayed in the other channel. And a user-organized channel schedule. The method of claim 17, A broadcast request unit for receiving a channel change signal from the user and requesting a broadcast of a corresponding channel; A broadcast time point information receiving unit which receives URL information of content to be played at the current time point and start time point information, according to a channel schedule of a personal channel corresponding to the channel change signal; A content reproducing unit requesting the transmission of the content using the URL information and the viewpoint information, and reproducing the contents based on the viewpoint information; Wherein the viewpoint information is a difference between the current time and a start time of playback of the content specified in the channel schedule.

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