KR20110032287A - System and method for providing video on demand contents by using channel interface - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A system for providing video on demand content by using a channel interface and a method thereof are provided to create new content instead of a VOD with low usage. CONSTITUTION: A channel information receiving unit(4100) receives channel information including the list of the VOD(Video On Demand) content from a server. A channel changing unit(4200) varies channel based on the channel change order of a user. According to the change of a plurality of channel, a content control unit(4400) decides the reproduction of a VOD content which is different from the previously reproduced VOD content among the VOD content list in a first returned channel.

Description

System and method for providing VDI content in channel format {SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING VIDEO ON DEMAND CONTENTS BY USING CHANNEL INTERFACE}

The present invention relates to a system and method for providing VDI content in a channel format. More particularly, the present invention relates to providing a VOD content in a channel format, and to returning to a channel before the change as the channel is changed. The present invention relates to a VOD content providing system and method in a channel format capable of providing content turning over.

In general, VOD (Video On Demand) service uses video compression technology to database various video programs such as movies, and then general users are connected to Internet communication network to enable bi-directional communication, STB (Set Top Box), TV When the user selects the video content he / she wants using the user's terminal, etc., the centralized server can immediately transmit and enjoy the user's desired video content to the home, and is a film, broadcast, online education and video conference. The service is provided in many fields.

Also, in general, a user subscribes to a specific content provider to use a service, and a desired on-demand video can be provided by selecting a directory structured menu step by step.

However, in such a VOD service, the name and contents of the contents should be checked by using the remote control on the electronic program guide screen, and the user directly searches for and selects the desired contents. Therefore, active action of the user is required to select the contents. There was a problem of increasing user inconvenience.

In addition, even when VOD content is provided to a user in a channel format, there is a problem in that fixed content for each channel is provided according to time, so that the content can not be changed and provided.

Therefore, while providing a VOD content in the form of a channel like a real-time broadcast service for the user's convenience, the VOD content providing system and method that can identify the content that the user wants to watch when the channel changes to provide to the user more diversely It is strongly demanded.

Some embodiments of the present invention provide a channel format VOD content providing system and method capable of providing a list of contents in a channel format and reproducing new contents in place of existing playback contents having a low viewing frequency upon returning to a channel. .

In addition, an embodiment of the present invention provides a system and method for providing a VOD content in a channel format that selects content to be included in a channel hierarchically based on content and content category preferences.

In addition, an embodiment of the present invention provides a system and method for providing V-audio content in a channel format capable of automatically deleting a channel with low viewing frequency.

As a technical means for achieving the above-described technical problem, a first aspect of the present invention is a channel information receiver for receiving channel information including a list of VOD content from a server, based on the channel information and the user channel change command A V that has already been reproduced from the list of V-audio contents included in the returned first channel when returning to the first channel by changing the channel from the first channel and the plurality of channel changes from the first channel. A video-on-demand (VOD) content providing system including a content control unit for determining to play content different from the audio content may be provided.

In a first aspect of the present invention, the apparatus further includes a channel usage history collector configured to collect history information related to channel change of the user and playback of audio content on the channel, wherein the content controller is based on the collected history information. Determine to play the VOD content different from the VOD content played in the first channel before changing the channel.

According to the above-described problem solving means of the present invention, by providing new content in place of the existing playback content of low viewing frequency at the time of channel return, it is possible to appropriately provide a variety of VOD content to the user.

In addition, according to the above-described problem solving means of the present invention, by selecting the content to be included in the channel hierarchically, based on the preferences of the content and the content category, the amount of computation when generating the content list of the channel format is reduced.

In addition, according to one of the other problem solving means of the present invention, by automatically deleting the channel with a low viewing frequency and updating the content with a low viewing frequency, to prevent unnecessary viewing of the content when changing the channel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art may easily implement 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.

Throughout the specification, when a part is "connected" to another part, this includes not only "directly connected" but also "electrically connected" with another element in between. . In addition, when a part is said to "include" a certain component, which means that it may further include other components, except to exclude other components unless otherwise stated.

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

1 is an overall configuration diagram of an IPTV broadcasting system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the IPTV broadcasting system includes a broadcaster 1000, a headend system 2000, a network 3000, and a user terminal 4000.

In addition, the headend system 2000 may include a baseband system 2100, a compression multiplexing system 2200, a conditional access system (CAS) 2300, a back office system 2400, a media management system. Core: MOC) 2500 and channel management system 2600.

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).

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 baseband system 2100 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 2200.

The baseband system 2100 is basically a tuner for receiving an analog broadcast signal through a receiving device (eg, a DS-3 station, a Yagi antenna, and an IRD) that receives broadcast signals such as a program provider (PP) and terrestrial wave, 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 2200 uses an A / V encoder (A / V Encoder) for broadcasting video and audio signals (Video, Audio) received from the baseband system 2100 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.

The reception restriction system 2300 performs encryption of 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 content, a digital rights management (DRM) scheme may be used instead of the reception restriction system 2300.

The back office system 2400 is a provisioning system and provides a billing processing function for the use of the IPTV program service for each subscriber.

The media management system 2500 is a system for managing various business process information (program organization information, location information, contract information, product information, etc.) for operating a broadcasting business. The media management system 2600 integrates and manages the information flow through organic coupling with each system in the center of the broadcasting center.

The channel management system 2600 generates and updates VOD channel information including a plurality of VOD content lists. Each VOD channel may include a plurality of VOD content lists, and the user terminal 4000 may watch the VOD content in a channel changing manner, as if watching a real-time broadcasting program, based on the generated channel information.

The network 3000 receives broadcast content from the headend system 2000 and delivers the received broadcast content to the user terminal 4000.

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 4100. The IPTV outputs broadcast content received from the headend system 2000 and transmits a user response signal received through the remote controller 4100 to the headend system 2000 through a return channel of the set top box.

In addition, the user terminal 4000 plays the VOD content in a channel format. The user terminal 4000 may provide content turning when the channel is changed and appropriately provide various VOD contents to the user.

Hereinafter, a detailed configuration of the channel management system 2600 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 2.

2 is a detailed block diagram of the channel management system 2600 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, the channel management system 2600 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a preference calculator 2610, a VOD channel information generator 2620, and a channel updater 2630.

The preference calculator 2610 calculates a preference of the VOD content and the sub category of the content.

The preference calculator 2610 may assign weights of probability concepts to the VOD content and the subcategories of the content, and calculate a preference of the content and the content subcategory based on the weights.

Also, the preference calculator 2610 may calculate a preference by analyzing a viewer's viewing behavior. The preference calculator 2610 may, for example, provide information such as the effective viewing frequency of specific content or sub-category content and the number of times of active feedback (strongly reflecting a preference by pressing a specific button on the remote control in case of favorite content). The preference value can be calculated. In addition, the preference of a specific content and sub-category may be updated depending on other viewers' preferred content information (VOD popularity ranking), portal's real-time search ranking, and expert's recommendation, and reflects viewer's taste according to the day and time of day. May be updated. A variety of previously proposed content recommendation methods, including a preference calculation method, can be utilized, and a comprehensive viewing preference value p _i of the i-th content (or subcategory) can be obtained by reflecting various feedbacks. In Equation 1, N denotes the number of contents or sub-categories, and L denotes the number of hypotheses of the preference evaluation scale. f _k ⁱ is the preference of the i-th content (or sub-category) according to the k-th preference evaluation scale, and w _k denotes the importance of the k-th preference evaluation scale and reflects the preference calculation policy.

<Equation 1>

The VOD channel information generator 2620 generates a list of VOD contents in a channel format based on the calculated preferences.

The VOD channel information generator 2620 may generate a content list by selecting a plurality of favorite VOD contents for each channel. The VOD channel information generation unit 2620 generates a VOD channel, for example, channel 1, channel 2, channel 3, etc., and the channel 1 includes VOD content 1-1, VOD content 1-2, and VOD content 1-. 3, VOD contents 1-4 are included, and channel 2 includes VOD contents 2-1, VOD contents 2-2, VOD contents 2-3, VOD contents 2-4, and the like. You can include a list of content. In addition, the VOD channel information generator 2620 may set a content reproduction order or reproduction time of the VOD content lists included in each channel.

Meanwhile, the category of the VOD content may include a plurality of hierarchical structures, and the VOD channel information generator 2620 may select a category step by step based on the calculated preferences and select content to be included in the channel. In addition, the VOD channel information generator 2620 may organize a series or related content into one channel.

The channel information generated by the VOD channel information generator 2620 is provided to the user terminal 4000, and the user terminal 4000 can watch the VOD content while changing the channel as in the case of watching a real-time broadcast program. do.

The channel updater 2630 receives the channel usage history of the user terminal 4000 and updates the channel information.

The channel updater 2630 may update, for each user terminal 4000, a list of VOD contents not watched by the user from the list of VOD contents included in each channel, or delete a channel not watched by the user.

In addition, the channel updater 2630 may delete a channel whose content viewing time is less than or equal to a preset reference value. The channel update unit 2630 may generate a new content list and replace the content list having a viewing time less than or equal to the preset reference value among the VOD content lists included in the channel. Information can be reorganized.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the channel updater 2630 has been described as being included in the headend system 2000. However, the channel updater 2630 may be included in the user terminal 4000, and the channel information may be updated in the user terminal 4000. Can be.

Hereinafter, a detailed configuration of the user terminal 4000 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 3.

3 is a detailed configuration diagram of a user terminal 4000 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, the user terminal 4000 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include a channel information receiver 4100, a channel changer 4200, a channel usage history collector 4300, and a content controller 4400. And a content reproducing unit 4500.

The channel information receiver 4100 receives channel information including the VOD content list from the headend system 2000.

The channel change unit 4200 changes the VOD channel based on the channel change command of the user. When the user selects the channel change button of the remote controller, the channel change unit 4200 may change the VOD virtual channel in one direction based on the received channel information in response to the user selecting the button.

The channel usage history collector 4300 collects history information related to a VOD channel change and reproduction of content in the changed channel. The channel usage history collecting unit 4300 may collect information on a content playing time, a number of times of playing, a channel change rate, and the like, played on a specific channel.

The content controller 4400 determines whether to turn over the content upon returning to the channel, based on the collected history information. When the content controller 4400 returns to the previous channel when the channel is changed, the content controller 4400 may determine whether to play content different from the content previously played in the previous channel.

In addition, the content control unit 4400 may provide content turnover according to a preset playback order of the content so that the next content of the immediately previous content of the VOD content list included in the channel may be played when the channel returns. . The content controller 4400 may provide content turning when the playback time and the number of times of playing the content played in the previous channel are smaller than the preset value upon returning to the channel. In addition, the content controller 4400 may not provide content turnover when a play time and a play count of the content played in the previous channel are greater than a preset value upon returning to the channel. Criteria for determining whether to deliver the content may be variously set.

The content player 4500 reproduces the VOD content in the changed channel. The content regenerator 4500 may play the preset VOD content among the VOD content list included in the changed channel when the channel is changed, and may provide the content turning when the channel is returned according to the decision of the content controller 4400. In addition, the content playback unit 4500 may continue to play the VOD content that has been previously watched when the channel returns. In this case, the content playback unit 4500 may play the previous VOD content when the playback is stopped due to the channel change.

Hereinafter, a method of providing V-audio content in a channel format according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 4.

4 is a detailed flowchart of a method for providing VDI content in a channel format according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In step S400, the headend system 2000 calculates a preference of the VOD content and sub categories of the VOD content. In operation S400, weights of probability concepts may be assigned to the VOD content and the subcategory of the VOD content, and the preference of the content and the content subcategory may be calculated based on the weight.

In operation S402, the headend system 2000 generates a list of VOD contents in a channel format based on the calculated preferences. In step S402, the preferred VOD content may be selected and included for each channel, the category of the VOD content may be selected for each layer based on the preference of the category, and the VOD content to be included in the channel may be selected based on the preference of the content. . In addition, in step S402, a series or related content may be organized together in one channel, and a playback order or time of reproduction of VOD contents included in each channel may be set. Furthermore, the channel information generated in step S402 is provided to the user terminal 4000, and the user terminal 4000 uses the received channel information to change VOD content while changing a channel as in the case of watching a real-time broadcast program. You can watch.

In step S404, the user terminal 4000 changes the VOD channel based on a channel change command of the user. In operation S404, a user may change a VOD virtual channel in one direction based on the received channel change command and based on the received channel information.

Step S406 is a step in which the user terminal 4000 collects historical information related to the VOD channel change and the reproduction of the content in the changed channel. In step S406, information such as content reproduced on a specific channel, the reproduction time of the content, the number of times of reproduction, and the speed of changing the channel may be collected.

Step S408 is a step of determining whether to provide content turning on channel return based on the collected history information. In step S408, when the user terminal 4000 returns to the previous channel when the channel is changed, the user terminal 4000 may provide content turning to determine whether to play different content from the content played immediately before. In addition, in step S408, when the channel returns, the content turnover may be provided when the reproduction time and the number of reproductions of the contents reproduced in the previous channel are smaller than the preset value.

In operation S410, the user terminal 4000 plays content on a changed channel. In step S410, depending on whether the content is determined in step S408 or not, the content that was played immediately before in the channel returned when the channel returns may be continuously played or the next content of the previous content may be played.

In step S412, the headend system 2000 or the user terminal 4000 updates channel information. In operation S412, contents having a less frequent viewing frequency of the user may be deleted from the list among contents lists included in each channel, and a channel having a less frequently viewed frequency may be deleted. In operation S412, the content having a lower viewing frequency compared to the number of times of exposure to the viewer among the contents list included in the channel may be excluded from the contents list, and may be excluded from the organization when the channel information is reorganized in the future. In addition, the updated channel information is provided to the channel information receiving unit 4100 and may be used for channel change and content reproduction in the future.

Therefore, the user terminal 4000 can automatically prevent viewing of unnecessary content by automatically deleting a channel having a low viewing frequency when changing a channel, and replaying other contents instead of the content which is determined not to be viewed by the user upon returning to the channel. It is possible to appropriately provide various contents to the viewer.

One embodiment of the present invention can also be implemented in the form of a recording medium containing instructions executable by a computer, such as a program module executed by the computer. Computer readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by a computer and includes both volatile and nonvolatile media, removable and non-removable media. In addition, computer readable media may include both computer storage media and communication media. Computer storage media includes both volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Communication media typically includes computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave, or other transmission mechanism, and includes any information delivery media.

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 an overall configuration diagram of an IPTV broadcasting system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a detailed block diagram of a channel management system 2600 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a detailed configuration diagram of a user terminal 4000 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a detailed flowchart of a method for providing VDI content in a channel format according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (6)

In the VOD (Video On Demand) content providing system of the channel format, A channel information receiver for receiving channel information including a list of vaudio contents from a server, A channel changer for changing a channel based on the channel information and a user's channel change command; When returning to the first channel by changing the plurality of channels from a first channel, the VDI content different from the VDI content already reproduced from the list of VAudio contents included in the returned first channel is played back. Content control to determine if V-audio content providing system comprising a. The method of claim 1, Channel usage history collection unit for collecting the history information related to the channel change of the user and the playback of the audio content on the channel More, And the content controller is configured to determine that the VOD content different from the VOD content played in the first channel is to be played before the channel change, based on the collected history information. The method of claim 2, The history information includes the reproduction time or the number of reproductions of the V-audio content reproduced in the channel, The content control unit determines that the VDI content different from the reproduced VAudio content is reproduced from the list of contents included in the returned first channel when the reproduction time or the number of reproductions of the VAudio content is less than or equal to a preset value. In-Vodie Content Delivery System. The method of claim 2, And a channel updater to delete a channel having a low viewing frequency of the user from among channels included in the channel information based on the history information. The method of claim 1, The channel information includes information about a channel and a list of vaudio contents included in the channel, and the vaudio contents included in the channel are selected step by step based on the preference of vaudio contents and the category and included in the channel. The V-audio content providing system. The method of claim 1, The channel information includes information on a channel and a list of vaudio content included in the channel, and the vaudio content included in the channel is played according to a preset playback order or playback time. .

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