KR20110049235A - Network television and method for controlling the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A network television and a method for controlling the same are provided to establish a video conference through a network TV. CONSTITUTION: A broadcasting reception apparatus(10) comprises a user input unit(160), a network interface unit(140) and a control unit(190). The user input unit receives from a video conference open input and a user a channel designation input for the video conference. The network interface unit transfers a request signal for opening the video conference based on a channel to a service provider. The control unit controls the opening of the video conference based on a switched channel.

Description

NETWORK TELEVISION AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME}

The present invention relates to a network TV and a control method thereof. More specifically, the present invention relates to a network TV and a control method thereof for establishing a channel for video conferencing through a simple interface and controlling to participate in a video conference established in a predetermined channel.

Conventional TV transmits contents produced by a broadcaster through radio wave transmission media such as terrestrial, cable or satellite broadcasting, and a user views the transmitted content through a TV receiver capable of receiving the respective transmission media.

However, as digital-based digital broadcasting has been developed and used in existing analog broadcasting, a variety of real-time broadcasting, CoD (Contents on Demend), games, news, etc., using the Internet network connected to each home, in addition to the existing radio media. A variety of content services can be provided to users.

An example of providing a content service using the Internet is IPTV. The IPTV is a content service that transmits various information services, video contents, and broadcasts to a user's television through a high-speed Internet network.

However, the IPTV has only one content provider for providing content, and recently, a broadband TV that is further developed from the IPTV and receives content from a plurality of different content providers has been developed.

The present invention relates to a network TV for establishing a channel for video conferencing through a simple user interface and a control method thereof.

The present invention relates to a network TV and a control method for allowing the user to participate in a video conference established in a predetermined channel through a simple user interface.

A network TV according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a user interface unit for establishing an input for establishing a video conference and receiving a predetermined channel number; A network interface unit for transmitting an establishment request signal to a service provider requesting to establish a video conference in a channel of the channel number; And a control unit for controlling channel switching to the channel to start a video conference in the corresponding channel.

Network TV according to another embodiment of the present invention comprises a user interface for receiving a predetermined channel number; A network interface unit which receives, from a service provider, data about a video conference established in a channel of the channel number; And a controller for switching to a channel to control the video conference established in the channel.

Network TV control method according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises the steps of receiving an establishment input and a predetermined channel number for establishing a video conference; Transmitting an establishment request signal to a service provider requesting to establish a video conference on a channel of the channel number; And switching the channel to the channel to start a video conference in the corresponding channel.

Network TV control method according to another embodiment of the present invention comprises the steps of receiving a predetermined channel number; Receiving from a service provider data relating to a video conference established in the channel of the channel number; Switching to a channel to control the channel to participate in a video conference established in the channel.

According to the present invention, a user can easily and easily establish a video conference via a network TV.

According to the present invention, a user can simply and easily join a video conference via a network TV.

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

1 is a system configuration diagram showing a system configuration of a network TV according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the network TV system includes a content provider 20, a service provider 30, a network operator 40, and a network TV 10.

Here, the network TV refers to a TV system equipped with an Internet communication module and capable of receiving a broadcast program or other content through an existing Internet network. The network TV according to the embodiments of the present invention may include a TV receiver or a network capable of receiving a broadcast program or content through the Internet, such as an IPTV, a broadband TV, a web TV, and the like.

The network operator 40 provides the network TV 10 with the base software necessary for the contents provided by the content provider 20 to operate normally in the network TV 10. In addition, the content provider 20 may be provided with hardware information of the network TV 10 necessary for the content to be normally executed on the network TV 10.

For example, the network operator 40 provides a main screen configured when contents provided by content providers are displayed on the network TV 10, and provides a user interface for the user to select content. The network operator 40 may be a server operated by the manufacturer of the network TV 10.

The content provider 20 generates the content and configures the content in a format that can be played on the network TV 10, and provides the contents according to the request of the network TV 10. The content can be any data that can be serviced over a network.

The network TV 10 may be equipped with dedicated firmware for reproducing, searching for, displaying a list, and the like for each content provider 20. The firmware may be mounted on the network TV 10 during the manufacturing process of the network TV 10 or may be downloaded and installed by the user through the network during use.

The firmware of the network TV 10 may be referred to as a program for playing or executing content provided by the content provider 20. The firmware may vary depending on the type of content provided by the content provider 20. For example, when the content provider 20 is a VOD provider, the firmware may be a VOD playback program. When the content provider 20 is an AOD or MOD service provider, the content provider 20 may be an AOD or MOD playback program. If the content provider 20 is a video telephone operator, it may be a video telephone program.

The service provider 30 provides network communication between the network operator 40, the content provider 20, and the network TV 10. The network may include any wired or wireless Internet network using the Internet protocol. In particular, the service provider 30 transmits the content provided by the content provider 20 to the network TV 10, performs maintenance management of the transmission network so that the user can be stably received the content, and the content provider ( 20) provides the infrastructure for network transmission.

The network TV 10 receives and plays or executes content through the service provider 30 in response to a user's command. In some embodiments, the network TV 10 may be replaced with a device equipped with a network module, such as a network set-top box or a telephone for a network.

In more detail, the content provider 20 may be a business operator that creates various contents to be provided to the network TV 10. The content provider 20 may include a TV station, a radio station, a VOD operator, an AOD operator, a game operator, a video telephone service provider, and the like.

The TV station refers to a conventional terrestrial or cable broadcasting station. The broadcasting station may create and store a program that users can watch and convert it digitally.

Radio stations provide audio content and may have video channels, but most of them operate without video channels.

VOD operators and AOD operators have different characteristics from TV stations and radio stations. In other words, in the case of VOD or AOD, it saves the broadcasting program, movie, and music that I want and then plays it for viewing. For example, if there is a broadcast program that was not properly viewed because there is no time to watch the current broadcast program, it is possible to access a site that provides such a broadcast service and download the file or play it immediately.

AOD providers likewise offer the ability to listen to audio programs in real time.

The Music On Demand (MOD) service allows me to download and listen to the music I want. This seems to be similar to AOD, but the target of the service is likely to be record labels or record distributors extending existing Web services.

In addition, the content provider 20 may provide various services to the network TV through the Internet, such as a packet filter (PF) server, an EPG service provider, an electronic content guide (ECG) service provider, and a portal server operator. It can be any server operator.

The PF server is serviced by a company that manages all broadcasting information and location information provided by the content provider. This service mainly contains broadcasting time or location information necessary for broadcasting and information that a user can access.

The EPG service provides EPG information so that a user can search a broadcast program by time zone and grasp by channel.

The ECG service provides the user with the information of the content that the content provider has, the location and access authority of the access server. In other words, it is an electronic program guide that provides detailed information on the content and the function to easily access the server having the content.

The portal server is a web service provided by each broadcasting station. When the portal server receives a request from the user terminal, the portal server connects to the broadcasting server or the web server of the service provider. The role of the portal server is to search for a list of programs provided by each broadcasting station or a content provider providing a content service.

The service provider 30 transmits data and commands of the network operator 40, the content provider 20, and the network TV 10. The service provider 30 may be an internet service provider. According to an embodiment, the service providers 30 may provide the above Internet services by using an existing cable network. In this case, it is necessary to change the equipment of the transmission network.

That is, the service provider 30 should be configured with network equipment capable of real-time data transmission, and can configure the network in consideration of the bandwidth of the network TV 10 side. These devices can reduce bandwidth by processing large amounts of multimedia data using multicast service, which is the basic network service of network TV.

If the bandwidth is not secured, the service provider 30 retranscodes broadcast data transmitted from the optical cable network configuration or the content provider 20 in an effort to secure the bandwidth, such as MPEG-4 or MPEG-7. It can also be transformed into a form.

The service provider 30 may provide a network management system (NMS), a dynamic host control protocol (DHCP), and a contents delivery network (CDN) service.

As described above, the network TV 10 may be replaced by a network set-top box or a network telephone equipped with an Internet communication module. The network TV 10 may have a structure described with reference to FIG. 2.

The network TV 10 basically has a network interface capable of accessing the network, receives an IP address or is already assigned an IP address, thereby receiving and processing a data packet from the network. When the data packet is multimedia data, Can play on the screen.

The network TV 10 may operate to transmit the user's requirements in both directions while processing the multimedia data. In addition, the network TV 10 is preferably provided with buttons for the network TV on the remote control for controlling the network TV 10 so that the service can be used well.

2 is a block diagram of a network TV according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, the network TV 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a broadcast receiver 100, a demultiplexer 110, an image signal processor 120, a display 130, and a network interface. The unit 140, the OSD generating unit 150, the user interface unit 160, the storage interface unit 170, the memory unit 180, and the controller 190 are included.

The digital broadcast signal is transmitted in the form of a packetized transport stream by time division multiplexing the video signal, the audio signal and the data signal.

The broadcast receiver 100 receives a broadcast signal transmitted from the outside through an antenna. The broadcast receiver 100 includes a tuner for tuning a broadcast signal having a predetermined frequency band and a demodulator for outputting a broadcast signal of a tuned specific channel in the form of a transport stream through a VSB (Vestigial Sideband) demodulation process and an error correction process. can do.

In addition, the broadcast signal received through the broadcast receiving unit 100 is divided into various types of additional data defined by the demultiplexer 110 as a video signal, an audio signal, and PSIP (Program and System Information Protocol) information, etc. Is output.

The video data separated by the demultiplexer 110 is processed by the image signal processor 120 and displayed on the display 130.

In this case, the image signal processing unit 120 includes an MPEG-2 decoder and a scaler for converting video data to match the vertical frequency, resolution, aspect ratio, etc. according to the output standard of the display unit 130.

Here, the display unit 130 may be applied to various types of display modules such as digital light processing (DLP), liquid crystal display (LCD), plasma display panel (PDP), and the like.

The audio signal may be processed by the voice signal processor (not shown) and output to the speaker. The voice signal processor may include an AC-3 decoder.

On the other hand, the additional data included in the additional data separated by the demultiplexer 110 is stored in the memory unit 180 through the storage interface unit 170 to be described later.

The memory unit 180 may be embodied as an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM).

The OSD generator 150 generates a search screen for receiving a content search condition and a content sorting condition to be described later by a user in the form of an OSD (On Screen Display).

The user interface 160 receives a user input from the user.

According to an embodiment, the user interface 160 may include an infrared receiver for receiving an infrared signal input through a remote controller or an RF communication module for receiving an RF signal. In some embodiments, the user interface 160 may include a local key input unit provided at one side of the panel of the network TV 10.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the user interface 160 receives a video conference establishment input for establishing a video conference. That is, the user may input a video conference establishment input through which the video conference is established through the user interface 160.

For example, if a user wants to have a video conference using the network TV 10 of the present invention, a video conference is established through a remote key or a local key input unit provided at one side of the panel of the network TV 10. Input can be entered.

According to an embodiment, the remote controller or the network TV 10 may be provided with a predetermined hot key for receiving a video conference establishment input. In this case, the user can simply input the video conferencing establishment input to the network TV 10 by pressing the provided hot key.

According to an embodiment, the user may establish a video conference through a menu supported by the network TV 10. For example, if there is a video conference establishment menu for opening a video conference among the menus of the network TV 10, the user selects the video conference establishment menu through a remote control or a local key input unit of the network TV 10. Video conferencing can also be established.

3 is an exemplary view for explaining the operation of the network TV 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, when a user inputs a video conference establishment input for establishing a video conference through the user interface unit 160, the network TV 10 establishes a video conference through the display unit 130. A notification message 31 for notifying the user may be provided.

Then, the user interface 160 receives a predetermined channel number.

That is, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the user interface 160 may receive a channel number of a channel where a video conference is to be established from the user.

In this case, the network interface unit transmits to the service provider an establishment request signal for requesting to establish a video conference on the channel of the received channel number.

Thereafter, the controller 190 switches the channel to the channel corresponding to the channel number and controls to start a video conference in the corresponding channel.

That is, unlike the embodiment of FIG. 4 to be described later, the display unit 130 displays the channel number of the channel where the video conference is to be established instead of displaying a channel list of channels provided by the service provider so as to establish a video conference. A channel for inputting a video conference may be established by providing a channel input window 311 which is directly input from the channel.

In this case, the user may input a desired channel number into the channel input space 34 of the displayed channel input window 33, and then the controller 190 may convert a channel into a channel corresponding to the input channel number. And control to initiate a video conference on that channel.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the network interface unit 140 receives a list of channels provided for the video conference from a service provider in response to the received video conference establishment input.

According to an embodiment, the channel list may include channel numbers for at least one channel provided for the video conference.

The channels are video conferencing channels provided by a service provider to a user of the network TV 10. That is, a user transmits data such as video, audio, and conference data of his / her own through a video conferencing channel provided by a service provider to a network TV of another user who participates in a video conference, and video, audio, or data of another user. Can be received.

As described above, the channel list may include a channel number of a channel for video conferencing provided by the service provider. The channel list may include one or more channels.

According to an embodiment, the channel list may further include various information related to video conferencing such as information of a service provider providing a corresponding channel and a data rate of the corresponding channel, in addition to the channel number of the video conferencing channel.

The display unit 130 displays the received channel list.

That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the display unit 130 displays a list of channels for video conferencing received by the network interface unit 140.

In detail, the display unit 130 displays channel numbers of channels included in the channel list, or various information related to video conferencing such as information of a service provider providing the channels in addition to the channel number, data transmission rate of each channel, and the like. Can display more.

When there are a plurality of channels provided for the video conference, the user may further check other channels besides the currently displayed channel while turning the page of the displayed channel list to another page.

After the display unit 130 displays the channel list, the user interface unit 160 receives a selection input for selecting any one channel of the channel list.

Then, the controller 190 switches the channel to the selected channel and controls to open a video conference on the channel.

According to an embodiment, when another video conference is already established in the selected channel, the controller 190 may control to display a message indicating that the video conference cannot be established in the selected channel.

For example, as shown in FIG. 5, if the user selects any one of the channels included in the channel list and the selected channel is already in use by another user, that is, in the selected channel When another video conference is established, the controller 190 may control to display a message 35 notifying that the video conference has not been established.

According to an embodiment, when the network interface unit 140 receives a channel list provided for video conferencing, the service provider transmitting the channel list may not include a channel already in use in the channel list. After the network interface unit 140 receives the channel list, when a predetermined channel among the channels included in the channel list is used by another user, the network interface unit 140 may output a failure message 35 as shown in FIG. 5.

When the selected channel is not used by another user, the controller 190 may control to switch a channel to the selected channel and open a video conference for the user in the corresponding channel.

According to an embodiment, the network TV 10 of the present invention may automatically switch to the corresponding channel by selecting any channel in the channel list instead of selecting one of the channel lists from the user as described above. .

That is, when the network interface unit receives a channel list provided for video conferencing, the controller may arbitrarily select any one channel in the channel list and automatically switch the channel to the corresponding channel.

As a result, the user can have the network TV 10 automatically select a channel and switch to the corresponding channel without having to directly select a channel to establish a video conference.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the user interface unit 160 further receives a setting condition to be set in the selected channel, and the controller 190 transmits the setting condition to a service provider to transmit the setting condition to the selected channel. It can be controlled to apply the set condition.

According to an embodiment, the setting condition may include at least one of a name of the selected channel, the number of users who can access the selected channel, or a password inputted to access the selected channel.

For example, as shown in FIG. 6, after the user selects a predetermined channel to establish a video conference, the display unit 130 displays a sultry window 36 for setting a predetermined setting condition on the selected channel. can do.

The setting window 36 includes one or more setting items for setting a predetermined setting condition on the selected channel, for example, the CH 804 channel in FIG. 7.

In FIG. 6, the setting window 36 includes a name of the selected channel, the number of users who can access the selected channel, and a password inputted to access the selected channel.

The user may input the name of the channel VC-11 through which the video conference will be established through the setting window 36, and limit the number of users who can enter the channel to attend the video conference, In addition, a predetermined password may be set to prevent entry of an unwanted user.

The user interface unit 160 receives a setting condition input through the setting window 36, and the controller 190 transmits the setting condition to a service provider providing a corresponding channel, and transmits the user to the selected channel. Can request to apply the set conditions.

Then, as shown in FIG. 7, the controller 190 may switch a channel to the selected channel, for example, CH 804, and establish a video conference in the channel.

In the video conferencing of CH 804 illustrated in FIG. 7, the user sets the channel name to 'Seoul and Broadcasting Group' and sets the number of video conference participants to six.

According to an embodiment, the channel setting shown in FIG. 6 may be recalled even after channel switching to the selected channel so that a setting condition may be input or changed.

For example, even after opening a video conference by switching a channel to a selected channel as shown in FIG. 7, the setting window 36 of FIG. 6 may be displayed to receive a setting condition from a user. The input setting condition is transmitted to the service provider and applied to the corresponding channel.

As described above, according to the present invention, the user can easily and simply establish a video conference through the network TV 10 by selecting a channel for video conferencing provided by the service provider.

In addition, a user can easily and easily apply setting conditions to a channel where video conferencing is to be established, and thus can easily use a video conferencing service.

The embodiment of establishing a video conference via the network TV 10 has been described so far.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of participating in a video conference through the network TV 10 according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 10.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the network TV 10 includes a user interface unit 160 for receiving a predetermined channel number, and a network for receiving data about a video conference established in a channel of the channel number from a service provider. The interface unit 140 may include a controller 190 for switching to a channel and controlling to participate in a video conference established in the channel.

The user interface 160 receives a predetermined channel number from the user.

That is, the user inputs the channel number of the channel where the video conference to be participated through the remote controller or the local key input unit, similar to inputting the broadcast channel to be watched, and the user interface unit 160 inputs the channel number. Receive

The network interface unit 140 receives data about a video conference established in a channel of the channel number from a service provider. According to an embodiment, the data related to the video conference may include data such as video, audio or conference data of another user who participated in the video conference established in the channel.

The controller 190 controls to participate in the video conference established in the channel by switching the channel to the channel of the channel number.

According to an embodiment, the network interface unit 140 receives a list of channels where video conferencing is established from a service provider.

For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the network interface unit 140 receives a channel list of channels where video conferencing is established from a service provider providing a video conferencing service, and the display unit 130 The received channel list 142 is displayed.

According to an embodiment, the channel list 42 may include a channel number of a channel where the video conference is established and a name of a channel.

That is, as shown in FIG. 8, the channel list 42 may include a channel number of a video conference channel established by another user, or may display the name of a channel set by the user instead of the channel number. .

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the controller 190 receives an update command for updating the displayed channel list 42 from a user, and in response to the update command, the controller 190 updates the displayed channel list 42 to a new channel list. Can be controlled to update.

For example, when a long time has passed since the network interface unit 140 receives the channel list, the channels of the channel list 42 displayed on the display unit 130 are already lost or the channel list 42 is removed. There may be other channels that are not shown in) but where video conferencing is established.

In this case, since the displayed channel list 42 may not display a channel to which the user wants to participate, the network TV 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention further includes a channel list updating function for updating the channel list. can do.

For example, when a user selects the channel list update button 421 shown in FIG. 8 and inputs a channel list update command, the controller 190 responds to the channel list update command and displays the currently displayed channel list 42. ) Can be updated with the new channel list.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, before the channel switching to the channel, the user interface 160 receives a predetermined password, and if the received password matches the password set in the channel, the control unit ( 190 may channel switch to the channel.

That is, a predetermined password input is required to participate in the video conference established in the channel, and the channel is switched to participate in the video conference only if the input password matches the password set in the channel.

For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the display 130 displays a password input window 45 for receiving a password, and when a user inputs a predetermined password through the password input window 45. The controller 190 determines whether the received password matches the password set in the selected channel, and if so, switches the channel to the selected channel to participate in a video conference.

According to an embodiment, whether the password matches may be determined by the service provider rather than the network TV 10. That is, as described above, the network TV 10 does not compare the input password with the password set in the channel, and transmits the input password to the service provider so that the service provider can determine whether the password matches. Can be.

Then, when receiving a signal that the password is matched from the service provider, the controller 190 may switch the channel to the corresponding channel, if receiving a signal that the mismatch may not switch the channel.

If the passwords match, the controller 190 may switch the channel to the selected channel and control to participate in the video conference established in the channel.

For example, as shown in FIG. 10, when the passwords match, the controller 190 switches a channel to a selected channel, for example, CH 804, and controls the user to participate in a video conference established in the channel. can do.

That is, data such as video, audio, and conference data of the user is transmitted to the network TV 10 of another user who participated in the video conference through the corresponding channel, and controls to receive and output the video, voice, and data of another user. .

In FIG. 2, the network TV 10 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention is illustrated as including a camera unit 200 and a microphone unit 210. However, the camera unit 200 and the microphone unit 210 may include the present invention. It may be composed of individual modules separated from the network TV 10 of.

That is, the user may connect the separate camera unit 200 and the microphone unit 210 to the network TV 10 to use for video conferencing.

The camera unit 200 generates a video signal of the user by photographing the user. The generated video signal is transmitted to the service provider through the network interface unit 140 and transmitted to the network TV of another user who participated in the video conference.

The microphone unit 210 generates a voice signal by collecting a user's voice. Similar to the generated video signal, the generated audio signal is transmitted to the service provider through the network interface unit 140 and to the network TV 10 of another user who participated in the video conference.

11 is a flowchart illustrating a network TV control method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Step S81 receives a video conference establishment input for establishing a video conference. The user may input a video conference establishment input for establishing a video conference through a remote key or a local key input unit provided in the network TV 10.

Step S82 receives a list of channels provided for video conferencing. In response to the input video conferencing establishment input, a list of channels provided for video conferencing is received from a service provider providing a video conferencing service.

In some embodiments, the channel list may include channel numbers for one or more channels provided for video conferencing.

Step S83 displays the received channel list.

In operation S84, a selection input for selecting one channel of the channel list is received.

That is, the user can select any channel to establish a video conference from the displayed channel list.

According to an exemplary embodiment, instead of selecting any one channel from the channel list, a user may receive a channel number of a channel where a video conference is to be established.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, an establishment input for establishing a video conference can be input and a predetermined channel number can be received.

The establishment request signal may then be transmitted to the service provider requesting to establish a video conference on the channel of the channel number.

Subsequently, by switching to the channel of the input channel number, a video conference can be started on the channel.

In step S85, a setting condition to be set in the selected channel is received.

According to an embodiment, the setting condition may include at least one of a name of the selected channel, the number of users who can access the selected channel, or a password inputted to access the selected channel.

In step S86, the received setting condition is transmitted to a service provider to control the setting condition to be applied to the selected channel.

Step S87 determines whether another video conference is already established on the selected channel.

That is, it is determined whether or not a video conference has already been established in the corresponding channel by another user.

Step S88 displays, when the selected channel is in use, a message indicating the failure of video conferencing establishment.

In step S89, when the selected channel is not used by another user, the channel is switched to the selected channel to establish a video conference in the corresponding channel.

12 is a flowchart illustrating a network TV control method according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Step S91 receives a list of channels on which video conferencing is established. That is, in order to participate in the video conference, a channel list of channels where video conferencing is established is received from a service provider.

According to an embodiment, the channel list may include a channel number, a name of a channel, information of a user who established a channel, such as a name and an address.

Step S92 displays the received channel list.

In operation S93, a selection input for selecting any one channel of the channel list is received.

That is, the user may select a channel to join from the displayed channel list.

According to an embodiment, instead of selecting any one channel from the channel list, a user may input a channel to join.

That is, a predetermined channel number is received from the user, and data relating to a video conference established in the channel of the channel number is received from the service provider. Then, the channel can be switched to the channel to control to participate in the video conference established in the channel.

In step S94, a predetermined password is input.

The password can prevent an unauthorized user from joining a video conference arbitrarily established on a given channel.

Step S95 determines whether the password matches the password set in the channel.

The step S95 may be performed in the network TV 10, but is not limited thereto and may be performed at the service provider side.

When the service provider performs, the input password is transmitted to the service provider, and the service provider compares the input password with the password set in the channel to determine whether it matches.

Step S96 outputs a message that, if the passwords do not match, it is not possible to participate in the video conference.

In step S97, when the passwords match, the channel is switched to the selected channel to control the participation in the video conference established in the corresponding channel.

As described above, according to the present invention, the user can easily and simply establish a video conference or participate in an already established video conference through the network TV 10.

The service provider providing the video conferencing service provides an appropriate number of channels according to the number of users who use the video conferencing service, and thus, the user who wants to establish a video conference can switch the channel by selecting a desired channel. You can create a conference environment.

Although the present invention has been described through the above embodiments, the above embodiments are merely intended to illustrate the spirit of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited thereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications may be made to the embodiments described above. The scope of the invention is defined only by the interpretation of the appended claims.

1 is a system configuration diagram showing a system configuration of a network TV according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a block diagram of a network TV according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 to 7 are exemplary views illustrating the operation of the network TV according to an embodiment of the present invention.

8 to 10 are exemplary views illustrating the operation of the network TV according to another embodiment of the present invention.

11 is a flowchart illustrating a network TV control method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

12 is a flowchart illustrating a network TV control method according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (22)

A user input unit for receiving an input for opening a video conference and an input for designating a channel to be used for the video conference; A network interface for transmitting a signal to a service provider requesting to open a video conference on the channel; And A control unit for controlling channel switching to the channel to start a video conference in the channel; Broadcast receiving device comprising a. The method of claim 1, The user interface unit receives a setting condition to be set in the channel, And the control unit transmits the setting condition to the service provider, and controls the setting condition to be applied to the channel. 3. The method of claim 2, The setting condition includes at least one of a name of the channel, the number of users who can access the channel, and a password to enter the channel. The method of claim 1, And when another video conference is open on the channel, the controller controls to output a message indicating that the video conference is open. The method of claim 1, The network interface unit receives a list of channels provided for video conferencing from the service provider, The control unit receives a selection input for selecting any one channel of the channel list, the channel is switched to the selected channel, and the broadcast receiving device to start a video conference in the channel. The method of claim 5, And the channel list comprises channel numbers for at least one channel provided for video conferencing. The method of claim 5, The control unit automatically switches to any one of the received channel list to start a video conference. A user interface unit for receiving an input from a user to designate a predetermined channel where a video conference is opened; A network interface unit for receiving data about a video conference opened in the channel from a service provider; A controller for controlling channel participation in the video conference by switching to the channel; Broadcast receiving device comprising a. The method of claim 8, And the data related to the video conference includes at least one of video or audio data of another user who participated in the video conference opened in the channel. The method of claim 8, The user interface unit receives a predetermined password, And the controller switches the channel to the channel when the received password matches the password set in the channel. The method of claim 8, The network interface unit receives a list of channels open video conferencing from the service provider, The control unit receives a selection input for selecting any one channel of the channel list, the channel switching to the selected channel, and controls to participate in the video conferencing opened in the channel. Receiving an input for opening a video conference and an input for specifying a channel to be used for the video conference; Sending a signal to a service provider requesting to open a video conference on the channel; And Channel switching to the channel to initiate a video conference on the channel; Broadcast receiving device control method comprising a. The method of claim 12, Receiving a setting condition to be set in the channel; And Transmitting the setting condition to the service provider such that the setting condition is applied to the selected channel; The broadcast receiving device control method further comprising. The method of claim 13, The setting condition may include at least one of a name of the channel, the number of users who can access the channel, or a password inputted to access the channel. The method of claim 12, And outputting a message indicating that the video conference is open if another video conference is open in the channel. The method of claim 12, Receiving a list of channels provided for video conferencing from the service provider; Receiving an input for selecting one channel of the channel list; And Channel switching to the selected channel to initiate a video conference on the channel; The broadcast receiving device control method further comprising. The method of claim 16, And the channel list comprises channel numbers for at least one channel provided for video conferencing. The method of claim 16, And automatically switching to any one channel of the received channel list to start a video conference. Receiving an input specifying a channel on which video conferencing is open; Receiving data regarding a video conference open on the channel from a service provider; Switching to the channel to control participation in a video conference opened on the channel; Broadcast receiving device control method comprising a. The method of claim 19, And the data related to the video conference includes at least one of video and audio data of another user who participated in the video conference opened in the channel. The method of claim 19, Receiving a predetermined password; Comparing the received password with a password set in the channel; And If the password matches, controlling the channel to switch to the channel to participate in a video conference opened on the channel; The broadcast receiving device control method further comprising. The method of claim 19, Receiving a list of channels for which video conferencing is open from the service provider; Receiving a selection input for selecting one channel of the channel list; And Switching to the selected channel and controlling to participate in a video conference open on the channel; Broadcast receiving device control method comprising a.

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