KR20110073211A - Method and apparatus for providing iptv object information service - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An IPTV object information service providing method and device are provided to confirm information about objects on an IPTV contents screen without disturbing the TV watching of other viewers. CONSTITUTION: A video contents reproducing module reproduces video contents. An object information request module(404) requests the offer of object information corresponding to an object to a bidirectional broadcasting service system. An object information receiving module(405) receives the object information. An object information providing module(402) provides the received object information to a user terminal. A communication module(407) controls data transmission and reception for communications with the user terminal.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING IPTV OBJECT INFORMATION SERVICE}

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing an IPTV object information service, and more particularly, to a method and an apparatus for providing information about each object included in an IPTV content screen to a user's communication terminal through a wired or wireless network device. .

Recently, with the spread of high-speed communication networks and convergence of broadcasting and communication technologies, IPTV (Internet Protocol TeleVision), which can selectively receive contents desired by a user, has emerged as an issue of the broadcasting industry. Existing broadcasting was able to passively watch the contents broadcasted by broadcasting stations only by viewers, but IPTV is attracting attention as a service that can dramatically increase the convenience and satisfaction of viewers because they can watch the contents they want at the desired time. have.

In the IPTV broadcasting service, various additional information is provided to the user along with the broadcast content, and various kinds of product information are also provided to the user to induce the purchase of the product. The biggest advantage of the IPTV service is that it is possible to provide an object information service that enables interactive advertisement, real-time information retrieval and purchase by transmitting advertisement information together with media data.

However, in the existing object information providing service, object information is provided through a TV screen to cover a part of the screen, thereby preventing smooth viewing of other people watching TV together. In addition, even though there is information about objects appearing on the TV, only the user wants to check, there is a problem that the information is exposed to other people unnecessarily because the information is provided through the TV screen.

Furthermore, even when attempting to provide object information only to a communication terminal of a specific viewer, since the performance of the IPTV set-top box is limited and available resource resources are limited, only the communication terminal of a specific viewer can be made without changing the hardware design of the IPTV set-top box. There was a problem that it was difficult to provide the object information smoothly.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, an IPTV set-top box device and a user communication terminal transmit and receive information on each object included in an IPTV content screen through a wired / wireless network device, and transmit object information about a specific object on a TV screen. Provided to the, may provide a method and apparatus for providing IPTV object information service.

In addition, an embodiment of the present invention, using a wired or wireless network device to directly match the IP of the IPTV set-top box and the user communication terminal, and provides IPTV object information service directly to the user's communication terminal, IPTV object information providing method and A device can be provided.

As a technical means for achieving the above technical problem, a first aspect of the present invention, a video content playback module for playing back video content received from the interactive broadcast service system; An object information request module configured to receive a request for providing information on an object included in the reproduced moving picture content from a user terminal and to provide an interactive broadcast service system to provide object information corresponding to the object; An object information receiving module configured to receive the object information from the bidirectional broadcast service system; An object information terminal providing module for providing the received object information to the user terminal; And a communication module for controlling data transmission and reception for communicating with the user terminal.

In addition, the second aspect of the invention, (a) receiving a request from the user communication terminal to provide the object information service for the object included in the video content; (b) transmitting a list of object information received from an IPTV service system to the user communication terminal; (c) receiving a request for detailed information on an object included in the object information list from the user communication terminal, and requesting the IPTV service system to provide detailed information about the object; And (d) receiving detailed information about the object from the IPTV service system, and transmitting the received detailed information to the user communication terminal, wherein the IPTV set-top box device includes object information included in IPTV video content. It can provide a method for providing.

In addition, a third aspect of the invention, the object information service module for requesting the object information on the object contained in the video content to the IPTV set-top box, and receives the object information; An object information screen providing module configured to display the received object information on a display screen; And a wired / wireless communication module controlling wired or wireless data transmission and reception with the IPTV set-top box to receive the object information. And the wired / wireless communication module controls data transmission and reception with a wired / wireless network device that matches a private IP of the user communication terminal and a public IP of the IPTV set-top box, and wherein the wired / wireless network device is the user communication terminal. A user communication terminal displaying object information on an object included in video content provided by an IPTV service system, which is connected to an IPTV set-top box and the IPTV service system, may be provided.

According to the above-described problem solving means of the present invention, the IPTV set-top box device and the user communication terminal transmits and receives information about each object included in the IPTV content screen through the wired or wireless network device and the IPTV object through the user communication terminal instead of the TV screen By providing the information, the user of the user communication terminal can check the information on each object included in the IPTV content screen without disturbing other viewers watching TV, and watch the TV together with the object information that he / she wants to check. It can be provided without being exposed to others in the process.

In addition, according to the above-described problem solving means of the present invention, by directly matching the IP of the IPTV set-top box and the user communication terminal using a wired or wireless network device, data exchange between the set-top box and the user communication terminal in the wired and wireless network device domain As a result, the load on the carrier network can be reduced, and the object information can be efficiently provided to the user communication terminal even without changing the existing set-top box in hardware.

1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of an IPTV broadcasting system.
2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an IPTV object information video service system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an IPTV set-top box device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a user communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a wired and wireless network device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a diagram illustrating a sequence of a method for providing IPTV object information service using a user communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.
7 is a diagram illustrating a sequence of a method for providing an IPTV object information service through a wired or wireless network device using a user communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.
8 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of an IPTV object information service provided through an IPTV screen.
9 is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of an IPTV object information service provided through an IPTV screen.
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of an IPTV object information service provided through a display screen of a user communication terminal.
11 is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of an IPTV object information service provided through a display screen of a user communication terminal.
12 is a diagram illustrating a sequence of directly purchasing an item using an IPTV object information service using a user communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

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 in order to clearly describe the present invention, 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. . 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.

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

1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of an IPTV broadcasting system (or a bidirectional broadcasting system).

As shown in FIG. 1, an IPTV broadcasting system (or a bidirectional broadcasting system) according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a broadcast content provider 10, an IPTV service system 200, a network 300, and an IPTV set-top box. -top box: 400, a (wired or wireless) network device 450, a user terminal 500, and a purchase processing server 600. In addition, the IPTV service system 200 includes an IPTV head-end system 210 and an IPTV object information video service system 220. The user terminal 500 includes a mobile communication terminal 510 and a wired communication. Terminal 520 is included.

The IPTV head-end system 210 includes broadcast content supplied from each broadcast content provider 10, such as a program provider (PP), a data provider (DP), a terrestrial provider or an IPTV content provider (CP), and Electronic Program Guide (EPG) information about the broadcast content is transmitted to the IPTV set-top box 400 of the IPTV viewer. The illustrated network 300 is a network that transmits broadcast content transmitted from the IPTV headend system 210 to the IPTV set-top box 400 of a plurality of subscribers connected to each channel in a multicast manner.

The IPTV set-top box 400 may use any one terminal of a TV in which an IPTV set-top box (IPTV STB) is embedded or an IPTV set-top box, a computer, a notebook, or a personal portable terminal connected to a user's TV. The IPTV set-top box 400 includes a hardware layer composed of hardware such as a CPU, a media processor, flash RAM, and an Ethernet module, a system software layer including device drivers and an operating system, a Java virtual machine (JVM), and a JNI ( Java Network Interface), ACAP API (ACAP-J, ACAP-X API) (Java TV, Havi UI, JMF, DAVIC, CA Interface), Conditional Access System (CAS) module or Digital Rights Management (DRM: Digital Rights Management (API) interface module, middleware layer with streaming protocol (RTP, RTSP), API (Navigator, Audio streaming API, VOD, Flash player, HDS Client, SSO Client) for IP media service, MPEG2, MPEG4, MPEG7 Multi-codecs such as .NET, H.264, WMV-9, and other codecs, and includes an electronic program guide (EPG) client and a client for IPTV object information video service. It includes four layers. The subscriber's IPTV set top box 400 is assigned an IPv4 address or an IPv6 address.

The IPTV object information video service system 220 stores the video content and transmits the video content requested from the IPTV terminal to the user's IPTV set-top box 400 by downloading and playing or streaming. It provides basic information about the objects appearing in the content, and provides detailed information about the object when a user requests more specific information on the specific objects. This configuration will be described later with reference to FIG. 2.

On the other hand, when a user checks the detailed information on a specific object and there is a request for purchase of an item corresponding to the object, a purchase processing server 600 for processing it is shown. The purchase processing server 600 may be operated by a seller or the like of the article, and performs a purchase process such as payment for the article requested by the user.

Alternatively, as described later in FIG. 2, the purchase processing server 225 in the IPTV object information moving picture service system 220 may perform such a purchase process.

The user terminal 500 includes various mobile communication terminals 510 carried by a user, such as a mobile phone, a PDA, a wireless Internet terminal, and the like, and a wired communication terminal 520 such as an Internet phone, a PC, etc. having a display screen. The user terminal 500 receives the object information from the IPTV set-top box 400 through the object information providing program installed therein and displays the information on the screen. When the user selects the object, the user terminal 500 requests the IPTV set-top box 400 for detailed information of the object. Received and displayed and can proceed to the purchase of the goods. Communication between the IPTV set-top box 400 and the user terminal 500 may be performed through the wired / wireless network device 450. For example, short-range wireless communication technology such as wireless LAN, Bluetooth, infrared communication, Zigbee, etc. Or a wired communication technology such as Ethernet may be used, but is not limited thereto.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the IP between the IPTV set-top box 400 and the user terminal 500 can be more efficiently matched through the wired / wireless network device 450, and provides IPTV object information to the user terminal 500. In this case, the load on the IPTV set-top box 400, the IPTV service system 200, the network 300, and the like can be reduced.

The IPTV set-top box 400 displays the object information on the TV screen when the object information service request is received through the remote control, and does not display the object information on the TV screen when the object information service request is received through the user terminal 500. It can be transmitted only to the user terminal 500 through the wired / wireless network device 450.

The wired / wireless network device 450 provides an IP address to be used by the user terminal 500 when an IP allocation request is received from the user terminal 500, and when the IPTV set-top box device search request is received from the user terminal 500. The search request message may be broadcast to devices connected to the 450 to provide the user terminal 500 with a response from the IPTV set-top box 400. In addition, the wired / wireless network device 450 mediates the transmission and reception of data between the IPTV set-top box 400 and the user terminal 500, and the data between the IPTV set-top box 400, the IPTV service system 200, and the purchase processing server 600. You can mediate transmission and reception.

In the IPTV object information service using the wired / wireless network device 450 and the user terminal 500 according to an embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of user terminals 500 connected to the IPTV set-top box 400 through the wired / wireless network device 450. By transmitting the same object information to a plurality of user terminals 500 to be able to use the object information service at the same time, the user of each user terminal 500 requests only the detailed information of the object of his or her own IPTV object information service of the service will be available.

In the present specification, an embodiment of the present invention has been described as an example of an IPTV broadcasting system, but the present invention is not limited thereto and may be applied to various kinds of two-way broadcasting systems in which a service is provided in both directions through a network.

2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the IPTV object information video service system 220 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, the IPTV object information video service system 220 according to an embodiment of the present invention stores video content and downloads and plays a video content requested from an IPTV terminal. The video content providing server 222 transmitting the streaming information to the IPTV set-top box 400, the object information file server 223 providing the object information file, and the user can provide more specific information about specific objects appearing in the video content. Object information providing server 224 having detailed information to be provided on request, and a control server 221 which controls them to perform a series of processes related to providing IPTV object information video service, and the user corresponds to a specific object. If there is a purchase request for the goods to be further included in the purchase processing server 225 that performs a purchase processing including payment; Can.

As described above with reference to FIG. 1, the purchase of a user's goods through the IPTV object information service may be performed by the purchase processing server 600 of an individual sales operator separate from the IPTV object information video service system 220. Likewise, it may be performed by the purchase processing server 225 of the IPTV object information video service system 220.

The purchase processing server 225 is a server for allowing a user to request a purchase directly from the IPTV object information moving picture service system 220 for the article. That is, when the user sends a purchase request for the item, the purchase processing server 225 processes the purchase immediately by paying for the item requested to be purchased, or the item that the user wants to purchase among the advertisement objects appearing in the video content. Users can be provided with a function of storing them in a 'shopping basket' one by one, so that the payment processing can be performed on them later.

The object information file is a file containing information on specific objects appearing in the video content with respect to the specific video content. That is, it is a file that records frame (screen) information on which a specific object appears and location information on the screen on which the object appears in the frame. For example, the file may be configured in an Extensible Markup Language (XML) file format. This file is sent to the user's IPTV set-top box 400 together with the video content, and the IPTV set-top box 400 is operated by an operation of a client program (hereinafter referred to as 'IPTV object information video service client') operating therein. While analyzing the object information file, at the same time as playing the video content, the presence of the objects appearing in the video content can be shown on the screen.

In the IPTV set-top box 400, an IPTV object information video service client that transmits and receives a message with the IPTV object information video service system 220 and performs an IPTV object information video service in the IPTV set-top box 400 operates.

The IPTV object information video service client transmits a video content transmission request to the IPTV object information video service system 220 and, in response, sends the requested video content and object information file from the IPTV object information video service system 220. Receive. As described above, the object information file may be a file that records frame information in which the advertisement object appears in the video content and location information on the screen in which the advertisement object appears in the frame. Meanwhile, the transmission of video content to the IPTV set-top box 400 may be performed by a streaming method or a download and play method.

The IPTV object information video service client may provide a user with a video player function to play, rewind, and fast forward the received video content.

The IPTV object information video service client interprets the object information file during video playback, reads a frame in which a specific object appears in the video content and the position of the object on the frame, and has an object capable of providing information on the video content screen. A function of displaying a display indicating the message on the screen is performed. Such display may display an indication on the screen indicating that the selection pointer is pointing to the object only when the user moves the selection pointer over the object of the video content screen by the mouse or the remote control. If it does appear, you can always display an indication that points to that object.

In addition, when a user selects a specific object by using a mouse or a remote controller, a request for detailed information on the selected object is sent to the IPTV object information video service system 220, and in response thereto, from the IPTV object information video service system 220. When the detailed information is received, the detailed information may be displayed together with the playback of the video content on the IPTV screen.

3 is a diagram showing the configuration of an IPTV set-top box device 400 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, the IPTV set-top box apparatus 400 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a control unit 401, an object information terminal providing module 402, a terminal authentication processing module 403, and an object information request module. 404, an object information receiving module 405, a broadcast receiving unit 406, a network module 407, an object information screen providing module 408, and a video content reproduction module (not shown).

In the drawing, the general functions of the IPTV set-top box 400, that is, the components for performing broadcast program reception and provision, etc. are not shown in detail, and perform object information providing functions using the user terminal 500 according to the present invention. The figure is centered on the components for.

The controller 401 controls each component of the IPTV set-top box apparatus 400 described below, and performs a series of processes related to providing IPTV object information to the user terminal 500 through the wired / wireless network apparatus 450. Can be.

The video content playing module (not shown) plays the video content received from the IPTV service system.

The object information terminal providing module 402 receives the IPTV set-top box search request message from the user terminal 500 through the wired / wireless network device 450 and in response thereto receives the IP address or the set-top box ID information of the IPTV set-top box. It provides the object information received from the IPTV object information video service system 220 to the user terminal 500 through the wired or wireless network device 450.

The terminal authentication processing module 403 performs authentication of the user terminal 500 to receive IPTV object information. As the method for performing such authentication, for example, the following two methods may be used, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

First, it is a method of determining whether the IPTV set-top box 400 is a user terminal 500 that can be used by itself. In this case, the terminal authentication processing module 403 may perform authentication by itself. Second, after requesting authentication from the IPTV headend system 210 to receive a result, it is determined whether to perform a service accordingly and notifies the user terminal 500 whether to provide object information. In this case, the terminal authentication processing module 403 may request authentication from the IPTV headend system 210 and receive a result to determine whether to perform a service.

The object information request module 404 is a module for requesting information of objects appearing in video content being played by the IPTV object information video service system 220.

The object information may include, for example, basic information and detailed information.

The basic information includes information on which frame an object can provide information in which frame of the video content, and when the object is pointed on the IPTV screen with a remote control or a mouse, It may further include a brief information about. On the screen, it is preferable to display the information by writing the information on a translucent film so that the information content does not completely obscure the screen, an embodiment of which is shown in the screen of FIG. 6 (602).

The detailed information is information provided in more detail with respect to a specific object selected by a user among objects appearing on the screen.

The basic information is preferably received together when receiving the video content such as VOD or real-time broadcast from the IPTV system 200. Such basic information is included in the object information file as described above with reference to FIG. Can be. Alternatively, when the user who views the video content selects to view the object information, the IPTV set-top box 400 may request and receive the object information file from the IPTV object information video service system 220.

In addition, the detailed information, the IPTV set-top box 400 requests the detailed information about the object from the IPTV object information video service system 220 when the user selects to receive the detailed information of a specific object among the objects appearing on the screen Can be received.

The object information request module 404 is a module for requesting the IPTV object information video service system 220 for the object information file including the basic information as described above or detailed information about the specific object selected by the user.

The object information receiving module 405 is a module for receiving detailed information on the object information file or the specific object received from the IPTV object information moving picture service system 220 in response to a request of the object information request module 404.

The broadcast receiver 406 is a module that performs a series of processes from receiving, decoding and providing to the screen of an IPTV broadcast program.

The network module 407 receives a request such as object information from the user terminal 500 and provides object information to the user terminal 500 in order to provide IPTV object information and the like to the user terminal 500 through the wired / wireless network device 450. And so on.

The object information screen providing module 408 provides object information included in the IPTV content to the TV screen. The object information screen providing module 408 may further include a function of displaying, on the TV screen, a location where a specific object selected from an object list provided by the user terminal 500 on the TV screen.

4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a user terminal 500 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The user terminal 500 according to an embodiment of the present invention may communicate with the IPTV set-top box device 400 through the wired / wireless network device 450 and provide IPTV object information to the user.

As shown in FIG. 4, the user terminal 500 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include a control unit 501, an object information service module 502, an authentication performing module 503, and an object information screen providing module 504. , A user interface module 505 and a (wired or wireless) communication module 506.

The controller 501 controls each component of the user terminal 500 to be described below, and performs a series of processes related to providing object information of IPTV content to the user terminal 500.

The object information service module 502 searches for the IPTV set-top box 400 connected to the wired / wireless network device 450 through the wired / wireless network device 450 according to an input for requesting object information of the user of the user terminal 500. The IPTV set-top box 400 is requested to request the information needed to receive the object information included in the IPTV content. The information required for receiving the object information is information required for the user terminal 500 to request and receive the object information, information about the IPTV set-top box 500 in communication with the user terminal 500, The IPTV set-top box 500 includes information on content being played and information on content frames related to object information. The object information may include, for example, information about an ID value of the IPTV set-top box 400, a content name of content being played in the IPTV set-top box 400, or a frame value of content currently being played. It is not limited.

In addition, the object information service module 502 requests and receives object information through the wired or wireless network device based on the received information. The object information service module 502 may request the IPTV service system 200 to provide object information through the wired / wireless network device 450 and directly transmit the object information corresponding to the request from the IPTV service system 200. Can be received.

In addition, the object information service module 502 may request object information from the IPTV set-top box 400 through the wired / wireless network device 450 or may receive object information through the IPTV set-top box 400.

The authentication performing module 503 sends information necessary for authentication to the IPTV set-top box 400 to receive the object information service, and receives a result. The authentication performing module 503 may automatically send the telephone number of the user terminal 500 when the user selects to provide the object information, or may transmit specific key information input from the user. As described above with reference to FIG. 3, the authentication method may include determining whether the IPTV set-top box 400 is a user terminal 500 that can be used by itself, or the IPTV set-top box 400 is an IPTV headend. After requesting authentication to the system 210 to receive a result, a method of determining whether to perform a service accordingly and notifying the user terminal 500 whether to provide object information may be used.

Meanwhile, the user terminal 500 may directly request and receive the object information from the IPTV service system 200, and in this case, the authentication performing module 503 may perform the IPTV service system (through the wired / wireless network device 450). 200 may be sent authentication information and the result.

The object information screen providing module 504 provides the object information received from the IPTV set-top box 400 to the screen of the user terminal 500.

The user interface module 505 performs an interface function that allows a user of the user terminal 500 to make various necessary selections, such as selecting a specific object and selecting a purchase request for scrolling the screen or providing detailed information on the object information screen. .

The wired / wireless communication module 506 registers the MAC address of the user terminal 500 by accessing the wired / wireless network device 450 and receives and manages an IP address. In addition, in order to provide IPTV object information in the user terminal 500, a request for transmitting object information to the IPTV set-top box 400 through the wired / wireless network device 450, or receiving object information from the IPTV set-top box 400 is received. To perform. Communication between the wired / wireless network device 450 and the user terminal 500 may be short-range wireless communication technologies such as WLAN, Bluetooth, infrared communication, ZigBee, etc., but is not limited thereto.

5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a (wired and wireless) network device 450 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The (wired and wireless) network device 450 according to an embodiment of the present invention manages the wired and wireless network connection between the user terminal 500 and the IPTV set-top box 400.

As shown in FIG. 5, the (wired and wireless) network device 450 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a control unit 451, a wired communication module 452, a wireless communication module 453, and an IP management module 454. And a routing management module 455.

The control unit 451 controls each component of the wired / wireless network device 450 to be described below, and transmits and receives data between the user terminal 500 and the IPTV set-top box 400 and the IPTV set-top box 400 and the IPTV service system ( 200) and a series of processes related to data transmission and reception between the purchase processing server 600.

The wired communication module 452 is connected to the IPTV set-top box 400 and the wired communication terminal 520 to mediate and manage wired data transmission and reception. In addition, the wired communication module 452 may be connected to the IPTV service system 200 and the purchase processing server 600 to mediate and manage IPTV data transmission and reception.

The wireless communication module 453 manages a wireless connection of the mobile communication terminal 510 and mediates data transmission and reception between the IPTV set-top box 400 and the mobile communication terminal 510.

The IP management module 454 manages MAC addresses and IP addresses of devices connected to the wired / wireless network device 450. The IP management module may automatically generate and provide a private IP address for use in the user terminal 500 when an IP provision request is received from the user terminal 500.

The routing management module 455 mediates wired and wireless data transmission and reception between the user terminal 500 and the IPTV set-top box 400, and transmits and receives data between the IPTV set-top box 400, the IPTV service system 200, and the purchase processing server 600. It performs the function of mediating. In response to a request from the user terminal 500, the routing management module 455 directly searches for an accessible IPTV set-top box 400, a private IP of the user terminal 500, and a public IP of the IPTV set-top box 400. Can be matched directly. The routing management module 455 broadcasts an IPTV set-top box search request message to devices connected to the wired / wireless network device 450 with respect to the IPTV set-top box search request message transmitted from the user terminal 500, and transmits the IPTV set-top box search request message from the IPTV set-top box device. Information such as an IP address or set-top box ID of the transmitted IPTV set-top box may be provided to the user terminal 500.

In addition, when the IPTV service system 200 provides the object information data and the IPTV content data separately, the routing management module 455 does not provide the object information data to the IPTV set-top box 400, but directly the user communication terminal ( 500), and through this, it is possible to reduce the load on the IPTV set-top box 400 when providing the IPTV object information.

Wired and wireless network device 450 according to an embodiment of the present invention assigns a private IP to the user terminal 500, by directly matching the assigned private IP of the IPTV set-top box 400, IPTV set-top box ( It is possible to more efficiently transmit and receive data between the 400 and the user terminal 500, it is possible to minimize the load on the IPTV service system 200, the network 300 and the IPTV set-top box 400. In addition, even when a user watches IPTV video content using another person's IPTV set-top box 400 at another person's home, the user's terminal 500 is connected to another user's IPTV set-top box through the wired / wireless network device 450 ( Since it can be easily matched with 400, it is possible to effectively receive the object information by using its own user terminal (500).

Furthermore, even if the existing IPTV set-top box 400 is not changed in hardware, it is possible to efficiently provide data communication between the user terminal 500 and the IPTV set-top box 400 through the wired / wireless network device 450. IPTV object information provided from the service system 200 can be effectively provided to the user terminal 500 or the IPTV set-top box 400.

6 is a diagram illustrating a sequence of a method for providing IPTV object information service using the user terminal 500 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

When the user executes the object information service program to use a service that provides information on objects appearing on the IPTV content screen by using the user terminal 500 (step S601), the user terminal 500 performs wireless communication ( Or a wired communication) program (step S602), and requests a wireless connection (or wired connection) to the wired / wireless network device 450 (step S603). In addition, the wired / wireless network device 450 provides a private IP address to the user terminal 500 (step S604). That is, the user terminal 500 registers its MAC address in the wired / wireless network device 450 and uses the fixed IP set by the user or the private IP address allocated from the wired / wireless network device 450 to obtain the IP address. (Step S605). In order to search whether there is an IPTV set-top box 400 connected to the wired / wireless network device 450, when the wired / wireless network device 450 requests the search of the IPTV set-top box 400 (step S606), the wired / wireless network device 450 It broadcasts the IPTV set-top box search request message to the devices connected to it (step S607). Upon receiving the IPTV set-top box search request message, the IPTV set-top box 400 provides the wired / wireless network device 450 with information such as its IP address, MAC address, or set-top box ID (step S608), and the wired / wireless network device 450 ) Transmits this information to the user terminal 500 (step S609).

Although not shown in the drawing, if the IPTV content to be viewed is a real-time broadcast program, the content is transmitted from the IPTV headend system 210 in a multicasting manner as described above with reference to FIG. In this case, the user does not need to request broadcast content. In this case, the object information file may also be received by being included in the data field of the reception stream in a multicasting manner.

In this case, for example, there may be two methods for authenticating the user terminal 500 to receive IPTV object information as follows.

First, a method of determining whether the IPTV set-top box 400 is a user terminal 500 that can be used by itself, such as a telephone number of the user terminal 500. To this end, when the user terminal 500 requests access to the IPTV set-top box 400 (step S603), the user terminal 500 includes its own telephone number and the like, and whether the IPTV set-top box 400 is a terminal capable of using object information. I can figure it out.

Second, after the IPTV set-top box 400 requests the authentication of the user terminal 500 to the IPTV headend system 210 and receives a result, the IPTV set-top box 400 determines whether to perform a service accordingly and determines whether to provide object information. ) To notify. In this case, the IPTV set-top box 400 requests a password for access to the user terminal 500 in response to the object information service use approval request (step S610) of the user terminal 500 (step S611). In addition, when the user enters the password in the user terminal 500 (step S612), the user terminal 500 transmits the password input to the IPTV set-top box 400 (step S613), IPTV set-top box 400 ) Requests the authentication to the IPTV headend system 210 (step S614) and receives the result (step S615) to determine whether to perform the service, and then approves the use of the object information service to the user terminal 500 (step S616). .

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a sequence of a method for providing an IPTV object information service through a wired / wireless network device 450 using a user terminal 500 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

First, the IPTV set-top box 400 requests content from the IPTV object information video service system 220 (step S700). At this time, the IPTV object information video service system 220 requests and receives the requested content from the IPTV headend system 210 (steps S701 and S702), and receives the received content and the object information file for the content from the user's IPTV set-top. Transfer to box 400 (step S703). In this case, the content transmission method may be both a download and play method or a streaming method. In addition, although not shown in the drawing, if the IPTV content to be watched is a real-time broadcast program, the content is transmitted in a multicasting manner from the IPTV headend system as described above with reference to FIG. In this case, the user does not need to request broadcast content. In this case, the object information file is also preferably received by being included in the data field of the reception stream by the multicasting method. In the object information file, as described above, information on which frame of the video content exists in which area and which object can be provided, and the object which is immediately displayed on the screen when the object is pointed on the IPTV screen with a remote controller or a mouse. Brief information about the object may be included.

Subsequently, the user terminal 500 requests a service for providing information on objects appearing on the IPTV content screen through the wired / wireless network device 450.

If the authentication passes, the user terminal 500 requests the information on the objects appearing on the IPTV content screen to the IPTV set-top box 400 (step S704), the IPTV set-top box 400 to the object to the user terminal 500 Information (step S705), the user terminal 500 displays the received object information (step S706), and one embodiment thereof is shown in FIG.

When the user selects a specific object among the objects displayed on the screen of the user terminal 500 (step S707), the user terminal 500 sends detailed information about the object to the IPTV set-top box 400 through the wired / wireless network device 450. Request (step S708), the IPTV set-top box 400 again requests detailed information on the object to the IPTV object information video service system 220 (step S709), and the IPTV object information video service system 220 The detailed information about the object is transmitted to the IPTV set-top box 400 (step S710), and the IPTV set-top box 400 sends the detailed information to the user terminal 500 through the wired / wireless network device 450 (step S711). ), Object information is displayed on the screen of the user terminal 500 (step S712). One embodiment of the screen is shown in FIG.

8 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of an IPTV object information service provided through an IPTV screen. When the user points 601 a specific object with a mouse or a remote control, brief information about the object may be displayed on the object (602). In this case, it is desirable to display on the translucent film 602 as shown in order to minimize screen hiding.

9 is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of an IPTV object information service provided through an IPTV screen. If the user selects the object on which the brief information is displayed in FIG. 8 again, detailed information on the object may be displayed as shown in FIG. 9 (701).

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of an IPTV object information service provided through a display screen of a user terminal 500.

IPTV content Text information 501 is shown for objects appearing on the current screen. If there is more information, the display screen of the user terminal 500 may be checked by scrolling up and down by an arrow 502 for scrolling an object. In addition, since the IPTV screen is continuously passed, it is preferable that the IPTV set-top box 400 continuously transmits information on objects currently appearing on the TV screen to the user terminal 500.

The user terminal 500 stores the information in a predetermined range based on the latest screen time point, and when the user clicks the arrow 503 for scrolling the screen, the user terminal 500 may check information of objects appearing on the next TV screen or the previous TV screen. . In addition, it is preferable to click the 'current screen object information' button 506 to immediately check the object information on the TV screen at the present time. That is, the object information on the object included for each scene of the IPTV video content can be checked.

Meanwhile, the user of the user terminal 500 displays a specific object on the text list 501 by displaying the object indicated by the object list scroll bar 504 on the display screen 501 of the user terminal 500 on the IPTV screen. It may further include a function for identifying which object on the IPTV screen.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of an IPTV object information service provided through a display screen of a user terminal 500. When a specific object 504 is selected on the display screen of the user terminal 500 of FIG. 10, a screen 510 for providing detailed information about the object is illustrated. After confirming the detailed information, the user can immediately request a purchase by clicking the 'purchase application' button 511. This sequence will be described with reference to FIG.

12 is a diagram illustrating a sequence of directly purchasing an item using the IPTV object information service using the user terminal 500 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The steps shown in FIG. 6 may be performed in the same manner in FIG. 12, and for convenience, descriptions of the steps (steps S1001 to S1008) overlapping with FIG. 6 are omitted.

If the purchase of a specific object is selected in the detailed object information (step S1009) displayed on the screen of the user terminal 500 (step S1010), the user terminal 500 is connected to the IPTV set-top box 400 through the wired / wireless network device 450. The purchase request for the log item is sent (step S1011), and the IPTV set-top box 400 sends the item purchase request to the purchase processing servers 225 and 600 again (step S1012). The purchase processing server 600 may be a server operated by a seller or the like of the goods outside the IPTV object information video service system 220 as described above with reference to FIG. And purchase processing. Alternatively, as described above in FIG. 2, the purchase processing server 225 in the IPTV object information moving picture service system 220 may perform such purchase processing.

The purchase processing server 225 or 600 receiving the item purchase request sends a payment request to the IPTV set-top box 400 (step S1013), and the IPTV set-top box 400 is connected to the user terminal 500 through the wired / wireless network device 450. In step S1014, the user selects to make a payment (step S1015), and is transferred to the purchase processing servers 225 and 600 to make a payment and a delivery request for this item (steps S1016, S1017, and S1018). .

In the present specification, an embodiment of the present invention has been described as an example of an IPTV broadcasting system, but the present invention is not limited thereto and may be applied to various kinds of two-way broadcasting systems in which a service is provided in both directions through a network.

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.

10: broadcast content provider 200: IPTV service system
300: network 400: IPTV set-top box
450: wired and wireless network device 500: user communication terminal
600: Purchase Processing Server

Claims (14)

A video content playback module for playing back video content received from an interactive broadcast service system;
An object information request module configured to receive a request for providing information on an object included in the reproduced moving picture content from a user terminal and to provide an interactive broadcast service system to provide object information corresponding to the object;
An object information receiving module configured to receive the object information from the bidirectional broadcast service system;
An object information terminal providing module for providing the received object information to the user terminal; And
A communication module for controlling data transmission and reception for communicating with the user terminal;
Including, set-top box.
The method of claim 1,
The communication module controls data transmission and reception with a network device that matches the private IP of the user terminal and the public IP of the set-top box,
The network device is connected to the user terminal, the set-top box and the two-way broadcast service system, set-top box.
The method of claim 2,
The network device receives a set-top box search request message from the user terminal, broadcasts a set-top box search request message to devices connected to the network device, and receives an IP address of the set-top box from the set-top box. Set-top box that is provided to the user terminal
The method of claim 2,
The object information terminal providing module is configured to provide the received object information to the user terminal through the network device.
The method of claim 1,
The object information received from the bidirectional broadcast service system,
And at least one of information on a moving picture frame in which the object exists and the position of the object in the moving picture frame, brief information on the object, or detailed information related to the object.
In the IPTV set-top box device, the method for providing object information included in the IPTV video content,
(a) receiving a request for providing an object information service on an object included in video content from a user terminal;
(b) transmitting the object information list received from the IPTV service system to the user terminal;
(c) receiving a request for detailed information on a selected object in the object information list from the user terminal, and requesting the IPTV service system to provide detailed information on the object; And
(d) receiving detailed information on the object from the IPTV service system and transmitting the received detailed information to the user terminal
Object information providing method comprising a.
The method according to claim 6,
The private IP of the user terminal and the public IP of the IPTV set-top box is matched by the network device connected to the user terminal, the IPTV set-top box and the IPTV service system.
The method of claim 7, wherein
The IP address of the IPTV set-top box, the network device receives the IPTV set-top box search request message from the user terminal, broadcasts the IPTV set-top box search request message to the devices connected to the network device, the IPTV set-top Receiving an IP address of the IPTV set-top box from the box, it is provided to the user terminal, object information providing method.
A user terminal displaying object information on an object included in video content provided by an IPTV service system,
An object information service module for requesting and receiving information for receiving the object information from an IPTV set-top box, and receiving the object information using the received information;
An object information screen providing module configured to display the received object information on a display screen; And
A communication module for controlling data transmission and reception with the IPTV set-top box to receive the object information;
Including;
The communication module controls data transmission and reception with a network device that matches the private IP of the user terminal and the public IP of the IPTV set-top box.
The network device is connected to the user terminal, the IPTV set-top box and the IPTV service system.
The method of claim 9,
The object information service module is to receive the object information from the IPTV service system through the network device.
The method of claim 9,
The object information is provided to the IPTV set-top box from the IPTV service system through the network device,
The object information service module is to receive the object information from the IPTV set-top box via the network device.
In the method for providing object information included in the IPTV video content,
(a) matching the user terminal and the IPTV set top box,
(b) receiving, from the user terminal, a request for providing information on an object in video content displayed through the matched IPTV set-top box;
(c) receiving an object information list for the requested object from an IPTV service system and transmitting the received object information list to the user terminal;
(d) receiving a request for detailed information on a selected object in the object information list from the user terminal and requesting the IPTV service system to provide detailed information on the object; And
(d) receiving detailed information on the object from the IPTV service system and transmitting the received detailed information to the user terminal
Object information providing method comprising a.
The method of claim 12,
In step (a),
Matching the private IP of the user terminal and the public IP of the IPTV set-top box, object information providing method.
The method of claim 12,
(e) receiving a purchase request for a specific object included in the video content from the user terminal, and providing user information and a product purchase request of the user terminal to a purchase processing server;
More,
In the purchase processing server, the payment corresponding to the purchase request is processed based on the provided user information.

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