KR20110105075A - Broadcasting terminal device for having widget display function and operating method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A broadcast terminal device that receives a broadcast signal from a broadcast station system and outputs the received broadcast signal to a display device, controls to receive widget content from the broadcast station system, store the received widget content in a memory, and display the widget content. In response to the signal, the widget content stored in the memory is output to the display device.

Description

Broadcast terminal device having a widget display function and a method of operating the same {BROADCASTING TERMINAL DEVICE FOR HAVING WIDGET DISPLAY FUNCTION AND OPERATING METHOD THEREOF}

The present invention relates to a broadcast terminal device capable of bidirectional communication.

Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) is an interactive television service provided using a high speed internet network. Such IPTV provides information service, video content, and broadcasting to a television receiver through a high-speed Internet network. IPTV is a type of digital convergence in that it is a convergence of the Internet and television.

IPTV has no difference from general cable broadcasting or satellite broadcasting in that it provides broadcasting contents such as video, but it is characterized by the added interactivity. Unlike general public broadcasting, cable broadcasting or satellite broadcasting, viewers can see only the programs they want to watch at a convenient time.

In addition, since IPTV uses a high-speed Internet network, it is possible to receive various contents and additional services provided by the Internet, such as home shopping, home banking, online games, and MP3, as well as Internet search through a television. Such various services are in an early stage of introduction, and a concrete implementation method for a broadcasting station system capable of providing the services is required.

The present invention provides a broadcast terminal device having a widget display function and a method of operating the same.

According to an aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object, a method of operating a broadcast terminal device that receives a broadcast signal from a broadcast station system and outputs the received broadcast signal to a display device includes: receiving widget content from the broadcast station system And storing the widget content in a memory, and outputting the widget content stored in the memory to the display device in response to a control signal for displaying the widget content.

In this embodiment, the control signal for displaying the widget content is a signal received from a remote controller.

In this embodiment, the operating method of the broadcast terminal device, receiving a signal for changing the display setting for the widget content displayed on the display device from the remote controller, and storing the changed display setting in the memory It further includes.

In this embodiment, a method of operating a broadcast terminal device includes receiving a signal for requesting a new widget download from the remote controller, transmitting a widget download request signal to the broadcast station system, and receiving a new signal from the broadcast station system. Receiving widget content, storing the new widget content in a memory, and outputting the new widget content to the display device.

In this embodiment, a method of operating a broadcast terminal device includes receiving a widget content list from the broadcasting station system, storing the widget content list in the memory, and outputting the widget content list to the display device. It further comprises a step.

In this embodiment, the transmitting of the widget download request signal to the broadcasting station system includes transmitting unique information of the broadcasting terminal device stored in the memory.

In this embodiment, the widget content received from the broadcasting station system includes informational widget content and advertisement widget content.

In this embodiment, the information widget content includes at least one of a clock, weather, notepad, calculator, news, stock, traffic, program information, the advertising widget content, T-commerce (Television-commerce) ) For content.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a broadcast receiving device includes: a connector for connecting a cover device, a receiving circuit for receiving widget content, a memory for storing the widget content, and the widget content received at the receiving circuit. And a control unit for storing in the memory.

In this embodiment, the control unit receives a control signal from an external remote controller, reads the widget content from the memory in response to the control signal, and reads the read widget content to the display device through the connector. Output

In this embodiment, the control unit stores the changed setting information in the memory when a signal for changing the display setting for the widget content displayed on the display device is received from the remote controller.

In this embodiment, the broadcast receiving device further includes a transmitter for outputting the widget download request signal to the outside. The controller outputs the widget download request signal to the transmitter when a signal for requesting a new widget download is received from the remote controller.

In this embodiment, the receiving circuit further receives a widget content list, and the controller is configured to store the widget content list received by the receiving circuit in the memory, and to display the widget content list through the connector. Will output

According to the present invention, a broadcast terminal device having a widget display function is implemented.

1 is a diagram illustrating a network configuration for providing a widget service to a broadcast terminal device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram exemplarily showing that widget content provided from a broadcasting station shown in FIG. 1 is displayed on a television.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a specific configuration of the broadcast terminal device shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operating method for displaying widget content in the broadcast terminal device illustrated in FIG. 3.
5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation method for downloading new widget content in a broadcast receiving device.
6 illustrates an example of displaying widget contents on a television.

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

1 is a diagram illustrating a network configuration for providing a widget service to a broadcast terminal device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the widget service may be implemented by the broadcasting station system 130, the communication network 140, and the user terminal device 150. The broadcast station system 130 may receive broadcast contents and widget contents necessary for broadcasting from the broadcast content provider 110 and the widget content provider 120. The broadcast terminal device 150 is connected to the broadcast station system 130 through the communication network 140. The television 160 may be connected to the broadcast terminal device 150, and the broadcast terminal device 150 may receive a radio signal from the remote controller 170.

The communication network 140 includes a hybrid fiber coaxial (HFC), an asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL), a wireless local loop (WLL), a fiber to the curb (FTTC), and an FTTO. It may be any one of a communication network such as Fiber to the Office and Fiber to the Home.

The broadcast terminal device 150 is a broadcast signal receiver called a settop box (STB). The broadcast terminal device 150 converts the digital broadcast signal transmitted from the broadcast station system 130 into a signal that can be displayed on an image device such as the television 160. In some cases, the broadcast terminal device 150 and the television 160 may be implemented as a single device. The number of broadcast terminal devices connected to the broadcast station system 130 through the communication network 140 may be plural.

The broadcast content provider 110 is an individual or a business that provides broadcast content such as terrestrial broadcast, movie, sound source broadcast, and news broadcast. Widget content provider 120 is a variety of individuals or businesses, such as banks, government offices, advertisers, shopping malls that provide widget content to enable the clock, calendar, weather, stock notepad, map, search, home banking, shopping, and the like.

The broadcast station system 130 transmits the broadcast content received from the broadcast content provider 110 and the widget content received from the widget content provider 120 to the broadcast terminal device 150 through the communication network 140.

Widget content provided from the widget content provider 120 may be classified into informational widget content and advertisement widget content. Informational widget content includes clocks, weather, notepads, calculators, news, stock quotes, traffic and program information. Advertisement widget content includes contents for e-commerce, or T-commerce, using IPTV such as shopping, home banking, ticketing, telemedicine, games, and education.

FIG. 2 is a diagram exemplarily showing that widget content provided from a broadcasting station shown in FIG. 1 is displayed on a television.

Referring to FIG. 2, various widgets 210 to 270 may be displayed on the screen of the television 200. For example, the widget displayed on the television 200 may include a date and weather widget 210, a search box widget 220, a stock quote widget 230, a clock widget 240, a movie widget 250, an advertisement widget 260, and the like. Game widget 270.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a specific configuration of the broadcast terminal device shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 3, the broadcast terminal device 150 includes a receiver 310, a restorer 320, a controller 330, a memory 340, a transmitter 350, a keypad 360, a connector 370, and a light receiver. 380.

The receiver 310 may include a tuner for receiving a broadcast signal from the outside. The tuner tunes to receive a broadcast signal of a channel selected by a user or a preset channel. In general, a broadcaster, that is, the broadcasting station system 130 of FIG. 1 encodes and transmits a broadcast signal in a specific manner in order to minimize signal distortion in a transmission path. The decompressor 320 restores the encoded broadcast signal to the original broadcast signal, and separates the data signal and the widget content signal included in the broadcast signal. The data signal includes information, application data, etc., which can be displayed graphically or textually on the screen of the television. In this embodiment, the restorer 320 may separate the widget content signal when the encoded broadcast signal includes the widget content signal. The controller 330 processes the broadcast signal, the data signal, and the widget content signal from the decompressor 320, and outputs the processed signal to the television 160 through the connector 370.

The memory 340 is used to store program codes necessary for the operation of the controller 330, widget contents, a list of widget contents to be described later, and unique information of the broadcast terminal device 150. In another example, a memory for storing program code necessary for the operation of the controller 330 and a memory for storing widget content, a widget content list, unique information, and the like may be separately provided in the broadcast terminal device 150. .

In order to minimize signal distortion in the transmission path, the transmitter 350 encodes the signal output from the controller 330 in a predetermined manner and transmits the signal to the broadcasting station system 130 through the communication network 140 shown in FIG. 1. The keypad 360 includes a power button, a channel selection button, a volume control button, and function selection buttons. The controller 330 operates in response to a signal input from the keypad 360 by a user's manipulation. The controller 330 may operate in response to a key input signal received from the remote controller 170 through the light receiver 380. The remote controller 170 and the light receiver 380 perform wireless communication using infrared rays. Although not shown in the drawing, the remote controller 170 may operate a power button, buttons for selecting a channel number, a widget start button for displaying a widget, moving buttons for moving a menu, buttons for adjusting a volume, and various functions. It may include buttons for. When the specific button is pressed by the user, the remote controller 170 outputs a radio signal corresponding to the button. The light receiver 380 converts a radio signal received from the remote controller 170 into a digital signal and inputs the digital signal to the controller 330.

The operation of the broadcast terminal device having such a configuration will be described in detail below.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operating method for displaying widget content in the broadcast terminal device illustrated in FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 4, the receiver 310 or 3 receives a broadcast signal including widget content from the broadcasting station system 130 through the communication network 140 shown in FIG. 1 (S410). The decompressor 320 restores the broadcast signal received from the receiver 310 and transmits the widget content included in the restored signal to the controller 330. The controller 330 stores the input widget content in the memory 340 (S420). The download operation of the widget content may be performed whenever the broadcast terminal device 150 is powered on, reset, or whenever a widget content transmission event is generated periodically or aperiodically from the broadcasting station system 130.

The remote controller 170 shown in FIG. 3 may include a widget start button (not shown) for controlling the widget. The name of the widget start button provided in the remote controller 170 may be changed in various ways. The controller 330 determines whether a signal corresponding to the widget start button is input from the remote controller 170 through the light receiver 380 (S430). If a signal corresponding to the widget start button is input, the controller 330 controls the widget content stored in the memory 340 to be displayed on the television 160 (S440).

When a plurality of widget contents are displayed on the television 160, the user sequentially processes the widget contents by using direction buttons (for example, up, down, left, and right direction buttons) provided in the remote controller 170. You can choose alternately. The user can change the display setting for the selected widget content by selecting specific widget content using the direction buttons and pressing the widget start button in this state. For example, the display setting for the widget content includes whether the widget content is to be displayed on the top screen of the broadcast screen, whether the widget content is to disappear after being displayed for a predetermined time, the time when the widget content is displayed, and the like. .

The controller 330 determines whether a series of signals for changing the widget display setting are received from the remote controller 170 through the light receiving unit 380 (S450). If the widget display setting is changed, the controller 330 stores the changed display setting in the memory 340. ). The controller 330 controls the widget contents to be displayed on the television 160 according to the display setting stored in the memory 340.

In this manner, the broadcast terminal device 150 receives the widget content from the broadcasting station system 130 and outputs the widget content to the television 160 in response to a user's operation of the remote controller 170.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation method for downloading new widget content from a broadcast receiving device, and FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of displaying widget contents on a television.

Referring to FIG. 5, the controller 330 of the broadcast reception device 150 determines whether a signal corresponding to a widget start button is received from the remote controller 170 through the light receiver 380 (S510). If a signal corresponding to the widget start button is received, the controller 330 controls the widget contents stored in the memory 340 to be displayed on the television 160 (S512).

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the controller 330 may control the widget menu 630 to be further displayed when the widget contents 610 and 620 are displayed on the television 160. When the plurality of widget contents 610 and 620 and the widget menu 630 are displayed on the television 160, the user may use direction buttons (eg, up, down, left, right) provided in the remote controller 170. Direction buttons) to sequentially select the widget contents 610 and 620 and the widget menu 630. The user can change the display setting for the selected widget content by selecting specific widget content using the direction buttons and pressing the widget start button in this state. For example, when the widget start button is pressed, the widget contents 610 and 620 and the widget menu 630 are simultaneously displayed on the television 160. At this time, the cursor, that is, the location guide pointer for selecting a widget, is placed in the widget menu 630, and the position of the cursor is alternately alternated between the widget contents 610 and 620 and the widget menu 630 by manipulation of direction buttons. can be changed.

When the user presses the widget start button of the remote controller 170 when the cursor is located in the widget menu 630, the detailed menu item of the widget menu 630 is displayed on the television 160. The detailed menu item of the widget menu 630 may include downloading a new widget, setting the entire widget display, and the like. The controller 330 determines whether a signal for downloading a new widget is received from the remote controller 170 through the light receiver 380 (S514). When a signal for downloading a new widget is received, the controller 330 outputs a widget download request signal. The transmitter 350 encodes the widget download request signal output from the controller 330 in a predetermined manner and transmits the widget download request signal to the broadcasting station system 130 through the communication network 140 shown in FIG. 1 (S516).

The receiver 310 receives a broadcast signal including a widget content list from the broadcasting station system 130. The reconstructor 320 separates and reconstructs the widget content list from the broadcast signal from the receiver 310. The controller 330 stores the widget content list from the decompressor 320 in the memory 340 (S511). The widget content list includes a list of widget contents that can be downloaded from the broadcast station system 130.

The controller 330 controls the widget content list from the restorer 320 to be displayed on the television 160 (S520). The controller 330 determines whether a signal for selecting a specific widget content in the widget content list is received from the remote controller 170 through the light receiver 380 (S522). If a signal for selecting a specific widget content in the widget content list is received from the remote controller 170, the controller 330 transmits a signal to the broadcasting station system 130 to request the download of the selected widget content (S524). . The broadcast station system 130 transmits the widget content in response to a request from the broadcast terminal device 150.

The receiver 310 receives a broadcast signal including the widget content, and the restorer 320 restores the widget content included in the broadcast signal. The controller 330 stores the widget content output from the decompressor 320 in the memory 340 (S526). The controller 330 controls the widget content stored in the memory 340 to be displayed on the television 160 (S530).

The broadcast terminal device 150 may receive the widget content list from the broadcasting station system 130 and store it in the memory 340 even when there is no request for downloading the widget content from the remote controller 170 in the power-up or reset mode. .

In another example, the broadcast station system 130 may transmit the widget content list to the broadcast terminal device 150 every predetermined time even without a request from the broadcast terminal device 150. At this time, the control unit 330 of the broadcast terminal device 150 in response to the download request for the new widget content from the remote controller 170, without the process of downloading the widget content list to the broadcast station system 130, the memory 340 ), The widget content list stored in the home screen may be immediately displayed on the television 160.

In this embodiment, the controller 330 has been described as receiving a series of signals for displaying the widget content, moving the cursor for selecting the widget content, and selecting the widget menu from the remote controller 170. However, the remote controller 170 Instead, the receiver may receive a series of signals from the keypad 360 provided in the broadcast terminal device 150.

While the invention has been described using exemplary preferred embodiments, it will be understood that the scope of the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Rather, the scope of the present invention is intended to include all of the various modifications and similar configurations. Accordingly, the appended claims should be construed as broadly as possible to include all such modifications and similar arrangements.

110: broadcast content provider 120: widget content provider
130: broadcasting station system 140: communication network
150: broadcast terminal device 160: television
170: remote controller
310: receiver 320: restorer
330: control unit 340: memory
350: transmitter 360: keypad
370: connector 380: light receiving unit
610, 620: widget content 630: widget menu

Claims (13)

A method of operating a broadcast terminal device for receiving a broadcast signal from a broadcast station system and outputting the received broadcast signal to a display device, the method comprising:
Receiving widget content from the broadcast station system;
Storing the widget content in a memory; And
And outputting the widget content stored in the memory to the display device in response to a control signal for displaying the widget content. The method of claim 1,
And a control signal for displaying the widget content is a signal received from a remote controller. The method of claim 2,
Receiving a signal for changing a display setting for widget content displayed on the display device from the remote controller; And
And storing the changed display setting in the memory. The method of claim 2,
Receiving a signal for requesting a new widget download from the remote controller;
Transmitting a widget download request signal to the broadcasting station system;
Receiving new widget content from the broadcast station system;
Storing the new widget content in a memory; And
And outputting the new widget content to the display device. The method of claim 4, wherein
Receiving a widget content list from the broadcasting station system;
Storing the widget content list in the memory; And
And outputting the widget content list to the display device. The method of claim 4, wherein
The step of transmitting the widget download request signal to the broadcasting station system,
Transmitting the unique information of the broadcast terminal device stored in the memory. The method of claim 1,
And the widget content received from the broadcasting station system includes information type widget content and advertisement type widget content. The method of claim 1,
The information widget content,
A method of operating a broadcast terminal device comprising at least one of a clock, weather, a notepad, a calculator, news, stocks, traffic, and program information. The method of claim 1,
The advertising widget content,
Method for operating a broadcast terminal device, characterized in that it comprises content for T-commerce (Television-commerce). A connector for connecting the indicator device;
Receiving circuitry for receiving widget content;
A memory for storing the widget content; And
A control unit for storing the widget content received by the receiving circuit in the memory;
The control unit,
And receiving a control signal from an external remote controller, reading the widget content from the memory in response to the control signal, and outputting the read widget content to the display device through the connector. The method of claim 10,
The control unit,
And when the signal for changing the display setting for the widget content displayed on the display device is received from the remote controller, storing the changed setting information in the memory. The method of claim 10,
A transmitter for outputting a widget download request signal to the outside;
The control unit,
And outputting the widget download request signal to the transmitter when a signal for requesting a new widget download is received from the remote controller. The method of claim 12,
The receiving circuit further receives a widget content list,
The control unit,
And storing the widget content list received by the receiving circuit in the memory, and outputting the widget content list to the display device through the connector.

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