KR20120002387A - Method and apparatus for minimizing vod selection time of iptv program - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A method for increasing menu selection speed and a device thereof are provided to map a number of each menu, thereby conveniently selecting a desired menu. CONSTITUTION: A mapping data storage unit(110) stores numbers mapped in each field in a content selection menu by a layer. When a combination of the mapped numbers is inputted, an input information analyzing unit searches a field corresponding to the combined numbers. When content corresponding to the detected field exists, a function executing unit(140) reproduces the content.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MINIMIZING VOD SELECTION TIME OF IPTV PROGRAM}

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for improving a menu selection speed, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for improving the selection speed of VOD content of an IPTV.

IPTV is a system that provides digital television services using Internet protocols in packet switching network environments such as the Internet and broadband.

Since conventional TV broadcasts use a method of pushing a program according to a predetermined schedule, the user has to be inconvenient to watch TV in accordance with the schedule of the schedule in order to watch a desired broadcast. Since a pull method of selecting and requesting a broadcast to be watched is used, there is an advantage that a desired broadcast can be freely watched at any time.

However, the VOD content of the IPTV is gradually increased over time, and accordingly, it is necessary to change the way of selecting the corresponding menus to conveniently and quickly select and use a desired service.

Thus, in the prior art, when selecting a menu using a remote controller, a technique of assigning a numeric number key, a character key, or a symbol key of the remote controller to each menu so as to simplify key operation is disclosed.

However, in order to select a specific piece of VOD content, there is still a selection process of inputting a number or letter assigned to each menu and re-entering a number or letter for a submenu of the menu.

In addition, even after selecting a menu using numbers or letters, a delay time occurs until a sub menu of the menu is displayed, which increases the overall selection time.If an incorrect menu is selected, the menu moves to the upper menu of the menu. In order to select a number of 'back' button in order to do so, and the inconvenience of having to input the number or button of the desired menu still exists, which also causes the user's menu selection time to be further increased.

In order to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for mapping a number to each menu and selecting desired VOD content by combining each number mapped to the menu.

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

In order to achieve the above object, in the apparatus for improving the menu selection speed according to an aspect of the present invention, a mapping data storage unit for storing the number mapped to each field included in the content selection menu for each layer, in each field When the mapped numbers are input in combination, if there is an input information analyzer searching for a field corresponding to the combined number and a submenu corresponding to the searched field, the submenu is displayed and corresponding to the searched field. And a function performing unit for playing the content when the content exists, wherein the combined number is a number mapped to a field included in a menu of a higher layer and a number mapped to a field included in a menu of a lower layer. Are combined.

In order to achieve the above object, a method of improving a menu selection speed according to an aspect of the present invention comprises the steps of: (a) storing the number mapped to each field included in the content selection menu for each layer, (b) the mapped When numbers are input sequentially, determining whether the input numbers are combined based on input time intervals of the input numbers, (c) searching a field corresponding to the combined numbers, and (d) If there is a submenu corresponding to the searched field, displaying the submenu; and (e) if the content corresponding to the searched field exists, playing the content.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG.

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

According to one of the problem solving means of the method and apparatus for improving the menu selection speed of the present invention described above,

Numbers are mapped to each menu, making it easy to select the menu you want.

In addition, by combining the numbers mapped to each menu, it is possible to immediately select and execute the menu or VOD content corresponding to the combined number.

In addition, when selecting a menu or VOD content, the user's convenience can be maximized by minimizing the operation of the remote controller.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a general IPTV broadcasting service system.
2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an apparatus for improving a menu selection speed according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3A to 3C are flowcharts illustrating a process of improving a menu selection speed according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a flowchart illustrating a process of improving a menu selection speed according to another embodiment of the present invention.
5A is a diagram illustrating a menu selection method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5B is a diagram illustrating a menu selection method according to another embodiment of the present invention.

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

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

In the drawings, parts irrelevant to the description are omitted in order to clearly describe the present invention, and like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the specification.

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

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

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

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a general IPTV broadcasting service system.

Referring to FIG. 1, an IPTV broadcasting system includes a broadcaster 1000, a headend system 2000, a network network 3000, and a user terminal 4000.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The user terminal may use a display device (TV) in which an IP set-top box (hereinafter, referred to as a set-top box) is embedded, or a terminal of any one of a set-top box, a computer, a notebook computer, or a personal portable terminal connected to the user's TV.

The set-top box includes a hardware layer composed of set-top box hardware such as a CPU, a media processor, a flash RAM, and an Ethernet module, a system software layer including a system driver such as a device driver and an operating system, a Java Virtual Machine (JVM), Middleware layer with Conditional Access System (CAS) module and Digital Rights Management (DRM) interface module, streaming protocol (RTP, RTSP), MPEG2, MPEG4, MPEG7, H.264, WMV- It may include four layers of an application layer that supports various multi codecs such as 9 and includes an electronic program guide (EPG) for selecting an IPTV service channel. In this case, the subscriber set-top box may be assigned an IPv4 address or an IPv6 address.

2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an apparatus for improving a menu selection speed according to an embodiment of the present invention, and the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 2 may be included in a set top box.

The apparatus 100 for improving a menu selection speed according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a mapping data storage unit 110, an interface providing unit 120, an input information analyzing unit 130, and a function performing unit 140. do.

For reference, each menu of an upper layer hierarchically, that is, a tree form, for selecting VOD content may include a plurality of fields, and each field may include a menu of a lower layer.

In addition, each menu of the lower layer may include a plurality of fields again. If there are no lower menus in each field, the corresponding fields correspond to the VOD contents.

When describing each component in detail, the mapping data storage unit 110 stores information about the information and the number mapped to the field included in each menu in association with each other.

In this case, the information on each menu may include an ID and a menu name of the corresponding menu, and the ID of the menu may include a “code” form or a series of numbers.

In addition, the plurality of fields included in each menu may also include a field ID and a field name, respectively, and the field ID may include a code form or a series of numbers.

In addition, the mapping data storage unit 110 may provide information on each video-on-demand content (hereinafter referred to as VOD content), for example, a number mapped to the VOD content, an ID of the VOD content, a title, a genre, a cast, a plot, Image information related to the VOD content.

For reference, the numbers mapped to the menus and fields and the numbers mapped to the VOD contents may be displayed by accumulating the numbers mapped to the fields of the upper layer.

For example, the 'Review TV' field of the initial menu is '1', the 'MBC Broadcast' field of the station selection menu is '0', the 'Movie Drama' field of the content type selection menu is '2', When the 'Seondeok Queen' field of the drama type selection menu is displayed on the TV screen as '3' and '3 times contents' of the round selection menu, respectively, each field stored in the mapping data storage unit 110. The number mapped to and the number mapped to the VOD content may be displayed by accumulating numbers as shown below.

Watch TV again '-' 1 ',' MBC Broadcast-'10', 'Jong Young Drama'-'102', 'Queen Seondeok'-'1023', '3 times content'-'10232'.

Meanwhile, the interface provider 120 displays a first area including a 'menu search window' through which a user can input a number to select a field included in a menu, information about a field or content corresponding to the entered number. It provides an interface including a second area.

In this case, the interface provider 120 may divide the area of the interface into an upper area and a lower area, and display the first area in the upper area of the interface and the second area in the lower area of the interface, respectively.

For reference, the 'menu search box' may be inputted with a number for searching for a desired field or content. On the contrary, when the user selects a field of a menu displayed in the second area, the menu search box is mapped to the selected field. Numbers may be displayed.

Meanwhile, the input information analyzer 130 parses the number input in the menu search window and searches the mapping data storage 110 for a field or content corresponding to the input number.

Thereafter, the input information analyzer 130 transmits the information on the searched field or content to the function performing unit 140 so that the function of the field corresponding to the number entered in the search window can be executed.

That is, when the submenu exists in the field, the submenu may be displayed in the second area. When the submenu no longer exists in the field and the VOD content exists, the corresponding VOD content may be played.

For reference, the number input in the menu search window is a number mapped to each field as described above, and at least one number for field selection may be input in the menu search window.

That is, in a hierarchically structured menu, when a number mapped to fields of each menu for each hierarchical layer is combined and input into a menu search box, the input information analyzer 130 analyzes the input number and corresponds to the combined number. To search for fields or content.

For example, for example, the 'Replay TV' field of the initial menu is' 1 ', the' MBC Broadcast 'field of the station selection menu is' 0', and the 'Crama Drama' field of the content type selection menu is' 2 ', if the' Seondeok Queen 'field of the' Drama type selection menu 'is' 3' and '3 times of content' of the round selection menu is' 2 ', the user can enter the number corresponding to each field described above in the menu search box. In order to input sequentially to the '3 times content' may be finally selected, but if the numbers entered sequentially to select the 'three times content', that is, '10232' is continuously input, the input information analysis unit ( 130 may search the mapping data storage 110 to search for 'TV replay> MBC broadcast> Jong Drama> Queen Seondeok> 3 times' content corresponding to the input '10232'.

In this case, the input information analyzer 130 may determine the combined numbers based on the input time intervals of the numbers mapped to the respective fields.

For example, if no number is input within '0.5 seconds' after the number is entered in the menu search box, the input information analyzer 130 may search for a field or content corresponding to the number currently entered in the menu search box. You can search.

If the above example is explained again, input '0' continuously within 0.5 seconds after entering '1' into the menu search box, and enter '2' continuously within 0.5 seconds, and then enter 0.5 seconds. When exceeded, the input information analyzer 130 determines '102' as a combined number, searches for a submenu of the 'host drama' field corresponding to 102, and each round that is a sub menu of the 'host drama' field. Star content information may be retrieved from the mapping data storage unit 110.

Of course, the above 0.5 seconds is a time interval for the embodiment of the present invention, it can be changed to any number.

Thereafter, the input information analyzer 130 may transmit information about a field or content corresponding to the number entered in the menu search window to the function performing unit 140.

In addition, the input information analyzer 130 may search for the content corresponding to the number entered in the menu search window and transmit the ID of the found content to the function performing unit 140.

In addition, when the information input from the user (remote control) is not a single number or a combination of numbers, the input information analysis unit 130 is selected by the input of the corresponding key, if the direction key, OK key The number mapped to the field or content may be retrieved from the mapping data storage 110.

In addition, when the information input from the user (remote control) is the information on the 'erase key', the input information analyzer 130 corresponds to the changed number when the number entered in the menu search box is changed by the input of the erase key. The field or content may be searched from the mapping data storage 110.

For example, in the initial menu screen, when the cursor moves to a specific field of a specific menu by using the direction key of the remote controller, the input information analyzer 130 maps the field ID of the corresponding field where the cursor is located to the mapping data storage 110. ) And a number (ie, a combined number) corresponding to the retrieved ID.

In this case, when a submenu of the corresponding field exists, the input information analyzer 130 transmits information about the submenu to the function performing unit 140 so that the submenu of the corresponding field is displayed in the second area of the interface. can do.

For reference, when the cursor is positioned in a specific field of a specific menu using the arrow keys of the remote controller, the number corresponding to the field (ie, the combined number) is displayed in the first area (menu search window) of the interface. Although a submenu of a field may be displayed in the second area of the interface, the number mapped to the field as described above only when the cursor caused by the direction key of the remote control is located in a specific field of a particular menu and the OK key is selected. And a submenu of the corresponding field may be displayed in the first area and the second area of the interface, respectively.

In addition, the input information analysis unit 130 is deleted if the information input from the user (remote control) is information on the erase key, that is, if the number entered in the menu search box is deleted by the erase key. The field corresponding to may be retrieved from the mapping data storage unit 110.

Meanwhile, the function performing unit 140 performs a function corresponding to the selected field.

When the submenu exists in the field searched by the input information analyzer 130, the function performing unit 140 displays the submenu in the second area of the interface, and the VOD content is no longer present in the field. If present, the VOD content can be played.

The function performing unit 140 may include a content requesting unit 140a and a content reproducing unit 140a. Since the embodiment of the present invention relates to menu selection of VOD content, the content requesting unit 140a and The content playback unit 140a will be described.

The content requester 140a receives the content ID from the input information analyzer 130 and transmits the content ID to the VOD providing server (not shown).

Meanwhile, the content reproduction unit 140b receives a content corresponding to the content ID transmitted from the content requesting unit 140a from a VOD providing server (not shown) and displays the content on the TV screen.

2 refers to a hardware component such as software or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) or ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), and performs predetermined roles .

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

Thus, by way of example, an element may comprise components such as software components, object-oriented software components, class components and task components, processes, functions, attributes, procedures, Routines, segments of program code, drivers, firmware, microcode, circuitry, data, databases, data structures, tables, arrays, and variables.

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

3A to 3C are flowcharts illustrating a process of improving a menu selection speed according to an embodiment of the present invention.

For reference, the process illustrated in FIG. 3 may be performed in the set-top box, and the flowchart of FIG. 3 will be described by performing the following process in the set-top box with reference to the configuration of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2.

In addition, in the process illustrated in FIG. 3, the mapping data storage unit 110 described above with reference to FIG. 2 already exists.

First, the set-top box displays a top menu for selecting VOD content on the TV screen (S301).

After the step S301, if an input occurs from the user (remote control) (S302), the set-top box determines whether the input information is a number (number) (S303).

As a result of step S302, if the number is set, the set-top box searches whether the field corresponding to the number exists from the mapping data storage unit 110 (S304).

In other words, it checks whether the number is assigned to each field of each layer.

In this case, the number input in step S303 may be one number mapped to each field of each layer, or may be a combination of numbers mapped to each field of each layer.

After the step S304, the set-top box displays the input number in the menu search box, and searches whether the submenu exists in the field corresponding to the number (S305).

As a result of the search in step S305, if a submenu exists in the corresponding field, the set-top box displays the submenu of the corresponding field on the TV screen (S306).

If, as a result of the search in step S305, there is no further submenu and there is VOD content, the set-top box searches for the ID of the VOD content corresponding to the number input in step S303 (S307).

After step S307, the set-top box transmits the ID of the found VOD content to the VOD providing server (not shown), receives the corresponding content from the VOD providing server (not shown), and displays the content on the TV screen (S308).

In this case, the searched VOD content may be immediately played, or after the information on the searched VOD content is displayed on a TV screen, the VOD content may be played after receiving a request for playing the VOD content from a user.

If it is determined in S303 that the information input in the menu search window is not a number, it is checked whether the direction key is used (S309).

As a result of the check, when information on the direction key is input, the set-top box moves the selection item in the corresponding direction (S310).

In this case, since the field is not yet selected, the number (combined number) corresponding to the field may not be displayed in the menu search window.

If the result of the check in step S309 is not a direction key, the set-top box checks whether the information entered in the menu search window is the check key (S311).

In step S311, when the information on the confirmation key is input, the set-top box displays the number (combined number) corresponding to the selected field on the menu search window and displays the submenu of the selected field on the TV screen (S312). ).

If the result of the check in step S311 is not the confirmation key, the set-top box checks whether the information entered in the menu search box is the erase key (S313).

As a result of the check, the set top box deletes the number displayed in the menu search box as many times as the number of the erase key input from the menu search box, and displays the menu (ie, the upper menu) corresponding to the remaining number on the TV screen. Displayed at (S314).

As a result of checking in step S313, if the key is not erased, the set-top box may perform a function corresponding to the input information (S315).

Note that the menu cannot be displayed on the screen if the menu is not selected with one digit or the wrong number is entered, so only the numbers are displayed in the menu search box and the menu screen remains the same. Can be.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a process of improving a menu selection speed according to another embodiment of the present invention.

For reference, the process illustrated in FIG. 4 may also be performed in the set top box, and the flowchart of FIG. 4 will be described by performing the following process in the set top box with reference to the configuration of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 2.

In addition, in the process illustrated in FIG. 4, the mapping data storage unit 110 described above with reference to FIG. 2 already exists.

The top menu is displayed in the second area of the interface (S401), and the number mapped to the field is input from the user (remote control) (S402).

If the first number is input to the menu search window of the interface, the set-top box determines whether the second number is continuously input within a predetermined time (hereinafter, 0.5 seconds) (S403).

After step S403, when the second number is input within 0.5 seconds, the set-top box determines whether the third number is continuously input within 0.5 seconds (S404).

If the third number is not entered within 0.5 seconds after step S404, the set-top box sequentially combines the first number and the second number, and the combined number (the first number and the second number are sequentially combined). On the basis of this, the field corresponding to the combined number is searched for (S405).

After step S405, the set-top box displays information about the found field in the second area of the interface (S406).

5A is a diagram illustrating a menu selection method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The user wants to watch 'Seondeok Queen's Three Times of MBC Broadcasting'.

A menu search box is present in an upper area of the TV screen, and a menu corresponding to a number entered in the menu search window is displayed in a lower area.

When the initial menu (a) is displayed on the screen, the user can enter the 'TV Replay' field '1' in the initial menu (a) and the 'MBC Broadcast' field '0' in the station selection menu (b) which is a submenu of the corresponding field. 'No.', 'Drama' field '2' in the content type selection menu (c) which is a sub menu of the field, and 'Seondeok Queen' field '3' in the drama type selection menu (d), a sub menu of the field In order to view '3 times of content' field '2' in sequence selection menu (e), which is a submenu of the corresponding field, the '3 times of Sundeok Queen of MBC broadcasting' can be viewed.

5B is a diagram illustrating a menu selection method according to another embodiment of the present invention.

When the initial menu (a) is displayed on the screen, when the combination number '10232' corresponding to '3 times of Seondeok Queen of MBC broadcasting' is entered into the menu search box, the content of Queen Seondeok 3 times may be selected and played. Information about Queen Seondeok 3 times' is displayed on the lower area of the TV screen, when the user selects the Quick View button, the Seondeok Queen 3 times may be displayed on the TV screen.

For reference, when the user enters '1023' into the menu search box, the TV screen displays a menu including a plurality of fields for selecting the Seondeok Queen's turn, and the user selects a specific turn with the direction key. You can also watch the episode you want.

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.

110: mapping data storage unit
120: interface provider
130: input information analysis unit
140: function performing unit
140a: content request unit
140b: content playback unit

Claims (7)

In the apparatus for improving the menu selection speed,
Mapping data storage unit for storing the number mapped to each field included in the content selection menu for each layer,
An input information analysis unit searching for a field corresponding to the combined number when the numbers mapped to the fields are combined and inputted;
A function performing unit which displays the submenu when the submenu corresponding to the searched field exists, and plays the content when the content corresponding to the searched field exists
Includes, wherein the combined number is a combination of the number mapped to the field included in the menu of the upper layer and the number mapped to the field included in the menu of the lower layer, the menu selection speed improving apparatus.
The method of claim 1,
An interface provider for providing an interface including a first area in which the combined number is displayed and a second area in which a submenu corresponding to the searched field is displayed.
Further comprising, the menu selection speed improving device. The method of claim 2,
And when the last number of the combined number is deleted, the input information analysis unit searches for a field corresponding to the remaining numbers except the last number in the combined number.
The method of claim 3, wherein
The input information analyzer, if a field included in a menu displayed in the second area is selected, retrieves a combined number corresponding to the selected field and displays the displayed number in the first area.
The method of claim 4, wherein
The input information analyzer determines the combined number based on an input time interval of the number mapped to each field, and searches for a field corresponding to the combined number based on the determined number. .
In the method of improving the menu selection speed,
(a) storing a number mapped to each field included in the hierarchical content selection menu,
(b) if the mapped numbers are sequentially input, determining whether the input numbers are combined based on an input time interval of the input numbers;
(c) searching for a field corresponding to the combined number;
(d) if there is a submenu corresponding to the searched field, displaying the submenu; and
(e) playing the content when there is content corresponding to the searched field;
Including, menu selection speed improvement method.
The method according to claim 6,
Step (b) is
And determining whether to include the sequentially input number in the combined number based on the input time interval.

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