KR20120049464A - Apparatus and method for searching broadcasting program information using a keyword - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A broadcasting program information searching method using a keyword and an apparatus thereof are provided to efficiently search for desired broadcasting program information through a broadcasting information searching operation. CONSTITUTION: A broadcasting program information search device stores a keyword broadcasting program information as a reservation searching condition by using EIT(Event Information Table) information. The apparatus searches for broadcasting program information in the received event information table information(S12). The apparatus sets up reservation recording information(S14,S15).

Description

Apparatus and method for searching broadcasting program information using a keyword}

The present invention relates to a broadcast program information retrieval apparatus and method using keywords applied to various types of digital broadcast receivers such as digital television (D-TV) or set-top box (STB).

In general, various types of digital broadcast receivers such as digital television (D-TV) or set-top box (STB) are widely used. For example, in the set-top box (STB), MPEG transport streams are used. Receive a digital broadcast signal.

After decoding and signal processing the MPEG transport stream into video and audio signals, the video and audio signals are output and displayed through an external connection device such as a television.

Meanwhile, the set-top box receives service information (SI) provided intermittently through the digital broadcast, stores it in a memory, and decodes and signals the service information according to a user's request. Electronic program guide (EPG) information for guiding a channel, a broadcast time, and a broadcast program name is displayed on a television or the like.

In the set-top box, by using the electronic program guide (EPG) information, any broadcast program information that the user selects and selects is set as reserved recording information. For example, the service information may include, for example, FIG. 1. As shown in the figure, event information table (EIT) information is included.

The event information table (EIT) information, as is well known, includes a number of broadcast programs to be broadcast within a predetermined time, a start time, a length of each broadcast program, and a broadcast program name.

On the other hand, in the set-top box, after storing the event information table (EIT) information for each of the broadcast channels in the database, the event information table (EIT) information is read at the user's request, the electronic program guide (EPG) information is output and displayed. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the electronic program guide (EPG) information includes a broadcast channel, a broadcast time, and a broadcast program name in a list form. .

However, recently, as the number of broadcast program information displayed as the electronic program guide (EPG) information rapidly increases, there is a problem that it takes a long time to selectively search for any broadcast program information desired by the user.

In addition, since the event information table (EIT) information is provided intermittently through digital broadcasting, for example, if the event information table (EIT) information including the broadcast program information desired by the user has not been received yet, There is a problem in that the reservation recording setting operation using the program guide (EPG) information cannot be performed.

In the present invention, for example, in various types of digital broadcast receivers such as digital television (D-TV) or set-top box (STB), a keyword is used as a reserved search condition for searching for broadcast program information desired by a user. And program information retrieval program using keywords for storing and storing broadcast program information satisfying the keyword from newly received event information table (EIT) information or setting reserved recording information. It is to provide.

The program information retrieval method using the keyword according to the present invention comprises the steps of: storing the keyword as a reserved search condition for retrieving arbitrary program information using event information table (EIT) information of digital broadcasting; Retrieving broadcast program information satisfying the keyword from newly received event information table information; And 3 steps of displaying the searched broadcast program information or setting reserved recording information.

In the first step, when the program information of the keyword input by the user is not searched while the electronic program guide (EPG) screen is displayed, the keyword is stored as a reserved search condition according to the user's selection. ,

The keyword may be stored in association with one or more broadcast channel information as a reserved search condition for searching for the arbitrary broadcast program information.

In the second step, when new event information table information is received through digital broadcasting, the program information that satisfies the keyword stored as the reserved search condition is searched within the newly received event information table information. ,

The method may further include displaying a guide message corresponding to broadcast program information that satisfies the stored keyword as the reserved search condition if a predetermined time elapses or a search failure is repeated for a predetermined number of times. Characterized in that,

In the step 3, when the searched broadcast program information is displayed, the broadcast channel number, date, time, and broadcast program name are displayed, and the reservation recording setting menu item is displayed.

In addition, the apparatus for searching for broadcast program information using a keyword according to the present invention comprises: receiving means for receiving digital broadcast; Storage means for storing a keyword as a reserved search condition for searching for arbitrary broadcast program information by using event information table (EIT) information provided through the digital broadcast; And control means for retrieving broadcast program information satisfying the keyword from newly received event information table information, and then displaying the retrieved broadcast program information or setting reserved recording information. ,

The keyword may be stored as a reserved search condition according to the user's selection if the program information of the keyword input by the user is not searched while the electronic program guide (EPG) screen is displayed. ,

The keyword may be stored in association with one or more broadcast channel information as a reserved search condition for searching for the arbitrary broadcast program information.

In addition, when the new event information table information is received through digital broadcasting, the control unit may search for broadcast program information that satisfies the keyword stored as the reserved search condition within the newly received event information table information. ,

The apparatus may further include generating means for generating an OSD image for inputting the keyword, and the control means is further configured to generate broadcast program information that satisfies the keyword stored as the reserved search condition. If the search fails to elapse, or if the search failure is repeated more than a predetermined number of times, the generating means is operated to display a corresponding guidance message.

The apparatus may further include generating means for generating an OSD image for inputting the keyword. In addition, when the displayed broadcasting program information is displayed, the control means controls operation of the generating means. In addition to displaying the broadcast channel number, date, time, and broadcast program name, the reserved recording setting menu item is displayed.

The apparatus and method for retrieving broadcast program information using a keyword according to the present invention, for example, in the various types of digital broadcast receivers such as digital television (D-TV) or set-top box (STB), the user wants to broadcast the program information By storing a keyword as a reserved search condition for searching, and then searching for and displaying broadcast program information satisfying the keyword in newly received event information table (EIT) information, or setting reserved recording information, Even if the event information table (EIT) information including the desired program information is not received yet, the program information search operation using the keyword stored as the reserved search condition is performed to search for the program information desired by the user more efficiently. Or as scheduled recording information.

1 illustrates an embodiment of general event information table (EIT) information,
2 illustrates an embodiment of general electronic program guide (EPG) information,
Figure 3 shows the configuration of an embodiment for a set-top box to which the present invention is applied,
4 illustrates an embodiment of a keyword input window and a keyword search failure display window displayed according to the present invention;
5 and 6 illustrate an operation flowchart of an embodiment according to a broadcast program information search method using keywords according to the present invention;
7 illustrates an embodiment of a keyword search result list displayed according to the present invention.
8 illustrates an embodiment of a keyword search failure result displayed according to the present invention.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of an apparatus and method for retrieving broadcast program information using keywords according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, a broadcast program information retrieval apparatus and method using keywords according to the present invention is applied to various types of digital broadcast receivers such as digital television (D-TV) or set-top box (STB).

On the other hand, in the set-top box (STB), which is one of the digital broadcast receivers to which the present invention is applied, as shown in FIG. 3, for example, the tuner 10, the demux 11, the audio buffer 12, and the video are shown. Buffer 13, data buffer 14, MPEG decoder 15, control unit 16, OSD generating unit 17, memory 18, timer 19, recording / reproducing unit 20, and storage 21, etc. are comprised.

The memory 18 may be, for example, a nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory or an EEPROM, and the memory 19 may be provided intermittently through digital broadcasting. The service information (SI) is stored and managed. In particular, the event information table (EIT) information described above with reference to FIG. 1 is stored and managed in a database form.

In addition, an arbitrary keyword is stored and managed in the memory 19 as one of reserved search conditions for searching for broadcast program information desired by a user. The service information (SI) stored in the memory 18 is read, and the OSD generator 17 is controlled to display electronic program guide (EPG) information.

On the other hand, a menu item of Keyword Search may be displayed on the screen on which the electronic program guide information is displayed, for example, as shown in FIG. 4. In the controller 16, the keyword is displayed. When the search menu item is selected by the user, the OSD generating unit 17 is operated to display an input screen window for keyword and broadcast channel information for program search.

The controller 16 checks the keyword inputted by the user and the broadcast channel information through the input screen window, and then performs a corresponding broadcast program information search operation.

For example, when the keyword input by the user is “World” and the broadcast channel information is “53, 60-65,” the controller 16 satisfies the broadcast channels 53 and 60 to 65, The broadcast program name including the keyword “World” is searched for in the event information table (EIT) information stored in the memory 18.

On the other hand, if the broadcast program information satisfying the keyword and the broadcast channel information is not found as a result of the search, the control unit 16 controls the OSD generating unit 17 to operate as shown in FIG. 4. In addition, a message indicating a keyword search failure is displayed, and a menu item of the reserved search is displayed.

When the menu item of the reserved search is selected, the controller 16 stores and manages the keyword and the broadcast channel information in the memory 18 as a reserved search condition, and thereafter, a new event information table (EIT). ) Information is received, the user searches for the desired broadcast program information using the keyword and the broadcast channel information.

On the other hand, broadcast channel information stored in association with a keyword as the reserved search condition is shortened because it takes a long time when a keyword search is performed for all broadcast channels, and the broadcast channel information may be omitted as necessary. It may be.

5 and 6 illustrate an operation flowchart of an embodiment of a method for searching for broadcast program information using a keyword according to the present invention. For example, in a state where electronic program guide (EPG) information is displayed, a user searches for a keyword. If the menu item is selected and specified, the controller 16 enters the keyword search mode (S10).

In addition, the controller 16 controls the OS generating unit 17 to display a screen window for inputting a keyword and a broadcast channel desired by the user, and then inputs the user through the screen window. The keyword and the broadcast channel information are received (S11).

In addition, the controller 16 searches for broadcast program information satisfying the keyword and broadcast channel information in the event information table (EIT) information stored in the memory 18. For example, the broadcast program When the information retrieval operation is successful, the operation of the OS generating unit 17 is controlled to display the corresponding search result (S14).

For example, as shown in FIG. 7, a broadcast channel, a broadcast date, a broadcast time, a broadcast program name, and the like are displayed in a list, and a menu item of reserved recording is displayed.

The controller 16 performs a corresponding operation requested by the user. For example, when a menu item of reserved recording is selected, the controller 16 sets the broadcast program information selected by the user as reserved recording information (S15). ).

On the other hand, if the search operation of the broadcast program information fails, the control unit 16, the operation control the OSD generating unit 17, and displays a guide message for notifying the search failure (S16), for example For example, as illustrated in FIG. 4, a menu item for retry, a menu item for reserved search, and the like may be displayed on the screen of the guide message informing of the search failure.

In addition, when the menu item of the reserved search is selected by the user (S17), the control unit 16 stores and manages the search keyword and broadcast channel information in the memory 18 as a reserved search condition. As described above, since the broadcast channel information takes a long time when the keyword is searched for all the broadcast channels, the broadcast channel information is shortened and may be omitted as necessary.

When the new event information table (EIT) information is received (S19), the control unit 16 receives broadcast program information that satisfies the keyword stored as a reserved search condition in the memory 19, and the newly received event. The search is performed in the information table (EIT) information (S20).

On the other hand, when broadcast channel information is stored together with a keyword as a reserved search condition in the memory 19, broadcast program information satisfying both the broadcast channel information and the keyword is stored within newly received event information table information. The keyword search operation as described above is automatically performed at the time when new event information table information is received, a predetermined time interval (for example, three hour intervals) set in advance, or any specific request according to a user's request. May be performed at a time point.

When the keyword search operation is successful as described above with reference to FIG. 7, the controller 16 lists a broadcast channel, a broadcast date, a broadcast time, a broadcast program name, and the like in a list form. In this case, after the menu item of the reserved recording is displayed, it may be set as the reserved recording information (S23) or the searched broadcast program information may be automatically set as the reserved recording information. have.

On the other hand, if the keyword search operation fails as described above, the controller 16, for example, a predetermined time (for example, 7 days) set in advance (S24), or a predetermined number of times (for example, set in advance) : 10 times) If it repeatedly fails (S25), the OSD generator 17 is controlled to display a search failure message corresponding thereto (S26).

For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the search failure message displays a menu item for keyword reset along with a message indicating the number of keyword search repetition failures (for example, 10 times), so that the user may change to another keyword. It is possible to change the setting, and then perform any corresponding operation requested by the user.

Accordingly, even if the event information table (EIT) information including the broadcast program information desired by the user is not received yet, the broadcast program information search operation using the keyword stored as the reserved search condition is performed to view the broadcast program information desired by the user. Efficient search or scheduled recording information can be set.

For reference, the broadcast program information retrieval operation using the keyword stored as the reserved search condition is performed in a hidden state after the system is powered off without the user using the set-top box, and the system is powered on by the user. If so, the search result may be displayed.

Or more, preferred embodiments of the present invention described above, for the purpose of illustration, those skilled in the art, within the technical spirit and the technical scope of the present invention disclosed in the appended claims below, to further improve various other embodiments Changes, substitutions or additions will be possible.

100: set-top box 10: tuner
11: demux 12: audio buffer
13: video buffer 14: data buffer
15 MEPG decoder 16 control unit
17: OSD generator 18: memory
19: timer 20: recording / playback unit
21: storage

Claims (12)

Storing a keyword as a reserved search condition for searching for arbitrary broadcast program information by using event information table (EIT) information of digital broadcasting;
Retrieving broadcast program information satisfying the keyword from newly received event information table information; And
And displaying the searched broadcast program information or setting reserved recording information. 3. The method of claim 1,
In the first step, when the program information of the keyword input by the user is not searched while the electronic program guide (EPG) screen is displayed, the keyword is stored as a reserved search condition according to the user's selection. Broadcasting program information retrieval method using keywords. The method of claim 1,
And the keyword is stored in association with at least one broadcast channel information as a reserved search condition for searching for the arbitrary broadcast program information. The method of claim 1,
In the second step, when new event information table information is received through digital broadcasting, a keyword for searching for broadcast program information that satisfies the keyword stored as the reserved search condition is searched within the newly received event information table information. Broadcast program information search method using the. The method of claim 1,
And if the program information that satisfies the stored keyword as the reserved search condition cannot be searched for a predetermined time or if a search failure is repeated for a predetermined number of times, displaying a corresponding guide message. Broadcasting program information retrieval method using the keyword. The method of claim 1,
In the step 3, when the searched broadcast program information is displayed, the broadcast channel number, date, time, and broadcast program name are displayed, and the reserved recording setting menu item is displayed. How to retrieve information. Receiving means for receiving a digital broadcast;
Storage means for storing a keyword as a reserved search condition for searching for arbitrary broadcast program information by using event information table (EIT) information provided through the digital broadcast; And
And retrieving broadcast program information that satisfies the keyword from newly received event information table information, and including control means for displaying the retrieved broadcast program information or setting reserved recording information. Broadcast program information retrieval apparatus using the. The method of claim 7, wherein
The keyword may be stored as a reserved search condition according to the user's selection if the program information of the keyword input by the user is not searched while the electronic program guide (EPG) screen is displayed. Broadcast program information retrieval apparatus using. The method of claim 7, wherein
And the keyword is stored in association with at least one broadcast channel information as a reserved search condition for searching for the arbitrary broadcast program information. The method of claim 7, wherein
When the new event information table information is received through digital broadcasting, the control unit searches for the broadcast program information that satisfies the keyword stored as the reserved search condition within the newly received event information table information. Broadcast program information retrieval apparatus using the. The method of claim 7, wherein
And generating means for generating an OSD image for inputting the keyword.
If the control means fails to search for broadcast program information that satisfies the keyword stored as the reserved search condition so that a predetermined time elapses, or if a search failure is repeated for a predetermined number of times or more, the control means operates and controls the generating means. Broadcast program information retrieval apparatus using a keyword, characterized in that to display a guide message. The method of claim 7, wherein
And generating means for generating an OSD image for inputting the keyword.
The control means, when displaying the retrieved broadcast program information, controls the generating means to display a broadcast channel number, a date, a time, and a broadcast program name, and to display a reserved recording setting menu item. Broadcast program information retrieval apparatus using a keyword characterized in that.

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