KR20120055362A - Settop box contents service system and method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A set top box, a content service system, and a content service method are provided to convert a high definition broadcasting content into a standard broadcasting content by a down-grade unit. CONSTITUTION: A down-grade unit(509) downgrades first broadcasting contents to second broadcasting contents. A control unit(513) receives the first broadcasting contents and determines the kind of broadcasting contents requested by a client. If the broadcasting contents are the second broadcasting contents, the control unit downgrades the first broadcasting contents to the second broadcasting contents by the control of the downgrade unit.

Description

Set-top box and contents service system and method {SETTOP BOX CONTENTS SERVICE SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREOF}

The present invention relates to a set-top box and a content service system and method for providing broadcast content more quickly according to a client's request.

A web server provided by a content provider (CP) may provide various contents such as a video, music, and file to a client.

However, such a web server is generally connected to an Internet service provider (ISP), and the internet service provider provides content to the client through the web server according to the content request of the client, and provides the content to each of the plurality of clients. There is a lot of load on the web server to provide.

As a result, the traffic generated increases exponentially as the number of clients increases. As a result, traffic congestion increases transmission delay and transmission failure rate. In the worst case, a web server may fail-over.

Accordingly, there is an urgent need for development to overcome problems such as lag caused by saturation of content supply, loss of data, or malfunction of a web server.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a set-top box and a content service system and method that can provide content to a client as quickly as possible while reducing the load on the content delivery network.

Accordingly, the set-top box according to the present invention, the downgrade unit for downgrading the first broadcast content to the second broadcast content; And a controller configured to receive the first broadcast content, determine a type of broadcast content requested by a client, and control the downgrade unit to downgrade the first broadcast content to the second broadcast content if the second broadcast content is included. It includes.

As a result of the determination, if the type of the broadcast content is the first broadcast content, the controller controls the first broadcast content to be transmitted to the TV.

The control unit may control the downgrade unit to release the downgrade when the image quality conversion request is input.

The controller controls to release the downgrade of the first broadcast content downgraded to the second broadcast content through the downgrade unit when the additional charge according to the image quality conversion request is authenticated.

A network interface unit configured to perform data communication with a content transmission network providing the first broadcast content to receive the first broadcast content, a decoder to decode the first broadcast content or the second broadcast content, and the decoded first A signal processor for processing the first broadcast content or the decoded second broadcast content to be displayed on the TV, and a TV interface unit for transmitting the first broadcast content or the second broadcast content processed by the signal processor to the TV. It is characterized by including.

On the other hand, the content service system according to the present invention, a content delivery network for providing a first broadcast content; And a set top box for downgrading the first broadcast content to the second broadcast content if the second broadcast content is determined by determining a type of broadcast content requested by a client when the first broadcast content is received.

The apparatus further includes a billing authentication server that charges billing according to the type of the broadcast content. When the picture quality conversion request is input, the set-top box authenticates the additional billing according to the picture quality conversion request through the billing authentication server. And releasing the downgrade of the first broadcast content downgraded to the second broadcast content.

The content transmission network may include a content provider providing a plurality of the first broadcast content, a broadcast server connected to the content provider to store and manage the first broadcast content, an internet service, and at least one connected to the broadcast server. And a cache server for storing the first broadcast content having a high request frequency or the first broadcast content for which a request is expected among the plurality of first broadcast contents.

On the other hand, the content service method according to the present invention, the set-top box receives the first broadcast content, the first step of determining the type of broadcast content requested by the client; And a second step of the set-top box downgrading the first broadcast content to the second broadcast content if the type of the broadcast content is the second broadcast content.

As a result of the determination, if the type of the broadcast content is the first broadcast content, the set-top box includes transmitting the first broadcast content to the TV.

When the image quality conversion request is input, the set-top box further comprises the step of releasing the downgrade.

When the image quality conversion request is input, the set-top box further comprises the step of authenticating the additional billing information through the billing authentication server, and releasing the downgrade of the first broadcast content downgraded to the second broadcast content; It is characterized by.

As described above, according to the present invention, by downgrading the high-definition broadcast content in the set-top box to convert it to standard broadcast content, the storage space of the content delivery network can be saved, and the broadcast content can be managed more efficiently in the content delivery network. To be.

In addition, it is possible to immediately provide the requested broadcast content without delay or waiting time according to the client's image quality conversion request.

In other words, it can manage content delivery network more efficiently, save more storage space and store more broadcasting contents, and it can satisfy clients by converting and watching high quality broadcasting contents immediately upon client's request. Will be.

1 is a block diagram showing a content service system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a flowchart illustrating a content service method in the content service system of FIG. 1.
3 is a block diagram illustrating a content service system according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a content delivery network of FIG. 3.
5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the set-top box of FIG.
6 is a flowchart illustrating a content service method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

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

Here, the content service system uses a content delivery network (CDN) method, which is broadcast content concentrated on a broadcast server of a content provider (CP) that is far from a client. For example, large-scale, high-demand content such as pictures, banners, video, or audio content can be distributed across a number of Internet Service Provider (ISP) Points of Presence (PoP). Stored in one or more cache servers in advance and, when requested by the client, returns the path of the cache server closest to the client so that the client can access the cache server through the returned path and receive broadcast content. Means network.

Thus, subscribers or users in the same region using the same Internet service provider in the same region will use the content delivery network through the same cache server.

Here, the cache server may be variously referred to as a host server, a replication server, or a ghost server.

Meanwhile, in describing the present invention, when it is determined that a detailed description of a related known function or configuration may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

1 is a block diagram showing a content service system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the content service system 100 includes a content delivery network (CDN) 110, a billing authentication server 130, a set top box (STB) 140, and a television (TV) 150. And, the content delivery network 110, the billing authentication server 130 and the set-top box 140 is connected via the Internet network 120, the set-top box 140 and TV 150 is wired or short-range wireless communication Can be connected by

Here, the Internet network 120 refers to a data communication network for data transmission and information exchange between the content delivery network 110 and the set-top box 140. The Internet network 120 is an IP network providing data services through IP, and includes an ALL-IP network, which is an IP network structure integrating different networks based on IP. Here, the internet network 120 may be replaced with a wired or wireless network that can connect the content delivery network 110 and the set-top box 140.

In addition, the Internet network 120 may include a router (not shown) or a gateway (not shown) which serves to connect the content delivery network 110 and the set-top box 140.

The content delivery network 110 includes an SD cache server 112 for storing standard definition broadcast content and a high definition (HD) cache server 114 for storing high definition broadcast content. (Standard Definition) Through the cache server 112 or the HD cache server 114 transmits the standard or high definition broadcast content to the set-top box 140.

The billing authentication server 130 is a server that authenticates billing by a post-payment method by calculating the cost of using the standardized quality or the high-definition broadcast content of the content delivery network 110. Based on the purchase of standardized or high-definition broadcast content. The billing information may include information such as purchase price of standardized or high definition broadcast content, supportable service expiration period, and the like.

Meanwhile, the billing authentication server 130 receives the client information from the content delivery network 110 to verify the subscription fee information subscribed to by the client, determines whether the broadcast content requested by the client is available, and accordingly the content delivery network. The broadcast content transmission of 110 may be controlled.

On the other hand, the billing authentication server 130 may be billed in a prepaid manner, in which case it is preferable that the content delivery network 110 transmits the broadcast content after the billing for the broadcast content requested by the client is completed. .

When the set-top box 140 receives the standardized or high definition broadcast content request signal from the client, the set top box 140 transmits the standardized or high definition broadcast content request signal to the content delivery network 110.

Thereafter, the set-top box 140 receives a standard definition or high definition broadcast content corresponding to the requested broadcast content from the content delivery network 110 and processes the received standard definition or high definition broadcast content to be displayed on the TV 150. By transmitting to the TV 150, the TV 150 can display standard definition or high definition broadcast content.

TV 150 is an Internet Protocol TV (IPTV), which can be viewed on the screen by providing various useful information such as broadcast content such as a video through the Internet Protocol (IP) in conjunction with the set-top box 140. It is a terminal combined with a communication and broadcast function.

The TV 150 displays standard definition or high definition broadcast content received from the set-top box 140, displays various useful information, and uses the antenna as a broadcast content (ground broadcast content) of a channel according to a remote control operation of a client. Receive and display through.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a content service method in the content service system of FIG. 1.

When the SDB content request is input from the client (S200), the set-top box (STB) 140 transmits the standardized quality broadcast content request signal to the content delivery network 110 (S202).

When the content delivery network 110 receives the broadcast content request signal from the set-top box 140, the content delivery network 110 transmits the billing information including the information about the client and the information about the standard quality broadcast content to the billing authentication server 130 (S204). The billing authentication server 130 checks the client through the billing information and processes the billing according to the use of the corresponding broadcast content (S206).

The content delivery network 110 transmits the standardized quality broadcast content requested by the client to the set-top box 140 through the SD cache server 112 (S208).

Accordingly, the set-top box 140 receives standard definition broadcast content transmitted from the SD cache server 112 of the content delivery network 110 and processes the standard quality broadcast content to be displayed on the TV 150. By transmitting to TV 150 (S210), the TV 150 displays standard definition broadcast content (S212).

Meanwhile, when the HDTV content switching request is input from the client while displaying the standard definition broadcast content (S214), the set-top box 140 transmits the HDTV content switching request signal to the content transmission network 110 ( S216).

Accordingly, the content delivery network 110 receives the high definition broadcast content switching request signal from the set-top box 140, and charges additional charging information including information on the client and request information for switching to the high definition broadcasting content. 130 to transmit (S218), the billing authentication server 130 to process the additional billing according to the image quality conversion (S220).

In addition, the content delivery network 110 transmits the high definition broadcast content requested by the client to the set-top box 140 through the HD cache server 114 (S222).

Then, the set-top box 140 receives the high definition broadcast content through the HD cache server 114 of the content delivery network 110, processes the high definition broadcast content to be displayed on the TV 150, and transmits it to the TV 150. In operation S224, the TV 150 displays high definition broadcast content in operation S226.

As described above, when the client requests to switch to the high definition broadcast content while watching the standard definition broadcast content, a waiting time is required until the request for switching to the high definition broadcast content and the high definition broadcast content is displayed on the TV 150. . This is because the set-top box 140 receives standard-definition broadcast content through the SD cache server 112 of the content delivery network 110 and then switches to the HD cache server 114 of the content delivery network 110 so as to convert the HD cache server ( This is because high definition broadcast content is received from the network.

3 is a block diagram showing a content service system according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 4 is a view showing the configuration of the content delivery network of Figure 3, Figure 5 is a configuration of the set-top box of Figure 3 A block diagram is shown.

Here, high definition broadcast content is referred to as first broadcast content, and standard definition broadcast content is referred to as second broadcast content.

As shown in FIG. 3, the content service system 300 includes a content delivery network 310, a billing authentication server 330, a set-top box (STB) 340, and a television (TV) 350. And, the content delivery network 310, the billing authentication server 330 and the set-top box 340 is connected via the Internet network 320, the set-top box 340 and TV 350 is wired or short-range wireless communication Can be connected by

Here, the internet network 320 refers to a data communication network for data transmission and information exchange between the content delivery network 310 and the set-top box 340. The Internet network 320 is an IP network that provides data services through IP, and includes an ALL-IP network, which is an IP network structure integrating different networks based on IP. Here, the internet network 320 may be replaced with a wired or wireless network that can connect the content delivery network 310 and the set-top box 340.

In addition, the Internet network 320 may include a router (not shown) or a gateway (not shown) that serves to connect the content delivery network 310 and the set-top box 340.

The content delivery network 310 includes a cache server 312 storing the first broadcast content, and transmits the first broadcast content to the set-top box 340 through the cache server 312 at the request of the set-top box 340. do.

Referring to FIG. 4, the content delivery network 310 includes a content provider (CP) 401, a broadcast server 402, an Internet service provider (ISP) 404, and the like. One or more cache servers 312, the broadcast server 402 and the Internet service provider 404 is connected through the Internet network 320. Here, the internet network 320 may include a router or a gateway to connect the cache server 312 and the set-top box 340 connected to the internet service provider 404.

The content provider 401 provides various contents including broadcast contents, and the Internet service provider 404 is one or more components that provide an Internet service, and a local network service network (for example, one that exists in each region). , LG Uplus).

 The broadcast server 402 is a server in charge of distribution and stores web pages and objects including first broadcast content provided by the content provider 401 and relatively requests from clients among previously stored first broadcast contents. The first broadcast content having a high frequency or the first broadcast content that is expected to be requested from the client is transmitted to the cache server 312.

In addition, the broadcast server 402 includes an integrated media control system (IMCS) 403 for managing a distribution.

The cache server 312 stores the first broadcast content received from the broadcast server 402. The cache server 312 stores a copy of the first broadcast content stored and managed by the broadcast server 402.

The cache server 312 provides the corresponding first broadcast content to the set-top box 340 quickly in response to a request of the set-top box 340. When the first broadcast content is transmitted, the advertisement content may be transmitted together.

The content delivery network 310 having such a configuration, at the request of the set-top box 340, the cache server 312 connected to the Internet service provider 404 (local network service network) of the region closest to the set-top box 340 By transmitting the address of the set-top box 340, the set-top box 340 is connected to the corresponding cache server 312 to receive the first broadcast content.

The first broadcast content according to the present invention refers to high-definition broadcast content, and the content provider 401 produces only high-definition broadcast content without producing a separate standard definition broadcast content as in the prior art when producing broadcast content, a broadcast server. In operation 402, the broadcast server 402 may display high-definition broadcast content having a relatively high frequency of request from the client or high-definition broadcast content that is expected to be requested from the client among the high-definition broadcast content provided from the content provider 401. The cache server 312 can be transmitted.

Accordingly, since the cache server 312 does not need to separately store the standard definition broadcast content and the high definition broadcast content for the broadcast content, the number of the cache server 312 can be reduced, and the storage space can be used more efficiently. It becomes possible.

This is possible because the set-top box 340 can downgrade the high definition broadcast content to the standard definition broadcast content and provide the same to the client.

The billing authentication server 330 is a server that authenticates billing by a post-payment method by calculating the cost of using the first broadcast content of the content delivery network 310.

In this case, the content delivery network 310 provides only the first broadcast content to the set-top box 340, but downgrades the first broadcast content to the second broadcast content according to the type of broadcast content requested by the client in the set-top box 340. The billing authentication server 330 charges a fee for the purchase of the first or second broadcast content based on the billing information previously selected according to the type of broadcast content requested by the client. The charging information may include information such as the purchase amount of the first or second broadcast content, the service expiration period that can be supported.

Meanwhile, the billing authentication server 330 receives the client information from the content delivery network 310 to confirm the subscription fee information subscribed to the client, determines whether the broadcast content requested by the client is available, and accordingly the content delivery network. The transmission of the first broadcast content of 310 may be controlled.

On the other hand, the billing authentication server 330 may be billed in a prepaid manner, in which case the content delivery network 310 transmits the first broadcast content after the billing for the broadcast content requested by the client is completed. desirable.

When the first or second broadcast content request is input from the client, the set-top box 340 transmits a broadcast content request signal including broadcast content information to the content delivery network 310. The broadcast content information may include at least one of a type (high definition or standard definition) of broadcast content requested by a client and broadcast content identification information, and the broadcast content request signal may include client information.

Thereafter, when the first broadcast content is received from the content delivery network 310, the set-top box 340 determines the type (high definition or standard quality) of the broadcast content requested by the client, and if the first broadcast content is received, the first received content. The broadcast content is processed to be viewed and transmitted to the TV 350.

If the broadcast content requested by the client is the second broadcast content, the set-top box 340 downgrades the first broadcast content received from the content delivery network 310 to the second broadcast content to download the downgraded second broadcast content. The TV 350 processes the displayable of the TV 350 and transmits the processed second broadcast content to the TV 350. In this case, the set-top box 340 may downgrade the processed first broadcast content after processing the first broadcast content to be displayed on the TV 350.

On the other hand, the set-top box 340, if the image quality conversion request is input from the client while transmitting the second broadcast content downgraded the first broadcast content to the TV (350), the downgrade process is released to the first broadcast content TV After processing to display at 350, the processed first broadcast content is transmitted to the TV 350, and the additional charging information is transmitted through the content delivery network 310 or directly to the charging authentication server 330.

Here, when the image quality conversion request is input, the set-top box 340 may reconfirm the image quality conversion request to the client by transmitting a message including additional charging information to the TV.

The set-top box 340 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 5. The set-top box 340 includes a network interface unit 501, a TV interface unit 503, a remote control receiver 505, and decoding. A unit 507, a downgrade unit 509, a signal processing unit 511, and a control unit 513 are included.

The network interface unit 501 transmits or receives data through the internet network 320 according to a communication protocol including at least one of TCP / IP, UDP / IP, and IGMPv2.

The TV interface unit 503 transmits the first or second broadcast content to the TV 350 or transmits various kinds of information, and receives the broadcast content from the TV 350 to separately store the storage unit (not shown) in the set-top box 340. Can be stored at

The remote control receiver 505 receives a control command according to the remote control operation of the client.

The decoding unit 507 decomposes the TS packet first broadcast content received through the network interface unit 501 into the PES packet first broadcast content, and decodes it according to a preset standard.

The downgrade unit 509 downgrades the first broadcast content to the second broadcast content under the control of the controller 513 and outputs the downgraded second broadcast content. Such downgrading of the downgrade unit 509 reduces the resolution and the size of broadcast content.

The signal processor 511 processes the first broadcast content or the second broadcast content downgraded by the downgrade unit 509 to be displayed on the TV 150 screen.

The control unit 513 is a unit that controls and manages the entire system, and includes a network interface unit 501, a TV interface unit 503, a remote control receiver 505, a decoder 507, a downgrade unit 509, and a signal. Each of the processing units 511 is controlled.

The controller 513 performs a control command of the client received through the remote controller receiver 505.

In addition, when receiving the first broadcast content through the network interface unit 501, the controller 513 decodes the content through the decoding unit 507, and then determines the type of broadcast content requested by the client. The first broadcast content is signal-processed through the signal processor 511 and the processed first broadcast content is controlled to be transmitted to the TV 350 through the TV interface 503.

On the other hand, if the type of broadcast content is of standard quality, the control unit 513 downgrades the decoded first broadcast content through the downgrade unit 509 and processes the second broadcast by processing the signal through the signal processor 511. The content is controlled to be transmitted to the TV 350 through the TV interface 503.

Here, the first broadcast content may be decoded after downgrading.

The TV 350 is an Internet Protocol TV (IPTV). The TV 350 is linked with the set-top box 340 to provide broadcast contents such as video and various useful information through the Internet Protocol (IP). It is a terminal in which communication and broadcasting functions are combined.

The TV 350 displays the first or second broadcast content received from the set-top box 340, displays various useful information, and displays the broadcast content (terrestrial broadcast content) of the channel according to the remote control operation of the client. Received and displayed through.

6 is a flowchart illustrating a content service method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, which will be described with reference to FIG. 3.

When the broadcast content request for requesting the second broadcast content is input from the client (S600), the set top box (STB) 340 transmits the broadcast content request signal including the broadcast content information to the content delivery network (CDN) 310. (S602). The broadcast content information includes at least one of a type (high definition or standard definition) of broadcast content requested by a client and broadcast content identification information, and the broadcast content request signal includes client information.

Accordingly, when the content delivery network 310 receives the broadcast content request signal from the set-top box 340, the content delivery network 310 transmits the billing information including the information about the client and the broadcast content information to the billing authentication server 330 (S604). In step S606, the billing authentication server 330 processes the billing according to the use of the first and second broadcast contents.

The content delivery network 310 transmits the first broadcast content to the set top box 340 through the cache server 312 (S608).

When the set-top box 340 receives the first broadcast content transmitted by the cache server 312 of the content delivery network 310, the set-top box 340 determines the type (high definition or standardized quality) of the broadcast content requested by the client to determine the second broadcast content. Check that it is.

Accordingly. The set-top box 340 downgrades the first broadcast content to the second broadcast content (S610), processes the downgraded second broadcast content to be displayed on the TV 350, and transmits it to the TV 350. In operation S612, the TV 350 displays the second broadcast content (S614).

Meanwhile, if the image quality conversion request is input from the client while transmitting the second broadcast content to the TV 350 (S616), the set-top box 340 releases the downgrade process (S618), and the first broadcast content is broadcast ( 350 to process the display to be transmitted to the TV 350 (S620), and transmits the additional billing information for charging the cost generated by the image quality conversion to the billing authentication server 330 through the content delivery network 310 (S622). Here, the additional billing information is transmitted to the content delivery network 310 as in step S622, the content delivery network 310 is not transmitted to the billing authentication server 330, the billing authentication server directly from the set-top box 340 May be sent to 330.

Accordingly, the billing authentication server 330 processes the billing according to the image quality conversion through the additional billing information (S624), and the TV 350 displays the first broadcast content transmitted by the set-top box 340 on the screen ( S626).

As described above, when the client switches to the first broadcast content while watching the second broadcast content according to the present invention, the first broadcast content immediately without waiting for switching from the second broadcast content to the first broadcast content. You can watch.

This is possible by allowing the set top box to downgrade the high quality first broadcast content to the standard quality second broadcast content. Accordingly, even in the content delivery network, only the first broadcast content of high quality is required without storing and classifying broadcast contents according to image quality, so that the storage space can be utilized and the network can be managed more efficiently.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain preferred embodiments, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention to the embodiments described above by those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. And can be varied. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the above-described embodiments, but should be determined by equivalents to the appended claims, as well as the appended claims.

110, 310: content delivery network 312: cache server
130, 330: billing authentication server 140, 340: set-top box
150, 350: TV 401: content provider
402: broadcast server 404: Internet service provider
501: network interface unit 503: TV interface unit
505: remote control receiver 507: decoding unit
509: downgrade unit 511: signal processing unit
513: control unit

Claims (12)

A downgrade unit downgrading the first broadcast content to the second broadcast content; And
A control unit configured to receive the first broadcast content, determine a type of broadcast content requested by a client, and control the downgrade unit to downgrade the first broadcast content to the second broadcast content if the second broadcast content is included. Set top box included.
The method of claim 1,
The control unit
And determining that the first broadcast content is transmitted to the TV if the type of the broadcast content is the first broadcast content.
The method of claim 1,
The control unit
And controlling the downgrade unit to release the downgrade when the image quality conversion request is input.
The method of claim 3, wherein
The control unit
And setting the downgrade of the first broadcast content downgraded to the second broadcast content through the downgrade unit when the additional charge is generated according to the image quality conversion request.
The method of claim 1,
A network interface unit configured to receive the first broadcast content by performing data communication with a content delivery network providing the first broadcast content;
A decoding unit for decoding the first broadcast content or the second broadcast content;
A signal processor which processes the decoded first broadcast content or the decoded second broadcast content to be displayed on a TV;
And a TV interface unit configured to transmit the first broadcast content or the second broadcast content processed by the signal processor to the TV.
A content delivery network providing first broadcast content; And
And receiving the first broadcast content, determining a type of broadcast content requested by a client, and if the second broadcast content is included, set-top box for downgrading the first broadcast content to the second broadcast content. .
The method according to claim 6,
Further comprising a charging authentication server for charging the charge according to the type of the broadcast content,
When the image quality conversion request is input, the set-top box authenticates additional charging according to the image quality conversion request through the charging authentication server, and releases the downgrade of the first broadcast content downgraded to the second broadcast content. Content service system characterized in that.
The method according to claim 6,
The content delivery network
A content provider providing a plurality of the first broadcast contents,
A broadcast server connected to the content provider to store and manage the first broadcast content;
One or more Internet service providers that provide Internet services and are connected to the broadcast server;
And a cache server for storing the first broadcast content having a high request frequency or the first broadcast content for which a request is expected among the plurality of first broadcast contents.
A first step in which the set-top box receives the first broadcast content and determines the type of broadcast content requested by the client; And
And determining, by the set-top box, downgrading the first broadcast content to the second broadcast content when the type of the broadcast content is second broadcast content.
The method of claim 9,
And if the type of the broadcast content is the first broadcast content, the set-top box transmitting the first broadcast content to the TV.
The method of claim 9,
When the image quality conversion request is input, the set-top box further comprises the step of releasing the downgrade.
12. The method of claim 11,
When the image quality conversion request is input, the set-top box further comprises the step of authenticating the additional billing information through the billing authentication server, and releasing the downgrade of the first broadcast content downgraded to the second broadcast content; Content service method, characterized in that.

Images