KR20130093913A - Vod recommendation service providing method in digital cable broadcast and system thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A supply method of a video on demand (VOD) recommendation service in a digital cable broadcast and a system thereof are provided to selectively recommend a VOD highly related to a broadcasting program in an EPG base by applying weighting to the audience rating information based on the EPG and applying each weighting according to audience rating information in order to recommend the VOD. CONSTITUTION: A head end system (100) manages VOD information. The head end system classifies audience rating information of a broadcasting program with one or more standards and manages the same. The head end system applies a weighting value on classified audience rating information. The head end system generates a recommended VOD list by applying one or more weighting values corresponding to audience rating information on the broadcasting program transmitted from a set top box (200). [Reference numerals] (100) Head end system; (200) Set top box; (S105) Management of a preferred VOD; (S110) Management of VOD information; (S115) Management of audience rating information; (S120) EPG request; (S125) EPG transmission; (S130) Request EPG based VOD recommendation; (S140) Generate a recommended VOD list; (S150) Supply a recommended VOD list; (S160) Supply recommended VOD information; (S170) Display recommended VOD

Description

VOD RECOMMENDATION SERVICE PROVIDING METHOD IN DIGITAL CABLE BROADCAST AND SYSTEM THEREOF

The present invention relates to a method and system for providing a VOD recommendation service in digital cable broadcasting. In particular, VOD recommendation in digital cable broadcasting is made by recommending a VOD by weighting the broadcasting program and user's rating information of a user currently broadcasting in real time. It relates to a service providing method and a system thereof.

The Video On Demand (VOD) system is an on-demand video system that transmits and plays a program of desired contents at a time desired by a viewer such as a movie, audio, and information.

1 is a diagram illustrating a general VOD recommendation service providing system in digital cable broadcasting, wherein a VOD list and a VOD are transmitted from a headend system 10 having a VOD server 1 to a set-top box 20 connected to a TV 30. Figure 9 shows the transmission of information.

Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional VOD recommendation service providing system includes an EPG agent 2, an EPG database 3, a channel editor 4, an EGP editor 5, an EPG server 6, and an SI generator 7. It includes a general configuration for providing the same EPG information and channel information, through which the transmission of the EPG information to the set-top box 20 in accordance with the periodic transmission cycle (8).

In addition, the VOD server 1 for recommending and providing the VOD is configured separately to provide the user with the recommendation information of the VOD or the desired VOD list (9) when the set-top box 20 requests.

However, the conventional VOD recommendation service providing system is configured separately from the configuration (2 to 6) in which the VOD server 1 provides the EPG, thereby providing general VOD information irrelevant to the user's preference (9). It did not improve the convenience.

In addition, conventionally, VOD lists that are common to all viewers do not reflect user's viewing behavior or preference characteristics because they do not use viewer rating information or personal viewing tendency that can be collected based on EPG when providing VOD recommendation services. Stay on service to provide (9).

Korea Patent Registration No. 10-0925042

An object of the present invention for improving the above-described problem is to weight VOD rating information based on EPG and to recommend VOD by applying the respective weights according to the rating information. The present invention provides a method and system for providing a VOD recommendation service in digital cable broadcasting.

Another object of the present invention for improving the above-described problem is to quantify the viewing behavior of the user by recommending the VOD by applying a weight to the current viewing information, past viewer rating information, the predicted viewer rating information for a predetermined broadcast program, etc. The present invention provides a method and system for providing a VOD recommendation service in digital cable broadcasting for selecting and recommending the reflected VOD.

Another object of the present invention for improving the above-mentioned problems is to provide a VOD list that more closely reflects the user's personal preferences by recommending VOD in consideration of explicit preset information or personal viewing preferences or regional characteristics of the user. The present invention provides a method and system for providing a VOD recommendation service in a digital cable broadcasting.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a VOD recommendation service providing method in a digital cable broadcasting, which includes a headend system and a set-top box. The system managing the VOD including one or more attributes and managing the attributes in correspondence with the attributes of the broadcast program according to the EPG-based classification scheme, wherein the headend system classifies the viewer rating information of the broadcast program into one or more criteria. Managing, assigning and managing a weight value for each of the rating information divided by the headend system according to the criterion, and the headend system corresponding to the rating information for the broadcast program transmitted from the set-top box. By applying one or more of the weight values Generating a VOD list corresponding to the existing attribute.

The generating of the VOD list may include generating a VOD list by applying a first weight to a currently viewed broadcast program and applying a second weight to a past viewer rating or a predicted viewer rating of the set top box based on the EPG.

In the VOD management step, it is preferable to divide and manage the attributes of the VOD and the broadcasting program into one or more genre information based on a preset genre classification criterion.

The generating of the VOD list may include generating the VOD list by reflecting the user's preferred VOD information including at least one of explicit preset information of the set-top box, personal preference information of the subscriber, and genre information of the previously viewed VOD. desirable.

On the other hand, in the VOD recommendation service providing method, the set-top box requesting and receiving an EPG to the headend system and the set-top box requests the recommendation VOD list to the headend system based on the EPG based on the EPG The method may further include receiving a list.

A system for providing a VOD recommendation service in digital cable broadcasting according to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object is located in a headend system, manages a VOD including one or more attributes, and classifies the attributes based on EPG. A VOD information management unit managing the broadcasting program according to the attribute of the broadcasting program, an audience rating information management unit managing the rating information of the broadcasting program by one or more criteria, and a weight value for each viewer rating information classified according to the criteria. A VOD recommendation server having a weight information management unit for assigning and managing a recommendation VOD list generating unit for generating a VOD list corresponding to the attribute by applying one or more weight values corresponding to the viewer rating information for the broadcast program transmitted from the set-top box. It includes.

The recommended VOD list generator may generate the VOD list by applying a first weight to a currently viewed broadcast program and applying a second weight to a past viewer rating or a predicted viewer rating of the set-top box identified based on the EPG.

The recommendation VOD list generator may generate the VOD list by reflecting the user's preferred VOD information including at least one of explicit preset information of the set-top box, personal preference information of the subscriber, and genre information of a previously viewed VOD. desirable.

The VOD recommendation service providing system may include an EPG request unit for requesting an EPG to the headend system, an EPG receiver for receiving an EPG from the headend system, a recommendation VOD requester for requesting a recommendation VOD list to the headend system, and The apparatus may further include a set-top box having a recommendation VOD receiver configured to receive the recommendation VOD list based on the EPG from the headend system.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method and system for providing a VOD recommendation service in a digital cable broadcasting are based on EPG by assigning weights to viewership information based on EPG and applying VODs by applying respective weights according to viewership information. Selecting and recommending VOD that is highly related to the broadcast program of the user has an effect of enhancing the viewing convenience.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method and system for providing a VOD recommendation service in digital cable broadcasting may recommend a VOD by applying a weight to a user's current viewing information, past viewer rating information, and predicted viewer rating information for a predetermined broadcast program. By selecting and recommending VOD that quantitatively reflects the viewing behavior of, it is effective to provide a list of VOD closely related to viewing habits.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method and system for providing a VOD recommendation service in a digital cable broadcasting recommend a VOD in consideration of explicit preset information, a personal viewing tendency of a user, or a regional characteristic to more closely match a user's personal preference characteristics. By providing the reflected VOD list, the quality of VOD recommendation service is further improved.

1 is an exemplary diagram of a general VOD recommendation service providing system in digital cable broadcasting.
2 is a diagram illustrating a system for providing a VOD recommendation service in digital cable broadcasting according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a block diagram of a VOD recommendation server according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a block diagram of a set-top box according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a data flow diagram of a method for providing a VOD recommendation service in digital cable broadcasting according to an embodiment of the present invention.

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

2 is a diagram illustrating a system for providing a VOD recommendation service in digital cable broadcasting according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the VOD recommendation service providing system includes a VOD recommendation server 110 located in the headend system 100, and the headend system 100 includes an EPG agent 50 for providing EPG information. ), EPG database 60, channel editor 70, EPG editor 80, EGP server 130 and VOD server 120 for providing VOD information.

According to a preferred embodiment, the headend system 100 is configured to search for the VOD associated with it based on the EPG information of the real-time broadcasting channel and provide the same to the viewer. For this purpose, the VOD recommendation server 110 may provide the VOD server 120. And VOD information and EPG information from the EPG server 130.

In this case, the headend system 100 provides an IP-based media service, and the set-top box 200 connected to the TV 300 is an IP-based terminal that recommends a VOD associated with a real-time broadcasting program being viewed. It is preferable.

Preferably, when the set-top box 200 receives and reproduces a real-time broadcast and requests an EPG, the headend system 100 transmits an EPG every time the request is made, and the headend when the set-top box 200 requests a VOD. The system 100 searches for the relevant VOD based on the EGP and transmits the corresponding VOD list to the set top box 200.

In addition, the set-top box 200 receives the VOD list and displays the VOD list on a part of a screen on which a live broadcast appears, and when the user selects one of the VOD lists, the corresponding VOD is played.

More specifically, when the set top box 200 requests the recommendation of the VOD, the headend system 100 transmits the EPG to the set top box 200 and the set top box 200 recommends the VOD based on the EPG. Ask.

In this case, for example, the head-end system 100 applies a first weight to information currently being viewed on the requested EPG, and checks the viewer rating or the predicted viewer rating (previous same program) based on the EPG information before or after the preset time. To generate a VOD recommendation list by applying a second weight to the set-top box 200.

Alternatively, the generated VOD recommendation list may be generated by reflecting the user's preferred VOD information using the user information managed by the headend system 100 or the set-top box 200.

In addition, the confirmed viewer rating and the predicted viewer rating may be configured to reflect regional characteristics by using information collected from a local CATV server, and the list order is applied by applying a VOD viewer rating as a third weight when generating the VOD recommendation list. You can also decide.

In addition, the headend system 100 may provide real-time broadcasting information connected after viewing the VOD by referring to EPG information after the viewing time of the corresponding VOD when the VOD is provided, and the set-top box 200 may The function of reservation viewing may be added.

3 is a diagram illustrating a VOD recommendation server 110 according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 3, the VOD recommendation server 110 is located in the headend system 100, manages a VOD including one or more attributes, and corresponds to attributes of a broadcast program according to an EPG-based classification scheme. VOD information management unit 112 to manage by managing the rating information of the broadcast program by one or more criteria to manage the rating information management unit 116, by assigning a weight value for each viewer rating information divided according to the criteria Recommended VOD list generator 114 for generating a VOD list corresponding to the attribute by applying one or more weight values corresponding to the viewer rating information for the broadcast program transmitted from the weight information management unit 113 and the set-top box 200 ).

For example, the VOD information management unit 112 may manage the VOD and the property of the broadcast program into one or more genre information based on a predetermined genre classification criterion so as to enable correspondence.

According to a preferred embodiment, the VOD information management unit 112 assigns and manages the attributes of the first VOD to movies, actions, children, Korea, etc. according to a predetermined genre classification, and manages the attributes of the second VOD to education, adults, and the United States. It manages the attributes of the third VOD as drama and Japan, and manages the attributes of the fourth VOD as mellow and adult.

In this case, if the property of the first air program identified as a user's preferred program among the EPG-based air programs collected from the set-top box is a movie and the US, and the second air program is an action and a child, the recommended VOD list generator 114 ) Generates a VOD list including the first VOD and the second VOD having high user preference by appropriately matching the weight values of the viewer rating information of the first and second broadcast programs according to the attribute. 200).

Alternatively, if the viewer is currently watching the first broadcast program and the viewer rating information is high during the past preset period of the third broadcast program having the attribute as a drama, the recommendation VOD list generator 114 may not only display the current viewing information of the user. In addition, by considering the audience rating information of the past, the weight thereof may be appropriately distributed to generate the VOD list including the first VOD, the second VOD, and the third VOD having high user preference, and provide the same to the set-top box 200.

In addition, the attribute is not limited to genre information, and note that the VOD may include various information that may correspond to the EPG-based broadcast program.

In addition, it is noted that the correspondence of these attributes can be variously applied according to the classification of viewership information set based on the EPG and corresponding weight values, thereby providing a very practical and relevant VOD list to the user. Can be.

As such, the VOD recommendation server 110 recommends VOD by weighting viewer rating information based on EPG and applying respective weights according to the viewer rating information to select and recommend VOD highly related to the EPG based broadcast program. Therefore, the viewing convenience of the user can be greatly increased.

According to a preferred embodiment of the weight application, the recommended VOD list generator 114 applies a first weight to the currently broadcast program and the viewer rating or predicted viewer rating of the set-top box 200 confirmed based on the EPG. The second weight may be applied to generate the VOD list.

The VOD list is not generated based on the current viewing information of the user, but the predicted viewer rating is determined based on past viewer rating information or past viewer rating information or viewing pattern of the broadcast program that the user has watched. By generating, it is very practical to recommend a VOD list that is more realistic to the user and matches the viewing pattern of the user.

In this case, the past viewer rating or the predicted viewer rating may be configured to reflect regional characteristics by using the viewer rating information collected by the regional CATV server 140.

As described above, the application of these weights can not only provide a list of VODs related to the current viewing program of the user, but also apply the weights to the rating information and the predicted viewer rating information related to the attributes of past broadcast programs. Since it is possible to recommend VOD that quantitatively reflects the user's viewing behavior, there is an advantage of providing a VOD list closely related to viewing habits.

On the other hand, the head-end system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is EPG at the request of the EPG or at the request of the VOD, unlike the configuration in which the conventional digital cable broadcasting system repeatedly provides the EPG through the PSIP or DVB-SI standard The VOD recommendation server 110 is configured to provide a VOD information input unit 111 and the headend system 100 to collect VOD related information from the VOD server 120 of the headend system 100. It is preferable to include an EPG information input unit 115 for collecting EPG-related information from the EPG server 130 of the to further facilitate the linkage.

The recommendation VOD list generator 114 provides the generated recommendation VOD list to the set-top box 200 through a preset configuration, and provides detailed information on the VOD information related to the VOD information management unit 112 and the preset VOD list. Provided to the set-top box 200 through the configuration.

In addition, the recommendation VOD list generator 114 may determine the order of arranging the VOD list by applying a third weight to the rating of the VOD.

In addition, the recommendation VOD list generation unit 114 may explicitly set information such as age restriction and gender classification when the initial connection with the set-top box 200 or the personal preference or propensity information of the user for viewing the VOD or the existing viewing. It is preferable to manage the user's preferred VOD information including one or more of the genre information of one VOD and reflect this to generate the VOD list.

Meanwhile, when providing the VOD list, the VOD recommendation server 110 may provide real time broadcast information which is subsequently connected with reference to EPG information after the corresponding VOD viewing time.

The VOD information manager 112 may manage and provide detailed information of each VOD included in the generated VOD list.

4 is a block diagram of a set-top box 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The set top box 200 is an EPG request unit 210 for requesting EPG to the headend system 100, an EPG receiver 220 for receiving an EPG from the headend system 100, the headend system 100 A recommendation VOD request unit 230 for requesting a recommendation VOD list and a recommendation VOD receiver 240 for receiving the recommendation VOD list based on the EPG from the headend system 100.

When the corresponding VOD is selected in the set top box 200, the headend system 100 transmits the VOD to the set top box 200 through the VOD server 120 or sets a CATV server for each region of the corresponding region. The VOD server managed by 140 may be configured to transmit the VOD to the set-top box 200.

The set-top box 200 may include a user's preference including one or more of explicit preset information such as age-restricted gender classification or personal preference or propensity information of the VOD viewer, or the previously viewed VOD genre information. It is preferable to further include a preferred VOD management unit 250 for managing the VOD information, it may be generated to reflect the VOD list.

As such, the VOD recommendation system can provide a VOD list that more closely reflects the user's personal preferences through recommending VOD in consideration of explicit preset information, personal viewing preferences, or regional characteristics of the user. The quality of service can be further improved.

In addition, the set-top box 200 preferably further includes a recommendation VOD display unit 260 to display the generated VOD list on a part of the screen so that the user selects the VOD list.

On the other hand, as described above, the head-end system 100 provides a real-time broadcast based on the IP, the set-top box 200 is preferably an IP-based terminal.

5 is a data flowchart of a method for providing a VOD recommendation service in digital cable broadcasting according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The VOD recommendation service providing method is a VOD recommendation service providing method in a digital cable broadcasting including a headend system 100 and a set-top box 200. The headend system 100 includes one or more attributes of a VOD. Managing and managing the attributes in correspondence with the attributes of the broadcast program according to the EPG-based classification scheme (S110), and the headend system 100 dividing and managing the viewer rating information of the broadcast program by one or more criteria. (S115), the headend system 100 assigns and manages a weight value for each audience rating information classified according to the criteria (S115) and the headend system 100 sets the set top box 200. A VOD list corresponding to the attribute is generated by applying one or more weight values corresponding to the viewer rating information for the broadcast program transmitted from Includes the step (S140).

The VOD list generating step (S140) is a VOD list by applying a first weight to the currently viewed broadcast program and applying a second weight to the past viewer rating or predicted viewer rating of the set-top box 200 confirmed based on the EPG. Can be generated.

At this time, in the VOD list generation step (S140), it is preferable to determine the order of arranging the VOD list by applying a third weight to the viewer rating of the VOD.

The VOD list generation step (S140) may be performed by reflecting the user's preferred VOD information including at least one of explicit preset information of the set-top box 200, personal propensity information of a subscriber, and genre information of a previously viewed VOD. You can also create a list of VODs.

In the VOD information management step (S110), it is preferable to manage the attributes of the VOD and the broadcast program including one or more genre information according to preset genre classification criteria.

In addition, the VOD information management step (S110) preferably manages and provides detailed information of each VOD included in the generated VOD list.

On the other hand, in the VOD recommendation service providing method, the set-top box 200 receives the EPG request from the head-end system 100 (S120, S130) and the set-top box 200 is the head-end system 100 Requesting the recommendation VOD list (S130), and receiving the recommendation VOD list or recommendation VOD information based on the EPG (S150 and S160).

In this case, the method may further include displaying the VOD list generated by the set-top box 200 on a part of the screen so that the user selects it (S170).

The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. .

50: EPG Agent 60: EPG Database
70: Channel Editor 80: EPG Editor
100: head-end system 110: VOD recommendation server
111: VOD information input unit 112: VOD information management unit
113: weight information management unit 114: recommendation VOD list generation unit
115: EPG information input unit 116: viewership information management unit
120: VOD server 130: EPG server
140: CATV server by region 200: set-top box
210: EPG request unit 220: EPG receiver
230: recommended VOD request unit 240: recommended VOD receiver
250: preferred VOD management unit 260: recommended VOD display unit
300: TV

Claims (9)

A method of providing a VOD recommendation service in digital cable broadcasting including a headend system and a set top box,
a) managing, by the headend system, the VOD including one or more attributes and managing the attributes in correspondence with attributes of a broadcast program according to an EPG-based classification scheme;
b) managing, by the headend system, rating information of the broadcast program by one or more criteria;
c) assigning and managing weight values for respective audience rating information classified according to the criteria by the headend system; And
d) generating, by the headend system, a VOD list corresponding to the attribute by applying one or more weight values corresponding to the audience rating information for the broadcast program transmitted from the set-top box; How to provide VOD referral services.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein step d)
In the digital cable broadcasting, the VOD list is generated by applying a first weight to a currently viewed broadcast program and applying a second weight to a past viewer rating or a predicted viewer rating of the set-top box identified based on the EPG. How to provide VOD referral services.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein step a)
The VOD and the VOD recommendation service providing method for digital cable broadcasting, characterized in that the property of the broadcast program divided into one or more genre information according to a predetermined genre classification criteria.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein step d)
Digital cable broadcasting, characterized in that the VOD list is generated by reflecting the user's preferred VOD information including one or more of the predetermined preset information of the set-top box, subscriber personal preference information, the genre information of the previously watched VOD To provide VOD referral services at.
The method of claim 1,
e) the set top box requesting and receiving an EPG from the headend system; and
f) requesting, by the set-top box, the recommendation VOD list from the headend system to receive the recommendation VOD list based on the EPG.
In the VOD recommendation service providing system in digital cable broadcasting,
Located in the headend system,
A VOD information management unit for managing the VOD including one or more attributes and managing the attributes in correspondence with the attributes of the broadcasting program according to the EPG-based classification scheme;
An audience rating information management unit configured to classify and manage viewer rating information of the broadcast program by one or more criteria;
A weight information management unit for assigning and managing weight values for respective viewer rating information classified according to the criteria;
A VOD recommendation server having a recommendation VOD list generator for generating a VOD list corresponding to the attribute by applying one or more weight values corresponding to the audience rating information for the broadcast program transmitted from the set-top box; VOD recommendation service delivery system.
The method of claim 1, wherein the recommendation VOD list generating unit
In the digital cable broadcasting, the VOD list is generated by applying a first weight to a currently viewed broadcast program and applying a second weight to a past viewer rating or a predicted viewer rating of the set-top box identified based on the EPG. VOD recommendation service delivery system.
The method of claim 1, wherein the recommendation VOD list generating unit
Digital cable broadcasting, characterized in that the VOD list is generated by reflecting the user's preferred VOD information including one or more of the predetermined preset information of the set-top box, subscriber personal preference information, the genre information of the previously watched VOD VOD Recommendation Service Delivery System
The method according to claim 6,
An EPG request unit for requesting an EPG to the headend system;
EPG receiving unit for receiving the EPG from the head-end system,
A recommendation VOD request unit requesting a recommendation VOD list to the headend system;
And a set-top box having a recommendation VOD receiving unit for receiving the recommendation VOD list based on the EPG from the headend system.

Images