KR20150069963A - Contents service system and method using virtual channel - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a content service system using a virtual channel, and a method thereof. The method of the present invention comprises the steps of: analyzing a user content viewing history; receiving a selection of viewing of a user customized channel; and providing, based on the analysis result of the content viewing history, a user terminal with a certain content included in a list of user customized content, which is generated for the user. According to the present invention, it is possible for a user to conveniently enjoy viewing of content, which is made up of customized content according to a user-specific disposition as if the user watches a broadcast channel in real time. In addition, it is also possible to provide a customized channel service individually for a plurality of users belonging to one subscriber.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a content service system using a virtual channel,

The present invention relates to a content service system and method using a virtual channel, and more particularly, to a content service system and method for providing a user-selected content selected on the basis of a content viewing history analysis result for each user through a virtual channel.

In recent years, not only a function of receiving a cable broadcasting signal and displaying it on a video reproducing apparatus but also a set-top box supporting a user to use a service such as Internet search by transmitting / receiving an internet data signal through a cable network has appeared.

One of the services that have recently come to the fore with the use of Internet-enabled set-top boxes is the Video On Demand (VoD) service, which is an on-demand video service. The VoD service can provide contents including video, audio, information, etc., such as movies, at a time desired by the viewer.

In order to use the VoD service in the past, the user selects a VoD content genre by pressing the VoD watching menu button. Then, the VoD content can be viewed only after a multi-step process such as selecting desired VoD content in the selected genre and pressing payment button. Thus, the user has to go through a multi-step process of selecting a genre of the VoD content using the menu button and paying the bill, so that it is troublesome to view the VoD content. In addition, as the amount of VoD content increases, the genre divides into main genres and sub-genres, and the user has to select more.

In order to solve such a problem, Korean Patent Laid-Open No. 10-2011-0114162 discloses a technique of providing VoD contents through a VoD virtual channel, but it has been proposed by a business operator without considering the user's preferred genre, performer, There is a problem in that a user-customized service can not be provided because one-way VoD content is provided in one virtual channel.

KR 10-2001-0114162 A

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a content service system and method for providing user-customized content selected on the basis of a content viewing history analysis result for each user through a virtual channel.

A content service method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes analyzing a user's content viewing history, receiving a user-selected channel viewing selection, and selecting a user-customized content for the user based on the content viewing history analysis result And providing the predetermined content included in the list to the user terminal.

If the predetermined content is replayed after the user-customized channel is replayed during playback, the predetermined content can be provided again from the point of time when the predetermined content is stopped to be played back.

The predetermined content may be content whose broadcast time is organized at the time when the user-customized channel viewing is selected.

Only the content viewing information satisfying the filtering condition of at least one of the content viewing time zone, the content viewing age, and the content genre can be used for the content viewing history analysis

The method may further include providing the content viewing history analysis result. The user-customized content list generation condition may be set by the user and reflected in the user-customized content list generation.

When a plurality of user-customized content lists are created in one subscriber account, different channel numbers may be assigned to the plurality of user-customized content lists.

The content viewing history of the user may be analyzed for each predetermined content viewing time zone and the content to be included in the user-customized content list may be selected for each predetermined viewing time zone.

The method may further include providing recommended content information selected by a predetermined criterion on the content viewed by the user in the user-customized channel.

The recommended content information includes a matching degree of the content viewed by the user, and the matching degree may be calculated for at least one of a genre, a performer, a director, and a plot.

The method may further include providing a user-customized content list of another user using the content viewed by the user.

A method of controlling a user terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes receiving a user-customized channel viewing request, receiving a predetermined content included in a user-customized content list corresponding to the selected user- And reproducing the predetermined content provided.

The control method of the user terminal may further include setting at least one filtering condition among a content viewing time zone, a content viewing age, and a content genre from the user, wherein the content ID and the content ID of the content satisfying the at least one filtering condition The content viewing time information may be provided to the content service system so as to be used for the content viewing history analysis.

The control method of the user terminal may further include the step of displaying the content viewing history analysis result on the screen and providing the content generation service to the content service system after setting the generation condition of the user- .

The user terminal can distinguish content ID and content time information for a plurality of users belonging to the subscriber account and provide the content ID to the content service system.

The content service apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a list generation unit for generating a user-customized content list for the user based on a result of analyzing a user's content viewing history, and a user- And a content providing unit for providing predetermined content included in the content list to the user terminal.

The content service apparatus may further include a viewing history analyzing unit that uses only content viewing information satisfying at least one filtering condition among a content viewing time zone, a content viewing age, and a content genre for the content viewing history analysis.

The list generation unit may set the generation condition of the user-customized content list to reflect the user-customized content list generation.

The content service apparatus may further include a management unit for assigning different channel numbers to the plurality of user-customized content lists when a plurality of user-customized content lists are generated in one subscriber account.

The viewing history analyzing unit analyzes the content viewing history of the user by a predetermined content viewing time zone, and the list generating unit may select a content to be included in the user-customized content list for each predetermined viewing time zone.

A user terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an input unit for receiving a user-customized channel viewing selection, a communication unit for receiving predetermined contents included in a user-customized content list corresponding to the user- And a control unit for causing the provided predetermined content to be reproduced.

The user terminal may further include a storage unit for storing the user-customized content list provided from the content service apparatus.

The control unit may request the predetermined content from the content service apparatus based on the user-customized content list stored in the storage unit.

Wherein the input unit sets at least one filtering condition among a content viewing time zone, a content viewing age, and a content genre from a user, and the control unit displays content ID and content viewing time information for the content satisfying the at least one filtering condition And may be provided to the contents service system so as to be used for the content viewing history analysis.

The controller may receive the content viewing history analysis result from the content service apparatus and display the result on the screen, and may set the generation condition of the user-customized content list from the user and provide the content to the content service apparatus.

The control unit may distinguish content ID and content time information for a plurality of users belonging to the subscriber account and provide the content ID to the content service apparatus.

A content service system according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a content service apparatus for generating a user-customized content list for the user based on a result of analyzing a user's content viewing history, And a user terminal for receiving and reproducing predetermined content included in the user-customized content list corresponding to the selected user-customized channel from the content service apparatus.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a content service method, wherein a content service apparatus generates a user-customized content list for a user based on a result of analyzing a user's content viewing history, And receiving and reproducing from the content service apparatus predetermined content included in the user-customized content list corresponding to the user-customized channel selected by the user terminal.

A computer-readable recording medium according to another embodiment of the present invention records a program for causing a computer to execute any one of the methods.

According to the present invention, it is possible for a user to conveniently enjoy a content customized in accordance with a tendency of each individual as if the user is using a real time broadcast channel.

It is also possible to individually provide customized channel services for a plurality of users belonging to one subscriber.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a content service system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the content service apparatus of FIG. 1 in detail.
3 is a diagram illustrating a customized channel guidance screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a diagram illustrating a screen for providing recommended content information in a user-customized channel according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a flowchart provided to explain the operation of a content service apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a flowchart provided to explain the operation of the content service apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the user terminal of FIG. 1 in detail.
8 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a user terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

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

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

Referring to FIG. 1, a content service system according to the present invention may include a content service apparatus 100 and a user terminal 200. The content service apparatus 100 may be connected to the user terminal 200 through the communication network 10 to provide various contents. In particular, the content service apparatus 100 may provide a service (hereinafter, referred to as a 'user-customized channel service') for providing the user-customized content selected through the virtual channel according to a result of analyzing the user's viewing history information.

The communication network 10 allows the contents service apparatus 100 and the user terminal 200 to be connected to exchange various kinds of information and data. The communication network 10 includes a local area network (LAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a wide area network (WAN), the Internet, 3G, 4G, Wi-Fi, WIBRO, Etc., and it does not matter whether it is wired or wireless, and any communication method may be used.

When the content service apparatus 100 is operated by a cable broadcasting service provider, the communication network 10 may be implemented as a cable network. The cable network is a hybrid fiber coaxial cable having a configuration in which an optical line is used from the content service apparatus 100 to a subscriber optical network terminal unit (ONU: not shown) and a coaxial cable is used from the ONU to the user terminal 200 : HFC) can be used. The HFC network is capable of high-speed data transmission of more than 10Mbps at 750MHz (5MHz ~ 42MHz) and downward (54MHz ~ 750MHz) (Broadband), 500 MHz to 552 MHz (Internet band), and 552 MHz to 750 MHz (additional service band such as digital TV). Of course, The network may be implemented.

The user terminal 200 performs a function of receiving content from the content service apparatus 100 and playing the content on the screen and may be a desktop computer, a notebook computer, a workstation, a palmtop computer, an ultra mobile personal computer (UMPC) A mobile phone, a smart phone, an IPTV, and the like, and may be implemented as a terminal equipped with a microprocessor and having a computing capability.

According to the embodiment, the user terminal 200 is implemented as a set-top box and converts the content provided from the content service apparatus 100 through a cable network into a format reproducible by an external video playback apparatus (not shown) Can be performed. In addition, the user terminal 200 may transmit various commands inputted from a user through a remote controller (not shown) to the content service apparatus 100 to perform a function of receiving a content desired by the user.

2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the content service apparatus of FIG. 1 in detail.

2, the content service apparatus 100 may include a viewing history analyzing unit 110, a list generating unit 130, a content providing unit 150, a database 170, and a managing unit 190.

The viewing history analyzing unit 110 performs a function of generating a content viewing history analysis result for each user based on the content viewing information collected for each user.

The content viewing information includes content information, and may further include content viewing time information according to an embodiment. Here, the content information may include an ID, a title, a genre, a cast, a director, a plot, an age for viewing, etc. of the content. The content viewing time information may include a content viewing start time and a content viewing end time, or may include only a time when a content is viewed by a user.

The content viewing information can be collected and collected by itself from the content service apparatus 100, for example, at what time and for what time the content is provided to the user terminal 200.

Of course, each time the user views the content from the user terminal 200, or may collect the content viewing information for each user based on the content ID and the content viewing time information provided every predetermined period. In this case, the content information about the content viewed by the user can be acquired in the database 170 using the content ID transmitted from the user terminal 200. [

Meanwhile, the content ID and the content viewing information are provided to the content service apparatus 100 from the user terminal 200 in correspondence with the user identification information, thereby allowing the content service apparatus 100 to identify the user who viewed the content. At this time, a user ID assigned to each user may be used as the user identification information, or unique identification information assigned to the user terminal 200 may be used.

The content viewing information can be collected for each of the VoD contents provided on a VoD (Video on Demand) method and the broadcasting contents provided for each channel according to the broadcasting time set in the program table. Of course, according to the embodiment, it is also possible to collect the content viewing information only for the content of any one of the VoD contents and the broadcasting contents.

The content viewing history analysis result may include the genre, the performer, the director, the viewable age, the number of views per word including the plot, and the like. For example, if there are two contents belonging to the 'melody' genre among the contents watched by the user, the number of times of watching the 'melody' genre may be counted twice. Similarly, if there are two contents that contain the word " love " in the plot, the number of views for the word " love "

Meanwhile, the content viewing history analyzing result can be implemented so that only the content viewing information of the content viewed over a predetermined period of time is reflected in the content viewing history analysis result so as to more accurately reflect the viewing taste of the user. According to the embodiment, only the content viewing information for the content viewed over a certain percentage (%) of the total reproduction time of the content may be reflected in the content viewing history analysis result.

It is also possible to implement such that only the content viewing information satisfying the filtering condition of at least one of the content viewing time zone, the content viewing age, and the content genre is included in the content viewing history analysis. In general, cable, IPTV, etc. are subscribed to services for each household. Therefore, if the content viewing history analysis is performed by a single subscriber, it may be difficult to derive individual personalized viewing history analysis results because the audience information of each family member is mixed and not distinguished.

In order to solve such a problem, if a user-customized channel service for the youth is desired among the family members, the content viewing information for the content whose content viewing age is over 19 years old can be implemented to be excluded from the content viewing history analysis. Conversely, if a user-customized channel service for an adult is desired, it is also possible to implement such that content viewing information for contents with a viewing age of at least 19 years is included in the content viewing history analysis.

Likewise, when the content viewing time zone is set as a filtering condition, only content viewing information about the content viewed in the corresponding time zone may be included in the viewing history analysis result, or conversely, it may be excluded from the viewing history analysis result.

Also, when a specific genre is set as a filtering condition, it is possible to include only the content viewing information on the content of the genre in the viewing history analysis result, or to exclude it from the viewing history analysis result.

The content filtering condition can be set by the user, but it may be automatically set by the subscription information of the user, for example, the age and sex of the user.

On the other hand, the viewing history analyzing unit 110 can analyze the content viewing history by dividing the viewing history into predetermined content viewing time zones. For example, a day may be divided into morning time, afternoon time, evening time, night time, and the like, and a result of analyzing a user's content viewing history may be generated for each time period. It can be divided into genre, performer, director, audienceable age, the number of times of viewing by word including the plot, and the like by dividing by time zone such as morning, afternoon, evening, and late night.

Meanwhile, the content viewing history analysis result may be provided to the user through the user terminal 200, and the user may set the user-customized content list generating condition by referring to the content viewing history analysis result of the user.

The list generating unit 130 generates a user-customized content list for the user based on the content viewing history analysis result of the user.

The method of generating the user-customized content list can be variously implemented according to the embodiment. For example, if a genre having the largest viewing frequency is selected for the user, only the content belonging to the genre can be included in the user-customized content list. According to the embodiment, the contents may be distributed according to genres according to the number of viewing times according to genres and included in the user-customized contents list.

Likewise, the list generating unit 130 may generate a user-customized content list by selecting appropriate contents in consideration of the performers, the performers, the number of times of viewing by the viewable age, the number of times of viewing by words including the plot,

The list generating unit 130 may apply only one of the criteria such as genre, performer, director, audienceable age, and viewing frequency per word including a story, or may include two or more criteria to be included in the user- Content can be selected.

For example, in the case of only the number of viewers per director, the content of the director having the largest number of views can be sequentially included in the user-customized content list. Meanwhile, when the number of times of viewing by genre and the number of times of viewing by each director are applied in a duplicate, the genre of the content to be included in the user-customized content list is limited to the genre with the greatest number of viewing times and the content of the director To be included in the user-customized content list sequentially.

On the other hand, if duplicate criteria are applied, predetermined priorities can be applied. It is also possible to apply priorities in order of the director and genre according to the setting, although the above was applied in order of genre and director.

It is also possible to set the selection criteria of the contents to be included in the user-customized content list from the user. The user can set which criterion is to be used among the criteria such as genre, performer, director, audienceable age, viewing frequency per word including story, etc. to select a content to be included in the user-customized content list. It is also possible to set which criterion is to be given priority.

The list generating unit 130 can organize the broadcast time for the contents included in the user-customized content list. Accordingly, when the user-customized channel is selected, the content service apparatus 100 can provide the contents with the broadcast time organized at the corresponding time, so that the user can feel as if the user views the real-time broadcast channel.

The list generating unit 130 may randomize the broadcasting times of the contents included in the user-customized contents list or organize them in the order of the alphabetical order of the contents titles. If the content included in the user-customized content list is a series, it is also possible to organize the broadcast time continuously in series.

According to the embodiment, the list generating unit 130 may select the content to be included in the user-customized content list for each time zone by using the viewing history analysis result obtained for each content viewing time zone, and organize the broadcasting time. For example, the broadcast time may be organized according to criteria such as the genre, performer, director, etc. preferred by the user for each time zone. As a result of analyzing the viewing history, if the user uses the content belonging to the melody genre mainly in the morning time and uses the content belonging to the comedy genre in the evening, the user can organize the contents of the genre mainly watched in the corresponding time zone. Of course, it is also possible to organize the airing time for each of the performers and performers mainly watched by the user during the corresponding time period. On the other hand, it is also possible to organize the broadcast time of the content in consideration of the genre, the director, the performer, the plot, Of course, the broadcast time of the contents included in the user-customized content list can be determined by other criteria. Here, the term " mainly viewed " means that the number of times of viewing is the greatest, and according to the embodiment, it may mean a case of being within a predetermined rank.

On the other hand, only the free content can be included in the user-customized content list. By including only the free content in the user-customized content list, the user can enjoy the customized content according to the result of his / her viewing history analysis as a 24-hour real-time broadcast channel in the user-customized channel.

Of course, the user-customized content list may include paid content in addition to the free content. In the case of paid content, it is desirable to organize the broadcast time such that only the highlight portion is broadcast on the user-customized channel. It is also possible to display the pay-per-view selection menu icon on the screen when the highlight part of the pay content is played back so that the user can pay the content use fee and enjoy the pay content.

On the other hand, the advertisement content may be included in the user-customized content list. The airing time of the advertisement contents can be arranged between the free contents or the paid contents. Advertisement content may be randomly broadcasted. According to the embodiment, it is also possible to arrange the free contents selected in accordance with the viewing history analysis result or the advertisement contents appearing by the same performer as the paid contents before or after the airing time of the free contents or paid contents, The advertisement contents selected according to the words included in the storyline may be organized around the airing time of the contents. For example, in the case of a content providing 'car' information, a car advertisement can be organized automatically before or after the airing time of the content.

The list generating unit 130 may generate a user-customized content list for each user when the users are classified by family members belonging to one subscriber account. If a plurality of user-customized content lists are created for one subscriber account, different channel numbers may be assigned to the user-customized channels for each list. For example, a father, a mother, a son, and a daughter can allocate 51 personalized channels for their fathers, 52 for their mothers, 53 for their sons, and 54 for their daughters.

Meanwhile, as described above, the list generating unit 130 can generate a user-customized content list based on defaults set by default in the content service apparatus 100. However, when the user refers to the content viewing history analysis result of the user And may reflect conditions for generating a user-customized content list.

For example, when the content viewing history analysis result of the user indicates that the action genre is only included in the user-customized content list when the viewing frequency of the action genre is 5, the viewing frequency of the drama genre is 3, and the viewing frequency of the comedy genre is 1 Or only an action genre can be set to be included in the user-customized content list. Of course, regardless of the number of times of viewing, the user may want to watch only the action genre or the drama genre in the meantime so that only the comedy genre is included in the user-customized content list. In this case, only the comedy genre may be set to be included in the user-customized content list from the user. It is also possible to generate a user-customized content list by setting a user-customized content list generation condition from a user who has confirmed the content viewing history analysis result in various other ways.

The content providing unit 150 performs a function of providing a content of a channel requested by the user terminal 200 or a specific VoD content.

In particular, the contents providing unit 150 according to the present invention provides a function of providing predetermined contents included in the user-customized contents list of the user to the user terminal 200 when the user-customized channel viewing is selected in the user terminal 200 .

The user-customized channel viewing selection is performed by the user directly inputting the channel number assigned to the user-customized channel on the user terminal 200, selecting the channel up / down button to enter the corresponding channel, or selecting a separate menu button, As shown in FIG. Of course, according to an exemplary embodiment, a user-customized channel may be selected from a user on a broadcast channel schedule table including a user-customized channel and a different real-time broadcast channel.

When the user-customized channel viewing is selected, the content providing unit 150 may provide a user-customized channel guidance screen as illustrated in FIG. 3 to be displayed on the screen of the user terminal 200. The user-customized channel guidance screen may include a guiding message that the user-customized channel is a channel that provides user-customized content based on the content viewing information of the user. Also, the user-customized channel guidance screen may include a guidance message indicating that the user-customized content is being analyzed based on the content viewing information of the user. The filtering condition setting menu of the content viewing information may be included in the user-customized channel guidance screen according to the embodiment so that the content viewing information filtering condition is checked and corrected whenever the user enters the user-customized channel. Of course, the content providing unit 150 may provide the user-customized content directly to the user terminal 200 without providing the user-customized channel guidance screen.

The content providing unit 150 may provide the content to the user terminal 200 through a streaming method or a download and play method.

The content providing unit 150 may provide the content included in the user-customized content list to the user terminal 200 in a predetermined order. For example, assuming that the contents A, B, and C are included in the user-customized content list and that the playback order is in the order of contents A, B, and C, when the user first enters the user- can do. When the reproduction of the content A is finished, the content B and the content C can be provided next.

On the other hand, if content A leaves the user-customized channel during playback and re-enters, it is possible to provide the content in two ways. The first method may be provided again from the point of time when the reproduction of the content A is stopped, and the second method may be a method of providing the content B.

Meanwhile, if the broadcast time for the content included in the user-customized content list is organized, the user-customized channel may be streamed from the corresponding portion of the content with the broadcast time at the selected time in the streaming method. In the case of the downloading method, the advertisement contents downloaded in advance to the user terminal 200 may be reproduced first on the screen, and the contents may be downloaded during that time to be automatically reproduced on the screen from the portion corresponding to the broadcast time It is possible.

If the reproduction order or the broadcasting time of the contents included in the user-customized contents list is not separately organized according to the embodiment, the contents providing unit 150 provides the user-customized contents list to the user terminal 200, It can also be provided.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, in a state in which a content having a broadcast time is reproduced on a screen at a time when a user-customized channel is selected, a user-customized content list is displayed on the screen in response to a user request, To be reproduced on the screen. It is also possible to implement another content having the broadcast time organized at the time point when the reproduction of the selected content from the user ends, to be reproduced subsequently.

Meanwhile, the content providing unit 150 may provide the recommended content information selected by the user on the user-customized channel, as shown in FIG. The recommended content information includes a degree of matching with the content viewed by the user, and the degree of matching may be calculated based on at least one of genre, performer, director, and plot item as follows

1) Performer: 0 (0) / 1 (30) / 2 (70) / 3 (90) / 4 (93) / 5 (95) Or more (99 points)

2) Director (supervision): 0 (0) / 1 (30) / 2 (80) / above (90)

3) Genre: 0 (0) / 1 (30) / more (60)

4) Plot: 0 points (0 points) / 1 points (30 points) / 2 points (60 points) / 3 points (65 points) / 4 points (70 points) / 5 points (75 points) / 6 points 7 points (85 points) / 8 points (90 points) / 9 points (91 points)

It is possible to calculate the degree of matching according to the following criteria according to the performer, the director, the genre, and the plot line with respect to the content that the user is watching and the content to be recommended, It is also possible to recommend a predetermined rank.

When a user who watches the movie 'Shinsegae' recommends 'War on Crime', the matching degree of both contents can be calculated as shown in Table 1 below.

Item new world War on Crime Matching degree Actor However,
Hwang Jung Min, Park Sung Woong However,
Cho Jin-woong and Ma Dong Seok Choi Min-sik
Overlapping one person -> 30 points director Park, Hoon Jung Yoon Jong Bin Do not overlap -> 0 points genre Crime, Action Crime, Action Crime, Action
Overlapping two -> 60 points summary Police, crime, organization, investigation, right arm Justice, betrayal, bad guy, Busan, police, crime, organization Police, crime, organization
Overlapping 3 -> 65 points

It is also possible to calculate the matching degree according to another criterion without applying the criterion for calculating the matching degree as described above.

For example, in the case of the performer item, if the performer of the A content is four, and the performer of the B content is six, when two identical performers appear, the match degree can be calculated by the following method.

Number of performers = Number of performers (2) / Average number of performers (5) X100% = 40%

The matching degree (40 points) can be obtained based on the cast rate (40%).

In this way, it is also possible to use the item-by-item matching rate as a reference for calculating item-by-item matching. Of course, the degree of matching can be calculated by various methods other than those described here.

Meanwhile, according to the embodiment, the content providing unit 150 may provide the user terminal 200 with a user-customized content list of another user using the content viewed by the user in the user-customized channel.

The database 170 stores various contents to be provided to the user by the contents service apparatus 100 and contents information thereon and provides the contents information at the request of other components of the contents service apparatus 100 such as the contents provider 150 . In addition, the database 170 may store the user-customized content list generated by the list generating unit 130 and provide the user-customized content list at the request of the content providing unit 150 or the management unit 190. [

The management unit 190 controls the overall operation of the content service apparatus 100 according to the present invention and can process the billing portion when the content provided to the user is paid.

When the user-customized channel is selected from the user terminal 200, the management unit 190 controls the content providing unit 150 to provide a user-customized channel service to the user terminal 200 according to the user- .

The management unit 190 may manage the user-customized channel number. More specifically, an empty channel number other than the occupied channel number for real-time broadcast or separate service provision can be assigned to a user-customized channel number. Of course, it is also possible to select one of the empty channel numbers from the user and allocate it to the user-customized channel.

The management unit 190 may manage a user-customized channel number to be allocated to each list when a subscriber has a user-customized content list for a plurality of users. For this, the management unit 190 may assign and manage a user ID for each of a plurality of users belonging to one subscriber. That is, the management unit 190 can receive the user ID of the actual user viewing the current content from the user terminal 200, and can identify who actually watches the content. Accordingly, it is possible that a user-customized content list is generated for each of a plurality of users belonging to one subscriber and a corresponding channel number is assigned.

The management unit 190 may provide the user-customized content list generated by the list generation unit 130 to the user terminal 200 according to the embodiment. In this case, the user terminal 200 may store the user-customized content list provided by the content service apparatus 100. Then, when the user-customized channel viewing is selected, the user terminal 200 can request and receive a predetermined content from the content service apparatus 100 by referring to the stored user-customized content list. For example, it is possible to confirm the content having the broadcast time organized at the time when the user-customized channel viewing is selected by referring to the user-customized content list, request the content to the content service apparatus 100, Alternatively, the user terminal 200 may output a user-customized content list to the screen, request the content selected by the user to the content service apparatus 100, and reproduce the content on the screen.

Meanwhile, the content preference degree of the content viewed by the user can be evaluated and stored in the database 170 and converted into a DB. And the results of DB content rating evaluation can be reflected when selecting the recommended content. The content preference evaluation can be made simply by receiving a recommendation such as 'likes' from a user who watched the content, or by receiving a satisfaction score within a predetermined range. When there is a content having the same degree of matching, it is possible to implement a recommendation of selecting a content having a cumulative recommendation count or a sum of satisfaction levels. Of course, when selecting a content to be included in the user-customized content list, the content preference evaluation result may be reflected.

According to the embodiment, the management unit 190 may provide the content viewing history analysis result to the user terminal 200.

5 is a flowchart provided to illustrate the operation of a content service system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The operation of the content service apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the content service apparatus 100 can collect content viewing information by user (S510). The content service apparatus 100 can acquire content viewing information for each user by identifying what content is provided to the user terminal 200 at a certain time by the content providing unit 150 itself. According to an embodiment, the content service apparatus 100 receives user identification information, a content ID, content viewing time information, and the like from the user terminal 200 and refers to the content information stored in correspondence with the content ID in the database 170, Content viewing information may be collected.

Next, the content service apparatus 100 analyzes the content viewing history of the user based on the content viewing information collected in step S510 (S515), and may generate or update the user-customized content list (S520). The user-customized content list can be updated every predetermined period. For example, one week or one month, or updated every quarter. The update period is set by default or can be set by the user.

The content viewing history analyzing result of the user analyzed in step S515 is provided when the content viewing history analyzing result request command is inputted from the user terminal 200 and can be confirmed by the user. The user can confirm the content viewing history analysis result and set the generation conditions of the user-customized content list to be created or updated in step S520 to be reflected.

If the user-customized channel viewing is selected from the user terminal 200 (S530-Y), the content service apparatus 100 can provide predetermined content to the user terminal 200 based on the user-customized content list (S540) .

In step S540, the content service apparatus 100 may provide the contents included in the user-customized content list in a predetermined order. For example, assuming that the contents A, B, and C are included in the user-customized content list and that the playback order is in the order of contents A, B, and C, when the user first enters the user- can do. When the reproduction of the content A is finished, the content B and the content C can be provided next.

On the other hand, if content A leaves the user-customized channel during playback and re-enters, it is possible to provide the content in two ways. The first method may be provided again from the point of time when the reproduction of the content A is stopped, and the second method may be a method of providing the content B.

On the other hand, in step S540, the content service apparatus 100 may stream the content with the broadcast time to the user terminal 200 at the time when the user-customized channel is selected to be automatically reproduced. According to an embodiment, it is possible to provide a user-customized content list to the user terminal 200 to be displayed on the screen, and to stream or download the content selected from the user from the beginning. Of course, in a state in which a broadcast time-adjusted content is being reproduced on the screen at the time when the user-customized channel is selected, a user-customized content list is displayed on the screen in response to a user request, a content selected from the user- It can be reproduced. It is also possible to implement another content having the broadcast time organized at the time point when the reproduction of the selected content from the user ends, to be reproduced subsequently.

On the other hand, if the request from the user terminal 200 is received from the user terminal 200 (S550-Y), the content service apparatus 100 transmits the recommendation content request or the recommendation list request for the content being reproduced on the screen of the user terminal 200 And may provide recommended content information or a recommendation list selected based on a predetermined criterion for the content (S560).

If a command for requesting a recommendation content or a recommendation list is input from the user in step S540, the user terminal 200 can transmit the command to the content service apparatus 100. [ For example, the user may select a button corresponding to the request from the screen or right-click the desired button to input the recommendation content request or recommendation list request command, and then select the corresponding request command from the activated command list. You can, of course, ask for suggestion content or referral lists in other ways.

Meanwhile, according to the embodiment, the content service apparatus 100 may automatically reproduce the recommended content information, as illustrated in FIG. 4, during the reproduction of the content provided in the step S540 even if there is no recommended content request from the user terminal 200 And may be displayed on the screen in a superimposed manner. Likewise, the content service apparatus 100 may automatically provide a recommended user customized list to the user terminal 200 even if there is no recommendation list request from the user terminal 200. [

It is also possible to automatically implement the disappearance of the recommended content information if there is no detailed information about the recommended content or a user selection related to viewing the recommended content for a predetermined period of time. Of course, when the reproduction of the content provided in step S540 is completed, the recommended content information for the content may be provided at that time.

In step S560, the content service apparatus 100 may recommend a content having a high degree of matching with the content being watched by the user as the recommended content. The user can increase the interest of the recommended content by displaying the content being watched, the genre, the director, the performer, and the match degree according to the plot. When the user selects the recommended content, the content service apparatus 100 may provide detailed information of the content or provide the user terminal 200 with a screen from which the user can select the content.

Meanwhile, the recommendation list may be a user-customized content list of another user who viewed the content provided in step S540. On the other hand, the recommendation list may be composed of content, for example, which was good in user evaluation from other users who viewed the content provided in step S540. It is also possible to generate and provide a recommended content list by various other methods.

If viewing of the recommended content information provided in step S550 or the specific content included in the recommendation list is selected, the content service apparatus 100 may provide the content to the user terminal 200 and display the content on the screen.

6 is a flowchart provided to illustrate the operation of a content service system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

The operation of the content service system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the content service apparatus 100 can collect content viewing information by user (S610).

Next, when the user-customized channel viewing is selected from the user terminal 200 (S620-Y), the content service apparatus 100 provides a user-customized channel guidance screen as illustrated in FIG. 3, (S630). The user-customized channel guidance screen provided in step S630 may be previously provided to the user terminal 200 and stored.

Next, the content service apparatus 100 may generate a user-customized content list by analyzing the content viewing history of the user based on the content viewing information collected for the user (S640). More specifically, each time user-customized channel viewing is selected, a user-customized content list can be generated by analyzing the content viewing history of the user based on the content viewing information of the user collected over a period of time.

Then, the content service apparatus 100 may provide the user-customized content list generated in step S640 to the user terminal 200 to be displayed on the screen (S650). In step S660, detailed information on the content selected by the user is provided first in the user-customized content list, and the content is provided in the user terminal 200 if the user selects the content. Of course, it is also possible in step S660 to provide the selected content from the user immediately without providing the detailed content information so that the user terminal 200 can reproduce the selected content.

Steps S670 and S680 may then be performed in a manner similar to steps S550 and S560 in the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the user terminal of FIG. 1 in detail.

7, the user terminal 200 may include an input unit 210, a communication unit 230, a control unit 250, and a storage unit 270.

The input unit 210 receives a user-selected channel viewing selection from a user. The input unit 210 may be implemented as a mouse, a keyboard, a keypad, a touch screen, a remote controller, or the like depending on the type of the user terminal 200. The user can directly receive the user-customized channel number through the input unit 210, select a channel up / down button to enter the corresponding channel, or select a separate menu button to select the corresponding channel. Of course, according to an exemplary embodiment, a user-customized channel may be selected from a user on a broadcast channel schedule table including a user-customized channel and a different real-time broadcast channel.

The communication unit 230 allows the user terminal 200 to exchange various information and data with the content service apparatus 100 through the communication network 10 in a predetermined communication method. The communication unit 230 may receive the user-customized content provided from the content service apparatus 100 when the user-customized channel is selected, and may receive the user-customized content list, the recommended content information, the recommended content list, .

The control unit 250 controls the overall operation of the user terminal 200. In particular, when the user-customized channel viewing is selected, the control unit 250 requests a user-customized channel service to the content service apparatus 100, and displays a user-customized channel guide screen, a user-customized content list, To be displayed on the screen.

Here, the user-customized channel guidance screen and the user-customized content list may be stored in the storage unit 270 in advance by the content service apparatus 100 according to the embodiment. Then, the controller 250 may directly provide the user with a customized channel guidance screen stored in the storage unit 270 and a user-customized content list when the user-customized channel is selected. The control unit 250 may select one of the contents included in the user-customized content list from the user, and may receive the content from the content service apparatus 100 and play the selected content on the screen.

Meanwhile, the control unit 250 may provide the content ID and content viewing time information of the content viewed by the user to the content service apparatus 100 together with the user identification information in the user terminal 200. [ Of course, the control unit 250 may also provide the content service apparatus 100 with the content information about the content viewed by the user in the user terminal 200 according to the embodiment. In this case, the content information may be included in the electronic program guide (EPG) and delivered to the user terminal 200 as meta data of the content.

If the content viewing information filtering condition is set, the control unit 250 can provide only the content ID and the content viewing time information for the content satisfying the filtering condition to the content service apparatus 100. [ For this, the control unit 250 may provide a screen for receiving content viewing information filtering conditions such as a content viewing time zone, a content viewing age, and a content genre, and may be set by the user and stored in the storage unit 270. Of course, in the case where the content viewing apparatus information filtering is implemented in the content service apparatus 100, the control unit 250 does not perform the content viewing information filtering and transmits the content ID and content viewing time information for all the contents viewed by the user to the content service apparatus 100. [ (100).

The content viewing information filtering may be performed in either the user terminal 200 or the content service apparatus 100 as described above or may be performed in both the user terminal 200 and the content service apparatus 100. [ And may be performed separately for each filtering condition when it is performed in both the user terminal 200 and the content service apparatus 100. For example, filtering for the content genre may be performed in the content service apparatus 100, and filtering for the content viewing time zone may be performed separately in the user terminal 200. [

In addition, the controller 250 may display the content viewing history analysis result provided from the content service apparatus 100 on the screen, and may provide the content service apparatus 100 with a user-customized content list generation condition.

The storage unit 270 may store various programs and data necessary for the operation of the user terminal 200. In particular, the storage unit 270 stores the user-customized channel guidance screen and the user-customized content list provided by the content service apparatus 100 according to the embodiment, and may provide the user-customized content list upon request of the control unit 250.

8 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a user terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The operation of the user terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 8, the user terminal 200 may provide the content ID and content viewing time information of the content viewed by the user to the content service apparatus 100 (S810). The user terminal 200 can provide the content ID and the content viewing time information to the content service apparatus 100 at predetermined intervals. According to the embodiment, the user terminal 200 may provide the user identification information and the content information together. On the other hand, the user terminal 200 can provide only the information on the content corresponding to the predetermined filtering condition to the content service apparatus 100. On the other hand, if the content service apparatus 100 itself collects the content viewing information, step S810 may be omitted.

Next, when the user-customized channel viewing is selected from the user (S820-Y), the user terminal 200 can request the content service apparatus 100 for predetermined content by referring to the user-customized content list (S830).

The user-customized content list may be provided to the user terminal 200 in the content service apparatus 100 in advance and stored. Of course, the user-customized content list may be provided by the content service apparatus 100 whenever the user-customized channel viewing is selected. In step S830, if the broadcast time is organized in the user-customized content list, the content corresponding to the predetermined content can be automatically selected. If the broadcast time is not organized, the user-customized content list is output to the user Can receive.

Thereafter, the user terminal 200 can reproduce the content provided by the content service apparatus 100 (S840). If the user terminal 200 is a set-top box in step S840, the user terminal 200 converts the content into a format that can be reproduced by a video playback apparatus (not shown) and outputs the format.

According to the embodiment, instead of selecting and requesting a predetermined content in step S830, only the service request for the user-customized channel selected by the user is transmitted to the content service apparatus 100, and content selection May be implemented by the content service apparatus 100 itself.

Embodiments of the present invention include a computer-readable medium having program instructions for performing various computer-implemented operations. This medium records a program for executing the content service method using the above-described virtual channel. The medium may include program instructions, data files, data structures, etc., alone or in combination. Examples of such media include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks and magnetic tape, optical recording media such as CD and DVD, programmed instructions such as floptical disk and magneto-optical media, ROM, RAM, And a hardware device configured to store and execute the program. Or such medium may be a transmission medium, such as optical or metal lines, waveguides, etc., including a carrier wave that transmits a signal specifying a program command, data structure, or the like. Examples of program instructions include machine language code such as those produced by a compiler, as well as high-level language code that can be executed by a computer using an interpreter or the like.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments, Of the right.

Claims (28)

Analyzing a content viewing history of the user,
Receiving a user-customized channel viewing selection, and
Providing a predetermined content included in a user-customized content list created for the user based on the content viewing history analysis result to a user terminal
/ RTI > The method of claim 1,
Wherein the predetermined content is provided again from a time point when playback of the predetermined content is stopped when the predetermined content is re-entered after leaving the user-customized channel during playback. The method of claim 1,
Wherein the predetermined content is content whose broadcast time is organized at a time when the user-customized channel viewing is selected. The method of claim 1,
Wherein only content viewing information satisfying a filtering condition of at least one of a content viewing time zone, a content viewing age, and a content genre is used for the content viewing history analysis. The method of claim 1,
Further comprising the step of providing the content viewing history analysis result,
Wherein the user-customized content list generation condition is set by the user and reflected in the user-customized content list generation. The method of claim 1,
Wherein when a plurality of user-customized content lists are created in one subscriber account, different channel numbers are assigned to the plurality of user-customized content lists. The method of claim 1,
Analyzing the user's content viewing history by dividing the user's viewing history by a predetermined viewing time zone,
And selecting a content to be included in the user-customized content list by the predetermined content viewing time zone. The method of claim 1,
Further comprising the step of providing recommended content information selected by a predetermined criterion for the content viewed by the user in the user-customized channel,
The recommended content information includes a matching degree with respect to the content viewed by the user,
Wherein the matching degree is calculated for at least one of a genre, a performer, a director, and a plot. The method of claim 1,
Providing a user-customized content list of another user using the content viewed by the user
Further comprising the steps of: Receiving a user-customized channel viewing selection,
Receiving a predetermined content included in the user-customized content list corresponding to the selected user-customized channel from the content service system, and
Reproducing the provided predetermined content
Lt; / RTI >
Wherein the user-customized content list is generated based on a content viewing history analysis result of a user in the content service system. 11. The method of claim 10,
Further comprising the step of setting at least one filtering condition among a content viewing time zone, a content viewing age, and a content genre from the user,
Providing a content ID and content viewing time information for a content satisfying the at least one filtering condition to the content service system to be used for the content viewing history analysis. 11. The method of claim 10,
Receiving the content viewing history analysis result and displaying the result on a screen, and
Setting a generation condition of the user-customized content list from the user and providing the generated content to the content service system
Further comprising the steps of: 11. The method of claim 10,
When a plurality of user-customized content lists are generated in one subscriber account, the plurality of user-customized content lists are assigned different channel numbers,
And dividing the content ID and the content time information for each of a plurality of users belonging to the subscriber account and providing the content ID and the content time information to the content service system. A list generating unit for generating a user-customized content list for the user based on a user's content viewing history analysis result, and
A content providing unit for providing the user terminal with a predetermined content included in the user-customized content list when the user-
And a content server. The method of claim 14,
Wherein the content providing unit provides the predetermined content again from the point of time when the predetermined content is stopped when the predetermined content is replayed after releasing the user-customized channel during playback. The method of claim 14,
Wherein the predetermined content is content whose broadcast time is organized at a time when the user-customized channel viewing is selected. The method of claim 14,
Only the content viewing information satisfying the filtering condition of at least one of the content viewing time zone, the content viewing age, and the content genre is used in the viewing history analyzing unit
Further comprising: The method of claim 14,
Wherein the list generation unit sets the generation condition of the user-customized content list from the user and reflects the generation condition of the user-customized content list to the user. The method of claim 14,
And a management unit for assigning different channel numbers to the plurality of user-customized content lists when a plurality of user-customized content lists are created in one subscriber account. The method of claim 17,
The viewing history analyzing unit analyzes the user's content viewing history by a predetermined content viewing time zone,
Wherein the list generating unit selects a content to be included in the user-customized content list by the predetermined content viewing time zone. The method of claim 14,
Wherein the recommended content information includes a matching degree with respect to a content viewed by the user, and the matching degree includes a matching degree with respect to a genre , And is calculated for at least one of a performer, a director, and a plot. The method of claim 14,
And provides a user-customized content list of another user using the content viewed by the user. An input unit for receiving a user-customized channel viewing selection,
A communication unit for receiving a predetermined content included in the user-customized content list corresponding to the selected user-customized channel from the content service system, and
And a control unit
Lt; / RTI >
Wherein the user-customized content list is generated based on a content viewing history analysis result of a user in the content service system. 24. The method of claim 23,
And a storage unit for storing the user-customized content list provided from the content service system,
Wherein the control unit requests the predetermined content to the content service system based on the user-customized content list stored in the storage unit. 24. The method of claim 23,
Wherein the input unit is configured to set at least one filtering condition among a content viewing time zone, a content viewing age and a content genre from a user,
Wherein the control unit provides the content ID and the content viewing time information for the content satisfying the at least one filtering condition to the content service system to be used for the content viewing history analysis. 24. The method of claim 23,
Wherein the controller receives the content viewing history analysis result from the content service system and causes the content to be displayed on the screen, and provides the generation condition of the user-customized content list to the content service system. 24. The method of claim 23,
When a plurality of user-customized content lists are generated in one subscriber account, the plurality of user-customized content lists are assigned different channel numbers,
Wherein the control unit identifies a content ID and content time information for each of a plurality of users belonging to the subscriber account and provides the content ID and the content time information to the content service system. A content service apparatus for generating a user-customized content list for the user based on a content viewing history analysis result of the user, and
A user terminal for selecting a user-customized channel from the user, receiving a predetermined content included in a user-customized content list corresponding to the selected user-customized channel from the content service apparatus,
And a content server.

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