WO2011129609A2

WO2011129609A2 - Method and apparatus for providing iptv services

Info

Publication number: WO2011129609A2
Application number: PCT/KR2011/002632
Authority: WO
Inventors: 양진홍; 이정호; 박효진; 최준균
Original assignee: 한국과학기술원
Priority date: 2010-04-14
Filing date: 2011-04-13
Publication date: 2011-10-20
Also published as: WO2011129609A3

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for selecting content of a service depending on a receiving terminal or a user, and providing the receiving terminal or the user with the selected content of the service. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the receiving terminal can be provided with useful content, selected for the receiving terminal, from a server. In addition, the user may use the receiving terminal of another user using media (for example, smart cards, memory cards or the like) on which identification information can be stored, to freely use subscription content regardless of the terminal.

Description

IPTV service providing method and device

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing a service, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for selecting and providing content of a service according to a receiving terminal or a user.

IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) service is a communication broadcasting fusion service that provides various multimedia contents in a user-to-server or server-to-user direction at the request of a user through a high-speed internet network.

A user is provided with multimedia content provided from a server using a receiving terminal such as a set top box and a terminal device.

Conventional services provide a service discovery and selection (SD & S) function that allows a user to search for valid content and services on a server.

However, in the conventional service discovery and selection function, the receiving terminals of all users receive the same service discovery information. Therefore, each receiving terminal should use the package information of the analyzed service discovery information by analyzing the received service discovery information in the same manner as the other receiving terminals in order to confirm the service details valid for them.

The present invention proposes a technology that enables a receiving terminal to check a service history valid for itself without receiving service discovery information and to receive content according to the service history.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a service providing method and apparatus for selecting and transmitting one or more contents valid for each receiving terminal using identification information of the receiving terminal are provided.

Also, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a service for generating service information and / or broadcast discovery record for providing content in the service discovery and selection function based on each receiving terminal Provided is a method and an apparatus thereof.

In addition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, it provides a service providing method and apparatus for determining the identification information of the receiving terminal requesting the service and the authentication of the subscriber, and permits the transmission of the content of the service according to the determined authentication. .

According to an embodiment of the present invention, even if the content desired by the user does not exist in the service providing server basically set in the receiving terminal, a service providing method and apparatus for searching for a service providing server capable of providing the corresponding content and downloading the corresponding content is provided. do.

In addition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, even if a plurality of users using a single receiving terminal, there is provided a service providing method and apparatus for providing customized content optimized for each user.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a service providing method and apparatus for providing a content selected by a user together with an optimized content to the user.

Finally, according to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a service providing method and apparatus for allowing a user to use IPTV content in a terminal other than the IPTV receiving terminal.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a database for storing identification information for identifying a plurality of receiving terminals, a plurality of contents, and service information for selecting at least one or more contents among the plurality of contents for each of the identification information, and Acquires identification information of the receiving terminal based on a service discovery request message received from the terminal, retrieves service information corresponding to the obtained identification information from the database, and retrieves content corresponding to the retrieved service information from the receiving terminal; It provides a service providing server comprising a control unit for transmitting to.

According to another aspect of the present invention, in a receiving terminal interoperating with a service providing server, a storage unit for storing predetermined identification information and a service discovery request message to the service providing server based on the identification information stored in the storage unit. It provides a receiving terminal including a control unit for transmitting and downloading content from the service providing server.

According to another aspect of the present invention, storing the identification information for identifying a plurality of receiving terminals, a plurality of contents, and service information for selecting at least one or more of the plurality of contents in a database for each of the identification information. Receiving a service discovery request message from a receiving terminal, acquiring identification information of the receiving terminal based on the received service discovery request message, and transmitting the identification information from the database to the identification information based on the obtained identification information. Searching for the corresponding service information, and transmitting the content corresponding to the retrieved service information to the receiving terminal.

According to another aspect of the invention, the step of transmitting a service discovery request message including a predetermined identification information to the service providing server, and the one or more authentication data for authentication of the subscriber through the interworking with the service providing server; And a step of transmitting to the service providing server and downloading one or more contents from the service providing server.

According to another aspect of the invention, the entry point collecting unit for collecting the entry point of the service providing server; A description information generator which accesses the service providing server by using the entry point and generates description information of the service providing server; A server selecting unit which selects a service providing server providing content desired by a user based on the description information; And a control unit for downloading the content transmitted from the selected service providing server.

According to another aspect of the invention, the profile extraction unit for extracting the user's profile; A content determination unit determining content to be provided to a user based on the profile; And it provides a service providing server comprising a control unit for transmitting the content to the receiving terminal.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the receiving terminal may be provided with content selected to be effective to the server. The user can freely use the contents subscribed to regardless of the terminal by connecting to a receiving terminal of another user using a medium (eg, a smart card or a memory card) for inputting identification information.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, even if the content desired by the user does not exist in the service providing server basically set in the receiving terminal, the service providing server capable of providing the corresponding content may be searched and downloaded.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, even when a plurality of users use one receiving terminal, it is possible to provide customized content optimized for each user.

In addition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the content selected by the user and the content optimized for the user may be provided together.

Finally, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the user can use the IPTV content in another terminal other than the IPTV receiving terminal.

1 is a view showing a system for a service providing method according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a view showing a service providing method according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a diagram illustrating a service providing method according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a diagram illustrating a service providing method according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a view showing a service providing system according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a view showing a service providing method according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

7 is a diagram illustrating a service providing server according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

8 is a diagram illustrating an example of content provided by a service providing server according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a process in which a service providing server according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention changes and transmits content according to a type of a user terminal.

10 is a view showing a service providing method according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

11 illustrates a method of transmitting content according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

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

The system is divided into an end-user group, a network provider group, a service provider group, and a content provider group according to a service provider and a function. Can be distinguished. In addition, the system may be applied to various systems for providing content, but the present disclosure will be described using an example of a system for providing IPTV content.

Here, the end user group may be at least one of a terminal, a communication system, and a gateway of a user accessing the communication network 110 to download the content of the service. Network provider groups provide the ability to maintain and manage the network components required for the function. The service provider group is a server group that provides a communication service contracted in advance to the target user to provide the service. The content provider group is the owner of a license to own or sell the content. These service providers and network provider groups can be integrated into one entity as needed.

In FIG. 1, the plurality of receiving terminals 100 to 102 correspond to end user groups and have respective IP addresses and MAC addresses capable of interworking with the communication network 110.

The end user group may optionally include a gateway 103 that provides connectivity between the external communication network 110 and the plurality of receiving terminals 100 to 102 for a home network function. The receiving terminals 100 to 102 may be one or more of a set top box and a terminal device. In this case, the terminal device may be a device equipped with middleware such as a mobile terminal and a computer.

The communication network 110 is a wired / wireless network capable of data communication such as LAN, WAN, and WiBro.

The

network operator servers

120 and 121 belong to a network provider group and maintain and manage network components required for a function.

The IPTV service providing server 130 belongs to a service provider group, and controls and sets a service access of a terminal to a service. In addition, the service providing server 130 may belong to a content provider group as needed. In this case, the service providing server 130 may directly distribute and deliver the content of the service.

The IPTV service providing server 130 includes a communication unit 131, a control unit 132, and a database 133.

Here, the communication unit 131 is responsible for data transmission and message transmission through interworking with the communication network 110, and supports data transmission schemes such as multicast, broadcast, and unicast.

In particular, when the service providing server 130 belongs to the content provider group as well as the service provider group, the content stored in the database 133 is directly transmitted to the plurality of receiving terminals 100 to 102 at the request of the controller. It may be.

The database 133 manages profiles and contents for each receiving terminal or subscriber. The database 133 may be configured in the service providing server 130 or may exist as a separate device as necessary.

The database 133 includes identification information for identifying a receiving terminal, a plurality of contents, and service information for selecting at least one or more contents among the plurality of contents for each of the identification information.

Here, the identification information may be any one of IP information associated with the plurality of receiving terminals, a MAC address, and data received from the plurality of receiving terminals.

In this case, the data received from the plurality of receiving terminals may be data of a subscriber to which a smart card, a memory card, and the like, such as a conditional access system (CAS) card, which can be inserted into the plurality of receiving terminals, is transmitted from the plurality of receiving terminals. Can be.

The service information includes a channel map and a channel list to serve for each identification information. That is, the service information may include a channel map and a channel list for providing preset content for each identification information.

The database 133 also stores procedures for discovery and selection of services. Here, the procedure of the service discovery and selection function is divided into a service discovery entry point step, a service provider discovery step, a broadcast discovery step, and a content guide step. Can be.

Here, the service discovery entry step refers to starting a service discovery and selection function for the receiving terminals 100 to 102, and the service provider discovery step refers to searching for a service provider providing a DVB-IP service on a network. In addition, the broadcast discovery step refers to searching for a valid real-time media broadcast service corresponding to service information and generating a broadcast discovery record. The content guide step refers to generating and transmitting data of a valid broadband content guide (BCG) to the receiving terminals 100 to 102 based on the record of the broadcast service.

The controller 132 performs procedures of the service discovery and selection function stored in the database 133 and provides one or more contents to the plurality of receiving terminals through the communication unit 131.

In detail, when the service discovery request message is received from the receiving terminal 100 of the user, the controller 132 performs a procedure for the service discovery and selection function stored in the database 133.

In particular, the control unit 132 obtains identification information of the receiving terminal 100 by using the service discovery request message, and transmits a response message to the receiving terminal 100.

If the identification information is implemented as an IP address, the controller 132 obtains an IP address of the receiving terminal 100 from the service discovery request message or a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server (not shown). ), An IP address of the receiving terminal 100 may be obtained. In addition, when the identification information is implemented as a MAC address, the controller 132 may obtain the MAC address from the OS level of the service discovery request message. In addition, when the identification information is implemented with other data, the controller 132 may request the transmission of the identification information implemented with the other data to the receiving terminal 100 to obtain the identification information.

The control unit 132 generates location information of the service providing server and / or another service provider providing the DVB-IP service so that the receiving terminal 100 can access the service.

The controller 132 retrieves service information (SI) corresponding to the obtained identification information from the database, and transmits one or more contents corresponding to the retrieved service information to the receiving terminal (100).

Herein, the control unit 132 generates a broadcast discovery record for transmitting content to transmit one or more contents corresponding to the found service information to the receiving terminal 100, and generates the broadcast. Include the retrieved service information in a cast discovery record. The controller 132 transmits a broadcast discovery record including the service information to the receiving terminal 100.

In this case, the controller 132 may transmit the generated broadcast discovery record to the receiving terminal 100 in a unicast manner.

The control unit 132 corresponds to the retrieved service information to the receiving terminal 100 based on the broadcast discovery record transmitted to the user receiving terminal 100 through interworking with the receiving terminal 100. The above content can be transmitted.

The service providing server 130 may further perform authentication processing of the receiving terminal 100 or the subscriber.

In this case, the database 133 may further store authentication data for user authentication for each identification information.

When the identification information of the receiving terminal 100 is obtained, the controller 132 requests the receiving terminal 100 to transmit authentication data, and the authentication data and the database 133 obtained from the receiving terminal. The provision of content to the receiving terminal 100 may be allowed according to whether or not the data match the authentication data stored therein.

2 is a view showing a service providing method according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The service providing method according to the second exemplary embodiment is a case where the service providing server 130 belongs to both a service provider group and a content provider group. In addition, the service providing server 130 provides service information only with identification information without requesting authentication data to the receiving terminal 100.

Referring to FIG. 2, in step 200, a service discovery request message is received from the receiving terminal 100. The service discovery request message may include identification information of the receiving terminal 100.

In step 210, identification information of the receiving terminal 100 is obtained based on the service discovery request message received in step 200. That is, step 210 may extract the identification information from the received service discovery request message.

In this case, the obtained identification information of the receiving terminal 100 may be any one of IP information, MAC address, and data received from the plurality of receiving terminals associated with the receiving terminal.

Here, when the identification information is implemented with data received from the plurality of receiving terminals, the user inserts his smart card or memory card into the receiving terminal 100, and the data stored in the smart card or the memory card. May be transmitted to the service providing server 130.

In step 220, service information corresponding to the identification information obtained in step 210 (for example, data transmitted through the receiving terminal 100 from the user's memory card) is retrieved from the database.

Step 230 transmits one or more contents to the receiving terminal 100 based on the service information retrieved by the step 220.

In detail, step 230 transmits the searched service information or the broadcast discovery record including the searched service information to the receiving terminal 100, and then transmits one or more contents requested by the receiving terminal 100. Can be implemented.

3 is a diagram illustrating a service providing method according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In the service providing method according to the third exemplary embodiment, the service providing server 130 belongs to the service provider group, and there is a content provider group for transmitting content to the receiving terminal. The database 133 further stores authentication data for authentication of the subscriber.

Referring to FIG. 3, step 300 receives a service discovery request message from the receiving terminal 100.

In step 310, identification information of the receiving terminal 100 is acquired based on the service discovery request message received in step 300. If it is implemented that the service discovery request message does not include the identification information of the receiving terminal 100, the step 310 requests the transmitting terminal 100 to transmit the identification information to the receiving terminal 100. ) Identification information can be obtained.

In step 320, the receiving terminal 100 transmits authentication data to determine whether the authentication data obtained from the receiving terminal 100 matches the authentication data stored in the database 133.

In step 320, when the authentication data acquired from the receiving terminal 100 and the authentication data stored in the database 133 match, the authentication of the subscriber is determined to be successful and the contents are provided to the receiving terminal 100. Permit and authenticate the receiving terminal.

In step 330, when the provision of the content is permitted in step 320, service information corresponding to the obtained identification information is retrieved from the database 133.

Step 340 generates a broadcast discovery record including the service information retrieved by step 330. In step 340, the generated broadcast discovery record is transmitted to the receiving terminal 100.

Thereafter, the receiving terminal 100 may download one or more contents from the service providing server 130 or another content provider (not shown) providing the contents based on the transmitted broadcast discovery record.

As a result, the service providing server 130 may smoothly provide the subscriber with a predetermined service of the authenticated subscriber through the authentication process.

In addition, the service providing server 130 may prevent the receiving terminal 100 from accessing other services by not providing information about other services not designated to the subscriber.

4 is a diagram illustrating a service providing method according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The service providing method according to the fourth embodiment includes an operation between the receiving terminal 100 and the service providing server 130. In addition, the service providing server 130 belongs to both a service provider group and a content provider group. When the receiving terminal 100 requests content, the service providing server 130 may directly transmit the content.

In step 400, the receiving terminal 100 transmits a service discovery request message to the service providing server 130.

In step 410, the service providing server 130 obtains identification information from the service discovery request message transmitted in step 400.

In step 420, the service providing server 130 transmits a service discovery response message to the receiving terminal 100.

In step 430, the service providing server 130 generates location information of the service providing server 130 and location information of another service provider providing a DVB-IP service for a service provider discovery function.

In step 440, the service providing server 130 requests transmission of authentication data from the receiving terminal 100, and in step 441, the receiving terminal 100 transmits its authentication data to the service providing server 130. do.

In operation 442, it is determined whether the authentication data of the receiving terminal 100 and the authentication data previously stored in the database 133 match, and if they match, the content is provided to the receiving terminal.

In step 450, when the provision of the content is permitted in step 442, service information corresponding to the obtained identification information is retrieved from the database 133.

In step 460, a broadcast discovery record for transmitting content is generated, the service information retrieved in step 450 is included in the generated broadcast discovery record, and the broadcast discovery record including the service information is included in the receiving terminal. Send to 100.

In this case, the generated broadcast discovery record may include the location of the service providing server 130 generated by the step 430 and the location information of another service provider that provides DVB-IP service.

In step 470, the receiving terminal 100 requests the service providing server 130 to transmit content based on the broadcast discovery record transmitted in step 460.

In step 471, the service providing server 130 transmits the content requested in step 470 to the receiving terminal 100.

The service providing system according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention may be configured with a receiving terminal 100 and a plurality of service providing servers 130 as shown in FIG. 5. In this case, the receiving terminal 100 collects information of the service providing server 130 operated by different service providers, and when a user requests a specific service, the service providing the service requested by the user according to the collected information. The service may be provided by selecting the providing server 130.

In this case, the reception terminal 100 may include an entry point collector 510, a description information generator 520, a server selector 530, and a controller 540 as shown in FIG. 5.

In this case, the entry point collector 510 may collect entry points of a plurality of different service providing servers 130. In this case, the entry point collection unit 510 may include a static code, a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP), a trivial file transfer protocol (TFTP), a remote management, a multicast delivery, and an IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem). , And an entry point of the service providing server 130 may be collected using at least one of, and a service provider list. In this case, the service provider list may include a plurality of channel information in a workspace for each index page or RSS (Really Simple Syndication) / AOM.

The description information generator 520 accesses the service providing server 130 using the entry points collected by the entry point collecting unit 510, collects information of the connected service providing server 130, and collects the information of the service providing server ( The description information of 130 may be generated. In this case, the description information of the service providing server 130 may include at least one of a name, a URL, an ID, a server information, an IP address, a list of contents provided by the service providing server 130, and billing information of the service providing server 130. It may include one. In addition, the description information generator 520 may access the service providing server 130 using the channel information of the index page included in the service provider list.

The server selector 530 may select a service providing server providing content desired by a user based on the description information generated by the description information generator 520. For example, the server selector 530 searches for at least one service providing server providing content desired by the user based on the list of contents among the description information, and provides the searched service according to the charging method or the amount set by the user. You can choose one of the servers.

The controller 540 may download the content transmitted from the service providing server 130 selected by the server selector 530. For example, the controller 540 may access the service providing server 130 using at least one of the name, URL, ID, server information, and IP address of the service providing server 130 in the description information. Next, the controller 540 may request a content desired by the user from the service providing server 130 and download the content transmitted by the service providing server 130 according to the request.

The service providing system according to the fifth exemplary embodiment of the present invention connects to various service providing servers by using an entry point and obtains information on the connected service providing server, so that the content desired by the user is basically set in the receiving terminal. Even if the server does not exist, the service providing server capable of providing the corresponding content may be searched and downloaded.

In operation S610, the receiving terminal 100 may collect entry points of the service providing server 130. The entry point of the service providing server 130 may be collected using at least one of static code, DHCP, TFTP, remote management, multicast delivery, IMS, and service provider list.

In operation S620, the receiving terminal 100 may access the service providing server 130 using the entry points collected in operation S610. In this case, the receiving terminal 100 may access the service providing server 130 using the channel information of the index page included in the service provider list.

In operation S630, the receiving terminal 100 may collect server information of the service providing server 130 connected in operation S620.

In operation S640, the receiving terminal 100 may generate description information of the service providing server 130 connected in operation S620 based on the server information collected in operation S630. In this case, the description information of the service providing server 130 may include at least one of a name, a URL, an ID, a server information, an IP address, a list of contents provided by the service providing server 130, and billing information. It may include one.

When the content information desired by the user is input from the user in operation S650, the receiving terminal 100 may select a service providing server providing content desired by the user based on the description information in operation S640. For example, the server selector 530 searches for at least one service providing server providing content desired by the user based on the list of contents among the description information, and provides the searched service according to the charging method or the amount set by the user. You can choose one of the servers.

In step S660 the receiving terminal may download the content transmitted from the service providing server 130 selected in step S650. For example, the controller 540 may access the service providing server 130 using at least one of the name, URL, ID, server information, and IP address of the service providing server 130 in the description information. Next, the controller 540 may request a content desired by the user from the service providing server 130 and download the content transmitted by the service providing server 130 according to the request.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the service providing server 130 according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention may include a user authenticator 710, a profile extractor 720, a content determiner 730, and a user interface provider 740. ), A content converter 750, and a controller 760.

The user authentication unit 710 may authenticate a user accessing the service providing server 130. The user authentication unit 710 authenticates a user using a user terminal possessed by a user or a security system capable of authenticating the user, so that even when a plurality of users use one receiving terminal 100, each user You can provide customized content optimized for.

In detail, the user authentication unit 710 may authenticate a user by using terminal identification information of the user terminal. In this case, the terminal identification information may include at least one of location-based identification information and hardware unique identification information. In addition, the location-based identification information may include IP information of the terminal itself or IP information of an access point (AP) connected thereto, and the hardware-specific identification information may be MAC address information or a telephone number. Can be. For example, if the user terminal is a portable terminal, the user authentication unit 710 may authenticate the user using a phone number. As another example, if the user terminal is a terminal using WI-FI, the user authentication unit 710 may authenticate the user using identification information of the AP to which the WI-FI is connected. In this case, the identification information of the AP may include at least one of the location, IP address, MAC address of the AP.

In addition, the user authentication unit 710 may authenticate the user using one of a system using a Mobile One Time Password (OTP), a security system such as a Conditional Access System (CAS), a Downloadable CAS (DCA), and the like.

The profile extractor 720 may extract the user's profile, which is information on the user's preferred content, in order to provide the user with customized content. In this case, the profile extractor 720 may extract a profile of the user authenticated by the user authenticator 710.

In addition, the profile extraction unit 720 may extract the user's profile based on the content requested by the user. For example, the profile extracting unit 720 checks at least one of a category, a name, content, a participant such as a main character or an MC of the content, and a broadcast time of the content requested by the user for a predetermined number of times, and combines the checked information with the user. Can be extracted as a profile.

In addition, the profile extractor 720 may extract the user's profile on the basis of the online or offline activity history related to the user. In this case, the activity history on the user's network may include at least one of a user's search history, a user's product transaction history, and a user's document creation history. In this case, the document creation history may include a document or reply written by the user on the user's SNS such as a cafe or a blog. In addition, the profile extracting unit 720 generates metadata based on the extracted user profile and provides the generated metadata to the user through the social network service (SNS) of the user, thereby providing a user and the user's profile. Can share.

The content determiner 730 may determine the content to be provided to the user based on the profile extracted by the profile extractor 720. When the user requests content, the content determiner 730 may determine additional content to be provided to the user based on the basic content that is the content requested by the user and the profile extracted by the profile extractor 720. In this case, the controller 760 may provide the user with a combination of the basic content and the additional content determined by the content determiner. The content determiner 730 may provide the customized content optimized for the user by determining the content to be provided to the user based on a profile extracted from a list of the content requested by the user or an activity history on or off-line related to the user.

The user interface provider 740 may provide the user with a user interface for selecting targeting information related to services preferred by the user based on the profile extracted by the profile extractor 720. In this case, the controller 760 may transmit the content corresponding to the targeting information of the user received through the user interface to the receiving terminal 100.

The content converter 750 may convert content provided to the user based on the type of the user terminal currently used by the user. In detail, when the user wants to use the content requested by the user through the receiving terminal 100 in a terminal other than the IPTV receiving terminal, the content converting unit 750 may convert the content to be provided to the user according to the terminal desired by the user. have. In this case, the content converter 750 may convert the content provided to the user into a form optimized for the user terminal based on at least one of a location of the user terminal, software used in the user terminal, a display size, and hardware capabilities. An example of converting the content provided to the user by the content converter 750 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 9.

The controller 760 may transmit the content to be provided to the user to the receiving terminal 100. When the basic content, which is the content requested by the user, belongs to the content category defined by the user, the controller 760 may combine the basic content and the additional content determined by the content determiner 730 and transmit the combined content to the receiving terminal 100. For example, when a user defines a movie category as a content category to be watched by combining additional content, the controller 760 combines the additional content and the movie content requested by the user and transmits it to the receiving terminal 100 when the user requests the movie content. Can be. In this case, when the user requests content other than a movie, the controller 760 may transmit only the content requested by the user to the receiving terminal 100.

In addition, when the user requests content, the controller 760 may transmit the combined content with the additional content to the receiving terminal 100 without checking the content category of the basic content requested by the user.

The service providing system according to the sixth exemplary embodiment of the present invention authenticates a user using a user terminal possessed by a user or a security system capable of authenticating the user, thereby allowing a plurality of users to use one receiving terminal 100. Even in this case, it is possible to provide customized content optimized for each user.

In addition, the service providing system according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention determines the content to be provided to the user on the basis of the list of the content requested by the user or the online or offline activity history associated with the user, thereby providing a customized content optimized for the user Can provide.

In addition, the service providing system according to the sixth exemplary embodiment of the present invention may provide the content selected by the user and the optimized content to the user by providing a combination of the content selected by the user and the customized content optimized for the user.

Finally, the service providing system according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention converts the content to be provided to the user according to the type of the user terminal, so that the user can use the content in a terminal other than the IPTV receiving terminal.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the service providing server 130 according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention combines the basic content 810 selected by the user and the additional content 820 determined by the content determiner 730 to the user. 800 may be provided.

In this case, the user may check the additional content 820 while watching the basic content 810 selected by the user, or may view the additional content 820 when the additional content 820 is the content desired by the user. In this case, the additional content 820 may include at least one of an advertisement, a movie, news, and life information selected by the content determiner 730 based on the profile.

When the service providing server 130 according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention receives a request to transmit the content 901 to be provided to the user to the user terminal as illustrated in FIG. 9, the service providing server 130 is provided to the user based on the type of the user terminal. You can convert the provided content. In this case, the user terminal may be a portable terminal capable of receiving contents from the service providing server 130 through wired or wireless, such as the PMP 910, the tablet PC 920, the mobile phone 930, and the smart phone 940.

In this case, the service providing server 130 may convert the content differently according to the display size of the user terminal as shown in FIG. 9. For example, the service providing server 130 may convert the content 921 transmitted to the tablet PC 920 having a large screen size to have a larger display size than the content 931 transmitted to the mobile phone.

In addition, the service providing server 130 may convert the resolution of the content differently according to the hardware capabilities of the user terminal. For example, the service providing server 130 may convert the content 941 transmitted to the smart phone 940 having a high-performance CPU into a higher resolution than the content 931 transmitted to the mobile phone 930.

In operation S1010, the user authentication unit 710 of the service providing server 130 may authenticate a user connected to the service providing server 130. In this case, the user authentication unit 710 may authenticate the user using a user terminal possessed by the user or a security system capable of authenticating the user.

In operation S1020, the profile extractor 720 may extract a profile of the user authenticated in operation S1010. At this time, the profile extraction unit 720 may extract the user's profile based on the content requested by the user, or extract the user's profile based on the online or offline activity history related to the user.

In operation S1030, the content determiner 730 may determine content to be provided to the user based on the profile extracted in operation S1020.

In this case, the user interface providing unit 740 may provide the user with a user interface for selecting targeting information related to services preferred by the user based on the profile extracted by the profile extraction unit 720.

In operation S1040, the controller 760 may transmit the content determined in operation S1030 to the user. When the user interface providing unit 740 provides the user interface to the user, the controller 760 may transmit the content corresponding to the targeting information of the user received through the user interface to the receiving terminal 100. A detailed process of transmitting the content to the user by the controller 760 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 11 below.

11 illustrates a method of transmitting content according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. Steps S1110 to S1160 of FIG. 11 may be included in step S1040 shown in FIG. 10.

In operation S1110, the controller 760 may determine whether a content request message has been received. At this time, the content request message is a message that the user requests the content selected by the user through the receiving terminal (100). If the content request message is not received, the controller 760 may perform step S1120 of transmitting the content determined in step S1030 to the user.

In addition, when receiving the content request message in operation S1110, the controller 760 may determine whether the content corresponding to the content request message belongs to a content category defined by the user. The controller 760 may perform step S1120 when the content corresponding to the content request message does not belong to a content category defined by the user.

In operation S1130, the controller 760 may set basic content and additional content. In more detail, the controller 760 may set content corresponding to the content request message as basic content, and set content determined in operation S1030 as additional content. In this case, step S1130 may be performed when the content request message is received in step S1110 and the content corresponding to the content request message belongs to the content category defined by the user, or when the user does not define the content category.

In operation S1140, the controller 760 may check whether the user requests to transmit the content to the user terminal. In this case, when the user does not request to transmit the content to the user terminal, the controller 760 may provide the user with content combining the basic content and the additional content by performing operation S1160. When the user requests to transmit the content to the user terminal, the controller 760 may request the content converter 750 to convert the content by performing step S1150.

In operation S1150, the content converter 750 may convert content combining the basic content and the additional content based on the type of the user terminal currently used by the user. In this case, the content converter 750 may convert the content provided to the user into a form optimized for the user terminal based on at least one of a location of the user terminal, software used in the user terminal, a display size, and hardware capabilities.

In operation S1160, the controller 760 may transmit the content converted in operation S1160 to the receiving terminal 100. In addition, when the user does not request to transmit the content to the user terminal, the controller 760 may provide the user with a combination of the basic content and the additional content set in step S1130.

In this case, steps S1140 and S1140 for converting the content according to whether the user requests the content to be transmitted to the user terminal may be performed after step S1120 to convert the content determined in step S1030 according to the user terminal.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, by accessing various service providing servers using an entry point and obtaining information on the connected service providing server, even if the content desired by the user does not exist in the service providing server basically set in the receiving terminal, the corresponding content is provided. Search the service providing server that can provide the content can be downloaded.

Further, according to an embodiment of the present invention, even if a plurality of users use a single receiving terminal by authenticating the user using a user terminal possessed by a user or a security system capable of authenticating the user himself, It can provide customized content. In addition, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the content to be provided to the user may be determined based on a list of contents requested by the user or an activity history on or off-line related to the user, thereby providing customized content optimized for the user. In this case, according to an embodiment of the present invention, by providing a combination of the content selected by the user and the customized content optimized for the user, the user selected content and the optimized content may be provided together.

Finally, according to an embodiment of the present invention, by converting the content to be provided to the user according to the type of the user terminal, the user can use the content in a terminal other than the IPTV receiving terminal.

Methods according to an embodiment of the present invention may be implemented in the form of program instructions that can be executed by various computer means and recorded in a computer readable medium. The computer readable medium may include program instructions, data files, data structures, and the like, alone or in combination. Program instructions recorded on the media may be those specially designed and constructed for the purposes of the present invention, or they may be of the kind well-known and available to those having skill in the computer software arts.

As described above, although the present invention has been described with reference to limited embodiments and drawings, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains various modifications and variations from such descriptions. This is possible.

Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments, but should be determined not only by the claims below but also by the equivalents of the claims.

Claims

A database for storing identification information, a plurality of contents, and service information for selecting at least one or more contents among the plurality of contents for each of the identification information; And

Acquires identification information of the receiving terminal based on a service discovery request message received from a receiving terminal, retrieves service information corresponding to the obtained identification information from the database, and receives the content corresponding to the retrieved service information; Control unit for transmitting to the terminal;

Service providing server comprising a.
The method of claim 1,

The control unit,

And generating a broadcast discovery record for transmitting content to include the retrieved service information in the generated broadcast discovery record and transmitting a broadcast discovery record including the service information to the receiving terminal.
The method of claim 1,

The database,

Store authentication data for identification of each user by identification information,

The control unit

And a service providing server for authenticating the receiving terminal using the authentication data corresponding to the identification information received from the receiving terminal.
The method of claim 1,

The identification information,

And at least one of IP information, MAC address, and data received from the plurality of receiving terminals.
The method of claim 1,

The receiving terminal,

A service providing server, which is one of a set top box and a terminal device.
The method of claim 1,

The control unit

The service providing server for transmitting the content corresponding to the retrieved service information to the receiving terminal in a unicast manner.
In the receiving terminal,

A control unit for transmitting a discovery request message including predetermined identification information to a service providing server and downloading content transmitted from the service providing server;

The service providing server,

Receiving service information corresponding to the identification information, and transmitting one or more contents according to the retrieved service information to the receiving terminal.
The method of claim 7, wherein

The control unit

Receiving terminal for transmitting the pre-stored authentication data to the service providing server in response to a request of the service providing server.
Receiving a service discovery request message including identification information of the receiving terminal from a receiving terminal;

Retrieving service information corresponding to the identification information based on the identification information; And

Transmitting one or more contents according to the service information to the receiving terminal by using the retrieved service information.

Service providing method comprising a.
The method of claim 9,

The step of transmitting the content

Including the retrieved service information in a broadcast discovery record for transmitting content; And

Transmitting a broadcast discovery record including the service information to the receiving terminal;

Service providing method comprising a.
Transmitting a service discovery request message including preset identification information to a service providing server;

Transmitting at least one authentication data for authentication of a subscriber to the service providing server through interworking with the service providing server; And

Downloading one or more contents from the service providing server

Reception processing method comprising a.
An entry point collection unit collecting entry points of the service providing server;

A description information generator which accesses the service providing server by using the entry point and generates description information of the service providing server;

A server selecting unit which selects a service providing server providing content desired by a user based on the description information; And

Control unit for downloading the content transmitted from the selected service providing server

Receiving terminal comprising a.
The method of claim 12,

The entry point collection unit,

Receiving terminal, characterized in that for collecting the entry point of the service providing server associated with the content desired by the user using the service provider list.
The method of claim 13,

The description information generation unit,

And a terminal for accessing the service providing server by using channel information of an index page included in the service provider list.
A profile extraction unit for extracting a user profile;

A content determination unit determining content to be provided to a user based on the profile; And

A controller for transmitting the determined content to a receiving terminal;

Service providing server comprising a.
The method of claim 15,

The profile extraction unit,

The service providing server, characterized in that for extracting the user's profile based on the content requested by the user.
The method of claim 16,

Further comprising a user interface providing unit for providing a user with a user interface for selecting targeting information associated with services preferred by the user based on the profile,

The control unit, the service providing server, characterized in that for transmitting the content corresponding to the targeting information of the user received through the user interface to the receiving terminal.
The method of claim 15,

The profile extraction unit,

And extracting a profile of the user based on a history of activities on or off-line related to the user.
The method of claim 18,

The activity history on the network of the user,

And at least one of a search history of the user, a product transaction history of the user, and a document creation history of the user.
The method of claim 15,

The control unit,

A service providing server, comprising: providing a user with a basic content, which is content requested by a user, and additional content, the content being determined by the content determining unit
The method of claim 20,

The content determination unit,

And providing additional content to be provided to the user based on the profile and the basic content.
The method of claim 20,

The control unit,

And when the basic content belongs to a content category defined by the user, combining the basic content and the additional content and transmitting the combined content to the receiving terminal.
The method of claim 15,

User authentication unit for authenticating the user using the terminal identification information of the user terminal

More,

The profile extraction unit,

Service providing server, characterized in that for extracting the profile of the authenticated user.
The method of claim 15,

Content conversion unit for converting the content provided to the user based on the type of the user terminal currently used by the user

It includes more and service provider server.
The method of claim 24,

The content conversion unit,

The service providing server, characterized in that for converting the content provided to the user based on at least one of the location of the user terminal, software, display size, hardware capabilities used in the user terminal optimized form for the user terminal.
Collecting entry points of the service providing server;

Connecting to a service providing server using the entry point;

Generating description information of the service providing server by collecting information of the service providing server;

Selecting a service providing server providing content desired by a user based on the description information; And

Downloading content transmitted from the selected service providing server

Reception processing method comprising a.
Extracting the user's profile;

Determining content to be provided to a user based on the profile; And

Transmitting the determined content to a receiving terminal;

Service providing method comprising a.