CN101361364B

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: CN101361364B
Application number: CN2007800015876A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 宋泰永; 孙泳哲; 金勇准; 金孝大
Original assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Current assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Priority date: 2006-02-11
Filing date: 2007-01-08
Publication date: 2011-06-29
Anticipated expiration: 2027-01-08
Also published as: KR20070081389A; CN101361364A

Abstract

Translated fromChinese

提供一种使用存储的电子节目指南(EPG)信息统一管理广播内容的EPG提供设备和方法。所述EPG提供设备包括：存储单元，存储广播内容和EPG信息；EPG屏幕配置单元，使用EPG信息配置包括关于过去的广播内容、当前广播内容和未来的广播内容的信息的EPG屏幕；控制单元，基于用户输入信号统一管理EPG屏幕上提供的广播内容。

Provided are an EPG providing apparatus and method for collectively managing broadcast contents using stored Electronic Program Guide (EPG) information. The EPG providing device includes: a storage unit that stores broadcast content and EPG information; an EPG screen configuration unit that uses the EPG information to configure an EPG screen including information on past broadcast content, current broadcast content, and future broadcast content; a control unit that Broadcast content provided on the EPG screen is collectively managed based on user input signals.

Description

Electronic program guides provides equipment and method

Technical field

Equipment consistent with the present invention and method relate to electronic program guides (EPG) the information unified management broadcasted content that uses storage, specifically, allow the user of digital recorder to use EPG information easily to manage content precedence record, that current broadcast maybe will be broadcasted.

Equipment consistent with the present invention and method also relate to uses EPG information that video request program (VOD) service is provided, and more particularly, stores and provides the EPG information of broadcasted content in the past, and use the VOD service that Unrecorded broadcasted content is provided.

Background technology

Electronic program guides (EPG) has become the problem of growing interest in the environment that broadcast service is provided by multichannel by the various medium such as surface wave, satellite and cable.In existing EPG equipment, handling by using a teleswitch usually provides the multimedia recording apparatus (such as personal video recorder (PVR)) of EPG to provide EPG information to the user.The user selects to be included in the broadcasted content among the EPG that provides, to watch or to write down the current broadcasted content that maybe will provide that provides.

Yet EPG information only comprises the information that maybe will broadcast of current broadcast.Consequently, in order to check the broadcast content information of previous broadcasting, the user must adopt different paths.In addition, only after using the broadcast content information search broadcasted content of checking, the user just can watch the broadcasted content of unwritten previous broadcasting.

For example, in order to check the broadcast content information of previous broadcasting, the user should use the computer that is connected with network to be connected to provides the broadcast service supplier or the website of broadcast content information in the past.In addition, the user may not use and be used to use the multimedia recording device of broadcasted content in the past, must be connected to broadcast service supplier or website that broadcasted content in the past is provided like this by the computer that is connected with network, buy and download broadcasted content in the past.

Summary of the invention

Technical scheme

An aspect of of the present present invention is to provide a kind of electronic program guides (EPG) that equipment and method are provided, by described equipment and method, the EPG information of not only current broadcast and broadcasted content that will broadcast (the current and following broadcasted content), and before the EPG information of the broadcasted content (broadcasted content in past) of broadcasting had been stored and had offered the user, thereby the user can the unified management broadcasted content.

An aspect of of the present present invention also is to provide a kind of use EPG information to provide the EPG of video request program (VOD) service that equipment and method are provided, wherein, the EPG information of the broadcasted content in past is stored and provides, and Unrecorded broadcasted content is provided by the VOD service.

Beneficial effect

According to the present invention, by the EPG information of storage broadcasted content in the past, and the EPG information of storage offered the user, the user can use the EPG of broadcasted content in the past.Therefore, provide providing in the equipment with being recorded in EPG, thereby allow user's unified management broadcasted content about the information of the broadcasted content in past EPG information with the current or following broadcasted content.In addition, will be used to provide screen to offer the user according to user's requirement, thereby allow the user to use broadcasted content in the past effectively about the information of the broadcasted content in past.

In addition, the EPG information of the broadcasted content in past can be stored and provide, and Unrecorded broadcasted content can be provided by the VOD service.In addition, owing to use previously stored EPG information configuration EPG screen, and use the EPG information of VOD service to produce URL from the VOD server, therefore can apace EPG information and VOD service be offered the user.In single screen, provide over, the EPG information of current and following broadcasted content, thereby make things convenient for the management of user to broadcasted content.

Description of drawings

By with reference to the accompanying drawings exemplary embodiment of the present invention being described in detail, above-mentioned and others of the present invention will become apparent, wherein:

The schematically illustrated system that equipment is provided according to the electronic program guides that comprises the unified management broadcasted content (EPG) of exemplary embodiment of the present invention of Fig. 1;

Fig. 2 is the block diagram that equipment is provided according to the EPG of the unified management broadcasted content of exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

The EPG screen that EPG according to exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides equipment to provide is provided Fig. 3;

The EPG screen that EPG according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides equipment to provide is provided Fig. 4;

The EPG screen that EPG according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides equipment to provide is provided Fig. 5;

The EPG screen that EPG according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides equipment to provide is provided Fig. 6;

Fig. 7 is the diagrammatic sketch that the EPG with the unified management broadcasted content provides the EPG screen of the EPG screen of Fig. 4 that equipment provides and Fig. 6 to compare;

Fig. 8 illustrates the flow chart that method is provided according to the EPG of exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 9 illustrates the system that video request program (VOD) service is provided according to the use EPG information of exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 10 is that the use EPG information according to exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides the EPG of VOD service that the block diagram of equipment is provided;

The table of the element of the URL(uniform resource locator) (URL) that provides with the VOD service according to the demonstration of exemplary embodiment of the present invention is provided Figure 11;

Figure 12 is the flow chart that illustrates according to the VOD service providing method of exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 13 is the flow chart that illustrates according to the VOD service providing method of another exemplary embodiment of the present invention; And

The use EPG information that Figure 14 illustrates according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides VOD the screen of service.

Best mode

Exemplary embodiment of the present invention has overcome above-mentioned shortcoming and top other shortcoming of not describing. In addition, the present invention does not need to overcome above-mentioned shortcoming, and exemplary embodiment of the present invention can not overcome above-mentioned any problem.

According to an aspect of the present invention, provide a kind of EPG that equipment is provided, described EPG provides equipment to comprise: memory cell, EPG screen dispensing unit and control module. Cell stores broadcasted content and EPG information. EPG screen dispensing unit use EPG information configuration comprises the EPG screen of the information of broadcasted content, current broadcast content and the broadcasted content in future about the past, thereby the broadcasted content that is stored in the memory cell can be distinguished with the broadcasted content that is not stored in the memory cell. Control module is based on the broadcasted content that is used for providing on the user input signal unified management EPG screen of broadcasted content.

EPG provides equipment also can comprise: broadcast signal processing unit, and process the broadcast singal that receives and produce broadcasted content and EPG information; Decoder is to reading from memory cell or decoding by the broadcasted content that broadcast signal processing unit produces.

When EPG screen dispensing unit configuration EPG screen so that the information about the broadcasted content in past to be provided, EPG screen dispensing unit can omit for the zone that provides about the information of the broadcasted content of the airtime frame of the broadcasted content that is not included in storage, or reduces the size in described zone.

When the selection signal that receives for the zone that reduces, control module can be controlled EPG screen dispensing unit and show about being included in by selecting the information of the broadcasted content in the zone that reduces that signal selects.

When EPG screen dispensing unit configuration EPG screen so that the information about the broadcasted content in past to be provided, EPG screen dispensing unit can reduce be used to the size that provides about the zone of the information of broadcasted content, and described broadcasted content is not included in the airtime frame of broadcasted content of storage or by the channel different from the broadcasted content of storage and is broadcasted.

Control unit may command decoder decode and the broadcasted content of reproduction by selecting for the selection signal of the broadcasted content that is stored in the past in the memory cell, perhaps the broadcasted content by deletion or change storage comes the broadcasted content of managed storage in memory cell.

The configurable EPG screen of EPG screen dispensing unit, so that the EPG screen comprises the information that indication current broadcast content is writing down, control unit may command decoder decode and the current broadcast content of reproduction by selecting for the selection signal of current broadcast content.

The configurable EPG screen of EPG screen dispensing unit, so that the EPG screen comprises the information of the broadcasted content that indicates whether booking situation future, control unit can be provided with or cancel the booking situation by the broadcasted content in the future of selecting for the selection signal of the broadcasted content in future.

According to a further aspect in the invention, provide a kind of EPG that method is provided, described method comprises: stores broadcast contents and EPG information; Use EPG information configuration comprises the EPG screen of the information of broadcasted content, current broadcast content and the broadcasted content in future about the past, thereby the broadcasted content of storage can be distinguished with the broadcasted content that does not have storage; Based on the broadcasted content that provides on the user input signal unified management EPG screen that is used for broadcasted content.

According to a further aspect in the invention, provide a kind of EPG of use information to provide the EPG of VOD service that equipment is provided.Described EPG provides equipment to comprise: memory cell, control unit and communication unit.Cell stores broadcasted content and EPG information.Control unit receives the user input signal that is used to select broadcasted content, reads the EPG information of the broadcasted content of selection from memory cell, and uses the EPG information that reads to produce URL(uniform resource locator) (URL).Use the URL that produces that the VOD service of the broadcasted content of selection is provided to communication unit from the VOD server that the VOD service is provided.

Control unit can comprise: the URL generation unit, broadcasting channel information and the broadcasting time started information using the address and the port numbers of previously stored VOD server and be included in the broadcasted content of the selection in the EPG information produce URL.

If the VOD server needs member authentication, then the URL generation unit can produce URL by other use member authentication required user ID and user cipher.

EPG provides equipment also can comprise: signal processing unit, and handle the broadcast singal that receives and produce broadcasted content and EPG information; Decoder is decoded and with its output to broadcasted content.Control unit can be with the broadcasted content that produces and EPG information stores in memory cell, and control decoder decode and broadcasted content is provided.

The VOD service of the broadcasted content of selection can be provided to communication unit from the VOD server with stream transmission mode.

EPG provides equipment also can comprise: EPG screen dispensing unit is the form that can be presented on the screen with the EPG information processing of storing.The configurable EPG screen of EPG screen dispensing unit is to show the EPG information of broadcasted content in the past, current broadcast content and the broadcasted content in future.

The configurable EPG screen of EPG screen dispensing unit indicates whether the information of record and storage broadcasted content in the past in memory cell so that the EPG screen comprises.

The configurable EPG screen of EPG screen dispensing unit can provide the information of broadcasted content in the past by the VOD service so that the EPG screen comprises indication.

The configurable EPG screen of EPG screen dispensing unit is so that the EPG screen comprises the information of the broadcasted content that indicates whether booking situation future.

Control unit can determine whether be stored in the memory cell by the broadcasted content that user input signal is selected, if the broadcasted content of selecting is not stored in the memory cell, then use the EPG information that reads to produce URL, VOD service with broadcasted content that selection is provided, if the broadcasted content of selecting is stored in the memory cell, then read and reproduce the broadcasted content of selection.

According to a further aspect in the invention, provide a kind of EPG of use information to provide the EPG of VOD service that method is provided.Described EPG provides method to comprise: receive the user input signal that is used to select broadcasted content; Use the EPG information of the broadcasted content of selecting to produce URL; Use the URL that produces that the VOD service of the broadcasted content of selection is provided from the VOD server that the VOD service is provided.

Embodiment

Below, describe exemplary embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in detail.

The schematically illustrated system that equipment is provided according to the electronic program guides that comprises the unified management broadcasted content (EPG) of exemplary embodiment of the present invention of Fig. 1

Broadcasting station 10 offers EPG by broadcast singal with EPG information and broadcastedcontent equipment 20 is provided.EPG information can comprise: the brief information of the airtime of title, broadcasting channel, broadcasted content, the kind of broadcast program, number of broadcast times, protagonist and broadcasted content etc.Althoughbroadcasting station 10 providesequipment 20 with the EPG that EPG information offers Fig. 1, providing the operator of EPG service or installing the EPG that also EPG information can be offered Fig. 1 providesequipment 20.

Available personal video recorder (PVR), personal computer (PC) maybe can receive with other device of recorded announce content and realize providingequipment 20 according to the EPG of exemplary embodiment of the present invention.EPG provides special time thatequipment 20 can be provided with the user or the EPG information that receives and store all broadcasting channels when sending EPG information updating order.EPG provides equipment EPG information and broadcasted content that 20 processing broadcast singals also will be included in the broadcast singal to be stored in the memory cell 24.Content Management is installed incontrol unit 22 is used, with based on the EPG information of user input signal managed storage in memory cell 24.Memory cell 24 can comprise: EPGinformation memory cell 25 is used to store EPG information; Broadcastedcontent memory cell 26 is used for stores broadcast contents.

Fig. 2 is the block diagram that equipment is provided according to the EPG of the unified management broadcasted content of exemplary embodiment of the present invention.EPG provides equipment to comprise: broadcastsignal processing unit 210,decoder 220,control unit 230,memory cell 240 and EPGscreen dispensing unit 250.

Broadcastsignal processing unit 210 is handled the broadcast singal that receives, to produce broadcasted content and EPG information.Broadcastsignal processing unit 210 can comprise the tuner (not shown), the broadcast singal that specific channel tuning and that demodulation is selected by the user is imported, and output transport stream; The demodulation multiplexer (not shown) will be EPG information and the broadcasted content that comprises video flowing and audio stream from the multiplexing transmission flow demultiplexing oftuner output.Decoder 220 is from demodulation multiplexer receiver, video/audio transport stream packet, and they are decoded as video/audio signal.The configuration of broadcastsignal processing unit 210 can be according to the type change with processed broadcast singal.

Broadcasted content thatcontrol unit 230 produces broadcastsignal processing unit 210 and EPG information stores are in memory cell 240.Memory cell 240 can be in different spaces stores broadcast contents and EPG information in (for example, EPGinformation memory cell 241 shown in Fig. 2 and broadcasted content memory cell 243).

When receiving the user input signal of request EPG from user input apparatus (such as remote control),control unit 230 reads the EPG information that is stored in thememory cell 240, and control EPGscreen dispensing unit 250 uses the EPG information configuration that reads EPG to be offered user's EPG screen.

EPGscreen dispensing unit 250 can dispose and provide the broadcasted content (current broadcast content) of the broadcasted content (broadcasted content in past) that comprises about previous broadcasting, current broadcast and the EPG screen of the information of the broadcasted content (following broadcasted content) that will broadcast under the control of controller 230.Provide in the equipment at existing EPG, do not store and just deleted the EPG information that EPG supplier (such as the broadcasting station) before provided.Yet, provide EPG information stores that equipment will before provide inmemory cell 240 according to the EPG of exemplary embodiment of the present invention.Therefore, when the user asked EPG, EPG provided equipment to provide to comprise not only about the current and following broadcasted content, and about the EPG of the information of the broadcasted content in past.

EPGscreen dispensing unit 250 configuration EPG screens, thus inmemory cell 240 record and storage about the information of broadcasted content can with the data separation that is not stored in thememory cell 240 about broadcasted content.For example, can with the zone that is used to provide regional different color about the EPG screen of the information of Unrecorded broadcasted content to be expressed as to provide the EPG screen that designs about the information of the broadcasted content of record.Also can indicate the broadcasted content of record, thereby distinguish with Unrecorded broadcasted content by motion picture thumbnail or icon.Therefore, the EPG screen that provides about the information of the broadcasted content in past can be provided the user, easily checks the information about the broadcasted content that has write down, and can play the program of record immediately.

When EPGscreen dispensing unit 250 is configured to provide about the information of the broadcasted content in past and during the EPG screen that designs, EPGscreen dispensing unit 250 can be economized slightly to be provided about the information of the broadcasted content in the airtime frame of the broadcasted content that is not included in storage and zone of designing or the size that reduces described zone, thereby allows the user easily to discern information about the broadcasted content of record and storage.At this moment, if from user input apparatus input and the regional corresponding signal of selecting that reduces, then controlunit 230 may command EPGscreen dispensing units 250 show about being included in the information by the broadcasted content in the zone that reduces of selecting the signal selection.

When EPGscreen dispensing unit 250 is configured to provide about the information of the broadcasted content in past and during the EPG screen that designs, EPGscreen dispensing unit 250 also can be reduced to be provided about the information of the airtime frame of the broadcasted content that is not included in storage and the broadcasted content in the broadcasting channel and the size in the zone of designing.At this moment, if from user input apparatus input and the regional corresponding signal of selecting that reduces, then controlunit 230 may command EPGscreen dispensing units 250 show about being included in the information by the broadcasted content in the zone that reduces of selecting the signal selection.

When EPGscreen dispensing unit 250 showed information about the current broadcast content, EPGscreen dispensing unit 250 configurable EPG screens were writing down the information of current broadcast content so that the EPG screen comprises indication.When EPGscreen dispensing unit 250 shows information about the broadcasted content in future, EPGscreen dispensing unit 250 configurable EPG screens indicate whether to use by the user input signal setting and the information of coming the broadcasted content in booking situation future from the booking situation configuration information that controlunit 230 provides so that the EPG screen comprises.

The user input signal that controlunit 230 receives for the broadcasted content that provides in the EPG screen, and based on the user input signal unified management broadcasted content that receives.Control unit 230 also can as described belowly be managed the broadcasted content perhaps following in broadcasted content in the past, the current broadcast respectively.When receiving for the selection signal that is included in about the broadcasted content in the information of the broadcasted content that is stored in the past thememory cell 240 from user input apparatus, the broadcasted content of selecting signal to select is also reproduced in 220 decodings ofcontrol unit 230 may commanddecoders.Control unit 230 also can be managed broadcasted content based on user input signal, with deletion or change the broadcasted content be included in about in the information of the broadcasted content that is stored in the past in the memory cell 240.When receiving for the selection signal that is included in about the broadcasted content the information of current broadcast content from user input apparatus, the broadcasted content of selecting is also reproduced in 220 decodings ofcontrol unit 230 may command decoders.When receiving for the selection signal that is included in about the broadcasted content the information of the broadcasted content in future from user input apparatus,control unit 230 can be provided with or cancel the booking situation of the broadcasted content of selection.

The EPG screen that EPG according to exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides equipment to provide is provided Fig. 3.

As shown in Figure 3, have channel axis and time shaft, and the EPG of broadcasted content in the past, current broadcast content and following broadcasted content can be provided according to the EPG screen that is used for the unified management broadcasted content of exemplary embodiment of the present invention.When the EPG of broadcasted content in the past was provided, this EPG can comprise the information that indicates whether to write down broadcasted content in the past.When the EPG of current broadcast content was provided, this EPG can comprise the information that indicates whether to write down the current broadcast content.When the EPG of following broadcasted content was provided, this EPG can comprise the information of the broadcasted content that indicates whether booking situation future.

Below, with reference to Fig. 4 to Fig. 7 the EPG screen of EPG information that is used for providing effectively broadcasted content in the past according to exemplary embodiment of the present invention is described.The EPG screen that EPG according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides equipment to provide is provided Fig. 4.

In Fig. 4, thatEPG screen 401 shows is current accordingly with each time frame, the EPG information of the broadcasted content in past and future.If the current time is included among the time frame 9-10, the broadcasted content in EPG past of providing equipment to dot to have write down then is so that described broadcasted content and Unrecorded broadcasted content are distinguished, shown in screen401.In EPG screen 402, be used to provide the EPG that current broadcast content and following broadcasted content are provided regional identical of zone andEPG screen 401 of the EPG of current broadcast content and following broadcasted content, be used for providing the zone of EPG of the broadcasted content in past only provide about the broadcasted content that is included in the past writing time frame the information of broadcasted content.By omitting about being included in the information of the broadcasted content in the time frame that does not write down broadcasted content in the past, the user than the broadcasted content that can be more prone to identification record inEPG screen 401, and selects and plays the broadcasted content of record easily inEPG screen 402.

The EPG screen that EPG according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides equipment to provide is provided Fig. 5.In Fig. 5, thatEPG screen 501 shows is current accordingly with each time frame, the EPG information of the broadcasted content in past and future.In Fig. 5, suppose that the current time is included among the time frame 9-10 as shown in Figure 4.For the EPG of broadcasted content in the past is provided, will be shown as the regional A that reduces about the information of the broadcasted content in the airtime frame of the broadcasted content that is not included in record inEPG screen 501.

In case the user uses such as the user input apparatus input of the remote control selection signal for the regional A that reduces, the EPG information that is included in the broadcast singal among the regional A that reduces of selection just is shown as EPG screen 502.Therefore, the user can use the screen that provides 501 to check information about the broadcasted content in the past in the airtime frame of the broadcasted content that is included in record, and can provide information to the user, shown inEPG screen 502 about the broadcasted content in the airtime frame that is included in Unrecorded broadcasted content.

The EPG screen that EPG according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides equipment to provide is provided Fig. 6.EPG screen shown in Fig. 6 is the another kind of form of theEPG screen 502 of Fig. 5, in Fig. 6, supposes equally with Fig. 5, and the current time is included among the time frame 9-10.

In the EPG of Fig. 6 screen, the broadcasted content that is included in the airtime frame of broadcasted content in the past of having stored is cancelled, reason be by with the different described broadcasted content of channel broadcasting of broadcasted content in past of storage.For example, unwrittenly in the time frame 1-2 of the EPG of Fig. 5screen 502 be shown as the area B that reduces about " TV play-Grace Under Fire " and the information of " intimate ".Details (that is, its title, channel, airtime and type) at " the Curtain Call " of time frame 1-2 record are also shown in the zone that reduces to enlarge owing to the zone of the information that is used for Unrecorded broadcasted content.As described in reference Fig. 5, when user expectation is watched when being included in the information of the broadcasted content in the area B that reduces, the user can by input for the selection signal of the area B that reduces check about in identical airtime frame but the information of the broadcasted content by the channel broadcasting different with the broadcasted content of record.

Fig. 7 is the diagrammatic sketch that the EPG with the unified management broadcasted content provides the EPG screen of the EPG screen of Fig. 4 that equipment provides and Fig. 6 to compare.Similar to theEPG screen 401 of Fig. 4, thatEPG screen 701 shows is current accordingly with each time frame, the EPG information of the broadcasted content in past andfuture.In EPG screen 701, the broadcasted content in the past of having write down is represented as dotted line, to distinguish with Unrecorded broadcastedcontent.In EPG screen 702, EPG screen as Fig. 6, information about the broadcasted content in the airtime frame of the broadcasted content that is not included in record is shown as the regional A that reduces, about in the airtime frame of the broadcasted content that is included in record but the information of the broadcasted content by the channel broadcasting different with the broadcasted content of record is shown as the area B that reduces.

Can EPG screen 701 or 702 be offered the user by expectation.In other words, when user expectation is checked information about the broadcasted content in past uniformly, can provideEPG screen 701 to the user by handling user input apparatus, when user expectation is provided details about the broadcasted content of record, can provideEPG screen 702 to the user.The EPG of unified management broadcasted content provides equipment can be configured to optionally provide the various EPG screens of Fig. 4 to Fig. 7 according to user's demand.

Fig. 8 illustrates the flow chart that method is provided according to the EPG of exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

At operation S810, broadcasted content that controlunit 230 will produce at broadcastsignal processing unit 210 and EPG information stores are in memory cell 240.At operation S820, the EPG screen of the information of the broadcasted content that EPGscreen dispensing unit 250 uses the EPG information that is stored in thememory cell 240 to dispose under the control ofcontroller 230 to comprise about the past, current broadcast content and the broadcasted content in future.At this moment, EPGscreen dispensing unit 250 configuration EPG screens are so that the broadcasted content that is stored in thememory cell 240 can be distinguished with the broadcasted content that is not stored in the memory cell 240.At operation S830, the user input signal that controlunit 230 receives for the broadcasted content that provides in the EPG screen of configuration, and based on user input signal unified management broadcasted content.

Below, will describe and use EPG information to provide the EPG of video request program (VOD) service that equipment and method are provided

The use EPG information that Fig. 9 illustrates according to exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides VOD the system of service.Described system comprises:broadcasting station 910, EPG provideequipment 920 andVOD server 930.

Broadcasting station 910 providesequipment 920 with EPG information and broadcast content delivery to EPG by broadcast singal.EPG information can comprise: the brief information of the airtime of title, broadcasting channel, broadcasted content, the kind of broadcast program, number of broadcast times, protagonist and broadcasted content etc.Although provideequipment 920 that EPG is provided information, also can provideequipment 920 that EPG is provided information to the EPG shown in Fig. 9 from operator or the device that the EPG service is provided frombroadcasting station 910 to the EPG shown in Fig. 9.

Available personal video recorder (PVR), personal computer (PC) maybe can receive with other device of recorded announce content and realize that EPG provides equipment 920.EPG provides special time thatequipment 920 can be provided with the user or the EPG information that receives and store all broadcasting channels when sending EPG information updating order.EPG provides equipment EPG information and broadcasted content that 920 processing broadcast singals also will be included in the broadcast singal to be stored in the memory cell 924.Content Management is installed incontrol unit 922 is used,, and use EPG information to produce URL(uniform resource locator) (URL) with the EPG information and the broadcasted content of control store in memory cell 924.Communication unit 926 uses the URL that produces to be connected toVOD server 930, so that the VOD service is provided for communication unit 926.Can broadcasted content be offeredcommunication unit 926 by stream transmission mode.

Figure 10 is that the use EPG information according to exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides the EPG of VOD service that the block diagram of equipment is provided.EPG provides equipment to comprise: broadcastsignal processing unit 1010,decoder 1020,control unit 1030,memory cell 1040, EPGscreen dispensing unit 1050 andcommunication unit 1060.

Broadcastsignal processing unit 1010 is handled the broadcast singal of reception to produce broadcasted content and EPG information.Broadcastsignal processing unit 1010 can comprise the tuner (not shown), the broadcast singal that specific channel tuning and that demodulation is selected by the user is imported, and output transport stream; The demodulation multiplexer (not shown) will be EPG information and the broadcasted content that comprises video flowing and audio stream from the multiplexing transmission flow demultiplexing oftuner output.Decoder 1020 is from demodulation multiplexer receiver, video/audio transport stream packet, and with their decodings with output video/audio signal.The configuration of broadcastsignal processing unit 1010 can be according to the type change with processed broadcast singal.

Broadcasted content that controlunit 1030 produces broadcastsignal processing unit 1010 and EPG information stores are in memory cell 1040.Memory cell 1040 can be in different spaces stores broadcast contents and EPG information in (for example, EPGinformation memory cell 1041 shown in Figure 10 and broadcastedcontent memory cell 1043).When receiving the user input signal of request booking situation,control unit 1030 will comprise that based on user input signal the booking situation configuration information of booking situation channel information and booking situation temporal information is stored in thememory cell 1040, control broadcastsignal processing unit 1010 is tuned to the booking situation channel in the booking situation time, and the broadcast program that receives is stored in thememory cell 1040, thereby carries out booking situation.

When receiving the user input signal of request EPG from user input apparatus (such as remote control),control unit 1030 reads the EPG information that is stored in thememory cell 1040, and control EPGscreen dispensing unit 1050 uses the EPG information configuration that reads EPG to be offered user's screen.Then EPGscreen dispensing unit 1050 is with the form of EPG information processing for showing on screen of storage.

EPGscreen dispensing unit 1050 can show the EPG information of broadcasted content, current broadcast content and following broadcasted content in the past under the control of controller 1030.Provide in the equipment at existing EPG, do not store and just deleted the EPG information that EPG supplier (such as the broadcasting station) before provided.Yet, provide EPG information stores that equipment will before provide inmemory cell 1040 according to the EPG of exemplary embodiment of the present invention.Therefore, when the user asks EPG, provide equipment to provide to comprise not only about the current and following broadcasted content according to the EPG of exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and about the EPG of the information of the broadcasted content in past.

Therefore, can on the EPG screen, the EPG information of broadcasted content, current broadcast content and the following broadcasted content in past be offered the user by handling remote control, and described user can select broadcasted content in thepast.Control unit 1030 will offer EPGscreen dispensing unit 1050 about the information that is stored in the broadcasted content in the broadcasted content memory cell 1043.When EPGscreen dispensing unit 1050 showed the EPG information of broadcasted content in the past, whether EPGscreen dispensing unit 1050 configuration EPG screens be recorded and have been stored in the information in thememory cell 1040 so that the EPG screen comprises indication broadcasted content in the past.When EPGscreen dispensing unit 1050 showed the EPG information of broadcasted content in the past, EPGscreen dispensing unit 1050 also configurable EPG screens can be served the information of the broadcasted content in the past that provides by VOD so that the EPG screen comprises indication.

When EPGscreen dispensing unit 1050 showed the EPG information of current broadcast content, EPGscreen dispensing unit 1050 also configurable EPG screens were writing down the information of current broadcast content to comprise indication.When EPGscreen dispensing unit 1050 shows the EPG information of following broadcasted content, EPGscreen dispensing unit 1050 also configurable EPG screens use by the user input signal setting and the information of coming the broadcasted content in booking situation future from the booking situation configuration information that controlunit 1030 provides so that the EPG screen comprises indication.

When the user selected the broadcasted content in past on the EPG screen,control unit 1030 provided the broadcasted content in the past ofselection.Control unit 1030 determines whether be stored in thememory cell 1040 by the broadcasted content that user input signal is selected, and determines to provide broadcasted content based on this.If the broadcasted content that user input signal is selected is stored in thememory cell 1040, then controlunit 1030 reads the broadcasted content of storage frommemory cell 1040, and controls decoder decode and reproduce the broadcasted content that reads.If the broadcasted content that user input signal is selected is not stored in thememory cell 1040, then controlunit 1030 can provide the VOD service of the broadcasted content of selection.Even when the broadcasted content of selecting is stored in thememory cell 1040,, then also can provide VOD service in response to the user input signal of request VOD service if add fresh information to the VOD service.

Control unit 1030 uses the EPG information that is stored in thememory cell 1040 to produce URL, provides the VOD service of broadcasted content to use EPGinformation.Control unit 1030 comprisesURL generation unit 1035, is used to use the EPG information of storage to produce URL.The URL thatURL generation unit 1035 produces is passed tocommunication unit 1060, andcommunication unit 1060 is connected toVOD server 930, andVOD server 930 is used to use the URL of transmission that VOD is provided service.

Broadcasting channel information and broadcasting time started information thatURL generation unit 1035 can use the address and the port numbers of previously storedVOD server 930 and be included in the broadcasted content of the selection in the EPG information produce URL.WhenVOD server 930 request member authentications,URL generation unit 1035 can produce URL by other use member authentication required user ID and user cipher.Can be suitably to encrypting about the information of user ID and user cipher.

Thencommunication unit 1060 uses URL to send toVOD server 930 for the VOD service request of the broadcasted content of selecting, the VOD service of the broadcasted content that is provided for selecting tocommunication unit 1060 fromVOD server 930, and the VOD service offered the user.Can the VOD service be offeredcommunication unit 1060 by stream transmissionmode.Communication unit 1060 can use communication protocol (such as HTTP(Hypertext Transport Protocol) or real-time transport protocol (rtp)) and the VOD server that free VOD service is provided tocommunicate.Communication unit 1060 also can use HTTP or other secure communication protocols to communicate with the VOD server that charge VOD service is provided.

Figure 11 illustrates the table according to the element of the URL of the demonstration VOD service of exemplary embodiment of the present invention.URL according to exemplary embodiment of the present invention can be configured to as follows:

http(s)://operator_server_address:operator_server_port?number/vod_service.asp.major＝channel?major?number?&?minor＝channel?minor?number?&starttime＝program?start?time(&userid＝user?ID?&?password＝password)。

Shown in the table of Figure 11, the meaning of carrier server address is the server address (Internet protocol (IP) or DSN (DSN)) of VOD operator, and the meaning of carrier server port numbers is the server end slogan of VOD operator.Carrier server address and carrier server port numbers can or be stored in advance by user's input.Channel master's number the meaning is the master number of the broadcasting channel of broadcasted content, and the meaning that channel is auxilliary number is auxilliary number of broadcasting channel of broadcasted content.The program start time meaning is the broadcasting time started of broadcasted content.Can be from EPG information acquisition channel master number, auxilliary number of channel and program start time.When need when the VOD server is paid or need to have registered user ID or user cipher in the VOD server of member authentication, user ID or user cipher being set.

Figure 12 is the flow chart that illustrates according to the VOD service providing method of the use EPG information of exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

When receiving when being used to select the user input signal of broadcasted content at operation S1210, at operation S1220, the EPG information thatcontrol unit 1030 is used to the broadcasted content selected produces URL.

The URL that produces is delivered tocommunication unit 1060, andcommunication unit 1060 uses the URL that transmits to be connected to be used to provide the VOD VOD server of service, at operation S1230, the VOD service of the broadcasted content that is provided for selecting to communication unit 1060.The VOD service request of the flow transmission of the VOD service of the broadcasted content thatcommunication unit 1060 will be used to select sends to the VOD server, and provides VOD service by stream transmission mode to communication unit 1060.Then 1020 pairs of broadcasted contents by the transmission of VOD service flow ofcontrol unit 1030 control decoders are decoded, and this broadcasted content is offered the user.

Figure 13 is the flow chart that illustrates according to the VOD service providing method of the use EPG information of another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

At operation S1310, broadcastsignal processing unit 1010 is handled the broadcast singal of reception to produce broadcasted content and EPG information.At operation S1320,control unit 1020 with broadcasted content and EPG information stores in memory cell 1040.When receiving the user input signal of request EPG information at operation S1330,control unit 1030 reads the EPG information that is stored in thememory cell 1040, and this EPG information is delivered to EPGscreen dispensing unit 1050.

At operation S1340,1050 configurations of EPG screen dispensing unit also provide EPG screen, to show the EPG information of broadcasted content in the past, current broadcast content and the broadcasted content in future.

If S1350 imports the user input signal that is used to select broadcasted content in the past in operation, then at operation S1360, whethercontrol unit 1030search memory cell 1040 are stored in thememory cell 1040 with the broadcasted content of determining selection.If the broadcasted content of selecting is not stored in thememory cell 1040, then at operation S1370,control unit 1030 uses EPG information to produce URL, and the URL that produces is delivered tocommunication unit 1060.

At operation S1380,communication unit 1060 uses the URL that produces to send to the VOD server for the request of the VOD service of the broadcasted content of selecting, and the VOD service of the broadcasted content that is provided for selecting tocommunication unit 1060 from the VOD server.Then 102 pairs of broadcasted contents that receive by the VOD service ofcontrol unit 1030 control decoders are decoded, and the broadcast service of decoding is offered the user.When the broadcasted content of selecting was stored in thememory cell 1040, at operation S1390,control unit 1030 read the broadcasted content that is stored in thememory cell 1040, and the broadcasted content of 1020 decodings of control decoder and reproduction storage.

The use EPG information that Figure 14 illustrates according to exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides VOD the screen of service.

As shown in figure 14, use EPG information to provide the screen of VOD service to have channel axis and time shaft, and can show the EPG information of broadcasted content in the past, current broadcast content and the broadcasted content in future.When showing the EPG information of broadcasted content in the past, also can show the information that indicates whether to write down broadcasted content in the past.When showing the EPG information of broadcasted content in the past, can show that also indication provides the information of broadcasted content in the past by VOD service (that is the URL of VOD service shown in Figure 11).When showing the EPG information of current broadcast content, also can show the information that indicates whether to write down the current broadcast content.When showing the EPG information of following broadcasted content, also can show the information of the broadcasted content that indicates whether booking situation future.

Simultaneously, the present invention also can be implemented as the computer-readable code on the computer readable recording medium storing program for performing.Described computer readable recording medium storing program for performing is that can store thereafter can be by any data storage device of the data of computer system reads.The example of described computer readable recording medium storing program for performing comprises: read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory (ram), CD-ROM, tape, floppy disk, optical data storage device and carrier wave (such as the transmission by the Internet).Described computer readable recording medium storing program for performing also can be distributed on the computer system of networking, so that described computer-readable code can be stored and carry out with distribution mode.

As mentioned above, according to the present invention, by the EPG information of storage broadcasted content in the past, and the EPG information of storage offered the user, the user can use the EPG of broadcasted content in the past.Therefore, be recorded in EPG provide in the equipment about the information of the broadcasted content in past in current broadcast perhaps the EPG information of following broadcasted content be provided, thereby allow user's unified management broadcasted content.In addition, be provided for providing screen according to user's demand to the user, thereby allow the user to use broadcasted content in the past effectively about the information of the broadcasted content in past.

In addition, the information of the broadcasted content in past can be stored and provide, and Unrecorded broadcasted content can be provided by the VOD service.In addition, owing to use previously stored EPG information to dispose the EPG screen, and be used for EPG information generation URL from the VOD service of VOD server, therefore can provide EPG information and VOD service to the user apace.The EPG information of broadcasted content in the past, current broadcast content and the broadcasted content in future is provided on single screen, thereby is convenient to the management of user broadcasted content.

Although specifically shown and described the present invention with reference to exemplary embodiment of the present invention, but it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that, under the situation that does not break away from the spirit and scope of the present invention that are defined by the claims, form of the present invention and details are carried out various changes.