KR100604094B1 - Method for guiding contents for TV system - Google Patents

Abstract

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a content guide method of a TV system. In particular, a virtual channel value is assigned to a virtual channel and a content in a content service of a TV system. The present invention relates to a specific character (column) or a specific character (column) and a number. In combination, a virtual channel value 11 is designated and a number is added to the primary menu for setting the category of the content, and a number or a letter is added to the designated virtual channel value 11 of the primary menu or the virtual channel value of the primary menu ( 11) a channel which is designated as a lower virtual channel value for changing and constitutes a channel domain consisting of sub-menus for setting at least one level or more of sub-categories for detailing the primary menu, so that the contents of the TV system can be searched and accessed. In the method for guiding content using a domain system, the primary menu or a submenu thereof is displayed on the display device 10 of the viewer. By placing the virtual channel values (channel domain value: 11): my shaft (40 domain channel axis) a first step of displaying together with the; And a second step of arranging a time axis (updating time axis: 20) on another axis of the viewer's display device 10 to display contents serviced by the virtual channel value 11 over time. Display the virtual channel value 11 and the contents of the virtual channel value 11 so that viewers can clearly know which content is being broadcast at any time, and to easily select the desired content to receive the service. It is.

Channel domain, update cycle, virtual channel.

Description

Content guide method of TV system {Method for guiding contents for TV system}             

1 is a method of processing TV content data of a conventional TV system.

       Configuration diagram,

Figure 2 is an embodiment of the content guide method of the TV system of the present invention

       Configuration diagram,

Figure 3 is a channel domain by the content guide method of the TV system of the present invention

       And a schematic diagram showing the contents thereof,

Figure 4 is another embodiment of the content guide method of the TV system of the present invention

       Diagram showing.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

10: channel domain 20: update time base

21: update time 40: channel domain axis

50: extended selection part 70: point or cursor

The present invention relates to a content guide method of a TV system, and more particularly, to a content guide method using a channel domain for assigning and processing a virtual channel value to a virtual channel and a content in a content service of a TV system. The present invention relates to a method for guiding content of a TV system to display and process updated contents according to a currently broadcast program and time.

Recently, as digital TV broadcasting is in full swing, interest in data broadcasting services using data is increasing. Digital broadcasting has been able to provide various services, including interactive services, which have not been possible by transmitting data in addition to audio and video.

Such data broadcasting may use an interface called an electronic program guide (EPG) used in a conventional TV system. This is an interactive on-screen display function that displays information similar to a TV program listing, including the information needed to query and decode the program.

Meanwhile, an interface similar to the Internet is used for searching for corresponding content in a recently developed data broadcasting system. In other words, there is a portal for data broadcasting, and the corresponding category is sequentially searched to find and view desired content from the portal.

As such, in the case of Internet content used on the basis of a PC, even if the depth of a subcategory having a plurality of subcategories in each category or a subcategory below the top primary category is deeper than the third depth, the topmost on the screen is used. From the step to the final step, the category selection menu is spread out on one screen, or it can be easily used if the user clicks the mouse using the scroll bar to make an inquiry.

However, TV systems generally use only a simple input method such as a remote control, so in order to select a desired menu, the user has to press a button several times to select the desired menu. It is very difficult to display many levels of menus or many contents on one screen because it is inevitable.

Of course, it is more difficult to use features such as scrollbars because it is difficult to jump the cursor or selection point on the screen from other selection menus or icons on the screen. Therefore, in the TV content service, the contents of the lower level category of a specific category are used, but in order to use the contents of another category, the user must repeatedly move to the upper menu and the lower menu several times. There is an inconvenience of seeing several times unnecessarily.

In order to improve the disadvantages of the content retrieval and access system having an electronic program guide (EPG) and a PC-like interface as described above, and to provide a new system, the TV content data of the inventor of the patent application No. 2003-78155 by the present applicant Processing devices, access devices, and methods thereof.

As shown in FIG. 1, the virtual channel value (channel domain value) is designated according to each depth of the virtual channel and the content of the TV system, and the specific content of the TV content service is inputted by a user input device such as a remote controller or a keyboard. It is to make it easy and comfortable to use.

However, there is room for improvement in the method of processing data using the channel domain as described above, which can be more efficient and convenient for the user if both the content flow and the update contents are processed together.

The present invention is to improve the above-described improvement, in the data processing system using the channel domain, the content of the TV system to display and process the currently updated content according to the program and time currently broadcast on the respective virtual channel and content We want to provide a guide.

In the present invention, a virtual channel value is designated by a combination of a specific character (column) or a specific character (column) and a number and sets a category of a content, and a number is assigned to the designated virtual channel value of the primary menu. Or a subdomain configured to add a character or change a virtual channel value of the primary menu, and a submenu configured to set a subcategory of at least one level or more detailing the primary menu. A method of guiding content using a channel domain system for searching and accessing contents of a TV system, the method comprising: arranging the primary menu or a submenu thereof on one axis (channel domain axis) to provide a virtual channel value (channel domain). A first step of displaying together with the value); And arranging a time axis (updating time axis) on another axis to display contents serviced from the virtual channel value over time, thereby displaying the virtual channel value and the contents of the corresponding virtual channel value. By doing so.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The present invention applies to all devices that provide content using a remote control such as a TV, a personal computer, a PCTV, a set-top box, a PVR, or a DVR as a main input device, and thus is not limited to any specific hardware configuration device. And as the combination of TV and computer, broadcasting and telecommunications is evolving, its applications will increase. Hereinafter, when referring to any one of these devices will be collectively referred to as 'TV system'.

In addition, the present invention is not limited to any specific media because it is applied to all digital content services, such as digital broadcasting, VOD, AOD, Internet service, digital home service or service using digital storage media of PVR, DVR, etc. Does not.

Hereinafter, when referring to any one of these services will be collectively referred to as 'TV content data service'. When referring to TV system-based content provided through a TV content data service, it will be called 'TV content'. In addition, since the present invention is not limited to any particular TV system or TV content service, a detailed implementation diagram is omitted.

2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a content guide method of a TV system according to the present invention. In the present invention, the virtual channel value 11 is changed to a specific character (column) or a combination of a specific character (column) and a number. A primary menu for setting a category of content and a lower virtual channel value for adding numerals or letters to the designated virtual channel value 11 of the primary menu or changing the virtual channel value 11 of the primary menu; By configuring a channel domain consisting of a sub-menu for setting at least one level or more of the sub-category detailing the primary menu, to guide the content using the channel domain system to search and access the content of the TV system In the method, the primary menu or a submenu thereof is placed on one axis (channel domain axis: 40) on the display device 10 of the viewer, thereby providing a virtual channel value (channel domain). A first step of displaying with value 11); And a second step of arranging a time axis (updating time axis: 20) on another axis of the viewer's display device 10 to display contents serviced by the virtual channel value 11 over time. The technical feature is to display the virtual channel value 11 and the contents of the virtual channel value 11.

The channel domain axis 40 displaying the virtual channel value 11 of the first step can be displayed in two or more depths. In this case, as shown in FIG. 2, the depth movement button 12 is positioned. To allow the input device to move to a category of the upper and lower depths, and after moving, list menus corresponding to the depths of the moved categories on the channel domain axis 40 again. The channel domain of the corresponding depth is displayed on the axis 40, and the content corresponding to the channel domain 10 can be displayed.

In addition, by moving the up and down movement button 13 on the channel domain axis 40, it is possible to move to the virtual channel value 11 other than the displayed channel domain.

In addition, the update time 21 of the content is displayed on the time axis 20 of the second step, and the content content to be updated at the update time 21 is displayed, and the update time 21 is at least. More than one is displayed so that the updated contents are displayed in each cell for each update cycle.

In addition, although FIG. 2 shows two update times 21 and contents serviced by the update time 21, when the update time 21 is two or more stages, the input device and the expansion selector 50 are similarly used. Can be used to move to the subsequent update time 21.

Thus, the content is displayed according to the update time 21, not the flow of normal time, so that the viewer can clearly know which content is being broadcast at what time.

On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 2, in the step of displaying the content of the second step, it is preferable to display the content content 60 currently being broadcast in one row or column of the time axis 20.

As described above, when a point or cursor 70 is directed to one of the contents according to the displayed channel domain of the second step by the viewer, the details of the indicated contents on the lower portion 80 of the contents are displayed. The content is displayed so that the viewer knows an outline of the content.

As described above, when the user selects the indicated item using the input apparatus while the corresponding content is indicated, as shown in FIG. 3, the virtual channel value (the channel domain value) having the corresponding content is shown. In the case of FIG. 3, the process moves to D141 to display the corresponding content so that the viewer can watch the corresponding content.

The step of moving to the corresponding content is to move to the virtual channel value included in the information by referring to the channel domain information of the cell (content) selected by the user.

The virtual channel value 11 or the general channel value of the channel domain axis 40 enables bookmark registration according to a user's selection. As shown in FIG. 4, the registered channel value and this channel value By displaying the contents of the content on the viewer's display device, it is desirable to register the channel value and the contents of the contents that the viewer enjoys so that they can be conveniently viewed at any time.

Hereinafter, the operation and effects of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4.

As described above, according to the present invention, in the content guide using the channel domain system, the channel domain axis 40 capable of using the channel domain is configured on one side, and the virtual channel value 11 of this channel domain currently on the other side. In addition, it is characterized by displaying the content (60) serviced at), and at least one or more update time (21) of each content and the content information to be serviced at this update time (21).

That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the on-air portion of the time axis 20 lists the items of the content 60 serviced at the current time, and at least one update time 21 is disposed on each right side of the time axis 20. The viewer can know when the desired content is served.

The method of receiving a service by selecting the corresponding content using the content guide of the present invention is as follows.

That is, as described above, by using the depth movement button 12 and the up and down movement button 13, the viewer moves the channel domain axis 40 through an input device such as a remote controller, thereby providing respective virtual channel values 11. ) And the contents of the content serviced by the virtual channel value 11.

In this case, it is possible to grasp not only the content 60 currently being serviced but also the update time 21 of various stages and the content serviced at this update time 21. In order to know more detailed information of the contents serviced at the update time 21, when the point or the cursor 70 is placed on the corresponding item (cell) or the selection button is pressed afterwards, the summary is briefly displayed at the bottom 80 of the contents. You can see the information.

In addition, when the content 60 currently being serviced is selected, as shown in FIG. 3, the serviced content can be viewed in the selected virtual channel value.

On the other hand, the virtual channel value or general channel value that viewers frequently watch can be registered as a favorite. If the desired channel value is registered, as shown in FIG. 4, the registered channel value is called at any time without complicated steps. The desired content or channel can be serviced.

The above embodiment is an example for explaining the technical idea of the present invention in detail, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above drawings and embodiments.

As described above, according to the present invention, a content guide using a channel domain system is provided for each virtual channel and content, and a program is displayed by displaying the updated contents according to the current program and time, so that the content is broadcasted by the viewer at any time. It will be able to clearly see whether it is possible, and the effect is to be able to easily select the desired content to receive the service.

Claims (10)

In the method of guiding content using a TV system, Generating a primary menu in which a virtual channel value is designated by a specific character (column) or a combination of a specific character (column) and a number and sets a category of the content; Set a sub-category of at least one level that adds a number or letter to the designated virtual channel value of the primary menu or is designated as a lower virtual channel value that changes the virtual channel value of the primary menu and details the primary menu. Generating a sub-menu; Displaying the primary menu or a submenu thereof arranged on a first axis together with a virtual channel value; Displaying contents serviced by the virtual channel value over time on a time axis arranged on a second axis; And displaying an update time of the content on a portion of the time axis, and displaying the updated content on a first axis corresponding to the update time. And displaying the virtual channel value and the content assigned to the virtual channel value. The method of claim 1, wherein the first axis displaying the virtual channel value is displayed at a depth of two or more levels. delete The method of claim 3, wherein the update time is displayed at least two times, and the updated contents are displayed in each cell for each update period. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying of the content comprises displaying content currently being broadcast in one row or column of the time axis. The method of claim 1, wherein when a point or a cursor is indicated on one item of the displayed contents, details of the indicated contents are displayed at the bottom of the contents. The method of claim 6, wherein when the user selects the indicated item by using an input device, the content guide method of the TV system comprises moving to a virtual channel value having the corresponding content and displaying the corresponding content. The content guide method of claim 7, wherein the moving to the corresponding content comprises moving to a virtual channel value included in the information by referring to channel domain information of the cell selected by the user. . The method of claim 1, wherein a menu of a category currently located is listed on the first axis, and the input device allows the user to move to a category of the upper and lower depths. Content guide method of the TV system, characterized in that the corresponding menu is arranged again on the first axis. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual channel value or the general channel value of the first axis enables bookmark registration according to a user's selection so that the registered channel value and the contents of the channel value are displayed. Content guide method of TV system.

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