KR101187798B1 - BROADCASTING SERVICE SYSTEM AND METHOD PROVIDING CATCH UP VoD SERVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a broadcast service system and method for providing a catch-up VOD service. The system according to the present invention includes a VOD file generator for generating real-time broadcast content as a VOD file, and the generated VOD. A VOD server for storing a file, and a streaming server for streaming the generated VOD file to the user terminal. The system further includes a web server that receives a viewing request from the user terminal from a predetermined time point of the real-time broadcast content, wherein the streaming server uses the VOD file stored in the VOD server from the predetermined time point. Real time broadcast content can be streamed to the user terminal. According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a service by applying a time-shift to broadcast content that is being broadcast in real time regardless of a storage capacity of a user terminal. In addition, even if the user does not set the reserved recording in advance and the television is not turned on, it is possible to watch a broadcast from the desired point in time for the broadcast content that is being broadcast in real time.

Description

BROADCASTING SERVICE SYSTEM AND METHOD PROVIDING CATCH UP VoD SERVICE}

The present invention relates to a broadcast service system and method, and more particularly, to a catch-up VOD that provides a user with a variety of real-time broadcasting contents provided by a terrestrial broadcasting company, a cable broadcasting company, or other broadcasting content providers in a real-time vaudio manner. A broadcast service system and method for providing a service are provided.

Recently, various real-time broadcasting contents such as terrestrial broadcasting, cable broadcasting or internet broadcasting have been provided to users. Users often miss broadcasts while watching real-time broadcast content while doing other things besides watching broadcasts, such as sudden phone calls. In addition, when watching a live broadcast content from the middle due to other things, there may be a problem in that it is not connected to the front part and thus the immersion in the broadcast falls.

To address this inconvenience, television manufacturers sell televisions that provide a time shift function called a time machine. To this end, the television has to be equipped with a large storage device separately, which causes a problem that the television is expensive. In addition, when the user does not set the scheduled recording in advance or the television is not turned on, even if the television provided with the time shift function cannot record the previously broadcasted content, the user may not immediately view the previous broadcast content.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a broadcast service system and method for providing a catch-up VOD service that provides various real-time broadcast contents such as terrestrial broadcast, cable broadcast, or Internet broadcast to a user in a real-time VOD manner.

In order to solve the above technical problem, a broadcast service system for providing a catch-up VOD service according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a VOD file generator for generating real-time broadcast content as a VOD file, and the generated V A VOD server for storing an audio file, and a streaming server for streaming the generated VOD file to the user terminal.

The system further includes a web server that receives a viewing request from the user terminal from a predetermined time point of the real-time broadcast content, wherein the streaming server uses the VOD file stored in the VOD server from the predetermined time point. Real time broadcast content can be streamed to the user terminal.

The streaming server may stream the generated VOD file to the user terminal from the predetermined time point during the broadcast time of the real-time broadcast content.

The system may further include a management server that controls the VOD file generator to generate a VOD file by selecting a predetermined real time broadcast content from a plurality of real time broadcast contents based on broadcast schedule information.

The web server may provide the user terminal with information about real time broadcast content in which the VOD file is generated.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a broadcast service method for providing a catch-up VOD service includes generating real-time broadcasting content as a VOD file, storing the generated VOD file, and generating the generated VOD file. And streaming the VOD file to the user terminal.

The method may further include receiving a viewing request from a predetermined time point of the real-time broadcasting content from the user terminal, wherein the streaming step is performed from the predetermined time point by using a VOD file stored in the VOD server. The broadcast content may be streamed to the user terminal.

The method may select a predetermined real-time broadcasting content from a plurality of real-time broadcasting contents based on the broadcasting schedule information and generate the V-audio file.

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

According to the present invention, regardless of the storage capacity of the user terminal it is possible to provide a service applying the time-shift to the broadcast content being broadcast in real time.

In addition, even if the user does not set the reserved recording in advance and the television is not turned on, it is possible to watch a broadcast from the desired point in time for the broadcast content that is being broadcast in real time.

1 is a block diagram of a broadcast service system and a method service system for providing a catch-up VOD service according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the head end of FIG. 1 in more detail.
3 is a block diagram illustrating in more detail the web / back end of FIG. 1.
4 is a flowchart provided to explain a broadcast service method for providing a catch-up VOD service according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art may easily implement the present invention.

1 is a block diagram of a broadcast service system for providing a catch-up VOD service according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the broadcast service system 100 according to the present invention may include a head end unit 110 and a web / back end unit 120, and a plurality of user terminals 400 through a communication network 300. It can be connected to and exchange various information and data. In addition, the broadcast service system 100 may be managed by the system administrator through the manager terminal 500.

The head end unit 110 receives the real-time broadcast content from the broadcast content provider 200 and performs a function of streaming the broadcast content selected by the user to the user terminal 400 through the communication network 300. In more detail, the headend unit 110 performs a function of streaming real-time broadcasting content to the user terminal 400 in real time or streaming a VOD file to the user terminal 400 when a user request is made. In particular, the head end unit 110 according to the present invention may generate a real-time broadcasting content as a VoD file and provide the VoD file in response to a request of the user terminal 400.

The web / back end unit 120 provides broadcast programming information to the user to select broadcast contents that the user wants to watch, and performs functions such as member management, billing management, and broadcast schedule management.

The broadcast content provider 200 provides various real time broadcast contents to a terrestrial broadcaster, a cable broadcaster, or another broadcast content provider. Here, the real-time broadcast content refers to a broadcast program that is serviced in real time in terrestrial broadcast or cable broadcast, that is, a live broadcast program.

The communication network 300 includes various data communication networks including a local area network (LAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a wide area network (WAN), the Internet, 3G, WIFI, WIBRO, and the like. It can include, wire and wireless, it does not matter which communication scheme is used.

The user terminal 400 is a communication terminal device used by a user to use a web-based real-time broadcasting service and VoD service. The user terminal 400 accesses the headend unit 110 or the web / backend unit 120 through the communication network 300. Send and receive various information and data. The user terminal 10 is not only a desktop computer but also a laptop computer, a workstation, a palmtop computer, an ultra mobile personal computer, a tablet PC, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a web pad, a mobile phone. It can be made of a terminal having a computing capability by mounting a microprocessor such as a smart phone and the like.

In particular, the user terminal 400 according to the present invention is a web browser for checking the organization information or VoD service broadcast content of the real-time broadcast content, DRM agent for decrypting encrypted real-time broadcast content or VoD service broadcast content, and other users It may include a P2P agent for transmitting and receiving real-time broadcast content with the terminal in a P2P streaming method.

The manager terminal 500 is a communication terminal device used by a system administrator for management of a web-based broadcast service. The manager terminal 500 is directly connected to the web-based broadcast service system 100 or connected through a communication network 300 to exchange various information and data. can do.

Next, the head end unit 110 according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the head end of FIG. 1 in more detail.

Referring to FIG. 2, the headend unit 110 includes a VOD file generating unit 111, an encoder unit 112, a streaming server 113, a P2P server 115, a DRM server 117, and a VoD server 119. ) May be included.

The VOD file generator 111 generates a VD file of real time broadcast content provided from the broadcast content provider 200. More specifically, the VOD file generating unit 111 processes VoD files by processing real-time broadcasting content in a form that can be streamed to the user terminal 400 from a point in time desired by the user in a VoD method according to a request of the user terminal 400. Create The VOD file generating unit 111 may perform a VoD file generation operation while the corresponding broadcast content is being broadcast in real time, and in some embodiments, may perform a VoD file generation operation immediately after the broadcast for the corresponding broadcast content is terminated. have. The generated VoD file may be distributed and stored in the VoD server 119.

The encoder 112 performs a function of encoding real-time broadcast content provided from the broadcast content provider 200 in a suitable form for various transmission environments and user terminal models by applying a multi-profile. In more detail, the single-format real-time broadcast content provided from the broadcast content provider 200 may be encoded with a codec, a resolution, and a bit rate suitable for each transmission environment and user terminal type. Meanwhile, the encoder 111 may include a plurality of encoders (not shown) in order to simultaneously encode in parallel a plurality of broadcast contents provided from the broadcast content provider 200 at the same time.

The streaming server 113 performs a function of streaming the broadcast content encoded by the encoder 112 to the user terminal 400 through the communication network 300. In more detail, the streaming server 113 may provide live adaptive streaming that automatically detects network conditions and performance environments of user terminals and transmits content at the most suitable bit rate. In addition, the streaming server 113 may stream the VoD file of the real-time broadcasting content provided from the VoD server 119 to the user terminal 400 from the time when the user requests.

Meanwhile, in the present embodiment, the VOD file generator 111 is described as a separate component from the encoder 112 and the streaming server 113, but according to the embodiment, the function of the VOD file generator 111 is encoded. The unit 112 or the streaming server 113 may be implemented to process. In addition, the VoD contents generated in the form of files are distributed and stored in the VoD server 119, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the VoD contents generated in the form of files may be stored in a separate storage device included in the encoder 112 or the streaming server 113. have.

The P2P server 115 stores various information and data for P2P streaming and provides the same to the user terminal 400. For example, P2P streaming connects the user terminals 400 to each other in a net or tree form so that they can be transmitted from other user terminals 400 instead of being directly streamed from the streaming server 113. To this end, the P2P server 115 may provide information on which user terminal 400 can receive the broadcast content. This can prevent excessive concentration of load on the streaming server 115.

The DRM server 117 performs a function of applying digital rights management (DRM) to broadcast content. In more detail, the DRM server 117 generates an encryption key to encrypt broadcast content. The user terminal 400 may decrypt the broadcast content encrypted and streamed using a DRM agent (not shown).

The VoD server 119 may store a VOD file generated from real-time broadcast content provided from the broadcast content provider 200 and stream the data through the streaming server 113 at the request of the user terminal 400. have. As a result, the user may stop the screen by using a time shift function while watching the real-time broadcast content, continue the video later, or return to a desired time point. In the related art, an additional storage capacity is required for the user terminal. However, in the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, since the real-time broadcasting content is recorded in a VoD server, an encoder, or a streaming server in the form of a VoD file, the storage capacity for the time shift function is increased in the user terminal. No extra need. On the other hand, after the live broadcast can be provided to the stored broadcast content to the user, like a conventional VoD service. Also, according to the embodiment, the VOD service may be generated after the live broadcast is completed without supporting the VOD service during the live broadcast, thereby supporting the VoD service.

In the present embodiment, the VoD server 119 stores the VOD file and streams it to the user terminal 400 through the streaming server 113, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The VoD server 119 stores the file. Including the streaming function may be directly streamed to the user terminal 400 without going through the streaming server 113 separately. That is, the VoD server 119 and the streaming server 113 may be implemented as one or may be implemented separately.

3 is a block diagram illustrating in more detail the web / back end of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 3, the web / back end unit 120 may include a web server 121, a database unit 123, and a management server 125.

The web server 121 provides a web page related to a web-based broadcast service to the user terminal 400. The user may perform membership registration, user authentication, broadcasting program information checking, broadcasting content selection, and bill payment through a web page provided by the web server 121. In particular, the web server 121 according to the present invention may display the VoD service provision information for the real-time broadcast content on the screen, and select the desired broadcast content from the user to provide it through the VoD server 119.

The database unit 123 stores various kinds of information related to broadcast programming information, member information, payment information, broadcast schedule management information, and the like. The broadcast schedule information may be automatically generated and stored based on the electronic program guide information, and may be modified by the system administrator. For example, some of the contents broadcast in real time from terrestrial broadcasting stations may not be serviced on the Internet due to copyright or the like. In this case, the system manager may delete the corresponding portion from the broadcast schedule information and may not be provided to the user in the headend unit 110. The electronic program guide information may be provided from the broadcast content provider 200 or an external electronic program guide (EPG) provider (not shown).

The management server 125 may control and manage the overall operation of the web-based broadcast service system 100 according to the command and setting of the manager terminal 500. In particular, the management server 125 according to the present invention generates a schedule (hereinafter referred to as VoD file generation schedule) for content to be generated as a VoD file among real-time broadcast contents based on the broadcast scheduling information. In addition, the management server 125 may selectively generate a real-time broadcast content as a VoD file by controlling the VOD file generator 111 according to a VoD file generation schedule.

Next, a broadcast service method for providing a catch-up VOD service according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 4.

4 is a flowchart provided to explain a broadcast service method for providing a catch-up VOD service according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, first, the management server 125 generates VoD file generation schedule information based on an electronic program guide (EPG) provided from the broadcast content provider 200 or an electronic program guide provider (not shown). Create and store in the database unit 123 (S410). In operation S410, the VoD file generation schedule information may include a list of real-time broadcast contents selected as a VoD file generation target. The VoD file generation schedule may include a real time broadcast content ID and broadcast time information.

Next, the VOD file generating unit 111 generates a VoD file as real-time broadcast content selected as a VoD file generation target according to the VoD file generation schedule information (S420). In operation S420, when the VOD file generator 111 is included in the encoder 112, the VoD file may be generated while encoding real-time broadcast content. When the VOD file generator 111 is included in the streaming server 113, the VoD file may be generated while streaming the real time broadcast content.

Next, the generated VoD file is distributed and stored in the VoD server 119 (S430).

After the user requests the VoD service for the real-time broadcast content (S440-Y), the corresponding real-time broadcast content is provided by the VoD method (S450).

In more detail, in step S440, when the user selects a time shift function while watching the real-time broadcast content and delivers it to the web server 121, in step S450, the web server 121 starts from the point in time desired by the user. The broadcast content may be streamed through the VoD server 119. Of course, even after the live broadcasting of the real-time broadcasting content is completed, the VoD service may be provided to the user by using the VoD file generated in operation S420. In addition, when it is stored in the VoD server 119 and the VoD service can be supported in step S430, the web server 121 may display the VoD service provision information on the screen of the user terminal 400.

Embodiments of the present invention include a computer-readable medium having program instructions for performing various computer-implemented operations. This medium records a program for executing the above-described broadcast service method for providing a VOD service. The medium may include program instructions, data files, data structures, etc., alone or in combination. Examples of such media include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks and magnetic tape, optical recording media such as CD and DVD, programmed instructions such as floptical disk and magneto-optical media, ROM, RAM, And a hardware device configured to store and execute the program. Or such medium may be a transmission medium, such as optical or metal lines, waveguides, etc., including a carrier wave that transmits a signal specifying a program command, data structure, or the like. Examples of program instructions include not only machine code generated by a compiler, but also high-level language code that can be executed by a computer using an interpreter or the like.

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

Claims (8)

A database that stores broadcast programming information about broadcast content provided from a plurality of broadcast content providers;
VOD file generation unit to record the real-time broadcast content in real time as a VOD file,
A management server controlling the VOD file generator to generate a VOD file that can be streamed from a desired time point by selecting a predetermined real time broadcast content from a plurality of real time broadcast contents based on the broadcasting schedule information;
A vaudio server for storing the generated vaudio file,
Streaming server for streaming the generated VOD file to the user terminal, And
A web server receiving a viewing request from a predetermined time point of the real-time broadcasting content from the user terminal,
The streaming server streams the generated VOD file to the user terminal from the predetermined time point during the broadcast time of the real-time broadcast content.
The web server provides the user terminal with information on the real-time broadcasting content in which the VOD file is generated.
The broadcast schedule information is stored in the database by deleting broadcast content that cannot be serviced due to copyright issues on the Internet.
Broadcast service system providing a VOD service, characterized in that. delete delete delete delete Storing broadcast programming information about broadcast content provided from a plurality of broadcast content providers in a database;
Based on the broadcasting schedule information, the VOD file generation unit selects a predetermined real-time broadcasting content from among a plurality of real-time broadcasting contents and records the real-time broadcasting content from the plurality of real-time broadcasting contents to stream from the point of time desired by the user. To generate,
Storing, by the VOD server, the generated VOD file;
A web server receiving a viewing request from a predetermined time point of the real-time broadcasting content from a user terminal, and
And streaming the VOD file to the user terminal from the predetermined time point by the streaming server,
The streaming server streams the generated VOD file to the user terminal from the predetermined time point during the broadcast time of the real-time broadcast content.
The web server provides the user terminal with information on the real-time broadcasting content in which the VOD file is generated.
The broadcast schedule information is stored in the database by deleting broadcast content that cannot be serviced due to copyright issues on the Internet.
Broadcast service method for providing a VOD service, characterized in that. delete delete

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