KR101396361B1 - Method and apparatus of providing notification message for digital broadcasting program - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for providing a notification message of a digital broadcast program. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a notification message providing method, comprising: registering a keyword of interest of a digital broadcast program as notification message setting information; Searching for an electronic program guide that matches the interest keyword registered as the notification message setting information; And providing a notification message of a digital broadcast program according to the searched electronic program guide. According to the present invention, it is possible to efficiently watch a program that the user is interested in by notifying the user of information about the program of interest efficiently.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing a notification message of a digital broadcast program,

1 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for providing a digital broadcast program announcement message and a peripheral device thereof according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a reference diagram for explaining a concept of registering notification message setting information in the present invention.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a digital broadcast program announcement message providing method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a flowchart illustrating an alert message setting information deletion step that can be further added between steps 700 and 800 in FIG.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing a notification message of a digital broadcast program, and more particularly, to a digital broadcast receiving apparatus such as a digital TV or a mobile phone capable of reproducing a digital broadcast program, To a method and apparatus for providing a notification message to a user.

Recently, with the development of broadcasting technology, the number of broadcasting stations and channels and the number of broadcasting programs have been greatly increased. Broadcast viewers have a few specific programs that they want to see, but it's always hard to remember when and which programs they broadcast. So, when I watch other programs that are not interested, I sometimes miss the program I want to watch. Without advance information, there are cases where a good program does not know whether it is broadcasting or not. However, since it is common that viewers of digital broadcasts have certain preferences related to programs, there is a growing demand for technology development that can efficiently select digital broadcasts by selecting broadcasts suitable for the viewer's taste.

Broadcasting in the digital TV environment provides EPG information. Here, the EPG information is information provided through an application program that provides information on a digital broadcast program called an electronic program guide (EPG). The user can receive broadcast time and program information from a cellular phone or a digital TV through an electronic program guide. For example, the EPG information includes detailed information such as broadcast time of each program, cast, broadcast contents, and the like. Electronic program guides can be used to search programs by genre. Since the EPG information that can be provided through the electronic program guide is based on only the information received at the time of searching for the EPG information, the user must retrieve the EPG information every time. The existing reservation viewing method using the electronic program guide is a method in which the viewer designates the reservation among the EPG information received at the time of reservation setting and sets it in the program unit. In particular, there is a limit in that if a digital TV is not viewed at a time when the program is broadcasted after the reservation is set, the user can not view the preset program.

In this regard, there is a program guide message provided by the broadcasting station. This is a guidance message provided by a broadcasting station for previewing a specific program. Such a message does not reflect the user's interest or preference. Also, since the program announcement is irregular in terms of the user, high. In addition, since such a guidance message provides information on the program of the same broadcaster, there is a limit in that information on programs of other broadcasting companies can not be obtained.

The present invention has been conceived to solve the problems of the prior art described above, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for registering keyword information and predetermined additional information related to a broadcast program of interest to a user as notification message setting information, The present invention also provides a method and apparatus for providing a notification message to a user by efficiently providing information about a program of interest to a user by providing a message.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of providing a digital broadcast program announcement message, comprising: registering a keyword of interest of a user of a digital broadcast program as notification message setting information; Searching for an electronic program guide that matches the interest keyword registered as the notification message setting information; And providing a notification message of a digital broadcast program according to the searched electronic program guide.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for providing a digital broadcasting program notification message, comprising: an interest program setting unit for registering a keyword of interest of a digital broadcasting program as notification message setting information; A search unit for searching an electronic program guide matched with the interest keyword registered as the notification message setting information; And a notification message processor for providing a notification message of the digital broadcasting program according to the searched electronic program guide.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer readable recording medium on which a method of providing a notification message for a digital broadcast program can be performed.

Hereinafter, a method and apparatus for providing a notification message of a digital broadcast program according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings and embodiments of the present invention.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for providing a digital broadcast program announcement message and a peripheral device thereof according to an embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus shown in FIG. 1 includes an announcement message providing apparatus 10, an EPG apparatus 20, A timer 30, a broadcast video processing unit 40, and a video overlap processing unit 50.

The notification message providing apparatus 10 is provided with an interest program setting unit 11, a search unit 12, a notification message processing unit 13, a setting information storage unit 14 and a notification message display unit 15.

The interest program setting unit 11 receives the keyword of interest of the user for the digital broadcast program and registers the inputted information as the notification message setting information.

2 is a reference diagram for explaining the step of registering the notification message setting information in the present embodiment. The setting information for the setting of the program of the user's interest can be classified into interest keyword information and additional information related to the program of interest. Here, the additional information includes a start time, a notification cycle, a channel selection, and series selection information of a program of interest, which will be described later. There is no particular limitation on the configuration of the menu for registering the notification message setting information, and the keyword and genre mainly related to the program of interest can be set as the basic menu.

In FIG. 2, the first setting window 60 is for setting a genre and keyword information of a digital broadcast program. The second setting window 70 shows a list of programs of interest to be broadcasted. The third setting window 80 is for inputting the start time, notification period, channel selection, and series selection information of the selected program of interest. The fourth setting window 90 shows a menu for selecting whether to continuously display the notification message or display at a predetermined time interval in the notification period setting.

As shown in the third setting window 80, there are four options that can be selected at the time of setting the notification message: a start time, a notification cycle, a channel selection, and a series selection. Here, the start time means the time to output the notification message. For example, if you enter 1 day as the start time, a notification message will be displayed on the screen 24 hours before the scheduled start time. The notification cycle is to set how often the notification message repeats from the start time on the screen. If you enter 30 minutes in the notification cycle, a notification message will be displayed on the screen every 30 minutes after the start time. You can select Continue in the Notification Cycle setting to keep the notification message continuously on the screen after the start time. Channel selection means which channel the notification message is to be indicated. If you select 'All channels', you will see a notification on all channels, and a notification will appear on the screen, regardless of channel. If only a specific channel is selected, a notification message is displayed only on the selected channel. Also, as a series selection, it is possible to set whether the program is a series or not. When set as a series, the notification message can be displayed without referring to the electronic program information and setting the notification message again when the series program such as the program is broadcasted. The four types of information related to the notification message setting are stored in the setting information storage unit 14. [

The search unit 12 periodically refers to the electronic program guide of the digital broadcasting program at predetermined time intervals and searches for a digital broadcasting program matched with the interest keyword registered as the notification message setting information. When the electronic program guide information is stored in the setting information storage unit 14, the searching unit 12 may search for the program corresponding to the keyword of interest in the setting information storage unit 14 instead of the EPG information storage unit 22 .

The notification message processing unit 13 generates a signal for providing a notification message in accordance with the detected electronic program guide according to the notification message setting information when the retrieved program exists as a search result of the search unit 12, And transmits it to the message display unit 15. In general, a notification message is generally displayed on a display screen when a user watches a digital broadcast program. However, even in a standby state, a notification message can be provided to a user through various communication channels such as a character service.

Also, the notification message processing unit 13 determines whether or not the series selection information for the digital broadcasting program currently being reproduced is registered, and if not, the notification message setting information for the digital broadcasting program currently being reproduced is deleted And maintains the notification message setting information when it is registered as a series. In addition, even if it is registered as a series, if the currently playing broadcasting is the last conference, the notification message setting information is deleted.

The setting information storage unit 14 stores the notification message setting information registered through the interest program setting unit 11. [ In addition, the setting information storage unit 14 may further store electronic program guide (EPG) information received through a digital broadcast data receiving unit (not shown).

The notification message display unit 15 processes the video signal according to the information received from the notification message processing unit 13 and transmits the processed video signal to the video overlap processing unit 50. [

The EPG apparatus 20 includes an EPG information processing unit 21 and an EPG information storage unit 22. The EPG information processing unit 21 processes the EPG information stored in the EPG information storage unit 22 to display the EPG information. The EPG information storage unit 22 stores EPG information provided by the broadcasting station.

The system timer 30 provides reference time information that is a reference of the time of the system. The broadcast video processing unit 40 generates a video signal according to the received digital broadcast program information. The video overlap processing unit 50 overlaps the broadcast video according to the broadcasting video processing unit 40 and the notification message image according to the notification message display unit 15 and transmits the overlapping image message to a display device (not shown).

3 is a flowchart illustrating a digital broadcast program announcement message providing method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. A digital broadcast program notification message providing method includes the following steps performed in a time series in a digital broadcast program notification device.

In step 100, the interest program setting unit 11 receives notification message setting information. Here, the notification message setting information is information related to a digital broadcasting program preferred by the user. In this embodiment, the program setting unit 11 receives the keyword information of interest, genre information and predetermined additional information. Here, the predetermined additional information includes information on a start time, a notification period, a channel selection, and a series selection. For example, when the genre is sports, interest keywords include baseball, basketball, soccer, and the like, and one or more keywords of interest are registered as setting information.

In step 200, the interest program setting unit 11 stores the notification message setting information input through step 100 in the setting information storage unit 14. [

In step 300, the search unit 12 searches for electronic program guide (EPG) information matched with the keyword of interest. The electronic program guide information is stored in the EPG information storage unit 22 or the setting information storage unit 14. The searching unit 12 may determine whether electronic program guide information having a predetermined similarity with the interest keyword registered at a predetermined time interval exists .

In step 400, the notification message processing unit 13 determines whether the retrieved electronic program guide exists. The notification message processing unit 13 performs signal processing to perform step 500 if there is a detected electronic program guide, and performs signal processing to perform step 900 if it does not exist.

In step 500, if the electronic program guide found in step 400 is present, the notification message processing unit 13 determines whether the channel on which the current digital program is being reproduced matches the channel selection information. Here, the present means a time point preceding the time point of judging whether or not it meets the channel selection information or the time point of judging whether it meets the channel selection information by a predetermined time. In addition, the channel being reproduced means a channel that the user is viewing. The notification message information is generally displayed in an overlapped state in the displayed program when the user watches the digital broadcast program. If the current channel does not match the channel selection information, that is, if the current channel is not selected as the channel to which the notification message is provided, if the electronic program guide matching the keyword of interest is found in step 300, The message is not displayed, and the notification message processing device is in a standby state.

In step 600, the notification message processing unit 13 determines whether the current time is a time to provide a notification message if the current channel matches the channel selection information. Here, the setting information related to the time includes information on the start time and information on the notification period. Here, the start time indicates that a notification message will be provided several hours before the scheduled time, and the notification period indicates how often the notification message will be provided after the start time. For example, if the start time of the program is 21:00, the message notification start time is 5 hours, and the notification cycle is 30 minutes, a message is displayed after 16:00, and 16:30, 17:00, 18:00, 18:30, 19:00, 19:30, 20:00, 20:30, and 21:00, respectively.

In step 700, the notification message processing unit 13 performs signal processing for displaying a notification message if it is determined in step 600 that it is necessary to provide a current notification message.

In step 800, the notification message processing unit 13 determines whether the notification message providing service is terminated. If the notification message providing service is not terminated, the notification message providing apparatus according to the present invention is in a standby state.

Step 900 is a step for indicating that the notification message providing apparatus is in a standby state, and after a predetermined time has elapsed, step 300 is performed again.

4 is a flowchart illustrating an alert message setting information deletion step that can be further added between steps 700 and 800 in FIG.

In step 710, the notification message processing unit 13 determines whether or not broadcasting of the digital broadcasting program is started.

In step 720, when the broadcasting of the digital broadcasting program is started in step 710, the notification message processing unit 13 determines whether the digital broadcasting program being broadcast matches the series selection information. That is, it is determined whether the current digital broadcast program is a series.

In step 730, the notification message processing unit 13 performs signal processing for deleting the notification message setting information in order to delete the notification message setting information related to the digital broadcast program currently being broadcast, if the digital broadcasting program is not a series.

In step 740, if the digital broadcasting program currently being broadcast is a series, the notification message processing unit 13 refers to the electronic program guide information to determine whether the current broadcasting event is the last one. If it is determined that the event is the last event, step 730 is performed.

Meanwhile, a method of providing a notification message of a digital broadcast program of the present invention can be implemented by a computer-readable code on a computer-readable recording medium. A computer-readable recording medium includes all kinds of recording apparatuses in which data that can be read by a computer system is stored.

Examples of the computer-readable recording medium include a ROM, a RAM, a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a floppy disk, an optical data storage device and the like, and also a carrier wave (for example, transmission via the Internet) . In addition, the computer readable recording medium may be distributed over networked computer systems so that computer readable code can be stored and executed in a distributed manner. Further, functional programs, codes, and code segments for implementing the present invention can be easily deduced by programmers in the technical field to which the present invention belongs.

The present invention has been described above with reference to preferred embodiments. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in various other forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Therefore, the above-described embodiments should be considered in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all differences within the scope of equivalents thereof should be construed as being included in the present invention.

According to the present invention, on a digital broadcast receiver capable of viewing a digital broadcast program such as a digital TV, keyword information related to a broadcast program that the user is interested in and predetermined additional information are registered as notification message setting information, There is an effect that it is possible to watch a broadcast program that the user is interested in without missing, by introducing an application that provides a notification message according to the broadcast program.

In addition, according to the present invention, a user can check a broadcast message on another channel without knowing the date and time of broadcasting the broadcast program of interest, and also can confirm a broadcast message of when the program of interest broadcasts on which channel. In addition, since the electronic program guide information included in the digital broadcast program is used, it is possible to reflect the start time of the program in the notification message. In addition, in the case of the series program, notification The message service can be conveniently provided.

Claims (17)

a) registering a keyword of interest of a user for a digital broadcast program as notification message setting information; b) searching electronic program guide information matched with the interest keyword registered as the notification message setting information; c) determining whether the user views a broadcast program; And d) if the digital broadcasting program is being watched as a result of the determination, displaying a notification message of the digital broadcasting program according to the searched electronic program guide information on a display screen on which the digital broadcasting program is being reproduced, And providing a notification message of a digital broadcast program according to the retrieved electronic program guide information through a communication channel when the electronic program guide information is not being viewed. The method according to claim 1, In the step a), the notification message setting information may further include time setting information on a time for providing a notification message of a digital broadcasting program, Wherein the providing of the notification message in step d) provides a notification message according to the time setting information. The method according to claim 1, In the step a), the notification message setting information may further include channel selection information on a channel for providing a notification message, Wherein when the digital broadcasting program is being viewed in step d), the notification message is provided when the channel of the digital broadcasting being reproduced matches the channel selection information. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification message setting information further includes information on a genre of the digital broadcasting program. The method according to claim 1, In the step a), the notification message setting information further includes series selection information on whether the digital broadcasting program is a series, And deleting the notification message setting information of the digital broadcasting program being reproduced according to the series selection information of the digital broadcasting program being reproduced when the digital broadcasting program is being watched in the step d) Wherein the notification message is a digital broadcast program. 6. The method of claim 5, The deletion of the notification message setting information of the digital broadcasting program being reproduced according to the series information is performed when the digital broadcasting program is not a series or when the broadcasting society in which the digital broadcasting program is currently being reproduced as a series is the last And deleting notification message setting information for the digital broadcasting program being played back. 3. The method of claim 2, Wherein the time setting information includes start time information on time for providing a notification message for providing a notification message prior to a playback time of the digital broadcasting program and notification period information on a period for providing the notification message, Wherein the step d) provides a notification message of a digital broadcast program at a time according to the time setting information. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the electronic program guide information matching the keyword of interest in the step b) is retrieved from an electronic program guide database, and the electronic program guide database automatically updates and stores the electronic program guide information at predetermined time intervals A method for providing a notification message of a digital broadcast program. A computer-readable recording medium on which a program for implementing a notification message providing method of a digital broadcast program according to any one of claims 1 to 8 is recorded on a computer. An interest program setting unit for registering a keyword of interest of a user for a digital broadcast program as notification message setting information; A search unit for searching an electronic program guide matched with the interest keyword registered as the notification message setting information; And When a user is viewing a digital broadcast program, displays a notification message for providing a notification message of the digital broadcast program according to the searched electronic program guide on a display screen on which the digital broadcast program is being reproduced, And a notification message processor for providing a notification message of a digital broadcasting program according to the searched electronic program guide information through a communication channel when the digital broadcasting program is not being viewed. 11. The method of claim 10, Wherein the notification message setting information further includes time information on a time for providing a notification message of a digital broadcast program, Wherein the notification message processing unit provides a notification message of a digital broadcast program according to the electronic program guide at a time according to the time information. 11. The method of claim 10, Wherein the notification message setting information further includes channel selection information for a channel for providing a notification message of a digital broadcasting program, Wherein the notification message processing unit provides the notification message according to whether the channel of the digital broadcasting being reproduced matches the channel selection information when the user is viewing the digital broadcasting program, . 11. The method of claim 10, Wherein the notification message setting information further includes series selection information on whether a digital broadcast program is a series, Wherein the notification message processing unit deletes the notification message setting information of the digital broadcasting program according to the series selection information for the digital broadcasting program being reproduced when the user is viewing the digital broadcasting program. A notification message providing device. 12. The method of claim 11, The interest program setting unit may further register a start time for setting a notification message providing time providing a notification message prior to the playback time of the digital broadcast program and a notification period for setting a period for providing the notification message as notification message setting information Wherein the digital broadcast program is a digital broadcast program. 11. The method of claim 10, And an electronic program guide information storage unit for storing the electronic program guide information, Wherein the search unit searches the electronic program guide information storage unit for an electronic program guide matched with the keyword of interest. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the communication channel is a text service providing communication channel. 11. The method of claim 10, Wherein the communication channel is a text service providing communication channel.

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