KR20090014657A - Apparatus and method for providing preferred content automatic recording service - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is to provide a service providing apparatus and method for performing automatic recording of expected preferred content based on the user's preference information, the user terminal providing the user content usage record information and playing the content received through the request; The user selects and automatically records a preferred content among service target contents based on the received user content usage record information, and when a content request is input, configures a playback environment suitable for a corresponding access terminal to display the recorded content. It includes a home server provided to the terminal.

Description

Apparatus and method for providing automatic recording service of preference content}

The present invention relates to a digital broadcasting service, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for providing a service capable of automatically recording content recorded by a user and watching recorded content on various devices desired by the user.

Recently, as digital broadcasting services are in full swing, researches on technologies for providing customized broadcasting services in a multi-channel multimedia environment have been actively conducted. As an example, the private international standard TV-Anytime (hereinafter referred to as "TV-Anytime") is a user's preference information based on metadata representing the description information of the content. And the above-described metadata to match the above-described standards to provide anytime services that can be stored in the desired content to watch free time.

As described above, the metadata is technical information about the content. In TV-Anytime, the metadata includes content-based description and EPG (electronic program guide) information defined in MPEG-7. Make it easy to navigate and select. The metadata standard consists of two parts, and part A defines a format for describing metadata, that is, a schema, and is an MPEG-7 Description Definition Language (DDL) based on XML (eXtensible Markup Language) (ISO). / IEC 15938-2). Part B relates to metadata transmission, which is binary format [MEG-7 BiM (Binary Format for MPEG-7) (ISO / IEC 15938-1), fragmentation model, encapsulation and indexing. It includes techniques.

However, as a set-top box is developed as a home server that retrieves content and provides metadata, the set-top box performs a metadata service agent function in a home. Therefore, if the device is not spatially restricted, such as a mobile media player, the use is limited.

In particular, as the user's mobile interface environment is becoming more diverse day by day, efforts to provide a smooth service so that the user does not feel uncomfortable through various user interfaces, and the content of the content to service the user through the developing mobile media Due to the enormous quantity and content, the limitation of the use of the device is a problem to be solved as soon as possible.

In addition, the conventional recording service may be scheduled recording in which the user should designate the content to be recorded in advance and its recording time by referring to the guide of the content to be serviced during or before the broadcast. However, the explosive increase in broadcast programs through the multi-media program has a great difficulty in identifying the contents that the user prefers because the amount of content increases and the time for reviewing the content guide increases.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a service providing apparatus and method for performing automatic recording of anticipated preferred contents based on user's preference information.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for providing a preferred content automatic recording service that can enhance a user's viewing satisfaction by watching a user's preferred content on a device that washes the user's preferred content.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for providing a preferred content automatic recording service that can increase the satisfaction of a service by reducing user's effort by recommending and providing only contents of interests among a large number of channels, contents, and advertisements. It is.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for providing a preferred content automatic recording service that can improve a profit model of a service by improving viewing satisfaction and improving an advertisement effect.

A feature of the preferred content automatic recording service providing apparatus according to the present invention for achieving the above object is a user terminal for providing user content usage record information and playing the content received by the request, and the received user content usage record A home server that selects and automatically records preferred content among service target contents based on information, and forms a playback environment suitable for a corresponding access terminal when a content request is input, and provides the recorded content to the user terminal; It is.

Preferably, the home server is configured as a personal PC or a mobile Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) set-top box (STB) provided in a home.

Preferably, the home server collects and learns user-specific terminal information and content usage records input from a user terminal, and selects user preference contents among service target contents based on the learned user preference information. A recommended content management unit, an automatic recording control unit for auto-scheduled recording of the selected contents based on metadata, a coding unit for converting the recorded contents into a playback environment suitable for a terminal based on terminal information input from a user terminal; And a data transmitter for transmitting the converted content to the requested user terminal.

Preferably, the metadata management unit includes a history generation module for generating preference information for each user based on a user content usage record input from a user terminal, a preference information management module for selecting content elements based on the generated preference information; And a preference program recommendation module for selecting a preference program matching the selected content element based on metadata, and a terminal information management module for setting a video type based on terminal information input from a user terminal. .

Preferably, the content element includes at least one of a title, a channel, a genre, and an actor that the user prefers.

Preferably, the terminal information includes at least one of communication information, codec / format information, screen size, and resolution.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for providing a preferred content automatic recording service according to the present invention. (A) Receiving terminal information and a user content usage record received from a user terminal, and (B) The received user Selecting preferred contents from among the service target contents using user-specific preference information generated based on the contents usage history, and (C) matching the selected contents based on metadata representing technical information of the contents; Selecting a program to be automatically scheduled and recorded, (D) setting a video type based on the received terminal information, and converting to play the recorded content in the corresponding terminal; and (E) the And transmitting the converted content to the requesting user terminal.

Preferably, the method for providing a preferred content recording service is further characterized in that the user terminal further comprises the step of transmitting a user content usage record to the home server when the reproduction of the content received from the home server.

Apparatus and method for providing preferred content automatic recording service according to the present invention has the following effects.

First, since the home server automatically grasps the user's preferred content and performs automatic reservation, the user can watch the desired terminal at a desired time regardless of the broadcast time of the preferred content.

Second, the viewing satisfaction of the user can be improved by watching the preferred content on a desired terminal.

Third, the user's advertisement effect can be enhanced by increasing the user's content rating and viewing frequency through automatic recording.

Fourth, the content recommendation service through the management and creation of preference information is possible.

Fifth, the user's viewing satisfaction can be improved by using various recommendation services.

Sixth, it is possible to reduce the effort of the user by recommending and providing only the contents of the user who are interested in the optimized service, the vast channel, the content, and the advertisements.

Seventh, the revenue model of the service is improved by improving the viewing satisfaction and improving the advertising effect.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

A preferred embodiment of the preferred content automatic recording service providing apparatus and method according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but can be implemented in various different forms, only the embodiments to complete the disclosure of the present invention and complete the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. It is provided to inform you.

1 is a diagram showing an apparatus for providing a preferred content automatic recording service according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus for providing preferred content auto recording service provides user content usage record information and reproduces the content received through the request, and the user content usage record information received from the user terminal. The home server 100 selects the contents that the user prefers among the service target contents and automatically records the contents, and when the content request is input, configures a playback environment suitable for the corresponding access terminal to provide the recorded contents to the user terminal. It consists of.

In this case, the user terminal 200 is composed of all wired and wireless media players capable of receiving and playing video / audio signals such as a TV, a mobile phone, a PMP, a PDA, and the home server 100 includes a personal PC or a mobile IPTV provided in a home. Internet Protocol TV) STB (Set-Top Box) is preferred.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating in detail the configuration of the home server of FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, the home server 200 includes a metadata manager 110 that collects and learns user-specific terminal information and content usage records input from the user terminal 200, and the metadata manager 110 is trained by the metadata manager 110. Recommend content management unit 120 to select the content that the user prefers among the target content of the service based on the user-specific preference information, and the content selected by the recommended content management unit 120 expresses description information of the content The automatic recording controller 130 for auto-scheduled recording based on the metadata, a content storage unit 140 for storing contents recorded by the automatic recording controller, and terminal information input from the user terminal 200. A coding unit 150 for converting the stored contents into a playback environment suitable for the terminal, and the requested user terminal 200. It consists of a data transmission unit 160 to transmit.

At this time, the metadata management unit 110 is generated by the history generation module 112 and the history generation module 112 for generating preference information for each user based on the user content usage record input from the user terminal 200. The preference information management module 114 that selects content elements including a title, a channel, a genre, an actor, and the like that the user prefers based on the preference information, and the metadata based on metadata representing description information of the content. Video program type based on the preference program recommendation module 116 for selecting a preferred program matching the selected content element and terminal information such as communication information, codec / format information, screen size and resolution input from the user terminal 200. It consists of a terminal information management module 118 to set.

At this time, the method of transmitting and receiving between the home server 100 and the user terminal 200 follows the Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP).

The operation of the preferred content automatic recording service apparatus according to the present invention configured as described above will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for providing a preferred content automatic recording service according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, first, the home server 100 requests terminal information through a Send_DeviceInfo () operation through a request format to the user terminal 200. At this time, the method of transmitting and receiving between the home server 100 and the user terminal 200 follows the Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP), and for this purpose, as shown in Table 1 below, the home server 100 is connected to the user terminal 200. Terminal information is requested by the Send_DeviceInfo () operation through a request format.

<xs: complexType name = "Send_DeviceInfoType"> <xs: sequence> <xs: element name = "DeviceInfoData" type = "DeviceInfoType" /> </ xs: sequence> </ xs: complexType> <xs: element name = " Send_DeviceInfo "type =" Send_DeviceInfoType "/>

With the Send_DeviceInfo () operation as shown in Table 1 above, the home server 100 requests the user terminal 200 for terminal information and reproduction history information of an advertisement.

When the user terminal 200 receives the Send_DeviceInfo () operation requested from the home server 100, the user terminal 200 transmits the terminal information and the user content usage record through a response format (S10).

Table 2 below shows an example of transmitting a structure of user content usage records and terminal information. For reference, the user content usage record follows the TV-Anytime metadata definition.

<? xml version = "1.0" encoding = "UTF-8"?> <xs: schema xmlns: xs = "http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" elementFormDefault = "qualified" attributeFormDefault = "unqualified" > <xs: complexType name = "TerminalinfoType"> <xs: sequence> <xs: element name = "DisaplySize" /> <xs: element name = "DisaplyResolution" maxOccurs = "unbounded" /> <xs: element name = " NetworkInfo "minOccurs =" 0 "/> <xs: element name =" CPUInfo "/> <xs: element name =" MEMInfo "/> <xs: element name =" Codec "/> </ xs: sequence> </ xs: complexType> <xs: complexType name = "CMUsageHistoryInfoListType"> <xs: sequence> <xs: element name = "ServerCMID" type = "xs: string" minOccurs = "1" maxOccurs = "1" /> <xs: element name = "UsageDate" minOccurs = "1" maxOccurs = "1" /> </ xs: sequence> </ xs: complexType> <xs: complexType name = "CMUsageHistoryInfoType"> <xs: sequence> <xs: element name = "CMUsageHistoryInfoList" type = "CMUsageHistoryInfoListType" minOccurs = "0" maxOccurs = "unbounded" /> </ xs: sequence> </ xs: complexType> <xs: complexType name = "DeviceInf oType "> <xs: sequence> <xs: element name =" TerminalInfo "type =" TerminalinfoType "minOccurs =" 0 "/> <xs: element name =" Aepginfo "type =" AepginfoType "minOccurs =" 0 "/> <xs: element name = "CMUsageHistoryInfo" type = "CMUsageHistoryInfoType" minOccurs = "0" /> <xs: element name = "UserPreferenceInfo" minOccurs = "0" /> <xs: element name = "UsageHistoryInfo" minOccurs = "0 "/> </ xs: sequence> <xs: attribute name =" DeviceId "type =" xs: string "use =" required "/> </ xs: complexType> <xs: element name =" DeviceInfo "type =" DeviceInfoType "/>

As shown in Table 2 above, the terminal information includes TerminalInfo, CMUsageHistoryInfo, UserPreferenceInfo, and UsageHistoryInfo. The TerminalInfo has information such as "DeviceID", "DisaplyResolution", "NetworkInfo", "CPUInfo", "MEMInfo", "Codec", etc. At this time, CMUsageHistoryInfo can be transmitted when the DeviceInfo is transmitted. Represents information on a history of a user content usage record reproduced by a terminal on an advertisement received from a server, which will be described below.

Table 3 below shows an embodiment of the device information xml file generated based on the terminal information structure.

<DeviceInfo> <terminalInfo> <DisplaySize> Terminal's Monitor Size </ DisplaySize> <DisaplyResolution> Terminal's Resolution </ DisaplyResolution> <DeviceID> Product Type </ DeviceID> <NetworkInfo> Network Status </ NetworkInfo> <CPUInfo> CPU Information </ CPUInfo> <MEMInfo> Memory Information </ MEMInfo> <Codec> Codec Information </ Codec> </ terminalInfo> <UserPreferenceInfo> User Preference Information </ UserPreferenceInfo> <UsageHistoryInfo> User Content Usage History </ UsageHistoryInfo>, </ DeviceInfo>

As shown in Table 3 above, the user terminal 200 includes terminal information including the monitor size of the terminal, the resolution of the terminal, the product model, the network status, the CPU information, the memory information, the codec information, and the like. Transmit to home server 100.

Subsequently, the home server 100 generates preference information for each user based on a user content usage record input from the user terminal 200, and selects content elements preferred by the user based on the generated preference information. Among the user's favorite content is selected (S20). In this case, the content element includes a user's favorite title, channel, genre, actor, and the like.

Then, a program matching with the selected contents is selected based on the metadata representing the technical information of the contents to automatically schedule recording (S30). At this time, the recording is automatically recorded according to the channel, the show time and the end time for the corresponding program is broadcasted through the information described in the metadata. It should be noted, however, that this is for the purpose of illustration and not for the purpose of limitation. Therefore, by providing the automatic recording reservation information to the user terminal 200, the user may select only the desired program from the reserved recording information to proceed with the selective recording, and also having a common knowledge in the technical field of the present invention It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various embodiments are possible within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention.

At this time, Table 4 is an embodiment showing a structure for performing automatic recording in the home server (100).

As shown in Table 4 above, the home server 100 includes the number of broadcast programs (number_of_list_elements) to be recorded for automatic reservation, channel information (channel_number) on which the program is displayed, start time (start_time) of the program, and show time of the program ( duration), metadata having information of a program to be recorded (Program_Metadata_link), or link information indicating a related structure.

Then, the coding unit 150 is automatically recorded to provide an optimal viewing environment in the environment of the terminal based on the video type set in the terminal information management module 118 using the terminal information input from the user terminal 200. The content is converted (S40).

When the user requests viewing of the recommended content through a UI (User Interface) of the user terminal 200 approaching, the corresponding content converted by the coding unit 150 is converted into the user terminal 200 and the home server ( 100 is transmitted to the user terminal 200 through a transmission network between (S50).

On the other hand, when the user terminal 200 completes playback of the content received from the home server 100 in the user terminal 200, the user content usage record is recorded through the <UsageHistoryInfo> shown in Table 3 as shown in the following Table 5 embodiment. Transmit to home server 100. Then, the home server 100 is used to extract content suitable for a specific user by utilizing the user content usage record received through the transmission network.

<Send_DeviceInfo> <DeviceInfoData DeviceId = "String"> <CMUsageHistoryInfo> <CMUsageHistoryInfoList> <ServerCMID> 1 </ ServerCMID> <UsageDate> 2006-03-20: 20: 30 </ UsageDate> </ CMUsageHistoryInfoList> <CMUsageHistoryInfoList> <ServerCMID > 2 </ ServerCMID> <UsageDate> 2006-03-20: 20: 30 </ UsageDate> </ CMUsageHistoryInfoList> <CMUsageHistoryInfoList> <ServerCMID> 3 </ ServerCMID> <UsageDate> 2006-03-20: 20: 30 < / UsageDate> </ CMUsageHistoryInfoList> </ CMUsageHistoryInfo> </ DeviceInfoData> </ Send_DeviceInfo>

As described above, the user preferred contents recommended by the home server 100 based on the user preference information are media players (TV, PC monitor, etc.) provided in the home as shown in FIG. 4A, as well as portable media players (cell phone, PMP) as shown in FIG. 4B. , PDA, etc.) and various user devices and corresponding UI (User Interface).

Although the technical spirit of the present invention described above has been described in detail in a preferred embodiment, it should be noted that the above-described embodiment is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. In addition, those skilled in the art will understand that various embodiments are possible within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention. Therefore, the true technical protection scope of the present invention will be defined by the technical spirit of the appended claims.

1 is a diagram showing an apparatus for providing a preferred content automatic recording service according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a diagram illustrating in detail the configuration of the home server of FIG.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for providing a preferred content automatic recording service according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4a and 4b is an embodiment provided with an automatic recording service according to the present invention

* Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

100: home server 110: metadata management unit

112: history generation module 114: preference information management module

116: preferred program management module 118: terminal information management module

120: recommended content management unit 130: automatic recording control unit

140: content storage unit 150: coding unit

160: data transmission unit 200: user terminal

Claims (10)

A user terminal providing user content usage record information and reproducing content received through a request; The user selects and automatically records preferred content among service target contents based on the received user content usage record information, and when a content request is input, configures a playback environment suitable for a corresponding access terminal to display the recorded content on the user terminal. Apparatus for providing preferred content automatic recording service, characterized in that it comprises a home server provided by. The method of claim 1, The home server is a preferred content automatic recording service providing apparatus comprising a personal PC or a mobile IPTV (Set-Top Box) STB provided in the home. The method of claim 1, wherein the home server A metadata management unit for collecting and learning user-specific terminal information and content usage records input from the user terminal; A recommended content management unit for selecting user preference contents among service target contents based on the learned user preference information; An automatic recording controller configured to automatically schedule recording of the selected contents based on metadata; A coding unit for converting the recorded content into a playback environment suitable for a terminal based on terminal information input from a user terminal; And a data transmitter for transmitting the converted contents to the requested user terminal. The method of claim 3, wherein the metadata management unit A history generation module for generating preference information for each user based on a user content usage record input from the user terminal; A preference information management module that selects a content element based on the generated preference information; A preference program recommendation module for selecting a preference program matching the selected content element based on metadata; Apparatus for providing an automatic content recording service, characterized in that it comprises a terminal information management module for setting the video type based on the terminal information input from the user terminal. The method of claim 4, wherein And the content element includes at least one of a title, a channel, a genre, and an actor that the user prefers. The method of claim 4, wherein And the terminal information includes at least one of communication information, codec / format information, screen size, and resolution. (A) receiving the terminal information and the user content usage record received from the user terminal, (B) selecting the preferred contents among the service target contents by using the user-specific preference information generated based on the received user content usage record; (C) selecting and automatically recording and recording a program matching the selected contents based on metadata representing technical information of the contents; (D) setting a video type based on the received terminal information and converting the recorded contents to be played in the corresponding terminal; And (E) transmitting the converted content to the requesting user terminal. The method of claim 7, wherein And the terminal information is at least one of a monitor size, a resolution of a terminal, a product model, a network state, CPU information, memory information, and codec information. The method of claim 7, wherein And transmitting the user content usage record to the home server when the user terminal finishes playing the content received from the home server. The method of claim 7, wherein And recording the user content usage according to the definition of TV-Anytime metadata.

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