Terminal and method for performing bidirectional IPTV service

A terminal device for carrying out an interactive internet protocol television (IPTV) service comprises: a near distance communication unit to receive set-top box information from a remote controller which controls a set-top box used for the interactive IPTV service; a session setup unit to set up a session to communicate between the terminal device and the set-top box based on the set-top box information; a content information receiver to receive, from the set-top box, content information on content being played by the set-top box over the set up session; a content information transmitter is configured to transmit the content information received from the content information receiver to an information provider; and content-related information receiver to receive content-related information from the information provider, the content-related information is extracted by the information provider from prestored information on a plurality of contents based on the content information.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for providing an interactive internet protocol television (IPTV) service by using a near field communication (NFC) functionality.

BACKGROUND

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and do not constitute prior art.

Recent change of broadcasting system from analog to digital format reshapes the broadcasting system towards multi-channel environments of broadcast channels and higher quality of program audios and videos. The inventor(s) has noted that this enables hundreds of channels to cast a variety of information and to be available for convenient access by users. In addition, such a broadcasting system interworks with mobile communication networks to provide an advanced broadcasting environment. It facilitates two-way interactive television services which empower the viewer who had passively consumed the program offerings to become an active user capable of participating in the program or selecting a desired program to receive at a desired time. Further, while watching the broadcast, the user can now conveniently find and purchase the program's content tie-in products, e.g. auxiliary information on the character or hand props that appears on the program content.

Meanwhile, the inventor(s) has noted that in order for a user to use content-related information with the known interactive IPTV service, the extra information on the exposed tie-in products need to be preprocessed into metadata which in turn undergoes the required high-cost off-line work for inserting the metadata into the content (off-line editing). The inventor(s) has therefore experienced that such a service is prone to failure for a user to receive information on the user's interested tie-in products, diminishing the versatility of the interactive IPTV service.

SUMMARY

In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, a terminal device for carrying out an interactive internet protocol television (IPTV) service comprises a near distance communication unit, a session setup unit, a content information receiver, a content information transmitter and a content-related information receiver. The near distance communication unit is configured to receive set-top box information from a remote controller which controls a set-top box used for the interactive IPTV service. The session setup unit is configured to set up a session to communicate between the terminal device and the set-top box based on the set-top box information. The content information receiver is configured to receive, from the set-top box, content information on content being played by the set-top box over the set up session. The content information transmitter is configured to transmit the content information received from the content information receiver to an information provider. And the content-related information receiver is configured to receive a content-related information from the information provider, the content-related information is extracted by the information provider from prestored information on a plurality of contents based on the content information.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, a terminal device for carrying out an interactive internet protocol television (IPTV) service comprises a near distance communication unit, an information receiver, a session setup unit, a content information receiver, a content information transmitter and a content-related information receiver. The near distance communication unit is configured to receive remote controller-specific information of a remote controller from the remote controller which controls a set-top box used for the interactive IPTV service. The information receiver is configured to transmit the remote controller-specific information to an information provider so as to receive, from the information provider, set-top box information that matches the remote controller-specific information. The session setup unit is configured to set up a session to communicate between the terminal device and the set-top box based on the set-top box information. The content information receiver is configured to receive, from the set-top box, content information on content being played by the set-top box over the set up session. The content information transmitter is configured to transmit the content information received from the content information receiver to the information provider. And the content-related information receiver is configured to receive a content-related information from the information provider, the content-related information is extracted by the information provider from prestored information on a plurarity of contents based on the content information.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide simplifying the interworking between a set-top box and a terminal by the provision of an interactive internet protocol television (IPTV) service, wherein the an interactive IPTV service comprises receiving set-top box information by drawing the terminal incorporating near field communication (NFC) functionality close to a remote controller for the set-top box and setting up a session for data communication between the terminal and the set-top box based on the set-top box information. Then, the terminal receives and transmits content information on a content being currently played in the set-top box in the set-up session to a server, and receives, from the server, content-related information extracted based on the content information while resolving the high-cost requirement by the known interactive IPTV service to thereby increase the efficiency of the interactive IPTV service.

Additionally, in describing the components of the present disclosure, terms like first, second, A, B, (a), and (b) are used. These are solely for the purpose of differentiating one component from another, and one of ordinary skill would understand the terms are not to imply or suggest the substances, order or sequence of the components. If a component is described as ‘connected’, ‘coupled’, or ‘linked’ to another component, one of ordinary skill in the art would understand the components are not necessarily directly ‘connected’, ‘coupled’, or ‘linked’ but also are indirectly ‘connected’, ‘coupled’, or ‘linked’ via a third component.

Internet protocol TV or IPTV refers to a service provided through the television receiver and a high-speed Internet for offering various information, video content and broadcast programs. Different from the existing Internet TV, the IPTV utilizes a television set instead of a computer monitor and a remote controller instead of a computer mouse. IPTV users can search, by using a remote controller, the Internet and receive various services such as movies, home shopping, home banking, online games, MP3, etc. IPTV has a little difference from the known cable TV or the satellite TV in that it provides bi-directional interactivity. Therefore, over the known terrestrial broadcasting, cable TV or satellite broadcasting, IPTV provides the edge for viewers to select only the programs they want to watch at their convenient time. Some embodiments of the present disclosure use the NFC function for enabling a terminal to work with a remote controller, whereby set-top box information can be received from the remote controller. Some embodiments of the present disclosure use the NFC for enabling a terminal to work with a set-top box so as to simplify the interoperation between the terminal and the set-top box. Some embodiments of the present disclosure use the content information received by a terminal from a set-top box as a basis for receiving content-related information to implement a method of providing an interactive IPTV service different from the known methods for inserting metadata into the content.

Although it is described that the terminal interworks with the remote controller by way of the NFC function to receive information on the set-top box, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the terminal may communicate with the remote controller in different ways other than the NFC protocol, e.g., Wireless LAN, Bluetooth, HomeRF, IrDA, UWB, etc. (collectively “near distance communications”) for exchanging the set-top box information, or the terminal may internally store the set-top box information.

A near field communication or NFC is a type of non-contact wireless communication protocol which uses the bandwidth of 13.56 MHz, for transferring data at low power and within a distance of 10 cm or less. The near distance communication supports the bit-rate of 424 Kbps and facilitates various services such as transportation service, payment service and the like by drawing two or more NFC-enabled devices close to each other without human intervention. The terminal and the remote controller according to the embodiments of the present disclosure are provided with a module capable of performing the NFC functionality.

FIG. 1is a diagram of an interactive IPTV service system100according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.

AsFIG. 1illustrates, interactive IPTV service system100according to the present disclosure includes a terminal110, a remote controller120, a set-top box130and an information provider140.FIG. 1depicts the NFC range of remote controller120in a dotted line which encompasses terminal110. Other components of the interactive IPTV service system100, such as each of the terminal110, the remote controller120, the set-top box130and the information provider140is implemented by, or includes, one or more processors and/or application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs). Each of the terminal110, the remote controller120, the set-top box130and the information provider140comprises input units such as one or more buttons, a touch screen, a mic and so on, and output units such as a display, an indicator and so on.

Terminal110refers to a device that transmits and receives various data through data relaying devices including APs (access points) according to user's key operations. Terminal110may be one of a tablet PC (personal computer), a laptop computer, a smart phone, a PDA (personal digital assistant), a mobile communication terminal, and the like. Terminal110is adapted to perform a voice or data communications by using an AP and a network, and it also represents a terminal having a memory for storing various software programs or protocols for communicating with devices via the AP and the network, a microprocessor for executing the programs so as to perform operations and control, and the like. Terminal110according to embodiments is provided with an NFC-enabled module so that, when remote controller120having its NFC-enabled module comes in a close distance, terminal110recognizes tag information of remote controller120and receives information on set-top box130from remote controller120.

Terminal110used in interactive IPTV service system100performs an interactive IPTV service as it interworks with set-top box130.

Terminal110, upon recognizing tag information of remote controller120, receives information on set-top box130from remote controller120through the near distance communication such as NFC. In addition, as described above, the terminal and the remote controller may use other communication methods than the NFC to exchange the set-top box information or the terminal may store the set-top box information in its memory.

The set-top box information received by terminal110refers to information including an IP address. Terminal110uses the peer to peer (P2P) feature to receive the set-top box information from terminal110.

Based on the received set-top box of the received set-top box information, terminal110establishes a session for performing data communication with set-top box130. Here, the session refers to a logical connection for interaction between users and computers in the network environment. Terminal110receives an IP address of set-top box130, and interworks with set-top box130by establishing a session for performing data communication with set-top box130based on the IP address. Through the above, terminal110provides a basis for carrying out the interactive IPTV services.

Terminal110, upon recognizing tag information of remote controller120, receives characteristic information of remote controller120therefrom through the near distance communication such as NFC. Besides the exemplary NFC function used to receive the remote controller specific information, the terminal and the remote controller may use other ways of communication to exchange the remote controller specific information or the terminal may store the remote controller specific information in its memory.

The information specific to remote controller120received by terminal110refers to information including a remote controller identification number. Here, the remote controller identification number is preset as a factory default setting or set by the user after its sale, and the same number is received by terminal110from remote controller120through the P2P feature of NFC.

Then, terminal110transmits the remote controller-specific information to information provider140and receives the set-top box information that matches the remote controller-specific information from information provider140. Meanwhile, information provider140stores, upon receipt from one or more set-top boxes, remote controller-specific information unique to one or more remote controllers matching one or more set-top boxes and set-top box information including serial numbers and IP addresses of the set-top boxes. By transmitting the remote controller-specific information received to information provider140, terminal110receives, from information provider140, the set-top box serial number and the IP address which match the remote controller-specific information, among the prestored information. The information provider140is a server to perform the functions and operations stated above, and implemented by, or includes, one or more processors and/or application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs).

Terminal110receives the set-top box information including the serial number and the IP address of set-top box130, and based thereon, sets up the session for performing data communication and interworking with set-top box130. Thus, terminal110provides a basis for carrying out the interactive IPTV services.

The tag information of remote controller120recognized by terminal110is information preset with an NFC tag of remote controller120, wherein the tag information of remote controller120in embodiments refers to the command to proceed with all stages towards the interactive IPTV services carried out by terminal110. Meanwhile, although some embodiments illustrate that terminal110executes the command by the tag information of remote controller120, the command may be executed by a software application preinstalled in terminal110.

Thereafter, terminal110uses the sessions set up for receiving information on the content being played by set-top box130. In other words, terminal110receives information on the content being played by set-top box130via wireless communication methods such as Bluetooth and RF communication based on the established session. Herein, the content played by set-top box130includes content information on a part or entire visual and audio content played by set-top box130during a predetermined period of time including the time point when the tag information of remote controller120is recognized, wherein the time point may coincide with either the receipt of the remote controller-specific information or the receipt of the set-top box information. In addition, the predetermined duration including the time point of recognizing the tag information of remote controller120is set by unit of seconds, but not limited thereto.

Terminal110transmits the content information received from set-top box130to information provider140through a communication network and receives, from information provider140, content-related information extracted based on the content information. The content-related information according to some embodiments is selected from, but not limited to, a plurality of websites containing contents related to the content information transmitted by terminal110and it is a select information by a combined web page representation of URLs (uniform resource locators) of affiliated websites.

Remote controller120is a device for controlling set-top box130used for the interactive IPTV service. Remote controller120has received and saved the set-top box information including the IP address of set-top box130interworking with the corresponding remote controller120. In addition, remote controller120has its unique number which is set as a factory default setting or set by the user after its sale.

When interworking with terminal110and set-up box130, remote controller120checks whether terminal110comes within an NFC range. If terminal110is within the preset NFC range, remote controller120transmits its prestored set-top box information through the NFC P2P feature to terminal110.

When interworking with terminal110and set-up box130, remote controller120checks whether terminal110comes within an NFC range. If terminal110is within the preset NFC range, remote controller120transmits its remote controller identification number through the NFC P2P feature to terminal110.

Set-top box130is a device for providing the television receiver with a variety of multimedia content including video content such as movies and broadcasting programs and Internet searches by using the ultra high-speed Internet network.

Set-top box130according to some embodiments operates to gain the information on remote controller120that controls set-top box130and the set-top box information containing the serial number and the IP address of set-top box130, and to transmit such informations to information provider140. When terminal110needs to interwork with set-top box130, set-top box130transmits its IP address in advance to remote controller120to thereby relay its IP address eventually to terminal110.

In addition, if terminal110and remote controller120interwork, set-top box130extracts and transmits, to terminal110, information including content information on a part or entire visual and audio content played by set-top box130during a predetermined period of time including the time point when the tag information of remote controller120is recognized by terminal110.

Information provider140stores, upon receipt from one or more set-top boxes, set-top box information including serial numbers and IP addresses of the one or more set-top boxes and remote controller-specific information unique to each of the one or more remote controllers adapted to control the one or more set-top boxes. Thereafter, when terminal120needs to interwork with set-top box130, information provider140receives the remote controller identification number from terminal110, extracts set-top box information that matches the remote controller identification number from the prestored information, and provides the extracted set-top box information to terminal110.

In addition, upon receiving the content information from terminal110, information provider140extracts corresponding content-related information from the prestored information which includes each content-related information corresponding to each of a plurality of contents based on the received content information, and transmits the extracted content-related information to terminal110. Meanwhile, information provider140maintains prestored content-related information on the plurality of contents provided from corporations or individual businesses, wherein the content-related information is, for example, the URL address of the website including information on the corresponding content. In other words, upon receiving particular content information from terminal110, information provider140provides terminal110with a combined web page indicating the content-related information relevant to a particular content information.

FIG. 2is a diagram of a configuration of terminal110for performing interactive IPTV services according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown inFIG. 2, to perform interactive IPTV services, the terminal110includes a near distance communication unit200, an information receiver202, a session setup unit204, a content information receiver206, a content information transmitter208and a content-related information receiver210. Meanwhile, terminal100used in interactive IPTV service system100according to the present disclosure operates as described inFIG. 1for carrying out the interactive IPTV service in conjunction with set-top box130. Other components of the terminal110, such as each of the near distance communication unit200, the information receiver202, the session setup unit204, the content information receiver206, are implemented by, or includes, one or more processors and/or application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs). Each or combination of the content information transmitter208and the content-related information receiver210includes communication module(s) to process (e.g., modulation, coding, quantization and so on related to functions and operations in the field of the art) transmit and receive signal(s), in which the communication module(s) is implemented by, or includes, one or more processors and/or application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs). The terminal110comprises input units such as one or more buttons, a touch screen, a mic and so on, and output units such as a display, an indicator and so on.

Upon recognizing the tag information of remote controller120that controls set-top box130used for interactive IPTV services, near distance communication unit200as receives the set-top box information from remote controller120by using the near distance communication, NFC.

Herein, the set-top box information received by near distance communication unit200refers to information including the IP address of set-top box130, and near distance communication unit200receives the set-top box information from remote controller120through the NFC P2P feature. In this case, remote controller120stores the IP address of set-top box130, which has been received from set-top box130.

Upon recognizing the tag information of remote controller120used for interactive IPTV services, near distance communication unit200receives the remote controller-specific information from remote controller120through the near distance communications.

The remote controller-specific information received by near distance communication unit200refers to information including the remote controller identification number. Here, the remote controller identification number is preset with remote controller120as a factory default setting or set by the user, and the same number is received by terminal110from remote controller120through the P2P feature of NFC.

In case terminal110interworks with set-top box130, information receiver202receives and transmits the information specific to remote controller (120) from near distance communication unit200to information provider140, and receives, from information provider140, the set-top box information that matches the remote controller-specific information of the corresponding remote controller120. Meanwhile, information provider140stores, upon receipt from one or more set-top boxes, the remote controller-specific information unique to one or more remote controllers matching one or more set-top boxes and set-top box information including serial numbers and IP addresses of the set-top boxes. Upon transmitting the remote controller identification number to information provider140, information receiver202receives, from information provider140, the serial number and the IP address of set-top box130, which match the remote controller identification number of the corresponding remote controller, among the prestored information in information provider140.

Based on the received set-top box information, session setup unit204establishes a session for performing data communication with set-top box130. Here, the session refers to a logical connection for interaction between users and computers in the network environment. On the other hand, session setup unit204receives the set-top box information including its IP address from near distance communication unit200, and has terminal110interwork with set-top box130by setting up a session for data communication based on the received IP address. By doing so, session setup unit204provides a basis for carrying out the interactive IPTV services.

Session setup unit204receives, from information receiver202, the set-top box information including the serial number and the IP address of set-top box130, and based thereon, sets up the session for performing data communication and has terminal110interwork with set-top box130. By doing so, session setup unit204provides a basis for carrying out the interactive IPTV services.

Content information receiver206uses the session set up by session setup unit204for receiving information on the content being played by set-top box130. In other words, content information receiver206receives information on the content being played by set-top box130under a wireless communication scheme such as Bluetooth and RF communication through the session. At this time, the content information on a part or all of content currently played by set-top box130includes content information on a part or all of the content (i.e., content including at least one of visual content and audio content) played by set-top box130during a predetermined period of time including the time point when the tag information of remote controller120is recognized. In addition, the predetermined duration including the time point of recognizing the tag information of remote controller120is set by unit of seconds, although not limited thereto.

Content information transmitter208receives and transmits the content information from information receiver206to information provider140.

Content-related information receiver210receives, from information provider140, content-related information extracted based on the content information. Meanwhile, information provider140maintains stored content-related information provided from corporations or individual businesses, wherein the content-related information stored in information provider140is the URL address of the website including information about the corresponding content. In other words, upon receiving content information from content information transmitter208, information provider140extracts content-related information associated with the corresponding content information. Content-related information receiver210receives the extracted content-related information from information provider140.

FIG. 3is a flowchart illustrating a method for performing an interactive IPTV service by using terminal110according to at least one first embodiment.

As shown inFIG. 3, the method for performing an interactive IPTV service by using terminal110starts when near distance communication unit200initially determines whether there is a recognized tag information of remote controller120for controlling set-top box130(S300). Near distance communication unit200carries out the NFC operation by drawing terminal110close to the NFC range preset with remote controller120and determines whether the tag information of remote controller120is recognized.

When the tag information of remote controller120is recognized, terminal110runs a software application for carrying out an operation according to the tag Information (S302). Here, the tag information of remote controller120refers to the command to proceed with all stages towards the interactive IPTV services carried out by terminal110. In other words, when the application runs, the units in terminal110shown inFIG. 2perform the aforementioned functions.

Near distance communication unit200receives the set-top box information from remote controller120through near distance communication (S304). Near distance communication unit200receives the set-top (130) information from remote controller120through the NFC P2P feature. In this case, remote controller120stores the IP address of set-top box130, which has been received from set-top box130. Here, the terminal and the remote controller may use other communication ways than NFC to exchange the set-top box information or the terminal may already have the set-top box information in store.

Session setup unit204establishes a session for performing data communications with set-top box130based on the set-top box (130) information (S306). Session setup unit204receives, from near distance communication unit200, the set-top box information including the serial number and the IP address of set-top box130, and based on the received IP address, sets up the session for performing a data communication and allows terminal110to interwork with set-top box130.

Content information receiver206receives, from set-up box130, the content information being played by set-top box130over the session set at session setup unit204(S308). Content information receiver206receives information on the content (e.g., a part or entire visual and audio content) being played by set-top box130through wireless communications such as Bluetooth and RF communication schemes based on the preset session. At this time, the content information on the content being played in set-top box130includes content information on a part or all of the content (i.e., content including at least one of visual content and audio content) played by set-top box130during a predetermined period of time including the time point when the tag information of remote controller120is recognized.

Content information transmitter208transmits the received content information to information provider140, and content-related information receiver210receives, from information provider140, content-related information extracted based on the content information (S310). Content-related information receiver210receives, from information provider140, the content-related information on the content that content information transmitter208has sent to information provider140, among the prestored information in information provider140.

FIG. 4is a flowchart of a method performed by terminal110according to at least one second embodiment for performing an interactive IPTV service.

As shown inFIG. 4, the method for performing an interactive IPTV service with terminal110starts when near distance communication unit200determines whether there is recognized tag information of remote controller120for controlling set-top box130(S400). Near distance communication unit200carries out the NFC operation when terminal110draws close to the NFC range and determines whether the tag information of remote controller120is recognized.

When the tag information of remote controller120is recognized, terminal110runs a software application for carrying out an operation according to the tag Information (S402). Here, the tag information of remote controller120refers to a command to proceed with all stages towards the interactive IPTV services carried out by terminal110. In other words, when the application runs, the units in terminal110shown inFIG. 2perform the aforementioned functions.

Near distance communication200receives remote controller-specific information from remote controller120through near distance communication (S404). Near distance communication unit200receives remote controller-specific information of remote controller120through the NFC P2P feature, wherein the remote controller-specific information includes the remote controller identification number. In this case, the remote controller identification number is preset with remote controller120as a factory default setting or set by the user. Here, the terminal and the remote controller may use methods of communication other than the NFC to exchange the remote controller specific information or the terminal may have the remote controller specific information in store.

Information receiver202transmits the remote controller-specific information of remote controller120to information provider140to receive the set-top box information that matches the remote controller-specific information (S406). Meanwhile, information provider140stores, upon receipt from one or more set-top boxes, remote controller-specific information unique to one or more remote controllers matching one or more set-top boxes and set-top box information including serial numbers and IP addresses of the set-top boxes. By transmitting the remote controller-specific information to information provider140, information receiver202receives, from information provider140, the set-top box serial number and the IP address which match the corresponding remote controller identification number, among the prestored information in information provider140.

Session setup unit204sets up a session for performing a data communication with set-top box130based on the set-top box information (S408). In other words, session setup unit204receives, from information receiver202, the serial number and the IP address of set-top box130, which match the corresponding remote controller identification number, and based thereon, sets up the session for performing a data communication with set-top box130and allows terminal110to interwork with set-top box130.

Content information receiver206receives, from set-up box130, the content information on the content being played by set-top box130over the session set through session setup unit204(S410). Content information receiver206receives information on the content being played by set-top box130through the wireless communication such as Bluetooth and RF communication based on the preset session. At this time, the content information in set-top box130includes content information on a part or all of the content (i.e., content including at least one of visual content and audio content) played by set-top box130during a predetermined period of time including the time point when the tag information of remote controller120is recognized.

Content information transmitter208transmits the received content information to information provider140, and content-related information receiver210receives, from information provider140, content-related information extracted based on the content information (S412). In other words, content-related information receiver210receives, from information provider140, the content-related information on the content that content information transmitter208has sent to information provider140, among the prestored information in information provider140.

Although steps S300to S310and steps S400to S412ofFIGS. 3 and 4have been described as being sequentially performed, this is merely an exemplary description of the technical idea of some embodiments of the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the characteristics of some embodiments of the disclosure. For example, the order of steps shown inFIGS. 3 and 4may be changed, or one or more of steps S300to S310and steps S400to S412may be performed in parallel. Therefore, the present disclosure is not limited to the time-series order as shown inFIGS. 3 and 4.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure as described above, one or more exemplary embodiments provide an interactive IPTV service comprising receiving set-top box information by approaching a terminal having NFC function near a remote controller for a set-top box and establishing a session for data communication between the terminal and the set-top box based on the set-top box information. Then, the terminal receives and transmits content information on content(s) being played by the set-top box in the established session to a server, and receives, from the server, content-related information extracted based on the content information to thereby simplify the interworking between the set-top box and the terminal and obviate the high-cost exacted by the known interactive IPTV service, which enhances the performance of the interactive IPTV service.

Although exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure have been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention. Specific terms used in this disclosure and drawings are used for illustrative purposes and not to be considered as limitations of the present disclosure. Therefore, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure have been described for the sake of brevity and clarity. Accordingly, one of ordinary skill would understand the scope of the claimed invention is not limited by the explicitly described above embodiments but by the claims and equivalents thereof.