Remote controller and broadcasting receiver having electronic program guide (epu) function and service system and method using same

• US 20030159146A1
• Filed: 03/04/2003
• Published: 08/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Woori Technology Inc.
• Original Assignee: Woori Technology Inc.
• Inventors: Kim, Deok-Woo
• Application Number:
  US10/312,410
• Publication Number:
  US 20030159146A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4348 Demultiplexing of additional data and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Disclosed is a remote controller and broadcasting receiver having an EPU function and service system and method using the same. A program receiver receives broadcasting signals in wire or wireless manners and extracts broadcasting program information. A signal processor controls the extraction of the broadcasting program information by the program receiver, decodes the extracted broadcasting program information and controls to store the same in a memory. An input and output unit inputs and outputs the broadcasting program information, outputs a control signal for selecting broadcasting channels to the signal processor according to a user'"'"'s manipulations, receives broadcasting program information including at least one of a public broadcasting channel, a

Claims

1. An electronic program guide (EPG) remote controller for wire or wirelessly downloading broadcasting program information including at least one broadcasting channel from among at least one public broadcasting channel, at least one satellite broadcasting channel and at least one cable television channel, storing the same, and selecting a broadcasting channel based on the stored information, comprising:

a memory unit for storing information for selecting broadcasting channels;

a signal sender for outputting signals for changing the broadcasting channels according to a user'"'"'s manipulation;

a program receiver for wire or wirelessly receiving broadcasting signals, and extracting broadcast program information;

a signal processor for controlling the program receiver'"'"'s extraction operation of the broadcast program information, decoding the extracted broadcast program information and controlling the decoded broadcast program information to be stored in the memory; and

an input/output unit for inputting/outputting broadcast program signals according to the user'"'"'s manipulation, and outputting control signals for selecting broadcasting channels to the signal processor.

2. The EPG remote controller of claim 1, wherein the downloaded broadcast program information is one of broadcast program information that fits a user'"'"'s interests or broadcast program information that is indifferent to the user'"'"'s interests.

3. The EPG remote controller of claim 2, wherein a request for the downloading is performed by manipulation of the EPG remote controller.

4. The EPG remote controller of claim 1, wherein the downloading of broadcast program information in a wire method is performed using a set-top box capable of receiving satellite broadcasting or digital public broadcasting, a VCR, a network personal computer, or a digital television.

5. The EPG remote controller of claim, 4, wherein the broadcast program information downloaded using the set-top box, VCR, PC and digital, television is transmitted to the EPG remote controller by using one of an IrDA, a Bluetooth or a wire method.

6. The EPG remote controller of claim 4, wherein the selection method of channel signals output by the EPG remote controller is one of an IrDA, a Bluetooth or a wire method.

7. The EPG remote controller of claim 1, wherein the wireless downloading of broadcast program information is performed using one of a pager, a frequency modulation data radio channel (FM DARC), a mobile communication terminal or a personal digital assistant (PDA).

8. The EPG remote controller of claim, 7, wherein the selection method of channel signals output by the EPG remote controller is one of an IrDA, a Bluetooth or a wire method.

9. The EPG remote controller of claim 1, wherein the EPG remote controller is an integrated remote controller unified into one of a pager frequency modulation data radio channel (FM DARC), a mobile communication terminal or a personal digital assistant (PDA).

10. The EPG remote controller of claim 1, wherein the EPG remote controller has a function of monitoring network broadcasting through a personal computer.

11. The EPG remote controller of claim 1, wherein the EPG remote controller is displayed on a display screen of a broadcasting channel as a virtual remote controller so that the EPG remote controller can be implemented as a broadcasting portal site service.

12. An electronic program guide (EPG) service method using an EPG remote controller comprising:

(a) assigning categories of interests broadcast programs from programs including at least one broadcasting channel from among at least one public broadcasting channel, at least one satellite broadcasting channel and at least one cable television channel, and requesting program information for channel selection; and

(b) downloading channel selection information by using information including the assigned program categories, and selecting a channel by using the downloaded channel selection information.

13. The EPG service method of claim 12, wherein in the request for program inform in (a) the method further comprises:

inserting at least one advertisement or at least one shopping program according to a user'"'"'s interests.

14. The EPG service method of claim 12, wherein (b) comprises:

(b-1) checking whether the start time of a program reserved by the user is matched with the current time, and when they are matched, displaying the current starting program title and channel;

(b-2) checking whether a wireless call signal or a button input signal is received when the start time and the current time are not matched in (b-1);

(b-3) checking, when a wireless call signal is received, whether an address number included in the wireless call signal is matched with a stored address number, and when they are matched, updating program information included in the wireless call signal with new information, and going back to (b-1);

(b-4) checking, when a button input signal is input in (b-2), whether it is a user selection key signal, a channel selection key signal or a reference key signal;

(b-5) displaying, when a user selection key signal is input in (b-4), at least one registered user, changing, when a user is selected, the current user with the selected user, storing it in a memory, and going back to (b-1);

(b-6) transmitting to a broadcast program display set a next or previous channel number of a channel currently viewed by the user among programs desired by the user when a channel selection key signal is input in (b-4), storing a changed channel, and going back to (b-1);

(b-7) displaying at least one interests program and time for each channel when a reference key signal is input, transmitting a program selection signal selected when a program is selected, storing the changed channel, and going back to (b-1); and

(b-8) going back to (b-1) when the reference key signal is input in (b-4).

15. The EPG service method of claim 12, wherein (b) comprises:

(b-1) checking whether the start time of a program reserved by the user is matched with the current time, and when they are matched, displaying the current starting program title and channel;

(b-2) checking whether a wireless call signal or a button input signal is received when the start time and the current time are not matched in (b-1);

(b-3) checking, when a wireless call signal is received, whether an address number included in the wireless call signal is matched with a stored address number, and when they are matched, updating program information included in the wireless call signal, with new information, and going back to (b-1);

(b-4) checking, when a button input signal is input in (b-2), whether it is a user selection key signal, a channel selection key signal, a reference key signal or a registration key signal;

(b-5) displaying, when a user selection key signal is input in (b-4), at least one registered user, changing, when a user is selected, the current user with the selected user, storing it in a memory, and going back to (b-1);

(b-6) transmitting to a broadcast program display set a next or previous channel number of a channel currently viewed by the user among programs desired by the user when a channel selection key signal is input in (b-4), storing a changed channel, and going back to (b-1);

(b-7) displaying at least one interests program and time for each channel when a reference key signal is input, transmitting a program selection signal selected when a program is selected, storing the changed channel, and going back to (b-1);

(b-8) checking, when a registration key signal is input in (b-4), whether it is a new user key input signal, a user information modification key signal or a user deletion key signal;

(b-9) registering a new user when it is a new user key input signal in (b-8), registering information including interests, interests programs and reservation, storing user information, comparing the user information and program information, selecting a program matched with the user information, storing the program, and going back to (b-1);

(b-10) modifying the information including interests, interests programs and reservation when it is a user information modification key input signal in (b-8), storing it, comparing the user information with the program information, selecting a program matched with the user information, storing it, and going back to (b-1);

(b-11) deleting corresponding user and user information when it is a user deletion key input signal, and going back to (b-1); and

(b-12) going back to (b-1) when the registration key is not input.

16. An electronic program guide (EPG) service system using an EPG remote controller, comprising:

an EPG information provider for storing program planning information including at least one broadcasting channel of at least one public broadcasting channel, at least one satellite broadcasting channel and at least one cable television channel, and guide information; and

an EPG remote controller for inputting personal information including an EPG remote controller number, an ID and interests of broadcast programs, assigning a desired broadcast program category, requesting channel selection information from the EPG information provider, downloading its response information through a wireless communication network or network backbone network, and manipulating a channel of a program based on the downloaded channel selection information.

17. The EPG service system of claim 16, wherein the EPG service system further comprises a user personal computer for accessing a predetermined EPG service homepage managed by the EPG information provider, inputting personal information including an EPG remote controller number, an ID and interests of broadcast programs, assigning a desired broadcast program category, and requesting channel selection information from the EPG information provider.

18. The EPG service system of claim 16, wherein the downloaded broadcast program information is one of broadcast program information that fits a user'"'"'s interests or broadcast program information that is indifferent to,. the user'"'"'s interests.

19. A broadcasting receiver set having an electronic program guide (EPG) comprising:

a broadcasting signal receiver for dividing broadcasting signals for television viewing and broadcast program information for channel setting from broadcasting signals including at least one channel of at least one public television broadcasting channel, at least one satellite broadcasting channel and at least one cable television broadcasting channel, and outputting them;

a television signal processor for dividing audio and video signals from the broadcasting signals for television viewing in response to the manipulation, and outputting them;

a memory unit for storing program information according to at least one user'"'"'s interests; and

;

a signal processor for controlling the broadcasting signal receiver to extract broadcast program information to decode the broadcast program information, controlling the memory unit to store the decoded program information, selecting a broadcasting channel based on the stored program information when a user requests a channel setting, and outputting the same.

20. The broadcasting receiver set of claim 19, wherein the broadcasting receiver set further comprises a remote controller for inputting/outputting broadcast program signals according to the user'"'"'s key manipulation, and outputting control signals for selecting broadcasting channels to the signal processor.

21. The broadcasting receiver set of claim 19, wherein the signal processor recognizes key manipulation input through the remote controller receiver, checks a predetermined user and outputs control signals for requesting to extract program information corresponding to the predetermined users to the memory.

22. The broadcasting receiver set of claim 19, wherein the broadcasting receiver set further comprises a wireless data communication interface for inputting/outputting broadcast program signals from a wirelessly connected computer system or a mobile communication terminal, and outputting control signals for selecting broadcasting channels to the signal processor.

23. The broadcasting receiver set of claim 19, wherein the broadcasting receiver set further comprises a universal serial bus (USB) controller for inputting/outputting broadcast program signals from a wire-connected computer system, and outputting control signals for selecting broadcasting channels to the signal processor.

24. The broadcasting receiver set of claim 19, wherein the broadcasting receiver set comprises an EPG information extractor for extracting broadcast program, information from the public broadcasting signals, and providing the extracted broadcast program information to the signal processor.

25. The broadcasting receiver set of claim 23, wherein the broadcasting receiver set further comprises a frequency adjuster for setting a predetermined frequency level for extracting broadcast program information, and outputting the set frequency level to the EPG information extractor.

26. The broadcasting receiver set of claim 19, wherein the broadcasting receiver set further comprises an on-screen display (OSD) generator for generating an alarm message before a predetermined time of broadcasting a reserved program, and performing a switching function from the current screen to a reserved channel.