METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING BROADCAST SERVICE

• US 20130191870A1
• Filed: 12/28/2012
• Published: 07/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Altimedia Corp. (KT Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alticast Corporation
• Inventors: Nam, Sung-Woo, Ham, Se Rom, Kang, Ji Hee
• Granted Patent: US 9,756,396 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/49
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42208 Display device provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4221 Dedicated function buttons, e.g. for the control of an EPG, subtitles, aspect ratio, picture-in-picture or teletext
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing broadcast services are disclosed. One aspect of the invention provides a broadcast receiving apparatus that is connected over a network with a head-end and is configured to output a content on a screen in response to a user'"'"'s request. The broadcast receiving apparatus includes: a key input receiving part configured to receive a preset key signal as input; a content identification part configured to identify a content outputted on the screen at a time point of inputting the key signal; and an option interface decision part configured to decide an option interface for the identified content.

Claims

1. A broadcast receiving apparatus connected over a network with a head-end and configured to output a content on a screen in response to a user'"'"'s request, the broadcast receiving apparatus comprising:

a key input receiving part configured to receive a preset key signal as input;

a content identification part configured to identify a content outputted on the screen at a time point of inputting the key signal; and

an option interface decision part configured to decide an option interface for the identified content.

2. The broadcast receiving apparatus of claim 1, wherein the option interface comprises an indicator for accessing at least one service of cloud-uploading the identified content, transferring to a personal device, performing a related search, adding to favorites, and sharing with another user.

3. The broadcast receiving apparatus of claim 1, wherein the content comprises at least one of a live program, an on-demand program, a menu, SNS information, a chat message, and a product.

4. The broadcast receiving apparatus of claim 1, wherein the preset key signal is received from a remote controller, and the remote controller transmits the preset key signal when a user presses a touch pad provided on a keypad for a preset amount of time or longer.

5. The broadcast receiving apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an image generating part configured to generate a preliminary image corresponding to the identified content before outputting the option interface.

6. The broadcast receiving apparatus of claim 5, wherein the preliminary image comprises a thumbnail image and a progression-status image corresponding to the identified content.

7. The broadcast receiving apparatus of claim 1, wherein the option interface decision part decides on an option interface corresponding to the identified content and a current mode, and

the current mode comprises at least one of a family mode, a private log-in mode, and a chatting mode.

8. The broadcast receiving apparatus of claim 7, wherein the chatting mode is configured to concurrently output a chat message with another user and a live or an on-demand program on the screen, and

the option interface in the chatting mode comprises an indicator that enables content sharing in a limited manner with only a user currently involved in the chat.

9. The broadcast receiving apparatus of claim 1, wherein the option interface comprises a plurality of indicators that can be selected by a touchpad or a direction key equipped on a remote controller.

10. The broadcast receiving apparatus of claim 9, wherein the option interface decision part decides to deactivate or exclude at least some of the plurality of indicators depending on the identified content.

11. A method of providing a service at a broadcast receiving apparatus connected over a network with a head-end, the method comprising:

displaying a content in response to a user request;

receiving a preset key signal as input;

identifying a content outputted on a screen at a time point of receiving the key signal; and

outputting an option interface that enables a user to select one or more options for the identified content.

12. A computer-readable recorded medium having recorded thereon a program of instructions for performing the method of claim 11.