METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGING PROGRAM IN WORD SERVICE OF VIDEO PROGRAM

• US 20120240166A1
• Filed: 07/09/2010
• Published: 09/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ZTE Corporation
• Original Assignee: ZTE Corporation
• Inventors: Xu, Shaoping
• Granted Patent: US 8,763,031 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2355 involving reformatting operations of additional data, e.g. HTML pages optimising the visualization of content for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/9577; tracking of instant messages H04L51/234; media packet handling at the source H04L65/762
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26283 for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic program guide data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26291 for providing content or additional data updates, e.g. updating software modules, stored at the client deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/475 End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. personal identification number [PIN], preference data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8133 specifically related to the content, e.g. biography of the actors in a movie, detailed information about an article seen in a video program

Abstract

The present invention claims a method and a system for managing a Program In Word (PIW) service of a video program. The method comprises the steps of: a management platform configuring a sub-program to bear the PIW service for a program provided by the operator, and sending a corresponding relation between the program and the sub-program to an EPG server for storing; the EPG server storing text information input for the program by all users as PIW display information of the corresponding sub-program, and updating the PIW display information in real time; an STB forwarding a PIW service request of a user to the EPG server; according to program information, which is carried in the PIW service request, of a currently playing program, the EPG server obtaining the sub-program corresponding to the currently playing program by inquiry, and then obtaining the PIW display information of the sub-program and sending the PIW display information to the STB; and the STB displaying the PIW display information on a client terminal for the user. The present invention enables the users to submit comments on the program when they are watching it, and the PIW display information can be updated continuously and displayed in real time.

Claims

1. A method for managing a Program In Word (PIW) service of a video program, the method comprising:

a Server Manager System (SMS) configuring, according to a request of an operator, a sub-program to bear the PIW service for a program of the operator, and sending a corresponding relation between the program and the sub-program to an Electronic Program Guide (EPG) server;

the EPG server storing text information input for the program by all users as PIW display information of the corresponding sub-program, and updating the PIW display information in real time;

a Set Top Box (STB) forwarding a PIW service request of a user to the EPG server;

according to program information, which is carried in the PIW service request, of a currently playing program, the EPG server obtaining the sub-program corresponding to the currently playing program by inquiry, and obtaining the PIW display information of the sub-program and sending the PIW display information to the STB;

the STB displaying the PIW display information for the user through a client terminal.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

after the step of the STB forwarding the PIW service request of the user to the EPG server, the EPG server retrieving a program list according to the program information, which is carried in the PIW service request, of the currently playing program, wherein the program list is configured and sent to the EPG server by the SMS, and the program list is configured with the corresponding relation between the program and the sub-program;

the EPG server inquiring the PIW display information of the sub-program in a program information table according to a sub-program number, retrieved in the program list, of the sub-program corresponding to the currently playing program, wherein the program information table stores the sub-program number in the program list and the PIW display information corresponding to the sub-program number.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the steps of storing the text information input for the program by all the users as the PIW display information of the sub-program and updating the PIW display information in real time comprises:

after a user inputs information, the STB forming an event message according to the information input by the user, sending the event message to the EPG server, and simultaneously submitting the program information of the currently playing program as a parameter to the EPG server;

the EPG server receiving the event message, parsing the event message to obtain the information input by the user carried in the event message, searching the program list, according to the program information of the currently playing program, to obtain the corresponding sub-program number, then searching a corresponding storage location in the program information table according to the sub-program number, inserting the information input by the user and then storing to update;

the EPG server returning the updated PIW display information, which contains the information input by the user, back to the STB, and the STB displaying the retuned PIW display information, which contains the information input by the user, on the client terminal for the user.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising:

the STB re-registering key values for keys on a remote controller in a PIW state, for the user to input information;

after receiving the PIW service request of the user, the STB shielding original functions of the keys on the remote controller and automatically switching to the re-registered key values in the PIW state, and transmitting corresponding signals to the STB.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

when displaying the PIW display information on the client terminal for the user, the STB starting an internal browser of the STB to superpose a page for displaying the PIW display information with a page of the currently playing video program to display in a way of superposing page with video;

when displaying the PIW display information on the client terminal for the user, the STB also starting a timer, and sending, after the timer expires, a refreshing request to the EPG server to synchronize the latest PIW display information of the sub-program.

6. The method according to claim 4, further comprising:

the STB displaying the PIW display information on a page at different layers, wherein an upper layer is used to display PIW output by the STB currently, and a lower layer is provided for the user to input information through a remote controller.

13. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:

the STB displaying the PIW display information on a page at different layers, wherein an upper layer is used to display PIW output by the STB currently, and a lower layer is provided for the user to input information through a remote controller.

7. A system for managing a Program In Word (PIW) service of a video program, the system comprising a Server Manager System (SMS), an Electronic Program Guide (EPG) server and a Set Top Box (STB), wherein

the SMS is used for configuring, according to a request of an operator, a sub-program to bear the PIW service for a program of the operator, and informing the EPG server of a configured corresponding relation between the program and the sub-program;

the EPG server is used for storing the corresponding relation between the program and the sub-program, storing text information input for the program by all users as PIW display information of the corresponding sub-program, and updating the PIW display information in real time;

the EPG server is further used for, according to program information, which is carried in a PIW service request, of a currently playing program, inquiring the sub-program corresponding to the currently playing program, inquiring the PIW display information of the sub-program, and returning the PIW display information back to the STB; and

the STB is used for forwarding the PIW service request submitted by a user to the EPG server, and displaying the PIW display information for the user through a client terminal.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein

the SMS is further used for configuring a program list which stores the corresponding relation between the program and the sub-program, and sending the program list to the EPG server;

the EPG server is further used for receiving and storing the program list, establishing and maintaining a program information table which stores a sub-program number in the program list and the PIW display information corresponding to the sub-program number, retrieving, in the program list, the sub-program number of the sub-program corresponding to the currently playing program according to the program information, which is carried in the PIW service request, of the currently playing program, and inquiring, in the program information table, the PIW display information of the sub-program according to the sub-program number.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein

the STB is further used for forming an event message according to information input by the user, sending the event message to the EPG server, and simultaneously submitting the program information of the currently playing program, as a parameter, to the EPG server;

the EPG server is further used for receiving the event message, parsing the event message to obtain the information input by the user carried in the event message, and searching the program list, according to the program information of the currently playing program, to obtain the corresponding sub-program number, then searching a corresponding storage location in the program information table according to the sub-program number, inserting the information input by the user and then storing to update;

besides, the EPG server is further used for returning the updated PIW display information, which contains the information input by the user, back to the STB;

the STB is further used for displaying the retuned PIW display information, which contains the information input by the user, on the client terminal for the user.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein

the STB is further used for re-registering key values for keys on a remote controller in a PIW state, and after receiving the PIW service request submitted by the user, shielding original functions of the keys on the remote controller and automatically switching to the re-registered key values in the PIW state.

11. The system according to claim 7, wherein

the STB is further used for superposing a page for displaying the PIW display information with a page of the currently playing video program to display in a way of superposing page with video;

when displaying the PIW display information on the client terminal for the user, the STB is further used for starting a timer, and sending, after the timer expires, a refreshing request to the EPG server to synchronize the latest PIW display information of the sub-program.

12. The system according to claim 10 wherein

the STB is further used for displaying the PIW display information on a page a different layers, wherein an upper later is used for displaying PIW output by the STB currently, and a lower layer is provided for the user to input information through a remote controller.

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein

the STB is further used for displaying the PIW display information on a page at different layers, wherein an upper layer is used for displaying PIW output by the STB currently, and a lower layer is provided for the user to input information through a remote controller.