WO2007075051A1 - A method to lead a participation of people to view the interactive tv - Google Patents

A method to lead a participation of people to view the interactive tv Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2007075051A1
WO2007075051A1 PCT/KR2006/005779 KR2006005779W WO2007075051A1 WO 2007075051 A1 WO2007075051 A1 WO 2007075051A1 KR 2006005779 W KR2006005779 W KR 2006005779W WO 2007075051 A1 WO2007075051 A1 WO 2007075051A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
event
server
top box
game event
game
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/KR2006/005779
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Kil Su Ha
Original Assignee
Alticast Co., Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Alticast Co., Ltd filed Critical Alticast Co., Ltd
Publication of WO2007075051A1 publication Critical patent/WO2007075051A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/25—Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication, learning user preferences for recommending movies
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N7/00—Television systems
    • H04N7/16—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
    • H04N7/173—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
    • H04N7/17309—Transmission or handling of upstream communications
    • H04N7/17318—Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
    • H04N21/442—Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. detecting the failure of a recording device, monitoring the downstream bandwidth, the number of times a movie has been viewed, the storage space available from the internal hard disk
    • H04N21/44213—Monitoring of end-user related data
    • H04N21/44222—Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/25—Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication, learning user preferences for recommending movies
    • H04N21/266—Channel or content management, e.g. generation and management of keys and entitlement messages in a conditional access system, merging a VOD unicast channel into a multicast channel
    • H04N21/2668—Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
    • H04N21/437—Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. for transmitting client requests to a VOD server
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/47—End-user applications
    • H04N21/472—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
    • H04N21/47205—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 for manipulating displayed content, e.g. interacting with MPEG-4 objects, editing locally
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/60—Network structure or processes for video distribution between server and client or between remote clients; Control signalling between clients, server and network components; Transmission of management data between server and client, e.g. sending from server to client commands for recording incoming content stream; Communication details between server and client 
    • H04N21/65—Transmission of management data between client and server
    • H04N21/658—Transmission by the client directed to the server
    • H04N21/6582—Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/60—Network structure or processes for video distribution between server and client or between remote clients; Control signalling between clients, server and network components; Transmission of management data between server and client, e.g. sending from server to client commands for recording incoming content stream; Communication details between server and client 
    • H04N21/65—Transmission of management data between client and server
    • H04N21/658—Transmission by the client directed to the server
    • H04N21/6587—Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/80—Generation or processing of content or additional data by content creator independently of the distribution process; Content per se
    • H04N21/85—Assembly of content; Generation of multimedia applications
    • H04N21/854—Content authoring
    • H04N21/8545—Content authoring for generating interactive applications

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method of encouraging interactive television viewers' participation and, more particularly, to a method of encouraging interactive television viewers' participation, which can encourage everybody to easily and actively participate in a game event with interest .
  • an interactive TV UTV enables the viewer to actively conduct banking or shopping, make reservations, and the like, or to participate in a game or a forum, and thus the use of the interactive TV is gradually increasing.
  • an object of the present invention is to provide a method of encouraging interactive TV viewers' participation, which can encourage everybody to easily and actively participate in a game event with interest.
  • the present invention is realized such that a game event is provided to a viewer in a predetermined time period by allowing a broadcast supply server 10 to provide an application, including game event data, to the set-top box 31 of an interactive TV 30 via a broadcast transmission server 20, and allowing the set-top box 31 of the interactive TV 30 to output the game event data, which is provided from the broadcast transmission server 20, to the outside through a display 32, and such that event participation information, which is input through a remote control 34, is received by the set-top box 31 and is transmitted to a return pass server 40 when the viewer participates in the game event, which is provided in the predetermined time period, through the manipulation of the remote control 34, with the result that the viewer can participate in the temporary game event while viewing a certain broadcast channel. Accordingly, everybody easily and actively participates in the game event with interest.
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of an interactive TV broadcasting system for realizing a method of encouraging interactive TV viewers' participation according to the present invention
  • FIGS. 2 to 7 are diagrams illustrating a first embodiment of a game event, which is applied to the method of encouraging interactive TV viewers 'participation according to the present invention!
  • FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a second embodiment of a game event, which is applied to the method of encouraging interactive TV viewers 'participation according to the present invention
  • FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a third embodiment of a game event, which is applied to the method of encouraging interactive TV viewers' participation according to the present invention
  • FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing another example of an interactive TV broadcasting system, which is applied to the method of encouraging interactive TV viewers 'participation according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing another example of an interactive TV broadcasting system for realizing the method of encouraging interactive TV viewers' participation according to the present invention.
  • the present invention provides a method of encouraging interactive TV viewers' participation in an interactive TV broadcasting system, the method including the steps of providing a game event to a viewer in a predetermined time periodby allowing the broadcast supply server to provide the application, including the game eventdata, to the set-top box of the interactive TV via the broadcast transmission server and allowing the set-top box of the interactive TV to output the game eventdata, which is provided from the broadcast transmission server, to the outside through the display; and,when the viewer participates in the game event, which is provided in the predetermined time period, through manipulation of the remote control, allowing the set-top box to receive event participation information, which is input through the remote control, and transmit the event participation information to the return pass server; whereby the viewer can participate in the temporary game event while viewing a certain broadcast channel.
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of an interactive TV broadcasting system for realizing a viewer participation encouragement methodaccording to the present invention.
  • the interactive TV broadcasting system includes a broadcast supply server 10 for providing an application to a broadcast transmission server 20; the broadcast transmission server 20 for wirelessly transmitting the application, which is provided from the broadcast supply server 10, and digital broadcast information, which includes audio/video data, to the set-top box 31 of an interactive TV 30 using a terrestrial wave or a satellite wave, or transmitting the application and the digital broadcast information to the set-top box 31 of the interactive TV 30 through a cable in a wired manner; an interactive TV 30 including the set-top box 31, a display 32, a speaker 33 and a remote control 34; and a return pass server 40 for receiving return pass information from the interactive TV 30 and storing viewers 'personal information and the return pass information therein.
  • a broadcast supply server 10 for providing an application to a broadcast transmission server 20
  • the broadcast transmission server 20 for wirelessly transmitting the application, which is provided from the broadcast supply server 10, and digital broadcast information, which includes audio/video data, to the set-top box 31 of an interactive TV 30 using a terrestrial wave or a satellite wave, or
  • the set-top box 31 receives the digital broadcast information from the broadcast transmission server 20 and outputs the digital broadcast information to the outside through the display 32 or the speaker 33, transmits order and payment information or the return pass information, such as text, to the return pass server 40, and receives thedata information, which is transmitted from the return pass server 40, and outputs the data information to the outside through the display 32 or the speaker 33.
  • the display 32 outputs the application or the video data, which is received from the set-top box 31, to the outside in video form.
  • the remote control 34 is used to remotely control the operation of the set-top box 31.
  • the method of encouraging interactive TV viewers' participation according to the present invention is realized in such as way that a game event is provided to a viewer in a predetermined time period by allowing the broadcast supply server 10 to provide an application, including game eventdata, to the set-top box 31 of the interactive TV 30 via the broadcast transmission server 20, and allowing the set-top box 31 of the interactive TV 30 to provide the game event data, which is provided from the broadcast transmission server 20, to the outside through the display 32, event participation information, which is input through the remote control 34, is received by the set-top box 31 and is transmitted to the return pass server 40 when the viewer participates in the game event, which is provided in the predetermined time period, through the manipulation of the remote control 34, and thus the viewer can participate in the temporary game event while viewing a certain broadcast channel.
  • the game event may be suddenly conducted without the viewer's being aware of it, or may be repeatedly conducted in a specific time period.
  • the game event is suddenly conducted without the viewer's being aware of it, there are advantages in that great interest in the game event can be stimulated and in that the degree of attention paid to a broadcast channel program can be increased.
  • results earned by participating in the game event several times can be accumulated, and additional event prizes can be provided based on the accumulated game results, and therefore the present invention is very suitable for series type broadcast channel programs.
  • the broadcast supply server 10 and the return pass server 40 are installed to be independent of each other, as in the interactive TV broadcasting system shown in FIG. 1, it is impossible to control the set-top box 31 using the return pass server 40. Accordingly, it is preferred that, immediately after the game eventdata is received from the broadcast transmission server 20, the set-top box 31 output the game event data to the outside through the display 32 and, thus, the game event be conducted in real time.
  • the time point at which the game eventdata is transmitted may be determined by the broadcast supply server 10 or the broadcast transmission server 20.
  • the broadcast transmission server 20 transmits the game eventdata to the set-top box 31 of the interactive TV 30 immediately after the game event data is received from the broadcast supply server 10.
  • the broadcast transmission server 20 stores the game event data, which is received from the broadcast transmission server 20, therein, and then transmits the game event data to the set-top box 31 of the interactive TV 30 at a certain time point.
  • FIGS. 2 to 7 are diagrams illustrating a first embodiment of a game event, which is applied to the method of encouraging interactive TV viewers'participation according to the present invention.
  • the first embodiment of the game event is characterized in that a target is repeatedly displayed on the screen of the display 32 in a predetermined time period, the case where input is conducted using the event participation buttons 34a of the remote control 34 while the target is displayed on the screen of the display 32is determined to be a target hit, whether the number of target hits satisfies the preset number of hits is determined, and the case where the number of target hits satisfies the preset number of hits is determined to be an event win.
  • an event participation button 34a is pressed in the state in which a game event start screen is displayed on the display 32, a game eventis started.
  • an "OK" button is used as the event participation button 34a.
  • a rabbit which is used as a target, appears in the lower right-hand portion of the screen of the display 32, laterally moves in a direction toward the left of the screen, and disappears in the lower left-hand portion of the screen of the display 32, as shown in FIG. 3.
  • an event participation button 34a is pressed while the rabbit is displayed on the screen of the display 32, the case is determined to be a target hit (you got a single point) as shown in FIG. 4, and the number of target hits is incremented by one. If no signal is input through the event participation buttons 34a while the rabbit is displayed on the screen of the display 32, the case is determined to bea target failure, as shown in FIG. 5.
  • the case is determined to be an event win, and a chance to participate in a lottery for the event prize is provided.
  • FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a second embodiment of a game event, which is applied to the method of encouraging interactive TV viewers' participation according to the present invention.
  • the second embodiment of the game event is characterized in that an event participation character arrangement is displayed on the screen of the display 32 in a predetermined time period, whether a viewer input character arrangement, which is input through the manipulation of the event participation buttons 34b of the remote control 34, coincides with the event participation character arrangement is determined while the event participation character arrangement is displayed on the screen of the display 32, and the case where the viewer input character arrangement and the event participation character arrangement coincide with each other is determined to be an event win.
  • the telephone number of a specific business 1388-8000
  • the numeric buttons of the remote control 34 are used as the event participation buttons 34b.
  • FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a third embodiment of a game event, which is applied to the method of encouraging interactive TV viewers' participation according to the present invention.
  • the third embodiment of the game event is characterized in that a game event start screen is displayed on the screen of the display 32 in a predetermined time period, whether the number of inputs through the event participation buttons 34a of the remote control 34 satisfies the preset number of hitsis determined while the game event start screen is being displayed on the screen of the display 32, and the case where the number of inputs satisfies the number of hits is determined to be an event win.
  • an event participation button 34a the inputs through an event participation button 34a are prompted by causing "click me” to be displayed in the game event start screen, and an "OK” button is used as the event participation button 34a.
  • FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing another example of an interactive TV broadcasting system for realizing the method of encouraging viewers' participationaccording to the present invention.
  • the interactive TV broadcasting system has a structure in which a viewers' personal information server 50 for providing viewers' personal information, which is stored therein, to the return pass server 40,and a back-end server 60, for receiving the viewers' personal information and the return pass information from the return pass server 40 and storing the viewers' personal information and the return pass information,therein are additionally provided.
  • a viewers' personal information server 50 for providing viewers' personal information, which is stored therein, to the return pass server 40,and a back-end server 60, for receiving the viewers' personal information and the return pass information from the return pass server 40 and storing the viewers' personal information and the return pass information,therein are additionally provided.
  • it is not necessary to provide the viewers' personal memory for storing information and the return pass information in the return pass server 40 so that there is an advantage in that the capacity of the return pass server 40 can be greatly reduced.
  • a broadcast supply server 10 and a return pass server 40 are independently installed in the same manner as in the interactive TV broadcasting system shown in FIG. 1. Accordingly, it is preferred that, immediately after game event data is received from a broadcast transmission server 20, a set-top box 31 output the game eventdata to the outside through a display 32, so that a game event can be conducted in real time.
  • FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing another example of an interactive TV broadcasting system for realizing the method of encouraging viewers' participation according to the present invention.
  • the interactive TV broadcasting system has a structure in which a return pass server 20 and a broadcast supply server lOare connected to perform bi ⁇ directional communication.
  • the return pass server 20 and the broadcast supply server lOare connected to perform bi-directional communication as described above the operation of a set-top box 31 can be controlled via the return pass server 20.
  • the set-top box 31 when an event start signal is input from the return pass server 40 to the set-top box 31 while the broadcast transmission server 20 continuously transmits game event data to the set-top box 31 and the set-top box 31 merely receives the game event data from the broadcast transmission server 20, the set-top box 31 operates in response to the event start signal and thus outputs the game event data, which is received from the broadcast transmission server 20, to the outside through a display 32, with the result that a game event can be conducted in response to the event start signal from the return pass server 40.
  • a viewers' personal information server 50 for providing viewers' personal information, which is stored therein, to the return pass server 40 is additionally provided.
  • the return pass server 40 receives the viewers' personal information from the viewers' personal information server 50 and transmits the viewers' personal information, which is received from the viewers' personal information server 50, and return pass information, which is received from the set-top box 31, to the broadcast supply server 10.
  • the broadcast supply server 10 stores the viewers' personal information and the return pass information, which are transmitted from the return pass server 40.
  • the screen of the display 32 which is displayed when the game event is conducted, may be implemented in various ways as needed.
  • the background screen of the display 32 may be a video screen, and a game event screen may be displayed on the background screen.
  • a game event screen may be displayed on the background screen.
  • the background screen of the display 32 may be switched from the video screen to the game event screen and be displayed.
  • the viewer cannot view the audio/video broadcast while the game event is being conducted, but there is an advantage in that the viewer can pay attention to the game event.
  • the operation of the set-top box 31 is controlled by the back-end server 60 via the return pass server 40, so that the game event start time point can be determined by the back-end server 60 while the broadcast transmission server 20 continuously transmits the game event data to the set-top box 31.
  • the return pass server 40 and the broadcast transmission server 20 may be connected to perform bi-directional communication, and the operation of the set-top box 31 may be controlled by the broadcast transmission server 20 via the return pass server 40, so that the game event start time point may be determined by the broadcast transmission server 20 while the broadcast transmission server 20 continuously transmits the game event data to the set-top box 31.

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of encouraging interactive TV viewers' participation. The method includes providing a game event to a viewer in a predetermined time period by allowing the broadcast supply server to provide the application, including the game event data, to the set-top box of the interactive TV via the broadcast transmission server and allowing the set-top box of the interactive TV to output the game event data, which is provided from the broadcast transmission server, to the outside through the display and, when the viewer participates in the game event, which is provided in the predetermined time period, through manipulation of the remote control, allowing the set-top box to receive event participation information, which is input through the remote control, and transmit the event participation information to the return pass server; whereby the viewer can participate in the temporary game event while viewing a certain broadcast channel. Thus, everybody easily and actively participates in the game event with interest.

Description

[DESCRIPTION] [Invention TitIe]
A METHOD TO LEAD A PARTICIPATION OF PEOPLE TO VIEW THE INTERACTIVE TV
[Technical Field]
The present invention relates to a method of encouraging interactive television viewers' participation and, more particularly, to a method of encouraging interactive television viewers' participation, which can encourage everybody to easily and actively participate in a game event with interest .
[Background Art]
As well known, unlike a conventional digital Television (TV), which merely enables a viewer to passively view a broadcast, an interactive TV UTV) enables the viewer to actively conduct banking or shopping, make reservations, and the like, or to participate in a game or a forum, and thus the use of the interactive TV is gradually increasing.
However, conventionally, a method of enabling ordinary viewers to easily participate in a game and enjoy the game while they view typical video broadcast channels or audio broadcast channels has not been provided, so that there are limitations in enabling ordinary viewers, other than specific viewers who connect to data broadcast channels provided by game providers to enjoy a game, to participate in the game.
Meanwhile, in the case of broadcast providers who provide video broadcast channels or audio broadcast channels, in order to increase the rating of the corresponding broadcast channels, research into a method of not only supporting the development of enjoyable and helpful broadcast programs, which can meet the viewers' demands, but also encouraging the viewers to actively participate in broadcasts with interest is being actively conducted.
[Disclosure] [Technical Problem]
Accordingly, the present invention has been invented to meet the above demands, and an object of the present invention is to provide a method of encouraging interactive TV viewers' participation, which can encourage everybody to easily and actively participate in a game event with interest.
[Advantageous Effects]
The present invention is realized such that a game event is provided to a viewer in a predetermined time period by allowing a broadcast supply server 10 to provide an application, including game event data, to the set-top box 31 of an interactive TV 30 via a broadcast transmission server 20, and allowing the set-top box 31 of the interactive TV 30 to output the game event data, which is provided from the broadcast transmission server 20, to the outside through a display 32, and such that event participation information, which is input through a remote control 34, is received by the set-top box 31 and is transmitted to a return pass server 40 when the viewer participates in the game event, which is provided in the predetermined time period, through the manipulation of the remote control 34, with the result that the viewer can participate in the temporary game event while viewing a certain broadcast channel. Accordingly, everybody easily and actively participates in the game event with interest.
[Description of Drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of an interactive TV broadcasting system for realizing a method of encouraging interactive TV viewers' participation according to the present invention!
FIGS. 2 to 7 are diagrams illustrating a first embodiment of a game event, which is applied to the method of encouraging interactive TV viewers 'participation according to the present invention!
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a second embodiment of a game event, which is applied to the method of encouraging interactive TV viewers 'participation according to the present invention
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a third embodiment of a game event, which is applied to the method of encouraging interactive TV viewers' participation according to the present invention
FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing another example of an interactive TV broadcasting system, which is applied to the method of encouraging interactive TV viewers 'participation according to the present invention and
FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing another example of an interactive TV broadcasting system for realizing the method of encouraging interactive TV viewers' participation according to the present invention.
-Description of reference numerals of principal elements-
10; broadcast supply server
20; broadcast transmission server
30; interactive TV 31; set-top box
32; display 33; speaker
34; remote control
34a and 34b; event participation buttons
40; return pass server
50; viewers' personal information server
60; back-end server
[Best Mode]
In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a method of encouraging interactive TV viewers' participation in an interactive TV broadcasting system, the method including the steps of providing a game event to a viewer in a predetermined time periodby allowing the broadcast supply server to provide the application, including the game eventdata, to the set-top box of the interactive TV via the broadcast transmission server and allowing the set-top box of the interactive TV to output the game eventdata, which is provided from the broadcast transmission server, to the outside through the display; and,when the viewer participates in the game event, which is provided in the predetermined time period, through manipulation of the remote control, allowing the set-top box to receive event participation information, which is input through the remote control, and transmit the event participation information to the return pass server; whereby the viewer can participate in the temporary game event while viewing a certain broadcast channel. [Mode for Invention]
The present invention is described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings below.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of an interactive TV broadcasting system for realizing a viewer participation encouragement methodaccording to the present invention.
Referring to the drawing, the interactive TV broadcasting system includes a broadcast supply server 10 for providing an application to a broadcast transmission server 20; the broadcast transmission server 20 for wirelessly transmitting the application, which is provided from the broadcast supply server 10, and digital broadcast information, which includes audio/video data, to the set-top box 31 of an interactive TV 30 using a terrestrial wave or a satellite wave, or transmitting the application and the digital broadcast information to the set-top box 31 of the interactive TV 30 through a cable in a wired manner; an interactive TV 30 including the set-top box 31, a display 32, a speaker 33 and a remote control 34; and a return pass server 40 for receiving return pass information from the interactive TV 30 and storing viewers 'personal information and the return pass information therein.
The set-top box 31 receives the digital broadcast information from the broadcast transmission server 20 and outputs the digital broadcast information to the outside through the display 32 or the speaker 33, transmits order and payment information or the return pass information, such as text, to the return pass server 40, and receives thedata information, which is transmitted from the return pass server 40, and outputs the data information to the outside through the display 32 or the speaker 33.
The display 32 outputs the application or the video data, which is received from the set-top box 31, to the outside in video form.
The remote control 34 is used to remotely control the operation of the set-top box 31. The method of encouraging interactive TV viewers' participation according to the present invention is realized in such as way that a game event is provided to a viewer in a predetermined time period by allowing the broadcast supply server 10 to provide an application, including game eventdata, to the set-top box 31 of the interactive TV 30 via the broadcast transmission server 20, and allowing the set-top box 31 of the interactive TV 30 to provide the game event data, which is provided from the broadcast transmission server 20, to the outside through the display 32, event participation information, which is input through the remote control 34, is received by the set-top box 31 and is transmitted to the return pass server 40 when the viewer participates in the game event, which is provided in the predetermined time period, through the manipulation of the remote control 34, and thus the viewer can participate in the temporary game event while viewing a certain broadcast channel. The game event may be suddenly conducted without the viewer's being aware of it, or may be repeatedly conducted in a specific time period. When the game event is suddenly conducted without the viewer's being aware of it, there are advantages in that great interest in the game event can be stimulated and in that the degree of attention paid to a broadcast channel program can be increased. In contrast, when the game event is repeatedly conducted at the specific time, results earned by participating in the game event several times can be accumulated, and additional event prizes can be provided based on the accumulated game results, and therefore the present invention is very suitable for series type broadcast channel programs.
In the case where the broadcast supply server 10 and the return pass server 40 are installed to be independent of each other, as in the interactive TV broadcasting system shown in FIG. 1, it is impossible to control the set-top box 31 using the return pass server 40. Accordingly, it is preferred that, immediately after the game eventdata is received from the broadcast transmission server 20, the set-top box 31 output the game event data to the outside through the display 32 and, thus, the game event be conducted in real time. The time point at which the game eventdata is transmitted may be determined by the broadcast supply server 10 or the broadcast transmission server 20. When the time point at which the game eventdata is transmitted is determined by the broadcast supply server 10, the broadcast transmission server 20 transmits the game eventdata to the set-top box 31 of the interactive TV 30 immediately after the game event data is received from the broadcast supply server 10. In contrast, when the time point at which the game eventdata is transmitted is determined by the broadcast transmission server 20, the broadcast transmission server 20 stores the game event data, which is received from the broadcast transmission server 20, therein, and then transmits the game event data to the set-top box 31 of the interactive TV 30 at a certain time point.
FIGS. 2 to 7 are diagrams illustrating a first embodiment of a game event, which is applied to the method of encouraging interactive TV viewers'participation according to the present invention. Referring to the drawings, the first embodiment of the game event is characterized in that a target is repeatedly displayed on the screen of the display 32 in a predetermined time period, the case where input is conducted using the event participation buttons 34a of the remote control 34 while the target is displayed on the screen of the display 32is determined to be a target hit, whether the number of target hits satisfies the preset number of hits is determined, and the case where the number of target hits satisfies the preset number of hits is determined to be an event win.
With reference to FIGS. 2 to 7, a method of conducting a game event is described in detail below.
First, as shown in FIG. 2, when an event participation button 34a is pressed in the state in which a game event start screen is displayed on the display 32, a game eventis started. In the present embodiment, an "OK" button is used as the event participation button 34a.
When the game event is started as described above, a rabbit, which is used as a target, appears in the lower right-hand portion of the screen of the display 32, laterally moves in a direction toward the left of the screen, and disappears in the lower left-hand portion of the screen of the display 32, as shown in FIG. 3. Such a rabbit appearance is repeated in a predetermined time period(= a predetermined number of times: the samehereinafter) .
If an event participation button 34a is pressed while the rabbit is displayed on the screen of the display 32, the case is determined to be a target hit (you got a single point) as shown in FIG. 4, and the number of target hits is incremented by one. If no signal is input through the event participation buttons 34a while the rabbit is displayed on the screen of the display 32, the case is determined to bea target failure, as shown in FIG. 5.
Thereafter, when a predetermined time period elapses and the game event is terminated, the accumulated number of target hits is displayed on the screen as shown in FIG. 6.
If the number of target hits satisfies the preset number of hits, the case is determined to be an event win, and a chance to participate in a lottery for the event prize is provided.
If "view event results" is clicked using the event participation buttons 34a in the state shown in FIG. 6, that is, in the state in which a win has been achieved in the event, a final event winning result (event prize lottery result) is displayed.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a second embodiment of a game event, which is applied to the method of encouraging interactive TV viewers' participation according to the present invention. Referring to the drawing, the second embodiment of the game event is characterized in that an event participation character arrangement is displayed on the screen of the display 32 in a predetermined time period, whether a viewer input character arrangement, which is input through the manipulation of the event participation buttons 34b of the remote control 34, coincides with the event participation character arrangement is determined while the event participation character arrangement is displayed on the screen of the display 32, and the case where the viewer input character arrangement and the event participation character arrangement coincide with each other is determined to be an event win.
In the present embodiment, the telephone number of a specific business, 1388-8000, is used as the event participation character arrangement, and the numeric buttons of the remote control 34 are used as the event participation buttons 34b.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a third embodiment of a game event, which is applied to the method of encouraging interactive TV viewers' participation according to the present invention. Referring to the drawing, the third embodiment of the game event is characterized in that a game event start screen is displayed on the screen of the display 32 in a predetermined time period, whether the number of inputs through the event participation buttons 34a of the remote control 34 satisfies the preset number of hitsis determined while the game event start screen is being displayed on the screen of the display 32, and the case where the number of inputs satisfies the number of hits is determined to be an event win.
In the presentembodiment , the inputs through an event participation button 34a are prompted by causing "click me" to be displayed in the game event start screen, and an "OK" button is used as the event participation button 34a.
FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing another example of an interactive TV broadcasting system for realizing the method of encouraging viewers' participationaccording to the present invention. Referring to the drawing, the interactive TV broadcasting system has a structure in which a viewers' personal information server 50 for providing viewers' personal information, which is stored therein, to the return pass server 40,and a back-end server 60, for receiving the viewers' personal information and the return pass information from the return pass server 40 and storing the viewers' personal information and the return pass information,therein are additionally provided. In this case, it is not necessary to provide the viewers' personal memory for storing information and the return pass information in the return pass server 40, so that there is an advantage in that the capacity of the return pass server 40 can be greatly reduced.
Meanwhile, in the interactive TV broadcasting system shown in FIG. 10, a broadcast supply server 10 and a return pass server 40 are independently installed in the same manner as in the interactive TV broadcasting system shown in FIG. 1. Accordingly, it is preferred that, immediately after game event data is received from a broadcast transmission server 20, a set-top box 31 output the game eventdata to the outside through a display 32, so that a game event can be conducted in real time.
FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing another example of an interactive TV broadcasting system for realizing the method of encouraging viewers' participation according to the present invention. Referring to the drawing, the interactive TV broadcasting system has a structure in which a return pass server 20 and a broadcast supply server lOare connected to perform bi¬ directional communication. When the return pass server 20 and the broadcast supply server lOare connected to perform bi-directional communication as described above, the operation of a set-top box 31 can be controlled via the return pass server 20. Accordingly, when an event start signal is input from the return pass server 40 to the set-top box 31 while the broadcast transmission server 20 continuously transmits game event data to the set-top box 31 and the set-top box 31 merely receives the game event data from the broadcast transmission server 20, the set-top box 31 operates in response to the event start signal and thus outputs the game event data, which is received from the broadcast transmission server 20, to the outside through a display 32, with the result that a game event can be conducted in response to the event start signal from the return pass server 40.
In this case, there is an advantage in that the game event conduction time point can be easily set as desired by a broadcast provider.
In the present embodiment, a viewers' personal information server 50 for providing viewers' personal information, which is stored therein, to the return pass server 40 is additionally provided. The return pass server 40 receives the viewers' personal information from the viewers' personal information server 50 and transmits the viewers' personal information, which is received from the viewers' personal information server 50, and return pass information, which is received from the set-top box 31, to the broadcast supply server 10. The broadcast supply server 10 stores the viewers' personal information and the return pass information, which are transmitted from the return pass server 40.
Meanwhile, the screen of the display 32, which is displayed when the game event is conducted, may be implemented in various ways as needed.
For example, when the game event is conducted as shown in FIGS. 2 to 7, the background screen of the display 32 may be a video screen, and a game event screen may be displayed on the background screen. In this case, there is an advantage in that a viewer can participate in the game event while viewing an audio/video broadcast.
Furthermore, when the game event is conducted as shown in FIGS. 8 and
9, the background screen of the display 32 may be switched from the video screen to the game event screen and be displayed. In this case, there is a disadvantage in that the viewer cannot view the audio/video broadcast while the game event is being conducted, but there is an advantage in that the viewer can pay attention to the game event.
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and may be modified and implemented in more various ways within a range that does not depart from the scope of the following claims.
For example, in the interactive TV broadcasting system shown in FIG.
10, the operation of the set-top box 31 is controlled by the back-end server 60 via the return pass server 40, so that the game event start time point can be determined by the back-end server 60 while the broadcast transmission server 20 continuously transmits the game event data to the set-top box 31.
Furthermore, although not shown, the return pass server 40 and the broadcast transmission server 20 may be connected to perform bi-directional communication, and the operation of the set-top box 31 may be controlled by the broadcast transmission server 20 via the return pass server 40, so that the game event start time point may be determined by the broadcast transmission server 20 while the broadcast transmission server 20 continuously transmits the game event data to the set-top box 31.

Claims

[CLAIMS]
[Claim 1]
A method of encouraging interactive Television viewers' participation in an interactive TV broadcasting system, the interactive TV broadcasting system comprising a broadcast supply server for providing an application to a broadcast transmission server ; the broadcast transmission server for wirelessly transmitting the application, which is provided from the broadcast supply server, and digital broadcast information, which includes audio/video data, to a set-top box) of an interactive TV using terrestrial waves or satellite waves, or transmitting the application and the digital broadcast information to the set-top box of the interactive TV through a cable in a wired manner! the set-top box for receiving the digital broadcast information from the broadcast transmission server and outputting the digital broadcast information to an outside through a display or a speaker, transmitting order and payment information or return pass information, such as text, to a return pass server, and receiving the information, which is transmitted from the return pass server, and outputting the information to the outside through the display or the speaker; the interactive TV comprising the display for outputting the application or video data, which is provided from the set-top box, to the outside in video form, the speaker for outputting audio data, which is provided from the set-top box, to the outside in audio form, and a remote control for remotely controlling operation of the set-top box! and the return pass server for receiving the return pass information from the interactive TV, and transmitting the return pass information and viewers' personal information to the broadcast supply server or to a back-end server, or storing the viewers 'personal information and the return pass information therein, the method comprising the steps of: providing a game event to a viewer in a predetermined time periodby allowing the broadcast supply server to provide the application, including game event data, to the set-top box of the interactive TV via the broadcast transmission server and allowing the set-top box of the interactive TV to output the game eventdata, which is provided from the broadcast transmission server, to the outside through the display; and when the viewer participates in the game event, which is provided in the predetermined time period, through manipulation of the remote control, allowing the set-top box to receive event participation information, which is input using the remote control, and transmit the event participation information to the return pass server; whereby the viewer can participate in the game event while viewing a certain broadcast channel .
[Claim 2]
The method according to claim 1, wherein, immediately after the game event data provided from the broadcast transmission server is input, the set- top box outputs the game event data to the outside through the display, thus allowing the game event to be conducted.
[Claim 3]
The method according to claim 1, wherein, when an event start signal is transmitted from the return pass server to the set-top box while the broadcast transmission server continuously transmits game event data to the set-top box and the set-top box merely receives the game event data from the broadcast transmission server, the set-top box operates in response to the event start signal and, thus, outputs the game event data, which is received from the broadcast transmission server, to the outside through the display, so that a game event can be conducted in response to the event start signal from the return pass server .
[Claim 4]
The method according to claim 1, wherein the game eventis conducted in such a way that a case where a target is repeatedly displayed on a screen of the display and clicked using event participation buttons of the remote control is determined to be a target hit, whether a number of target hits satisfies a preset number of hits is determined, and a case where the number of target hits satisfies the preset number of hits is determined to be an event win.
[Claim 5]
The method according to claim 1, wherein the game eventis conducted in such a way that an event participation character arrangement is displayed on a screen of the display in a predetermined time period, whether a viewer input character arrangement, which is input through manipulation of an event participation buttons of the remote control, coincides with the event participation character arrangementwhile the event participation character arrangement is displayed is determined, and a case where the viewer input character arrangement coincides with the event participation character arrangement is determined to be an event win.
[Claim 6]
The method according to claim 1, wherein the game event is conducted in such a way that a game event start screen is displayed on a screen of the display in a predetermined time period, whether a number of inputs using event participation buttons of the remote control satisfies a preset number of hits is determined while the game event start screen is displayed on the screen of the display, and a case where the number of inputs satisfies the number of hits is determined to be an event win.
[Claim 7]
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein, when the game eventis conducted, a background screen of the display is a video screen, and a game event screen is displayed on the background screen.
[Claim 8] The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein, when the game event is conducted, a background screen of the display is switched from a video screen to a game event screen and is then displayed.
PCT/KR2006/005779 2005-12-29 2006-12-27 A method to lead a participation of people to view the interactive tv WO2007075051A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

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