U.S. patent application number 14/688318 was filed with the patent office on 2015-08-06 for method and apparatus for providing/receiving service of plurality of service providers.
This patent application is currently assigned to SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Eun-Hee RHIM.
Application Number | 20150222960 14/688318 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40687926 |
Filed Date | 2015-08-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150222960 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
RHIM; Eun-Hee |
August 6, 2015 |
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING/RECEIVING SERVICE OF PLURALITY
OF SERVICE PROVIDERS
Abstract
A method of providing information regarding a service to a
client includes receiving, at a first search server, first
information regarding a plurality of service providers including a
first service provider, receiving, at a second search server,
second information regarding at least one service which is to be
received from a first server of the first service provider, and
providing the first information and the second information to a
client, wherein the first search server and second search server
are separate physical devices, and wherein the first search server
and the second search server are separate from at least one server
belonging to the plurality of service providers including the first
server.
Inventors: |
RHIM; Eun-Hee; (Yongin-si,
KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD. |
Gyeonggi-do |
|
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO.,
LTD.
Suwon-si
KR
|
Family ID: |
40687926 |
Appl. No.: |
14/688318 |
Filed: |
April 16, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
12191567 |
Aug 14, 2008 |
9026579 |
|
|
14688318 |
|
|
|
|
60957252 |
Aug 22, 2007 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
725/87 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 7/163 20130101;
H04N 21/4828 20130101; H04N 21/4622 20130101; H04N 21/2665
20130101; H04N 21/64322 20130101; H04N 21/222 20130101; H04L 65/00
20130101; H04N 21/4722 20130101; H04N 21/4147 20130101; H04N
21/6125 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04N 21/482 20060101
H04N021/482; H04N 21/2665 20060101 H04N021/2665; H04N 21/4722
20060101 H04N021/4722; H04N 21/222 20060101 H04N021/222; H04N
21/4147 20060101 H04N021/4147; H04N 21/643 20060101 H04N021/643;
H04N 21/462 20060101 H04N021/462 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 14, 2008 |
KR |
10-2008-0034208 |
Claims
1. A method providing information regarding a service to a client,
the method comprising: receiving, at a first search server, first
information regarding a plurality of service providers including a
first service provider; receiving, at a second search server,
second information regarding at least one service which is to be
received from a first server of the first service provider; and
providing the first information and the second information to a
client, wherein the first search server and second search server
are separate physical devices, and wherein the first search server
and the second search server are separate from at least one server
belonging to the plurality of service providers including the first
server.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one service is an
Internet protocol television (IPTV) service, and the plurality of
service providers include a plurality of IPTV service
providers.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second information regarding
the at least one service includes an entry point of at least one
IPTV service.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second information regarding
the at least one service includes metadata about at least one IPTV
service.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first information regarding
the plurality of IPTV service providers comprises at least one of
the name and logo of each of the IPTV service providers.
6. The method of claim 2, wherein the IPTV service comprises at
least one of a linear TV service, a personal video recording (PVR)
service, and a content on demand (CoD) service.
7. A method of providing a service to a client, the method
comprising: registering, with a first search server, first
information regarding a service provider; registering, with a
second search server, second information regarding at least one
service that is to be provided from the service provider; receiving
a request for the at least one service from a client, the request
being made by the client based on the first information and the
second information; and providing the at least one service to the
client in response to the request, wherein the first search server
and second search server are separate physical devices, and wherein
the first search server and the second search server are separate
from at least one server belonging to the service provider.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one service is an
Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) service, and the service
provider is an IPTV service provider.
9. The method of claim 7, wherein the second information regarding
the at least one service includes information regarding an entry
point of at least one IPTV service.
10. The method of claim 7, wherein the second information regarding
the at least one service includes metadata about at least one IPTV
service.
11. The method of claim 7, wherein the first information regarding
the service provider comprises at least one of a name and logo of
the service provider.
12. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one service
comprises at least one of a linear TV service, a personal video
recording (PVR) service, and a content on demand (CoD) service.
13. A search server for providing information regarding a service,
the search server comprising: a first search server which receives
first information regarding a plurality of service providers
including a first service provider, and provides the first
information to a client; a second search server which receives
second information regarding at least one service which is to be
received from a first server of the first service provider, and
provides the second information to the client; and wherein the
first search server and second search server are separate physical
devices, and wherein the first search server and the second search
server are separate from at least one server belonging to the
plurality of service providers including the first server.
14. The search server of claim 13, wherein the service includes an
IPTV (Internet protocol television) service, and the service
providers are a plurality of IPTV service providers.
15. A server of a service provider providing a service to a client,
the server comprising: an information registration unit which:
registers, with a first search server, first information regarding
a service provider; registers, with a second search server, second
information regarding at least one service that is to be provided
from the service provider; and a service providing unit which
receives a request for a service from the client and provides the
service to the client in response to the request, wherein the
request is made based on the first information and the second
information, wherein the first search server and second search
server are separate physical devices, and wherein the first search
server and the second search server are separate from at least one
server belonging to the service provider.
16. The server of claim 28, wherein the service includes an IPTV
(Internet protocol television) service, and the service provider
includes an IPTV service provider.
17. A computer readable medium having recorded thereon a computer
program for executing the method of claim 1.
18. A computer readable medium having recorded thereon a computer
program for executing the method of claim 7.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a divisional application of U.S.
application Ser. No. 12/191,567 filed Aug. 14, 2008, which claims
priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2008-0034208, filed
on Apr. 14, 2008, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, which
claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/957,252,
filed on Aug. 22, 2007, in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office,
the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in
their entireties.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] Methods and apparatuses consistent with the present
invention relate to providing/receiving a service from a plurality
of service providers, and more particularly, to a method and
apparatus for allowing a client to select an Internet protocol
television (IPTV) service from among IPTV services provided by a
plurality of IPTV service providers, and receive the selected IPTV
service from a server of the IPTV service provider.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) includes a service
providing information, moving picture content and a broadcast to a
TV via an IP network, i.e., ultra high speed Internet. Since
integrated services with communication and broadcasting have become
available, much attention has been paid to IPTV, and activation of
IPTV is expected to significantly affect not only communication and
broadcasting industries but also content creation and household
appliance industries.
[0006] In order to allow a client to receive an IPTV service via an
IP network, an additional IPTV set top box is needed. That is, only
clients having an IPTV set top box manufactured according to
specifications determined by a service provider who provides an
IPTV service can receive the IPTV service. For example, if IPTV
service providers of three companies, i.e., an A company, a B
company and a C company, are present, a service consumer purchasing
a set top box of the A company can use only an IPTV service
provided from the A company, and must further purchase a set top
box from the B or C company in order to use an IPTV service of the
B or C company, respectively. An IPTV network unique to a service
provider is referred to as a managed network. Under a managed
network, incompatibility between an IPTV service provider and a set
top box reduces the range of selection of a service consumer,
thereby degrading the quality of an IPTV service or preventing the
fundamentals of IPTV service from being increased.
[0007] In order to solve incompatibility between an IPTV service
provider and a set top box, the Open IPTV Forum that have been
recently formed is conducting a discussion about standards for IPTV
services. The Open IPTV Forum is discussing the creation of common
standards independent of an IPTV service provider and the provision
of an IPTV service based on the standards to a service
consumer.
[0008] Open IPTV is aiming at making an interface and hardware
platform that are independent of an IPTV service provider so that
IPTV services can be received from a plurality of IPTV service
providers via one set top box. According to Open IPTV, since all
services provided from a plurality of IPTV service providers can be
used via one set top box, the range of service selection of a
service consumer can be increased.
[0009] The standards for IPTV services is now being established so
that not only IPTV services that are provided via a conventional
managed network and are dependent of an IPTV service provider but
also IPTV services that are provided via an open Internet network
and are independent of an IPTV service provider can be provided via
one set top box.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The present invention provides a method of
providing/receiving a service by including a search server
containing information regarding services of a plurality of service
providers so that a client can receive a desired service by
detecting the search server.
[0011] The present invention also provides a computer readable
medium having recorded thereon a computer program for executing the
method.
[0012] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a method of allowing a client to receive services from a
plurality of service providers, the method comprising receiving
information regarding at least one service, which is to be received
from a server of a service provider selected from among the
plurality of service providers, from a search server; requesting
the server to provide a service from among the at least one
service; and receiving the service provided from the server in
response to the request.
[0013] The service may be an IPTV (Internet protocol television)
service, and the plurality of service providers are a plurality of
IPTV service providers.
[0014] The receiving of the service may include receiving
information regarding the plurality of IPTV service providers from
a first search server; selecting the service provider based on
information regarding the plurality of IPTV service providers; and
receiving information regarding at least one IPTV service, which is
to be received from the server of the selected provider, from a
second search server.
[0015] According to another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a method of allowing a search server to provide
information regarding at least one service of a plurality of
service providers to a client, the method comprising receiving the
information regarding the at least one service from a plurality of
servers of the plurality of service providers, and registering the
received information; and providing the registered information to
the client.
[0016] The search server may include a first search server
providing information regarding the plurality of IPTV service
providers to the client; and a second search server providing
information regarding at least one IPTV service, which is to be
received from a server of a service provider selected from among
the plurality of service providers based on the information
regarding the plurality of IPTV service providers, to the
client.
[0017] According to another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a method of allowing a server of a service provider to
provide a predetermined service to a client, the method comprising
registering information regarding at least one service that is to
be provided from the service provider, with a search server;
receiving a request for a service from a client, where the request
is made by the client based on the registered information; and
providing the service to the client in response to the request,
wherein the search server provides the client with at least one
service of a plurality of service providers including the service
provider.
[0018] The registering of the information regarding the at least
one service may include registering information regarding the
service provider with a first search server; and registering
information regarding at least one IPTV service that is to be
provided from the server, with a second search server.
[0019] According to another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a client for receiving services from a plurality of
service providers, the client comprising a service search unit
receiving information regarding at least one service, which is to
be received from a server of a service provider selected from among
the service providers, from a search server; and a service
receiving unit requesting a service selected from among the at
least one service based on the received information, and receiving
the selected service provided from the server in response to the
request.
[0020] According to another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a search server for providing a client with information
regarding at least one service of a plurality of service providers,
the search server comprising an information storage unit receiving
information regarding at least one service from a plurality of
servers of the service providers, and registering the received
information; and an information providing unit providing the
registered information to the client.
[0021] According to another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a computer readable recording medium having recorded
thereon a computer program for executing the above methods.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] The above and other features and aspects of the present
invention will become more apparent by describing in detail
exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached
drawings in which:
[0023] FIG. 1 illustrates an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV)
network according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating providing/receiving a
service according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 3 illustrates providing/receiving a service according
to another embodiment of the present invention;
[0026] FIG. 4 illustrates providing/receiving a service according
to another embodiment of the present invention;
[0027] FIG. 5 illustrates providing/receiving a service according
to another embodiment of the present invention;
[0028] FIG. 6 illustrates providing/receiving a service according
to another embodiment of the present invention;
[0029] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a client according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0030] FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a search server according to an
embodiment of the present invention; and
[0031] FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a server according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0032] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention
will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0033] FIG. 1 illustrates an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV)
network according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 1, the IPTV network includes a client 110 and a
plurality of IPTV entities. The IPTV entities include a network
attachment entity 112, an IPTV service profile entity 114, an
authentication management entity 116, an IPTV applications entity
118, an IPTV control entity 120, a content delivery control entity
122, a content delivery entity 124, an IPTV metadata control entity
126, a charging entity 128, and a user database entity 130.
[0034] The network attachment entity 112 allocates an IP address to
the client 110, and performs network-level user authentication and
network construction. In an open IPTV network, an Internet service
provider provides the network attachment entity 112.
[0035] The IPTV service profile entity 114 retains user profile
information of the client 110 related to an IPTV service. When the
client 110 requests a service, the user profile information is
referred to. For example, the user profile information is referred
to in order to provide the client 110 with a personalized IPTV
service.
[0036] The authentication management entity 116 is charged with
authentication of the client 110.
[0037] The IPTV applications entity 118 is a server managed by each
IPTV service provider. Here, an IPTV service includes not only a TV
service, such as linear TV, but also an IPTV application, such as
CoD (content on demand), Push CoD, content downloading, network PVR
(Personal Video Recoding), and messaging. The IPTV applications
entity 118 can provide a graphical user interface (GUI) and service
data to the client 110, using web-based techniques.
[0038] The IPTV control entity 120 provides the client 110 with
information regarding the IPTV applications entity 118. For
example, the IPTV control entity 120 provides a list of universal
resource locators (URLs) of the IPTV applications entity 118. In
this case, the list of URLs may be provided via a GUI. The IPTV
control entity 120 controls delivery of an IPTV service for an
authenticated user, and interacts with the authentication
management entity 116 to this end. The IPTV control entity 120 can
access the IPTV service profile entity 114 in order to provide an
individualized IPTV service. If an advertisement needs to be
included in an IPTV service, the IPTV control entity 120 accesses
an IPTV applications entity providing the advertisement and
controls inclusion of the advertisement.
[0039] The content delivery control entity 122 protects content and
controls streaming reproduction. The content delivery control
entity 122 checks whether a request from the client 110 is
available, and checks whether a content access key transmitted from
the client 110 is valid, before content delivery begins. Also, the
content delivery control entity 122 manages a digital rights
management (DRM) key and content encryption. The content delivery
control entity 122 may update the DRM key by receiving related data
from the authentication management entity 116. The content delivery
control entity 122 may also control content reproduction during the
content reproduction, i.e., streaming reproduction.
[0040] The content delivery entity 124 is charged with content
processing, delivery and distribution, under control of the content
delivery control entity 122.
[0041] The IPTV metadata control entity 126 collects meta data
about IPTV services provided via the IPTV network from a content
provider, and provides it to the client 110.
[0042] The charging entity 128 provides an IPTV service charging
mechanism. IPTV service providers can individually make their own
charging system.
[0043] The user database entity 130 retains information regarding
the client 110. Each IPTV service provider can build a user
database and store information, such as authentication information,
which is not related to an IPTV service, in the user database.
[0044] Referring to FIG. 1, the client 110 and the entities 112
through 130 exchange a control signal with one another via a
predetermined interface. The name of each of the interfaces
illustrated in FIG. 1 is optionally selected and thus may be
replaced with another name which appropriately represents the
function of the interface.
[0045] UNIP-1 denotes an interface for managing a user service
profile. That is, the UNIP-1 is an interface defining control and
access between the client 110 and the IPTV service profile entity
114.
[0046] UNIP-7 denotes an interface allowing metadata of a service
or a program guide to be used in a predetermined metadata format
during searching for the service. Data for guiding at least one
IPTV service is stored in a metadata storage unit. An IPTV service
provider or a service platform provider can modify metadata stored
in the metadata storage unit.
[0047] UNIP-8 denotes an interface for performing authentication
when the client 110 tries to access an IPTV service.
[0048] UNIS-6 denotes an interface defined for the client 110 to
request the IPTV applications entity 118 to provide a predetermined
IPTV service. That is, the UNIS-6 is an interface allowing the
client 110 to request the IPTV applications entity 118 (server that
provides an IPTV service) to provide a predetermined IPTV service,
and to receive the predetermined service in response to the
request. The client 110 can access the IPTV applications entity 118
as guided by a GUI containing the URL or link information of the
IPTV applications entity 118, which is received from the IPTV
control entity 120. UNIS-6 may define an authentication process of
checking an identifier or password of the client 110 if
necessary.
[0049] UNIS-100 denotes an interface for the client 110 to receive
information regarding IPTV services that can be received via the
IPTV network, from the IPTV control entity 120. In this case, the
client 110 may receive a GUI containing links to the IPTV services
or create a page containing the links to the IPTV services by
receiving only guide data regarding the IPTV services.
[0050] UNIS-101 denotes an interface defining control of content
reproduction. UNIS-101 allows control of content reproduction, such
as pausing, stopping, or fast-forwarding, during receiving and
reproducing content, e.g., streaming data, from the content
delivery entity 124.
[0051] UNIS-102 denotes an interface for managing and controlling a
DRM key while the client 110 receives content.
[0052] UNIT-16 denotes an interface necessary for the client 110 to
attach the IPTV network.
[0053] UNIT-17 denotes an interface defined in order to transmit
content data to the client 110 through unicasting, multicasting or
downloading. In this case, real-time transmission or non real-time
transmission may be defined.
[0054] NPI-6 denotes an interface defined for the IPTV control
entity 120 to access and manage the user profile information stored
in the IPTV service profile entity 114. The IPTV control entity 120
accesses the user profile information in order to provide the
client 110 with an individualized IPTV service.
[0055] NPI-2 denotes an interface defined for the IPTV applications
entity 118 to register data regarding an IPTV service with the IPTV
control entity 120 or cancel the data from the IPTV control entity
120. NPI-2 can also be used when the IPTV applications entity 118
registers information regarding an IPTV service provider with the
IPTV control entity 120 or cancels it from the IPTV control entity
120.
[0056] NPI-9 denotes an interface defined for the IPTV control
entity 120 to access and manage user information stored in the user
database entity 130.
[0057] NPI-11 denotes an interface for retaining charging data
generated when a user uses content.
[0058] NPI-4 denotes an interface for preventing information
regarding IPTV services from being illegally used and checking
whether the client 110 is an authenticated user, before the
information is provided to the client 110.
[0059] NPI-20 denotes an interface for the IPTV metadata control
entity 126 to control the metadata storage unit.
[0060] NPI-100 denotes an interface for the IPTV control entity 120
to begin or manage content delivery.
[0061] NPI-101 denotes an interface for managing authentication
information related to content delivery.
[0062] NPI-102 denotes an interface for the content delivery
control entity 122 to control the content delivery entity 124 to
control content delivery. NPI-102 may also define encryption of
content.
[0063] FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method of
providing/receiving a service according to an embodiment of the
present invention. In detail, FIG. 2 illustrates a method of
allowing a client 210 to receive a predetermined service from a
server 240 of a service provider. It is assumed that the client 210
is an IPTV service client, such as an IPTV set top box, and the
server 240 is an IPTV service server that provides an IPTV service.
However, it would be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art
that the present invention can be applied to not only a method and
apparatus for providing/receiving an IPTV service but also a method
and apparatus for providing/receiving services of a plurality of
service providers.
[0064] Hereinafter, it is understood that a method and apparatus
for providing/receiving a service according to the present
invention can be used to provide or receive at least one of an IPTV
service received via a managed network and an IPTV service received
via an open Internet network.
[0065] Referring to FIG. 2, in operation 250, the client 210
accesses a network attachment entity 220 in order to attach an IPTV
network according to the present invention. The network attachment
entity 220 provides an IP address to the client 210 so that the
client 210 can access the IPTV network, and performs network-level
authentication and network construction. In the open Internet
network, an Internet service provider (ISP) that provides an
Internet service provides the network attachment entity 220.
[0066] Information regarding a search server 230 may be provided to
the client 210 while network attachment is made in operation 250.
In operations 254 and 256, in order to access the search server 230
and the server 240, the client 210 must know the address of the
search server 230 that is to be first accessed. When network
attachment is made in operation 250, the URL of the search server
230 may be provided to the client 210. If the client 210 has
already known the URL of the search server 230, the URL of the
search server 230 does not need to be additionally provided to the
client 210.
[0067] In operation 252, the server 240 registers information
regarding at least one of services that the server 240 can provide,
with the search server 230. The server 240 is a server of a service
provider from among a plurality of service providers, and provides
at least one IPTV service of the service provider. Here, the IPTV
service includes a TV service, such as linear TV, and an IPTV
application, such as CoD (content on demand), Push CoD, content
downloading, network PVR, and messaging.
[0068] The search server 230 is an entity that provides the client
210 with information regarding IPTV services that can be provided
via the IPTV network. The search server 230 stores not only
information regarding IPTV services that the service provider can
provide but also information regarding IPTV services that a
plurality of service providers can provide in the IPTV network
attached by the client 210. Thus, the client 210 can obtain
information regarding all IPTV services that can be provided to the
client 210 by accessing the search server 230.
[0069] In operation 254, the client 210 receives information
regarding at least one of services of a plurality of service
providers from the search server 230. The client 210 may receive
information regarding at least one of IPTV services that the client
210 can receive from a service provider selected from among a
plurality of service providers, from the search server 230. As
described above, an IPTV service may include linear TV, CoD, push
CoD, content downloading, network PVR, and messaging. The client
210 receives information regarding at least one IPTV service of a
service provider selected from among a plurality of service
providers by the client 210.
[0070] The client 210 can perform authentication by accessing a
predetermined entity (authentic management entity) that performs
authentication management using an interface for authentication,
and receive information regarding an IPTV service from the search
server 230 after the authentication is completed. When the client
210 tries to access the search server 230 for the first time, the
search server 230 first requests the client 210 to receive
authentication from the authentication management entity. The
client 210 receiving the request, requests the authentication
management entity to authenticate the client 210. The
authentication management entity may perform authentication by
transmitting the result of the authentication to the client 210 and
the search server 230. Alternatively, authentication may be
performed by transmitting an encryption key for accessing the
search server 230 to the client 210.
[0071] The information regarding the IPTV service may include
information regarding an entry point for requesting and receiving
the IPTV service. The information regarding the entry point means
information regarding a first page for receiving IPTV services of
the server 240. The first page may include a GUI containing links
to the IP services. If the client 210 is compatible with web-based
technology, the search server 230 may provide the client 210 with a
web page containing the links to the IPTV services. Also, the
search server 230 may create an eXtensible Markup Language (XML)
document including information regarding an IPTV service and
provide it to the client 210 so that the client 210 can
individually create an entry point.
[0072] The information regarding the IPTV service may include
metadata about the IPTV service and not the address of the server
240. Information regarding all IPTV services including the URLs of
the IPTV services, which is stored in the first server 240, may be
provided to the client 210 in the form of metadata. In this case,
the search server 230 functions as an entity controlling IPTV
metadata. The search server 230 provides the metadata to the client
210 by periodically multicasting or unicasting the metadata, in
response to a request from the client 210. Operation 254 is
performed using a predetermined interface defined between the
search server 230 and the client 210 in order to exchange
information regarding an IPTV service.
[0073] In operation 256, the client 210 requests to provide a
predetermined service based on the information regarding the IPTV
service received in operation 254. The client 210 selects the
predetermined service based on the information regarding the IPTV
service, which was received in operation 254, and requests the
server 240 to provide the selected service.
[0074] In operation 258, the client 210 receives the predetermined
service from the server 240. That is, the client 210 receives the
IPTV service requested in operation 256.
[0075] FIG. 3 illustrates a method and apparatus for
providing/receiving a service according to another embodiment of
the present invention. That is, FIG. 3 illustrates operations 252
and 254 illustrated in FIG. 2 in greater detail.
[0076] Referring to FIG. 3, in operation 360, a client 310 accesses
a network attachment entity 320 in order to access an IPTV network
according to the present invention. Information regarding the
addresses of a first search server 330 and a second search server
340 may be provided to the client 310 while performing network
attachment, as described above with respect to operation 250
illustrated in FIG. 2.
[0077] In the method of FIG. 3, the two separate search servers 330
and 340 are present. Thus, either only the address of the first
search server 330 that is to be first accessed or both the
addresses of the first and second search servers 330 and 340 may be
provided to the client 310. If the client 310 already knows the
addresses of the first and second search servers 330 and 340, their
addresses do not need to be additionally provided.
[0078] In operation 362, a server 350 registers information
regarding a service provider with the first search server 330.
Here, the server 350 belongs to the service provider. The first
search server 330 is an entity providing information regarding a
plurality of IPTV service providers that provide an IPTV service in
an IPTV network according to the present invention. The information
regarding the IPTV services is provided to the client 310. To this
end, in operation 362, the information regarding the service
provider from among the service providers is registered with the
first search server 330.
[0079] In operation 364, the server 350 registers information
regarding at least one of IPTV services that the server 350 of the
service provider can provide to the client 310, with the second
search server 340. The second search server 340 is an entity
providing information regarding at least one of IPTV services of a
plurality of IPTV service providers.
[0080] As described above, an IPTV service may include at least one
of linear TV, CoD, push CoD, content downloading, network PVR, and
messaging.
[0081] In operation 366, the first search server 330 provides the
client 310 with the information regarding the IPTV service
providers. The information regarding the IPTV service providers who
provide an IPTV service via the IPTV network according to the
present invention is registered with the first search server 330,
and the first search server 330 provides the information to the
client 310. A predetermined interface defined in order to transmit
information regarding a service provider is used in order to
deliver the information regarding the IPTV service providers to the
client 310. The information regarding the IPTV service providers,
which is provided to the client 310, is necessary for the client
310 to select a desired service provider from among the IPTV
service providers. Information, such as names or logos of the IPTV
service providers, may be provided to the client 310.
[0082] The information regarding the IPTV service providers is
provided to the client 310 only when the client 310 receives
authentication from an authentication management entity by using a
predetermined interface defined for authentication.
[0083] In operation 368, the client 310 selects a predetermined
service provider based on the information regarding the IPTV
service providers received in operation 366. That is, an IPTV
service provider is selected from among the IPTV service providers
based on the information regarding the IPTV service providers
received in operation 366.
[0084] In operation 370, the client 310 receives information
regarding at least one IPTV service that can be received from the
server 350 of the IPTV service provider selected in operation 368,
from the second search server 340. The client 310 requests the
second search server 340 to provide information regarding at least
one service of the selected service provider via a predetermined
interface defined to request information regarding a service, and
receives the information regarding the at least one service
provided in response to the request.
[0085] The information regarding the IPTV service may be
information regarding an entry point for requesting and receiving
the IPTV service, that is, it may be a first page allowing the IPTV
services of the server 350 to be used.
[0086] In the method illustrated in FIG. 3, information regarding
IPTV service provider and an IPTV service is provided to the client
310 via the two separate search servers 330 and 340. The client 310
first accesses the first search server 330 in order to select a
desired IPTV service provider, and receives information regarding
at least one service of the selected IPTV service provider from the
second search server 340.
[0087] In operation 372, the client 310 selects a predetermined
IPTV service based on the information regarding the services of the
selected service provider.
[0088] In operation 374, the client 310 requests the server 350 to
provide the service selected in operation 372. In operation 376,
the client 310 receives the selected service. Operations 374 and
376 are performed using a predetermined interface defined in order
to request and receive a service.
[0089] FIG. 4 illustrates a method and apparatus for
providing/receiving a service according to another embodiment of
the present invention. In detail, FIG. 4 illustrates a case where
information regarding an IPTV service as described above with
reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 is metadata.
[0090] Referring to FIG. 4, a metadata control entity 420 collects
metadata regarding an IPTV service/content guide received via an
IPTV network from a content provider or a content information
provider, and provides the collected metadata to clients. The
service guide is an electronic guide including additional
information regarding IPTV functions, information regarding service
providers, and information regarding appropriate service access,
which are necessary for a user to select a desired IPTV function.
The content guide is an electronic guide that a user uses to
select, discover, or navigate content according to time, title,
channel, genre, etc. . . . . In operation 450, a client 410
requests the metadata control entity 420 to provide metadata
regarding at least one service of a plurality of service providers
in an IPTV network or metadata regarding the content guide.
[0091] In operation 452, the metadata control entity 420
distributes the metadata regarding the at least one service of the
content guide to the client 410, in response to the request made in
operation 450. The metadata may be distributed to the client 410
through unicasting or multicasting only when the client 410 clearly
requests it as in operation 450, but the metadata may be
periodically distributed to the client 410 through multicasting
regardless of a request from the client 410. Operations 450 and 452
are performed using an interface defined between the client 410 and
the metadata control entity 420 in order to request and distribute
metadata.
[0092] In operation 454, the client 410 requests a server 430 to
provide a service and receives the service from the server 430 in
operation 456.
[0093] FIG. 5 illustrates a method and apparatus for
providing/receiving a service according to another embodiment of
the present invention. FIG. 5 illustrates DRM of content provided
from a server 550. That is, FIG. 5 illustrates a DRM method used
when the client 510 requests and receives content stored in a
server 550 through CoD, Push CoD, content downloading, and network
PVR.
[0094] In operation 560, the client 510 establishes a service
session and channel with the server 550 of an IPTV service
provider. The client 510 accesses a search server according to the
present invention by receiving authentication from an
authentication management entity 540, and receives information
regarding at least one IPTV service that can be received from the
server 550, from the search server. Then, the client 510 selects an
IPTV service from among the at least one IPTV service based on the
received information, and establishes a service session and channel
with a server 550. Then, the service session and channel are
formed, and delivery of content related to a predetermined service
is performed in operations 562 through 576.
[0095] In operation 562, the client 510 requests the server 550 to
provide predetermined content. That is, the client 510 requests the
server 550 to deliver the predetermined content from among content
of the server 560, based on the information regarding the IPTV
service received in operation 560.
[0096] In operation 564, the server 550 requests a content delivery
control entity 530 to deliver the requested content to the client
510. Information regarding the requested content and information
regarding the client 510 are transmitted to the content delivery
control entity 530.
[0097] The content delivery control entity 530 determines whether
the request for delivery of the predetermined content from the
client 510 is available. Also, the content delivery control entity
530 determines whether a DRM key received from the client 510 is
valid, prior to starting a content delivery session. The content
delivery control entity 530 manages the DRM key and content
encryption, and can update the DRM key by receiving related
information from the authentication management entity 540. Also, as
will later be described, the content delivery control entity 530
can control reproduction of reproduction during streaming of the
content.
[0098] The content delivery control entity 530 provide the server
550 with information regarding whether the content can be delivered
and information regarding DRM applied to the content, in response
to the request from the server 550.
[0099] In operation 566, the server 550 provides the client 510
with the information regarding the DRM applied to the content and
information regarding the content delivery control entity 530, in
response to the request for delivery of the content in operation
562. The information regarding the DRM may include information
regarding the DRM key, and the information regarding the content
delivery control entity 530 may include information regarding the
address of the content delivery control entity 530.
[0100] In operation 568, the client 510 requests the content
delivery control entity 530 to start the content delivery session
based on the information regarding the address of the content
delivery control entity 530 that is received in operation 566. In
this case, the DRM key, information about which is received in
operation 570, is also transmitted to the content delivery control
entity 530.
[0101] In operation 570, the content delivery control entity 530
requests the authentication management entity 540 to deliver at
least one of DRM policies and a DRM key seed, and receives at least
one of the DRM policies and the DRM key seed provided in response
to the request. Operation 570 is performed using an interface for
DRM, defined between the content delivery control entity 530 and
the authentication management entity 540. The authentication
management entity 540 authenticates the client 510 and a user of
the client 510, and manages the DRM policies and DRM key of content
provided as an IPTV service.
[0102] The content delivery control entity 530 determines whether
the request for starting the content delivery session from the
client 510 is available, based on the DRM policies and the DRM key
seed received from the authentication management entity 540 and the
DRM key that was received from the client 510 in operation 568.
[0103] In operation 572, the content delivery control entity 530
controls the content delivery entity 520 to begin the content
delivery session. If it is determined that the request to start the
content delivery session from the client 510 is available, the
information regarding the requested content and the address of the
client 510 is transmitted to the content delivery entity 520 so
that the content delivery session can begin. The content delivery
entity 520 is charged with content processing, e.g., content
encryption, and content delivery and distribution. Operation 572 is
performed using an interface defined between the content delivery
control entity 530 and the content delivery entity 520 in order to
control delivery of content of the content delivery entity 520.
Also, the interface defined between the content delivery control
entity 530 and the content delivery entity 520 may define control
of content encryption performed by the content delivery entity
520.
[0104] In operation 574, the content delivery control entity 530
transmits information regarding the content delivery entity 520 to
the client 510, in response to the request to start the content
delivery session in operation 568. In operation 576, the content
delivery entity 520 delivers the content to the client 510.
Operations 568 and 574 are performed using an interface defined
between the client 510 and the content delivery control entity 530
in order to request starting of the content delivery session and to
respond to the request.
[0105] There is a case where the client 510 requests control of
reproduction of content during the reproduction of the content. For
example, the client 510 may request pausing, or jumping forward or
backward during reproduction of network PVR content. In this case,
the client 510 may transmit a request for the content delivery
control entity 530 to control the reproduction of the content, and
the content delivery control entity 530 transmit the request to the
content delivery entity 520, thereby performing control of the
content reproduction.
[0106] Such control of content reproduction is referred to as a
`trick mode`. The trick mode is performed using an interface
between the client 510 and the content delivery control entity 530
and an interface between the content delivery entity 520 and the
content delivery control entity 530, which are defined in order to
control content reproduction.
[0107] FIG. 6 illustrates a method and apparatus for
providing/receiving a service according to another embodiment of
the present invention. In detail, FIG. 6 illustrates a method of
allowing the client 610 to receive a second service by switching
from a first service to the second service during receiving of the
first service. In other words, FIG. 6 illustrates a method of
allowing the client 610 to insert an advertisement since the client
610 must receive and reproduce the advertisement in order to switch
from the first service to the second service while receiving the
first service.
[0108] In operation 660, the client 610 receives the first service
from a server 640 of an IPTV service provider by establishing a
session and channel of the first service. To this end, the client
610 accesses a search server according to the present invention by
receiving authentication from an authentication management entity,
and receives information regarding at least one IPTV service, which
can be received from the server 640, from the search server. Then,
the client 610 establishes with the session and channel of the
first service with the server 640 by selecting an IPTV service from
among the at least one IPTV service based on the information
regarding the IPTV service.
[0109] In operation 662, the client 610 requests the server 640 to
provide the second service. Since the client 610 has already
retained the information regarding the at least one IPTV service,
the client 610 selects the second service from among the at least
one IPTV service.
[0110] In operation 664, the server 640 requests an IPTV control
entity 630 to provide an advertisement service. When an
advertisement needs to be provided between the first and second
services in order to provide the second service, the server 640
requests the IPTV control entity 630 to provide the
advertisement.
[0111] In operation 666, the IPTV control entity 630 requests an
advertisement server 650 to provide a predetermined advertisement.
In this case, an individualized advertisement may be required using
user profile information of the client 610. An advertisement that
the client 610 desires to receive may be requested by analyzing the
propensity of the client 610.
[0112] In operation 668, the advertisement server 650 transmits
information regarding the predetermined advertisement to the IPTV
control entity 630 in response to the request received in operation
666. For example, the advertisement that is to be delivered to the
client 610, and the address of a content delivery control entity
620 that is to transmit the advertisement are delivered to the IPTV
control entity 630.
[0113] In operation 670, the IPTV control entity 630 requests the
content delivery control entity 620 to start an advertisement
delivery session.
[0114] In operation 672, the content delivery control entity 620
controls a content delivery entity to deliver the requested
advertisement to the client 610, in response to the request from
the IPTV control entity 630.
[0115] In operation 674, the content delivery control entity 620
informs the IPTV control entity 630 of the end of the advertisement
delivery session when the delivery of the advertisement is
completed.
[0116] In operation 676, the IPTV control entity 630 informs the
server 640 of the end of the advertisement service, and thus, in
operation 678, the server 640 provides the second service to the
client 610.
[0117] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a client 700 according to an
embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 7, the
client 700 includes a service search unit 710 and a service
receiving unit 720.
[0118] The service search unit 710 receives information regarding
at least one of a plurality of service providers from a search
server. The client 700 is an IPTV client, and receives information
regarding at least one IPTV service of a plurality of service
providers in an IPTV network from the search server. The client 700
may receive information regarding at least one service of a service
provider selected from among a plurality of service providers by
the client 700.
[0119] There is a case where the search server includes separate
entities: a first search server that provides information regarding
a plurality of service providers and a second search server that
provides information regarding services of each of the service
providers. In this case, the information regarding the service
providers is first received from the first search server, and a
service provider is selected from among the service providers based
on the received information. Then, information regarding at least
one service that can be received from the server of the selected
service provider is received from the second search server. The
information regarding the at least one service provider may include
at least one of a name and logo of each of the IPTV service
providers. The information regarding the at least one service may
include information regarding a service entry point, i.e.,
information regarding a first page allowing use of IPTV services
that can be received from the server.
[0120] The service receiving unit 720 requests the server to
provide a service selected from among at least one service that can
be received from the server, and receives the selected service
provided in response to the request.
[0121] FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a search server 800 according
to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 8, the
search server 800 includes an information storage unit 810 and an
information providing unit 820.
[0122] The information storage unit 810 receives information
regarding a service provider and/or information regarding a service
from a plurality of service providers in an IPTV network.
[0123] The search server 800 may include separate entities: a first
search server that registers information regarding a plurality of
service providers and a second search server that receives
information regarding at least one service of each of the service
providers from a corresponding server from among a plurality of
servers and then registers the received information.
[0124] Thus, if the search server 800 is one entity, it registers
information regarding a plurality of service providers and
information regarding services received from a plurality of servers
of the service providers. However, if the search server 800
includes the first search server and the second search server, the
information storage unit 810 registers information regarding a
plurality of service providers and information regarding
services.
[0125] When the search server 800 acts as the first search server,
the information storage unit 810 registers only information
regarding a plurality of service providers, but when the search
server 800 acts as the second search server, the information
storage unit 810 registers information regarding at least one
service.
[0126] The information providing unit 820 provides a client with
information regarding a plurality of service providers, and
information regarding at least one service of a service provider
selected from among the service providers by the client. If the
search server 800 includes the first search server and the second
search server as described above, information regarding a plurality
of service providers or information regarding at least one service
is provided to the client.
[0127] If the search server 800 acts as the first search server,
the information providing unit 820 provides information regarding a
plurality of service providers to the client. If the search server
800 acts as the second search server, the information providing
unit 820 provides information regarding at least one service to the
client.
[0128] FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a server 900 according to an
embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 9, the
server 800 provides an IPTV service in an IPTV network according to
the present invention, and includes an information registration
unit 910 and a service providing unit 920. It is assumed that the
server 900 is a server of a service provider from among a plurality
of service providers in the IPTV network.
[0129] The information registration unit 910 registers information
regarding at least one service that can be provided from the
service provider, with a search server. As described above, the
search server may include separate entities: a first search server
that provides information regarding a plurality of service
providers and a second server that provides information regarding
services of each of the service providers.
[0130] In this case, the information registration unit 910
registers information regarding the service provider with the first
search server, and information regarding at least one service of
the service provider with the second search server.
[0131] The service providing unit 920 receives a request for a
predetermined service from a client, and provides the client with
the predetermined service in response to the request. For example,
a service is provided to a client authenticated by a predetermined
authentication management entity. The client requests the service
providing unit 920 to provide a service, based on the information
regarding the service provider and the information regarding the at
least one service of the service provider, which is registered by
the information registration unit 910.
[0132] The system according to the present invention can be
embodied as computer readable code in a computer readable medium.
Here, the computer readable medium may be any recording apparatus
capable of storing data that is read by a computer system, e.g., a
read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a compact
disc (CD)-ROM, a magnetic tape, a floppy disk, an optical data
storage device, and so on. Also, the computer readable medium may
be a carrier wave that transmits data via the Internet, for
example. The computer readable medium can be distributed among
computer systems that are interconnected through a network, and the
present invention may be stored and implemented as computer
readable code in the distributed system.
[0133] According to the above embodiments of the present invention,
a client can precisely search for and receive a desired service in
a predetermined network via which a plurality of service providers
provide services. In particular, the client can search for and
receive not only an IPTV service of a service provider in a managed
network but also an IPTV service of a service provider in an open
Internet network, thereby improving the quality of IPTV service and
increasing the fundamentals of IPTV service.
[0134] While this invention has been particularly shown and
described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will
be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various
changes in form and details may be made therein without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the
appended claims.
* * * * *