Summary of the invention
The embodiment of the invention provides a kind of method of prompting associated channel information, and set-top box and system end are used for solving between the prior art program and do not have relevance, the problem that the waste user time searches one by one.
The embodiment of the invention provides a kind of method of prompting associated channel information, comprising:
According to the correlation of channel, associated channel information is bound in electric program menu EPG;
Described EPG is sent to the user side set-top box;
When described set-top box satisfies in predetermined trigger condition, the channel information that coupling is associated with current channel in described EPG;
Described set-top box is shown in described matching result in the screen.
According to a further aspect of the described method of the embodiment of the invention, wherein said associated channel information comprises, channel ID, channel ID and programme information, perhaps request program information.
Another further aspect according to the described method of the embodiment of the invention, in correlation according to channel, during associated channel information bound in electric program menu EPG, also comprise correlation according to program in the channel, in EPG, according to the different programs of channel, write the channel information that is associated with this program according to the described time with timing separation.
Another further aspect according to the described method of the embodiment of the invention, in described set-top box when predetermined trigger condition satisfies, in described EPG, further comprise in coupling and the channel information that current channel is associated, gather the current time, according to the combination of current time and current channel, the channel information that coupling is associated with the current channel broadcast program in described EPG.
According to another further aspect of the described method of the embodiment of the invention, described predetermined trigger condition comprises: the user imports specific button, and then trigger condition satisfies; Perhaps play at current channel program and carry out timing, when arriving preset time, then described trigger condition satisfies.
According to another further aspect of the described method of the embodiment of the invention, after being shown in described matching result in the screen, the described set-top box of described step also comprises, according to user's input, jump to corresponding channel display program content.
The embodiment of the invention also provides a kind of system end of prompting associated channel information, comprising:
The binding unit is used for the correlation according to channel, and associated channel information is bound in EPG;
Transmitting element is used for described EPG is sent to the user side set-top box.
According to a further aspect of the described system end of the embodiment of the invention, described binding unit further comprises:
The channel bundle module is used for writing the channel ID that is associated with this channel at EPG, perhaps writes the request program information that is associated with this channel;
The program binding module is used at EPG, according to the different programs with timing separation of channel, writes the channel ID that is associated with this program according to the described time; Perhaps write the programme information of the channel ID that is associated with this program and this cannel broadcast according to the described time; Perhaps write the request program information that is associated with this program according to the described time.
The embodiment of the invention also provides a kind of set-top box, comprising:
Receiving element is used for the EPG that the receiving system end sends over;
Whether monitoring means is used to monitor predetermined trigger condition and satisfies;
Matching unit, when being used for trigger condition and satisfying, the channel information that coupling is associated with current channel in described EPG;
Display unit is used for described matching result is shown in screen.
According to a further aspect of the described set-top box of the embodiment of the invention, described monitoring means further comprises, the button monitoring modular is used for monitor user ' and whether supresses predetermined button, if supress predetermined key then described trigger condition satisfies;
Timer is used for timing, and when current channel program is played to preset time, then described trigger condition satisfies.
Another further aspect according to the described set-top box of the embodiment of the invention, also comprise the time collecting unit, be used to obtain the current time, make described matching unit according to the combination of current time and current channel, the channel information that coupling is associated with the current channel broadcast program in described EPG.
By the embodiment of the invention, can when watching certain channel program, the user obtain the information of more heterogeneous associated channel or program, make things convenient for the information that the user in time obtains to be needed.
Embodiment
Below in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in the embodiment of the invention, the technical scheme in the embodiment of the invention is clearly and completely described, obviously, described embodiment only is the present invention's part embodiment, rather than whole embodiment.Based on the embodiment among the present invention, those of ordinary skills belong to the scope of protection of the invention not making the every other embodiment that is obtained under the creative work prerequisite.
Be illustrated in figure 1 as the method flow diagram of a kind of prompting associated channel information of the embodiment of the invention.
Comprise that step 101 according to the correlation of channel, is bound associated channel information in electric program menu (EPG).
The attribute of wherein said channel is meant to have correlation between the channel, and for example channel 1 is associated with channel 2, channel 3, and channel 4 is associated with channel 5, channel 6, channel 7.
Associated channel information bound in electric program menu be meant, in the expansion table of EPG, write the channel information that is associated with Event Information Table (EIT), channel 1 (channel ID) for example, the channel that is associated with this channel 1 comprises channel 2, channel 3, channel 4 etc., the perhaps request program 1 that is associated with this channel 1, request programs 2 etc., the wherein said request program that is associated comprises programm name, price etc.
Since in some EPG, may not comprise expansion table, can be by in the EIT table, writing the described channel information that is associated.
As further embodiment, can also associated channel information be bound in electric program menu (EPG) according to the correlation of program in the channel.The attribute of program is meant in the wherein said channel, the program that type is similar, for example variety entertainment program A is exactly the similar program of type with variety entertainment program B, South Korean TV soaps A is exactly the similar program of type with South Korean TV soaps B, and perhaps the 2nd grade among the 1st grade among the South Korean TV soaps A and the South Korean TV soaps A is exactly the similar program of type.
Described associated channel information is bound in electric program menu is meant, in EPG, according to the different programs of channel with timing separation, write the channel information that is associated with this program according to the described time, wherein, described channel information comprises the programme information of channel ID and this cannel broadcast, perhaps described channel information comprises channel ID, perhaps described channel information comprises information such as the title, coding, price, time of request program, for example channel 1, during to 7:30, the related channel with similar programme attribute comprises channel 2, channel 3 at time 7:00; System end is classified according to program when binding, what for example channel 1 was play during to 7:30 at 7:00 is the news hookup program, channel 2 and channel 3 7:00 when the 7:30 also all at the program of playing news category, in expansion table at the channel information that 7:00 is associated during to 7:30 be with channel 1, channel 2: State Council's news briefing, channel 3: the news hookup of local broadcasting stations; Can also with the associated channel information of channel 1 in write the request program of digital TV broadcasting network, what for example channel 1 was play during to 22:00 at 21:00 is the variety entertainment program, in described expansion table at the channel information that 21:00 is associated during to 22:00 be with channel 1, variety show 1: be limited to XXXX X before the 24 o'clock month X days when 5 yuan of prices, coding 001, the program request of variety show 1, wherein encoding 001 is to be used at one-way digital television broadcasting network, the film code that the user notifies vod server to want program request by phone or other modes.
Since in some EPG, may not comprise expansion table, can be by in the EIT table, writing the described channel information that is associated.
Step 102 sends to the user side set-top box with described EPG.
When step 103, described set-top box satisfy in predetermined trigger condition, the channel information that coupling is associated with current channel in described EPG.
As further embodiment, in described step 103, also comprise and gathering the current time, according to the combination of current time and current channel, the channel information that coupling is associated with the current channel broadcast program in described EPG.For example, current channel 1 is from the current time 7:15 that system end receives, in the expansion table of described EPG, the channel information that channel 1 is associated when 7:00 to 7:30 is channel 2 and channel 3, can determine the program that current channel is play by the combination of current time and current channel.
As further embodiment, described predetermined trigger condition comprises that the user is by certain specific button of input (perhaps button on the set-top box) of remote controller keyboard, and trigger condition satisfies; Perhaps play at current channel program and carry out timing, when arriving preset time, described trigger condition satisfies, and for example finishes preceding 30 seconds at current channel program, perhaps begins back 10 seconds at current channel program etc.
Step 104, described set-top box is shown in described matching result in the screen.According to user's input, jump to corresponding channel display of television programmes.Wherein, channel displayed information (comprising programme information) can be request program in the digital TV broadcasting network on the screen.
For unidirectional digital television broadcasting net, can realize recommending the information of channel of interest by the way to the user, make things convenient for the user to jump to interested channel; Certainly for two-way digital TV broadcasting network, the above embodiment of the present invention also can serve the same role.
Be illustrated in figure 2 as embodiment of the invention system end structural representation.
Comprise binding unit 201, transmitting element 202.
Wherein, described binding unit 201 is used for the correlation according to channel, and associated channel information is bound in EPG.
Described transmitting element 202 is used for described EPG is sent to the user side set-top box.
Comprise also that in described binding unit 201 channel bundle module 2011 is used for writing the channel ID that is associated with this channel at certain channel EPG, perhaps writes the request program information that is associated with this channel.
Program binding module 2012 is used at EPG, according to the different programs with timing separation of channel, writes the channel ID that is associated with this program according to the described time; Perhaps write the programme information of the channel ID that is associated with this program and this cannel broadcast according to the described time; Perhaps write the request program information that is associated with this program according to the described time.
By the foregoing description, the channel information that is associated with certain channel or certain program can be bound in EPG by the binding unit of system end, send to the user side set-top box, so that more select information for the user, make things convenient for the user to watch program.
Be illustrated in figure 3 as the structural representation of embodiment of the invention set-top box.
Comprise receiving element 301, monitoring means 302, matching unit 303, display unit 304.
Described receiving element 301 is used for the EPG that the receiving system end sends over.
Whether described monitoring means 302 is used to monitor predetermined trigger condition and satisfies.
Described matching unit 303, when being used for trigger condition and satisfying, the channel information that coupling is associated with current channel in described EPG.
Described display unit 304 is used for described matching result is shown in screen.
As further embodiment, described monitoring means 302 comprises button monitoring modular 3021, is used for monitor user ' and whether supresses predetermined button, if supress predetermined key then described trigger condition satisfies.
Described monitoring means 302 also comprises timer 3022, is used for timing, and when current channel program is played to preset time, then described trigger condition satisfies.
As further embodiment, also comprise time collecting unit 305, be used to obtain the current time, described matching unit 303 mates the channel information that is associated with the current channel broadcast program according to the combination of current time and current channel in described EPG.
By the foregoing description, the channel information that is associated with current channel or program that set-top box can send over according to system end is pointed out to the user, can user friendly channel selection.
Be illustrated in figure 4 as embodiment of the invention system data flow graph.
Step 401, the channel 2 that system end will be associated to program between the 7:30 (for example news program) at 7:00 with channel 1: programm name is State Council's news briefing; Channel 3: local items radio hookup; The request program title: 7:30 deadline of personage's interview, 2 yuan of prices, coding 100, program request, write in the expansion table of EPG, perhaps write in the EIT table, perhaps in other table.
Step 402, system end sends to set-top box with above-mentioned EPG.
Step 403, after set-top box receives this EPG, gather the current time, whether the monitoring trigger condition satisfies, trigger condition is clicked " affirmation " button on the remote controller for the user in this example, because a 7:00 at channel 1 has defined associated channel information between the 7:30 among the above-mentioned EPG, so only the 7:00 at channel 1 just triggers to clicking " affirmation " key between the 7:30, certain those skilled in the art can know by inference also can point out the user " program is not associated " when not defining associated channel information.
Step 404, the user is watching channel 1, and the current time is 7:10, and this moment, the user clicked " affirmation " key, and trigger condition satisfies.
Step 405, set-top box is mated expansion table among current time and current channel 1 and the described EPG or EIT table.
Step 406, the channel 2 that the set-top box discovery is associated: programm name is State Council's news briefing; Channel 3: local items radio hookup; The request program title: 7:30 deadline of personage's interview, 2 yuan of prices, coding 100, program request, set-top box is shown in the above-mentioned channel information that is associated on the screen, and its effect is as shown in Figure 5.
Step 407, the user is by the channel or the program of the upper and lower key selection of remote controller redirect, and the user has selected channel 2 to carry out redirect in the present embodiment.
Step 408, the user jumps to channel 2 and plays by clicking " determining " key once more.
As optional embodiment, in one-way digital television broadcasting network, step 409 shows the coding 100 of request program on screen, if the current time, is then pointed out the user reason that can't program request greater than the program request deadline in the request program.
Step 410, the user connects front-end server by voice call, according to voice suggestion input coding 100.
Step 411, front-end server obtains the parameter of play-on-demand program from vod server, and described parameter comprises the frequency point information of request program, duration etc.
Step 412, front-end server send the parameter of this request program to set-top box.
Step 413, set-top box is watched described request program by the corresponding frequency that described parameter jumps to vod server.
As optional embodiment, in the bi-directional digital television radio network, step 414, the user has selected request program, selects this request program by " determining " key.
Step 415, set-top box sends the request program coding by bi-directional digital television radio network forward end server.
After step 416, front-end server receive the coding of request program, obtain the parameter of play-on-demand program from vod server.
Step 417, front-end server send the parameter of request program to set-top box.
Step 418, set-top box connect vod server according to described parameter and watch described request program.
Be illustrated in figure 6 as another data flow diagram of embodiment of the invention system.
Step 601, the channel 2 that system end will be associated to program between the 7:30 (for example news program) at 7:00 with channel 1: programm name is State Council's news briefing; Channel 3: local items radio hookup; The request program title: 7:30 deadline of personage's interview, 2 yuan of prices, coding 100, program request writes in the EIT table of EPG.
Step 602, system end sends to set-top box with above-mentioned EPG.
After step 603, set-top box receive this EPG, gather the current time, whether the monitoring trigger condition satisfies, and trigger condition is in the present embodiment, finishes preceding 10 seconds in current channel 1 playing programs.
Step 604, the user is watching channel 1, and when before 7:30 10 seconds of the timer of set-top box, trigger condition satisfies.
Step 605-step 618 is basic identical with above-mentioned steps 405-418, does not repeat them here.
Information such as the transmission EPG in digital TV broadcasting network described in the embodiment of the invention, be illustrating among the embodiment, described digital TV broadcasting network for example comprises, digital television broadcasting terrestrial wireless network (Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial, DVB-T), digital television broadcasting satellite network (Digital Video Broadcasting-Satellite, DVB-S), the digital television broadcasting cable network (Digital Video Broadcasting-Cable, DVB-C) etc.
Adopt the method and apparatus of the embodiment of the invention, can when the user watches certain channel program, obtain the information of more heterogeneous associated channel or program, make things convenient for the information that the user in time obtains to be needed.
Above-described embodiment; purpose of the present invention, technical scheme and beneficial effect are further described; institute is understood that; the above only is the specific embodiment of the present invention; and be not intended to limit the scope of the invention; within the spirit and principles in the present invention all, any modification of being made, be equal to replacement, improvement etc., all should be included within protection scope of the present invention.