Method and apparatus for recommending broadcast content in a media content player

TECHNICAL FIELD

0001One or more embodiments relate to a method and apparatus for recommending broadcast contents by using a buddy list in a media content displayer.

BACKGROUND ART

0002With the increase of cable broadcasting channels, the generalization of cable broadcasting, and the increase of users that enjoy watching an Internet Protocol TV (IPTV), the number of user accessible multimedia contents has rapidly increased. Thus, from among the multimedia contents, users hesitate in selecting the multimedia contents or searching the multimedia contents. In this situation, users may be recommended multimedia contents by a specific system and a service. However, a recommendation by a contact of a network of contacts of an individual may be more effective in the selection of multimedia contents than a recommendation by the specific system and the service. For example, a recommendation by a friend interested in entertainment broadcasting programs is more effective in the selection of multimedia contents than a recommendation by a TV commercial seen on the TV.

0003Also, recently, joining a community to obtain knowledge therefrom has become popular, thus, playing together and enjoying common interests between people has become widespread. According to this trend, a sharing of broadcasting programs by using a social network may give a user a feeling of watching broadcast content together with others, although they are in different places, so that the sharing of broadcasting programs may form emotions and may satisfy the people sharing the same broadcast content.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

0004<ul id="ul0001" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li><figref idref="f0001">FIG. 1</figref> is a conceptual diagram of a network system to which one or more embodiments are applied;</li><li><figref idref="f0002">FIG. 2</figref> is a flowchart of a method of recommending broadcast contents by using a media content displayer, according to an embodiment;</li><li><figref idref="f0003">FIG. 3</figref> is a flowchart of a method of recommending broadcast contents by using a media content displayer, according to another embodiment;</li><li><figref idref="f0004">FIG. 4</figref> is a diagram of a buddy list of buddies watching the same broadcasting program as a user, according to an embodiment;</li><li><figref idref="f0005">FIG. 5</figref> is a diagram of a buddy list of buddies watching broadcasting programs that are different from the one currently being watched by a user, according to another embodiment;</li><li><figref idref="f0006">FIG. 6</figref> is a diagram for describing a method of recommending a broadcasting program to a buddy who is watching a broadcasting program different from the one currently being watched by a user;</li><li><figref idref="f0007">FIG. 7</figref> is a flowchart of a method of recommending broadcast contents by using a buddy list, according to another embodiment; and</li><li><figref idref="f0008">FIG. 8</figref> is a block diagram of a broadcast contents recommending apparatus in a media content displayer.</li></ul>

0005Although the drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the drawings are not illustrated to scale; however, in order to fully describe the present invention, some portions of the present invention may be exaggerated in the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

TECHNICAL PROBLEM

0006One or more embodiments include a method and apparatus for recommending broadcast contents by using a buddy list in a media content displayer.

TECHNICAL SOLUTION

0007To achieve the above and/or other aspects, one or more embodiments may include a method of recommending broadcast contents by using a media content displayer, the method including the operations of creating a user list consisting of at least one second user related to a first user; displaying the user list on the screen of the media content displayer; selecting at least one third user out of the at least one second user shown on the user list; and transmitting, to the selected third user, a message for recommending a first broadcast content currently being watched by the first user, or a second broadcast content chosen from an electronic program guide (EPG).

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS

0008According to one or more of the above embodiments, the buddy list of the buddies watching the same broadcasting program as the user, or the buddy list of the buddies watching different broadcasting programs than the user can be exhibited via the network while watching the broadcasting program. By using the buddy list, the user can notify a broadcasting program currently being watched by the user to a buddy who is watching a different broadcasting program than the user, and by using the EPG information, the user may recommend a broadcasting program. Since multimedia contents are provided these days in large amount, recommendation of a broadcasting program can be useful information to users that hesitate to select multimedia contents. Also, the user builds a social network by using the buddy list so that the user can feel that the user is watching the TV with others although the user is watching the TV alone, and after the broadcasting program has ended, the user can discuss the broadcasting program with the buddies who have watched the same broadcasting program, thereby forming a high rapport with them.

BEST MODE

0009To achieve the above and/or other aspects, one or more embodiments may include a method of recommending broadcast contents by using a media content displayer, the method including the operations of creating a user list consisting of at least one second user related to a first user; displaying the user list on the screen of the media content displayer; selecting at least one third user out of the at least one second user shown on the user list; and transmitting, to the selected third user, a message for recommending a first broadcast content currently being watched by the first user, or a second broadcast content chosen from an electronic program guide (EPG).

0010The operation of creating the user list may further include the operations of registering an account of the first user in an external server connected via a network; retrieving the at least one second user from the external server; and registering the retrieved at least one second user in the account of the first user.

0011The operation of displaying the user list may include the operation of displaying, from among the at least one second user, only one or more users that are watching the first broadcast content currently being watched by the first user, or displaying only one or more users that are watching third broadcast contents that are different from the first broadcast content currently being watched by the first user.

0012When only the one or more users that are watching the first broadcast content currently being watched by the first user are displayed, the operation of displaying the user list may include the operation of also displaying watching time information of each of the one or more users shown on the user list.

0013When only the one or more users that are watching the third broadcast contents that are different from the first broadcast content currently being watched by the first user are displayed, the operation of displaying the user list may include the operation of also displaying titles of the third broadcast contents being watched by each of the one or more users shown on the user list.

0014The operation of displaying the user list may include the operation of displaying either or both pre-registered images representing the at least one second user shown on the user list and names of the at least one second user, and displaying the user list on the screen in a translucent manner.

0015The method may further include the operation of displaying a predetermined icon for notifying an arrival of the recommendation message on the screen of a media content displayer of the third user.

0016The method may further include the operation of receiving a response message indicating whether the third user that has received the recommendation message agrees to watch the recommended first broadcast content or the recommended second broadcast content.

0017The operation of displaying the user list may include the operation of also displaying, from among the at least one second user shown on the user list, a predetermined icon for indicating a recommendation refusal by a user that refuses to receive the recommendation message, and the operation of transmitting the recommendation message may include the operation of not transmitting the recommendation message to a user displayed with the predetermined icon for indicating the recommendation refusal.

0018To achieve the above and/or other aspects, one or more embodiments may include a broadcast contents recommending apparatus in a media content displayer, the broadcast contents recommending apparatus including a buddy list creating unit creating a user list consisting of at least one second user related to a first user; a screen output unit displaying the user list on the screen of the media content displayer; a user input unit selecting at least one third user out of the at least one second user shown on the user list; and a message transmitting unit transmitting, to the selected third user, a message for recommending a first broadcast content currently being watched by the first user, or a second broadcast content chosen from an electronic program guide (EPG).

0019The buddy list creating unit may further include an account registering unit registering an account of the first user in an external server connected via a network; a buddy retrieving unit retrieving the at least one second user from the external server; and a list managing unit registering the retrieved at least one second user in the account of the first user.

0020The screen output unit may display, from among the at least one second user, only one or more users that are watching the first broadcast content currently being watched by the first user, or may display only one or more users that are watching third broadcast contents that are different from the first broadcast content currently being watched by the first user.

0021When only the one or more users that are watching the first broadcast content currently being watched by the first user are displayed, the screen output unit may also display watching time information of each of the one or more users shown on the user list.

0022When only the one or more users that are watching the third broadcast contents that are different from the first broadcast content currently being watched by the first user are displayed, the screen output unit may also display titles of the third broadcast contents being watched by each of the one or more users shown on the user list.

0023The screen output unit may display either or both pre-registered images representing the at least one second user shown on the user list and names of the at least one second user, and may display the user list on the screen in a translucent manner.

0024The broadcast contents recommending apparatus may further include a message control unit displaying a predetermined icon for notifying an arrival of the recommendation message on the screen of a media content displayer of the third user.

0025The broadcast contents recommending apparatus may further include a response message receiving unit receiving a response message indicating whether the third user that has received the recommendation message agrees to watch the recommended first broadcast content or the recommended second broadcast content.

0026The screen output unit may also display, from among the at least one second user shown on the user list, a predetermined icon for indicating a recommendation refusal by a user that refuses to receive the recommendation message and that is from among the at least one second user shown on the user list, and the message transmitting unit may not be able to transmit the recommendation message to a user displayed with the predetermined icon for indicating the recommendation refusal.

0027To achieve the above and/or other aspects, one or more embodiments may include a computer readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing the method of recommending broadcast contents.

MODE OF THE INVENTION

0028The attached drawings for illustrating exemplary embodiments of the present invention are referred to in order to gain a sufficient understanding of the present invention, the merits thereof, and the objectives accomplished by the implementation of the present invention.

0029The present embodiments relate to a method and apparatus for recommending a broadcasting program which provide a user interface by which message exchange between terminals via a network can be conveniently performed by a terminal such as a portable Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB) player, a mobile phone enabled to receive DMB broadcasting, or a digital TV enabled to reproduce broadcasting programs.

0030Hereinafter, one or more embodiments will be described in detail by referring to the accompanying drawings.

0031<figref idref="f0001">FIG. 1</figref> is a conceptual diagram of a network system to which one or more embodiments are applied.

0032Referring to <figref idref="f0001">FIG. 1</figref>, the network system includes a web server 130 having a web application 131 and a database 132, and clients 120-1 through 120-3. In particular, for a device such as a TV that reproduces/records broadcast contents, the network system further includes a broadcasting station 110 that transmits broadcast contents and electronic program guide (EPG) information.

0033Examples related to conventional technology providing a messenger service between terminals by using a network (e.g., Internet) are a data service of a Network enabled TV, and a Short Message Service (SMS) of an Internet Protocol TV (IPTV).

0034In the case of the data service of the Network enabled TV, a user registers for a user account and registers a serial number of a TV using a web browser provided from a server. After the user successfully authenticates on the server, the user requests information such as the weather, the stock market, news, and the like, and then the server transmits the information to the TV. The user employing such a service may receive weather information or may read news articles from the TV, without accessing the web browser, but the user may not share or recommend the information with other people. Meanwhile, in the case of the SMS of the IPTV, the IPTV indicates a service that provides an information service, moving picture contents, broadcast contents, and the like, to a television receiver through high-speed Internet. Here, the IPTV provides the SMS service between terminals using the Internet. The SMS service by the IPTV is performed in the following manner. By using an on-screen keyboard, a user retrieves a unique identification (ID) of a person that is to receive a message, writes a message to be transmitted with the on-screen keyboard, and then transmits the message to a server. The server retrieves the ID of the person in a database, wherein the ID is transmitted from a terminal. In the case where an ID that matches the ID of the person exists in the database, the server obtains an address of a terminal corresponding to the matching ID, and transmits the message to the terminal. However, the SMS service has an interface that is not convenient to a user, since the user has to retrieve another user before the user transmits a message to the other user, and has to use the on-screen keyboard so as to input the message to be transmitted.

0035<figref idref="f0002">FIG. 2</figref> is a flowchart of a method of recommending broadcast contents by using a media content displayer, according to an embodiment.

0036Referring to <figref idref="f0002">FIG. 2</figref>, the method of recommending broadcast contents by using the media content displayer according to the embodiment of <figref idref="f0002">FIG. 2</figref> includes operations of creating a user list consisting of at least one second user related to a first user (operation 210), displaying the user list on the screen of the media content displayer (operation 220), selecting at least one third user out of the at least one second user shown on the user list (operation 230), and transmitting, to the selected third user, a message for recommending a first broadcast content currently being watched by the first user, or a second broadcast content chosen from an electronic program guide (EPG) (operation 240). Accordingly, by using the created user list (hereinafter, referred to as a "buddy list"), a user may transmit the recommendation message, which is related to recommending a broadcasting program currently being watched by the user or a broadcasting program selected from EPG information, to buddies included in the buddy list.

0037A system according to one or more embodiments may be broadly divided into a server and a client. The server corresponds to the web server 130 including the web application 131 and a web service by which an account registering operation, and a buddy registering and managing operation may be actually performed. Information about buddies or personal information is managed by using the database 132 in the web server 130. The web server 130 provides an environment that enables the web application 131 to operate, and allows users that watch broadcast contents to access pages of the corresponding web application 131 and then to register their own accounts or to retrieve and register their buddies. In addition to the web application 131 operating in the web server 130, the web server 130 provides the web service for receiving a buddy recommendation request and delivering the buddy recommendation request to other buddies, so that the web server 130 allows recommending and sharing activities to be smoothly performed between the buddies.

0038The client uses a user interface (UI) of an application allowing the UI to display a buddy list, thereby displaying the buddy list. In order to obtain the buddy list, the application uses the web service provided from the web server 130. When the client transmits a request message along with a user login ID and a password to the web service, the web service transmits a buddy list corresponding to the request message to the client, then, the client receives and displays the buddy list on a screen.

0039In the case where a user desires to recommend a broadcasting program to a buddy while watching the broadcasting program, the user transmits ID information about the buddy to receive a recommendation message and information about the broadcasting program to be recommended to the web service, then, the web service refers to the ID information about the requested buddy and transmits a recommendation message in an Extensible Mark-up Language (XML) stream type to a client application of the requested buddy.

0040At this time, from among buddies in the buddy list, it is necessary to classify the buddies into buddies watching the same broadcasting program as the user and buddies watching different broadcasting programs than the user, and to display the classified buddies on the screen. That is, the method of recommending broadcast contents according to the embodiment of displays the buddy list on the screen according to two different manners. The first manner is to display only buddies which are watching a broadcasting program that is the same as a broadcasting program currently being watched by a user, and which are from among buddies in the buddy list. The second manner is to display only buddies which are watching broadcasting programs different from the broadcasting program currently being watched by the user, and which are from among buddies in the buddy list. The first manner is illustrated in <figref idref="f0004">FIG. 4</figref>, and the second manner is illustrated in <figref idref="f0005">FIGS. 5</figref> and <figref idref="f0006">6</figref>. Here, in the case where only the buddies that are watching the broadcasting program that is the same as the broadcasting program currently being watched by the user are displayed on the screen, watching time information about since when each of the buddies started to watch the same broadcasting program may also be displayed on the screen. On the other hand, in the case where only the buddies that are watching the broadcasting programs that are different from the broadcasting program currently being watched by the user are displayed on the screen, titles of the different broadcasting programs currently being watched by the buddies may also be displayed on the screen.

0041Meanwhile, when a client of the requested buddy agrees to watch the recommended broadcasting program, a response message including feedback data, which indicates that a channel is tuned so that a screen is changed to the recommended broadcasting program and the recommendation request has been accepted, may be notified to a client of the user who first recommended the recommended broadcasting program. For example, the notification may be performed via the web service provided from the web server 130. The client of the user receives the response message about an accepted recommendation, and then displays information about the accepted recommendation on the screen.

0042In this regard, <figref idref="f0003">FIG. 3</figref> is a flowchart of a method of recommending broadcast contents by using a media content displayer, according to another embodiment. Operations 310 through 340 are the same as those in the method of <figref idref="f0002">FIG. 2</figref>.

0043In operation 350, an icon for notifying an arrival of a recommendation message transmitted from the user is displayed on the screen of the media content displayer of a selected buddy. Referring to <figref idref="f0005">FIG. 5</figref>, an envelope-shaped icon 540 for notifying an arrival of a recommendation message from Mark 510 is displayed on a screen 500.

0044In operation 360, the user receives a response message indicating whether the selected buddy that has received the recommendation message agrees to watch the recommended broadcasting program. That is, the user is notified with the response message including feedback data.

0045As described above, the method according to the one or more embodiments may be performed to obtain the following effects.

0046First, the method performs buddy account creation and buddy registration, thereby building a social network in a terminal enabled to use a network. The social network of the user may be checked by displaying the buddy list on a screen while the user is watching a broadcasting program. In such a buddy list, pre-registered images and/or buddy names representing each of the buddies may be displayed. By using the buddy list, the user does not need to separately retrieve a buddy when the user sends a program recommendation message.

0047Second, the method may be performed to send a recommendation message to another user by using a more convenient UI, wherein the other user is watching a broadcasting program that is different from the one currently being watched by the user. The user may select buddies displayed on the screen while the user is watching a broadcasting program, and may recommend the broadcasting program currently being watched by the user to a selected buddy. Meanwhile, as it will be described later with reference to <figref idref="f0005">FIG. 5</figref>, the user may also select and recommend a broadcasting program from EPG information, as well as the broadcasting program currently being watched by the user.

0048<figref idref="f0004">FIG. 4</figref> illustrates a buddy list of buddies watching the same broadcasting program as a user, according to an embodiment.

0049Referring to a TV screen 400 of <figref idref="f0004">FIG. 4</figref>, the buddy list as a (translucent) sub-screen is displayed on a side of the TV screen 400. According to another embodiment, the buddy list may be differently implemented but basically, a buddy list of buddies watching the same broadcasting program as the user is first displayed when a buddy list hot-key (not shown) is pressed. In <figref idref="f0004">FIG. 4</figref>, the number of buddies watching the broadcasting program that is currently being watched by the user is 7, and it is possible to display a time when each of the buddies (e.g., buddies 410 through 440) started to watch the broadcasting program currently being watched by the user. For example, in the case of the buddy 410, Alan, it is apparent that Alan is about to start watching the broadcasting program currently being watched by the user, and in the case the buddy 420, Paul, it is apparent that Paul has been watching the broadcasting program currently being watched by the user since 15 minutes ago.

0050<figref idref="f0005">FIG. 5</figref> Illustrates a buddy list of buddies watching different broadcasting programs than a user, according to another embodiment.

0051Referring to <figref idref="f0005">FIG. 5</figref>, it can be understood that two of the three buddies, Mark, John, and Mary, are watching different broadcasting programs than the user, and the remaining buddy is in an off-line status. In order to transmit a recommendation message about a broadcasting program currently being watched by the user, the user may press a buddy list hot-key (not shown) while watching the broadcasting program, may select a buddy to receive the recommendation message 540 by moving up/down direction keys, and then may recommend the broadcasting program.

0052<figref idref="f0006">FIG. 6</figref> Illustrates recommending a broadcasting program to a buddy who watches a different broadcasting program than a user.

0053Referring to <figref idref="f0006">FIG. 6</figref>, the user may select and recommend another broadcasting program from an EPG, instead of selecting and recommending a broadcasting program currently being watched by the user. As described above, a client provides an application that is enabled to exhibit an EPG, and when the application operates, EPG data is extracted from the stream of broadcast contents. After that, a filtering operation is performed on the extracted EPG data so that program information about a broadcasting program currently being watched by a user via a broadcast channel, program information about broadcasting programs being broadcast in other channels, program information about broadcasting programs currently being broadcast, and program information about broadcasting programs to be broadcast at a later time are displayed. To be more specific, in order to transmit a recommendation message about an EPG broadcasting program, the user may press a EPG hot-key (not shown) while watching a broadcasting program, may select a broadcasting program from a menu item 630 by moving up/down direction keys, and may select a buddy 640 in a buddy list that is to receive the recommendation message, thereby recommending the broadcasting program.

0054According to the aforementioned operations, the one or more embodiments provides an intuitive UI to the user, thereby allowing the user to easily and conveniently transmit the recommendation message and recommend the broadcasting program.

0055<figref idref="f0007">FIG. 7</figref> is a flowchart of a method of recommending broadcast contents by using a buddy list, according to another embodiment.

0056Operations performed by the method may be broadly divided into a registration process in which a user account is created and buddies of the user are registered, and a recommendation or notification process in which a terminal recommends or notifies a broadcasting program by using a buddy list.

0057Referring to <figref idref="f0007">FIG. 7</figref>, while watching a broadcasting program (operation 710), the user presses a buddy list button (operation 715), and then the buddy list of buddies currently watching the same broadcasting program as the user is exhibited (operation 720). At this time, a time when each of the buddies has started to watch the broadcasting program may be additionally shown in an information window for each of the buddies. For reference, the information window has default information corresponding to a buddy image and a buddy name, and is a translucent window so that the information window does not interrupt a broadcasting program being shown. When the buddy list button is pressed once more (operation 725), a buddy list of buddies watching different broadcasting programs than the user is displayed (operation 730). At this time, titles of the different broadcasting programs respectively being watched by the buddies may be additionally shown in an information window for each of the buddies. The user may refer to such an information window, may recommend the broadcasting program currently being watched by the user to a buddy who is watching one of the different broadcasting programs, and may lead the buddy to watch the same broadcasting program as the user (operation 740). Also, the user can set a menu in order not to receive a recommendation from other buddies and thus not be disturbed while watching a broadcasting program (operation 760). For example, in the case of John in <figref idref="f0006">FIG. 6</figref>, there is a circled X next to an image of John so that the user may not transmit a recommendation message to John.

0058Meanwhile, when the user presses an EPG button (not shown) of a terminal while watching a broadcasting program (operation 750), the user may see an EPG. The user uses up/down/left/right buttons to scroll the EPG, thereby reaching a desired program. When the user determines whether there are broadcasting programs to recommend to a buddy (operation 755), and when the user selects a broadcasting program to recommend to the buddy and presses a recommendation menu, a buddy list may be enabled so that the user may select the buddy in the buddy list to whom the broadcasting program is to be recommended and the broadcasting program may be recommended (operation 740).

0059<figref idref="f0008">FIG. 8</figref> is a block diagram of a broadcast contents recommending apparatus 800 in a media content displayer, according to another embodiment.

0060Referring to <figref idref="f0008">FIG. 8</figref>, the broadcast contents recommending apparatus 800 includes a buddy list creating unit 810 to create a user list consisting of at least one second user related to a first user, a screen output unit 820 to display the user list on the screen of the media content displayer, a user input unit 830 to select at least one third user out of the at least one second user shown on the user list, and a message transmitting unit 840 to transmit, to the third user via a web server 870, a message for recommending a first broadcast content currently being watched by the first user, or a second broadcast content chosen from an EPG.

0061Here, the buddy list creating unit 810 may further include an account registering unit 811 to register an account of the first user in the web server 870 connected via a network, a buddy retrieving unit 812 to retrieve the at least one second user from the web server 870, and a list managing unit 813 to register the retrieved at least one second user in the account of the first user.

0062In addition, the broadcast contents recommending apparatus 800 may further include a message control unit 850 to display an icon for notifying an arrival of the recommendation message on the screen of a media content displayer of the third user, and may further include a response message receiving unit 860 to receive a response message indicating whether the third user that has received the recommendation message agrees to watch the recommended first broadcast content or the recommended second broadcast content.

0063Meanwhile, the method of recommending broadcast contents according to the one or more of the above embodiments can be written as computer programs and can be implemented in general-use digital computers that execute the programs using a computer readable recording medium.

0064In addition, a data structure used in the one or more of the above embodiments can be written in a computer readable recording medium through various means.

0065Examples of the computer readable recording medium include magnetic storage media (e.g., ROM, floppy disks, hard disks, etc.), and optical recording media (e.g., CD-ROMs, or DVDs).

0066It should be understood that the exemplary embodiments described therein should be considered in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Descriptions of features or aspects within each embodiment should typically be considered as available for other similar features or aspects in other embodiments.