KR100732959B1 - TV screen splitter and method - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed are a TV screen splitting apparatus and method for unified display of broadcasting and communication in a broadband integrated network. Receives the aspect ratio information of the broadcast content provided by the broadcast service, divides the TV screen into a plurality of sub-screens having a maximum size and a 4: 3 ratio of the main screen that satisfies the aspect ratio, and then broadcasts the content on the main screen Display the respective data service information on the plurality of sub-screens. As a result, a screen suitable for the aspect ratio of the broadcast content and a screen for a data service may be provided regardless of the TV aspect ratio and the aspect ratio of the broadcast content.

Broadband integrated network, aspect ratio, main screen, sub screen, screen division

Description

TV screen splitter and its method {Apparatus for dividing a TV screen and method therefor}

1 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a TV screen configuration applied to a broadband integrated network;

2 is a view showing the configuration of an embodiment of a TV screen splitting apparatus according to the present invention;

3A to 3D are diagrams showing an example of an HDTV screen configuration automatically divided according to aspect ratio information received from a broadcast service;

4A to 4D are diagrams showing an example of the HDTV screen configuration when the size of the main screen is reduced according to a user's selection;

5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a method of displaying content and information in each area of a divided TV screen according to the present invention;

6A is a flowchart illustrating a flow of an embodiment of a TV screen splitting method when receiving aspect ratio information of broadcast content;

6B is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method for dividing a TV screen when the size of a main screen is reduced by a user.

The present invention relates to a screen splitting method, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for splitting a TV screen in order to simultaneously show a broadcast service and a data service on a TV screen in a broadband converged network provided by convergence of broadcasting and communication.

Currently, a broadcast communication network (BcN) has been established to build a network environment in which a broadcast service and a data service are simultaneously provided. Accordingly, the function of the TV is evolving into an interactive TV that provides not only the broadcasting but also the personal information necessary for the customer, and serves as a screen showing the real time information in connection with the external network or the home network.

Currently, HDTV products have a 16: 9 ratio and 4: 3 ratio, and broadcast services are provided with both 16: 9 and 4: 3 ratios, so that a fixed TV screen can display a screen suitable for all broadcasts provided. Can't.

In other words, if a user wants to watch a 4: 3 content on a 16: 9 TV, or vice versa, a loss of an area showing the content occurs or forced distortion of an image cannot be avoided. Especially for products such as 16: 9 ratio projection TV, if the broadcast content is 4: 3 aspect ratio, the screen can be forcibly widened or manually adjusted to 4: 3 ratio. In addition, if the light is not output through the CRT in a certain area for a long time due to forced adjustment at 4: 3 ratio, the screen may be damaged due to the difference in heat generation at the boundary between the unused area and the used area. There is a shortened lung.

An object of the present invention is to provide a screen suitable for the aspect ratio of the broadcast content in a broadband integrated network provided by convergence of a broadcasting network and a communication network, and to divide the TV screen to display information about data services together And a method thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing a TV screen dividing method on a computer.

In order to achieve the above technical problem, an embodiment of the TV screen splitting apparatus according to the present invention is a TV screen splitting apparatus for displaying a broadcast service and a data service provided through a broadband integrated network. An aspect ratio receiving unit configured to receive aspect ratio information of provided broadcast content; A screen divider for dividing the TV screen into a main screen having a maximum size satisfying the screen composition ratio and a plurality of sub-screens having a 4: 3 ratio; And a display unit configured to display the broadcast content on the main screen and to display respective data service information on the plurality of subscreens.

In order to achieve the above technical problem, an embodiment of the TV screen splitting method according to the present invention is a TV screen splitting method for displaying a broadcast service and a data service provided through a broadband integrated network, wherein (a) the Receiving aspect ratio information of broadcast content provided by a broadcast service; (b) dividing the TV screen into a main screen having a maximum size satisfying the aspect ratio and a plurality of sub-screens having a 4: 3 ratio; And (c) displaying the broadcast content on the main screen and displaying respective data service information on the plurality of sub-screens.

Another embodiment of the TV screen splitting method according to the present invention for achieving the above technical problem, in the HDTV screen splitting method for displaying a broadcast service and a data service provided through a broadband integrated network, (a) the Reducing the main screen displaying the broadcast content provided by the broadcast service according to a user's selection; dividing the TV screen area excluding the reduced main screen area into an information display screen including a predetermined number of sub-screens having a predetermined number of 4: 3 ratios and an area excluding the main screen and sub-screens; And (c) displaying the data service on the sub-screens, and displaying detailed broadcast information about broadcast content broadcasted through the main screen on the information display screen.

As a result, a screen suitable for the aspect ratio of the broadcast content and a screen for a data service may be provided regardless of the TV aspect ratio and the aspect ratio of the broadcast content.

Hereinafter, a TV screen splitting apparatus and method thereof according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a TV screen configuration applied to a broadband integrated network.

Referring to FIG. 1, an HDTV is provided by integrating a broadcast service and a data service through a predetermined set-top box in a broadband integrated network. Here, the broadband integrated network (BcN) refers to a next-generation integrated network that can be used safely and seamlessly anytime and anywhere as a quality-assured broadband multimedia service in which communication, broadcasting, and the Internet are converged.

The screen of the HDTV is divided into a plurality of screens in order to display various contents serviced through such a broadband integrated network on the HDTV screen. That is, it is divided into a broadcast content area, an internet area, a home network area, and a broadcast information (EPG: Electronic Program Guide) area.

The services provided through the divided areas in the HDTV of the present invention are as follows. Firstly, digital broadcasting service through broadcasting network and broadcasting information (EPG) service provided with it, and secondly, internet portal service (for example, e-mail, RSS, blog, chat, video chat, internet phone and other digital services through internet network). Content, etc.) and, finally, home network service output device information (eg, real-time status / control of air conditioners, washing machines, gas valves, heating systems, CCTVs, door locks, etc.) collected from home network servers.

The present invention may be provided as a broadcast communication convergence service application program of an IP-set top box, or may be used as an application program of an HDTV capable of providing an Internet protocol.

2 is a diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of a TV screen dividing apparatus according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the TV screen splitter includes a screen ratio receiver, a screen splitter, and a display.

The aspect ratio receiving unit 200 receives aspect ratio information on broadcast content provided through a broadcasting network. In the case of digital broadcasting, not only one-sided broadcast content is provided but also various pieces of information (EPG) of the broadcast content are transmitted together. Therefore, the aspect ratio receiving unit 200 grasps the aspect ratio (ie, 16: 9 or 4: 3) information on the broadcast content by using the EPG provided by the broadcast service.

If the aspect ratio receiving unit 200 does not receive the aspect ratio information on the screen content through the broadcasting network, the screen content is basically displayed according to the set aspect ratio, and the screen is rearranged according to the user's aspect ratio selection.

The screen dividing unit 210 divides the TV screen into a main screen having a maximum size satisfying the screen ratio of the broadcast content received by the screen ratio receiving unit 200 and a plurality of sub screens having a 4: 3 ratio. For example, if the HDTV screen consists of 1280x720 pixels and the broadcast content is in 16: 9 aspect ratio, the HDTV screen will have a 960x720 main screen on the left side of the screen and 320x240 vertically on the right side of the screen. It is divided into two sub-screens. An example of HDTV screen division according to the aspect ratio of broadcast content will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3A to 3D.

In addition, the division unit 210 reduces the size of the main screen according to a user's selection, and divides the screen into screens displaying detailed information on broadcast content in the remaining areas and small screens of 4: 3 ratio. An embodiment of the screen arrangement according to the size change of the main screen by user selection is illustrated in FIGS. 4A to 4D.

The screen display unit 220 displays broadcast content, the Internet, communication, home network information, and the like on the main screen and sub-screens divided by the screen divider. That is, the screen display unit 220 displays the broadcast content on the main screen, and displays information on the broadcast content (EPG), the Internet, home network information, etc. according to the settings on the remaining subscreens.

3A to 3D are diagrams showing examples of TV screen configurations that are automatically divided according to screen configuration ratio information received from a broadcast service. 3A to 3D, the HDTV screen configuration is assumed to be 1280x720 pixels.

First, FIG. 3A illustrates a case where the aspect ratio of the received broadcast content is 4: 3. The HDTV screen is divided into one main screen and three subscreens. The main screen displaying the broadcast content has a size of 960x720 (4: 3 ratio), and the subscreens are arranged vertically on the left side of the screen and have a size of 320x240 (4: 3).

FIG. 3B is a table illustrating an embodiment of information displayed on respective main screens and sub-screens divided in FIG. 3A. Referring to FIG. 3B, sub-screen 1 displays internet-weather information, sub-screen 2 displays home network information (heater information), and sub-screen 3 displays broadcast guide information.

3C illustrates a case in which the aspect ratio of the received broadcast content is 16: 9. At this time, the HDTV screen is divided into one main screen and four subscreens. The main screen has a size of 1280x720 (16: 9) and is disposed on the upper side of the screen, and the subscreens have a size of 320x240 (4: 3) and four vertically arranged on the lower side of the screen. The content displayed on each screen of FIG. 3C is also displayed on the Internet, home network, broadcast information, and the like as shown in FIG. 3B.

FIG. 3D is the same as the screen configuration of FIG. 3A, but illustrates a case where a video chat is provided through one of the sub-screens. In order to have a video chat, the user's video and the video of the other party must be displayed on the screen.

4A to 4D are diagrams showing an example of a TV screen configuration when the size of the main screen is reduced according to a user's selection. 4A to 4D, the HDTV screen configuration is assumed to be 1280x720 pixels.

4A illustrates a case in which a main screen displaying broadcast content is 4: 3 and its size is reduced to 640x480 (4: 3) according to a user's selection. The reduced main screen is disposed on the upper left side of the HDTV screen, and the sub-screens are 320x240 (4: 3) in size and two are arranged below the main screen. An information display screen having a size of 640x720 is disposed on the right side of the HDTV screen. The sub-screens display internet and home network information and the like, and the information display screen displays broadcast content information (EPG) broadcasted on the main screen. The information displayed on the sub screen and the information display screen may change according to the setting.

4B illustrates a case in which the main screen is reduced to 800x450 (16: 9) according to a user's selection, FIG. 4C is reduced to 800x600 (4: 3), and FIG. 4D is reduced to 960x540 (4: 3). HDTV screen arrangement example of the case is shown.

5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a method of displaying content and information in each area of a divided HDTV screen according to the present invention. Referring to FIG. 5, a graphics card of an HDTV or an IP set-top box performs transparent / translucent color processing, and a graphics card dedicated to a TV reception card outputs an image only for a specific area.

6A is a flowchart illustrating a flow of an embodiment of a TV screen division method when receiving aspect ratio information of broadcast content.

Referring to FIG. 6A, aspect ratio information on broadcast content of a broadcast service is received (S600). A main screen having a maximum size satisfying the received aspect ratio information is arranged on the HDTV screen, and a sub-screen having a 4: 3 ratio is arranged in the remaining HDTV screen area (S610). If the aspect ratio information is not received, the broadcast content is displayed at the aspect ratio of 4: 3 or 16: 9 by default, and if the user later selects the aspect ratio, the configuration of FIG. 3A to FIG. 3D is adapted to fit the aspect ratio. Split the HDTV screen. After splitting the screen, the broadcast content is broadcast on the main screen, and data service information such as the Internet, communication, and home network is displayed on the remaining sub-screens (S620).

6B is a flowchart illustrating an example embodiment of a TV screen dividing method when the size of the main screen is reduced by a user.

Referring to FIG. 6B, when the size of the main screen is reduced according to a user's selection (S650), a 4: 3 subscreen and an information display screen are arranged in an area other than the main screen (S660). The sub screen displays data services such as the Internet and a home network, and detailed information on the broadcast content is displayed on the information display screen (S670).

The invention can also be embodied as computer readable code on a computer readable recording medium. The computer-readable recording medium includes all kinds of recording devices in which data that can be read by a computer system is stored. Examples of computer-readable recording media include ROM, RAM, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, floppy disk, optical data storage, and the like, and may also be implemented in the form of a carrier wave (for example, transmission over the Internet). Include. The computer readable recording medium can also be distributed over network coupled computer systems so that the computer readable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion.

So far I looked at the center of the preferred embodiment for the present invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be implemented in a modified form without departing from the essential features of the present invention. Therefore, the disclosed embodiments should be considered in descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. The scope of the present invention is shown in the claims rather than the foregoing description, and all differences within the scope will be construed as being included in the present invention.

According to the present invention, in spite of the physical resolution limitation of a given HDTV, the customer can receive various broadcasting resolution services without distortion of the aspect ratio, and can view various information constituting the home network at any time. You can create an environment. In addition, it can not only reconsider the market competitiveness of HDTV, but also serve as a catalyst for developing various products of the home network.

Claims (9)

In the TV screen splitting apparatus for displaying a broadcast service and a data service provided through a broadband integrated network, An aspect ratio receiver configured to receive aspect ratio information of broadcast content provided by the broadcast service; A screen divider for dividing the TV screen into a main screen having a maximum size satisfying a screen ratio of the broadcast content and a plurality of sub-screens having a 4: 3 ratio; And And a display unit configured to display the broadcast content on the main screen and to display respective data service information on the plurality of sub-screens. The method of claim 1, If the aspect ratio receiver does not receive the aspect ratio information, the screen divider displays the TV screen on a main screen having a preset aspect ratio, and then displays the selected aspect ratio of the TV screen according to a user's aspect ratio selection. The TV screen splitter, characterized in that divided into a main screen and a plurality of sub-screens satisfying the. The method of claim 1, wherein the screen divider, When the aspect ratio of the broadcast content is 16: 9, the main screen of the maximum size satisfying the 16: 9 ratio on the upper side of the TV screen and the four sub-screens satisfying the ratio of 4: 3 on the lower side of the TV screen Split the TV screen by placing it in, When the aspect ratio of the broadcast content is 4: 3, a main screen having a maximum size that satisfies a 4: 3 ratio on the left or right side of the TV screen and three subsections that satisfy a 4: 3 ratio on the side of the main screen Splitting the TV screen by arranging the screen vertically. The method of claim 1, wherein the display unit, And display data service information including electronic program guide information, Internet service, and home network service information related to the broadcast content displayed on the main screen on each of the small screens. In the TV screen splitting method for displaying a broadcast service and a data service provided through a broadband integrated network, (a) receiving aspect ratio information of broadcast content provided by the broadcast service; (b) dividing the TV screen into a main screen having a maximum size satisfying the aspect ratio and a plurality of sub-screens having a 4: 3 ratio; And and (c) displaying the broadcast content on the main screen and displaying respective data service information on the plurality of sub-screens. The method of claim 5, wherein step (b) (b1) when the aspect ratio of the broadcast content is 16: 9, a main screen having a maximum size that satisfies a 16: 9 ratio on the upper side of the TV screen and a 4: 3 ratio that satisfies a 4: 3 ratio on the lower side of the TV screen. Dividing the TV screen by arranging two sub-screens horizontally; And (b2) when the aspect ratio of the broadcast content is 4: 3, the main screen having the maximum size satisfying the 4: 3 ratio on the left or right side of the TV screen and the 4: 3 ratio on the side of the main screen And dividing the TV screen by arranging three sub-screens vertically. The method of claim 5, The step (c) includes displaying data service information including Internet service, electronic program guide information about broadcast content displayed through the main screen, and information of a home network service on the respective sub-screens. TV screen division method, characterized in that. In the HDTV screen segmentation method for displaying broadcast services and data services provided through a broadband integrated network, (a) reducing a main screen displaying broadcast contents provided by the broadcast service according to a user's selection; (b) dividing the HDTV screen area excluding the reduced main screen area into an information display screen including a predetermined number of sub-screens having a predetermined number of 4: 3 ratios and an area excluding the main screen and sub-screens; And (c) displaying the data service on the sub-screens and displaying detailed broadcast information on the broadcast content broadcasted through the main screen on the information display screen. . A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing the method according to any one of claims 5 to 8.

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