METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING INFORMATION

Abstract

Information providing method and apparatus. The method includes generating scene information based on broadcasting related information received from a broadcasting information generation apparatus, providing the generated scene information to a user device in response to a scene information request received from the user device, receiving an information request from the user device and providing information with reference to the scene information to the user device in response to the information request. The broadcasting information generation apparatus generates the broadcasting related information based on a broadcasting program schedule generated by a broadcasting transmission apparatus.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority from the Korean Patent Application No. 10-2011-0112535, filed on Oct. 31, 2011 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Exemplary embodiments broadly relate to a method and an apparatus for providing detailed information, and more particularly, to a method and an apparatus for providing detailed or additional information about broadcasting contents.

2. Description of Related Art

Recently, the propagation of ultrahigh speed communication networks and the communication technology have been gradually fused. Accordingly, the internet protocol television (IPTV), which enables a user to selectively receive his/her desired contents, has become the biggest issue in the broadcasting industry.

According to a related art, it is possible to provide a service, by which when a user requests related information, such as detailed or additional information, about a broadcasting program provided through a TV while viewing the TV, the related information is output through the TV or a display device connected to the TV together with the broadcasting program.

For example, Korean Patent Application Publication No. 2010-0030048 describes that while broadcasting contents are being provided to a user, advertisement contents about an advertisement object within the broadcasting contents are provided to a user device in synchronization with a time point when the advertisement object appears in the advertisement contents, and the user device separates the provided advertisement contents from the broadcasting contents to output the advertisement contents to a separate monitor. Korean Patent Application Publication No. 2009-0100132 describes outputting advertisement data matched with scene information and speech information included in broadcasting data, providing differentiated rewards for viewing advertisement depending on a total viewing time for advertisement viewed by a viewer, and providing local advertisement data based locality.

As the propagation of smart devices capable of being portable and conducting real-time network communication is increasing, information provision technology enabling real-time provision of information and participation in any event even during movement has been developed. Various services using the technology have been provided.

With the propagation of the various portable devices, there have been needs for a service to output related information about a broadcasting program through a portable device, and not a device outputting the broadcasting program.

SUMMARY

An exemplary embodiment provides a user with information about a broadcasting program being viewed by the user in a display device such as a TV, using a portable device of the user.

According to an aspect of exemplary embodiments, there is provided a method of providing information. The method includes generating broadcasting related information based on a broadcasting schedule provided by a broadcasting transmission apparatus, generating scene information based on the broadcasting related information received from a broadcasting information generation apparatus, providing the generated scene information to a user device in response to a scene information request received from a user device, receiving an information request based on the provided scene information from the user device and providing the information to the user device in response to the information request.

According to another aspect of exemplary embodiments, there is provided an apparatus for providing information. The apparatus includes a broadcasting program schedule receiver configured to receive a broadcasting program schedule from a broadcasting transmission apparatus, a broadcasting program schedule provider configured to provide the received broadcasting program schedule to a broadcasting information generation apparatus in response to a broadcasting program schedule request received from the broadcasting information generation apparatus, a broadcasting related information receiver configured to receive, from the broadcasting information generation apparatus, broadcasting related information that is generated by the broadcasting information generation apparatus based on the broadcasting program schedule, a scene information provider configured to provide a user device with scene information about a scene included in contents that is being reproduced and an information provider configured to provide information to the user device in response to an information request generated based on the provided scene information by the user device.

According to another aspect of exemplary embodiments, there is provided a method of receiving information. The method includes transmitting a scene information request comprising contents identification information to a broadcasting participation service apparatus, receiving scene information matched with the contents identification information from the broadcasting participation service apparatus, displaying the received scene information using a display unit included in a user device, generating an information request in response to a user input in which at least one object information included in the scene information is selected, transmitting the information request corresponding to the selected object information to the broadcasting participation service apparatus and displaying the information received from the broadcasting participation service apparatus using the display unit.

According to exemplary embodiments, it may be possible to provide a user using a user device with scene information and information about broadcasting contents, where the broadcasting program may be a broadcasting program and an advertisement program being provided to the user using a TV.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Non-limiting and non-exhaustive exemplary embodiments will be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only exemplary embodiments and are, therefore, not to be intended to limit its scope, the exemplary embodiments will be described with specificity and detail taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a configuration of an information providing system according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of providing information according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of providing information according to another exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of providing information according to another exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of providing information according to another exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a broadcasting participation service apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an information provider according to another exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an information provider according to another exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an information provider according to another exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating exemplary scene information displayed on a user device according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIGS. 11A and B are views illustrating exemplary information displayed on a user device according to an exemplary embodiment; and

FIG. 12 is a view illustrating exemplary scene information including object information about advertisement output to a TV according to an exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings to be readily implemented by those skilled in the art. However, it is to be noted that the present disclosure is not limited to the exemplary embodiments, but can be realized in various other ways. In the drawings, certain parts not directly relevant to the description of exemplary embodiments are omitted to enhance the clarity of the drawings, and like reference numerals denote analogous parts throughout the whole document.

Throughout the whole document, the terms “connected to” or “coupled to” are used to designate a connection or coupling of one element to another element and include both a case where an element is “directly connected or coupled to” another element and a case where an element is “electronically connected or coupled to” another element via still another element. Further, the term “comprises or includes” and/or “comprising or including” used in the document means that one or more other components, steps, operations, and/or the existence or addition of elements are not excluded in addition to the described components, steps, operations and/or elements.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments will be explained in detail by reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a configuration of an information providing system according to an exemplary embodiment.

A broadcasting transmission apparatus 100 transmits a broadcasting program to a display device 10 of a user, e.g., a settop-box (STB) or a TV, through a broadcasting providing network. The display device 10 of the user displays the broadcasting program received from the broadcasting transmission apparatus 100 to provide the broadcasting program to a user 20.

The broadcasting transmission apparatus 100 transmits a broadcasting program schedule for the broadcasting program to be transmitted, i.e., the broadcasting program to be transmitted to the display device 10 of the user, to a broadcasting participation service apparatus 200.

In response to a request from a broadcasting information generation apparatus 300, the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200 transmits the broadcasting program schedule received from the broadcasting transmission apparatus 100 to the broadcasting information generation apparatus 300.

The broadcasting participation service apparatus 200 receives broadcasting related information about a broadcasting program included in the broadcasting program schedule, i.e., broadcasting contents, from the broadcasting information generation apparatus 300, generates scene information and information for the broadcasting program by using the received broadcasting related information, and stores the generated scene information and the generated information while matching the information with the broadcasting contents and the broadcasting program schedule.

In response to a request from a user device 400, the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200 may provide the scene information and the generated information to the user device 400.

The user 20 requests the scene information from the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200 by using the user device 400 in order to be provided with the generated information for a broadcasting program that the user is viewing using a display device 10 such as a TV. The user device 400 may include an application for requesting the scene information and the generated information to the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200 and receiving the generated information.

The broadcasting information generation apparatus 300 receives the broadcasting program schedule from the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200. By using the received broadcasting program schedule, the broadcasting information generation apparatus 300 generates broadcasting related information for the broadcasting provided to the user by the broadcasting transmission apparatus 100.

For example, if drama contents are provided to the user by the broadcasting transmission apparatus 100, the broadcasting information generation apparatus 300 may generate broadcasting related information including information about objects such as persons, places, and vehicles that appear in the corresponding drama contents, and furthermore, product in placement (PPL) advertisement information for products, and services, etc. that appear in the drama contents.

The broadcasting related information generated by the broadcasting information generation apparatus 300 may be synchronized with a broadcasting reproduction time included in the broadcasting program schedule. In other words, the broadcasting related information may be generated such that contents to be provided are changed with a lapse of time.

For example, each time the people appearing in the drama contents are changed, items to be provided to the user or other people in the broadcasting related information may also be changed based on the people that appear in the drama contents.

That is, the broadcasting information generation apparatus 300 may generate the broadcasting related information such that when an actor “A” appears in the drama contents, information about the actor “A” is provided using the broadcasting related information, and when an actor “B” appears as the drama contents are reproduced again, information about the actor “B” is provided using the broadcasting related information.

The broadcasting information generation apparatus 300 provides the generated broadcasting related information to the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200 while matching the broadcasting related information with its corresponding broadcasting contents. The broadcasting information generation apparatus 300 may include devices and others of a producer producing broadcasting contents or advertisement contents, an advertisement producer providing advertisement using the broadcasting contents, and a user registering his/her comments in video on demand (VOD) contents.

The user device 400 displays the scene information received from the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200 on a screen or the like to provide the scene information to the user 20. The user 20 may request additional information about any one of one or more object information included in the provided scene information from the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200 using the user device 400.

For example, the object information may be in an icon form that comprises at least one of an image, a text, and others. The user 20 may select an icon, for which the user wants detailed information, from the at least one icon included in the scene information, so as to be provided with detailed information including the desired detailed information from the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200 using the user device 400.

Exemplary scene information and exemplary generated information that the user device 400 receives from the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200 and which is displayed on the screen will be described in greater detail below with reference to FIGS. 10 to 12.

In an exemplary embodiment, the broadcasting transmission apparatus 100, the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200, the broadcasting information generation apparatus 300, the display apparatus 10, and the user device 400 may include a hardware processor, a memory, and optionally a display screen.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of providing information according to an exemplary embodiment.

In operation S105, the broadcasting transmission apparatus 100 transmits the broadcasting program schedule to the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200. As aforementioned, the broadcasting transmission apparatus 100 may transmit a broadcasting program to provide the broadcasting program to a display device (not illustrated) of a user such as a TV. The broadcasting transmission apparatus 100 may transmit a schedule of the broadcasting program provided by the broadcasting transmission apparatus 100 to the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200. The broadcasting program schedule may include identification information, broadcasting time information, and channel information for the broadcasting program provided by the broadcasting transmission apparatus 100.

In operation S110, the broadcasting information generation apparatus 300 transmits the broadcasting program schedule request to the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200. The broadcasting information generation apparatus 300 may transmit the broadcasting program schedule request to the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200 in order to generate broadcasting related information for broadcasting contents such as real-time broadcasting and video on demand (VOD) provided to the user by the broadcasting transmission apparatus 100.

In operation S115, in response to the broadcasting program schedule request received in operation S110, the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200 transmits and provides the broadcasting program schedule received from the broadcasting transmission apparatus 100 in operation S105 to the broadcasting information generation apparatus 300.

In operation S120, the broadcasting information generation apparatus 300 generates broadcasting related information for broadcasting contents included in the broadcasting program schedule received in operation S115, and transmits the generated broadcasting related information to the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200.

The broadcasting information generation apparatus 300 may analyze the broadcasting program schedule received in operation S115, select broadcasting contents, for which related information is desired to be provided, from the broadcasting contents included in the broadcasting program schedule, and generate the broadcasting related information for the selected broadcasting contents, e.g., information about the selected broadcasting contents or advertisement information about people, products, music, and advertisement, etc., appearing in the broadcasting contents, event information related to the broadcasting contents, and comment information input by at least one user with regard to the broadcasting contents.

The broadcasting information generation apparatus 300 may match the broadcasting related information with reproduction time of the broadcasting contents. For example, if a vehicle “A” appears in the broadcasting contents, in order to provide related information for the vehicle “A” at the time when the vehicle “A” appears, the broadcasting information generation apparatus 300 may match the broadcasting related information with the reproduction time of the broadcasting contents.

In operation S125, the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200 generates contents information for the broadcasting contents by using the broadcasting related information received in operation S120. That is, the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200 may generate contents information including related information about the broadcasting contents included in the broadcasting related information. The contents information may include scene information and information related to the broadcasting.

The scene information may include brief information about the broadcasting related information, e.g., information in an icon form that can represent a title or a theme of the corresponding information. The information related to the broadcasting may include information for the scene information, e.g., information about people, products, music, and advertisement, etc., advertisement information, event information, comment information input by at least one user such as user reviews of the broadcasting, and others.

For example, if a genre of the broadcasting contents is drama, the contents information may include information about people, background places, vehicles, and clothes, etc., appearing in the drama. In that case, the scene information may include icons that include photos and names of the people and background places, etc. The information related to the broadcasting may include detailed descriptions of people, and background places, etc. For example, in case of a person, the information related to the broadcasting may include a profile of the person, photos of the person and related to the person, and related articles, etc.

In operation S130, the user device 400 requests scene information for contents from the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200. That is, the user device 400 may select broadcasting contents that are currently being aired on a certain channel, and request scene information for the selected broadcasting contents to the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200. The scene information request by the user device 400 may include identification information of the broadcasting contents.

For example, if the user is currently viewing the entertainment program “I'm a singer” using a TV, the user may select “I'm a singer” by using an application provided in the user device 400 for providing a broadcasting participation service so as to request the scene information from the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200 using the user device 400.

In operation S135, in response to the scene information request received in operation S130, the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200 transmits scene information that matches the contents identification information included in the received scene information request (operation S130), to the user device 400.

In operation S140, the user device 400 displays the scene information received in operation S135 using a display unit such as the screen of the user device 400. As aforementioned, the scene information may include an icon that indicates or identifies information about broadcasting contents, and others. The user device 400 displays the icon so as to briefly provide the user with the information that can be provided with regard to the broadcasting contents.

In operation S145, the user device 400 receives a request for broadcasting related information input by the user. That is, the user device 400 may receive the user's selection of the object information included in the scene information displayed on the screen or others in operation S140, e.g., one of the at least one icon.

For example, the user may input into the user device 400 an item, for which details are to be provided to the user, among the at least one icon included in the scene information displayed in the user device 400, e.g., selection of an icon corresponding to an item for a certain person.

The user device 400 may receive the input from the user to request the broadcasting related information for the scene information displayed in operation S140.

In operation S150, in response to the input request for content related information received in operation S145, the user device 400 requests the content related information corresponding to the request input by the user from the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200.

For example, the user device 400 transmits identification information of an item selected in the input request received in operation S145 to the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200 so as to request the content related information for the selected item.

In operation S155, in response to the request received in operation S150, the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200 provides the requested content related information to the user device 400.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of providing information according to another exemplary embodiment.

In operation S205, in response to the scene information request received from the user device 400 (not shown), the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200 transmits scene information corresponding to the received request to the user device 400.

In operation S210, the user device 400 displays the scene information received in operation S205 on the screen of the user device 400 or others. As aforementioned, the user device 400 may display an icon that can briefly indicate or identify information about the broadcasting contents included in the scene information.

In operation S215, the user device 400 receives from the user input of a request for advertisement information included in the scene information. That is, the user may input into the user device 400 a selection of advertisement information among the object information included in the scene information displayed on the screen of the user device 400 or others in operation S210.

The scene information received by the user device 400 in operation S205 may include an item that indicates or identifies advertisement information about a certain product appearing in broadcasting contents. For example, if a genre of the broadcasting contents is a drama, the scene information may include items about clothes, a watch, and a smart phone, etc., of a person appearing in the drama, in particular, an advertisement for a corresponding product, e.g., product in placement (PPL) advertisement.

If a genre of the broadcasting contents is an advertisement, the scene information may include an item for an advertisement target product appearing in the advertisement, or an item for a product or a place, which appears in the advertisement but is not an advertisement target product.

Accordingly, if the user wishes to see additional information of an item included in the drama contents or the advertisement contents, the user may input into the user device 400 an advertisement information request for the corresponding item.

In operation S220, in response to receiving the advertisement information request in operation S215, the user device 400 requests advertisement information corresponding to the advertisement request input by the user from the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200. That is, the user device 400 transmits an advertisement information request to the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200.

In operation S225, in response to the advertisement information request received in operation S220, the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200 provides the requested advertisement information to the user device 400. The advertisement information provided by the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200 to the user device 400 may include additional an interactive interface such as an input button for requesting purchase of an advertisement target product or service.

The advertisement information provided to the user device 400 by the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200 may include evaluation such as comments input by multiple users with regard to the advertisement target product or service. Also, the advertisement information may include information about the advertisement target product or service of the advertisement contents provided to the user using a TV or others. Furthermore, the advertisement information may include information about a product and others associated with the advertisement target product or service, information about a place appearing in the advertisement contents, and others.

In operation S230, based on input by the user, the user device 400 requests purchase information for a product or a service included in the advertisement information received in operation S225 from the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200. That is, the user device transmits a purchase information request to the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200.

As aforementioned, the advertisement information received by the user device 400 in operation S225 may include an interactive interface such as an input button or others for requesting purchase of an advertisement target product or service. The user may input a purchase information request into the user device by using an input interface such as an input button.

Based on the input of the purchase information request, the user device 400 may transmit the purchase information request to the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200 in operation S230.

In operation S235, in response to the purchase information request received in operation S230, the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200 provides the user device 400 with purchase information including information for purchasing a corresponding product or service.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of providing information according to another exemplary embodiment.

In operation S305, in response to the scene information request received from the user device 400 (not shown), the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200 transmits scene information corresponding to the received request to the user device 400.

In operation S310, the user device 400 displays the scene information received in operation S305 on the screen of the user device 400 or others. As aforementioned, the user device 400 may display an icon that can briefly indicate or identify information for the broadcasting contents included in the scene information.

In operation S315, the user device 400 receives from the user an input of a request for event participation included in the scene information. That is, the user may select event information among the object information included in the scene information displayed on the screen of the user device 400 or others to input an event participation request into the user device 400.

The scene information received by the user device 400 in operation S305 may include items that represent events associated with the broadcasting contents. For example, if a genre of the broadcasting contents is a contest program, an event for guessing contest ranking may be held or an event for voting for a particular person appearing in the contest may be provided. The scene information may include an item representing the event.

Accordingly, if the user wishes to participate in the event, the user may input an event participation request into the user device 400.

In operation S320, in response to input of the event participation request received in operation S315, the user device 400 requests participation in an event corresponding to the event participation request input by the user from the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200. That is, the user device 400 transmits an event participation request to the broadcasting participation service apparatus.

In operation S325, in response to the event participation request received in operation S320, the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200 provides event information for the requested event to the user device 400. The event information provided to the user device 400 by the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200 may include an interactive interface such as an input button for participating in the event.

In operation S330, based on input by the user, the user device 400 transmits to the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200 an event response to the event information received in operation S325.

As aforementioned, the event information received by the user device 400 in operation S325 may include an interactive interface such as an input button for participating in the event. The user may input response information to the event by using the input interface such as an input button. For example, in case of the event for guessing contest ranking, the user may input the event response for the contest ranking selected by the user into the user device 400 by using the input interface such as an input button.

Based on the event response input by the user, the user device 400 may transmit the event response to the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200.

In operation S335, based on the event response received in operation S330, the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200 generates an event result for the corresponding event. The broadcasting participation service apparatus 200 may generate the event result by using the event response received from at least one user device.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of providing information according to another exemplary embodiment.

In operation S405, in response to the scene information request received from the user device 400 (not shown), the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200 transmits scene information corresponding to the received request to the user device 400.

In operation S410, the user device 400 displays the scene information received in operation S405 on the screen of the user device 400 or others. As aforementioned, the user device 400 may display an icon that can indicate or identify information related to the broadcasting contents included in the scene information.

In operation S415, the user device 400 receives from the user an input of a request for comment information included in the scene information. That is, the user may select comment information among the object information included in the scene information displayed on the screen of the user device 400 or others in operation S410 so as to input a detailed comment request into the user device 400.

The scene information received by the user device 400 in operation 5405 may include items for requesting comments related to broadcasting contents. For example, if the broadcasting contents are video on demand (VOD) comments of a program for traveling around various regions, comment information input by other users who have already viewed the corresponding VOD contents may be matched with the corresponding contents and stored in the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200. The scene information may include items for requesting the comments information.

Accordingly, if the user wishes to request comment information related to contents, the user may input a comment information request into the user device 400.

In operation 5420, in response to the input of the comment information request received in operation 5415, the user device 400 requests the comment information related to the contents corresponding to the comment information request input by the user from the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200. That is, the user device 400 transmits the comment information request to the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200.

In operation S425, in response to the comment information request received in operation S420, the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200 provides the requested comment information to the user device 400. The comment information may include information about the number of related comments, or parts of comments related to the corresponding contents. The comment information may include identification information of the corresponding contents and identification information of each comment.

In operation S430 the user device 400 displays the comment information received in operation S425 on the screen of the user device 400 or others so as to provide the information to the user.

In operation S435, the user device 400 receives from the user input of a selection of a certain comment included in the comment information. That is, the user may select a comment, for which additional information is to be provided, from the comment information displayed on the screen of the user device 400 or others.

As aforementioned, the comment information displayed in the user device 400 may include the number of comments related to the corresponding contents or parts of comments related to the corresponding contents. If the user wishes to see information provided in a comment related to the corresponding contents, e.g., entire contents of the comment, the user may select the corresponding comment.

In operation S440, the user device 400 requests comment related information for the selected comment from the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200. That is, the user device 400 transmits a request for comment related information to the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200.

In operation S445, in response to the comment related information request received in operation S440, the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200 provides the user device 400 with comment related information including requested information provided in the requested comment, reproduction time point matched with the corresponding comment, and others.

The comment related information provided to the user device 400 by the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200 may include a reproduction time point of contents matched with the corresponding comment.

That is, the comment related information provided by the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200 may include an entire message of the corresponding comment. Also, the comment related information may include reproduction time point matched with each comment.

That is, at least one comment registered in association with contents may be registered while being matched with a certain reproduction time point of the corresponding contents. The comment related information may include information of a reproduction time point when each comment is generated by any users, or information of a reproduction time point set by a user who has generated a comment.

For example, if broadcasting contents is video on demand (VOD) contents of a program for traveling around various regions, in a scene of a certain region, at least one user may register a comment based on his/her experience in the corresponding region. In this case, the registered comment may be registered while being matched with a reproduction time point of the scene of the certain region.

Accordingly, by using the comment related information provided by the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200, the user may reproduce and enjoy contents while moving comments for each of the contents directly to a set reproduction time point using the user device or the display device.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a broadcasting participation service apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment.

The broadcasting participation service apparatus 200 according to an exemplary embodiment includes a broadcasting program schedule receiver 205, a broadcasting program schedule provider 210, a broadcasting related information receiver 215, a scene information generator 220, an information generator 225, a scene information request receiver 230, a scene information provider 235, an information request receiver 240, a, information provider 245, a scene information database 250, and an information database 255.

The broadcasting program schedule receiver 205 receives the broadcasting program schedule from the broadcasting transmission apparatus (not illustrated). As aforementioned, the broadcasting transmission apparatus can generate a broadcasting program schedule for a broadcasting program to be transmitted to a TV, a settop box, or others so as to provide the broadcasting program schedule to the broadcasting participation service apparatus 200. The broadcasting program schedule receiver 205 can receive the broadcasting program schedule generated by the broadcasting transmission apparatus from the broadcasting transmission apparatus.

In response to a broadcasting program schedule request received from the broadcasting information generation apparatus (not illustrated), the broadcasting program schedule provider 210 provides the broadcasting program schedule received by the broadcasting program schedule receiver 205 to the broadcasting information generation apparatus.

The broadcasting information generation apparatus may request broadcasting program schedule of a certain channel or a broadcasting program schedule of certain broadcasting contents. The broadcasting information generation apparatus may request an entire broadcasting program schedule of for all the channels.

Accordingly, the broadcasting program schedule provider 210 can provide partial or an entire broadcasting program schedule to the broadcasting information generation apparatus in response to the broadcasting program schedule request from the broadcasting information generation apparatus.

The broadcasting related information receiver 215 receives, from the broadcasting information generation apparatus, broadcasting related information that the broadcasting information generation apparatus generates by using the broadcasting program schedule provided by the broadcasting program schedule provider 210.

By using the broadcasting related information received by the broadcasting related information receiver 215, the scene information generator 220 generates scene information including information about at least one item for contents matched with the broadcasting related information, and stores the generated scene information in a scene information database 250.

That is, the scene information generator 220 can generate scene information including brief information about broadcasting contents by using the broadcasting related information. The brief information about the related information may include at least one item that can be expressed in an icon form including an image, texts, and others.

By using the broadcasting related information received by the broadcasting related information receiver 215, the information generator 225 generates information including information about at least one item for contents matched with the broadcasting related information, and stores the generated information in the information database 255.

That is, the information generator 225 can generate information about broadcasting contents by using the broadcasting related information. The information generated by the information generator 225 may include information about an item included in the scene information.

In an exemplary embodiment, the scene information may include brief information about at least one item for broadcasting contents or simply an identification of at least one item for broadcasting contents. The information may include information or detailed additional information about each item included in the scene information.

The scene information request receiver 230 receives a request for providing scene information about a certain broadcasting contents from the user device (not illustrated). The scene information request receiver 230 may include identification information of the requested broadcasting contents together with the request for scene information.

The scene information provider 235 acquires, from the scene information database 250, scene information of a broadcasting contents corresponding to the scene information request received by the scene information request receiver 230 so as to provide the acquired information to the user device.

The information request receiver 240 receives a request for providing information about a certain item of a certain broadcasting contents from the user device. The information request received by the information request receiver 240 may be generated by the user device by using the scene information provided to the user device by the scene information provider 235. The information request may include identification information of the requested broadcasting contents, and identification information about a certain item of the broadcasting contents.

The information provider 245 acquires information corresponding to the information request received by the information request receiver 240 from the information database 255 to provide the information to the user device.

The scene information and the information generated in the above-described exemplary embodiment are not used for one broadcasting program, and may be used for multiple broadcasting programs. This is provided by way of an example only and in other exemplary embodiments, the scene information and the information may be provided for a single broadcasting program.

For example, an icon for a product “A” included in the scene information may be applied to scene information for various broadcasting contents, in which the product “A” is shown. Likewise, information about the product “A” may be provided as information about various broadcasting contents, in which the product “A” is shown.

Especially, if information is information related to an event, the information related to the event may be included in the scene information about the broadcasting contents corresponding to the event, and furthermore, may be included in scene information about other broadcasting contents.

Accordingly, if each users viewing broadcasting contents of different channels using TVs are provided with scene information about the broadcasting contents that the users are viewing, using the user device, even though the users are viewing the different channels, they may be provided with information about an identical event using the scene information and participate in the corresponding event.

Further, even if each user is viewing broadcasting contents in different time zones, and not in the same time zone, the users may be provided with information about an identical event using the scene information and participate in the corresponding event.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an information provider according to another exemplary embodiment.

The information provider 245 according to another exemplary embodiment includes an advertisement information provider 1010, a purchase information request receiver 1020, a purchase information provider 1030, and an advertisement database 1040.

In response to an advertisement information request received from a user device (not illustrated), the advertisement information provider 1010 acquires advertisement information matched with the received advertisement information request from the advertisement database 1040 to provide the advertisement information to the user device.

The scene information provided to the user device by a scene information provider (not illustrated) may include a PPL advertisement item for a product or a service appearing in the broadcasting contents, or an item for a target product or service of advertisement broadcasting contents.

Accordingly, if the user selects the above-described advertisement related item from the scene information provided through the user device, the user device may request advertisement information matched with the selected advertisement item from the broadcasting participation service apparatus (not illustrated). The advertisement information provider 1010 may provide the requested advertisement information to the user device.

The purchase information request receiver 1020 receives, from the user device, a purchase information request generated by the user device based on the advertisement information provided to the user device by the advertisement information provider 1010.

That is, the user device may request purchase information for purchase of an advertised target product or service included in the advertisement information received from the advertisement information provider 1010, from the broadcasting participation service apparatus. The purchase information request receiver 1020 may receive the purchase information request from the user device.

In response to the purchase information request received by the purchase information request receiver 1020, the purchase information provider 1030 acquires the requested purchase information from the advertisement database 1040 to provide the purchase information to the user device.

The purchase information request received by the purchase information request receiver 1020 may include identification information of a product or a service, which is a purchase target, or identification information of the advertisement information provided by the advertisement information provider 1010.

Accordingly, the purchase information provider 1030 may acquire the requested purchase information from the advertisement database 1040 by using the identification information so as to provide the purchase information to the user device.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an information provider according to another exemplary embodiment.

The information provider 245 according to another exemplary embodiment includes an event information provider 1110, an event response receiver 1120, an event result generator 1130, and an event database 1140.

In response to an event participation request received from the user device (not illustrated), the event information provider 1110 provides event information matched with the received event participation request to the user device.

The scene information provided to the user device by the scene information provider (not illustrated) may include an event item related to the broadcasting contents. Accordingly, if the user selects the event related item from the scene information provided to the user device, the user device may request to participate in an event matched with the selected event related item from the broadcasting participation service apparatus. The event information provider 1110 may provide information about the requested event to the user device.

Based on the event information provided to the user device by the event information provider 1110, the event response receiver 1120 receives from the user device event response generated by the user device.

That is, by using the event information received from the event information provider 1110, the user may participate in the corresponding event using the user device. The user device may transmit event response generated by the event participation of the user, e.g., information of an item selected by the user among multiple selection items, to the broadcasting participation service apparatus. The event response receiver 1120 may receive the event response.

The event response receiver 1120 may receive event response from at least one user device.

By using the event response received by the event response receiver 1120, the event result generator 1130 generates result of the corresponding event. If the event response receiver 1120 receives multiple event responses from multiple user devices, the event result generator 1130 may generate event result by using the multiple event response information.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an information provider according to another exemplary embodiment.

The information provider 245 according to another exemplary embodiment includes a comment information provider 1210, a comment related information request receiver 1220, a comment related information provider 1230, and a comment information database 1240.

In response to a comment information request received from the user device (not illustrated), the comment information provider 1210 provides comment information matched with the comment information request to the user device.

The scene information provided to the user device by the scene information provider (not illustrated) may include comment items related to the broadcasting contents. Accordingly, if the user selects the comment related item from the scene information provided to the user device, the user device may request comment information matched with the selected comment related item to the broadcasting participation service apparatus (not illustrated). The comment information provider 1210 may provide the requested comment information to the user device.

The comment related information request receiver 1220 receives, from the user device, the comment related information request generated by the user device based on the comment information provided to the user device by the comment information provider 1210.

That is, the user device may request from the broadcasting participation service apparatus information about a certain comment among at least one comments included in the comment information received from the comment information provider 1210. The comment related information request receiver 1220 may receive the comment related information request from the user device.

In response to the comment related information request received by the comment related information request receiver 1220, the comment related information provider 1230 acquires information related to the requested comments from the comment information database 1240 to provide the information to the user device.

The comment related information provided to the user device by the comment related information provider 1230 may include reproduction time point of at least one contents matched with the corresponding comment. The user device may reproduce the contents matched with the comment from the reproduction time point by using the reproduction time point included in the comment related information.

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating scene information displayed on a user device according to an exemplary embodiment.

The scene information 2100 displayed in the user device 400 according to an exemplary embodiment may include at least one icon (2111 to 2114) that identifies items or provides brief information about items such as people, places, products, and services shown in the broadcasting contents.

Each of the icons (2111 to 2114) may include an image and a text that identifies an item. The user can view types of information that can be provided using the icon including the image and the text.

The user may select a certain icon from the at least one icon (2111 to 2114) included in the scene information by using an input interface provided by the user device 400 so as to request information about the item for the selected icon from the broadcasting participation service apparatus.

For example, if the user device 400 provides the user with a touch screen as the input interface, the user may select his/her interested icon from the icons (2111 to 2114) displayed on the touch screen so as to request information about the corresponding item from the broadcasting participation service apparatus.

The scene information 2100 displayed on the user device 400 according to an exemplary embodiment may include an event item 2120. Accordingly, the user may recognize an event displayed using the text or others. If the user wishes to participate in the corresponding event, the user may select the event item 2120 displayed on the user device 400 to participate in the corresponding event, and provide his/her response to the corresponding event which will be transmitted to the broadcasting participation service apparatus.

FIGS. 11A and B are views illustrating information displayed on a user device according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 11A is a view illustrating information about a person according to an exemplary embodiment. Information according to an exemplary embodiment may include information (2210 to 2212) about the person appearing in the broadcasting contents, and provide the information (2210 to 2212) about the person to the user using the user device depending on a selection by the user.

For example, the person information (2210 to 2212) may include image information 2210, profile information 2211 of the corresponding person, and furthermore, one or more buttons 2212 for requesting an address of a server providing information related to the corresponding person, e.g., URL information.

FIG. 11B is a view illustrating information about an advertisement according to an exemplary embodiment. Information according to an exemplary embodiment may include information (2220 to 2222) about a product appearing in the broadcasting contents, i.e., advertisement information, and provide the advertisement information to the user using the user device based on a selection by the user.

The advertisement information may include image information 2220, profile information 2221 and one or more buttons 2222 for requesting information enabling the user to purchase the corresponding product.

FIG. 12 is a view illustrating scene information including object information about an advertisement output on a TV according to an exemplary embodiment.

In an exemplary embodiment, if the user requests scene information about advertisement contents 2310 provided between broadcasting programs by the TV (exemplary display device 10) from the broadcasting participation service apparatus (not illustrated), the scene information 2320 provided to the user using the user device 400 may include an item 2330 about a product being advertised using the advertisement contents 2310.

Accordingly, the user may select an advertisement product item 2330 included in the scene information 2320, so as to be provided with information about the advertised product, and furthermore, to obtain an interface for requesting purchase information for the advertised product.

The illustrative embodiments can be embodied in a storage medium including instruction codes executable by a computer or processor such as a program module executed by the computer or processor. A data structure according to the illustrative embodiments can be stored in the storage medium executable by the computer or processor. A computer readable medium can be any usable medium which can be accessed by the computer and includes all volatile/non-volatile and removable/non-removable media. Further, the computer readable medium may include all computer storage and communication media. The computer storage medium includes all volatile/non-volatile and removable/non-removable media embodied by a certain method or technology for storing information such as computer readable instruction code, a data structure, a program module or other data. The computer storage medium is a non-transitory computer readable medium. The communication medium typically includes the computer readable instruction code, the data structure, the program module, or other data of a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave, or other transmission mechanism, and includes information transmission mediums.

The above description of the illustrative embodiments is provided for the purpose of illustration, and it would be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without changing technical conception and essential features of the illustrative embodiments. Various modifications to illustrative embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles and specific examples defined herein may be applied to other illustrative embodiments. Thus, it is clear that the above-described illustrative embodiments are illustrative in all aspects and do not limit the present disclosure. For example, each component described to be of a single type can be implemented in a distributed manner. Likewise, components described to be distributed can be implemented in a combined manner.

The scope of the inventive concept is defined by the following claims and their equivalents rather than by the detailed description of the illustrative embodiments. It shall be understood that all modifications and embodiments conceived from the meaning and scope of the claims and their equivalents are included in the scope of the inventive concept.

Claims

1. A method of providing information comprising:

generating broadcasting related information based on a broadcasting schedule provided by a broadcasting transmission apparatus;

generating scene information based on the broadcasting related information received from a broadcasting information generation apparatus;

providing the generated scene information to a user device in response to a scene information request received from a user device;

receiving an information request based on the provided scene information from the user device; and

providing the information to the user device in response to the information request.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the scene information comprises at least one object information about a scene provided in reproduced contents and wherein the information comprises information for a selected object from among the at least one object information.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the object information included in the scene information is displayed on the user device in an icon form that comprises at least one of an image and a text.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving, from the user device, a purchase information request that is generated based on the provided information by the user device, if the information is advertisement information.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving an event response to the provided information from the user device, if the information is event information; and

generating an event result based on the received event response.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving, from the user device, a comment related information request that is generated by selecting a comment by the user device, if the information is comment information comprising a plurality of comments about the contents;

generating a comment related information in response to the comment related information request; and

providing the generated comment related information to the user device,

wherein the comment related information comprises a reproduction time point of the contents corresponding to the selected comment.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the reproduction time point included in the comment related information provides additional data to reproduce the contents from the reproduction time point.

8. An apparatus for providing information comprising:

a broadcasting program schedule receiver configured to receive a broadcasting program schedule from a broadcasting transmission apparatus;

a broadcasting program schedule provider configured to provide the received broadcasting program schedule to a broadcasting information generation apparatus in response to a broadcasting program schedule request received from the broadcasting information generation apparatus;

a broadcasting related information receiver configured to receive, from the broadcasting information generation apparatus, broadcasting related information that is generated by the broadcasting information generation apparatus based on the broadcasting program schedule;

a scene information provider configured to provide a user device with scene information about a scene included in contents that is being reproduced; and

an information provider configured to provide information to the user device in response to an information request generated based on the provided scene information by the user device.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the scene information comprises at least one object information about a scene provided in the reproduced content and wherein the object information is provided to the user device in an icon form that comprises at least one of an image and a text.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein if the information is advertisement information, the information provider comprises:

an advertisement information provider configured to provide, to the user device, advertisement information in response to the information request received from the user device; and

a purchase information provider configured to provide purchase information to the user device in response to a purchase information request received from the user device.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein if the information is event information, the information provider comprises:

an event information provider configured to provide event information to the user device, in response to an event participation request received from the user device; and

an event result generator configured to generate an event result based on the event response from the user device.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein if the information is comment information comprising a plurality of comments related to the contents, the information provider comprises:

a comment information provider configured to provide comment information to the user device, in response to a comment information request received from the user device; and

a comment related information provider configured to provide comment related information to the user device in response to a comment related information request from the user device in which a comment is selected,

wherein the comment related information comprises a reproduction time point of the contents corresponding to the selected comment.

13. A method of receiving information comprising:

transmitting a scene information request comprising contents identification information to a broadcasting participation service apparatus;

receiving scene information matched with the contents identification information from the broadcasting participation service apparatus;

displaying the received scene information using a display unit included in a user device;

generating an information request in response to a user input in which at least one object information included in the scene information is selected;

transmitting the information request corresponding to the selected object information to the broadcasting participation service apparatus; and

displaying the information received from the broadcasting participation service apparatus using the display unit.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

generating a purchase information request with reference to the received information, if the information is advertisement information; and

transmitting the purchase information request to the broadcasting participation service apparatus.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

transmitting an event response based on the provided information to the broadcasting participation service providing apparatus, if the information is event information,

wherein the broadcasting participation service apparatus generates an event result based on the transmitted event response and transmits the event result to the user device.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

generating a comment related information request by selecting a comment, if the information is comment information comprising a plurality of comments related to the contents; and

transmitting the comment related information request to the broadcasting participation service apparatus.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the event result generator is configured to generate an event result based on analyzing the event response from the user device and event responses received from a plurality of other user devices.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the displayed information comprises attribute information about the selected object information and wherein the selected object information comprises at least one of a person, a product, or a place illustrated in the reproduced content.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the scene information is at least one of a plurality of objects listed in a list format, the plurality of objects in a table format, a plurality of objects with an icon for each object, further comprising receiving a selection of one of the plurality of objects from the user device, wherein the selected object is at least one of a place, a product, or a person shown in contents being reproduced by a display apparatus different from the user device.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the display apparatus is a television, wherein the user device is a mobile terminal, and wherein the contents are a broadcasting program.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the scene information is based on a genre of the broadcasting program and is applicable to a plurality of broadcasting programs including the broadcasting program.