CN100542210C - Activity recording system in set-top box and method for generating activity record - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention discloses a set-top box activity recording system which is technically characterized by comprising a menu for confirming the requirements of a set-top box user by a set-top box application program, wherein a set-top box plug-in program is attached to generate a set-top box activity record; the activity record of the set-top box is stored in the set-top box, and the record is generated in a plug-in program of the set-top box; the set-top box activity record transmitting device transmits the set-top box activity record to the set-top box activity record collecting server; the set-top box comprises a set-top box activity record privacy policy setting device and a set-top box activity record policy device, confirms privacy policy data to store the allowed policy of the set-top box activity record, and generates the set-top box activity record only in the set-top box application program defined in the record generation and transmission policy data; the set-top box activity record receiving device stores the set-top box activity record transmitted from the set-top box into a database; the set-top box activity record collecting server comprises a set-top box activity record setting policy; and a database.

Description

Active recording system in set-top box and method for generating the active recording

technical field

The present invention relates to a system for activity recording of a set-top box and a method for activity record generation, and in particular the present invention relates to an analysis system and method for generating/collecting activity records of set-top-box users of set-top-box applications operating in the set-top box Active Record method.

Background technique

Typical computer center applications have different forms of record generation/collection/analysis systems. In addition to the computer aspect, the set-top box (settop box, STB) hardware part is composed of limited output component parts. In contrast, set-top box applications are extremely limited to record generation, so early set-top boxes are equipped with small-capacity memory chips, and the record storage area in the hardware must be extremely limited.

Undoubtedly, a record of the activities of the user of the set-top box can be stored in memory, but in this case, the confusion arising from the cost of the set-top box is also increased. For this reason, the system in the STB hardly includes generating/collecting/analyzing the client's activity records.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing conventional software configuration to store records in a set-top box. Referring to FIG. 1 , the set-top box software is mainly divided into an operating system, a device driver 10 , a middleware 20 , and an application 30 . The device driver is mainly selected according to the chip used, the operating system is selected according to the STB manufacturer's preference, and the middleware 20 and the application program 30 are selected according to the cable service.

In the set-top box, the recording method and interface of the device driver follow the format designed by the chip manufacturer, the recording method and interface of the operating system follow the format designed by the selected operating system, and the recording and interface of the middleware 20 and the application program 30 Follow the format designed by the middleware 20 .

In contrast, each software module is designed to provide a recording data connection interface to the software module thereon. That is to say, the superordinate software module contains the connection of more recorded data.

U.S. Registered Patent No. 5964839 on a data audit and collection system consisting of a computer comprising more than a minimum device and communication peripherals connected to data in the computer; and on a set of desktop operations for data collection Executable files associated with storage and modem connections for monitoring the operating system; and monitoring the aforementioned desktop activity and connections within the desktop application including the virtual appliance.

Meanwhile, Korean Laid-Open Patent No. 10-2004-37490 relates to all systems that individually provide an event recording API (Application Programming Interface) to a set-top box, and the event recording engines respectively include recording events generated in the corresponding event recording API.

However, when the above-mentioned conventional set-top box has a very limited hardware configuration, the configuration of the call-back event by the event recording engine may cause a problem in the throughput of the set-top box. At the same time, there is a problem of not proposing a method of storing the real activity record of the user of the set-top box. There is no method for storing the real activity records of set-top box users. The related problems generated by the records are generated in the set-top boxes, and the inherent characteristics of the set-top box applications are not considered. The continuous research and development in the inherent environment is completed. As a result, there is a problem that the continuous development of digital TV services is not considered.

Contents of the invention

Relatively, the purpose of the present invention is to solve the overall shortcomings and problems of the above-mentioned traditional technologies, and the purpose of the present invention is to provide a set-top box activity recording system and an activity record generation method, according to whether the set-top box user allows the generation of the set-top box activity record or in an impenetrable manner The set-top box plug-in program method is used to control the recording form generated by the set-top box plug-in program, and to collect and analyze the activity records generated in individual set-top boxes.

The means for achieving the above-mentioned purpose of the present invention is achieved by a set-top box activity recording system, which includes: a set-top box, a set-top box activity record collection server and a database; wherein,

The set-top box includes:

The set-top box application program is used to confirm the menu requested by the user. The set-top box application program is attached with a set-top box plug-in program to generate a set-top box activity record, and the set-top box activity record is stored in the set-top box;

The set-top box activity record transmission device is used to transmit the set-top box activity record to the set-top box activity record collection server;

Set-top box activity record privacy policy setting device and set-top box activity record policy device, used to confirm the privacy policy data, and store the privacy policy data of the allowed set-top box activity record;

The set-top box activity record collection server includes:

a set-top box activity record receiving device, used for storing the set-top box activity record transmitted from the set-top box in a database; and

STB activity record policy setting means, used for setting the data of the STB activity record policy device of the STB; and

The database is used to store the STB activity records collected by the STB activity record collection server.

Another object of the present invention is achieved by a method for generating a set-top box activity record, and the steps include:

(a) The user of the set-top box operates the control device of the set-top box to make the application program inside the set-top box run;

(b) The set-top box application program calls its attached set-top box plug-in program;

(c) The set-top box plug-in program confirms whether the privacy policy data of the set-top box user allows the generation of set-top box activity records;

(d) If the privacy policy data allows the generation of set-top box activity records, confirm whether the record generation and transmission policy data is applicable to the above-mentioned set-top box activity records generated and transmitted from the set-top box plug-in program by generating the set-top box activity records allowed by the above-mentioned privacy policy data;

(e) If the record generation and transmission policy data is applicable to the set-top box activity records generated and transmitted from the set-top box plug-in program, confirm the data volume of the currently stored set-top box activity records;

(f) compare the data volume of confirmed set-top box activity records with the limited data volume in the record generation and transmission policy data;

(g) If the data volume of the confirmed set-top box activity record exceeds the limited data volume in the record generation and transmission policy data, delete the existing set-top box activity record data, and store the set-top box activity record required by the set-top box application program;

(h) If the data volume of the confirmed set-top box activity record does not exceed the limited data volume in the record generation and transmission policy data, store the set-top box activity record required by the set-top box application program;

(i) the STB plug-in terminates the call and operation of the STB application terminates; and

(j) The set-top box waits for the operation of the user of the set-top box.

In contrast, the set-top box activity recording system and activity record generation method of the present invention have the advantages of generating/collecting/analyzing different forms of activity records generated in the set-top box application program, and can generate/collect/analyze the activity records, and may have a wide range of Generating and collecting activity records does not cause user privacy issues, and it is possible to analyze the collected data and generate the activity analysis data, so that the set-top box application can be used by including the usage behavior analysis of the set-top box application The advantages of the user data in the detailed content analysis, thus providing effective services not only to the set-top box manufacturers, but also to the content providers who provide the content provided by the detailed content data.

Description of drawings

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing conventional software configuration to store records in a set-top box.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of a set-top box activity recording system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing a method for generating a set-top box activity record according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the setting of privacy policy data according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing record generation and delivery policy delivery according to the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing record transfer according to the present invention.

Description of reference numerals: 100 set-top box; 110 set-top box activity record collection server; 120 database; 130 set-top box control device; 140 set-top box application program; 145 set-top box plug-in program; 150 set-top box activity record; device; 165 set-top box activity record privacy policy setting device; 170 privacy policy data; 175 record generation and transmission policy data; 180 set-top box activity record receiving device; 185 set-top box activity record policy setting device; S110 Set-top box application operation; S120 Set-top box plug-in program call; S130 Privacy policy data confirmation; S140 Record generation and transmission policy data confirmation; S150 Data volume confirmation; S160 Data volume is excessive; S170 Past data confirmation Delete; S180 data storage; S190 end the call of the set-top box plug-in program; S200 end the operation of the set-top box application program; S210 wait for the user operation of the set-top box; S300 user operation of the set-top box; S310 operation of the set-top box application program; Confirmation of information screen; S330 input of privacy policy data; S340 change of data setting; S350 change of record generation and transmission policy of the set-top box; S400 connection of set-top box activity record policy device; S410 normal connection; S420 policy change; S430 change of set-top box record Generation and transmission policy; S500 STB activity record exists; S510 normal connection to the STB activity record receiving device; S520 activity record transmission; S530 transmission complete; S540 transmission data removal.

Detailed ways

The details, technical embodiments, and effects of the above objects of the present invention can be more clearly understood with reference to the accompanying drawings showing ideal examples of the present invention and the following detailed description.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a set-top box activity recording system according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2 , the set-top box activity recording system mainly includes a set-top box 100 , a set-top box activity record collection server 110 to collect user activity records, a database 120 for storing collected data, and a set-top box control device 130 .

The set-top box 100 is used to provide a set-top box application program 140 and generate a set-top box activity record 150, and the set-top box 100 includes a set-top box plug-in program 145 added to the set-top box application program 140, and is generated by the set-top box plug-in program 145 and stored in the set-top box 100 Set-top box activity log in 150.

In this case, the above-mentioned set-top box plug-in program 145 will generate the set-top box activity record 150 , and the user of the set-top box 100 can operate the set-top box control device 130 through the set-top box operating device 190 . The set-top box activity record privacy policy setting device 165 and the setting of the set-top box activity record policy device 160 are to provide the confirmation of the privacy policy data 170 with the policy of the set-top box activity record 150 permission, and only defined in the record generation and transmission policy data 175 A set-top box activity record 150 is generated in the set-top box application 140 of the set-top box. By the way, in forming the STB application program 140 , the STB activity record policy device 160 can be designed to be included as a part of the STB application program 140 . At the same time, the set-top box activity record 150 generated by the set-top box plug-in program 145 will be transmitted to the set-top box activity record collection server 110 through the set-top box activity record transmission device 155 . The set-top box activity record collecting server 110 includes a set-top box activity record receiving device 180 for storing the set-top box activity record 150 transmitted from the set-top box 100 into the database 120 . Meanwhile, the set-top box activity record collection server 110 also includes a set-top box activity record policy setting device 185 for setting the data of the set-top box activity record policy device 160 of the set-top box 100 .

Fig. 3 is a flow chart showing a method for generating a set-top box activity record. 3, the set-top box user operates the set-top box control device 130 through the set-top box operating device 190 (S100), and in the set-top box 100, the execution of the set-top box application program 140 must correspond to the control device 130 (S110). Thereafter, the corresponding set-top box application program 140 calls the set-top box plug-in program 145 (S120).

In the event that the STB application 140 attempts to call the STB plug-in 145, the data necessary for the execution of the STB activity log 150 will be transmitted. Table 1 shows the data format transmitted from the STB application program 140 to the STB plug-in program 145, and the data format can be increased according to specific needs.

project Details application identifier The name of the application currently responding to the client request Feature Number in Application Identifier In the application program, the service number requested by the client includes the service number of the screen number, function number, etc., and should

inherently set in the application Added data for identifier execution It means that the data used in the case where the corresponding service number is executed in the application program is in the VOD, and it corresponds to the video name Additional data includes various data that are set and used Service result of functional number It means the processing result requested by the application service Request time for feature number It means the execution time between the start point and the end point of the application service request User ID It means the ID of the user currently receiving the service, and the login time point or service required for setting the ID node It means that in the case of executing network environment services, the node data corresponding to network services

Table I

The above Table 1 shows the basic transmission items when the STB application program 140 calls the STB plug-in program 145 . Among the above items, the application identification code is the unique name of the set-top box application program 140 set at the time of manufacture. The function number in the application identification symbol exists during the transmission process of the set-top box operating device 190, and can correspond to detailed functions such as screen numbers and functions.

The newly added data performed by the identification symbol is the data used when the corresponding item calls the function number in the set-top box 100, and it corresponds to the corresponding VOD name, the location of the VOD file, etc. in the VOD service.

In the case that the set-top box activity record generates a request, the set-top box plug-in program 145 will first fully confirm the set-top box user's privacy policy data 170 ( S130 ). The data format is shown in Table 2 and can be added for specific needs.

project Details Active record generation permission It sets the permission to generate the client's activity record Channel selection data It sets the permission to generate the channel selection data

Table II

The above Table 2 shows the setting of items that may cause privacy issues in the set-top box activity record 150 of the set-top box user, for storing the permission for generating the complete set-top box activity record 150, and for storing the permission for generating channel selection data, especially Refers to user privacy issues that may arise when viewers search for channels.

If in the privacy policy data 170, it is not allowed to generate the set-top box activity record 150, then end the calling set-top box plug-in program 145 (S190), and if in the privacy policy data 170, allow the generation of the set-top box activity record 150, then the set-top box plug-in program 145 will confirm Record generation and transmission of policy data 175 (S140). The format of record generation and delivery policy data 175 is shown in Table 3, and may be added for specific needs.

project Details Maximum record size It is set to the maximum size of the set-top box activity record that can be stored in the set-top box STB Activity Log collects server data It means the IP/port data of the server in TCP/IP, and it means the corresponding server data in the return license of the set-top box. Activity record generation location It means the location where the set activity record is generated Activity record delivery cycle It means the set transmission activity recording period List of Excluded Application Identifiers It is necessary when executing S140 in FIG. 3 . It is the list of application identifiers in Table 3 that do not generate STB activity records List of registered application identifiers It is necessary when executing S140 in FIG. 3 . It is the list of application identifiers in Table 1 that generate STB activity records Active Record routing policy data It means that in the transmission of active records, when routing is necessary, the routing policy data

Table three

The above Table 3 is the detailed breakdown of record generation and transmission policy data 175, and the STB plug-in program 145 is stored in the necessary record generation and transmission policy data 175 for executing steps S140, S160, and S180 in FIG. 3 .

If record generation and transmission policy data 175 are not applicable to the data transmitted by the set-top box plug-in program 145, then end the set-top box plug-in program 145 call (S190), and if the record produces and transmits policy data 175 applicable to the data transmitted by the set-top box plug-in program 145 data, the set-top box plug-in program 145 will confirm the data volume of the currently stored set-top box activity record 150 (S150).

The above-mentioned confirmed data volume is compared with the limited data volume of the record generation and transmission policy data 175 (ie the maximum record size in Table 3) (S160). If the above-mentioned confirmed data volume exceeds the limited data volume in the record generation and transmission policy data 175, then in order to allow the set-top box plug-in program 145 to store the newly required set-top box activity record 150, delete the existing data (S170) and store the data ( S180), and if the amount of data is not exceeded, store the set-top box activity record 150 data required by the set-top box application 140 (S180).

When storing data above, the storage format is shown in Table 4, and can be added according to specific needs.

project Details System specific number It means the unique number of the set-top box system application identifier It means the name of the set-top box application that is now responding to the client's request Feature Number in Application Identifier It means that the service number in the application program requested by the client The service number includes the screen number, function number, etc., and should be inherently set in the application program Added data for identifier execution It means that the data used in the case where the corresponding service number is executed in the application is in the VOD, and it corresponds to the video name Additional data includes various data that are set and used Service result of functional number It means the processing result requested by the application service Request time for feature number It means the execution time between the start point and the end point of the application service request User ID It means the ID of the user currently receiving the service, and the login time point or service required for setting the ID node It means that in the case of executing network environment services, the node data corresponding to network services MAC address In TCP/IP, MAC has an address Active Record routing policy data It means that when the routing is necessary when the activity record is transmitted, the routing policy data

Table four

The items shown in Table 4 above are the items that are usually generated when the STB plug-in program 145 generates the STB activity record 150 , including the call items of the STB application program 140 .

The corresponding items can be changed according to the change of the plug-in program 145 of the set-top box, but the basic items should all include the items in Table 4 above.

After storing the above data, the STB plug-in program 145 ends the call (S190), the STB application program 140 ends the operation (S200), and the STB 100 waits for the user's operation (S210).

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the setting of privacy policy data according to the present invention. Referring to FIG. 4 , the set-top box user operates the set-top box 100 through the set-top box control device 130 ( S300 ). At this point, the STB application 140 operates to respond to the user's request (S310), and the STB application 140 confirms whether the menu requested by the STB user corresponds to the STB record collection certification information screen (S320).

If the menu requested by the set-top box user does not correspond to the set-top box record collection proof information screen, the operation is ended, and in the case that the set-top box user’s desired menu corresponds to the set-top box record collection proof information screen, then through the set-top box activity record The privacy policy setting device 165 receives input from the top box user, and corresponds to the content in the above Table 2, that is, the privacy policy data 170 (S330).

When the input is completed, the set-top box activity record privacy policy setting device 165 confirms whether the setting of the privacy policy data 170 is changed (S340). If the setting of the privacy policy data 170 has not been changed, then end without data change, and if the setting of the privacy policy data 170 is changed, then end after changing the set-top box record generation and transmission policy data 175 (S350).

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing record generation and delivery policy delivery according to the present invention. Referring to Fig. 5, the set-top box activity record policy setting device is connected to the set-top box activity record policy device S400 in units of one day or a specially set period, to detect whether the connection is normal S410, if the connection is not normal, then end it, if If the connection is normal, then confirm whether the policy has been changed S420. If the policy is changed, change the STB record generation/transmission policy S430, and if the policy is not changed, do not change the STB record generation/transmission policy.

Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing record transfer according to the present invention. Referring to FIG. 6 , the set-top box activity record transmitting means 155 confirms whether the set-top box activity record 150 exists (S500). If the STB activity record 150 does not exist, then end the STB activity record transmitting means 155, and if the STB activity record 150 exists, try to connect to the STB activity record receiving means 180 (S510).

If the connection fails, the set-top box activity record transmitting means 155 is terminated, and if the connection is successful, the record 150 is transmitted to the set-top box activity record receiving means 180 (S520). At this time, it is checked whether the transmission is completed (S530), if the transmission fails, the set-top box activity record receiving device 180 is terminated, and if the transmission is successful, the set-top box activity record 150 is deleted (S540).

The present invention has been illustrated and described as an ideal example, but is not limited to a specific example above, and can be applied to various changes and modifications within the scope of the spirit of the present invention by those of ordinary skill in the art.

Claims (8)

1. A set-top box activity recording system is characterized in that it includes: a set-top box, a set-top box activity record collection server and a database, wherein, The set-top box includes: The set-top box application program is used to confirm the menu requested by the user. The set-top box application program is attached with a set-top box plug-in program to generate a set-top box activity record, and the set-top box activity record is stored in the set-top box; The set-top box activity record transmission device is used to transmit the set-top box activity record to the set-top box activity record collection server; Set-top box activity record privacy policy setting device and set-top box activity record policy device, used to confirm the privacy policy data, and store the privacy policy data of the allowed set-top box activity record; The set-top box activity record collection server includes: a set-top box activity record receiving device, used for storing the set-top box activity record transmitted from the set-top box in a database; and STB activity record policy setting means, used for setting the data of the STB activity record policy device of the STB; and The database is used to store the STB activity records collected by the STB activity record collection server. 2. The set-top box activity recording system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a set-top box control device, and the set-top box control device comprises a set-top box operating device, and the set-top box operating device is used to provide the set-top box user to carry out the operation of the set-top box , so that the set-top box plug-in generates a set-top box activity record. 3. A set-top box activity record generation method is characterized in that, comprising: (a) The set-top box user operates the set-top box control device to make the set-top box application program inside the set-top box run; (b) The set-top box application program calls its attached set-top box plug-in program; (c) The set-top box plug-in program confirms whether the privacy policy data of the set-top box user allows the generation of set-top box activity records; (d) If the privacy policy data allows the generation of set-top box activity records, confirm whether the record generation and transmission policy data is applicable to the above-mentioned set-top box activity records generated and transmitted from the set-top box plug-in program by generating the set-top box activity records allowed by the above-mentioned privacy policy data; (e) If the record generation and transmission policy data is applicable to the set-top box activity records generated and transmitted from the set-top box plug-in program, confirm the data volume of the currently stored set-top box activity records; (f) compare the data volume of confirmed set-top box activity records with the limited data volume in the record generation and transmission policy data; (g) If the data volume of the confirmed set-top box activity record exceeds the limited data volume in the record generation and transmission policy data, delete the existing set-top box activity record data, and store the set-top box activity record required by the set-top box application program; (h) If the data volume of the confirmed set-top box activity record does not exceed the limited data volume in the record generation and transmission policy data, store the set-top box activity record required by the set-top box application program; (i) the STB plug-in terminates the call and operation of the STB application terminates; and (j) The set-top box waits for the operation of the user of the set-top box. 4. The set-top box activity record generation method as claimed in claim 3, wherein if the privacy policy data does not allow the generation of the set-top box activity record in the step (c), then end the call of the set-top box plug-in program. 5. The set-top box activity record generation method as claimed in claim 3, is characterized in that, if the record generation and transmission policy data in the step (d) is not applicable to the set-top box activity record generated and transmitted from the set-top box plug-in program, then end the set-top box Plug-in calls. 6. The set-top box activity record generation method as claimed in claim 3, is characterized in that, the setting method of the privacy policy data in the step (c) comprises: (i) Set-top box users operate set-top box applications through the set-top box control device to set privacy policy data; (ii) The set-top box application confirms whether the menu requested by the set-top box user corresponds to the set-top box record collection proof information screen; (iii) If the menu requested by the set-top box user corresponds to the set-top box record collection proof information screen, through the set-top box activity record privacy policy setting device, receive the input of the set-top box user as privacy policy data; (iv) confirm whether the data setting of the privacy policy has changed; and (v) If the privacy policy data setting is changed, change the set-top box record generation and transmission policy by using the changed privacy policy data. 7. The method for generating set-top box activity records according to claim 6, wherein if the menu requested by the set-top box user in step (ii) does not correspond to the set-top box record collection proof information screen, then the operation ends. 8. The method for generating set-top box activity records as claimed in claim 6, wherein if the privacy policy data setting in step (iv) has not been changed, then the operation ends.

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