KR101325025B1 - Method of providing cloud service using set-top box, and computer-readable recording medium for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a technology for providing a cloud service using a set-top box, preferably an IP set-top box. More specifically, the present invention configures a hybrid cloud that combines the concept of private cloud with public cloud services to improve security, storage scalability, data management, etc. The present invention relates to a set-top box-based cloud service technology that is configured to take charge of the private cloud part by using a set-top box that is widely distributed and connected through an operator and network. According to the present invention, a mixed cloud service is constructed in which general data is processed in a public cloud and main data is in a private cloud, but a private cloud portion is formed by utilizing a set-top box that is widely distributed in a private home and connected to an operator and a network. As a result, the average individual can easily use the hybrid cloud service, and in particular, the service provider or the individual user (subscriber) does not have to increase costs.

Description

Set-top box-based cloud service method and a computer-readable recording medium for the same {METHOD OF PROVIDING CLOUD SERVICE USING SET-TOP BOX, AND COMPUTER-READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM FOR THE SAME}

The present invention relates to a technology for providing a cloud service using a set-top box, preferably an IP set-top box. More specifically, the present invention configures a hybrid cloud that combines the concept of private cloud with public cloud services to improve security, storage scalability, data management, etc. The present invention relates to a set-top box-based cloud service technology that is configured to take charge of the private cloud part by using a set-top box that is widely distributed and connected through an operator and network.

A cloud service for an individual user is a computing service in which a computing resource existing in an intangible form is borrowed as needed by a user and paid for using it. Refers to a technology for integrating and providing computing resources existing in various physical locations into virtualization technology, and cloud services can be formed based on various terminals as shown in FIG. 1.

Prior to the activation of cloud services, individuals used data management to manage their data. In this case, there was a risk of data loss due to operating system failure, hard disk failure, etc., but it was relatively safe from malicious access by managing the storage space directly. In contrast, cloud services can cause data center hacking and security incidents by internal administrators, which can lead to the leakage of personal and sensitive data.

In consideration of this point, the cloud service has been proposed in the public cloud (private cloud) and private cloud (private cloud).

First, the public cloud is a method of serving a large number of general public after building a large-scale system, such as ucloud, daum cloud, icloud, T cloud, etc. currently serviced in Korea. In general, you will initially receive tens of gigabytes of free space, and if you want more services or more storage, you will have to pay extra.

Public clouds are insecure in terms of security and are not enough to be used for the processing of sensitive personal documents or corporate confidential data. In other words, the public cloud, where most cloud services are serviced by large portals or mobile carriers, cannot exclude the possibility that personal information and important data will be leaked by hacking incidents against large portal companies or mobile carriers. Is not known where it is stored and how it is managed.

Next, the private cloud is proposed to overcome the shortcomings of the public cloud and is a way to build and use a cloud system by yourself. Private cloud not only requires a significant investment in system construction, but also has a problem in that maintenance is very difficult.

In other words, the public cloud has a problem of security of the user's data files, and the private cloud has a significant initial investment and maintenance burden for system construction. In the public cloud, there is a burden of adding capacity, whereas in a private cloud, adding a hard disk increases the storage space, so you only pay a one-time fee.

Accordingly, in the technical field, technology development for a hybrid cloud service that takes advantage of the availability and connectivity provided by the existing cloud service and physically manages security for data that requires special management for security is required. There is an urgent need.

In addition, even in the case of building a mixed cloud service, the existing private cloud method has a high initial investment cost and maintenance burden to build a cloud system itself, and thus it is virtually impossible to be used by an individual user. Required.

[Related Technical Literature]

1. Cloud service providing method and a terminal using the cloud service (Patent Application No. 10-2011-0017150)

An object of the present invention is to provide a cloud service using a set-top box, preferably an IP set-top box. More specifically, an object of the present invention is to configure a hybrid cloud combining the concept of private cloud with public cloud services to improve security, storage scalability, data management, etc. It is to provide set-top box-based cloud service technology that is configured to take charge of private cloud part by using set-top box that is widely distributed in homes and connected by operator and network.

The present invention is to achieve the above technical problem, the set-top box-based cloud service method according to the present invention, the user terminal executing a cloud application; The user terminal identifying a selection of a private cloud on a cloud application; Identifying, by the private cloud means 13b of the user terminal, a set top box corresponding to the private cloud of the user terminal; Confirming, by the private cloud means 13b, the power-on state of the identified set top box; Establishing, by the VPN means 13b-4 of the private cloud means 13b, a VPN between the user terminal and the set top box; A reading means (13b-1) and a writing means (13b-2) of the private cloud means (13b) to the STB storage unit of the set-top box through the set VPN to read / write data according to the private cloud; including It is composed.

In addition, the set-top box-based cloud service method according to the present invention comprises the steps of the user terminal identifying the selection of the public cloud on the cloud application; The public cloud means 13a of the user terminal is connected to an external cloud server through a communication network to perform data read / write according to the public cloud to the public cloud DB; may be configured to further include. In addition, the user terminal performing the initial login while running the cloud application; The private cloud means 13b may perform a private cloud login for the set-top box which is confirmed to be in a power-on state.

At this time, the step of checking the set-top box power-on state in the present invention, the private cloud means (13b) requests the power-on state of the set-top box identified above as the external operator system for providing a multimedia service to the set-top box and the power from the external operator system May be configured to be provided with an on status check result.

At this time, the step of checking the set-top box power-on state in the present invention, the step of identifying the power state of the identified set-top box; Setting the set-top box to the power-on state through an ALERT command when the set-top box is in the standby state as a result of the power state identification; As a result of identifying the power state, when the set-top box is in the power-off state, setting the set-top box to the power-on state through a WOL command may be configured. In another embodiment, the set-top box power-on state checking step of the present invention includes: identifying a power state of the set-top box identified above; Setting the set-top box to the power-on state through an ALERT command when the set-top box is in the standby state as a result of the power state identification; As a result of the power state identification, when the set-top box is in the power-off state, setting a failure for the private cloud may be configured.

Meanwhile, the computer-readable recording medium according to the present invention records a program for executing the set-top box-based cloud service method according to the above implementation.

According to the present invention, a hybrid cloud service is constructed in which general data is processed in a public cloud and main data is in a private cloud, but a private cloud is used to take charge of a private cloud by utilizing a set-top box that is widely distributed in a private home and is connected to an operator network. By composing, there is an advantage that ordinary individuals can conveniently use the mixed cloud service. In particular, in providing the cloud service to the general individual, both the service provider and the individual user (subscriber) have the advantage that the cost does not increase.

1 is a view for explaining the concept of a cloud service.
2 is a diagram showing an entire system in which the set-top box-based cloud service method according to the present invention is performed.
3 is a block diagram illustrating the internal components of a user terminal suitable for applying the present invention.
4 is a flowchart illustrating a set-top box-based cloud service method according to the present invention.
5 and 6 are views showing the advantages of the set-top box-based cloud service method according to the present invention.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

2 is a diagram illustrating an entire system in which a set-top box (STB) -based cloud service method according to the present invention is performed. The present invention has a main purpose of building a private cloud based on the set-top box 30, and in particular, by combining the built-in private cloud with the existing public cloud to form a hybrid cloud (hybrid cloud) more useful to the user It can be utilized.

In the present specification, 'set top box' is not limited to a cable set top box, a satellite set top box, or an IP set top box, and should be interpreted as a broader concept. For example, a digital television can be modeled by a combination of a set top box and a display panel and thus corresponds to the set top box of the present specification. In the present specification, a device configured to be connected to an external operator system through a wired or wireless network to provide a specific multimedia related service is widely referred to as a set-top box.

2, the entire system in which the set-top box-based cloud service method according to the present invention is performed is a user terminal 10, a communication network 20, a set-top box 30, a VPN 40, a cloud server ( 50, a multimedia service network 60. The set top box 30 includes an STB storage unit 31 for a private cloud, and the cloud server 50 includes a public cloud DB 51 for a public cloud.

The user terminal 10 is a concept encompassing various wired and wireless terminal devices such as a smart phone, a smart pad, a tablet computer, a personal computer, and the like, and is a device that a user manipulates to utilize a cloud service. The user terminal 10 is basically connected to the communication network 20 to utilize the public cloud.

In addition, the user terminal 10 is connected to the set-top box 30 to utilize the private cloud. Physical connection between the user terminal 10 and the set-top box 30 is achieved directly or indirectly through various networks such as mobile communication network, wired LAN, wireless LAN, digital cable data communication, etc. In the present invention, the user terminal 10 and the set-top box 30 Through the software processing at both ends of the box 30, a virtual private network (VPN) 40 is established to secure security.

The communication network 20 is preferably configured to include a large-capacity, long-range voice / data service backbone network, a variety of network means including a mobile communication network (3G, 4G, LTE), the Internet, wired or wireless LAN Can be. The communication network 20 serves to mutually transfer data between the user terminal 10, the set-top box 30, the cloud server 50, and other systems.

The set top box 30 corresponds to various devices as described above, but is configured in the form of an IP set top box or a smart box. The set-top box 30 is connected to the multimedia service network 60 so as to receive multimedia related services (eg, digital broadcasting service, VOD service, video search service) from an external operator system (not shown), and through this, a communication network. (20).

In this case, the network utilized by the set-top box 30 to implement a private cloud does not have to be exactly the same as the network utilized for multimedia-related services, and these are collectively referred to as a multimedia service network 60. For example, while multimedia-related services are used for coaxial cable, satellite, and terrestrial waves, private clouds can be implemented through WLAN.

In addition, the set top box 30 includes a STB storage unit 31 made of a hard disk or the like as a mass storage device. The STB storage unit 31 includes not only a configuration in which the hard disk is built, but also a configuration connected to an external hard disk device through a connector. Set-top box 30 functions as a kind of private cloud server to implement a private cloud service by utilizing the storage space of the hard disk. The user terminal 10 stores the important data file in the STB storage unit 31 corresponding to the private cloud, and replaces the storage device with a large capacity or utilizes an expansion interface.

Meanwhile, in the present specification, DB means a functional structural combination of software and hardware for storing information corresponding to each database. The DB may be implemented as one or more tables, and may further include a separate Database Management System (DBMS) for searching, storing, and managing information stored in the database. In addition, the DB may be implemented in various ways such as linked-list, tree, relational database, and includes all data storage media and data structures capable of storing information corresponding to the database.

3 is a block diagram illustrating an internal component of a user terminal 10 suitable for applying the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the user terminal 10 according to the present invention includes a transceiver 11, a controller 12, a hybrid cloud module 13, a terminal storage unit 14, and an input / output unit 15. It is done by At this time, the hybrid cloud module 13 is to provide a hybrid cloud service according to the present invention, which has a public cloud means 13a and a private cloud means 13b, and the private cloud means 13b is a reading means 13b-. 1), writing means 13b-2, logging means 13b-3, and VPN means 13b-4.

Hereinafter, with reference to the components of the hybrid cloud module 13 will be described in detail with respect to the entire system in which the set-top box-based cloud service method according to the present invention is performed.

The public cloud means 13a controls the transmitter / receiver 11 to access the cloud server 50 through the communication network 20 in response to a user's request through an application program, and the cloud according to the user's input to the input / output unit 15. Initial login to the cloud server 50 to receive the service is performed.

When the initial login of the cloud service is completed, the main menu of the cloud application is displayed on the input / output unit 15 of the user terminal 10. The public cloud means 13a transmits / receives 11 to connect a data session between the user terminal 10 and the cloud server 50 through the communication network 20 when the user selects an item corresponding to the public cloud service in the main menu. To control.

The public cloud means 13a reads data on a specific storage path on the public cloud DB 51 and transmits data from the terminal storage unit 14 to the public cloud DB 51 according to a user's request through the connected data session. The transmitter / receiver 11 is controlled to perform a write operation on a specific path.

The private cloud means 13b is a private cloud service to the set-top box 30 through the communication network 20 and the multimedia service network 60 when the user selects an item (eg, a personal disk) corresponding to the private cloud service in the main menu. The transceiver 11 is controlled to transmit a request.

On the other hand, the private cloud means 13b is set so that the set-top box 30 matching the user terminal 10 through the communication network 20 is in the power-on state. That is, the private cloud means 13b causes the set-top box 30 to be in a power-on state through a remote power-on operation, for example, a wake on LAN (WOL) when the set-top box 30 is in the power-off state. In general, since the set-top box 30 is managed by an external operator, the private cloud means 13b requests the power of the set-top box 30 to be the system of the external operator, and the system of the external operator is powered by the set-top box 30. Check and then perform WOL if necessary. As described above, the control operation for the set-top box 30 for the private cloud is preferably performed by the private cloud means 13b through an external operator.

Private clouds are likely to contain personal or confidential data for that purpose, so it is desirable to have additional authentication procedures. Accordingly, the logging means 13b-3 of the private cloud means 13b perform additional authentication for accessing the set top box 30. As an additional authentication, ID / PW is common, and it is preferable to set up additional authentication based on subscriber information set while the user rents the set-top box 30 from an external operator. Alternatively, a method such as a public certificate, OTP (One Time Password), or terminal authentication may be used.

In addition, the private cloud means 13b forms a secure channel between the user terminal 10 and the set-top box 30 to the VPN 40 for data security. To this end, the VPN means 13b-4 of the private cloud means 13b perform VPN tunneling by running the VPN software, thereby establishing a VPN 40 which is a virtual private network with security guaranteed. do. Meanwhile, the user terminal 10 or the set top box 30 may be provided with a VPN hardware module to perform VPN tunneling.

The private cloud means 13b wakes up the reading means 13b-1 if data reading is requested through a user's menu operation, and wakes up the writing means 13b-2 if data writing is requested. The reading means 13b-1 access the STB storage unit 31 and read the data of the STB storage unit 31 in response to a user request. The writing unit 13b-2 accesses the STB storage unit 31 and writes data from the terminal storage unit 14 to the STB storage unit 31 in response to a user request.

As such, the private cloud service is provided to the user terminal 10 based on the set top box 30. Preferably, the private cloud service and the public cloud service through the cloud server 50 are provided together with the user terminal 10 to implement a hybrid cloud service, and through this, while conveniently using public cloud services currently generally provided. Only those regrets (security, lack of storage) are solved through the private cloud.

According to the configuration of the present invention, the security can be improved in terms of the user, and the storage capacity can be freely expanded through the hard disk built in or attached to the set top box 30. This is easier to use compared to the existing network access server (NAS) and lowers the cost of building and maintaining the system.

In addition, according to the present invention, in terms of the cloud service operator, the responsibility of data security may be partially distributed to users, and the load of the data center may be reduced by distributing the overall storage. Summarizing the advantages of the present invention as described above is as shown in [5] and [6].

4 is a flowchart illustrating a set-top box-based cloud service method according to the present invention. First, the user terminal 10 executes a cloud application in response to a user operation, and through this, the hybrid cloud module 13 performs an initial login of the cloud service (S11).

After step S11, the hybrid cloud module 13 identifies the user's menu selection from the user's menu operation (S12). For example, a cloud application presents several storage spaces (eg DAUM CLOUD, MY CLOUD) as menu items through a menu, and identifies when a user selects a specific storage space.

After step S12, the hybrid cloud module 13 determines whether the user selects a private cloud or a public cloud (S13). In the above example, when the user selects the DAUM CLOUD menu, the public cloud is selected. On the contrary, when the MY CLOUD menu is selected, the private cloud is selected.

When the user selects the public cloud as a result of the determination in step S13, the public cloud means 13a accesses the cloud server 50 through the communication network 20 to provide a public cloud service (S14).

When the private cloud is selected as a result of the determination in step S13, the set-top box 30 corresponding to the private cloud of the user terminal 10 is identified (S15). That is, the multimedia service network 60 is preferably connected to a plurality of set-top boxes of various types provided to a plurality of subscribers. Accordingly, among these, the set top box 30 corresponding to the user terminal 10 that is currently operating the cloud service through the hybrid cloud module 13 is identified. This can identify the set-top box 30 by creating a user account when purchasing the set-top box 30 or subscribing to a multimedia service, and utilizing the user account in the user terminal 10.

After step S15, the private cloud means 13b identifies whether the identified set-top box 30 is currently in a power-on state (S16), and if it is in a power-off state or standby state, a remote power-on operation, for example Control to be in the power-on state through the WOL or ALERT command (S17). According to an embodiment, when the set-top box 30 is in a standby state, the private cloud is provided by setting the power-on mode through an ALERT command, and when the set-top box 30 is in the power-off state, the private cloud is impossible to implement. You can also strengthen the castle.

After step S17, the private cloud means 13b performs a private cloud login operation on the set top box 30 through the logging means 13b-3 (S18). Although the initial login is performed when the cloud application is first started (S11), in consideration of the importance of data managed through the private cloud, it is preferable to perform a separate login for the private cloud.

However, in the present invention, the private cloud login step S18 is optional, and the execution order may be performed earlier than in the flowchart of FIG. 4. For example, it is possible to configure to perform the private cloud login step (S18) before the set-top box identification step (S15).

The private cloud login operation may be performed by the logging unit 13b-3 on the set top box 30, on an external operator system (not shown), or on the cloud server 50. The final implementation is that the cloud server 50 is not only responsible for the public cloud service, but also serves as the coordinator for the private cloud service.

After step S18, the private cloud means 13b performs VPN tunneling through the VPN means 13b-4 to make the VPN 40 a virtual private network with enhanced security between the user terminal 10 and the set-top box 30. Set (S19).

After step S19, the private cloud means 13b reads data from the STB storage unit 31 of the set-top box 30 to the STB storage unit 31 via the reading means 13b-1 and the writing means 13b-2. Write is performed (S20).

Through the above process, the user terminal 10 can utilize both the public cloud and the private cloud, and in particular, by using the set-top box 30 installed in the home, the user can manage the data by building a private cloud. As described above, the present invention is the main point that can build a private cloud through the set-top box (30). However, if the combined cloud is combined with existing public cloud services (eg, ucloud, daum cloud, icloud, T cloud, etc.) to build a hybrid cloud, synergistic effects on data management can occur.

The present invention can also be embodied in the form of computer readable code on a computer readable recording medium. At this time, the computer-readable recording medium includes all kinds of recording apparatuses in which data that can be read by a computer system is stored.

Examples of the computer-readable recording medium include a ROM, a RAM, a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a floppy disk, an optical data storage, and the like, and may be implemented in the form of a carrier wave . The computer-readable recording medium can also be stored and executed by a computer-readable code in a distributed manner on a networked computer system. And functional programs, codes, and code segments for implementing the present invention can be easily deduced by programmers skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs.

As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed in the present specification and drawings, and although specific terms have been used, they have been used only in a general sense to easily describe the technical contents of the present invention and to facilitate understanding of the invention. And is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other modifications based on the technical idea of the present invention are possible in addition to the embodiments disclosed herein.

10: User terminal
11: Transmitting /
12:
13: Hybrid cloud module
13a: Public cloud means
13b: Private cloud means
13b-1: Reading Means
13b-2: Writing Means
13b-3: Logging Means
13b-4: VPN means
14: terminal storage unit
15: Input /
20: Virtual private network (VPN)
30: set top box (STB)
31: STB storage
40: network
50: cloud server
51: public cloud DB
60: multimedia service network

Claims (7)

Executing, by the user terminal, a cloud application;
The user terminal identifying a selection of a private cloud on the cloud application;
Identifying, by the private cloud means (13b) of the user terminal, a set top box corresponding to the private cloud of the user terminal;
Confirming, by the private cloud means (13b), the power-on state of the identified set top box;
A VPN means (13b-4) of the private cloud means (13b) establishing a VPN between the user terminal and the set top box;
Reading data (13b-1) and writing means (13b-2) of the private cloud means (13b) to the STB storage unit of the set-top box through the set VPN to read / write data according to the private cloud;
Set-top box-based cloud service method comprising a.
The method according to claim 1,
The user terminal identifying a selection of a public cloud on the cloud application;
Public cloud means (13a) of the user terminal connected to an external cloud server through a communication network to perform data read / write according to the public cloud to the public cloud DB;
Set top box-based cloud service method is configured to include more.
The method according to claim 2,
Performing an initial login by the user terminal while executing the cloud application;
The private cloud means (13b) performing a private cloud login for the set-top box identified as the power-on state;
Set top box-based cloud service method is configured to include more.
The method according to claim 3,
The set-top box power-on state checking step may include requesting the private cloud means 13b to check the power-on state of the identified set-top box to an external operator system that provides a multimedia service to the set-top box and the power from the external operator system. Set-top box-based cloud service method characterized in that the on-state check result is provided.
The method according to claim 3,
Checking the set-top box power-on state,
Identifying a power state of the identified set top box;
Setting the set-top box to a power-on state through an ALERT command when the set-top box is in the standby state as a result of the power state identification;
Setting the set-top box to a power-on state through a WOL command when the set-top box is in a power-off state as a result of the power state identification;
Set-top box-based cloud service method, characterized in that comprises a.
The method according to claim 3,
Checking the set-top box power-on state,
Identifying a power state of the identified set top box;
Setting the set-top box to a power-on state through an ALERT command when the set-top box is in the standby state as a result of the power state identification;
Setting a failure for the private cloud when the set-top box is in a power-off state as a result of the power state identification;
Set-top box-based cloud service method, characterized in that comprises a.
A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing the set-top box-based cloud service method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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