Description

MULTIMEDIA MOBILE TV SERVICE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISPLAYING USER-DESIRED VIEW

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a multimedia mobile TV service system and method; and more particularly, to a multimedia mobile TV service system and method capable of displaying a user-desired view on a mobile terminal by performing an image processing according to a user command at a base station or the mobile terminal.

[2]

Background Art

[3] A mobile TV broadcasting service is a service for providing subscribers with broadcast programs, news, securities information, weather information, entertainment information, multimedia VOD (Video on Demand) contents, etc. in real time.

[4] In general, a mobile TV broadcasting service system is configured with a CBS (Cell

Broadcasting Service) system, wherein a base station transmits one-directional data to all mobile terminals in its cell coverage with each terminal assigned a specific identifier. By employing the CBS system, all mobile terminals within the cell coverage of a base station can receive same data at the same time from the base station.

[5] In a conventional multimedia mobile TV service system, mobile TV broadcast or multimedia images are displayed on a mobile terminal in one of the following manners: transmitting images taken by a camera at only one angle view to the mobile terminal over a channel and displaying the images on the mobile terminal; and transmitting images taken by cameras at several angles to the mobile terminal over several channels and displaying images transmitted over a channel selected by a user among the several channels on the mobile terminal.

[6] However, with such conventional multimedia mobile TV service system, it is very difficult for a user to view user-desired images (e.g., images taken at a desired location or images showing a detail of an object desired) for the following reasons.

[7] First, in order to display images taken at a user-desired location on a mobile terminal (i.e., images of a user-desired object), it is required that, the user informs an image provider (e.g., a broadcasting station) of the desired location and the image provider then moves a camera to the location to transmit images taken at that location to the mobile terminal via a core network and a base station. However, it is nearly impossible to provide all users with cameras each for taking images for respective users.

[8] Further, since both the base station and the mobile terminal are not designed to be capable of scaling images up or down, the images need to be resized to a user-desired size by the image provider in order to display a detail of an object or the like on the mobile terminal. However, it takes an unpractically long time for the image provider to resize images to user-desired sizes different from each other.

[9]

Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[10] It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a multimedia mobile

TV service system, wherein a base station or a mobile terminal can perform an image processing according to a user command and display the processed image on the mobile terminal.

[11] Another object of the present invention is to provide a multimedia mobile TV service method wherein a base station or a mobile terminal can perform an image processing according to a user command and display the processed image on the mobile terminal.

[12]

Technical Solution

[13] In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a multimedia mobile TV service system for displaying a user-desired view, the system including: [14] a broadcast/multimedia image provider for providing mobile TV broadcast or multimedia images taken at specific angles different from each other; [15] a core network for transferring the mobile TV broadcast or multimedia images provided by the broadcast/multimedia image provider over a plurality of channels, wherein images taken at an identical angle are transferred over an identical channel; [16] a base station for selecting a specific one among the channels over which the mobile TV broadcast or multimedia images are transferred via the core network, and transmitting images which are transferred over the selected channel over a wireless channel; and [17] a mobile terminal for receiving the images transmitted from the base station over the wireless channel and displaying the images, [18] wherein the mobile terminal transmits a user command, which is given to inform the base station of user's requirements on images to be displayed on the mobile terminal, to the base station; and [19] wherein the base station performs an image processing according to the user command and transmits the processed images to the mobile terminal over the wireless

channel. [20] In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a multimedia mobile TV service method for displaying a user-desired view, the method including the steps of: [21] transmitting mobile TV broadcast or multimedia images, taken at specific angles different from each other, from a broadcast/multimedia image provider to a base station via a core network over a plurality of channels, wherein images taken at an identical angle are transferred over an identical channel; [22] transmitting images, which are transferred to the base station over a specific one among the channels, from the base station to a mobile terminal over a wireless channel, and displaying them on the mobile terminal; [23] transmitting a user command, which is given to inform user's requirements on images to be displayed on the mobile terminal, from the mobile terminal to the base station;

[24] performing an image processing according to the user command at the base station;

[25] transmitting the processed image from the base station to the mobile terminal over the wireless channel; and [26] displaying the image transmitted from the base station to the mobile station on the mobile station. [27] In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a multimedia mobile TV service system for displaying a user-desired view, the system including: [28] a broadcast/multimedia image provider for providing mobile TV broadcast or multimedia images taken at specific angles different from each other; [29] a core network for transferring the broadcast or multimedia images provided by the broadcast/multimedia image provider; [30] a base station for transmitting the broadcast or multimedia images, which are transferred via the core network, over a plurality of wireless channels, wherein images taken at an identical angle are transferred over an identical wireless channel; and [31] a mobile terminal for receiving the images transmitted from the base station over the wireless channels and displaying images transmitted over a specific one among the wireless channels, [32] wherein the mobile terminal receives a user command, which is given to inform the mobile terminal of user's requirements on images to be displayed on the mobile terminal, and performs an image processing according to the user command to display the processed images thereon. [33] In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a multimedia mobile TV service method for displaying a user-desired view, the method

including the steps of: [34] transmitting mobile TV broadcast or multimedia images, taken at specific angles different from each other, from a broadcast/multimedia image provider to a base station via a core network; [35] transmitting the mobile TV broadcast or multimedia images from the base station to a mobile terminal over a plurality of wireless channels, wherein images taken at an identical angle are transferred over an identical wireless channel; [36] displaying images which are transmitted over a specific one among the wireless channels on the mobile terminal; [37] receiving a user command, which is given to inform the mobile terminal of user's requests on images to be displayed on the mobile terminal, at the mobile terminal; [38] performing an image processing according to the user command at the mobile terminal; and

[39] displaying the processed image processed on the mobile terminal.

[40]

Advantageous Effects

[41] In accordance with the present invention, the base station or the mobile terminal performs the image processing according to the user command and displays the processed (user-desired) image on the display device of the mobile terminal. Since the base station or the mobile terminal rather than the image provider performs the image processing, it is possible to shorten a time consumed to display a user-desired image on the mobile terminal, and also to provide a better mobile TV broadcasting service to users.

[42]

Brief Description of the Drawings

[43] The above and other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: [44] Fig. 1 is a schematic configuration view showing a multimedia mobile TV service system in accordance with the present invention; [45] Fig. 2 is a detail view showing a base station and a mobile terminal of a multimedia mobile TV service system shown in Fig. 1 ; [46] Fig. 3 is a configuration view showing a mobile terminal of a multimedia mobile

TV service system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; [47] Fig. 4 is a flow chart showing a multimedia mobile TV service method in the multimedia mobile TV service system shown in Fig. 2; and [48] Fig. 5 is a flow chart showing a multimedia mobile TV service method in the

multimedia mobile TV service system shown in Fig. 3. [49]

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[50] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[51] Fig. 1 is a schematic configuration view showing a multimedia mobile TV service system in accordance with the present invention.

[52] Referring to Fig. 1, the multimedia mobile TV service system includes a broadcast/ multimedia image provider 10, a core network 20, a base station 30, and a mobile terminal 40.

[53] The broadcast/multimedia image provider 10 transmits mobile TV broadcast or multimedia images taken at specific angles different from each other to the core network 20. Preferably, the mobile TV broadcast or multimedia images provided to the base station 30 can be put together seamlessly.

[54] The core network 20 transits the mobile TV broadcast or multimedia images received from the broadcast/multimedia image provider 10 to the base station 30 over a plurality of channels. At this time, images taken at an identical angle are transferred over an identical channel.

[55] The base station 30 selects a specific one among the channels over which the mobile TV broadcast or multimedia images are transferred via the core network 20, and transmits images which are transferred over the selected channel to the mobile terminal 40 over a wireless channel.

[56] The mobile terminal 40 receives the images transmitted from the base station 30 over the wireless channel and displays the images.

[57] During the multimedia mobile TV service, if the mobile terminal 40 receives the user command from a user, it transmits the user command to the base station 30, wherein the user command is given to inform the base station of user's requirements on images to be displayed on the mobile terminal 40. After receiving the user command, the base station 30 performs an image processing according to the user command and transmits the processed image to the mobile station 40. And then, the mobile terminal 40 displays the image received from the base station 30 on a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display).

[58] As for the image processing, the base station 30 can select a channel over which mobile TV broadcast or multimedia images taken at a user-desired angle are transferred to the base station 30 via the core network 20. In this case, the images transferred over the selected channel are transmitted to the mobile terminal 40 as the processed images. Further, the base station 30 can scale up or down mobile TV

broadcast or multimedia images to a user-desired size. In this case, the images scaled up or down are transmitted to the mobile terminal 40 as the processed images.

[59] Fig. 2 is a detail view showing a base station and a mobile terminal of a multimedia mobile TV service system shown in Fig. 1.

[60] Referring to Fig. 2, the base station 30 includes: a multiple-channel receiver 302 for receiving mobile TV broadcast or multimedia images via a core network 20 over a plurality of channels (N channel , N>1); an image processor 304 for performing an image processing according to a user command; a transmitter 306 for transmitting the image processed by the image processor 304 to a mobile terminal 40 via a wireless channel; a user command parser 308 for parsing the user command received from the mobile terminal 40 and sending the parsed user command to the image processor; and a receiver 310 for receiving the user command from the mobile terminal 40.

[61] Further, the mobile terminal 40 includes: a receiver 404 for receiving the images processed by the base station 30 via a wireless channel; a buffer 406 for temporarily storing therein the images received from the base station 30; a display device 408 (e.g., an LCD device) for displaying thereon the images stored in the buffer 406; a user command input device 410 for receiving the user command (e.g., via a key pad), which is given to perform the image processing; a user command parser 412 for parsing the user command and sending it to the buffer 406 or the base station 30; and a transmitter 414 for transmitting the user command to the base station 30.

[62] In the above-described multimedia mobile TV service system, the base station 30 performs the image processing (i.e., selecting a channel over which mobile TV broadcast or multimedia images taken at a user-desired angle are transferred to the base station 30 via the core network 20 or scaling up or down mobile TV broadcast or multimedia images to a user-desired size) according to the user command, and transmits the processed image (i.e., the images transferred over the selected channel or the images scaled up or down) to the mobile terminal 40 to display the image thereon. Thus, since the image processing is performed by the base station 30 rather than by the image provider, a time consumed to display a user-desired image on the mobile terminal 40 can be shortened.?

[63] Fig. 3 is a configuration view showing a mobile terminal of a multimedia mobile

TV service system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

[64] Referring to Fig. 3, a mobile terminal 50 includes: a multiple-channel receiver 504 for receiving mobile TV broadcast or multimedia images from a base station over a plurality of wireless channels (N channels, N>1); an image processor 506 for performing an image processing according to a user command; a display device 508 (e.g., an LCD device) for displaying thereon the images processed by the image processor 506; a user command input device 510 for receiving the user command (e.g.,

via a key pad), which is given to perform a image processing; and a user command parser 512 for parsing the user command received via the user command input device 510 and sending the parsed user command to the image processor 506.

[65] In this embodiment, the mobile terminal 50 receives the mobile TV broadcast or multimedia images taken at specific angles different from each other from the base station over the plurality of wireless channels, wherein images taken at an identical angle are transferred over an identical wireless channel. And then, according to the user command, the mobile terminal 50 performs the image processing (i.e., selecting a wireless channel over which mobile TV broadcast or multimedia images taken at a user-desired angle are transferred to the mobile terminal 50 or scaling up or down mobile TV broadcast or multimedia images to a user-desired size) and displays the processed image (i.e., the images transferred over the selected channel or the images scaled up or down).

[66] Accordingly, since the mobile terminal 50 rather than the image provider performs the image processing, a time consumed to process the images to display a user-desired image on the mobile terminal 50 can be shortened.

[67] Fig. 4 is a flow chart showing a multimedia mobile TV service method in the multimedia mobile TV service system shown in Fig. 2.

[68] With reference to Fig. 4 along with Fig. 2, the multimedia mobile TV service is performed in the manner as follows.

[69] First, mobile TV broadcast or multimedia images, which are taken at specific angles different from each other, are transferred from a broadcast/multimedia image provider to the base station 30 via the core network 20 over a plurality of channels (N channels, N>1), wherein images taken at an identical angle are transferred over an identical channel (SlO).

[70] After that, the base station 30 transmits mobile TV broadcast or multimedia images, which are transferred to the base station over a specific one among the channels, to the mobile terminal 40, and the mobile terminal 40 displays the images received from the base station 30 (S20).

[71] If the mobile terminal 40 receives a user command from a user, it transmits the user command, which is given to inform user's requirements on images to be displayed on the mobile terminal 40, to the base station 30 (S30).

[72] The base station 30 determines whether the user command received from the mobile terminal 40 is to change a channel or scale an image up or down (S40).

[73] If it is determined in S40 that the user command is given to scale an image up or down, the base station 30 scales up or down up or down mobile TV broadcast or multimedia images to a user-desired size (S50 or S60).

[74] If it is determined in S40 that the user command is given to select an image, the

base station 30 selects a channel over which mobile TV broadcast or multimedia images taken at a user-desired angle are transferred to the base station 30 (S70).

[75] Thereafter, the base station 30 transmits the images scaled up or down (in case of

S50 or S60) or the images transferred over the selected channel (in case of S70), as the processed image, to the mobile terminal 40 (S80) via a wireless channel.

[76] The mobile terminal 40 receives the processed image from the base station 30 and displays the image on display device thereof. Before being displayed, the processed image received from the base station 30 can be temporarily stored in the buffer (S90).

[77] In this manner, in the multimedia mobile TV service method according to this embodiment of the present invention, the base station 30 performs the image processing according to the user command received from the mobile terminal 40 and transmits the processed image to the mobile terminal 40 to display the image on the mobile terminal 40.

[78] Fig. 5 is a flow chart showing a multimedia mobile TV service method in the multimedia mobile TV service system shown in Fig. 3.

[79] With reference to Fig. 5 along with Fig. 3, the multimedia mobile TV service is performed in the manner as follows.

[80] First, mobile TV broadcast or multimedia images, which are taken at specific angles different from each other, are transmitted from the base station to the mobile terminal 50 over a plurality of wireless channels (N channels, N>1), wherein images taken at an identical angle are transferred over an identical wireless channel.? And then, the mobile terminal 50 receives the mobile TV broadcast or multimedia images from the base station via the plurality of wireless channels (SlOO).

[81] The mobile terminal 50 displays mobile TV broadcast or multimedia images transmitted over a specific one among the wireless channels on the display device (SIlO).

[82] The mobile terminal 50 receives a user command, which is given to inform the mobile terminal of user's requirements on an image to be displayed on the mobile terminal 50, via the user command input device (S 120).

[83] The mobile terminal 50 determines whether the received user command is to change a channel or scale an image up or down (S 130).

[84] If it is determined in S 130 that the user command is given to scale an image up or down, the mobile terminal 50 scales up or down up or down mobile TV broadcast or multimedia images to a user-desired size (S 140 or S 150).

[85] If it is determined in S 130 that the user command is given to select an image, the mobile terminal 50 selects a wireless channel over which mobile TV broadcast or multimedia images taken at a user-desired angle are transferred to the mobile terminal 50 (S160).

[86] The mobile terminal 50 displays the images scaled up or down (in case of S 140 or

S 150) or the images transferred over the selected channel (in case of S 160) on the display device (S 170).

[87] In this manner, in the multimedia mobile TV service method according to this embodiment of the present invention, the mobile terminal 50 performs the image processing according to the user command and displays the processed image on the mobile terminal 50.

[88] While the invention has been shown and described with respect to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.