Reserved image transmission system and method

Abstract

An image transmission system for reserving and transmitting an image to be broadcast is provided. The image transmission system includes: an uploading unit for inputting reservation request information for reservation of image transmission and uploading an image; and a server for storing the reservation request information and the image and transmitting the image to one or more recipients' display devices according to the reservation request information.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An image transmission system comprising:
 an uploading unit for uploading an image and for inputting reservation request information for reserving transmission of the image to at least one display device of a predetermined recipient, the reservation request information comprising recipient information and a desired broadcast time selected by a user of the uploading unit; and   a server for storing the reservation request information and the image, for transmitting the stored image to the at least one display device according to the reservation request information, and for determining a reserved broadcast time based on the desired broadcast time,   wherein the server transmits the stored image to the at least one display device at the reserved broadcast time, the at least one display device of the predetermined recipient identified according to an ID or an IP address of the at least one display device included in the recipient information.   
     
     
       2. An image transmission method comprising:
 inputting to a server reservation request information for reserving transmission of an image to at least one display device of a predetermined recipient, the reservation request information comprising recipient information and a desired broadcast time selected by a user of an uploading unit;   uploading the image to the server, the uploaded image to be stored in the server in association with the input reservation request information;   determining a reserved broadcast time based on the desired broadcast time; and   transmitting the stored image from the server to the at least one display device according to the reservation request information,   wherein the server transmits the stored image to the at least one display device at the reserved broadcast time, the at least one display device of the predetermined recipient identified according to an ID or an IP address of the at least one display device included in the recipient information.   
     
     
       3. An image transmission system comprising:
 an uploading unit for uploading an image and for inputting reservation request information for reserving transmission of the image to at least one display device of a predetermined recipient, the at least one display device of the predetermined recipient identified according to recipient information included in the reservation request information input by a user of said uploading unit; and   a server for storing the reservation request information and the uploaded image and for transmitting the stored image to the at least one display device according to the reservation request information, wherein the recipient information comprises an ID or an IP address of the at least one display device.   
     
     
       4. The image transmission system of  claim 3 , wherein the reservation request information comprises user information of at least one of the user's name, a user's address, a user's phone number and a user's e-mail address. 
     
     
       5. The image transmission system of  claim 3 , wherein the reservation request information comprises at least one of a type of the image and a display option. 
     
     
       6. The image transmission system of  claim 3 , wherein the uploading unit is connected to the server to input the reservation request information, wherein the server generates a user menu for display by the uploading unit, the user menu for selecting the reservation request information, and wherein the user registers the reservation request information with the server. 
     
     
       7. The image transmission system of  claim 3 , wherein the server transmits a message preannouncing the reserved image transmission to the at least one display device. 
     
     
       8. The image transmission system of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one display device receives the transmitted image, determines whether the received image has been displayed by the at least one display device, and transmits to the server a confirmation message for informing the server whether the image has been displayed. 
     
     
       9. The image transmission system of  claim 3 , wherein the reservation request information comprises a message to be displayed by the at least one display device together with the image. 
     
     
       10. The image transmission system of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one display device receives the transmitted image, determines whether the received image has been displayed by the at least one display device, and stores the received image when it is determined that the image has not been displayed. 
     
     
       11. The image transmission system of  claim 8 , wherein the server receives the confirmation message from the at least one display device and uploads the received confirmation message to the uploading unit. 
     
     
       12. An image transmission method comprising
 inputting to a server reservation request information for reserving transmission of an image to at least one display device of a predetermined recipient, the at least one display device of the predetermined recipient identified according to recipient information included in the reservation request information input to the server;   uploading the image to the server, the uploaded image to be stored in the server in association with the input reservation request information; and   transmitting the stored image from the server to the at least one display device according to the reservation request information, wherein the recipient information comprises an ID or an IP address of the at least one display device.   
     
     
       13. The image transmission method of  claim 12 , wherein the reservation request information comprises user information of at least one of a user's name, a user's address, a user's phone number and a user's e-mail address. 
     
     
       14. The image transmission method of  claim 12 , wherein the reservation request information comprises at least one of a type of the image and a display option. 
     
     
       15. The image transmission method of  claim 12 , further comprising transmitting a message preannouncing the reserved image transmission from the server to the at least one display device. 
     
     
       16. The image transmission method of  claim 12 , further comprising determining at a broadcaster station whether the uploaded image is suitable for broadcast based on whether the image includes content deemed by the broadcaster station to be unsuitably lewd or violent. 
     
     
       17. The image transmission method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 receiving the transmitted image at the at least one display device;   determining, at the at least one display device, whether the received images has been displayed by the at least one display device; and   transmitting from the at least one display device to the server a confirmation message for informing the server whether the image has been displayed on the at least one display device.   
     
     
       18. The image transmission method of  claim 12 , wherein the reservation request information comprises a message to be displayed by the at least one display device together with the image. 
     
     
       19. The image transmission method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 receiving the transmitted image at the at least one display device;   determining, at the at least one display device, whether the received images has been displayed by the at least one display device; and   storing the received image when it is determined that the image has not been displayed on the at least one display device.   
     
     
       20. The image transmission method of  claim 17 , further comprising transmitting the confirmation message from the server to an uploading unit for performing said inputting of the reservation request information and the uploading of said image. 
     
     
       21. The image transmission method of  claim 12 , wherein the reservation request information comprises a desired broadcast time selected by a user of an performing said inputting of the reservation request information and the uploading of said image. 
     
     
       22. The image transmission method of  claim 21 , further comprising determining a reserved broadcast time based on the desired broadcast time. 
     
     
       23. The image transmission method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 storing the uploaded image in a database in correspondence to the reserved broadcast time; and   transmitting the stored image to the at least one display device at the reserved broadcast time.   
     
     
       24. The image transmission method of  claim 22 , further comprising transmitting from the server to the uploading unit a broadcast confirmation message for informing the user of the reserved broadcast time. 
     
     
       25. The image transmission method of  claim 22 , wherein the reservation request information further comprises user information including at least one of a user name, a user address, a user phone number, and a user e-mail address, and wherein the server transmits a broadcast confirmation message for informing the user of the reserved broadcast time and a service fee. 
     
     
       26. The image transmission method of  claim 22 , wherein the server transmits a preannouncing message preannouncing the image transmission to the at least one display device and wherein the preannouncing message includes the reserved broadcast time. 
     
     
       27. The image transmission method of  claim 15 , wherein recipient information comprises at least one of a telephone number and an e-mail address of the predetermined recipient, and wherein the message preannouncing the image transmission is also transmitted to the recipient using at least of one of the predetermined recipient's e-mail address and the predetermined recipient's telephone number. 
     
     
       28. The image transmission method of  claim 27 , wherein the message preannouncing the image transmission is transmitted to the predetermined recipient together with an indication of a service fee for receiving the image transmission. 
     
     
       29. The image transmission method of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one display device includes a broadcast television receiver, wherein the server includes a broadcast station, and wherein the image transmission is carried to the at least one display device over a broadcast television channel. 
     
     
       30. The image transmission system of  claim 3 , wherein the reservation request information comprises a desired broadcast time selected by the user. 
     
     
       31. The image transmission system of  claim 30 , wherein the server determines a reserved broadcast time based on the desired broadcast time. 
     
     
       32. The image transmission system of  claim 31 , wherein the server stores the uploaded image in a database in correspondence to the reserved broadcast time and transmits the stored image to the at least one display device at the reserved broadcast time. 
     
     
       33. The image transmission system of  claim 31 , wherein the server transmits to the uploading unit a broadcast time confirmation message for informing the user of the reserved broadcast time. 
     
     
       34. The image transmission system of  claim 31 , wherein the reservation request information further comprises user information including at least one of a user name, a user address, a user phone number, and a user e-mail address, and wherein the server transmits a broadcast time confirmation message for informing the user of the reserved broadcast time and a service fee. 
     
     
       35. The image transmission system of  claim 31 , wherein the server transmits a preannouncing message preannouncing the image transmission to the at least one display device, and wherein the preannouncing message includes the reserved broadcast time. 
     
     
       36. The image transmission system of  claim 7 , wherein the recipient information comprises at least one of a telephone number and an e-mail address of the predetermined recipient and wherein the preannouncing message preannouncing the image transmission is also transmitted to the predetermined recipient using at least of one of the predetermined recipient's e-mail address and the predetermined recipient's telephone number. 
     
     
       37. The image transmission system of  claim 36 , wherein the preannouncing message preannouncing the image transmission is transmitted to the predetermined recipient together with an indication of a service fee for receiving the image transmission. 
     
     
       38. The image transmission system of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one display device includes a broadcast television receiver, wherein the server includes a broadcast station, and wherein the image transmission is carried to the at least one display device over a broadcast television channel. 
     
     
       39. A method for receiving content in a display device, the method comprising:
 receiving a content including an image and a voice from an external source according to reservation request information;   outputting the content via a sub-screen of the display device; and   transmitting a confirmation message for the content to the external source, wherein the confirmation message informs whether the content has been received,   wherein the voice of the content is muted when the content is outputted via the sub-screen of the display device,   wherein when the image of the content is displayed via a main screen switched from the sub-screen of the display device, the voice of the content is outputted,   wherein the reservation request information includes recipient information comprising a phone number of a recipient's display device,   wherein the display device receives information including a service fee of the content received from the external source based on the recipient information, and   wherein the display device stores the displayed content when receiving a request for turned-off state on the display device, and then displays a message for informing that the displayed content has been stored when receiving a request for turned-on state on the display device.   
     
     
       40. The method of claim 39, further comprises storing the content when the display device is in the turned-off state and the media content has not yet been displayed. 
     
     
       41. The method of claim 39, wherein the display device is identified according to the recipient information included in the reservation request information;
 wherein the media content is uploaded and stored to the external source in association with the reservation request information; and   wherein the stored media content is received by the display device from the external source according to the reservation request information.   
     
     
       42. The method of claim 41, wherein the recipient information further comprises an ID or an IP address of the display device. 
     
     
       43. The method of claim 39, further comprising receiving a preannouncing message prior to receiving the content, wherein the preannouncing message includes information on a date and a time of when the content is to be sent from the external source to the display device. 
     
     
       44. The method of claim 39, further comprising generating an alert message informing that the content has been received while the display device was in the turned-off state, wherein the alert message is displayed on the display device when the display device is in the turned-on state. 
     
     
       45. The method of claim 39, wherein the content further includes a message. 
     
     
       46. The method of claim 39, further comprising receiving a message with the content and displaying the message at a same time that the content is displayed. 
     
     
       47. A display device comprising:
 a receiver configured to receive a content including an image and a voice from an external source according to reservation request information,   a display configured to output the content via a sub-screen of the display device; and   a controller configured to transmit a confirmation message for the content to the external source, wherein the confirmation message informs whether the content has been received,   wherein the voice of the content is muted when the content is outputted via the sub-screen of the display device,   wherein when the image of the content is displayed via a main screen switched from the sub-screen of the display device, the voice of the content is outputted,   wherein the reservation request information includes recipient information comprising a phone number of a recipient's display device,   wherein the display device receives information including a service fee of the content received from the external source based on the recipient information, and   wherein the display device stores the displayed content when receiving a request for turned-off state on the display device, and then displays a message for informing that the displayed content has been stored when receiving a request for turned-on state on the display device.   
     
     
       48. The display device of claim 47, wherein the controller is further configured to store the content when the display device is in the turned-off state and the media content has not yet been displayed. 
     
     
       49. The display device of claim 47, wherein the display device is identified according to recipient information included in the reservation request information;
 wherein the content is uploaded and stored to the external source in association with the reservation request information; and   wherein the stored content is received by the display device from the external source according to the reservation request information.   
     
     
       50. The display device of claim 49, wherein the recipient information further comprises an ID or an IP address of the display device. 
     
     
       51. The display device of claim 47, wherein the controller is further configured to receive a preannouncing message prior to receiving the content, wherein the preannouncing message includes information on a date and a time of when the content will be sent from the external source to the display device. 
     
     
       52. The display device of claim 47, wherein the controller is further configured to generate an alert message informing that the media content has been received while the display device was in the turned-off state, wherein the alert message is displayed on the display device when the display device is in the turned-on state. 
     
     
       53. The display device of claim 47, wherein the content further includes a message. 
     
     
       54. The display device of claim 47, wherein the controller is further configured to receive a message with the content and display the message at a same time that the content is displayed.