Method and apparatus for providing and using content advisory information on internet contents

Abstract

Provided are a method and apparatus for providing and using content advisory (CA) information on Internet contents. A method of providing CA information by using a CA information server, includes receiving a request for the CA information on a content, from an Internet Protocol television (IPTV); searching for CA information on the content; and transmitting the found CA information to the IPTV. A method of using CA information when an IPTV reproduces a content not having the CA information, according to the present invention, includes transmitting a request for CA information, to a CA information server; receiving the CA information from the CA information server; analyzing the CA information; and applying the CA information.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of providing content advisory (CA) information, the method comprising:
 receiving, at a CA information server, a request for CA information on a content, the request including an identification (ID) of the content, from an Internet Protocol television (IPTV); 
 searching for CA information on the content corresponding to the ID of the content by using the ID of the content based on the request, at the CA information server; and 
 transmitting the CA information on the content, which is found as a result of the searching, from the CA information server to the IPTV, the CA information comprising viewing restriction information, 
 wherein a reproduction of at least one temporal part of the content corresponding to the CA information is restricted in the IPTV, another temporal part of the content that does not correspond to the CA information is reproduced in the IPTV, and the CA information server is independent from a server providing the content to the IPTV, 
 wherein the content comprises a plurality of temporal parts and the CA information comprises the viewing restriction information in units of the temporal parts of the content, 
 wherein the method further comprises generating the viewing restriction information in the units of the temporal parts of the content, 
 wherein the transmitting the CA information comprises transmitting the CA information comprising the generated viewing restriction information in the units of the temporal parts of the content, and 
 wherein the viewing restriction information comprises, for each of the temporal parts of the content, a frame value identifying a first frame of a corresponding temporal part, and duration information identifying a number of frames in the corresponding temporal part. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the CA information server generates and stores further comprising generating and storing, in advance, CA information on contents for which CA information is not found. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the searching for the CA information comprises searching for the CA information on the content corresponding to the ID by using the ID of the content. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the CA information is described in an extensible markup language (XML) format. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the CA information is utilized to perform a CA function comprises the viewing restriction information in units of frames of content. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the content is selected by a user and the CA information on the content selected by the user is transmitted to the IPTV. 
     
     
       7. A method of using content advisory (CA) information when an Internet Protocol television (IPTV) reproduces a content not having CA information, the method comprising:
 transmitting a request for CA information of a content, the request including an ID identification (ID) of the content, from the IPTV to a CA information server; 
 receiving, by the IPTV, the CA information of the content corresponding to the ID of the content from the CA information server at the IPTV, the CA information comprising viewing restriction information; 
 analyzingdetermining, by the IPTV, at least one temporal part of the content corresponding to the CA information at the IPTV; and 
 applying the CA information to reproduction of the content at the IPTV,restricting, by the IPTV, reproduction of the determined at least one temporal part of the content; and 
 reproducing another temporal part of the content that does not correspond to the CA information, 
 wherein the CA information server is independent from a server providing the content to the IPTV, and 
 wherein the content comprises a plurality of temporal parts and the CA information comprises the viewing restriction information in units of the temporal parts of the content. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , further comprising determining whether the content to be reproduced by the IPTV has the CA information. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising generating an identification (ID) of the content if it is determined that the content to be reproduced by the IPTV does not have the CA information. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the CA information is utilized to perform a CA function comprises the viewing restriction information in units of frames of the content, and
 wherein the determining comprises determining, by the IPTV, the at least one part of the content in units of frames based on the viewing restriction information. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the CA information includes information on viewing age restrictions, and
 wherein the determining comprises determining, by the IPTV, the at least one part of the content based on the information on viewing age restrictions. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the CA information includes information for blocking reproduction of an image corresponding to a viewer phobia, and
 wherein the determining comprises determining, by the IPTV, an image of the content based on the information for blocking reproduction of the image corresponding to the viewer phobia. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the CA information includes information for blocking reproduction of a partial region of a screen, and
 wherein the determining comprises determining, by the IPTV, the partial region of the screen based on the information for blocking reproduction of the partial region of the screen. 
 
     
     
       14. A content advisory (CA) information server comprising:
 a CA information storage unit which stores storage configured to store CA information; 
 a content identification (ID) analysis unit which analyzesat least one computer hardware processor configured to analyze an IDidentification (ID) of a content requiring the CA information; and 
 a CA information search unit which searches the CA information storage unit in order to obtain the CA information of the content corresponding to the ID of the content, by using the ID of the content, in accordance with a request of an Internet Protocol television (IPTV), the CA information comprising viewing restriction information, 
 wherein a reproduction of at least one temporal part of the content corresponding to the CA information is restricted in the IPTV, another temporal part of the content that does not correspond to the CA information is reproduced in the IPTV, and the CA information server is independent from a server providing the content to the IPTV, and 
 wherein the content comprises a plurality of temporal parts and the CA information comprises the viewing restriction information in units of the temporal parts of the content, and 
 wherein the least one computer hardware processor is further configured to generate the viewing restriction information in the units of the temporal parts of the content and control to transmit the CA information comprising the generated viewing restriction information in the units of the temporal parts of the content, and 
 wherein the viewing restriction information comprises, for each of the temporal parts of the content, a frame value identifying a first frame of a corresponding temporal part, and duration information identifying a number of frames in the corresponding temporal part. 
 
     
     
       15. The CA information server of  claim 14 , further comprising a CA rating standard unit which stores wherein the storage is configured to store CA rating information. 
     
     
       16. The CA information server of  claim 14 , further comprising a CA information generation unit for generating the CA information on contents not having CA information. 
     
     
       17. A content advisory (CA) information management system comprising:
 a CA information server which provides comprising a first computer-readable recording medium and at least one first computer hardware processor configured to execute instructions stored in the computer-readable recording medium to provide CA information on a multimedia content corresponding to an identification (ID) of the multimedia content, the multimedia content being provided via the Internet, the CA information comprising viewing restriction information; and 
 an Internet Protocol television (IPTV) which controls comprising a second computer-readable recording medium and at least one second computer hardware processor configured to execute instructions stored in the second computer-readable recording medium to restrict reproduction of the multimedia contents by using the CA information, 
 wherein the at least one second computer hardware processor is configured to restrict the reproduction by determining at least one temporal part of the content corresponding to the CA information, restricting a reproduction of at the least one temporal part of the content corresponding to the CA information, and reproducing another temporal part of the content that does not correspond to the CA information, 
 wherein the CA information server is independent from a server providing the content to the IPTV, and 
 wherein the content comprises a plurality of temporal parts and the CA information comprises the viewing restriction information in units of the temporal parts of the content. 
 
     
     
       18. An Internet Protocol television (IPTV) comprising:
 a content ID generation unit which generates an identification (ID) for identifying a content; 
 a communication interface configured to transmit, to a CA information server, a request for CA information of a content, the request including an identification (ID) of the content, and to receive the CA information corresponding to the ID of the content from the CA information server, based on the ID of the content, the CA information comprising viewing restriction information; and 
 a CA information analysis unit which parsesat least one computer hardware processor configured to parse the CA information on the content; and 
 a CA information application unit which performs a CA function by referring to a result of the parsing by the CA information analysis unit, to determine at least one temporal part of the content corresponding to the CA information, to restrict reproduction of the determined at least one temporal part of the content, and to reproduce another temporal part of the content that does not correspond to the CA information, 
 wherein the IPTV obtains the CA information corresponding to the ID of the content from a CA information server, by using the ID of the content wherein the CA information server is independent from a server providing the content to the IPTV, and 
 wherein the content comprises a plurality of temporal parts and the CA information comprises the viewing restriction information in units of the temporal parts of the content. 
 
     
     
       19. A computer readable recording medium having recorded thereon a computer program for executing a method of providing content advisory (CA) information, the method comprising:
 receiving, at a CA information server, a request for CA information on a content, the request including an identification (ID) of the content, from an Internet Protocol television (IPTV); 
 searching for CA information on the content corresponding to the ID of the content by using the ID of the content based on the request, at the CA information server; and 
 transmitting the CA information on the content, which is found a result of the searching, from the CA information server to the IPTV, the CA information comprising viewing restriction information, 
 wherein a reproduction of at least one temporal part of the content corresponding to the CA information is restricted in the IPTV, another temporal part of the content that does not correspond to the CA information is reproduced in the IPTV, and the CA information server is independent from a server providing the content to the IPTV, 
 wherein the content comprises a plurality of temporal parts and the CA information comprises the viewing restriction information in units of temporal parts of the content, 
 wherein the method further comprises generating the viewing restriction information in the units of the temporal parts of the content, 
 wherein the transmitting the CA information comprises transmitting the CA information comprising the generated viewing restriction information in the units of the temporal parts of the content, and 
 wherein the viewing restriction information comprises, for each of the temporal parts of the content, a frame value identifying a first frame of a corresponding temporal part, and duration information identifying a number of frames in the corresponding temporal part. 
 
     
     
       20. A computer readable recording medium having recorded thereon a computer program for executing a method of using content advisory (CA) information when an Internet Protocol television (IPTV) reproduces a content not having the CA information, the method comprising:
 transmitting a request for CA information of a content, the request including an ID of the content, from the IPTV to a CA information server; 
 receiving the CA information of the content corresponding to the ID of the content from the CA information server at the IPTV, the CA information comprising viewing restriction information; 
 analyzingdetermining at least one temporal part of the content corresponding to the CA information at the IPTV; and 
 applying the CA information to reproduction of the content at the IPTV, restricting, by the IPTV, reproduction of the determined at least one temporal part of the content; and 
 reproducing another temporal part of the content that does not correspond to the CA information, 
 wherein the CA information server is independent from a server providing the content to the IPTV, and 
 wherein the content comprises a plurality of temporal parts and the CA information comprises the viewing restriction information in units of the temporal parts of the content. 
 
     
     
       21. A method of providing content advisory (CA) information of a content to a client device, by a CA information server, the method comprising:
 receiving, at the CA information server, a request for the CA information on a content, the request including an identification (ID) of the content, from the client device;   searching for the CA information on the content corresponding to the ID of the content by using the ID of the content based on the request, at the CA information server; and   transmitting the CA information on the content, which is found as a result of the searching, from the CA information server to the client device, the CA information comprising viewing restriction information,   wherein a reproduction of at least one temporal part of the content corresponding to the CA information is restricted in the client device, another temporal part of the content that does not correspond to the CA information is reproduced in the client device, and the CA information server is independent from a server providing the content to the client device,   wherein the content comprises a plurality of temporal parts and the CA information comprises the viewing restriction information in units of the temporal parts of the content,   wherein the method further comprises generating the viewing restriction information in the units of the temporal parts of the content,   wherein the transmitting the CA information comprises transmitting the CA information comprising the generated viewing restriction information in the units of the temporal parts of the content, and   wherein the viewing restriction information comprises, for each of the temporal parts of the content, a frame value identifying a first frame of a corresponding temporal part, and duration information identifying a number of frames in the corresponding temporal part.   
     
     
       22. The method of claim 21, further comprising generating and storing, in advance, CA information on contents for which CA information is not found. 
     
     
       23. The method of claim 21, wherein the searching for the CA information comprises searching for the CA information on the content corresponding to the ID by using the ID of the content. 
     
     
       24. The method of claim 21, wherein the CA information is described in an extensible markup language (XML) format. 
     
     
       25. The method of claim 21, wherein the CA information comprises the viewing restriction information in units of frames of content. 
     
     
       26. A method of using content advisory (CA) information when a client device reproduces a content, the method comprising:
 transmitting a request for CA information of a content, the request including an ID of the content, from the client device to a CA information server;   receiving, by the client device, the CA information of the content corresponding to the ID of the content from the CA information server, the CA information comprising viewing restriction information;   determining, by the client device, at least one temporal part of the content corresponding to the CA information;   restricting, by the client device, reproduction of the determined at least one temporal part of the content and   reproducing another temporal part of the content that does not correspond to the CA information,   wherein the CA information server is independent from a server providing the content to the client device, and   wherein the content comprises a plurality of temporal parts and the CA information comprises the viewing restriction information in units of the temporal parts of the content.   
     
     
       27. The method of claim 26, further comprising determining whether the content to be reproduced by the client device has the CA information. 
     
     
       28. The method of claim 27, further comprising generating an identification (ID) of the content if it is determined that the content to be reproduced by the client device does not have the CA information. 
     
     
       29. The method of claim 26, wherein the CA information comprises the viewing restriction information in units of frames of the content, and
 wherein the determining comprises determining, by the client device, the at least one part of the content in units of frames based on the viewing restriction information.   
     
     
       30. The method of claim 26, wherein the CA information includes information on viewing age restrictions, and
 wherein the determining comprises determining, by the client device, the at least one part of the content based on the information on viewing age restrictions.   
     
     
       31. The method of claim 26, wherein the CA information includes information for blocking reproduction of an image corresponding to a viewer phobia, and
 wherein the determining comprises determining, by the client device, an image of the content based on the information for blocking reproduction of the image corresponding to the viewer phobia.   
     
     
       32. The method of claim 26, wherein the CA information includes information for blocking reproduction of a partial region of a screen, and
 wherein the determining comprises determining, by the client device, the partial region of the screen based on the information for blocking reproduction of the partial region of the screen.   
     
     
       33. A content advisory (CA) information server comprising:
 a storage configured to store CA information;   at least one computer hardware processor configured to analyze an identification (ID) of a content requiring the CA information and to obtain the CA information of the content corresponding to the ID of the content, by using the ID of the content, in accordance with a request of a client device, the CA information comprising viewing restriction information,   wherein a reproduction of the at least one temporal part of the content corresponding to the CA information is restricted in the client device, another temporal part of the content that does not correspond to the CA information is reproduced in the client device, and the CA information server is independent from a server providing the content to the client device,   wherein the content comprises a plurality of temporal parts and the CA information comprises the viewing restriction information in units of the temporal parts of the content,   wherein the least one computer hardware processor is further configured to generate the viewing restriction information in the units of the temporal parts of the content and control to transmit the CA information comprising the generated viewing restriction information in the units of the temporal parts of the content, and   wherein the viewing restriction information comprises, for each of the temporal parts of the content, a frame value identifying a first frame of a corresponding temporal part, and duration information identifying a number of frames in the corresponding temporal part.   
     
     
       34. The CA information server of claim 33, wherein the storage is further configured to store CA rating information. 
     
     
       35. A client device comprising:
 a communication interface configured to transmit a request to a CA information server for CA information of a content, the request including an identification (ID) of the content and to receive the CA information corresponding to the ID of the content from the CA information server, based on the ID of the content, the CA information comprising viewing restriction information; and   at least one computer hardware processor configured to determine at least one temporal part of the content corresponding to the CA information, to restrict reproduction of the determined at least one temporal part of the content, and to reproduce another temporal part of the content that does not correspond to the CA information,   wherein the CA information server is independent from a server providing the content to the client device, and   wherein the content comprises a plurality of temporal parts and the CA information comprises the viewing restriction information in units of the temporal parts of the content.   
     
     
       36. A computer readable recording medium having recorded thereon a computer program for executing a method of using content advisory (CA) information of a content provided to a client device by a CA information server, the method comprising:
 receiving, at the CA information server, a request for the CA information on a content, the request including an identification (ID) of the content, from a client device;   searching for the CA information on the content corresponding to the ID of the content by using the ID of the content based on the request, at the CA information server; and   transmitting the CA information on the content, which is found a result of the searching, from the CA information server to the client device, the CA information comprising viewing restriction information,   wherein a reproduction of at least one temporal part of the content corresponding to the CA information is restricted in the client device, another temporal part of the content that does not correspond to the CA information is reproduced in the client device, and the CA information server is independent from a server providing the content to the client device,   wherein the content comprises a plurality of temporal parts and the CA information comprises the viewing restriction information in units of the temporal parts of the content,   wherein the method further comprises generating the viewing restriction information in the units of the temporal parts of the content,   wherein the transmitting the CA information comprises transmitting the CA information comprising the generated viewing restriction information in the units of the temporal parts of the content, and   wherein the viewing restriction information comprises, for each of the temporal parts of the content, a frame value identifying a first frame of a corresponding temporal part, and duration information identifying a number of frames in the corresponding temporal part.   
     
     
       37. A computer readable recording medium having recorded thereon a computer program for executing a method of using content advisory (CA) information when a client device reproduces a content not having the CA information, the method comprising:
 transmitting a request for the CA information of a content, the request including an identification (ID) of the content, from the client device to a CA information server;   receiving the CA information of the content corresponding to the ID of the content from the CA information server at the client device, the CA information comprising viewing restriction information;   determining, by the client device, at least one temporal part of the content corresponding to the CA information;   restricting, by the client device, reproduction of the determined at least one temporal part of the content; and   reproducing another temporal part of the content that does not correspond to the CA information,   wherein the CA information server is independent from a server providing the content to the client device, and   wherein the content comprises a plurality of temporal parts and the CA information comprises the viewing restriction information in units of the temporal parts of the content.   
     
     
       38. The method according to claim 21, wherein the content is selected by a user and the CA information on the content selected by the user is transmitted to the client device.