KR20070061303A - Method and apparatus for reproducing contents - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for reproducing contents are provided to continuously reproduce a recorded series by only simple operation and seamlessly and continuously reproduce the series just as a user views one program. A file management unit(922) acquires information about a plurality of contents which belongs to a group to be reproduced from a storing unit(930), reads at least a part of contents to be next reproduced before the reproduction of currently reproducing contents is completed by referring to the acquired information, and stores the read information in a decoding buffer(924). A reproducing unit(926) continuously reproduces a plurality of the contents by using data of the decoding buffer(924), and displays the contents on a display unit(940).

Description

Method and apparatus for reproducing contents {Method and apparatus for reproducing contents}

1 is a view showing a method of managing content recorded in a conventional personal video recorder,

2 is a diagram illustrating an example of managing digital broadcast recording content according to the present invention;

3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a recording information database according to the present invention;

4 is a diagram illustrating another example of managing digital broadcast recording content according to the present invention;

5 is a diagram showing another example of the configuration of a recording information database according to the present invention;

6 is a diagram illustrating still another example of managing digital broadcast recording content according to the present invention;

7 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a digital broadcast recording content management method according to the present invention;

8 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a digital broadcast recording content management apparatus according to the present invention;

9 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a content reproducing apparatus according to the present invention;

10 is a view illustrating a buffering principle of a file management unit according to the present invention;

11 illustrates an embodiment of a user interface for playing recorded content according to the present invention;

12 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a content playback method according to the present invention.

The present invention relates to the playback of multimedia content, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for playing a group of content.

Amid competition in the leadership of PCs, set-top boxes, and home gateways around the home network market, a personal video recorder (PVR) is gaining attention as a home server. Unlike VCR (Video Cassette Recorder), which stores video signals on magnetic tape, PVR is a new concept digital recorder that records and plays broadcasting information on a hard disk or memory chip. The basic function of the PVR is not much different from the existing VCR in that it stores and plays the program exported from the broadcasting station, but it records the information on the hard disk and plays it back with a file playback method such as a computer. The difference is that a memory chip containing a CPU, an operating system and playback software, and a large hard disk for storing broadcast contents are included. With the spread of digital broadcasting and PVR, the demand for digital broadcasting recording is increasing, and there is an urgent need for a method for efficiently managing and playing a large amount of recorded broadcasting contents.

1 illustrates a method of managing content recorded in a conventional PVR. Referring to FIG. 1, an electronic program guide (“EPG”) data for broadcasting is received and stored in a database 130 when recording broadcast contents in a set top box (STB) 120 of a PVR. When the user selects a menu for managing or playing recorded broadcast content, the PVR list 140, which is a list of recorded contents, is displayed on the display apparatus 110.

As shown in FIG. 1, since the contents are simply listed in a chronological order in the related art, when there are many recorded contents, it is difficult for the user to find the contents to be played back, and the management such as deleting contents is very inconvenient. In addition, when recording and playing back a series, it is very inconvenient because it requires an operation of searching for and playing the next meeting content after watching one meeting content.

When a plurality of contents are selected in advance and subsequently played back, according to the prior art, after the completion of one file playback, the next file is opened and played. Therefore, playback is interrupted because the connection with the decoder is terminated and reconnected due to the change of the physical file path. Even if the connection with the decoder was not terminated, playback could be stopped until the decoding buffer was empty and refilled with data from the next file.

Disclosure of Invention It is an object of the present invention to solve the above problems and to provide a method and an apparatus for displaying and managing recorded large-capacity broadcast contents on a screen efficiently and conveniently.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for continuously reproducing a recorded series by simple operation and seamlessly reproducing seamlessly, such as watching a single program.

One aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object is, in a method of playing a group of content, obtaining information on a plurality of content belonging to the group to be played, and currently playing with reference to the obtained information Reading and buffering at least a portion of the next content to be played back in a decoding buffer before the content is finished playing; and continuously playing the plurality of contents using data of the decoding buffer.

The content reproducing method may further include displaying a user interface for displaying and reproducing reproduction information of the plurality of contents.

The user interface may include a reproduction time of the plurality of contents and information on a current reproduction position.

The user interface may be in the form of a bar representing all of the plurality of contents.

The user interface may include a mark that distinguishes each of the contents.

At least some of the plurality of contents may be contents received from one or more remote recording systems.

According to another aspect of the present invention, in a reproduction apparatus for reproducing a group of contents, information about a plurality of contents belonging to a group to be reproduced is obtained from a storage unit, and reproduction of the content currently being reproduced is referred to with reference to the obtained information. And a file manager which reads at least a portion of the next content to be reproduced and buffers it in a decoding buffer before completion, and a playback unit which continuously reproduces the plurality of contents using the data of the decoding buffer and displays the same on a display unit.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

2 illustrates an example of managing digital broadcast recording content according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the set-top box 220 receives broadcast content and EPG data during digital broadcast recording, and stores information on broadcast content recorded with reference to the received EPG data in the recording information database 230. . The information stored in the recording information database 230 includes all or part of EPG items related to the recorded content, and is used to manage and reproduce the recorded broadcast content in groups.

When the user clicks or selects a button or a menu for managing the recorded content, instead of displaying all the information on the recorded content, only the content group information grouping the contents is displayed on the screen. That is, upon receiving the recording information display command from the user, the group list 240 summarizing the content information of the recording information database 230 into one or more content group information according to a preset criterion. The preset criteria include information on which items are to be grouped by content. In the illustrated example, the content is grouped by the title of broadcast content, and the title, which is a group identifier, and the number of times of recording of content in each group are displayed.

When the user selects a content group to be played or managed in the group list 240, a list of content information belonging to the selected group is displayed. That is, if the group 241 called 'Immortal Yi' is selected, four content lists 250 belonging to the group are displayed, and the user selects the content to be played in the content list 250 to watch the recorded content. can do. When the user wants to play in group units, contents belonging to the selected group 241 are continuously played. The group reproduction function will be described later with reference to FIGS. 9 to 12.

The user can easily perform management tasks such as deleting contents in groups. When a user selects a content deletion menu in the group list 240, that is, when a delete command from a user targets a group, all files corresponding to content belonging to the group may be deleted with a single click. Of course, when the content is deleted from the content list 250, only files corresponding to the selected content are deleted. The management of the display of the group list and the content list, the reproduction and deletion of the content, and the like are performed with reference to the content information and the content group information of the recording information database 230.

3 illustrates an example of a recording information database configuration according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the recording information database may include content group information 310 and a content list 320 which is information on individual content, and may group contents based on the title of broadcast content. The group information 310 includes information such as a category, a title, a star actor, a recording position, and the like commonly applied to a content group. The list 320 of contents grouped by the same title includes content-specific information such as a turn of each content, a content file name, and a recording time. The recording information database can be implemented using not only a relational database but also other types of databases. The recording information database can also be implemented in a form other than a database, such as metadata in XML (Extensible Markup Language, 'XML') format. It is not.

When recording broadcast content, content to be recorded is added to a newly created group or an existing group by referring to EPG data related to the content. For example, in case of pre-recording the "Immortal Yi times 10 times" in FIG. 2, the content information is added to the content list corresponding to the existing group "Immortal Yi times". However, in the case of recording 'once in Paris', the group information for the new group is generated and the content information related to 'once in Paris' is added to the new content list corresponding to the group. Subsequently, when the recording information is displayed, the group list is displayed with reference to the group information 310, and when a group is selected from the group list, the corresponding content list 320 is displayed.

4 illustrates another example of managing digital broadcast recording content according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, in this embodiment, the remote contents are grouped together with the contents of the local recording system 410 by referring to the recording information databases 425 and 435 of one or more remote recording systems 420 and 430 connected to the home network. Manage in units. When the recording information display menu is selected in the recording system 410 of the living room, which is a local system, the remote recording information database 425 located in the study, as well as 'immortal Yi', which is a content group stored in the local recording information database 415, is located. 'My name is Kim Sam Soon' is also displayed in the group. When contents belonging to one group are recorded by being distributed in different recording systems, group information and content information received from each remote recording system are integrated with information stored in a local device and displayed as one group.

The local recording system 410 requests and receives the information on the remote content and the content group information from the remote recording systems 420 and 430 to execute the selected menu. By referring to the received content group information on the remote content and its own content group information, a group list in which the information on the remote content and the local content is summarized by the content group information is displayed.

In this case, the contents of the remote recording information database include group information 426 and a content list 428 as in FIG. 3. When a group is selected from the group list 450 displayed on the screen, the content list 460 included in the group is displayed by the above-described method, and thus recorded by the remote system 420 or 430 of the study and bedroom. Content can be managed together.

5 is another example of the configuration of the recording information database according to the present invention, for managing the recorded content in a multi-level group. When recording broadcast content, users can add content to one of the multi-level content groups or to newly created content groups according to the criteria for defining the multi-level content groups, and then allow the user to search the contents step by step. Can be maximized. This is because, if the number of recorded contents is very large, there may be a limit to only grouping in one step. For example, group information 510 grouped in one step is generated by a category item for dividing drama, news, sports, and the like, and group information 520 grouped in two steps by program title is generated again. Content may be managed by connecting the content information list 530 to the first or second level group information.

6 illustrates another example of managing digital broadcast recording content according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, a user interface 640 for displaying a group list and a content list is implemented based on XML, and the content and group information exchange between the local recording system 610 and the remote recording system 620 and 630 is also XML. Is based on.

7 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a digital broadcast recording content management method according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, first, EPG data related to broadcast content to be recorded during broadcast recording is received (S702). With reference to the EPG data, it is determined whether there is a content group that meets a preset criterion (S704). If a content group meeting the criteria exists (S706), the content to be recorded is added to the corresponding content group (S708). If there is no content group meeting the criteria (S706), a new content group is generated with reference to the EPG data and the criteria (S710), and the content is added to the generated new content group (S708). Information about the recorded content and information about the content group are added or updated in the recording information database (S712). The stored information is managed for each group using the stored information (S714).

8 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a digital broadcast recording content management apparatus according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 8, the apparatus for managing digital broadcast recording content 800 includes a storage unit 840 for storing recorded broadcast content, information about content, and information about a content group, and an input unit 820 for user input. And a control unit 830 for receiving and recording digital broadcasts, and a display unit 810 for displaying content, information on content, and information on a content group under control of the control unit. In addition, it may include a communication unit 850 for performing communication with one or more remote recording system 900 connected through a home network, and may perform XML-based communication with the remote recording system 900.

The controller 830 may add content to a new or existing content group that meets a predetermined criterion and store the information about the content and the information about the content group in reference to the received EPG data during digital broadcast recording. In operation 840, the content is managed in groups according to a user input through the input unit 820. When the recording information display command is input through the input unit 820, the display unit 810 displays a group list summarizing the information on the content as information for each content group by referring to the data stored in the storage unit 840. When a group selection command is input through the input unit 820, the display unit 810 displays a content list belonging to a group selected from the group list. When a content play command is input through the input unit 820, the content selected from the content list is played and output to the display unit 810. When a content delete command is input through the input unit 820, all files corresponding to the content belonging to the selected group are deleted from the storage unit 840, or a file corresponding to the selected content is deleted from the storage unit 840.

9 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a content reproducing apparatus according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 9, the content reproducing apparatus performs a plurality of contents and a storage unit 930 for storing content information including information on a group, an input unit 910 for user input, and a group-specific playback function. A control unit 920 and a display unit 940 for outputting the reproduced content.

The control unit 920 includes a file management unit 922 and a playback unit 926 to continuously reproduce a group of contents to seamlessly reproduce one content. When the file manager 922 receives a group playback command through the input unit 910, the file manager 922 reads and acquires information about contents belonging to the group from the storage unit 930. The content information may include information such as the turn, file name, and playback time of each content. The file manager 922 may determine the number of files to be played, the physical location of each file, the play time of each file, and the play time of the entire file with reference to the obtained information, and use the information to determine the decoding buffer ( 924 manages the buffering so that it is not empty. The file manager 922 reads and buffers at least a portion of content to be played next in the decoding buffer 924 before the playback of the content currently being played is completed using these information, so that the playback by the playback unit 926 is not interrupted. Make the connection natural. The reproduction unit 926 reproduces a group of contents continuously by reproducing timely buffered data in the decoding buffer 924 and displays them on the display unit 940.

The content playback apparatus according to the present invention may further include an interface processor (not shown). The interface processor generates a user interface for displaying reproduction information on contents belonging to the group being played and displays the same on the display unit 940, so that the user can control the group playback by a similar operation as when playing one content. The file manager 922 reconstructs the play time related information obtained from the content information and records it in a memory if necessary. The file manager 922 can check a part of each play file of the entire play time by referring to the play time related information or the reconstructed information. In addition, the playback unit 926 may be controlled to move the playback position to a specific position desired by the user. Depending on the recording method, the recorded file may have an index file. For example, according to the MPEG standard, an index file having index information on a portion where I frames are located in the recorded data is constructed. In this case, the file management unit 922 does not need to reconstruct the play time information. It is possible to move the playback position to a specific position with reference to the file. Details of the user interface will be described later with reference to FIG. 11.

In addition, the content reproducing apparatus according to the present invention further comprises a communication unit (not shown) for communication with at least one remote recording system (not shown) connected through a home network, and the remote content received through the communication unit and the local Content can be continuously played in one group.

10 illustrates a buffering principle of the file manager 922 according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 10, the file manager 922 may obtain information about a physical location in the storage 930 of contents to be reproduced by referring to file information included in the content information 1002. The file manager 922 sequentially buffers the data 1004 belonging to the end of the content currently being played and the data 1006 belonging to the front of the next content among the series of contents to be continuously played in the decoding buffer 924. do. As a result, the playback unit 926 can read and play the front portion 1010 of the next content immediately after the completion of the end portion 1008 of the content currently being played back from the decoding buffer 924.

11 illustrates an embodiment of a user interface for playing recorded content according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 11, when a command to play a group is input, the contents 1110 belonging to the group, that is, the "Yi-Shin" files from one to four times, feels that one file is recorded and played. To be played continuously. Therefore, by using the playback function of the group unit, the user does not need to select the next time after watching one time. In addition, the playback information displayed on the playback screen is also displayed in a form similar to playing one content. The user interface for displaying the play information may include a play time and / or information about a current playing position of the plurality of contents belonging to the group. Referring to FIG. 11, a user interface in the form of a bar is used, and the playback time of the content of “Yi Sun Shin” is 1 hour per time and the total playback time of 4 times is 4 hours 1140. In addition, the current playback position may correspond to a point corresponding to 1 hour 10 minutes 1120 and may display the position with a predetermined figure 1150. In addition, the group currently being played has a display 1130 for classifying each content so that the user knows that a total of 4 times of contents have been recorded. Through this user interface, all control regarding playback is possible based on the entire file. For example, when a user watches two times and wants to see one specific position again, as in the case of playing one file, manipulating the user interface plays a desired position of other contents in the group.

12 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a content playback method according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 12, a group play command is first received (S1202). According to the received command, information on a plurality of contents belonging to a group to be reproduced is obtained (S1204). Information about the contents of the group may be obtained by referring to a recording information database, and may include information such as a turn, a file name, and a playing time of each content. In addition, some or all of the contents belonging to one group may be contents stored in one or more remote recording systems. In this case, information about the contents belonging to the group and content files are obtained from the remote recording systems. The plurality of contents are sequentially buffered in the decoding buffer with reference to the obtained content information. At this time, for seamless continuous playback, the front portion of the content to be played next is buffered in the decoding buffer before the reproduction of the content currently being played is completed (S1206). By decoding and reproducing the data buffered in the decoding buffer in this manner, the plurality of contents are seamlessly reproduced as if they were one content (S1208). In addition, a user interface for displaying reproduction information about a plurality of contents may be displayed and provided to the user. The user interface may display information about a playing time of the entire content in the group to be played and a current playing position. In addition, a user interface in the form of a bar representing all of the plurality of contents may be used, but is not limited thereto. Various types of user interfaces may be used. In addition, a mark that distinguishes each content may be displayed on the user interface.

The method according to the present invention as described above can be embodied as computer readable codes on a computer readable recording medium.

So far I looked at the center of the preferred embodiment for the present invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be implemented in a modified form without departing from the essential features of the present invention. Therefore, the disclosed embodiments should be considered in descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. The scope of the present invention is shown in the claims rather than the foregoing description, and all differences within the scope will be construed as being included in the present invention.

According to the configuration of the present invention as described above, not only the local recording system but also the content recorded in the remote recording system can be managed in groups, so that the broadcast contents in the increasingly large-capacity PVR can be efficiently managed and reproduced. .

In addition, the playback function of the group unit allows the user to seamlessly watch recorded broadcast programs continuously.

Claims (13)

In a method of playing a group of content, Obtaining information about a plurality of contents belonging to a group to be played; Reading at least a portion of the next content to be reproduced and buffering it in a decoding buffer before the reproduction of the content currently being played with reference to the obtained information; And continuously playing the plurality of contents by using the data of the decoding buffer. The method of claim 1, And displaying a user interface for displaying and controlling playback information of the plurality of contents. The method of claim 2, The user interface, the content playback method comprising the information on the playback time and the current position of the playback of the entire plurality of content. The method of claim 2, The user interface is a content playback method, characterized in that the bar (Bar) form representing the entire plurality of content. The method of claim 4, wherein The user interface, the content reproduction method characterized in that it comprises a mark for distinguishing each of the contents. The method of claim 1, At least some of the plurality of contents are contents received from at least one remote recording system. A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for performing the method of any one of claims 1 to 6. In the playback device for playing back a group of content, A file manager which acquires information on a plurality of contents belonging to a group to be reproduced from the storage, and reads and buffers at least a portion of the next contents to be reproduced and buffered in a decoding buffer before the reproduction of the contents currently being reproduced is completed with reference to the obtained information. Wow, And a reproducing unit which continuously reproduces the plurality of contents by using the data of the decoding buffer and displays them on a display unit. The method of claim 8, And an interface processing unit which outputs a user interface for displaying and controlling reproduction information of the plurality of contents to the display unit. The method of claim 9, The user interface, Content playback apparatus comprising the information on the playback time and the current location of the plurality of contents of the entire playback. The method of claim 9, The user interface, And a bar form representing the entirety of the plurality of contents. The method of claim 11, The user interface, And a mark for distinguishing each of the contents. The method of claim 8, Further comprising a communication unit for communication with at least one remote recording system connected via a home network, And at least some of the plurality of contents are received from the one or more remote recording systems through the communication unit.

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