CN101103621A

CN101103621A - Method of operating time shift buffers

Info

Publication number: CN101103621A
Application number: CNA200680001975XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: W·范德布鲁格
Original assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV
Current assignee: Koninklijke Philips NV
Priority date: 2005-01-07
Filing date: 2006-01-04
Publication date: 2008-01-09
Also published as: JP2008527828A; KR20070099641A; WO2006072909A3; WO2006072909A2

Abstract

There is described an audiovisual data object storage device (200), said device (200) comprising a storage memory (100) with a part thereof designate for storing audiovisual data objects, said device (200) comprising: (a) an input for receiving audiovisual data at the device (200); (b) a buffer (30) for storing said audiovisual data received at the device (200); and (c) a table of contents (110) for user-presentation, said table (110) comprising references to data objects stored in the device (200), said table of contents (110) including identifiers relating to the data objects and indicative of whether the objects are stored in the buffer (20) or the storage memory (100).

Description

The method of operating time shift buffers

The present invention relates to a kind of method of operating time shift buffers, for example, relate to a kind of TV, wherein buffer is used for interim stored television program content, just audio, video data.In addition, the invention still further relates to and comprise the sort buffer device and according to this method apparatus operating.

The televiewer is current all to use the equipment of video recorder for example or DVD register and so on that programme content is stored so that watch later on, just so that watch in the time that is transferred to spectators' asynchronism(-nization) with TV programme.Because the relatively limited user interface that provides on this register finds that the timetable of organizing suitable being used to write down specific program in actual applications is very difficult, especially in the time will writing down a plurality of program.

In U.S. Patent Application Publication US2002/0168178, a kind of system that is used for receiving media content has been described.This system comprises a memory with logical circuit, a tuner that is used for receiving media content, a buffer that is used for buffer media content, a display that is used for display media content, and a processor, this processor is configured by this logic can not be used to receive the media content of the indicated channel of new request so that determine when this system.Lack utilizable resource in response to having determined in system, use the configurable rule of at least one user, this processor is further determined the lowest priority indicated channel by this logic configuration.In addition, this processor further is configured to stop to receive by this logic and is designated as the media content that has the lowest priority indicated channel in a plurality of reception indicated channels.

The inventor recognizes, with similar with aforesaid video and DVD register, this system user be difficult to use in practice and therefore in addition the user dislike that this difficulty is the technical problem relevant with user-machine interface.When design was of the present invention, the inventor just was intended to solve this technical problem.

An object of the present invention is to provide a kind of method of improved operating time shift buffers.

According to a first aspect of the invention, a kind of method of handling audio, video data in equipment is provided, described audio, video data comprises the audio, video data object, and described equipment comprises wherein a part of designated memory that is used to store the audio, video data object, and described method comprises step:

(a) in this equipment, receive audio, video data;

(b) described audio, video data is stored in the buffer of this equipment; And

(c) user to this equipment provides a contents table, and described table comprises being stored in the reference of the data object in this equipment, described contents table comprise about data object and indicate this to as if be stored in buffer still be in the memory identifier.

The invention has the advantages that it can provide a kind of user interface more directly perceived and wieldy.

Alternatively, this method comprises further step, and rewriting (overwrite) is stored in the data object in the buffer, unless this data object is transferred in the memory from buffer in response to user instruction.Thereby this step makes buffer can remove audio, video data automatically makes buffer can store the audio, video data that newly receives continuously.

Alternatively, thus this method realize like this making buffer become a circular buffer.

Alternatively, in the method, this buffer and memory are realized in a memory together.In addition alternatively, this buffer and memory are implemented in the hard disk drive.

Alternatively, this method comprises further step:

(d) after this equipment receives described data object, with the audio, video data object storage in the buffer up to a time restriction; And subsequently

(e) the described data object in the rewriting buffer is unless this equipment is copied described data object or is transferred in the memory by user's indication from buffer.

Thereby this step makes buffer can remove programme content automatically and buffer can be stored continuously newly receive audio, video data.Advantageously, do not use all memory capacity used, then alternatively the audio, video data that receives is stored than the described time restriction longer time as long as the buffer in the equipment is current.

In addition alternatively, in the method, this time restriction is substantial 6 hours.This time restriction is found to be one in practice at the cost that enough big memory capacity is provided for buffer with whole clauses and subclauses of audio, video data can be stored between wherein the cost gratifying compromise.Yet other values that are used for this time restriction also are possible, for example substantial 3 hours, and 9 hours and 24 hours.

Alternatively, this method further comprises step:

(f) behind this equipment receiving data object, in described equipment, automatically watch data object in response to user this time restriction from buffer copy or data object to memory.

It may be the user's interest audio, video data that this selection makes the user to refer back to, and does not need the user to call the storage of audio, video data in from the buffer to the data storage by contents table especially.

Alternatively, this method further comprises step:

(g) in this equipment, make contents table can and user interactions, thereby make the user can revise be stored in buffer and memory in the relevant identifier of data object at least one.

Alternatively, this method further comprises and is used for showing the step that is stored in the relevant buffer screen of the data object of buffer and memory with collective.

According to a second aspect of the invention, provide a kind of audio, video data object storage equipment, described equipment comprises a designated memory that is used to store the audio, video data object of a part wherein, and described equipment comprises:

(a) input is used for receiving audio, video data at this equipment;

(b) buffer is used for being stored in the described audio, video data that this equipment receives; And

(c) be used for presenting the contents table of (user-presentation) to the user, described table comprises being stored in the reference of the data object in this equipment, described contents table comprise about data object and indicate this to as if to be stored in buffer still be identifier in the memory.

Alternatively, this equipment is embodied as a kind of improved form of TV.

Alternatively, thus this equipment can combine with a TV register in conjunction with TV is provided.

Alternatively, this equipment can be operated so that play and be used for storage and playback audio, video data, for example function of the audio system of programme content.

According to a third aspect of the invention we, provide a kind of software, be used for carrying out according to a first aspect of the invention method at the processor of according to a second aspect of the invention equipment.

According to a forth aspect of the invention, a kind of contents table is provided, comprise at least one title corresponding to the audio, video data object that is write down, described at least one title by with relevant designation data to as if to be stored in a temporary buffer still be that identifier in the memory provides together.

Can recognize these features of the present invention can be at an easy rate under the situation that does not exceed scope of the present invention with the mode combination of various combinations.

With reference to following accompanying drawing, specific embodiments of the invention are only described by way of example, wherein:

Fig. 1 is the schematic diagram of an existing programme content recording equipment, and this equipment for example is similar to the proprietary recording equipment of Philip HDRW720 that comprises the time shift buffer; And

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram according to the embodiment of programme content recording equipment of the present invention.

With reference to figure 1, comprise the buffer 20 that is called as " time shift buffer " by the existing record equipment of the proprietary HDRW720 in the 10 for example Philips of pointing out, be abbreviated as TSB BUF 20.This buffer 20 advantageously utilizes a harddisk memory to realize.This equipment 10 can be operated and be used for from one or more TV broadcast channel 30 by optical fiber link for example, link and/or by wireless transmission method program receiving content, just audio, video data via satellite.In addition, this equipment 10 can be operated the programme content that is used for these one or more TV broadcast channel 30 and be presented on the remote display device with response user's 50 selection, and this remote display device for example is a display screen 40.Alternatively, this display screen 40 is integrated in the equipment 10.The TV that reaches in 6 hour time cycle that this buffer 20 is configured to be used for writing down automatically before taking place at any given time watches; Alternatively, when the memory in the equipment 10 was not filled with data, this time cycle was greater than 6 hours.Configurable in order to make equipment 10 become the user, this equipment 10 can be operated and be used for presenting a series of graphic symbol 60, for example icon or word tag to its user 50 on above-mentioned display screen 40.User 50 can use control appliance 70, and for example remote control hand held television controller comes from graphic symbol 60 to select so that realize from described one or more channel 30 preferred selection to programme content, just to the preferred selection of audio, video data.These graphic symbols 60 are embodied as a TSB horizontal stripe 80 easily on TSB screen (TSB SCR) 90.Graphic symbol 60 can have been represented multiple function, for example, and from TSB screen 90 title or clauses and subclauses the hard disk storage devices (HDD) 100 of filing to a part that also is included as equipment 10.The programme content that is stored in the hard disk storage devices (HDD) 100 is selected in response to the user who makes on TSB screen 90, appears in the contents table about HDD100 (TOC) 110 tabulation that is recorded in the file on the HDD100 just subsequently; The file of record identifies by a contents list 120 that comprises one or more title or clauses and subclauses alternatively.In equipment 10, TSB screen 90 is relevant with the content of TSB BUF20, and TOC 110 is with relevant corresponding to the file entries that can utilize and be stored in the programme content on the HDD 100.Alternatively, TSB BUF 20 is same identical memories with HDD 100.

The inventor recognizes, although the function that above-mentioned TSB BUF20 with user interface that the above-mentioned phy symbol 60 of passing through of being associated with it realizes can provide usefulness for user 50 is found this TSB BUF 20 and the

user interface

60,80,90 that is associated demonstrates a kind of user 50 characteristic of adaptation that need become.These characteristics cause the appearance of the problematic user interface in equipment 10.

Therefore, in one embodiment, the inventor present invention is designed to be the remarkable improvement of equipment 10 as shown in Figure 1; One embodiment of the present of invention are shown as equipment 200 usually in Fig. 2.In equipment 200, can not need TSB screen 90 and related physical symbol 60 the TSB function can be offered user 50.

Different with equipment 10, equipment 200 only uses TOC 100 to present in interim mode and is stored among the TSB BUF 20 temporarily and is stored in programme content among the HDD 100 in more lasting mode.In the TOC 110 of Fig. 2, the clauses and subclauses in the contents list in 120 have related mark 210, and how indication stores interim related-program content.The programme content that a white circle symbol of the clauses and subclauses of contents list 120 for example is used to be associated with described circle symbol to user's 50 indications is permanent, just permanent storage in HDD 100.In addition, a white square symbol of contents list 120 is for example indicated the related-program content that is stored on the HDD 100, the processor that it will be included in the equipment 200 is deleted from HDD 100, and indicating equipment 200 stores programme content among the HDD 100 again unless user 50 takes action.When HDD 100 takes, after widely-used equipment 10, almost often occur, when new content was added among the HDD 100, the record the earliest that is stored among the HDD 100 will be deleted automatically.In addition, black box in contents list 120 is for example indicated in interim mode and is stored in programme content clauses and subclauses among the time buffer-stored TSB BUF20, this programme content is automatically deleted when the above-mentioned 6 hours end cycle by above-mentioned processor, unless the step that user 50 is transmitted and therefore in permanent mode programme content being stored among the HDD 100.At last, the black circle in contents list 120 is for example indicated the current programme content that is being received and recording by channel 30 in the TSB buffer 20.By adopting this method, user 50 is given the memory of this equipment 200, no matter be temporarily or permanent, be described to single TOC 110, wherein the degree characteristic of the interim storage in TSB BUF 20 and hard disk drive (HDD) 100 is presented to the user by the interim storage cue mark 210 that is associated.This internal work with equipment 200 describes to the TOC 110 of user 50 mode and equipment 10 and TSB SCR 90 is easier by comparison and understood by user 50 intuitively, the interface that has more manageability is provided therefore for user 50.

Therefore, in equipment 10, by TSB SCR 90 content of TSB BUF 20 is presented to user 50 as a symbol 60, the catalogue that will be stored in the recorded program content among the HDD 100 by TOC 110 is presented to user 50 as directory items 120.But, in equipment 200, inequality in clauses and subclauses 120 and the accompanying drawing 1, they are presented on the display screen 40 together with the mark 210 of the various data volatility degree of relevant indication.

Alternatively, the clauses and subclauses among the TOC 110 in the equipment 200, just the title of programme content can have different degrees of permanency mutually.Title can protectedly not be wiped free of, for example " locking " stop accidental erasure, perhaps replacedly not protected.Alternatively, a minimum, 6 hours storage duration for example, the part of HDD 100 is preserved for TSB 20 clauses and subclauses, just title.The processor of equipment 200 can be configured to make that if user 50 watches from the programme content of channel 30 inputs, programme content is buffered among the TSB BUF 20 and therefrom and records automatically on the HDD 100.If user 50 thirsts for seeing the TSB title, perhaps blotter is to TSB BUF 20 or be stored among the HDD 100, and user 50 can select title from TOC 110 so.In addition; if user 50 wants to stop the title that is presented among the TOC 110; just; the programme content clauses and subclauses; wiped by processor, user 50 for example can use control appliance 70 to change persistent nature from the given title of temporary storage, just is stored in the title among the TSB BUF 20; for normal or or even protection, just be stored on the HDD 100.

If desired, TSB BUF 20 can, at least can be partly, use the available memory space that on HDD 100, is provided with, make these parts of HDD 100 be configured to be used for a kind of easy mistake random access mode.This TSB BUF 20 is advantageously provided, and makes a TSB title that newly receives rewrite the oldest TSB title automatically.Alternatively, if do not exceed the memory capacity of TSB BUF 20 memory devices and/or HDD 100, equipment 200 can be stored the TSB title above above-mentioned 6 hours.

This equipment 200 can be embodied as an independently unit, and it can be connected on the existing display screen 40, for example as the extra cell of an existing TV.Replacedly, thereby display screen 40 and equipment 200 have the TV that strengthens registering capacity in conjunction with providing in a single box, this ability to call the user be simply and intuitively; Thereby this realization provides the combination of a TV and register.This display screen 40 can easily be embodied as several different modes, wide-screen cathode ray tube for example, plasma display for example, liquid crystal pixel display for example, liquid crystal pixel projection display for example, and the contemporary pixel display of polymer-light-emitting diode display or any other type for example.

Although described the permanent data storage that hard disk drive (HDD) 100 is used for equipment 200, can recognize and to use the data storage of replacing type, the optical data memories such as small-format CD (SFFO) data storage for example, perhaps solid-state FLASH ROM.

The embodiment that can recognize the invention described above can be easy to modify under the situation of the scope of the present invention that does not exceed claim definition subsequently.

Although embodiments of the invention have been described in conjunction with content of TV program in the front, the present invention can also be applied to audio frequency, for example is furnished with the individual MP-3 audio player of time shift memory (TSB).This player not only is equipped with an audio converter and also has a miniscope, and for example miniature pixel liquid crystal display (LCD) is similar to those displays that comprise in the cellular mobile phone.This miniscope is easy to displaying contents table (TOC) 110 in the above described manner.

In the appended claims, numeral in the bracket and symbol are used to help to understand claim rather than to the restriction of the scope of claim.

When explaining book and claims thereof, for example " comprise ", " comprising ", " merging ", " containing ", "Yes" and statements such as " having " explain the not clearly project or the part of definition that just is interpreted as allowing existing other in a kind of non-exclusive mode.Singular reference also will be interpreted as majority and quote, and vice versa.

Claims

1, a kind of method of in equipment (200), handling audio, video data, described audio, video data comprises the audio, video data object, described equipment (200) comprises wherein a part of designated memory (100) that is used to store the audio, video data object, and described method comprises step:

(a) in this equipment (200), receive audio, video data;

(b) described audio, video data is stored in the buffer (20) of this equipment (200), and

(c) user (50) to this equipment (200) provides a contents table (110), described table (110) comprises being stored in the reference of the data object in this equipment (200), described contents table (110) comprise and indication relevant with this data object should to as if be stored in the still identifier in the memory (100) of buffer (20).

2, the method for claim 1, described method comprises further step, rewrites the data object that is stored in the buffer (20), unless this data object is transferred in the memory (100) from buffer (20) in response to user instruction.

3, method according to claim 1, wherein this buffer (20) is a circular buffer.

4, the method for claim 1, wherein this buffer (20) and memory (100) are realized in one and identical physical storage module.

5, method as claimed in claim 4, wherein this physical storage is implemented as a hard disk drive.

6, the method for claim 1 comprises further step:

D) in this equipment (200), receive described data object (30) afterwards, audio, video data object (30) is stored in the buffer (20) up to a time restriction; And subsequently

(e) the described data object (30) in the rewriting buffer (20) is unless this equipment (200) is copied described data object or is transferred in the memory (100) by user's indication from buffer (20).

7, method as claimed in claim 6, time restriction wherein are substantial 6 hours.

8, method as claimed in claim 6 comprises further step:

(f) after this equipment (200) receives data object, in described equipment (200) automatically from buffer (20) copy or data object to memory (100) to watch data object in response to user this time restriction.

9, the method for claim 1 comprises further step:

(g) in this equipment (200), make contents table (110) can and user interactions, thereby make the user can revise be stored in buffer (20) and memory (100) in the identifier that is associated of data object at least one.

10, the method for claim 1 further comprises being used for showing the step that is stored in the relevant buffer screen of the data object of buffer and memory with collective.

11, a kind of audio, video data object storage equipment (200), described equipment (200) comprise a designated memory (100) that is used to store the audio, video data object of a part wherein, and described equipment (200) comprising:

(a) input is used for receiving audio, video data at this equipment (200);

(b) buffer (30) is used for being stored in the described audio, video data that this equipment (200) receives; And

(c) be used for the contents table (110) that presents to the user, described table (110) comprises being stored in the reference of the data object in this equipment (200), described contents table (110) comprise and indication relevant with this data object should to as if be stored in the still identifier in the memory (100) of buffer (20).

12, equipment as claimed in claim 11, wherein this equipment (200) is embodied as a kind of improved form (40) of TV.

13, equipment as claimed in claim 11 (200), wherein this equipment (200) thus can combine with a TV register in conjunction with TV is provided.

14, equipment as claimed in claim 11 (200), this equipment (200) can be operated so that be used from the effect of the audio system of storage and audio playback programme content.

15, a kind of software is used for requiring 1 described method in the processor enforcement of rights of the described equipment of claim 11 (200).

16, a kind of contents table (110), comprise at least one title (120) of audio, video data object corresponding to record, described at least one title (120) and relevant designation data to as if to be stored in a temporary buffer still be that identifier (210) in the memory provides together.