DE102016107206A1 - Method for recording media content by means of a receiving device and a receiving device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for recording media content by means of a receiving device (1) and a receiving device (1), wherein the media content (3) that is recorded is received by at least one program (5), wherein the media content (3) of a Program (5) by means of at least one digital data stream (6) is received, wherein the method comprises a test method (9) for testing at least one storage medium (2) during recording, wherein in the test method (9) at least one indicator (8) is determined to the amount of data (7) written to the storage medium (2).

Description

The invention relates to a method for recording media content by means of a receiving device and a receiving device. The receiving device is designed to receive in particular linear media contents. The solution is suitable for use in the field of television technology.

The receiving device may be, for example, a television set or an external device connected to a flat screen, which is designed for the reception of broadcasting and for the output / reproduction of the picture (including sound) in that a signal provided for it ( for example HDMI) can be provided by the device. However, a receiving device can also be a computer program with and for a TV receiver (for example TV card, TV USB stick), which is set up for broadcast reception. A receiving device can be in the widest sense also a device for radio reception or a comparable device in a motor vehicle.

The invention relates to the recording / recording of media content. Receiving devices are known which are set up for recording media content. For the recording per se, devices are known from the prior art, which can be installed separately from a TV set. These are so-called video recorders (VR). Common are the terms of digital video recorders (DVR) or personal video recorder (PVR). Such video recorders are equally regarded as receiving devices.

The receiving device should be designed such that media content, linear media content (broadcasting) and / or non-linear media content (Internet) can be recorded. The receiving device can therefore be equipped with a radio receiver (receiver) and / or with a connection for a (computer) network. It is further contemplated that the media content is provided to the receiving device. That is, the receiving device may include a connector for a receiver.

It is known to store media data on storage media such as hard drives. Commercially available video recorders or receiving devices have storage media. Recording media data to one or more hard disks is notoriously known.

The storage capacity of the storage media can be considered a problem if the storage capacity is exhausted during recording. There are solutions that affect the media content that is recorded. It can be provided that several recordings are active at the same time ("running") and that a current recording is aborted in order to give priority to another current record. In particular, when recording data streams as in radio recordings (linear media content), it is not readily possible with multiple simultaneous recordings to make a forecast on memory requirements.

So far, qualitative deficiencies in the recording of media content, which occur when a limit or a critical condition is reached, are not recognized. The critical state is initiated when the storage medium can no longer save / store the recordings, namely the data to be stored, in the time in which they are made available to the storage device or the storage medium. The critical state is primarily considered when an excessively large amount of data is provided in time (per unit of time). In other words, for example, the memory / data throughput for the write access to the storage medium can be exhausted.

It can be regarded as a solution need of the invention to recognize the critical state in its existence or in terms of its early entry by means of the receiving device and to meaningfully limit the amount of data provided to the storage medium.

A method according to claim 1 and a receiving device according to claim 9 are proposed. In the dependent claims embodiments are shown.

According to a first embodiment, a method is provided for recording media content by means of a receiving device, wherein the media content that is recorded is received by at least one program, wherein the media content of a program is received by means of at least one digital data stream, the method having a test method for checking at least one storage medium during recording and wherein in the test method at least one indicator is determined to the amount of data written to the storage medium.

According to one embodiment of the method, it is provided that a first indicator is determined by using the status of an intermediate buffer.

According to one embodiment of the method, it is provided that the method comprises a reducing method for reducing the media content, recorded in the reducing method, the amount of digital data streams and / or the amount of programs is reduced.

According to one embodiment of the method, it is provided that the at least one indicator is subjected to a continuous evaluation in which at least a determination is made as to whether a critical state has been reached, wherein in the method when recording and when determining a critical state by means of the test method by means of the reducing method the amount of digital data streams and / or the amount of programs is gradually reduced until the critical state is no longer detected.

According to one embodiment of the method, it is provided that the step-by-step reduction is carried out in such a way that the digital data streams of a program are reduced and then the amount of programs is reduced by this program.

According to one embodiment of the method, it is provided that the step-by-step reduction is carried out in such a way that the first digital data streams of a plurality of programs are reduced, and thereafter the quantity of the programs.

According to an embodiment of the method, it is provided that the step-by-step reduction is performed such that the same (reducing) is applied to the programs in the reverse order as those programs were started recording, so that the last started recordings are first reduced are affected.

According to one embodiment of the method, it is provided that in the reduction method a query is carried out for detecting instructions of an operator for the procedure of the stepwise reduction.

According to a further embodiment, a receiving device is provided for receiving linear media contents, wherein the receiving device is set up to carry out the indicated method with at least one storage medium.

According to an embodiment of the receiving device, it is provided that the storage medium which is provided for carrying out the method is set up and coupled in the receiving device and / or provided in an additional device for coupling to the receiving device.

The invention will be explained with reference to embodiments and accompanying drawings. Show:

1 Procedure - Scheme for receiving device / storage medium

2 Recording schedule

3 receiving device

In the 1 is shown schematically how the inventive method in the receiving device 1 is set up and how the connection to the storage medium 2 represents. There is an example chosen where the storage medium 2 is equipped as a separate device. Similarly, it is possible that the receiving device 1 and the storage medium 2 are set up in a common housing. The receiving device 1 can also be from the recipients 4 be carried out separately such that only one coupling (connection / line) with the receivers 4 is available.

The storage medium 2 will be an extensive amount of data 7 provided. The amount of data 7 is made up of those on a hard disk 21 of the storage medium 2 recordings or recordings to be stored 16 , The records 16 are made with the content as the media content 3 by means of the receiver 4 about the different programs 5 Will be received. The content is about the programs 5 by means of one or more data streams 6 transfer. Such is the fourth program 20 shown by way of example. It is intended that all together or simultaneously received content as recordings 16 in the storage medium 2 stored persistently. The storage medium 2 can save next to a disk 21 also more hard drives 22 exhibit.

For the transport of a data stream 6 can be an intermediate buffer 25 be created and also at least one intermediate buffer 24 for the transport of multiple data streams 6 a program 5 , The intermediate buffer 24 for the data streams 6 a program 5 is to all four programs 5 at least sketched. intermediate buffer 24 for data streams 6 are exemplary at least to the second program 18 and to the fourth program 20 ,

The presentation should also express that at least one status 15 an indicator 8th can be formed. The status 15 may represent the state of an intermediate buffer. The indicator 8th is used in the test procedure 9 , because it is intended that a critical condition 13 of the indicator 8th is recognized. Such recognition can be based on a Threshold or based on a characteristic development of the indicator 8th respectively. The logic for this can be sufficiently complex. It is conceivable that in addition to the indicator 8th a further indicator is formed and further that to a respective intermediate buffer, namely to the intermediate buffer 24 of the program and / or to the intermediate buffer 25 of the data stream (to the program) a status 15 in the test procedure 9 determined and used. For the test procedure 9 is relevant to that critical condition 13 recognized and accordingly by the Reduzierverfahrens 10 on the critical condition 13 is reacted.

The reduction process 10 provides that a reduction can be done gradually. That is, according to the example, in a first reducing step 11 the amount of data 7 only one data stream 6 in the fourth program 20 is reduced. The reduction by another data stream 6 can consecutively repeat the fourth program 20 be repeated. Alternatively, data streams 6 also in the other programs 5 be waived. This means that when reducing an initially received data stream 6 no longer forwarded in the direction of the storage medium 2 , It is further envisaged that in the reduction process 10 after a second reduction step 12 a program, for example the fourth program 20 , is no longer received completely (ie all data streams 6 no more). It may possibly be on data streams 6 omitted, for example, provide additional information such as subtitles or sound for a multilingual playback.

Consequently, it comes to reducing the amount of data 7 , It is a reduced amount of data 23 shown the the amount of data 7 by reducing that in the reduction process 10 a first reduction 11 or a second reduction 12 took place. Due to the reduced amount of data 23 should be a change of the indicator 8th adjust so that the critical condition 13 will leave again. For this purpose (in the procedure) is a continuous assessment 14 initially provided in the test method 9 the indicator 8th is monitored and, where appropriate, in the reduction process 11 the amount of data 7 until the indicator is lowered 8th has an acceptable value.

Based on 2 is the aspect recognizable that multiple records 16 from several programs 5 in progress and / or planned. A first shot 16 became the first program first 17 started (about 03:00) and then to the second program 18 a second shot 16 (about 4:00). This is followed by a third recording 16 to the third program 19 (before 6am) and finally a fourth shot 16 to the fourth program 20 (after 06:00). It is shown to be a critical condition 13 (shortly after 08:00).

The reduction process 10 is implemented in this example such that the program 5 or the associated recording 16 for reducing it is selected which recording 16 last started. Here was the last recording 16 to the fourth program 20 initiated, ie by means of the second Reduzierschrittes 12 is leaving the fourth program 20 or the associated recording 16 from the current records 16 out. It is a matter of execution, whether this record 16 from the storage medium 2 and / or from the hard drive 21 is deleted or not. It may be that when deleting all with the recording 16 linked data are deleted (eg timer).

The reduction takes place according to a logic, the program 20 is selected (or more) and the Reduzierschritt 11 or 12 (Data stream or entire recording). The start time of the recording 16 can be considered as a first criterion. Furthermore, the program slot of the program can be a second criterion, because usually the frequently used programs are located on the "lower" program slots (small values). In addition, the use of at least one third criterion is possible, which is taken from the program information (eg from the EPG data). This may, for example, be information about the genre of the recording 16 act. The indicator 8th can be a fourth criterion.

The logic may be arranged to use only one criterion or a selection thereof. The logic gives the reduction step 11 or 12 before and the program 5 , It may be provided that the logic uses defaults made by an operator / user. This means, for example, that a user has selected a relevant criterion (using input capture, menu, etc.).

With the 3 It should be explained that the method can be used in devices of different types. Shown are a TV set 30 as well as an additional device 31 , The TV 30 is with the additional device 31 by means of a coupling 32 coupled or electrically connected.

After a first example, the additional device 31 for example, a video recorder 31 his and the TV set 30 can the receiver 4 exhibit. The videorecorder 31 can be designed to carry out the method and would therefore be a receiving device 1 in the sense of the indicated solution.

The additional device 31 may also be a so-called "set-top box". That is, then possibly the recipients 4 and the storage medium 2 and the method in the additional device 31 intended. Also in the case represents the additional device 31 a receiving device 1 Furthermore, alternatively, the TV set 30 the indicated means such as the recipient 4 and the method. For the additional device 31 It can be an external hard drive connected to the TV 30 is connected (eg via USB).

For the effectiveness of the indicated solution it could be decisive from which values the indicator 8th is formed and with which logic selbiger is evaluated. The indicator may be arranged to use the level (status) of an intermediate buffer that caches the data when writing to the hard disk (eg, buffered I / O operations) or indicator can be collected regularly by the operating system, hard drives or dedicated controllers can provide various operating parameters.

Furthermore, an intermediate buffer can be used, which is at the beginning of the hard disk 11 or at the beginning of the storage medium 2 or in the receiving device 1 is set up. In terms of logic, besides a simple evaluation based on a threshold value, a trend can also be checked. It may offer a temporal integral over the curve of the indicator 8th to build.

In a further embodiment are intermediate buffers 24 and 25 in the receiving device 1 provided as follows. In the reception facility 1 assign the recipients 4 so-called multiplexer, the at least one program 5 and its data streams 6 provide. In compact data processing units, in a said receiving device 1 Are used, a plurality of electronic components in a semiconductor circuit ("chip") and / or set up on the board. The storage medium 2 concerning an I / O component (eg, SATA, DMA, USB) for reading / writing the storage medium 2 be furnished.

Regarding the intermediate buffer 24 and 25 for a program or for a data stream is the receiving device 1 set up such that the intermediate buffers 24 and 25 are applied between the multiplexer and the I / O component. It may be that the intermediate buffer 24 and 25 are coupled to at least one output of a multiplexer. On the basis of the intermediate buffer can be seen to what extent the incoming data streams from the system (receiving device 1 and storage medium 2 ) are processed over time as a whole. If bottlenecks occur, it is to be expected that the intermediate buffers 24 and 25 be filled and the same possibly with a recognizable tendency.

As a result, the critical condition may be 13 to discontinue or to sign off soon. A status 15 , which is determined to an intermediate buffer can thus be determined within the data processing unit. From the at least one status 15 will be at least one indicator 8th formed, with the indicator 8th Provides a value that is the result of processing and / or logically linking multiple values (eg, status).

In a further embodiment, the reduction can be part of a control loop. That is, the control circuit has means for reducing. In the control loop, both reduction and inverse reduction may be established. The reverse reduction is done so that subsequently the last reduction step 11 or 12 will be annulled. Consequently, the transmission of the last interrupted data stream 6 continued or the last interrupted recording 16 , It is advisable to record the history of the reduction in the reduction process.

For example, the logic may be of the form that a last performed second reduction step 11 causes all subtitles to be unrecorded for all programs assigned to a program location greater than "20". It is possible that the indicator 8th is included as a criterion (eg ... after two seconds buffer overflow). For example, after the indicator 8th has taken an uncritical value or history, the logic causes the recording to continue with subtitles.

The logic can use presets entered by an operator. Subtitles are uninteresting to him. He regularly records sports programs (genre: sports) such as car racing, because it fascinates him more than subtitles.

In another embodiment, the media content being recorded may be received by at least two programs.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

receiver

2

storage medium

3

 Media content (linear / non-linear)

4

receiver

5

program

6

data stream

7

 Amount of data (amount of data / data streams / recordings)

8th

indicator

9

test methods

10

reduction method

11

 first reduction (first reduction step)

12

 second reduction (second reduction step)

13

critical condition

14

continuous evaluation

15

 Status (of an intermediate buffer)

16

Record (s) / Recording (s)

17

 first program (first recording)

18

 second program (second recording)

19

 third program (third recording)

20

 fourth program (fourth recording)

21

hard disk

22

another hard drive

23

reduced amount of data

24

 Intermediate buffer (program)

25

 Intermediate buffer (data stream)

30

TV

31

additional device

32

coupling

Claims (10)

Method for recording media content by means of a receiving device ( 1 ), whereby the media content ( 3 ) recorded by at least one program ( 5 ), whereby the media content ( 3 ) of a program ( 5 ) by means of at least one digital data stream ( 6 ), the method being a test method ( 9 ) for testing at least one storage medium ( 2 ) during recording, whereby in the test procedure ( 9 ) at least one indicator ( 8th ) is determined to the amount of data ( 7 ) on the storage medium ( 2 ) to be written. Method according to claim 1, wherein a first indicator ( 8th ) by determining that the status ( 15 ) of an intermediate buffer ( 24 . 25 ) is used. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the method comprises a reducing method ( 10 ) to reduce the media content ( 3 ) recorded, wherein in the reduction process ( 10 ) the amount of digital data streams ( 6 ) and / or the amount of programs ( 5 ) is reduced. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the at least one indicator ( 8th ) of a continuous evaluation ( 14 ), which at least determines whether a critical condition ( 13 ), wherein in the method of recording and determining a critical condition ( 13 ) by means of the examination procedure ( 9 ) by means of the reduction process ( 10 ) the amount of digital data streams ( 6 ) and / or the amount of programs ( 5 ) is gradually reduced until the critical state ( 13 ) is no longer detected. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the stepwise reducing ( 11 . 12 ) is executed such that the digital data streams ( 6 ) of a program ( 20 ) and then the number of programs ( 5 ) to this program ( 20 ) is reduced. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the stepwise reducing ( 11 . 12 ) is executed such that the first digital data streams ( 6 ) of several programs ( 5 ) and then the number of programs ( 5 ). Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the stepwise reducing ( 11 . 12 ) is carried out in such a way that the same with respect to the programs ( 5 ) is applied in the reverse order to those programs ( 5 ) recording was started so that the last started recordings ( 16 ) first of reducing ( 11 . 12 ) are affected. Method according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein in the reducing process ( 10 ) a query is executed to capture an operator's instructions for the stepwise reduction process ( 11 . 12 ). Receiving device for receiving linear media contents, wherein the receiving device ( 1 ) is arranged to carry out the method according to one of claims 1 to 8 with at least one storage medium ( 2 ). Receiving device according to claim 9, wherein the storage medium ( 2 ) provided for carrying out the method, in the receiving device ( 1 ) and / or in an additional device ( 31 ) for coupling with the receiving device ( 1 ).

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