EP2123031A1 - Interactive contents reproduction system and method - Google Patents

Interactive contents reproduction system and method

Info

Publication number
EP2123031A1
EP2123031A1 EP08712475A EP08712475A EP2123031A1 EP 2123031 A1 EP2123031 A1 EP 2123031A1 EP 08712475 A EP08712475 A EP 08712475A EP 08712475 A EP08712475 A EP 08712475A EP 2123031 A1 EP2123031 A1 EP 2123031A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
contents
control message
application
reproduce
reproducing
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
EP08712475A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2123031A4 (en
Inventor
Hwan-Hyo Park
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Alticast Corp
Original Assignee
Alticast Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Alticast Corp filed Critical Alticast Corp
Publication of EP2123031A1 publication Critical patent/EP2123031A1/en
Publication of EP2123031A4 publication Critical patent/EP2123031A4/en
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
    • H04N21/435—Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04F—FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS
    • E04F15/00—Flooring
    • E04F15/02—Flooring or floor layers composed of a number of similar elements
    • E04F15/02044—Separate elements for fastening to an underlayer
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04H—BROADCAST COMMUNICATION
    • H04H20/00—Arrangements for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast
    • H04H20/38—Arrangements for distribution where lower stations, e.g. receivers, interact with the broadcast
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04H—BROADCAST COMMUNICATION
    • H04H20/00—Arrangements for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast
    • H04H20/40—Arrangements for broadcast specially adapted for accumulation-type receivers
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04H—BROADCAST COMMUNICATION
    • H04H20/00—Arrangements for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast
    • H04H20/86—Arrangements characterised by the broadcast information itself
    • H04H20/91—Arrangements characterised by the broadcast information itself broadcasting computer programmes
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04H—BROADCAST COMMUNICATION
    • H04H60/00—Arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linking to broadcast information or broadcast space-time; Broadcast-related systems
    • H04H60/27—Arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/23—Processing of content or additional data; Elementary server operations; Server middleware
    • H04N21/235—Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/41—Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
    • H04N21/414—Specialised client platforms, e.g. receiver in car or embedded in a mobile appliance
    • H04N21/4147—PVR [Personal Video Recorder]
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
    • H04N21/433—Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request, caching operations
    • H04N21/4331—Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
    • H04N21/433—Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request, caching operations
    • H04N21/4333—Processing operations in response to a pause request
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
    • H04N21/434—Disassembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. demultiplexing audio and video streams, extraction of additional data from a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Extraction or processing of SI; Disassembling of packetised elementary stream
    • H04N21/4347—Demultiplexing of several video streams
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
    • H04N21/434—Disassembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. demultiplexing audio and video streams, extraction of additional data from a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Extraction or processing of SI; Disassembling of packetised elementary stream
    • H04N21/4348—Demultiplexing of additional data and video streams
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/47—End-user applications
    • H04N21/475—End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. personal identification number [PIN], preference data
    • H04N21/4758—End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. personal identification number [PIN], preference data for providing answers, e.g. voting
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/80—Generation or processing of content or additional data by content creator independently of the distribution process; Content per se
    • H04N21/83—Generation or processing of protective or descriptive data associated with content; Content structuring
    • H04N21/845—Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments
    • H04N21/8455—Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments involving pointers to the content, e.g. pointers to the I-frames of the video stream
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/80—Generation or processing of content or additional data by content creator independently of the distribution process; Content per se
    • H04N21/83—Generation or processing of protective or descriptive data associated with content; Content structuring
    • H04N21/845—Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments
    • H04N21/8456—Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N5/00—Details of television systems
    • H04N5/76—Television signal recording
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04F—FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS
    • E04F15/00—Flooring
    • E04F15/02—Flooring or floor layers composed of a number of similar elements
    • E04F15/02044—Separate elements for fastening to an underlayer
    • E04F2015/0205—Separate elements for fastening to an underlayer with load-supporting elongated furring elements between the flooring elements and the underlayer
    • E04F2015/02055—Separate elements for fastening to an underlayer with load-supporting elongated furring elements between the flooring elements and the underlayer with additional supporting elements between furring elements and underlayer
    • E04F2015/02061—Separate elements for fastening to an underlayer with load-supporting elongated furring elements between the flooring elements and the underlayer with additional supporting elements between furring elements and underlayer adjustable perpendicular to the underlayer
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16B—DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING
    • F16B5/00—Joining sheets or plates, e.g. panels, to one another or to strips or bars parallel to them
    • F16B5/08—Joining sheets or plates, e.g. panels, to one another or to strips or bars parallel to them by means of welds or the like
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04H—BROADCAST COMMUNICATION
    • H04H40/00—Arrangements specially adapted for receiving broadcast information
    • H04H40/18—Arrangements characterised by circuits or components specially adapted for receiving
    • H04H40/27—Arrangements characterised by circuits or components specially adapted for receiving specially adapted for broadcast systems covered by groups H04H20/53 - H04H20/95

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a contents reproduction system and, more specifically to a personal video recorder capable of reproducing contents in an interactive manner in response to a user's request.
  • a personal video recorder is a device that offers a viewer real-time or reservation recording of video while the viewer watches TV.
  • a personal video recorder can be classified into a digital video recorder (DVR), a personal television receiver (PTR), a personal video station (PVS), and a hard disk recorder (HDR) according to its manufacturer or recording medium.
  • DVR digital video recorder
  • PTR personal television receiver
  • PVS personal video station
  • HDR hard disk recorder
  • these personal video recorders can record broadcasting programs in a digital format and reproduce the recorded broadcasting programs like live broadcasting programs.
  • the present invention has been designed to overcome the above problem, and an object of the present invention provides receiving an application, contents, and a control message from a digital broadcasting device, stores the contents in response to the control message, and reproduces the stored contents in an interactive manner in request to a viewer's request.
  • an interactive contents reproduction system includes a digital broadcasting device broadcasting an application, contents, and a control message over a communication path; and a personal video recorder receiving the application, the contents, and the control message broadcast over the communication path, and driving the application, wherein the application reproduces the contents in an interactive manner in response to the control message and a viewer's key input command.
  • the personal video recorder includes a receiving unit receiving the application, the contents, and the control message; a storing unit storing the contents; a reproducing unit reproducing contents provided from the receiving unit or contents stored at the storing unit; and a controller driving the application, wherein the application may pause to reproduce the contents, store the contents, and enable the reproducing unit to selectively reproduce the contents provided from the receiving unit and the contents stored at the storing unit in response to the control message or a viewer's key input command.
  • the control message includes information on when to pause and resume the reproduction of the contents.
  • the application may pause to reproduce the contents at a point of time when the receiving unit receives the control message and enable the reproducing unit to reproduce the stored contents in response to the key input command.
  • the control message includes information on time-out to pause to reproduce the contents, and the application pauses to reproduce the contents at a point of time when the receiving unit receives the control message and enables the reproducing unit to reproduce the stored contents using the information on time-out.
  • the control message further includes location information of additional contents, and the application enables the reproducing unit to reproduce the additional contents using the location information of the additional contents while pausing to reproduce the contents.
  • the control message further includes bookmark region information of the contents, and the application stores part of the contents corresponding to the bookmark region of the contents in response to another viewer's key input command, and reproduce the part of the contents using the bookmark region information of the contents.
  • a method of interactively reproducing contents includes (a) receiving an application, contents, and a control message broadcast from a digital broadcasting device over a specific channel; (b) driving the application and reproducing the contents by a personal video recorder; (c) pausing to reproduce the contents and storing the contents in response to the control message; and (d) reproducing the stored contents in response to the control message or a viewer's key input command.
  • the personal video recorder of the present invention may receive an application, contents, and a PVR control message from a digital broadcasting device to reproduce the contents in an interactive manner in response to a viewer's request.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary network configuration of an interactive contents reproduction system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a personal video recorder shown in FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a method of reproducing contents using an interactive contents reproduction system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary network configuration of an interactive contents reproduction system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
  • the interactive contents reproduction system includes a digital broadcasting device 10 and a personal video recorder 24.
  • the digital broadcasting device 10 broadcasts an application, contents, and a PVR control message to the personal video recorder 24 via a communication path 14.
  • the PVR control message may serve as a criterion for judging when the personal video recorder 24 will pause to reproduce the contents.
  • the PVR control message may include time-out information on resuming the paused contents reproduction.
  • the application, the contents, and the PVR control message may be pre-registered in the digital broadcasting device 10 by a contents provider.
  • the communication path 14 may include a satellite link, a cable link, an optical fiber link, a microwave link, a telephone network link, an internet link, and a combination thereof.
  • the communication path 14 includes a return path over which a key input command is transmitted by a viewer from the personal video recorder 24 to the digital broadcasting device 10.
  • PVR control message are loaded on a carrier corresponding to a specific channel and then broadcast by an antenna 12.
  • the personal video recorder 24 receives the application, the contents, and the PVR control message via an antenna 20. When a specific channel is selected by a viewer, the personal video recorder 24 activates the application and reproduces the contents. The application pauses to reproduce the contents in response to the PVR control message, stores the contents, and interactively reproduces the stored contents in response to a key input command generated by the viewer pressing a remote controller or key input unit.
  • the personal video recorder 24 may be provided integrally with a television or separately from a TV as a separate set-top box.
  • the PVR control message may be broadcast in a real-time control message triggering method or a metadata broadcasting method.
  • the real-time control message triggering method transmits the PVR control message, which contains information on when to pause or resume the contents reproduction, to the personal video recorder 24 in synchronization with the transmission of the PVR control message.
  • the metadata broadcasting method transmits meta data, which contains information on when to pause or resume the contents reproduction, to the personal video recorder 24.
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the personal video recorder 24 shown in FIG. 1.
  • the personal video recorder 24 includes a receiving unit 26, a reproducing unit 28, a storing unit 30, a key input unit 32, a remote controller signal receiving unit 34, and a controller 36.
  • the receiving unit 26 receives an application, contents, and a
  • PVR control message transmitted from the digital broadcasting device 10 over a specific channel, and provides the contents to the reproducing unit 28, and the application and the PVR control message to the controller 36 under control of the controller 36.
  • the reproducing unit 28 reproduces and outputs the contents received from the receiver 26 as video signals and audio signals under control of the controller 36. Also, the reproducing unit 28 stores the contents received from the receiver 26 at the storing unit 30 and reproduces the stored contents as video signals and audio signals under control of the controller 36.
  • the video signals are sent to a displaying device (not shown), which in turn outputs the video signals as visual images.
  • the audio signals are sent to a sound processor (not shown), which in turn outputs the audio signals as audible sounds.
  • the storing unit 30 stores the contents provided from the reproducing unit 28 and provides the pre-stored contents to the reproducing unit 28 under control of the controller 36.
  • the storing unit 30 may include a hard disc driver (HDD) and a flash memory driver.
  • the key input unit 32 provides a viewer's key input command to the controller 36.
  • the remote controller signal receiving unit 34 provides a key input command received by the viewer from the remote controller 22 to the controller 36.
  • the key input command includes a resuming command, which enables the contents stored at the storing unit 30 to be reproduced, and a channel selection command.
  • the controller 36 performs the channel selection command provided from the key input unit 32 or the remote controller signal receiving unit 34 to enable the reproducing unit 28 to reproduce the contents.
  • the controller 36 loads and activates the application provided from the receiver 26.
  • the application loaded on the controller 36 pauses to reproduce the contents at a point of time where the receiver 26 receives the PVR control message, and controls the reproducing unit 28 so that the contents provided from the receiver 26 are stored at the storing unit 30.
  • the application reproduces the contents stored at the storing unit 30 or other additional contents in response to the time-out information of the PVR control message or a key input command entered by a viewer.
  • the personal video recorder 24 may pause to reproduce contents and store contents received after the pause in response to the PVR control message, and interactively reproduce the contents in response to the time-out information of the PVR control message or a resuming command entered by the viewer.
  • Metadata may contain the below information:
  • Base time refers to contents reproduction start time
  • # of control data refers to the number of times during which the application controls data
  • Offset refers to an offset at “Base time”.
  • Control type refers to a type in which the contents are reproduced.
  • Control type may include "ACTION” and "TIMEOUT”.
  • ACTION means waiting for a key input command from a viewer
  • TIMEOUT means waiting for the lapse of a preset time period.
  • Keycode of Action is a key code corresponding to a key input command entered by a viewer.
  • URL of Additional Content is a URL of additional contents according to a key input command.
  • Return media Offset refers to a location of return contents after an action corresponding to a key input command.
  • Associated media (Start Offset ⁇ End Offset) refers to a bookmark region of contents associated with an action corresponding to a key input command.
  • Descriptors of Action refers to additional information of an application on a specific action.
  • Descriptors of Control data refers to additional information on each control.
  • Descriptors refers to additional information on metadata.
  • the application driven by the controller 36 may provide a viewer with additional contents according to an action corresponding to the viewer's key input command using "URL of Additional Content".
  • the application stores contents under broadcasting at the storing unit 30 while providing the additional contents to the viewer.
  • the application reproduces the contents stored at the storing unit 30 using a return media offset of the contents. That is, the application can provide additional contents during a certain situation that waits for a key input command from a viewer or time-out.
  • additional contents such as a motion image or description for solving the quiz
  • the additional contents may be received from an additional contents server (not shown) which supports two-way communication through the personal video recorder and return path.
  • the application driven by the controller 36 may store a bookmark region of contents and reproduce the contents according to an action corresponding to a viewer's key input command using "Associated media (start offset ⁇ end offset)". That is, the application may store part of broadcasting contents at a certain buffer (not shown) of the controller 36 in response to a viewer's key input command and then restore a location of a PVR control message when pausing/resuming is performed.
  • the digital broadcasting device 10 may provide the personal video recorder 24 with the PVR control message containing information on part of a motion image, i.e. media clip, corresponding to answer to a quiz.
  • the personal video recorder 24 may store the media clip corresponding to the answer to the quiz when a viewer gives a wrong answer to the quiz and, after the end of the quiz, reproduces the stored media clip to the viewer.
  • FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a method of reproducing contents using an interactive contents reproduction system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
  • the controller 36 controls a receiving channel of the receiving unit 26 in response to a channel selection command provided from the key input unit 32 or the remote controller signal receiving unit 34 receiving a signal from a remote controller 22 (Step SlO).
  • the receiving unit 26 selects a receiving channel under control of the controller 36, and receives an application, contents, and a PVR control message from the digital broadcasting device 10 over the selected receiving channel.
  • the controller 36 loads the application received from the receiving unit 26 and activates the application, and makes the PVR control message operate in association with the application (Step S 12).
  • the controller 36 controls the contents reproduction interactively with a viewer through the application (Steps S 14 to S20).
  • the controller 36 determines whether to pause to reproduce the contents based on the PVR control message (Step S 14). When determining not to pause to reproduce the contents, the controller 36 enables the reproducing unit 28 to reproduce the contents (Step S 16).
  • the controller 36 When determining to pause to reproduce the contents, the controller 36 enables the reproducing unit 28 and the storing unit 30 to store the contents reproduced by the reproducing unit 28 at the storing unit 30 (Step S 18).
  • the controller 36 determines whether there is provided a key input command from a viewer or time-out occurs (Step S20), and enables the storing unit 30 and the reproducing unit 28 to keep storing the contents additional contents until a key input command is provided from the viewer or time-out occurs (Step S 18). If a key input command is provided from the viewer or time-out occurs, the additional contents are reproduced (Step S22).
  • a key input command such as a resuming command
  • time-out occurs to escape from a pause state and there is indicated a location to which the contents will return
  • the controller 36 enables the reproducing unit 28 to access and reproduce the contents stored at the storing unit 30 using the location.
  • the controller 36 may store a bookmark region of the contents according to an action corresponding to a viewer's key input command when the reproduction of the contents pauses, and, as time-out occurs or another key input command is provided from the viewer, reproduce the bookmark region of the stored contents as additional contents for the viewer.
  • the method of interactively reproducing contents may be implemented as a computer program which can be read by an interactive contents reproduction system and stored at recording medium.
  • the recording medium may include CR-ROMs, RAMs, ROMs, floppy disks, hard disks, magneto-optical disks, and Memory Sticks®.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
  • Television Signal Processing For Recording (AREA)
  • Two-Way Televisions, Distribution Of Moving Picture Or The Like (AREA)

Abstract

The present invention relates to an interactive contents reproduction system, which receives an application, contents, and a control message from a digital broadcasting device, stores the contents in response to the control message, and reproduces the stored contents in an interactive manner in response to a viewer's rquest.

Description

Description
INTERACTIVE CONTENTS REPRODUCTION SYSTEM AND
METHOD
Technical Field
[1] The present invention relates to a contents reproduction system and, more specifically to a personal video recorder capable of reproducing contents in an interactive manner in response to a user's request. Background Art
[2] A personal video recorder (PVR) is a device that offers a viewer real-time or reservation recording of video while the viewer watches TV. A personal video recorder can be classified into a digital video recorder (DVR), a personal television receiver (PTR), a personal video station (PVS), and a hard disk recorder (HDR) according to its manufacturer or recording medium. Unlike general analogue recorders, these personal video recorders can record broadcasting programs in a digital format and reproduce the recorded broadcasting programs like live broadcasting programs.
[3] However, conventional personal video recorders could not provide a viewer an interactive reproduction function. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem
[4] The present invention has been designed to overcome the above problem, and an object of the present invention provides receiving an application, contents, and a control message from a digital broadcasting device, stores the contents in response to the control message, and reproduces the stored contents in an interactive manner in request to a viewer's request. Technical Solution
[5] To accomplish the object, an interactive contents reproduction system according to the present invention includes a digital broadcasting device broadcasting an application, contents, and a control message over a communication path; and a personal video recorder receiving the application, the contents, and the control message broadcast over the communication path, and driving the application, wherein the application reproduces the contents in an interactive manner in response to the control message and a viewer's key input command.
[6] The personal video recorder includes a receiving unit receiving the application, the contents, and the control message; a storing unit storing the contents; a reproducing unit reproducing contents provided from the receiving unit or contents stored at the storing unit; and a controller driving the application, wherein the application may pause to reproduce the contents, store the contents, and enable the reproducing unit to selectively reproduce the contents provided from the receiving unit and the contents stored at the storing unit in response to the control message or a viewer's key input command.
[7] The control message includes information on when to pause and resume the reproduction of the contents.
[8] The application may pause to reproduce the contents at a point of time when the receiving unit receives the control message and enable the reproducing unit to reproduce the stored contents in response to the key input command.
[9] The control message includes information on time-out to pause to reproduce the contents, and the application pauses to reproduce the contents at a point of time when the receiving unit receives the control message and enables the reproducing unit to reproduce the stored contents using the information on time-out.
[10] The control message further includes location information of additional contents, and the application enables the reproducing unit to reproduce the additional contents using the location information of the additional contents while pausing to reproduce the contents.
[11] The control message further includes bookmark region information of the contents, and the application stores part of the contents corresponding to the bookmark region of the contents in response to another viewer's key input command, and reproduce the part of the contents using the bookmark region information of the contents.
[12] A method of interactively reproducing contents according to the present invention includes (a) receiving an application, contents, and a control message broadcast from a digital broadcasting device over a specific channel; (b) driving the application and reproducing the contents by a personal video recorder; (c) pausing to reproduce the contents and storing the contents in response to the control message; and (d) reproducing the stored contents in response to the control message or a viewer's key input command.
Advantageous Effects
[13] The personal video recorder of the present invention may receive an application, contents, and a PVR control message from a digital broadcasting device to reproduce the contents in an interactive manner in response to a viewer's request. Brief Description of the Drawings
[14] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary network configuration of an interactive contents reproduction system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[15] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a personal video recorder shown in FIG. 1. [16] FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a method of reproducing contents using an interactive contents reproduction system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
[17] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail.The invention is described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set for the herein.
[18] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary network configuration of an interactive contents reproduction system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[19] Referring to FIG. 1, the interactive contents reproduction system includes a digital broadcasting device 10 and a personal video recorder 24.
[20] The digital broadcasting device 10 broadcasts an application, contents, and a PVR control message to the personal video recorder 24 via a communication path 14. The PVR control message may serve as a criterion for judging when the personal video recorder 24 will pause to reproduce the contents. The PVR control message may include time-out information on resuming the paused contents reproduction. The application, the contents, and the PVR control message may be pre-registered in the digital broadcasting device 10 by a contents provider.
[21] Although a wireless link is shown in FIG. 1 as the communication path 14, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the communication path 14 may include a satellite link, a cable link, an optical fiber link, a microwave link, a telephone network link, an internet link, and a combination thereof. The communication path 14 includes a return path over which a key input command is transmitted by a viewer from the personal video recorder 24 to the digital broadcasting device 10.
[22] Hereinafter, a case will be described where the application, the contents, and the
PVR control message are loaded on a carrier corresponding to a specific channel and then broadcast by an antenna 12.
[23] The personal video recorder 24 receives the application, the contents, and the PVR control message via an antenna 20. When a specific channel is selected by a viewer, the personal video recorder 24 activates the application and reproduces the contents. The application pauses to reproduce the contents in response to the PVR control message, stores the contents, and interactively reproduces the stored contents in response to a key input command generated by the viewer pressing a remote controller or key input unit. The personal video recorder 24 may be provided integrally with a television or separately from a TV as a separate set-top box.
[24] The PVR control message may be broadcast in a real-time control message triggering method or a metadata broadcasting method. The real-time control message triggering method transmits the PVR control message, which contains information on when to pause or resume the contents reproduction, to the personal video recorder 24 in synchronization with the transmission of the PVR control message. The metadata broadcasting method transmits meta data, which contains information on when to pause or resume the contents reproduction, to the personal video recorder 24.
[25] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the personal video recorder 24 shown in FIG. 1.
Referring to FIG. 2, the personal video recorder 24 includes a receiving unit 26, a reproducing unit 28, a storing unit 30, a key input unit 32, a remote controller signal receiving unit 34, and a controller 36.
[26] More specifically, the receiving unit 26 receives an application, contents, and a
PVR control message transmitted from the digital broadcasting device 10 over a specific channel, and provides the contents to the reproducing unit 28, and the application and the PVR control message to the controller 36 under control of the controller 36.
[27] The reproducing unit 28 reproduces and outputs the contents received from the receiver 26 as video signals and audio signals under control of the controller 36. Also, the reproducing unit 28 stores the contents received from the receiver 26 at the storing unit 30 and reproduces the stored contents as video signals and audio signals under control of the controller 36. The video signals are sent to a displaying device (not shown), which in turn outputs the video signals as visual images. The audio signals are sent to a sound processor (not shown), which in turn outputs the audio signals as audible sounds.
[28] The storing unit 30 stores the contents provided from the reproducing unit 28 and provides the pre-stored contents to the reproducing unit 28 under control of the controller 36. The storing unit 30 may include a hard disc driver (HDD) and a flash memory driver.
[29] The key input unit 32 provides a viewer's key input command to the controller 36.
The remote controller signal receiving unit 34 provides a key input command received by the viewer from the remote controller 22 to the controller 36. The key input command includes a resuming command, which enables the contents stored at the storing unit 30 to be reproduced, and a channel selection command.
[30] The controller 36 performs the channel selection command provided from the key input unit 32 or the remote controller signal receiving unit 34 to enable the reproducing unit 28 to reproduce the contents. The controller 36 loads and activates the application provided from the receiver 26. [31] The application loaded on the controller 36 pauses to reproduce the contents at a point of time where the receiver 26 receives the PVR control message, and controls the reproducing unit 28 so that the contents provided from the receiver 26 are stored at the storing unit 30. The application reproduces the contents stored at the storing unit 30 or other additional contents in response to the time-out information of the PVR control message or a key input command entered by a viewer.
[32] The personal video recorder 24 may pause to reproduce contents and store contents received after the pause in response to the PVR control message, and interactively reproduce the contents in response to the time-out information of the PVR control message or a resuming command entered by the viewer.
[33] Hereinafter, metadata which are broadcast in the metadata broadcasting method will be described in more detail. Metadata may contain the below information:
[34] Base time
[35] # of control data
[36] For (i==0; i < # of control data; i++)
[37] { Offset;
[38] Control type;
[39] Timeout;
[40] Return URL
[41] # of Action;
[42] For(j==0; j < # of Action; j++)
[43] { Key code of Action;
[44] URL of Additional Content;
[45] Return media Offset
[46] Associated media(Start Offset ~ End Offset)
[47] Descriptors of Action;
[48] }
[49] Descriptors of Control data
[50] }
[51] Descriptors
[52] where, the term "Base time" refers to contents reproduction start time, the term "# of control data" refers to the number of times during which the application controls data, and the term "Offset" refers to an offset at "Base time". The term "Control type" refers to a type in which the contents are reproduced. "Control type" may include "ACTION" and "TIMEOUT". "ACTION" means waiting for a key input command from a viewer, "TIMEOUT" means waiting for the lapse of a preset time period.
[53] The term "Timeout" is a prescribed time period. The term "Return URL" is a URL
(Uniform Resource Locator) of a server which will transmit a key input command from a viewer through a return path. The term "# of Action" defines an application operation corresponding to a key input command.
[54] The term "Keycode of Action" is a key code corresponding to a key input command entered by a viewer. The term "URL of Additional Content" is a URL of additional contents according to a key input command. The term "Return media Offset" refers to a location of return contents after an action corresponding to a key input command.
[55] The term "Associated media (Start Offset ~ End Offset) refers to a bookmark region of contents associated with an action corresponding to a key input command. The term "Descriptors of Action" refers to additional information of an application on a specific action. The term "Descriptors of Control data" refers to additional information on each control. The term "Descriptors" refers to additional information on metadata.
[56] The application driven by the controller 36 may provide a viewer with additional contents according to an action corresponding to the viewer's key input command using "URL of Additional Content". The application stores contents under broadcasting at the storing unit 30 while providing the additional contents to the viewer.
[57] When the additional contents ends being provided by time-out or stops being provided by a key input command entered by a viewer, the application reproduces the contents stored at the storing unit 30 using a return media offset of the contents. That is, the application can provide additional contents during a certain situation that waits for a key input command from a viewer or time-out.
[58] For example, in case of a quiz program, additional contents, such as a motion image or description for solving the quiz, could be downloaded via a communication path to a viewer who gave a wrong answer. The additional contents may be received from an additional contents server (not shown) which supports two-way communication through the personal video recorder and return path.
[59] And, the application driven by the controller 36 may store a bookmark region of contents and reproduce the contents according to an action corresponding to a viewer's key input command using "Associated media (start offset ~ end offset)". That is, the application may store part of broadcasting contents at a certain buffer (not shown) of the controller 36 in response to a viewer's key input command and then restore a location of a PVR control message when pausing/resuming is performed.
[60] The digital broadcasting device 10 may provide the personal video recorder 24 with the PVR control message containing information on part of a motion image, i.e. media clip, corresponding to answer to a quiz. The personal video recorder 24 may store the media clip corresponding to the answer to the quiz when a viewer gives a wrong answer to the quiz and, after the end of the quiz, reproduces the stored media clip to the viewer. [61] FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a method of reproducing contents using an interactive contents reproduction system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[62] Referring to FIG. 3, the controller 36 controls a receiving channel of the receiving unit 26 in response to a channel selection command provided from the key input unit 32 or the remote controller signal receiving unit 34 receiving a signal from a remote controller 22 (Step SlO). The receiving unit 26 selects a receiving channel under control of the controller 36, and receives an application, contents, and a PVR control message from the digital broadcasting device 10 over the selected receiving channel.
[63] The controller 36 loads the application received from the receiving unit 26 and activates the application, and makes the PVR control message operate in association with the application (Step S 12).
[64] The controller 36 controls the contents reproduction interactively with a viewer through the application (Steps S 14 to S20).
[65] More specifically, the controller 36 determines whether to pause to reproduce the contents based on the PVR control message (Step S 14). When determining not to pause to reproduce the contents, the controller 36 enables the reproducing unit 28 to reproduce the contents (Step S 16).
[66] When determining to pause to reproduce the contents, the controller 36 enables the reproducing unit 28 and the storing unit 30 to store the contents reproduced by the reproducing unit 28 at the storing unit 30 (Step S 18). The controller 36 determines whether there is provided a key input command from a viewer or time-out occurs (Step S20), and enables the storing unit 30 and the reproducing unit 28 to keep storing the contents additional contents until a key input command is provided from the viewer or time-out occurs (Step S 18). If a key input command is provided from the viewer or time-out occurs, the additional contents are reproduced (Step S22).
[67] If a key input command, such as a resuming command, is provided from the viewer or time-out occurs to escape from a pause state and there is indicated a location to which the contents will return, then the controller 36 enables the reproducing unit 28 to access and reproduce the contents stored at the storing unit 30 using the location.
[68] In addition, the controller 36 may store a bookmark region of the contents according to an action corresponding to a viewer's key input command when the reproduction of the contents pauses, and, as time-out occurs or another key input command is provided from the viewer, reproduce the bookmark region of the stored contents as additional contents for the viewer.
[69] The method of interactively reproducing contents may be implemented as a computer program which can be read by an interactive contents reproduction system and stored at recording medium. The recording medium may include CR-ROMs, RAMs, ROMs, floppy disks, hard disks, magneto-optical disks, and Memory Sticks®.
[70] Although the present invention has been described with reference to certain exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and variations may be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention defined in the appended claims, and their equivalents.
[71]
[72]

Claims

Claims
[1] An interactive contents reproduction system comprising: a digital broadcasting device broadcasting an application, contents, and a control message over a communication path; and a personal video recorder receiving the application, the contents, and the control message broadcast over the communication path, and driving the application, wherein the application reproduces the contents in an interactive manner in response to the control message and a viewer's key input command.
[2] The interactive contents reproduction system of claim 1, wherein the personal video recorder comprises, a receiving unit receiving the application, the contents, and the control message; a storing unit storing the contents; a reproducing unit reproducing contents provided from the receiving unit or contents stored at the storing unit; and a controller driving the application, wherein the application pauses to reproduce the contents, stores the contents, and enables the reproducing unit to selectively reproduce the contents provided from the receiving unit and the contents stored at the storing unit in response to the control message or a viewer's key input command.
[3] The interactive contents reproduction system of claim 2, wherein the control message comprises information on when to pause and resume the reproduction of the contents.
[4] The interactive contents reproduction system of claim 3, wherein the application pauses to reproduce the contents at a point of time when the receiving unit receives the control message and enables the reproducing unit to reproduce the stored contents in response to the key input command.
[5] The interactive contents reproduction system of claim 3, wherein the control message comprises information on time-out to pause to reproduce the contents, and the application pauses to reproduce the contents at a point of time when the receiving unit receives the control message and enables the reproducing unit to reproduce the stored contents using the information on time-out.
[6] The interactive contents reproduction system of claim 5, wherein the control message further comprises location information of additional contents, and the application enables the reproducing unit to reproduce the additional contents using the location information of the additional contents while pausing to reproduce the contents.
[7] The interactive contents reproduction system of claim 5, wherein the control message further comprises bookmark region information of the contents, and the application stores part of the contents corresponding to the bookmark region of the contents in response to another viewer's key input command, and reproduce the part of the contents using the bookmark region information of the contents.
[8] A method of interactively reproducing contents comprising:
(a) receiving an application, contents, and a control message broadcast from a digital broadcasting device over a specific channel;
(b) driving the application and reproducing the contents by a personal video recorder;
(c) pausing to reproduce the contents and storing the contents in response to the control message; and
(d) reproducing the stored contents in response to the control message or a viewer's key input command.
[9] The method of claim 8, wherein the control message comprises information on when to pause and resume the reproduction of the contents.
[10] The method of claim 9, wherein the control message further comprises location information of additional contents, and the step (C) comprises reproducing the additional contents using the location information of the additional contents while pausing to reproduce the contents.
[11] The method of claim 9, wherein the control message further comprises bookmark region information of the contents, and the step (C) comprises storing part of the contents corresponding to the bookmark region of the contents in response to another viewer's key input command, and reproducing the part of the contents using the bookmark region information of the contents.
EP08712475A 2007-02-13 2008-02-13 Interactive contents reproduction system and method Ceased EP2123031A4 (en)

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KR1020070014899A KR100864849B1 (en) 2007-02-13 2007-02-13 Apparatus and method for playing contents of personal video recorder
PCT/KR2008/000828 WO2008100062A1 (en) 2007-02-13 2008-02-13 Interactive contents reproduction system and method

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EP2123031A1 true EP2123031A1 (en) 2009-11-25
EP2123031A4 EP2123031A4 (en) 2010-03-03

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