JP2007206809A - Ring/multimedia reproduction progress indicator and its signal indicating method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a ring/multimedia reproduction progress indicator which is displayed on a screen when a multimedia content is reproduced, and its signal indicating method. <P>SOLUTION: The ring/multimedia reproduction progress indicator includes a ring display area displayed on the screen during reproduction control over multimedia, a state indication area where a reproduction state is displayed with one or more state patterns, a ring time bar displaying the length of reproduction of the multimedia content with a ring/bar area, a ring/temporary storage indication area dynamically displaying a temporary storage state of the multimedia content with a ring/bar color area, and a progress indication which dynamically displays the reproduction progress of the multimedia content, and the respective areas are made different in color or transparency degree to discriminate display functions. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a ring multimedia playback progress indicator and a signal indication method thereof, and more particularly to a ring multimedia playback progress indicator displayed on a screen during multimedia playback control.

  In addition to the conventional terrestrial television station for wireless reception and cable TV for cable reception, there are also network TV or VOD (video on demand) TV viewing means.

  A conventional technique, for example, a video time conversion / playback apparatus disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,701,383 is used in a recording system for a multi-write head, and one embodiment thereof is shown in FIG. In FIG. 1, a time bar 10 indicates the length of time of the video content to be viewed, and the hatched portion (recording area 12) records the video content on a storage medium. The blank part is the area 14 where recording is not performed, the limit 13 between the recording area 12 and the blank part 14 is the time of recording, and the user moves the arrow 11 to the recording area 12 It can be controlled to move to any position and view the contents at that time.

  U.S. Pat. No. 5,903,264 also shows a playback time bar used when downloading video data, and the user can switch the viewing position by time indication.

  A system for viewing TV, movies and music by means of the above-mentioned real-time video download, for example, VOD is viewed by a multimedia playback device corresponding to a user, and has a simple playback and control interface supplied from the prior art, It can be used in a state that is convenient and easy for the user to understand. For example, in the multimedia visual progress display system shown in US Pat. No. 6,847,778, as shown in FIG. 2, a long bar-shaped video playback bar 21 is displayed on a screen 20 (for example, a television screen, a computer screen). In addition to displaying the end point of the video, it has an adjustment bar 22 that can adjust the playback position. When downloading or playing back the video, that is, when temporarily storing (recording) video data from the memory in the multimedia, As shown in FIG. 4, the content is displayed in the cache area 23 in the playback bar 21, and the user can switch to any position in the cache area 23 at any time and view the contents temporarily stored in the memory.

  Except for the video playback indication aspect provided by the above-mentioned prior art, the present invention is a simple multimedia clear progress indicator and its signal which do not occupy display space by the ring-shaped multimedia play progress indicator. Provide a method.

  The present invention relates to a ring multimedia playback progress indicator and a signal indication method thereof that provide a ring / playback progress interface that is easy to read and control during multimedia playback. The present invention can be applied to multimedia products such as PVR (Personal Video Recorder), Multimedia Center, Digital Multimedia Server, Digital Multimedia Playback Device, Portable Multimedia Playback Device, Game Console, IPTV STB and the like.

  The ring multimedia playback progress indicator is a ring indicator that is displayed on the screen when multimedia content playback is controlled, and a preferred embodiment of the ring indicator is displayed on the screen when multimedia playback is controlled. A ring display area, a status indication area for displaying the playback status of multimedia content by one or more status patterns, a ring time bar for displaying the playback length of the multimedia content by a ring / bar-shaped area, It includes a ring / temporary storage instruction area that dynamically displays the temporary storage state of the multimedia content by a bar-shaped color area, and a progress indication that dynamically displays the playback progress of the multimedia content. The state pattern, the ring / bar-shaped area of the ring time bar, the bar-shaped color area of the ring / temporary storage instruction area, the progress indicator and the ring / color area of the ring display area are color areas of different display modes in the adjacent areas. Distinguish the function of each area display.

  The signaling method of the ring multimedia playback progress indicator according to the present invention comprises receiving multimedia content downloaded by a multimedia playback device over a network, cable TV or wireless means, temporarily storing the content in a buffer, When the user starts to play the multimedia content and the user tries to control stop, pause, fast forward, fast reverse, etc., the indicator receives the multimedia playback control signal, and the ring multimedia playback progress described above is received. The indicator is activated and displayed at a predetermined position on the screen. The ring multimedia playback progress indicator further displays a ring time bar that indicates the playback length of the multimedia content, and the playback status of the multimedia content is displayed according to the status pattern. It is dynamically displayed on the ring time bar to display the temporary storage status of the multimedia content. The progress indication of the multimedia content is displayed from the progress indication dynamically displayed on the ring time bar, and the control signal is displayed. The display of the ring multimedia playback progress indicator is deleted within the received one-step time.

  According to another embodiment of the present invention, a ring multimedia playback progress indicator signal method is used to display a ring multimedia playback progress indicator on a screen and subsequently detect a control signal when playing multimedia content. When the temporary storage state is displayed in the ring / temporary storage instruction area of a predetermined color, the state of recording in the storage medium is displayed in the recording instruction area of the predetermined color, and when the pause or stop signal is received, the ring The step of stopping the progress indication on the ring time bar of the multimedia playback progress indicator and the step of fast-forwarding and rewinding the progress indicator when receiving the fast-forward and fast-reverse control signal, and then temporarily storing and recording Including.

  The present invention provides a ring multimedia playback progress indicator that provides a ring / playback progress interface that is easy and intuitive to read and control when playing multimedia content on a screen (eg, television, computer screen, etc.), and This is a signal instruction method. The present invention can be applied to multimedia products such as PVR, multimedia center, digital multimedia server, digital multimedia playback device, portable multimedia playback device, game console, IPTV STB and the like. When the user operates the remote control or the control interface on each playback device, the ring multimedia playback progress indicator according to the present invention is displayed on the screen at the time of the control, and at least the current program length and the cache program length are displayed. The length of the recorded program, the current playback time, and the current playback status of the system (normal, pause, fast forward, fast reverse, etc.) can be presented to the user.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in this embodiment, when viewing the streaming video multimedia content downloaded by the user, the above-mentioned ring multimedia playback progress indicator is displayed on the screen. This may be achieved by transparent, translucent or opaque means. During the display period, the remote controller 34 has various playback functions including playback, pause, stop, fast forward / fast reverse of various multiples (1x, 2x, 3x, etc.), slow forward playback, slow reverse playback, recording, etc. Can be operated. Embodiments according to the present invention can be adapted for viewing purposes such as television programs, network TV and VOD received wirelessly or by cable. When controlling, the ring multimedia playback progress indicator 32 displayed at a predetermined position on the screen 30 can be achieved by a software method, and the predetermined position is a planned shipping value, and may be self-defined by the user.

  In the above, the ring multimedia playback progress indicator is displayed on the screen, the multimedia content length information is expressed, the playback position information is indicated by the progress indicating cursor on the ring indicating area, and the playback status information is also displayed. It is shown in the identification character code, and further, the timing information is accurately depicted in digital form. When a part of the multimedia content is in a special state (for example, paused or recorded), the length and position of the part are displayed in different colors on the pattern instruction area, a progress instruction cursor, a state instruction area, etc. The message is changed according to the playback state.

FIG. 4 shows a preferred embodiment of the ring multimedia playback progress indicator. When the multimedia content playback control is performed, the ring multimedia playback progress indicator 4 displayed on the screen may be a plurality of transparent, translucent or opaque. Consisting of color areas,
(1) At the time of multimedia playback control, a ring display area 40 which becomes a base pattern of a transparent / translucent or opaque ring / color area displayed on the screen;
(2) The multimedia content playback state shown in the ring display area 40 by one or a plurality of state patterns (for example, fast-forward / displayed by two triangles in addition to the playback state pattern displayed by triangles in the figure) It has general patterns such as fast-rewind state, pause state displayed in both thin rectangular shapes, stop state displayed in square shape, recording state displayed in circular shape. A state indication area 47 that can be displayed in a color area different from the ring display area 40,
(3) The playback length of the multimedia content is displayed by a ring / bar-shaped area that is displayed in the ring display area 40 and can be displayed in a color area different from the ring display area 40, and is played back clockwise or counterclockwise. Ring time bar 45 that can display the time,
(4) The end point of the ring time bar 45, the time range in which the multimedia content is stored in the buffer, the playback speed of the multimedia content, or the length of the playback time of the multimedia content (in the figure, This embodiment is shown on both sides of the ring display area 40, and shows a time point display area (48, 49) for displaying the end point of multimedia content, but not limited to this when actually implemented.
(5) The state in which the multimedia content is temporarily stored in the buffer is displayed in the ring time bar 45, and the state in which the multimedia content is temporarily stored in the buffer can be displayed in the ring / bar-like color area. A ring / temporary storage instruction area 43 that continuously downloads from the supplier to the buffer when the media content starts to be downloaded and achieves the purpose of fluent playback;
(6) Displayed in the ring / temporary storage instruction area 43, and the progress of multimedia content playback can be dynamically displayed by progress indication, and can be displayed in a different color area from the ring / temporary storage instruction area 43. The progress indication 41, which allows the user to control the position of this progress indication 41 with a cursor or other control scheme, and allows the temporarily stored multimedia content at different times to be played at any time.

  Each ring color area is a color area having a different display mode between adjacent areas, so that the function of displaying each area is distinguished.

  When the user plays the multimedia content for the first time, when the user performs a playback operation, the ring multimedia playback progress indicator 4 is displayed on the screen, and the progress indication 41 is displayed in the ring display area 40 as shown in FIG. 5A. The ring data is displayed in the middle ring time bar 45. At this time, the flow data is continuously downloaded to the buffer from the multimedia content supply side.

  As shown in FIG. 5B, the color area of the ring / temporary storage instruction area 43 is displayed in the ring time bar 45 one stage after the multimedia content is played back, and the length of the content temporarily stored in the buffer is displayed. Is displayed, and the user can easily switch the contents to any position in the ring / temporary storage instruction area 43.

  FIG. 5C shows a display state in which the multimedia content is played by another time.

FIG. 6 is another embodiment of a ring multimedia playback progress indicator in accordance with the present invention, which is used to transfer multimedia content to media (eg, hard disk, optical disk, flash memory, or other non-volatile memory). Adapting to the manner of storage, this embodiment also shows a ring multimedia playback progress indicator, and is the same as the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, from a plurality of transparent, translucent or opaque color regions. Mainly,
(1) a ring display area 60 composed of a transparent, translucent or opaque ring color area;
(2) a state instruction area 67 that is displayed in the ring display area 60 and displays a multimedia content playback state by one or a plurality of state patterns (the diagram is the same display as FIG. 4);
(3) a ring time bar 65 displayed in the ring display area 60 and displaying the length of playback of the multimedia content;
(4) A time display area (68, 69) for displaying the end point of the ring time bar 65 and (in other cases, a time range in which the multimedia content is stored in the buffer, the playback progress of the multimedia content, or the multimedia Content playback duration, etc.),
(5) Progress indication 61 that dynamically displays the playback progress of the multimedia content (the user can play back the multimedia content at different time points by controlling the position of the progress indication 61),
(6) Displayed before and after the progress indication 61, when downloading multimedia content, the content is recorded in the media (recorded in the media from the buffer) and displayed on the ring time bar 65; A recording instruction area 64 for instructing the state of the recorded multimedia content;
(7) The multimedia contents are temporarily stored in the buffer in the ring temporary storage instruction area 63 displayed on the ring time bar 65 excluding the multimedia contents displayed in the recording instruction area 64 recorded on the storage medium. Displaying the status dynamically, i.e., when the multimedia content is not stored in the storage medium, the multimedia content downloaded by the playback device is continuously downloaded from the supplier to the buffer to achieve the fluent playback purpose And including.

  Each of the ring color areas is a color area having a different display mode between adjacent ones. In particular, the progress indication 61, the recording instruction area 64, and the ring temporary storage instruction area 63 displayed on the ring time bar 65 have different colors. Display by area or pattern, and thus distinguish the function of each area display.

  7A to 7C are display states of the embodiment shown in FIG. At the beginning, as shown in FIG. 7A, when controlled by the user, the ring display area 60 is displayed on the screen in a transparent, translucent or opaque manner, and the progress indication 61 is displayed at the start of the ring time bar 65. Is displayed.

  As shown in FIG. 7B, a ring displaying a state in which the multimedia content is temporarily stored in the buffer on the ring time bar 65 in the ring display area 60 after the multimedia content is played back within a certain time. A temporary storage instruction area 63 and a recording instruction area 64 for displaying a state in which the multimedia content is recorded on the storage medium are displayed, and the current playback speed is expressed by the progress indication 61.

  As shown in FIG. 7C, after the multimedia content has been played by another time, as shown in FIG. 7B, particularly, the multimedia content displayed in the recording instruction area 64 and recorded on the storage medium. However, in the figure, the ring temporary storage instruction area 63 is larger than the area over the recording instruction area 64 in the ring time bar 65, and the progress indication 61 To express the current playback speed.

  A method for indicating a ring multimedia playback progress indicator according to the present invention is shown in FIG.

  At the beginning, it is necessary to complete each device as in the connection state, playback preparation, etc., and then start receiving the multimedia content (step S801), and when the playback start or playback has not yet started, the playback device Can download the multimedia content first and temporarily store it in a buffer (eg, composed of DRAM, flash memory, hard disk, etc.) (step S803). When the multimedia content is stored in the buffer, it begins to be controlled and played by the user (step 805), and in one embodiment, the multimedia content is stored in a storage medium (non-volatile memory) during the playback period or not yet played. Can be recorded in advance (step 807).

  When the playback device receives a control signal, such as a user operation or other system response (off, rest, etc.) (step 809), it activates a ring multimedia playback progress indicator according to the present invention (step 811). The indicator is displayed on the screen (the display method is composed of fade-in, pop-up, or immediate expression) (step 813), the ring time bar is displayed simultaneously or sequentially (step 815), and is reproduced in the state indication area. The state is displayed (step 817), the temporary storage state is displayed in the ring / temporary storage instruction area (step 819), the playback speed is displayed by the progress indication (step 821), and the time when there is no control signal The display state is deleted after a certain time or after a certain time (step 823).

  FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of different operating states.

  The reproduction of the multimedia content is started (step S901), and the ring multimedia reproduction progress indicator is displayed on the screen, and it is necessary to detect the control signal operated by the user, and the screen Some embodiments are always displayed above. When the ring multimedia playback progress indicator is displayed, a temporary storage state is displayed in a specific color (step S903), and a state of being recorded on the storage medium in a specific color is displayed (step S905). Thereafter, when the user's operation receives a pause or stop signal as described in step S909, the progress indication on the ring time bar is stopped, but the memory (temporary storage space and recording Temporary storage or / and recording is continued according to the size of the space (step S911), and when the user operates controls such as fast forward and fast reverse as described in step S913, the progress indication is fast forwarded. Alternatively, fast rewinding is performed, and temporary storage and recording are continued according to the size of the memory (step S915).

  As described above, the present invention is a ring multimedia playback progress indicator signal method, and the ring multimedia playback progress indicator is displayed on the screen and displayed in the multimedia content playback control. Status pattern, ring time bar ring / bar area, ring / temporary storage instruction area bar color area, progress indication, content recording instruction area and ring display area ring color areas have different display colors It is an area, so that the function of each area display is distinguished, and each or all of each area can be displayed by transparent, translucent or opaque means.

  However, the foregoing description is merely possible embodiments of the invention and does not limit the scope of the claims of the invention, and any expert having ordinary knowledge in the art may While appropriate changes and modifications can be made in the field, it goes without saying that such implementation should be delivered within the scope of the claimed invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a conventional technical video playback indicator. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a conventional technical video playback indicator. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a ring multimedia playback progress indicator according to the present invention. It is a figure which shows the Example of the ring multimedia reproduction progress indicator which concerns on this invention. FIGS. 3A to 3C are diagrams showing ring multimedia playback progress indicators according to the present invention. It is a figure which shows the Example of the ring multimedia reproduction progress indicator which concerns on this invention. FIGS. 3A to 3C are diagrams showing ring multimedia playback progress indicators according to the present invention. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a ring multimedia playback progress indicator signal instruction method according to the present invention. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a ring multimedia playback progress indicator signal instruction method according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

10 Time bar 11 Arrow 12 Recording area 13 Limit 14 Unrecorded area 20 Screen 21 Playback bar 22 Adjustment bar 23 Cache area 34 Remote control 30 Screen 32 Ring multimedia playback progress indicator 4, 6 Ring multimedia playback progress indicator 40 Ring display area 41 Progress indication 43 Ring temporary storage instruction area 45 Ring time bar 47 Status indication area 48, 49 hours display area 60 Ring display area 61 Progress indication 63 Ring temporary storage instruction area 64 Recording instruction area 65 Ring time Bar 67 Status indication area 68, 69 Time display area

Claims (14)

A ring multimedia playback progress indicator displayed on the screen when controlling playback of multimedia content,
A ring display area that is a ring / color area displayed on the screen during multimedia playback control;
A status indication area that is displayed in the ring display area and displays the playback status of the multimedia content according to one or more status patterns;
A ring time bar that is displayed in the ring display area and displays the playback length of the multimedia content by a ring / bar-shaped area;
A ring / temporary storage instruction area that is displayed on the ring time bar and dynamically displays a temporary storage state of the multimedia content by a ring / bar-shaped color area;
A progress indication that is displayed in the ring / temporary storage instruction area and dynamically displays the playback progress of the multimedia content;
The state pattern, the ring bar area of the ring time bar, the bar color area of the ring / temporary storage instruction area, the progress indication, and the ring / color area of the ring display area are set as color areas having different display modes with respect to each other. A ring multimedia playback progress indicator characterized in that the display function of each area is differentiated.   2. The ring multimedia playback progress indicator according to claim 1, further comprising at least one time display area.   3. The ring multimedia playback progress indicator according to claim 2, wherein the time display area displays a time range in which the multimedia content is stored in a buffer.   3. The ring multimedia playback progress indicator according to claim 2, wherein the time display area displays the playback progress of the multimedia content.   3. The ring multimedia playback progress indicator according to claim 2, wherein the time display area displays a length of playback time of the multimedia content.   The ring multimedia playback progress indicator according to claim 1, wherein the recording instruction area is displayed on the ring time bar and indicates a state in which the multimedia content is recorded on a storage medium.   The ring multimedia playback progress indicator according to claim 1, wherein the status pattern displayed in the status indication area includes a playback pattern, a pause pattern, a stop pattern, a fast forward pattern, and a fast reverse pattern.   The ring multimedia playback progress indicator according to claim 1, wherein the ring multimedia playback progress indicator is displayed on a certain position of the screen according to setting or preparation. A signal indicating method of a ring multimedia playback progress indicator displayed on a screen at the time of multimedia content playback control,
Receiving multimedia content; and
Temporarily storing multimedia content in a buffer;
Playing multimedia content; and
Receiving a multimedia playback control signal;
Activating a ring multimedia playback progress indicator;
Displaying a ring multimedia playback progress indicator on the screen;
Displaying a ring time bar indicating the length of playback of the multimedia content;
Displaying the playback status of the multimedia content by displaying one or more status patterns on a ring multimedia playback progress indicator;
Displaying the temporary storage state of the multimedia content by dynamically displaying it on the ring time bar in the ring / bar-shaped color area;
A method of indicating a ring multimedia playback progress indicator, comprising: a step of displaying a playback progress of the multimedia content from a progress indication dynamically displayed on the ring time bar.   10. The ring multimedia playback progress indicator signal indication method according to claim 9, wherein the display of the ring multimedia playback progress indicator is deleted within one step of receiving the control signal.   10. The method for indicating a ring multimedia playback progress indicator according to claim 9, further comprising the step of recording the multimedia content on a storage medium. Playing multimedia content; and
Displaying a ring multimedia playback progress indicator on the screen;
Detecting a control signal;
A step of displaying a temporary storage state in a ring / temporary storage instruction area of a predetermined color;
Displaying a state of recording on a storage medium in a recording instruction area of a predetermined color;
Receiving a pause or stop signal, stopping the progress indication on the ring time bar of the ring multimedia playback progress indicator;
When the fast forward and fast reverse control signals are received, the progress indicator performs fast forward and fast reverse,
A method for indicating a signal of a ring multimedia playback progress indicator, comprising: temporarily storing and recording.   13. The ring multimedia playback progress indicator signal indication method according to claim 12, wherein the temporary storage step is a step of temporarily storing multimedia content in a buffer. 13. The ring multimedia playback progress indicator signal indication method according to claim 12, wherein the recording step is a step of recording multimedia content on a storage medium.

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