JP2008527828A - How to operate the time shift buffer - Google Patents

Abstract

  An audiovisual data object storage device 200, the device 200 having a storage memory 100, a part of the storage memory being designated to store the audiovisual data object, the device 200: (a) the device 200 An input unit for receiving audiovisual data at (b), a buffer 20 for storing the audiovisual data received at the device 200, and (c) a table of contents 110 for presentation to the user. The table 110 has a reference to a data object stored in the device 200, and the table of contents 110 is associated with the data object, and the object is stored in the buffer 20 or stored in the storage memory 100. Indicates whether saved Apparatus including the identifier is described.

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for operating a time shift buffer. For example, the buffer relates to television and is used to temporarily store television program content, i.e., audiovisual data. Furthermore, the invention also relates to a device comprising such a buffer and configured to operate according to such a method.

  Today's television viewers use devices such as video recorders and DVD recorders for storing program content for later viewing, i.e., viewing at a different time than when the program content was transmitted to the viewer. Is used. With the relatively limited user interface provided with such recorders, it is actually difficult to plan an appropriate schedule for recording a particular program, especially if several programs are to be recorded. It turns out that it is.

  US Patent Application Publication US2002 / 0168178 describes a system for receiving media content. The system includes a memory having logic circuitry, a tuner for receiving media content, a buffer for buffering the media content, a display for displaying the media content, and a display for which the system is newly requested A processor configured with logic circuitry to determine when it is impossible to receive the media content of the channel. In response to determining that insufficient resources are available in the system, the processor further utilizes at least one user-configurable rule to logically determine the lowest priority display channel. It is configured using a circuit. Further, the processor is configured using logic circuitry to suspend receiving media content on a display channel designated as having the lowest priority among a plurality of received display channels.

  The present inventor, like the video and DVD recorders described above, is also difficult to use in practice and is therefore disliked by many users, and such difficulties are related to user-machine interface technology. Recognized that this is a problem. In inventing the present invention, the inventor has attempted to address the technical problem.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method of operating a time shift buffer.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for processing audiovisual data in a device, wherein the audiovisual data comprises an audiovisual data object, the device comprises a storage memory, A portion is specified to store the audiovisual data object, and the method includes:
(A) receiving audiovisual data at the device;
(B) storing the audiovisual data in a buffer of the device;
(C) presenting a table of contents to the user of the device;
The table has a reference to a data object stored in the device, and the table of contents is associated with the data object and the object is stored in the buffer or stored in the storage memory A method is provided that includes an identifier that indicates whether or not

  The present invention is advantageous in that it can provide a user interface that is more intuitive and simple to use.

  Optionally, the method further comprises overwriting the data object stored in the buffer unless the data object is transferred from the buffer to the storage memory in response to a user instruction. Such a step allows audiovisual data to be automatically erased from the buffer and allows the buffer to continue to store newly received audiovisual data.

  Optionally, the method is implemented such that the buffer is a circular buffer.

  Optionally, in the method, the buffer and the storage memory are implemented together with a storage memory. Further optionally, the buffer and the storage memory are implemented as hard disk drives.

Optionally, the method
(D) storing an audiovisual data object in the buffer for a time limit after receiving the data object at the device;
(E) overwriting the data object in the buffer unless the device receives a user instruction to copy or transfer the data object from the buffer to the storage memory;
Is further included.

  Such a step allows program content to be automatically deleted from the buffer and allows the buffer to continue to store newly received audiovisual data. Advantageously, the received audiovisual data is optionally stored for longer than the time limit, unless the buffer utilizes all available storage capacity in the device.

  Further optionally, in the present method, the time limit is approximately 6 hours. Such a time limit is actually a good compromise between the cost of providing a sufficiently large storage capacity for the buffer and allowing the buffer to store a complete item of audiovisual data. It turned out to be a point. However, the time limit may take other values such as approximately 3 hours, 9 hours and 24 hours.

Optionally, the method
(F) after receiving the data object at the device, automatically copying the data object from the buffer to the storage memory at the device in response to the user viewing the data object within the time limit or The method further includes the step of transferring. Such an option allows the user to reference audiovisual data that is likely to be of interest to the user without having to explicitly call the storage of the audiovisual data from the buffer into the data memory via a table of contents. Make it possible.

Optionally, the method
(G) further comprising the step of making the table of contents in the device interactive to allow user modification of an identifier associated with a data object stored in at least one of the buffer and the storage memory.

  Optionally, the method further includes displaying a buffer screen relating to the buffer and data objects collectively stored in the storage memory.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is an audiovisual data object storage device, said device comprising a storage memory, a part of said storage memory being designated to store said audiovisual data object, The device is
(A) an input unit for receiving audiovisual data in the device;
(B) a buffer for storing the audiovisual data received at the device;
(C) a table of contents for presentation to the user;
The table has a reference to a data object stored in the device, and the table of contents is associated with the data object and the object is stored in the buffer or stored in the storage memory An apparatus is provided that includes an identifier that indicates whether or not

  Optionally, the device is implemented to be attached to a television.

  Optionally, the device can be combined with a television to provide a combination television-recorder.

  Optionally, the apparatus is operable to function as an audio system for storing and playing back audiovisual data such as program content.

  According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided software for executing on a processor of an apparatus according to the second aspect of the invention for implementing the method according to the first aspect of the invention.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a table of contents including at least one title corresponding to a recorded audiovisual data object, wherein the at least one title is stored in a temporary buffer. A table of content is provided that has an associated identifier that indicates whether it is stored or stored in a memory storage device.

  It will be understood that the features of the invention may be combined in any combination without departing from the scope of the invention.

  Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  Referring to FIG. 1, a modern recording device, such as the HDRW 720 developed by Philips, indicated generally at 10, includes a buffer known as a “time shift buffer” 20, abbreviated TSBBUF 20. The buffer 20 is advantageously implemented using hard disk memory. The apparatus 10 is operable to receive program content or audiovisual data from one or more television broadcast channels 30, for example via a fiber optic link, via a satellite link and / or by wireless transmission. Furthermore, the device 10 is also operable to display the program content of one or more of these television broadcast channels 30 on a remote display device, such as the display screen 40, in response to a user 50 selection. Optionally, the display screen 40 is incorporated into the device 10. The buffer 20 can be configured to automatically record TV viewing that appears in a period of up to 6 hours preceding any time. Optionally, if the memory storage in device 10 is not filled with data, the period may exceed 6 hours. In order to make the device 10 user configurable, the device 10 presents a series of graphical symbols 60 such as icons and word labels to the user 50 of the device on the display screen 40 described above. It is possible to operate. The user 50 selects from among one or more television broadcast channels 30 to select among the graphical symbols 60 in order to make a preferred selection of program content, i.e. to make a preferred selection of audiovisual data. For example, a control device 70 such as a remote handheld television controller can be used. These graphical symbols 60 are conveniently implemented as a TSB horizontal bar 80 disposed within a TSB screen (TSBSCR) 90. The graphical symbol 60 may represent various functions, such as archiving titles or entries from the TSB screen 90 to a hard disk memory device (HDD) 100 that is also included as part of the device 10, for example. . The program content stored in the hard disk drive (HDD) 100 according to the user selection made in the TSB screen 90 is then displayed in the content table (TOC) 110 associated with the HDD 100, that is, in the list of files recorded in the HDD 100. appear. The recorded file is optionally identified by a content list 120 that includes one or more titles or entries. In the device 10, the TSB screen 90 relates to the contents of the TSBBUF 20, while the TOC 110 relates to a file entry corresponding to the program content stored in the HDD 100 and available. Optionally, the TSBBUF 20 and the HDD 100 are the same storage memory.

  The inventor described above with the associated user interface implemented by the graphical symbol 60 described above can provide useful functionality to the user 50, but the TSBBUF 20 and associated user interfaces 60, 80, and 90 are It has been recognized that 50 shows the specificity that needs to be used. These idiosyncrasies can create problematic user interfaces in the device 10.

  Accordingly, the inventor has invented the present invention which, in one embodiment, represents a significant modification of the apparatus 10 shown in FIG. An embodiment of the present invention is shown as an apparatus generally designated 200 in FIG. In apparatus 200, TSB functionality is provided without the need to show user 50 a TSB screen 90 and associated graphical symbols 60.

  In contrast to device 10, device 200 uses only TOC 110 to present program content temporarily stored in TSBBUF 20 and program content permanently stored in HDD 100. In the TOC 110 of FIG. 2, an entry in the content list 120 has an associated marker 210 that indicates how much the associated program content is temporarily stored. The white circle symbol of the entry of the content list 120 is used, for example, to indicate to the user 50 that the program content related to the circle symbol is permanent, that is, permanently stored in the HDD. Further, the white square symbol in the content list 120 is removed from the HDD 100 by a processor included in the device 200 unless the user 50 acts to instruct the device 200 to re-save the program content in the HDD 100, for example. The related program content stored in HDD 100 that will be shown. When the HDD 100 is full (almost always after a large scale use of the device 10), when new content is added to the HDD 100, the oldest recorded matter stored in the HDD 100 is automatically deleted. The Further, a black square symbol in the content list 120 is, for example, an entry of program content temporarily stored in the time buffer storage TSBBUF 20, and the user 50 transfers the program content to the HDD 100 and permanently stores it. Unless otherwise noted, shows an entry for program content that is automatically erased by the processor described above at the end of the six hour period described above. Finally, a black circle symbol in the content list 120 indicates, for example, program content currently received by the channel 30 and recorded in the TSB buffer 20. By adopting such a method, the user 50 is presented with the memory of the device 200, shown as a single TOC 110, whether temporary or permanent, and the TSBBUF 20 and hard disk drive (HDD). Temporary storage degree characteristics within 100 are indicated to the user by an associated temporary storage indication marker 210. Such an aspect showing the internal operation of the device 200 with respect to the user 50 is more easily and intuitively understood by the user 50 than the TOC 110 and TSBSCR 90 of the device 10, thereby being easier to handle for the user 50. Bringing the interface.

  Thus, in the apparatus 10, the content of the TSBBUF 20 is indicated to the user 50 by the TSBSCR 90 as a symbol 60, and the recorded program content directory stored in the HDD 100 is indicated to the user 50 via the TOC 110 as the catalog entry 120. It is. However, the apparatus 200 differs from that of FIG. 1 in that the entry 120 is shown on the display screen 40 with associated markers 210 that indicate the degree of volatility of the various data.

  Optionally, the entries in the TOC 110 of the device 200, ie the titles of program content, may have different degrees of persistence. The title may be protected from erasure, for example by “locking” to prevent accidental erasure, or may not be protected as an alternative. Optionally, a portion of HDD 100 is reserved for the entry or title of TSB 20 for a shortest retention period, for example 6 hours. The processor of the apparatus 200 can be configured such that when a user 50 views program content received from the channel 30, the program content is buffered in the TSBBUF 20 and then automatically recorded on the HDD 100. It is. When the user 50 wishes to view a TSB title temporarily recorded in the TSBBUF 20 or stored in the HDD 100, the user 50 can select a title from the TOC 110. Further, if the user 50 wants to prevent the title, ie, program content entity, shown in the TOC 110 from being deleted by the processor, the user 50 can set the volatile property of a given title using, for example, the controller 70. It is possible to change from temporary memory (ie, stored in TSBBUF 20) to normal or protected (ie, stored in HDD 100).

  If necessary, the TSBBUF 20 can at least partially utilize the available storage space in the HDD 100 configured such that the portion of the HDD 100 functions in a volatile random access scheme. TSBBUF 20 is advantageously configured such that a newly received TSB title automatically overwrites the oldest TSB title. Optionally, if the TSBBUF20 memory device and / or the memory capacity of the HDD 100 is not exceeded, the device 200 may store the TSB title for longer than the six hours described above.

  The device 200 can be implemented as a stand-alone unit that can be connected to an existing display screen 40, such as an add-on unit for an existing television, for example. Alternatively, the display device 40 and device 200 may be combined in a single housing to provide a television with enhanced recording capabilities that are simple and intuitive to call for the user. Such an implementation provides a combination television-recorder. The display screen 40 may be several, such as as a wide screen cathode ray tube, as a plasma display, as a liquid crystal pixel display, as a liquid crystal pixel projection display, and as a polymer LED display or as any other type of modern pixel display. It can be implemented in various ways.

  Although the use of a hard disk drive (HDD) 100 for permanent data storage in the apparatus 200 has been described, alternatives such as an optical data storage device such as a small optical disk (SFFO) data storage device or a solid-state FLASH ROM It will be appreciated that any type of data storage device may be utilized.

  It will be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above can be modified without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

  While the embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to television program content, the present invention is not limited to audio, such as a personal MP-3 audio player with a time shift buffer (TSB). Are equally applicable. Such players advantageously include not only audio transducers, but also small displays, such as small pixel liquid crystal displays (LCDs) such as those included in mobile phone mobile phones. The small display can be utilized to present a table of contents (TOC) 110 in the manner described above.

In the appended claims, numbers and other symbols between parentheses are included to aid the understanding of the claims and are not intended to limit the scope of the claims in any way. Absent.
The expressions “comprise”, “include”, “incorporate”, “contain”, “is” and “have” are used in this description and When interpreting related claims, it should be interpreted in a non-limiting manner, that is, as allowing other items or components not explicitly defined to exist. . A reference to the singular should be interpreted as a reference to the plural and vice versa.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a modern program content recording device, such as the HDRW720 developed by Philips, including a time shift buffer. It is a typical figure of the Example of the program content recording device by this invention.

Claims (16)

A method of processing audiovisual data in a device, wherein the audiovisual data comprises an audiovisual data object, the device comprises a storage memory, and a portion of the storage memory stores the audiovisual data object. The method is specified as
Receiving audiovisual data at the device;
Storing the audiovisual data in a buffer of the device;
Presenting a table of contents to a user of the device;
The table has a reference to a data object stored in the device, and the table of contents is associated with the data object and the object is stored in the buffer or stored in the storage memory A method that includes an identifier that indicates whether   The method of claim 1, further comprising overwriting the data object stored in the buffer unless the data object is transferred from the buffer to the storage memory in response to a user instruction.   The method of claim 1, wherein the buffer is a circular buffer.   The method of claim 1, wherein the buffer and the storage memory are implemented by the same physical memory module.   The method of claim 4, wherein the physical memory is implemented as a hard disk drive. Storing an audiovisual data object in the buffer for a time limit after receiving the data object at the device;
Overwriting the data object in the buffer unless the device receives a user instruction to copy or transfer the data object from the buffer to the storage memory;
The method of claim 1, further comprising:   The method of claim 6, wherein the time limit is approximately 6 hours.   After the reception of the data object at the device, automatically copying or transferring the data object from the buffer to the storage memory at the device in response to viewing of the data object by a user within the time limit The method of claim 6, further comprising:   2. The method of claim 1, further comprising making the table of contents in the device user interactive to allow user modification of an identifier associated with a data object stored in at least one of the buffer and the storage memory. The method described in 1.   The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a buffer screen associated with the buffer and data objects collectively stored in the storage memory. An audiovisual data object storage device, the device having a storage memory, a portion of the storage memory being designated to store the audiovisual data object, the device comprising:
An input for receiving audiovisual data in the device;
A buffer for storing the audiovisual data received at the device;
A table of contents for presentation to the user;
The table has a reference to a data object stored in the device, and the table of contents is associated with the data object and the object is stored in the buffer or stored in the storage memory A device that contains an identifier that indicates whether   The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is mounted to attach to a television.   12. The apparatus of claim 11, which can be combined with a television to provide a combination television-recorder.   The apparatus of claim 11, operable to function as an audio system for storing and playing audio program content.   12. Software for execution in a processor of the apparatus of claim 11 for implementing the method of claim 1.   A table of content including at least one title corresponding to a recorded audiovisual data object, the at least one title being stored in a temporary buffer or in a memory storage device A table of contents to which a related identifier indicating whether or not is assigned.

Images