KR100258536B1 - Communication and reproduction system - Google Patents

Abstract

The variable rate communication and playback system comprises a server and a customer device and includes a variable rate data feeder for providing a requested set of data at a user specified playing speed. The variable rate data feeder includes a server. A control data communication system and a time-series data communication system are also included in the data feeder connecting the server and the customer. The communication and playback system also includes a variable speed player for playing back the set of data supplied from the variable speed data feeder at a specified playing speed by adjusting the pitch of the audio and the video frequency, And a performance speed setter for setting the feeder and the variable speed regenerator.

Description

Variable speed communication and reproduction system

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication and reproduction system capable of changing the speed of reproduction of time series information such as moving picture, audio and the like.

There is a kind of customer server systems in which a server (sever) for storing moving picture and audio information transmits requested information of information to a client apparatus according to a request from the client apparatus, and the client apparatus reproduces the transmitted information.

As an example of such a system, there is a communication karaoke (accompaniment with no voice) system in which moving pictures and audio information contain a plurality of coded data. It would be desirable if the user could sing songs to the desired music played at a desired rate. However, the conventional system can not change a predetermined playing speed, that is, a predetermined decoding speed.

If the operating speed of the entire system is changed according to the performance speed, the following problems arise in reproduced moving pictures and audio. That is, the pitch of the output audio is changed in comparison with the pitch of the coding time proportional to the performance speed, and this will become uncomfortable. Furthermore, the pixel sampling frequency, scanning line frequency and frame frequency of the output moving image signal will change in proportion to the performance speed. On the other hand, these frequencies of the monitors that receive and display the output moving image signals are generally set to fixed values with a certain tolerance. Therefore, if the performance speed is set to exceed these tolerances, playback of moving pictures and audio can not be successful.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary variable speed playback system for illustrating the basic concept of the present invention; FIG.

FIG. 2 is another view illustrating another exemplary variable speed playback system for explaining the basic concepts of the present invention. FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a first exemplary embodiment of a variable speed communication and reproduction system according to a first aspect of the present invention; FIG.

4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a second exemplary embodiment of a variable speed communication and reproduction system according to a second aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a modified configuration of a second embodiment of FIG. 4; FIG.

6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a second exemplary embodiment of a variable speed communication and reproduction system according to a first aspect of the present invention;

7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a fourth exemplary embodiment of a variable rate communication system according to the present invention;

DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS

10: time series data storage device 20: read controller

30: performance speed setter 40: variable speed player

80: control data feeder 120: server

140: Customer device

[Summary of the Invention]

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a variable speed data feeder comprising: a variable speed data feeder for feeding a requested data set at a performance speed specified by a user; data supplied from a variable speed data feeder at a specified performance speed by adjusting the pitch and video frequency of audio; And a variable speed communication and reproduction system including a performance speed setter for setting a designated performance speed in the variable speed data feeder and the variable speed regenerator in response to the designated performance speed, The above and other problems are overcome and improved.

The variable speed regenerator includes a regenerator for regenerating the image and audio by decoding the supplied data set, an audio pitch corrector for correcting the pitch of the regenerated audio, a video for matching the frequency of the reproduced image with a predetermined frequency, Frequency matching circuit.

In some embodiments, the variable speed data feeder includes a time-series data storage device and a read controller, wherein the read controller causes the time-series storage device to output the data set to the variable speed player at the specified performance speed.

Alternatively, the variable rate data feeder may further comprise a buffer circuit. In this case, based on the amount of residual data, the read controller causes the time-series storage device to store the output data in the buffer circuit, causing the data set to be intermittently output at a maximum rate of the circuit or much faster than the specified rate, And supplies the stored data at the designated speed to the variable speed regenerator.

In one embodiment, the variable rate communication and playback system comprises a server and a plurality of customer devices. The server has a time series storage device and a time series data distributor. Each customer device has a control data feeder and a variable speed regenerator.

The variable rate player may be included in each customer device or server.

[Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments]

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention shown in the drawings.

In the following description of the embodiment, the time series information set is assumed to include moving picture information and audio information accompanied by moving picture information constituting one of a plurality of which the variable speed communication and reproduction system can provide.

The basic concept of the present invention is described next with reference to FIG. In the first figure, the illustrated variable speed reproduction system comprises a time-series data set designated by a number request at a user-specified performance rate in response to a number demand from line 21 and user- To provide a pitch-corrected audio output and a frequency-matched video output (hereinafter simply referred to as "variable speed playback of a time series data set") at a user- A variable speed regenerator 40 for regenerating a time series data set supplied from the timing data feeder 60 and a variable speed regenerator 40 for receiving the user performance speed data from the line 31 and outputting the performance speed data to the variable speed regenerator 40 And a performance speed setting unit for setting the timing data to the timing data feeder 60.

The time-series data supplier 60 includes a time-series data storage device 10 for storing a time-series data set for the numbers that can be provided by the variable-speed playback system, and a time-series data storage device 10 in response to the number demand and the user- And a read controller (20) for causing the recorder (10) to output a set of time series data specified by a number request at a user specified playing speed. The variable-speed player 40 includes a player 42 for playing back the time-series data set with the reproduced audio data and the reproduced video data, a decoder 42 for correcting the audio pitch of the reproduced audio data to provide the pitch- (FRE) matching circuit (CKT.) 46 for matching the video frequency of the reproduced video data to a predetermined frequency to provide a frequency-matched video output, Respectively. Since the user-specified playing speed is set in both the player 42, the audio-pitch corrector 44 and the video frequency matching circuit (CKT.) 46, each of these operates at a user-specified playing speed.

In operation, when the user requests a desired number and sets the desired player data by a predetermined operation of a controller (not shown) attached to the variable-speed playback system, the number request is input to the read controller 20, The speed setter 30 sets the user specified playing speed in the read controller 20, the player 42, the audio pitch corrector 44 and the video frequency (FRE) matching circuit (CKT) As described above, according to the number request and the performance speed input, the time-series data supplier 60 supplies the time-series data set specified by the number request to the player 42 at a performance speed or a user-specified performance speed corresponding to the performance speed input . The player 42 reproduces the time-series data set to output the audio signal and the video signal to the audio pitch corrector 44 and the video frequency matching circuit 46, respectively, at a user-specified performance rate.

The audio pitch corrector 44 sets the pitch of the audio signal supplied from the player 42 to output the pitch-corrected audio signal to the audio output terminal 45 on the basis of the user- Is corrected to the pitch in the case where it is reproduced with regular stone. In particular, if the user-specified playing speed is faster than the normal speed, the pitch of the audio signal is lowered to such an extent that it is increased through reproduction by the player 42. [ Otherwise, the pitch of the audio signal is increased by the degree that the pitch of the audio signal is lowered through the reproduction by the player 42.

On the other hand, the video frequency matching circuit 46 compares the video frequency of the video signal supplied from the player 42 with the frequency in the case of the normal speed, based on the user-specified playing speed data, and outputs the frequency- And outputs it to the video output terminal 47. In particular, if the user-specified playing speed is faster than the normal speed, the video frequency of the video signal is lowered, for example, by frame reduction. Otherwise, the video frequency of the video signal is raised by, for example, frame interpolation.

Thus, the variable-speed playback system reproduces the time-series data set stored in the time-series data storage device 10 at a variable rate at a user-specified rate.

Another basic concept of the present invention is described with reference to FIG. 2 is the same except that the time-series data feeder 60 of FIG. 1 is replaced by a time-series data feeder 70 in FIG. 2. Therefore, only the element 7 will be described. The time-series data supplier 70 includes a time-series data storage device 10, a read controller 22 to which one input is connected to the number request line 21 to control the read operation of the time-series data storage device 10, Time data read from the time-series data storage device 10 to supply the stored time-series data to the variable-speed reproducer 40 at a user-specified performance speed and to output the residual data amount to the read controller 22, (FIFO) buffer circuit 25 for temporarily storing the above data.

If the amount of data remaining in the buffer circuit 25 is smaller than the predetermined amount, the read controller 22 sends a command to the time-series data storage device 10 to output the time-series data set specified by the number request. Otherwise, it sends an instruction to stop the output of the set of time series data. When an instruction to execute the output is sent, the time-series data storage device 10 executes the output at a reading speed corresponding to the performance speed faster than the maximum research speed. Further, if an instruction to execute the output again is sent after the output of the time series data set is stopped, the output resumes the output again from the next data of the last output time series data set.

The buffer memory capacity required for the buffer circuit 25 is determined by the delay time from the output of the amount of residual data from the buffer circuit 25 to the start of output control by the read controller 22, Is determined by the difference between the output speed and the output speed of the buffer circuit 25 at the minimum or maximum performance speed. In starting reproduction, the buffer circuit 25 starts outputting the stored time series data set after confirming that the amount of data in the buffer circuit 25 exceeds a predetermined amount.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a first exemplary embodiment of a variable speed communication and reproduction system according to a first aspect of the present invention. FIG. 3, the variable rate communication and playback system 100 is contemplated from a geometrical point of view comprising a server 120 and a customer device 140. In FIG. The system 100 also includes means for generating a set of time series data specified by a number request in response to a number request from line 21 and a user specified playing speed from line 31, A variable speed (VS) player 40 (similar to that of FIG. 1) for variable speed reproduction of a time series data set, and a variable speed (VS) From a functional point of view having a performance speed setter 30 (identical to that of FIG. 1) for receiving custom performance speed data and setting the performance speed data to the variable speed regenerator 40 and the time-series data feeder 60 Can be considered.

In the time-series data feeder 60a, the read controller 20 of FIG. 1 is replaced by a control data communication system (transmitter and receiver 50 and 52) in which a transmission line 51 is interposed with a read controller 20a Line 12 of Figure 1 has also been replaced by a time series data (TSD) communication system (transmitter and receiver) 54 and 56 with a transmission line 55 interposed in between.

Thus, the read controller 20a only receives the number request and the performance rate data via a single input line 53 instead of the two respective input lines 21 and 32, different.

In operation, when the user requests a desired number and sets the desired playing speed by a predetermined operation of a controller (not shown) attached to the variable speed playback system, the number request is sent to the control data (one of the CD0 transmitter 50) And the performance speed setter 30 sets the user specified performance speed to the CD transmitter 50 and the VS (variable speed) player 40. [

As described in relation to the system of FIG. 1, in response to the number request and the performance speed input (or control data), the time-series data supplier 60a supplies the number request to the performance speed corresponding to the performance speed input or the user- To the variable speed (VS) player (40). VS regenerator 40 reproduces the time-series data set at variable rate so as to output the pitch-corrected audio signal and the frequency-matched video signal to lines 45 and 47, respectively.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a second exemplary embodiment of a variable rate communication and playback system 102 in accordance with a second aspect of the present invention. In FIG. 4, the variable rate communication and playback system 102 is contemplated from a geometrical point of view comprising a server 130 and a customer device 150. The system 100 also includes a time series data feeder 31 for providing a set of time series data specified by a number request in response to a number request from line 21 and a user- (VS) player 40 (identical to that of FIGS. 1 and 2) for variable speed reproduction of a time-series data set and a user-specified playing speed data from line 31, A performance speed setter 30 (the same as that in Fig. 1 of Fig. 1) for setting data in the variable speed regenerator 40 and the time-series data feeder 60 can be considered from a functional point of view.

In the time-series data feeder 70a, the read controller 22 of FIG. 2 has a control data (CD) communication system (transmitter and receiver) 50a and 52a ). The transmission line 14 of FIG. 2 is also replaced by a time series data (TSD) communication system (transmitter and receiver 54 and 56) in which a transmission line 55 is inserted in the middle.

Thus, the read controller 22a only reads the second figure in that the read controller 22a receives the number request and the performance rate data via a single input line 53 instead of the two respective input lines 21 and 27, And is different from the controller 22.

In operation, when the user requests a desired number and sets the desired playing speed by a predetermined operation of a controller (not shown) attached to the variable speed communication and reproduction system, the number request is sent to the control data (CD) transmitter 50a And the performance speed setter 30 sets the user specified performance speed to the CD transmitter 50a and the VS (variable speed)

2, in response to the number request and the performance speed input (or control data), the time-series data supplier 70a supplies the number request to the performance speed corresponding to the performance speed input or the user- To the variable speed (VS) player (40). VS regenerator 40 reproduces the time-series data set at variable rate to output the pitch-corrected audio signal and the frequency-matched video signal to lines 45 and 47, respectively.

In the time-series data feeder 70a, the read controller 22a receives control data via the CD transmitter 50a, the transmission line 51 and the CD receiver 52a, and the output of the TSD storage is sent to the TSD transmitter 54 ), The transmission line 55 and the TSD receiver 56, Except for this point, the operation of the time-series data supplier 70a is the same as that of the time-series data supplier 70 of FIG.

Therefore, the buffer memory capacity required for the buffer circuit 25 of FIG. 4 is set such that data of the residual data amount is output from the buffer circuit 25 to the read controller 22a through the CD communication systems 50a and 52a, ) And the output speed of the time-series data storage device 10, as shown in FIG. In starting reproduction, the buffer circuit 25 starts outputting the stored time series data set after confirming that the amount of data in the buffer circuit 25 exceeds a predetermined amount.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a modified configuration of a second embodiment of FIG. 4;

5 is the same as FIG. 4 except that the read control data (RCD) generator 23 is inserted between the buffer circuit 25 and the control data (CD) transmitter 50b. Therefore, only the operation of the time series data supplier 70b will be described.

5, the read control data (RCD) generator 23 determines, based on the residual data amount data from the buffer circuit 25, that the amount of residual data in the buffer circuit 25 is smaller than a predetermined amount The generator 23 sends a command to the CD transmitter 50b to perform the output of the time series data set specified by the number request. Otherwise, the RCD generator 23 sends an instruction to stop the output of the time series data set. When a command to execute the output is sent, the read controller 22b controls the time-series data storage device 10 to execute the output at a read speed corresponding to the performance speed higher than the maximum performance speed. Further, when an instruction is sent to cause the output of the time-series data set to be stopped again after the output of the set of time-series data is stopped, the output is resumed again from the next data of the last output time-series data set.

Other explanations given in connection with the second aspect are also effective in this embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a third exemplary embodiment of a variable speed communication and reproduction system according to the first aspect of the present invention. Variable speed communication and reproduction system 200 is of the form in which variable speed reproduction occurs within server 220. 1, the control data feeder 80 of FIG. 1 includes a CD feeder 80 equivalent, namely lines 21 and 31, a performance speed setter 300, a CD transmitter 50 and a CD receiver 52c The system 200 includes a time series data storage device 10, a read controller 20, a variable speed reproducer 40 and a cd supply 80 equivalent constituting the system shown in FIG. The server 220 also includes a TSD encoder 90 having two input terminals connected to the audio output and video output of the variable rate player 40 and a TSD Transmitter 4 of the system 200. The customer device 240 of the system 200 provides a TSD receiver 56 with an input connected to the output of the TSD transmitter 54, Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > TSD receiver 56 < / RTI >

In operation, when a user requests a desired number and sets a desired performance speed by a predetermined operation of a controller (not shown) attached to the variable speed reproduction system, the number demand and performance speed (i.e., control data) Are input to the transmitter 50 directly or through the performance speed setter 30, respectively. The CD transmitter 50 transmits control data to the CD receiver 52c which supplies the number request to the read controller 20 and also supplies the performance speed data to both the read controller 20 and the variable speed reproducer 40 do. In response to the control data, the read controller 20 controls the time-series data storage device 10 to output the set of required time-series data to the variable-rate player 40 at a user-specified playing speed, And the variable speed regenerator 40 controls the time-series data storage device 10 to output the set of time-series data required to output the pitch-corrected audio signal and the frequency-matched video signal to the encoder 90, do. The encoder 90 encodes the signal for supplying to the TSD transmitter 54 which transmits the encoded signal to the TSD receiver 56). The TSD receiver 56 supplies the encoded signal to a player 42 that decodes the most encoded signal.

Other explanations provided in connection with FIG. 1 are valid for this embodiment. The detailed description of the operation of the variable speed player 40 is replaced with the description related to Fig.

7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a fourth exemplary embodiment of a variable rate communication and reproduction system according to another aspect of the present invention. This embodiment is a variant for a multi-customer of the second embodiment of Fig. 4. 7, the variable rate communication and playback system includes a server 700 and a plurality of customer devices 9150, identical to the customer device 150 of FIG. 4). The server 700 includes the above TSD storage device 10, CD receivers 52a each connected to another one of the customer devices 150 to provide control data, A demultiplexer 700 for distributing the output TSD sets to the corresponding TSD transmitters 54 based on the control of the read controller 720, Demultiplexer (DEMUX) 740.

In the description related to FIGS. 3 to 7, it is assumed that the time series data set includes moving pictures and audio loops. However, the time series data set may be a combination of a plurality of moving picture sets and a plurality of audio accompanying moving picture sets, or may only include moving pictures, audio, and / or accompanying subtitle data.

The customer device 140, 150, 150a or 240 may reproduce all or part of the time series data transmitted from the server 120, 130, 130a or 220, respectively, at variable speed, depending on the user's selection. For example, the server may transmit a plurality of subtitles for a set of time-series information for moving pictures, accompanying audio, and other foreign languages so that the user can select one of the subtitles for a desired language at a performance time.

Many different embodiments of the present invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described herein except as the appended claims.

In the present invention, in the moving picture and audio transmission / reproduction apparatus, the user on the reception side can set the reproduction speed, and the pitch of the reproduced speech and the frequency of the moving picture are corrected to the value at the time of coding The moving picture can be normally displayed while the key of the voice is kept constant.

According to the embodiment of FIG. 4 or FIG. 5, since the time-series data supply is realized by combining the storage device and the buffer having the constant read speed, the storage device becomes normal.

Furthermore, according to the embodiment of FIG. 5, the server 130a is provided with the read control data (REC) generator for the read controller 22b as well as the buffer circuit 23, , A function of temporarily stopping playback, and a function of resuming playback that has been interrupted can be used. In other words, the present invention can be realized only by the customer.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the customer device 240 is provided with a function of correcting the change in the pitch due to the variation in the reproduction speed, by simply adding the reproduction speed setting device 30 to the ordinary customer device, (220) side.

According to FIG. 7, a single server 700 can simultaneously support a plurality of customers.

Claims (9)

1. A variable speed communication and playback system separate from a server and a client device remote from the server, wherein the customer device is stored in the server at a performance rate designated by the user, Wherein the time-series data set is reproduced by the time-series data set required by the user, the variable-speed communication and reproduction system comprising: 1) supplying the requested time-series data set at the performance speed in response to the number demand and the performance speed specified by the user A first means for delivering the number request from the client device and the performance rate to the server, and a second means for delivering the set of time series data from the server to the client device, Means for supplying said requested time series data set; 2) means for receiving the time-series data set from the supply means and reproducing at least the pitch-corrected audio signal and the frequency-matched video signal at the playing speed; And 3) means for communicating said number request to said first means and for delivering said performance speed to at least said receiving and reproducing means, said means for supplying said requested time series data set comprises: Means for storing a plurality of time series data sets arranged in the server and connected to the second means; And a control unit that receives information at the playing speed, temporarily stores data provided from the second means, reports the remaining amount of the data to the first means, and transmits the data to the receiving and reproducing means Buffer means for supplying the data; And controlling the storage means to output the requested time series data set at a maximum rate to the second means based on the determination that the buffer needs to supply data in response to the number request and the remaining amount of the data. Wherein said transmission means also transmits said information to said buffer means at said playing speed. A variable rate communication and playback system separate from a server and a client device remote from the server, wherein the customer device is stored in the server at a performance rate designated by the user and is stored in a number request Wherein the time-series data set is reproduced by the time-series data set required by the user, the variable-speed communication and reproduction system comprising: 1) supplying the requested time-series data set at the performance speed in response to the number demand and the performance speed specified by the user A first means for delivering the number request from the client device and the performance rate to the server, and a second means for delivering the set of time series data from the server to the client device, Means for supplying said requested time series data set; 2) means for receiving the set of time-series data from the supply means and reproducing the equatorial pitch-corrected audio signal and the frequency-matched video signal at the playing speed; And 3) means for delivering the number request to the first means and for conveying the performance speed to at least the receiving and playing means, wherein the means for supplying the requested time series data set comprises: Means for storing a plurality of time series data sets arranged in the server and connected to the second means; Wherein the control means is configured to receive information at the performance speed, temporarily store data supplied from the second means, output information of the remaining amount of the data to the first means, Buffer means for supplying to the reproducing means; Means for receiving the information of the residual amount and for supplying to the first means a determination as to whether the buffer means need to supply data; And means for controlling said storage means to output said set of time series data at a maximum rate to said second means in response to said number request and said determination, To said buffer means. ≪ Desc / Clms Page number 13 > A variable rate communication and playback system separate from a server and a client device remote from the server, wherein the customer device is stored in the server at a performance rate designated by the user and is stored in a number request Said variable speed communication and reproduction system comprising: means for supplying said required time series data set at said playing speed in response to a number request and a user specified playing speed; Means for receiving the time-series data set from the supply means and for reproducing the pitch-corrected audio signal and the frequency-matched video signal at the playing speed; Means for placing the pitch-corrected audio signal and the frequency-matched video signal in the server; First means for communicating the number request from the customer device and the playing speed to the server; Second means for communicating the set of time series data from the server to the customer device; Means for placing the number request and the playing speed in the customer device, for delivering the number request to the first means; And means for receiving and decoding the set of time series data from the second means to provide at least a video signal and an audio signal. A variable rate communication and playback system comprising a server and a plurality of customer devices remote from the server, wherein each of the plurality of customer devices is stored in a server at a performance rate specified by a user of the customer device, Wherein said plurality of customer devices each comprise: means for receiving and outputting said performance rate; means for receiving and outputting said performance rate; And a controller for receiving the performance speed, temporarily storing data of the requested time series data set, supplying the data of the requested time series data set at the performance speed, and storing the remaining amount of the data of the requested time series data set Buffer means for outputting the data; Means for receiving the data of the requested time series data set from the buffer means and reproducing at least the pitch-corrected audio signal and the frequency-matched video signal at the playing speed; First means for communicating the number request from the customer device and the remaining amount of the data to the server; And second means for transferring the data of the requested time series data set from the server to the buffer means of the customer device, the server comprising: means for storing a plurality of time series data sets ; In response to the number request and the remaining amount of data transmitted from each of the plurality of customer devices via the first means, based on a determination that the buffer means requires data provision, Means for controlling the storage means to output the set of required time series data for each of the devices at a maximum rate in the multiplexed form; And in response to control data from the means for controlling the storage means, demultiplexing the requested set of time series data for the customer devices of the mantissa, and for demultiplexing the requested time series data sets for the plurality of customer devices And means for outputting the data set to one of the second means associated with the customer device sending the number request for each time-series data set, respectively. 5. The variable rate communication and playback system of claim 3 or 4, wherein each of the plurality of time series data sets comprises a continuous moving picture and accompanying audio data. 6. The variable rate communication and playback system of claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of time series data sets further comprises a plurality of subtitle data. 6. The system of claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of time series data sets further comprises a plurality of subtitle data. 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the plurality of time series data sets are karaoke (voice canceled) song music. 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least video signal comprises one of the plurality of subtitle data.