KR100436764B1 - Apparatus for recording and replaying of image and method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed are a video recording and reproducing apparatus supporting an external recording method, and a method thereof. The interface module is provided to be accessible through a communication interface with a computer, and supports data communication with the computer. The codec unit converts an image signal received from the outside through an external image signal receiving channel through which an external image other than the interface module can be received by a predetermined encoding method. The control unit receives the recording mode execution command signal for the video signal received through the external video signal receiving channel from the computer through the interface module, and stores the encoded video data converted by the codec unit under the control of the USB interface of the computer. The codec unit and the interface module are controlled to be stored in the device. Therefore, by storing the video signal in the file format of the MPEG format in the hard disk drive built into the computer it is possible to simply store the video in the TV set without having a separate storage medium to implement the PVR.

Description

Apparatus for recording and replaying of image and method

The present invention relates to a video recording and reproducing apparatus for supporting an external recording method, and more particularly, to a video recording and reproducing apparatus for supporting an external recording method capable of storing a video signal on a hard disk provided in a computer. It's about how.

Recently, with the rapid development of digital broadcasting technology, a personal video recorder (PVR) that uses a storage device such as a hard disk driver (HDD) as an image storage medium by fusion with computer technology has been in the spotlight. PVR is a personal video storage device that can digitally store the received broadcast signal in the HDD instead of the existing video tape.

Such a PVR can digitally record broadcasts such as over-the-air TVs, cable TVs, and satellites. If a pause command is input during broadcast playback, the PVR can record until a play command is input. Therefore, even after a predetermined time elapses after the user presses the pause button, the user can view a broadcast from the time when the user presses the pause button. At this time, the broadcast signal from when the pause command is input to when the playback command is input is stored in a storage device such as an HDD.

1 is a block diagram showing a conventional personal video recorder.

Referring to the drawings, a conventional personal video recorder (hereinafter, referred to as a 'PVR') 100 may include a chroma decoder 110, an MPEG codec unit 120, a storage unit 130, and a D / A converter 140. ) And the controller 150.

The chroma decoder 110 converts a broadcast signal received from the outside into a signal that can be viewed or stored. When the broadcast signal received from the outside is a CVBS (Composite Video Signal) signal, the chroma decoder 110 converts the CVBS signal into a YUV signal or an RGB signal.

When a recording command for a broadcast signal received from an image display device (not shown) equipped with the PVR 100 is input, the chroma decoder 110 converts an analog signal CVBS signal into a digital signal YUV signal and outputs the converted signal. .

The MPEG codec unit 120 encodes, ie, compresses, the input YUV signal and outputs the MPEG data. The compressed MPEG data is stored in the storage 130. The storage unit 130 uses a mass storage medium such as a hard disk driver (HDD).

When a playback command for the MPEG data stored in the storage 130 is input, the MPEG codec unit 120 detects the stored MPEG data from the storage 130. The MPEG codec unit 120 decodes the detected MPEG data, that is, decompresses the MPEG data and outputs the original MPEG signal as a YUV signal. That is, the compression codec unit 120 compresses and encodes the YUV signal under the control of the controller 130, or compresses and decodes the compressed encoded signal.

The DA converter 140 converts the decompressed YUV signal to an RGB signal which is an analog signal. On the other hand, if there is no storage command for a broadcast signal received from an image display device (not shown) equipped with the PVR 100, the chroma decoder 110 converts the CVBS signal into an RGB signal and outputs the converted RGB signal.

The RGB signal converted by the chroma decoder 110 or the DA converter 140 is input to an image display device (not shown) to implement an image.

When a storage command for a broadcast signal received from an image display device (not shown) is input, the controller 150 controls the chroma decoder 110 to convert the received broadcast signal into a digital signal. In addition, when a playback command for the stored compressed data is input, the controller 150 controls the MPEG converter 120 to detect and decompress the stored compressed data.

However, the conventional PVR 100 increases the manufacturing cost of the PVR 100 by mounting an expensive HDD inside the PVR 100. In addition, in the case of the PVR 100 using the internal HDD, when the HDD breakdown occurs, the TV manufacturer has to maintain the HDD management, so there is a problem in that the A / S inconvenience and a separate A / S cost must be paid. In addition, when the inside of the TV product is narrow, there is a case where the free space for mounting the PVR 100 having the HDD therein is insufficient.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image recording and reproducing apparatus and method for supporting an external recording method capable of performing image recording without having a storage medium by storing an image signal in a hard disk embedded in a computer. There is.

1 is a block diagram showing a conventional personal video recorder,

2 is a block diagram showing a preferred embodiment of a video recording and reproducing system to which a PVR supporting an external recording method according to the present invention is applied;

3 is a flowchart illustrating a video recording and reproducing method using a PVR supporting an external recording method according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a diagram illustrating a preferred embodiment of a video recording and reproducing system to which a PVR supporting an external recording method according to the present invention is applied.

Description of the main parts of the drawing

210: PVR module 214: chroma decoder

216: MPEG Codec unit 218: USB module

220: first control unit 250: computer

252: second control unit 254: storage unit

254a: PVR storage unit 258: signal conversion unit

In order to solve the above technical problem, an image recording and reproducing apparatus for supporting an external recording method according to the present invention comprises an interface module which is provided to be accessible through a communication interface with a computer and supports data communication with the computer; A codec unit for converting an image signal received from the outside through an external image signal receiving channel capable of receiving an external image other than the interface module by a set encoding method; When a recording mode execution command signal for a video signal received through the external video signal receiving channel is received from the computer through the interface module, the video encoding data converted by the codec unit is controlled by the computer. And a control unit controlling the codec unit and the interface module to be stored in a storage device.

More specifically, the storage device of the computer is a hard disk drive, and the data stored in the storage unit is stored as a moving picture file suitable for an operating system for managing the computer.

On the other hand, in order to solve the above technical problem, the video recording and playback method supporting the external recording method according to the present invention, the external video signal that can receive an external video other than the interface module that supports data communication with a computer Receiving an image signal from a receiving channel; Converting the received video signal into a predetermined encoding method when a recording mode execution command signal for a video signal received through the external video signal receiving channel is received from the computer through the interface module; And transmitting and storing the converted image encoding data to a storage device of the computer.

According to the present invention, by using the PVR supporting the external recording method, the manufacturing cost of the PVR can be reduced, and the actual product size of the PVR can be reduced.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an image recording and reproducing system using an image recording and reproducing apparatus (hereinafter referred to as 'PVR') supporting an external recording method according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, the video recording and reproducing system 200 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention has a PVR (Personal Video Recorder) module 210 and a computer 220 for storing image data.

The PVR module 210 according to the present invention is a module that can interface with a TV that can store desired broadcasts on a storage medium such as an external hard disk drive (HDD) based on MPEG technology. It can be mounted.

The PVR module 210 includes a tuner 212, a chroma decoder 214, an MPEG codec unit 216, a USB module 218, a first control unit 220, and a switching unit 222. In addition, the computer 250 has a known structure, and in the present invention, a second control unit 252, a storage unit 254, a PVR storage unit 254a, an input unit 256, and a signal conversion unit 258 are shown. .

The tuner 212 tunes a channel preset by a user among a plurality of channels received through the antenna by a predetermined international language signal input from the first controller 220.

The chroma decoder 214 converts the video signal for the channel tuned by the tuner 212 into a viewable or storeable signal. The chroma decoder 214 converts a video signal tuned through the tuner 212 into a YUV signal or an RGB1 signal under the control of the first control unit 220.

When there is no recording mode execution command signal for the video signal selected from the input unit 256 included in the computer 250, that is, the recording command signal, the chroma decoder unit 214 converts the CVBS signal into an RGB signal and outputs the converted RGB signal. It is common.

On the other hand, when the recording command signal for the tuned video signal is input from the input unit 256 provided in the computer 250, the second control unit 252 is connected to the USB interface (not shown) by the input signal of the input unit 256; The recording control signal is transmitted to the first control unit 220 again.

The chroma decoder 214 converts the CVBS signal, which is an analog signal, into a YUV signal, which is a digital signal, by the recording control signal of the first controller 220. The reason for converting to a YUV digital signal is because the MPEG codec unit 216 is based on a digital input.

The MPEG codec unit 216 compresses and encodes the YUV signal converted from the chroma decoder unit 214 according to a set encoding scheme. In the present invention, a compression encoding scheme based on MPEG-2 (Motion Pictures Experts Group-2: MPEG-2) is supported. The video encoding data compressed by the MPEG-2 is transmitted to the second controller 252 of the computer 250 through the universal serial bus (USB) module 218.

The USB module 218 is provided to be connectable with the computer 250 through a communication interface, and is an interface module that supports data communication between the PVR module 210 and the computer 250.

The first controller 220 has a recording mode execution command signal for a video signal received through an external video signal receiving channel other than the tuner 212 or the USB module 218 from the computer 250 via the USB module 218. Upon receiving the MPEG codec unit, the MPEG codec unit converts the image coded data converted by the MPEG codec unit 216 into a storage unit 254 of the computer 250 under the control of the second controller 252 included in the computer 250. 216 and the USB module 218.

The video encoding data transmitted through the USB module 218 is transmitted to the second controller 252 through an interface module (not shown) of the computer 250, and is controlled by the second controller 252. )

The video encoding data stored in the storage unit 254 is stored as a video file suitable for an operating system for managing the computer 250. The user may designate a directory and a file name for storing the video encoding data and then store the image. The storage unit 254 preferably uses a mass storage device such as an HDD provided in the computer 250.

In addition, the PVR storage unit 254a is provided with a menu for selecting an operation of the PVR module 210 and a PVR driver for controlling the PVR module 210 according to the selected menu.

The input unit 256 is a user interface for generating an input signal for selecting or performing a function supported by the PVR module 210. The input unit 256 generates a key signal and / or a remote control (not shown). ).

When a recording command signal for the video signal selected from the input unit 256 through the tuner 212 is generated, the recording command signal is transmitted to the first control unit through the USB module 218 by the recording control signal of the second controller 252. Input 220. Then, as described above, the MPEG codec unit 216 encodes the video signal under the control of the first controller 220.

The signal conversion unit 258 receives the video encoding data stored in the storage unit 254 from the input unit 256, that is, a reproduction command for the moving image file, and outputs the moving image file by the reproduction command signal of the second control unit 252. Convert to a playable signal. The video signal converted to be reproducible is an RGB2 signal. The signal converter 258 preferably uses a video card.

The second control unit 252 transmits the recording control signal to the PVR module 210 when the recording command signal for the video signal received from the input unit 256 is input. In addition, when the reproduction command signal for the image encoding data stored in the storage unit 254 is input from the input unit 256, the second controller 252 detects the image encoding data stored in the storage unit 254 to detect a signal conversion unit ( 258, and controls the signal converter 258 to convert the transmitted video encoding data into a playable signal.

The switching unit 222 of the PVR module 210 selects one of the RGB1 generated from the chroma decoder 214 and the RGB2 generated from the signal converter 258 by the control signal of the first controller 220. Provides a path for the video display of the selected signal. That is, any one of RGB1 and RGB2 selected by the switching unit 222 is displayed on the display device (not shown).

3 is a flowchart illustrating a video recording / reproducing method supporting an external recording method according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, first, the channel preset by the user among the video signals received through the antenna is tuned / received (S310). When a storage command for a channel selected from the input unit 256 of the computer 250 is applied (S320), the video signal of the channel selected by the MPEG codec unit 216 included in the PVR module 210 is converted into encoded data. Convert (S330). The MPEG codec unit 216 uses MPEG-2. The converted encoded data is transmitted to and stored in a hard disk of the computer 250 connected to the PVR module 210 and the USB module 218 (S340). In step S320, if the storage command for the tuned channel is not applied, the PVR module 210 receives the signal of the channel that is continuously tuned (S310).

4 is a diagram illustrating a preferred embodiment of a video recording and reproducing system to which a PVR supporting an external recording method according to the present invention is applied.

Referring to the figure, the video recording and playback system 400 includes a television 410, a PVR 420, a communication cable 430, and a computer 440. The television 410 is any display device capable of displaying an image. In the present invention, it is preferable to use a projection TV for presentation or a monitor / TV combined LCD TV used with a computer.

The PVR 420 stores a video signal using a recording device built in the computer 440 as a set top box. That is, the PVR 420 of the present invention supports an external recording method. The PVR 420 and the computer 440 are connected by a communication cable 430 that supports data communication between the PVR 420 and the computer 440.

When a storage command for a video signal being received by the PVR 420 is input by an input device included in the computer 440, the PVR 420 compresses the video signal by the MPEG compression method and then transmits the video signal to the computer 440. do. The computer 440 stores the compressed image data transmitted from the PVR 420 through the communication cable 430 in the HDD of the computer 440. The stored compressed image data is converted into a playback signal by the video card when the playback command is input from the input device of the computer 440, and is implemented in the television 410.

According to the video recording and reproducing apparatus supporting the external recording method according to the present invention and the method, the PVR is a separate storage medium by storing the video signal to be recorded in the file format of MPEG format by using a hard disk drive built into the computer You can simply save the video without having a. As a result, the manufacturing cost of the PVR can be lowered, and the A / S cost and A / S inconvenience caused when the hard disk drive is defective can be reduced. The PVR using the hard disk drive of such a computer can be usefully used for academic projection TV implementation or presentation for office work.

Although the present invention has been described in detail through the representative embodiments, those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains can make various modifications without departing from the scope of the present invention with respect to the embodiments described above. Will understand. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments, but should be defined by the claims below and equivalents thereof.

Claims (5)

An interface module provided to be accessible through a communication interface with a computer and supporting data communication with the computer; A codec unit for converting an image signal received from the outside through an external image signal receiving channel capable of receiving an external image other than the interface module by a set encoding method; When a recording mode execution command signal for a video signal received through the external video signal receiving channel is received from the computer through the interface module, the video encoding data converted by the codec unit is controlled by the computer. And a control unit for controlling the codec unit and the interface module to be stored and stored in a storage device. The method of claim 1, And a storage device of the computer is a hard disk drive. The method of claim 1, And the data stored in the storage unit is stored as a video file. Receiving an image signal from an external image signal receiving channel configured to receive an external image other than an interface module supporting data communication with a computer; Converting the received video signal to a predetermined encoding method when a recording mode execution command signal for the video signal received through the external video signal receiving channel is received from the computer through the interface module; And And transmitting the converted video encoding data to a storage device of the computer, thereby storing the converted video encoding data. The method of claim 4, wherein And a storage device of the computer is a hard disk drive.