KR100578242B1 - Apparatus for storing and playing back mp3 file using a set top box - Google Patents

Abstract

An MP3 (MP3) decoder as well as an MP3 decoder in a set top box (STB) is provided to encode predetermined voice signals selected by a user into an MP3 file and stored in a personal video recorder (PVR).

The MP3 encoder is installed on the STB to encode a predetermined voice signal into an MP3 file according to a user's command or a reservation command, to store the encoded MP3 file in the PVR, and to decode and listen to the MP3 files stored in the PVR. In addition, the MP3 files stored in the PVR and the external storage device may be moved to each other, and the MP3 decoder may decode and listen to the MP3 files stored in the external storage device.

Set top box, STB, MP3, MP3 encoder, MP3 decoder,

Description

Apparatus for storing and playing back MP3 file using a Set Top Box}

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a set-top box equipped with a MP3 file storage / playback apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a detailed block diagram of the MP3 encoding unit of FIG. 1. FIG.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

100: STB 102: command input unit

104: control unit 106: video / audio switching unit

108: graphic unit 110: image synthesis unit

112: interface unit 114: MP3 encoding unit

114-1: Reserved time storage unit 114-2: MP3 encoder

114-3: File name generation unit 116: PVR

118 MP3 decoder 120 voice switching unit

150: external storage device

The present invention includes a MP3 encoder for encoding a voice signal into an MP3 (MPEG Audio Layer-3) file and a MP3 decoder for decoding an MP3 file in a set top box (hereinafter, abbreviated as 'STB'). The present invention relates to an MP3 file storage / playback apparatus using an STB which encodes a predetermined voice signal into an MP3 file and stores it in a storage means, and decodes and listens to the MP3 file stored in the storage means by an MP3 decoder.

As digitalization of broadcasting media including terrestrial broadcasting and cable broadcasting proceeds rapidly, STB not only receives terrestrial broadcasting signals but also in-band bands among cable frequency bands from headends providing cable broadcasting signals. A broadcast signal is received through the broadcast signal, and the received broadcast signal is provided to a television receiver to be viewed by a user, and bidirectional communication with the headend is performed through an out of band band.

The STB may be classified into a simple receiver, a pay broadcast receiver, and an interactive two-way receiver. The simple receiver is used in a satellite broadcasting business type in which anyone can watch a broadcast program when joining as a free channel or a member, and is generally referred to as a free-to-air receiver. The paid broadcast receiver performs a conditional access system (CAS) function to allow a specific broadcaster to watch only a specific broadcast program according to their own sales strategy.

The interactive two-way receiver is a next-generation receiver that will emerge in the future, STB capable of a variety of multimedia services, such as the Internet integrated broadcast and communication, is expected to be gradually replaced by an interactive receiver.

By connecting a video / audio playback device such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) player and a video cassette recorder (VCR) to the STB, it switches a predetermined video and audio signal output from the video / audio playback device and delivers it to a television receiver. The user can watch a video and audio signal output from a predetermined video / audio playback device.

Recently, a PVR (Personal Video Recorder) using a hard disk as a storage means stores video and audio signals of a received broadcast signal in the PVR, and the video and audio signals stored in the PVR at a user's desired time. It can be played and watched.

In addition, Korean Patent Application No. 2001-39290 (Publication No. 2003-3465) embeds an MP3 decoder in an STB, and stores MP3 files stored in an external storage device such as an MP3 player in a PVR so that they can be played and listened to. Doing.

However, the STB incorporating the MP3 decoder can only store and reproduce MP3 files in the PVR, and can listen to them, and encode video signals of received broadcast signals or audio signals input from a predetermined video / audio playback device into MP3 files. There was a problem that the use range is very limited as it can not hear.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an MP3 decoder as well as an MP3 encoder in the STB to encode audio signals including MP3 files selected by the user into MP3 files, store them in a PVR, and store the stored MP3 files at a desired time. The present invention provides an MP3 file storage / playback apparatus using STB which can be decoded and listened to by an MP3 decoder.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an MP3 file storage / playing apparatus using STB which stores MP3 files stored in an external storage medium such as an MP3 player in a PVR, and can be decoded and listened to by an MP3 decoder.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an MP3 file storage / playing apparatus using STB, which stores MP3 files stored in a PVR on an external storage medium such as an MP3 player so that a user can easily carry the external storage medium and listen to the MP3 files. To provide.

According to the MP3 file storage / playback apparatus using the STB of the present invention having the above object, controlling the switching of the video / audio signal according to the operation command generated by the command input unit and encoding and storing the switched audio signal as an MP3 file A control unit for controlling an operation of reproducing an MP3 file, a video / audio switching unit which selects one by switching a plurality of video and audio signals under the control of the control unit, and a predetermined control unit according to the control of the control unit. A graphic unit for generating a graphic signal, an image synthesizer for synthesizing a video signal switched by the video / audio switching unit under control of the controller and a graphic signal generated by the graphic unit, and the external storage under control of the controller An interface unit for interfacing the device with predetermined data, and the zero under the control of the controller The MP3 encoder for encoding the voice signal switched to the MP3 file, the MP3 file encoded by the MP3 encoder under the control of the controller, and the MP3 file input through the interface unit from the external storage device. An output PVR, an MP3 decoder for decoding the MP3 file output by the PVR or an MP3 file input through the interface unit from the external storage device under control of the controller, an audio signal switched by the video / audio switching unit, and And a voice switching unit for switching and selecting the voice signal decoded by the MP3 decoder under the control of the controller.

The MP3 encoder includes an MP3 encoder for encoding a voice signal switched by the video / audio switching unit into an MP3 file according to the control of the controller and the reserved time stored in the reserved time storage unit, and the audio encoded by the MP3 encoder into an MP3 file. And a file name generation unit generating the file name of the signal under the control of the controller.

In addition, the MP3 encoder stores the reservation time for encoding the audio signal into an MP3 file under the control of the controller, and when the stored time is reached, the MP3 encoder causes the video / audio switching unit to encode the audio signal switched. It characterized in that it further comprises a reservation time storage.

The file name generation unit may generate a file name by combining a source name or a program name of a voice signal with date and time information.

Hereinafter, an MP3 file storage / playback apparatus using the STB of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an STB equipped with an MP3 file storage / playback apparatus of the present invention. Here, reference numeral 100 denotes an STB equipped with an MP3 file storage / playback device according to the present invention, and reference numeral 150 denotes an external storage device such as an MP3 player that can store, play and listen to an MP3 file.

The STB 100 controls the switching of the video / audio signal according to the operation command generated by the command input unit 102, controls the encoding of the switched audio signal into an MP3 file and stores the MP3 file, and reproduces the MP3 file. A control unit 104 for controlling an operation, a video / audio switching unit 106 for switching a plurality of video and audio signals to select one under the control of the control unit 104, and a control of the control unit 104. The graphic unit 108 generating a predetermined graphic signal according to the control unit 104, the image signal switched by the video / audio switching unit 106 under the control of the controller 104, and the graphic signal generated by the graphic unit 108. The image synthesizer 110 for synthesizing the data, the interface unit 112 for interfacing predetermined data with the external storage device 150 under the control of the controller 104, and the control of the controller 104. According to the video / audio switch An MP3 encoding unit 114 for encoding the voice signal switched by the unit 106 into an MP3 file, an MP3 file encoded by the MP3 encoding unit 114 and the external storage device under the control of the controller 104. A PVR 116 for storing and outputting an MP3 file input through the interface unit 112 from the 150 and an MP3 file output by the PVR 116 under the control of the controller 104 or the external storage device; An MP3 decoder 118 for decoding an MP3 file input through the interface unit 112 from 150, an audio signal switched by the video / audio switching unit 106, and a signal decoded by the MP3 decoder 118. The voice signal switch 120 is configured to switch by selecting the voice signal under the control of the controller 104.

As shown in FIG. 2, the MP3 encoding unit 114 stores a reservation time for storing a reservation time for encoding a voice signal into an MP3 file under the control of the controller 104, and the controller. MP3 encoder 114-2 for encoding the audio signal switched by the video / audio switching unit 106 into an MP3 file according to the control of 104 and the reservation time stored in the reservation time storage unit 114-1; The file name generation unit 114-3 generates the file name of the voice signal encoded by the MP3 encoder 114-2 into the MP3 file under the control of the controller 104.

According to the present invention configured as described above, when a user commands a selection of a predetermined video / audio signal through the command input unit 102, the controller 104 controls the video / audio switching unit 106 according to the corresponding command to select the user. The predetermined video and audio signals are switched. For example, assuming that a television broadcast signal, a video and audio signal reproduced by a VCR, and a video and audio signal reproduced by a DVD player are input to the video / audio switching unit 106, the user can select a television broadcast signal. In this case, the controller 104 controls the video / audio switching unit 106 to switch the video and audio signals of the television broadcast signal.

The video and audio signals switched by the video / audio switching unit 106 are output to the outside through the image synthesizing unit 110 and the audio switching unit 120 to be viewed by the user.

In this way, when the user views a predetermined video and audio signal, the user's preferred music or audio signal is output and commands the encoding through the command input unit 102, the control unit 104 is the MP3 encoding unit 114 Controls the MP3 encoder 114-2 to command the encoding of the voice signal, and controls the PVR 116 to command the storage, and controls the file name generator 114-3 to generate the file name of the MP3 file. .

Then, the file name generation unit 114-3 generates a predetermined file name, and the MP3 encoder 114-2 receives the audio signal output from the video / audio switching unit 106 in the file name generation unit 114-3. The encoded MP3 file is input to the PVR 116 and stored.

Here, the operation of generating the file name of the MP3 file will be described in detail.

In the present invention, the file name of the MP3 file is composed of a source name of a voice signal, current date information, and time information. For example, assuming that the audio signal encoded as an MP3 file is the audio signal of a television broadcast signal, the current date information is BB month CC in AAAA, and the current time information is DD hours EE minutes FF seconds, the file name is TV_AABBCC_DDEEFF. Create as .MP3.

If the audio signal encoded in the MP3 file is the audio signal of the television broadcast signal, and the EPG (Electronic Program Guide) of the television broadcast signal exists, the program name _AABBCC_DDEEFF.MP3 is generated using the program name as the source name. The MP3 encoder 114-2 encodes a voice signal with a file name generated by the file name generator 114-3 and stores the voice signal in the PVR 116.

When the user operates the command input unit 102 to reserve the predetermined voice signal as an MP3 file, the controller 104 reserves reservation information of the predetermined voice signal, that is, reservation time information, in the reservation time storage unit 114-1. Store in

In such a state, the reservation time storage unit 114-1 compares the stored reservation time with the current time to determine whether the reservation time is reached, and controls the MP3 encoder 114-2 when the reservation time is reached. The audio signal output from the video / audio switching unit 106 is encoded with the file name generated by the file name generation unit 114-3, and the encoded MP3 file is input to the PVR 116 and stored.

On the other hand, when the user commands the display of the predetermined MP3 file stored in the PVR 116, the control unit 104 controls the PVR 116 to read the file name of the stored MP3 files, the graphics unit 108 to read the file name The graphic unit 108 generates a graphic signal of the MP3 file name, and the generated graphic signal is output after being synthesized with the image signal by the image synthesizing unit 110 so that the user can check it on the screen.

In this state, when the user selects a predetermined MP3 file through the command input unit 102 and commands playback, the controller 104 controls the PVR 116 to output the corresponding MP3 file, and the output MP3 file is After decoding by the MP3 decoder 118 may be output through the voice switching unit 120 to listen.

When the control unit 104 controls the interface unit 112 to store the predetermined MP3 file stored in the PVR 116 to the external storage device 150, the interface unit stores the corresponding MP3 file stored in the PVR 116. And store the MP3 file stored in the external storage device 150 through the interface unit 112 in the PVR 116 through the interface unit 112 and in the MP3 decoder 118. To decode and listen.

On the other hand, while the present invention has been shown and described with respect to specific preferred embodiments, various modifications and changes of the present invention without departing from the spirit or field of the invention provided by the claims below It can be easily understood by those skilled in the art.

As described above, the present invention is provided with an MP3 encoder in the STB to convert a predetermined voice signal including music into an MP3 file, store it in a PVR, play it back at a desired time, and listen to a predetermined time. The audio signal can be converted into an MP3 file and stored in the PVR. In addition, the MP3 files stored in the PVR and the external storage device can be moved and stored, and the MP3 files stored in the external storage device can be decoded and listened to.

Claims (4)

A control unit for controlling the switching of the video / audio signal according to the operation command generated by the command input unit and controlling the operation of encoding, storing and playing the switched audio signal into an MP3 file; A video / audio switching unit which selects one by switching a plurality of video and audio signals under the control of the controller; A graphic unit generating a predetermined graphic signal under the control of the controller; An image synthesizer for synthesizing the image signal switched by the image / audio switching unit and the graphic signal generated by the graphic unit under the control of the controller; An interface unit configured to interface an external storage device with predetermined data according to the control of the controller; An MP3 encoder for encoding an audio signal switched by the video / audio switching unit into an MP3 file under the control of the controller; A PVR for storing and outputting an MP3 file encoded by the MP3 encoding unit and an MP3 file input through the interface unit from the external storage device under control of the controller; An MP3 decoder for decoding an MP3 file output by the PVR or an MP3 file input through the interface unit from the external storage device under control of the controller; And And an audio switching unit configured to switch the audio signal switched by the video / audio switching unit and the audio signal decoded by the MP3 decoder under the control of the controller. The method of claim 1, wherein the MP3 encoding unit; An MP3 encoder for encoding the audio signal switched by the video / audio switching unit into an MP3 file according to the control of the controller and the reservation time stored in the reservation time storage unit; And And a file name generator for generating a file name of a voice signal encoded by the MP3 encoder into an MP3 file under the control of the controller. The method of claim 2, A reservation time storage unit for storing a reservation time for encoding a voice signal into an MP3 file under the control of the controller, and for causing the MP3 encoder to encode a voice signal switched by the video / audio switching unit when the stored time is reached MP3 file storage / playback device using a set top box, characterized in that it further comprises. The method of claim 2, wherein the file name generation unit; An MP3 file storage / playback apparatus using a set top box, characterized by generating a file name by combining a source name or a program name of a voice signal with date and time information.

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