KR100678901B1 - Apparatus and method for replaying media content of portable mass storage - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for playing media contents of a portable storage device, wherein the portable storage device simultaneously searches and plays media content stored in a portable storage device when the portable storage device is connected to a set-top box operating in conjunction with a digital TV. An apparatus and method for playing media content of a device are provided.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a device for reproducing media content of a portable storage device may include: a file retrieval unit for retrieving a media file stored in the portable storage device, and a list of applications supporting playback of the retrieved media file; An outputting application program output unit, a file receiving unit receiving a media file supported by the selected application program among the output application list, and a file reproducing unit which plays the received media file using the selected application program; .

Digital TVs, set-top boxes, portable storage devices

Description

Apparatus and method for replaying media content of portable mass storage}

1 is a view showing the playback of media content using a conventional digital TV.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a process of reproducing media content by a manual portable storage device manual search.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a media content playback process by a conventional portable storage device automatic search.

4 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for playing media content of a portable storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a diagram illustrating a list of application programs output to a digital TV according to an embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a view showing a list of media files output to a digital TV according to an embodiment of the present invention.

7 is a flowchart illustrating a process of playing media content of a portable storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols on main parts of the drawings>

410: device recognition unit 420: file search unit

430 control unit 440 application storage unit

450: application output unit 460: file receiving unit

470: command receiving unit 480: file playback unit

The present invention relates to a device and a method for playing media content of a portable storage device. More particularly, when the portable storage device is connected to a set-top box operating in conjunction with a digital TV, the media content stored in the portable storage device can be simultaneously retrieved and played. A device and method for playing media content of a portable storage device to perform.

1 is a view showing the playback of media content using a conventional digital TV.

The digital TV 11 provides various functions in addition to the content providing function of the conventional analog TV. It provides many functions as the center of digital home appliances such as digital broadcasting reception, electronic program guide (EPG), two-way communication, internet, etc., and can also be in charge of server function in ubiquitous environment. Recently, an Internet function is added to the digital TV 11, and a Java virtual machine for using the Internet and a user interface thereof are also being developed. Digital broadcasting provides high quality, high sound quality, multi-channel, two-way access and internet access. An interactive connection enables an interactive service that transmits a variety of multimedia information with the broadcast and the user actively participates in it.

In order to enable such an interactive service, the digital TV 11 is operated in conjunction with a set-top box 12. The set-top box 12 is a device that makes the digital TV 11 an Internet user interface. For example, it is a special computer capable of receiving digital content from the digital broadcasting station 13 or exchanging data via the Internet.

The set top box 12 also has a protocol such as a web browser and TCP / IP, and also provides a web TV service through a telephone line or a cable TV line.

On the other hand, when the external network is not supported, the set-top box 12 may receive the media content stored in the portable storage device 14 and cause the digital TV 11 to play back the media content stored in the portable storage device 14. Content search is classified into manual search and automatic search.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a process of reproducing media content by a manual portable storage device manual search.

When the portable storage device is connected to the set-top box operating in conjunction with the digital TV, the set-top box performs portable storage device recognition (S21). In operation S22, the user may search for a file stored in the portable storage device by executing a file management program. Thus, when a file is selected by the user (S24), the media format (video, still image, music, etc.) of the selected file is checked, and the file is played using the application program (S25).

3 is a flowchart illustrating a media content playback process by a conventional portable storage device automatic search.

When the portable storage device is connected to the set-top box operating in conjunction with the digital TV, the set-top box performs the portable storage device recognition (S31). Then, the file stored in the portable storage device is automatically searched (S32). At this time, the media format of the stored file is checked during the file search. When the file search is completed, a list of application programs supporting the identified media format is output through the digital TV (S33). When the user selects an application program to execute a desired media file, the user receives the selection command (S34), and the set-top box outputs a list of files according to the media format (S35).

The set-top box plays back the file selected by the user from the list of files using the selected application program (S36).

As described above, in the playback of a media file using the conventional method, the manual search requires that the user directly search all media files stored in the portable storage device 14 by using the remote control of the digital TV 11. It wasn't easy, and it took a lot of search time.

In addition, in the case of automatic retrieval, the set-top box 12 outputs a file supporting application through the digital TV 11 after the retrieval of all media files stored in the portable storage device 13 is completed, thereby recognizing the portable storage device 13. There was an unnecessary time consumption from the time of the city to the playback of the media file.

 An object of the present invention is to simultaneously search and play media content stored in a portable storage device when the portable storage device is connected to a set-top box operating in conjunction with a digital TV.

In addition, an object of the present invention is to search for and play the desired media content using a remote control of the digital TV.

The objects of the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned objects, and other objects that are not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

In order to achieve the above object, an apparatus for reproducing media content of a portable storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a file retrieval unit for retrieving a media file stored in the portable storage device, and for reproducing the retrieved media file. An application program output unit for activating and outputting a list of application programs, a file receiving unit for receiving a media file supported by a selected application program among the output application list, and the received media file using the selected application program. And a file reproducing unit for reproducing.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method of playing media content of a portable storage device includes retrieving a media file stored in the portable storage device, and activating and outputting a list of applications that support playback of the retrieved media file. And receiving a media file supported by the selected application program from the list of outputted application programs and playing the received media file using the selected application program.

Specific details of other embodiments are included in the detailed description and the drawings.

Advantages and features of the present invention and methods for achieving them will be apparent with reference to the embodiments described below in detail with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but can be implemented in various different forms, and only the embodiments make the disclosure of the present invention complete, and the general knowledge in the art to which the present invention belongs. It is provided to fully inform the person having the scope of the invention, which is defined only by the scope of the claims. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

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

4 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for playing media content of a portable storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The device for reproducing media contents of the portable storage device includes a device recognition unit 410, a file search unit 420, an application program storage unit 440, a file receiver 460, a command receiver 470, and an application program output unit ( 450, a file reproducing unit 480, and a control unit 430.

The device recognition unit 410 recognizes an external portable storage device. Here, the portable storage device includes a hard disk, a USB flash drive, an SD card, an XD card, a mini SD, and an RS MMC, and may be appropriately selected according to the communication method of the device recognition unit 410. In addition, as the communication method between the device recognition unit 410 and the portable storage device, IDE, USB, IEEE 1394, and bus communication may be used. In order to support hot-plug, USB or IEEE 1394 may be used. It is preferable.

The application program storage unit 440 stores an application program that supports playback of media files such as still images, videos, and music.

Therefore, the application program storage unit 440 preferably stores an application program capable of playing media files for each file type, and even the same file type can be executed by different codecs, so that each media file can be played. It is preferable that various codecs are stored.

The file search unit 420 searches for a media file stored in the portable storage device recognized by the device recognition unit 410. That is, a file type, a file format (file extension), a file size, a playback codec and a storage location of a media file stored in the portable storage device are searched for.

The portable storage device may store media files such as still images, movies, and music, and each file may be stored in a root directory or a subdirectory (folder). In this case, the folder is randomly generated by the user, and the media file may be stored in a folder generated for each type or randomly stored.

In addition, one or more folders of the same file type (still image, video, or music) may exist, or media files of various file types may be stored in any folder.

Accordingly, the file search unit 420 may create and store a predetermined meta file including the file type, file format (file extension), file size, playback codec, and storage location of each media file during media file search. Do. In this case, the meta file may be stored in at least one of a portable storage device or a device for playing media content of the portable storage device.

At this time, the target of the media file searched by the file search unit 420 is preferably limited to a media file that can be played by an application stored in the application storage unit 440, and playback by the stored application is not supported. If a file is not found, it is preferable not to save it in the meta file.

The application program output unit 450 serves to output a list of application programs that support reproduction of the media file retrieved by the file search unit 420. For example, when a video file is found, an icon or a button for executing an application that supports video playback is output on the screen of the digital TV. Accordingly, the user can know the file type of the currently searched media file, and can select and execute one of the media files searched so far using the remote controller.

In general, file types of media that can be played through digital TV are limited to still images, moving images, and music. Accordingly, the application program output unit 450 may output icons or buttons of all applications stored in the application storage unit 440 at the same time as the file search by the file search unit 420. The icon or button of an application may be deactivated, and the icon or button of the application may be activated when a media file of the corresponding file type is found.

The command receiving unit 470 serves to receive a command signal of the remote controller input by the user. The user can play a previously searched media file by clicking an icon or button of an activated application while searching for a file. The command receiving unit 470 receives a signal such as a direction button or a play button of a remote controller.

The file receiving unit 460 serves to receive, from the portable storage device, the media file supported by the application selected by the user from the list of application programs output on the digital TV.

At this time, the file receiving unit 460 refers to the meta file created by the file searching unit 420 to identify and receive the location of the media file.

As described above, the command receiving unit 470 receives a command signal of the remote controller. When an application is selected by the user, a list of media files supported by the selected application is output to the digital TV. Accordingly, the user selects one of the list of media files output using the remote controller and transmits a playback command. The file receiving unit 460 extracts information on the selected media file from the meta file and receives the information from the portable storage device. will be.

The file player 480 plays a media file received using the selected application program. The played media file is output through the digital TV. That is, the file reproducing unit 480 separates the media file decoded by the application program using the corresponding codec into video and audio data and transmits the digital file to the digital TV.

The output of the application list, the output of the media file list, the reception of the media file, and the playback of the file may be performed even during the file search, wherein the list of application programs or the list of media files may be PIP (Picture In Picture) or It may be output on the media content being played using a transparent layer or the like.

As described above, file playback can also be performed during file search. Accordingly, the media file playback by the file playback unit 480 may be played not only with respect to a specific media file selected by the user, but also by the order of the searched files. When this is completed, it can be played by the application.

For reference, the file search unit 420 may search only the media file selected by the user. The search criteria may include file name, file type, or file type (file extension) .If a search for a specific file type is performed, only the icon or button of an application that supports playback of the file type may be used. It is preferable to output through.

The controller 430 may include a device recognition unit 410, a file search unit 420, an application program storage unit 440, a file receiver 460, a command receiver 470, an application program output unit 450, and a file playback unit. 480 and perform overall control of the device.

5 is a diagram illustrating a list of application programs output to a digital TV according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The file search unit 420 searches for a media file stored in the portable storage device, and if the searched media file is supported for playback by an application stored in the application storage unit, the information (file type, file type, file size, Create and save meta files containing playback codecs and storage locations. Then, the application program output unit 450 transmits whether the corresponding application program is activated to be output to the digital TV.

In this case, an icon or a button of an application program may be generated and displayed on the screen, or the icon or button of the corresponding application may be activated while the icons or buttons of all the application programs are displayed on the screen inactive.

Here, it should be noted that the file search by the file search unit 420 is in progress even when the icon or button of the application program is output.

In addition, various application programs may be stored in the application program storage unit 440. Even if an application program supports playback of the same file type, the support of the codec may vary. In other words, there may be a video application that supports playback for a specific video file and a video application that does not support playback.

Accordingly, the file search unit 420 may also search for the type of codec for playing the media file. Accordingly, the application program output unit 450 may output the application program for the same file type by the type of the codec. Can be determined.

The list output diagram 510 of the application program of FIG. 5 shows that one video application program and two music application programs are activated while the list of application programs of all the media file formats is inactively output.

The application program output unit 450 may output a list of application programs through the digital TV (510), or may simply output the type of the media file (520). In other words, icons or buttons of all types of media files (still image, video, music, TV and radio, etc.) are inactively displayed on the screen, and icons or buttons for the types of media files found are activated.

At this time, when the user selects the desired file type using the remote controller, a list 600 of media files corresponding thereto is output on the screen.

When the command receiver 470 receives a selection and playback command for a specific media file, the file playback unit 480 extracts and plays an application that supports playback of the media file from the application storage unit 440. do.

6 is a view showing a list of media files output to a digital TV according to an embodiment of the present invention.

When a user wants to play a media file stored in a portable storage device by a conventional manual search, the user should search for the portable storage device by using a remote controller. At this time, when the number of files is large and the folder structure is complicated, it is very inconvenient to search for a specific media file using a remote controller.

Accordingly, the list 600 of media files according to the present invention outputs a list of media files of the same type through a digital TV. Accordingly, the user can search for a specific media file using only the up and down buttons and the confirmation button of the remote controller.

The media file list 600 is preferably displayed on the screen when one of the application list is selected by the user. For example, the video file list is output when the video application is selected and the music application is selected. The file list is printed.

When the command receiving unit 470 receives a play command for one or a plurality of files in the media file list 600 by the user, the file play unit 480 plays using an application program capable of playing the corresponding media file. . In this case, when there are a plurality of application programs that can play the media file, a list of the application programs may be output on the screen so that the user can select them or play them by using the previously selected application program.

7 is a flowchart illustrating a process of playing media content of a portable storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

When the portable storage device is connected, the device recognition unit 410 performs device recognition (S710). Here, when the communication method between the device recognition unit 410 and the portable storage device is IDE or bus communication, the device recognition is performed while power is applied to a device that plays media content of the portable storage device according to the present invention while the portable storage device is connected. In this case, when the communication method between the device recognition unit 410 and the portable storage device is USB or IEEE1394, since hot-plug is supported, power is supplied to a device that plays media content of the portable storage device of the present invention. In the state, device recognition is performed at the same time as the connection.

When the portable storage device recognition by the device recognition unit 410 is completed, the file search unit 420 searches for a media file stored in the portable storage device (S720), and the media file search may be performed simultaneously with the completion of the device recognition. It may be performed according to a command signal received through the remote controller.

Media file retrieval captures information such as file type, file type, file size, type of codec for playing the file, and location where the file is stored. The information of the retrieved media file is created and stored as a meta file. .

When the media file is found, the application program output unit 450 outputs a list of application programs capable of playing the media file through the digital TV (S730). At this time, the icon or button of the application program may be output on the screen of the digital TV, or the icon or button of the inactive may be activated. Here, it should be noted that the file search by the file search unit 420 is in progress even when the icon or button of the application program is output.

The list of application programs output on the screen of the digital TV is connected to an application program stored in the application program storage unit 440. The user may select and execute the application program using the direction buttons and the confirmation button of the remote controller. Accordingly, the command receiving unit 470 receives an application program selection command from the remote controller (S740), executes an application connected to an icon or a button, and displays a list of media files supported by a selected application program among searched media files. Output to the screen of a digital TV.

Accordingly, when the user selects the media file by using the direction buttons and the confirmation button of the remote control, the command receiving unit 470 receives a selection command (S750).

When the command receiving unit 470 receives a selection command for the media file, the file receiving unit 460 refers to the meta file created by the file searching unit 420 and receives the media file from the portable storage device (S760).

When the file receiving unit 460 receives the media file, the file reproducing unit 480 plays the received media file using the selected application program (S770). That is, a media file decoded by an application program using the corresponding codec is divided into video and audio data and transmitted to a digital TV.

In this case, the output of the application program list (S730), the output of the media file list, the media file reception (S760), and the media file playback (S770) may also be performed by the file search unit 420 during the media file search (S720). The list of application programs or the list of media files may be output on the media content being played using the PIP or the transparent layer.

In addition, since file playback may be performed during file search, media file playback by the file playback unit 480 may be played not only with respect to a specific media file selected by a user, but also by the order of searched files. As a result, a media file that has not been searched yet can be played by the corresponding application when the search is completed later.

Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may implement the present invention in other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features thereof. I can understand that. Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described above are exemplary in all respects and not restrictive.

According to the apparatus and method for reproducing media content of the portable storage device of the present invention as described above, there are one or more of the following effects.

First, when a portable storage device is connected to a set-top box operating in conjunction with a digital TV, the search and playback of media content stored in the portable storage device are simultaneously performed, thereby reducing the time from the connection point of the portable storage device to the playback time.

Second, there is an advantage of providing convenience by simply searching and playing media content desired by a user using a remote control of a digital TV.

Claims (5)

A file search unit for searching a media file stored in the portable storage device; An application program output unit for activating and outputting a list of application programs supporting playback of the retrieved media file; A file receiving unit which receives a media file supported by the selected application program from the list of the output application programs; And And a file reproducing unit for reproducing the received media file using the selected application program, wherein one of outputting a list of the application program, receiving the media file, and reproducing the media file includes: searching for the media file; And at the same time, the list of application programs is output on top of the media content being played using a picture in picture (PIP) or transparent layer. The method of claim 1, If the searched media file is of the same type, the application program output unit outputs a codec for playing the searched media file by type, and the file receiving unit refers to the selected application by referring to a predetermined meta file stored in the portable storage device. Receives a media file supported by the program, and the file playback unit separates the received media file into video and audio data using a codec used by the selected application program and transmits it to the digital TV, the media content of the portable storage device Device to play it. delete Retrieving a media file stored on the portable storage device; Activating and outputting a list of applications that support playback of the retrieved media file; Receiving a media file supported by a selected application from the list of outputted applications; And Playing the received media file using the selected application, wherein one of outputting a list of the application program, receiving the media file, and playing the media file is simultaneously with the search of the media file. And wherein the list of application programs is output on top of the media content being played using a picture in picture (PIP) or transparent layer. The method of claim 4, wherein The step of activating and outputting the list of application programs outputs a codec for playing the searched media file by type when the searched media file is of the same type, and receiving the media file on the portable storage device. Receiving a media file supported by the selected application program by referring to a stored meta file, and playing the received media file may include displaying the received media file using a codec used by the selected application program. And separating the voice data into a digital TV to play the media content of the portable storage device.

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