KR100721292B1 - Apparatus for accessing hard disk drive of multimedia player and method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a hard disk access device and a method of a portable multimedia player for minimizing the number of hard disk accesses and to more efficiently use power. The present invention relates to a number and size of buffer memories in a main memory in a control unit that performs a control operation of portable multimedia. And a determining step of determining a position, when a user inputs a playback command, the control unit detects a data rate of a file to be played back from the hard disk, and a setting step of setting a data threshold value of the buffer memory area according to the data rate. Copy the audio and video stream data of the file from the hard disk and save it in the buffer memory, and change the power off or change the power saving mode of the hard disk, and the controller sets the size of the audio and video stream data remaining in the buffer memory. Data set in step As a result of the comparison with the threshold value and the comparison step, the control unit turns on or changes the hard disk to the access mode when the size of the audio and video stream data is smaller than the data threshold, and converts the audio and video stream data from the hard disk. A configuration including a control step of copying and storing it back into the buffer memory is prepared.

By using the hard disk access device and the method of the portable multimedia as described above, it is possible to minimize the amount of battery consumed to minimize the battery consumption during playback.

Portable Multimedia Devices, Hard Disks, Buffers, Memory, Streams

Description

Apparatus for accessing hard disk drive of multimedia player and method

1 is a block diagram showing the components of a typical portable multimedia player;

2 is a diagram illustrating a comparison of a data threshold value in a main memory buffer area of a conventional portable multimedia player and a data threshold value in a main memory buffer area of a portable multimedia player according to the present invention;

Figure 3 is a flow chart showing the process of the hard disk access method of the portable multimedia player according to the present invention.

 <Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

11: mass storage 12: main memory

13: control unit 14: display unit

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for accessing a hard disk of a portable multimedia, and more particularly, to use the power more efficiently by minimizing the number of hard disk accesses by varying a data threshold value of a memory area according to the data rate of a multimedia file. A hard disk access device of a portable multimedia player and a method thereof.

Recently, with the rapid development of information and communication, portable digital multimedia devices such as MP3 players and PDAs are greatly used due to the advantage of being able to conveniently carry and play their favorite music or video regardless of time and place. Growing.

Such portable multimedia devices are equipped with a storage means such as a hard disk drive (HDD) to store digital files downloaded by a user through a PC, etc., and then play and output the digital files according to a user's key operation. do.

However, since a large amount of power is consumed to access a device such as an HDD, a limited power resource is efficiently used by copying necessary data to a main memory device and then turning off the power without always applying power to the HDD. have.

The determination of whether the HDD device needs to be accessed is determined according to the size of the data remaining in the main memory device. In the related art, a fixed specific value is applied to access the HDD device when data below the value remains.

However, the multimedia files such as audio or video files stored in the mass storage means such as HDD of the portable multimedia device have a constant data rate. May be accessed. Therefore, power consumption increases due to an increase in the number of accesses of the HDD, which causes a user to frequently charge a portable multimedia device.

An example of a battery power saving device and method of such a portable digital audio device is disclosed in Korean Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2004-0106161.

In the above publication, a portable digital device converts a file stored in a digital form into a hard disk drive (HDD) into an analog form using a buffer memory of a RAM (Random Access Memory) according to a user's playback key operation and outputs the same through an earphone. In an audio device, a flash memory of a file stored in an HDD input by a user who checks various menu data and an operation state for driving a portable digital audio device through a display unit to use a power saving mode of a battery, and a flash memory of a copied file Controls the overall operation of the key input unit and portable digital audio device that outputs the key signal for storage to the outside, and copies the file stored in the HDD from the key input unit and the storage key signal from the copied file to the flash memory. If entered, copy and copy the file selected by the user among the files stored in the HDD. Controls the storage process of the file to the flash memory, and saves the file stored in the HDD to the flash memory according to the user's selection, and directly accesses the corresponding file stored in the flash memory according to the key signal input from the key input unit. Control unit to control playback and output; Stores the digital file stored in the HDD under the control of the control unit, Flash memory for outputting the specific file stored under the control of the control unit to the control unit, Flash under the control of the control unit Disclosed is a technology including a codec unit for converting a digital file stored in a memory into an analog form and outputting the same to an earphone.

However, in the technique disclosed in the above publication, when the external input audio signal is recorded in order to minimize the amount of battery consumed by suppressing the drive of the HDD and the RAM during file playback, a built-in or external flash memory for a recording file is known. Since it has to be provided in a portable digital audio device, there is a problem that the price of the device is not only expensive but also counters the miniaturization of the device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the problems described above, and to cut off the power supply of the hard disk when necessary by varying the data threshold of the buffer memory area according to the data rate of the multimedia file to be played. The present invention provides a hard disk access device for portable multimedia and a method for more efficiently using power.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a hard disk access device and method for portable multimedia that can reduce power consumption by minimizing power required for driving portable multimedia without adding a new configuration to an existing portable multimedia. .

In order to achieve the above object, a method of accessing a hard disk of a portable multimedia according to the present invention is to access a hard disk of a portable multimedia including a buffer memory for extracting and playing a file from a hard disk drive (HDD) storing a multimedia file. A method for determining the number, size, and location of a buffer memory in a main memory by a control unit that performs a control operation of the portable multimedia, and when the user inputs a play command, the control unit determines a file to be played from a hard disk. A setting step of detecting a data rate and setting a data threshold of the buffer memory area according to the data rate, wherein the controller copies the audio and video stream data of the file from a hard disk and stores the data in the buffer memory; Hard disk power A changing step of blocking or changing to the saving mode, comparing, by the controller, the size of the audio and video stream data remaining in the buffer memory with the data threshold value set in the setting step; The control unit turns on the power of the hard disk or changes the access mode when the size of the audio and video stream data is smaller than the data threshold value, and copies the audio and video stream data from the hard disk to the buffer memory. It characterized in that it comprises a control step for storing again.

In the hard disk access method of the portable multimedia according to the present invention, in the setting step, the control unit may vary the data threshold value of the buffer memory area according to the data rate of the file.

In the hard disk access method of portable multimedia according to the present invention, if the size of the audio and video stream data is larger than the data threshold in the control step, the power supply of the hard disk until the user commands to end playback It is characterized by being cut off or set to the saving mode.

In the hard disk access method of portable multimedia according to the present invention, in the setting step, the data threshold value is required for a time required for powering the hard disk, copying data, and storing the data in the buffer memory for playback. It is characterized in that it is set to the minimum data size that can be reproduced.

In the method for accessing a hard disk of a portable multimedia according to the present invention, the setting step includes setting the data threshold value.

Data threshold = file's data rate * (T1 + T2) * (1 + α)

Where T1 is the time taken to power on the hard disk, T2 is the time taken to read data from the hard disk and stored in the buffer memory, and α is the time factor for stabilizing the system after power is applied. )

It characterized in that it is set to.

In addition, to achieve the above object, a portable multimedia hard disk access apparatus according to the present invention includes a display unit, a hard disk drive (HDD) storing multimedia files, a main memory device for extracting and storing files from the hard disk drive; A device for accessing a hard disk of a portable multimedia having a control unit for controlling the extraction of the file, the control unit comprising: determining means for determining the number, size, and position of the buffer memory in the main memory, and a user inputting a playback command; Setting means for detecting a data rate of a file to be reproduced from the hard disk and setting a data threshold value of the buffer memory area according to the data rate; copying audio and video stream data of the file from the hard disk To the memory and recall Changing means for turning off the power of the disk or changing to the saving mode, comparing means for comparing the size of the audio and video stream data remaining in the buffer memory with the data threshold value determined by the determining means, and in the comparing means. According to a comparison result, if the size of the audio and video stream data is less than the data threshold value, the power of the hard disk is turned on or changed into an access mode, and the audio and video stream data is copied from the hard disk to the buffer memory. It characterized in that it comprises a control means for storing again.

In the portable multimedia hard disk access apparatus according to the present invention, the detecting means varies the data threshold value of the buffer memory area according to the data rate of the file.

In the portable multimedia hard disk access apparatus according to the present invention, if the size of the audio and video stream data is larger than the data threshold value, the control unit cuts off the power of the hard disk until the user commands playback termination. Or set to the saving mode.

In the portable multimedia hard disk access apparatus according to the present invention, the setting means may be reproduced for a necessary time until the power is applied to the hard disk, the data is copied, stored in the buffer memory, and played back. The data threshold is set to a data size.

In the portable multimedia hard disk access apparatus according to the present invention, the setting means sets the data threshold value.

Data threshold = file's data rate * (T1 + T2) * (1 + α)

Where T1 is the time taken to power on the hard disk, T2 is the time taken to read data from the hard disk and stored in the buffer memory, and α is the time factor for stabilizing the system after power is applied. )

It characterized in that it is set to.

The above and other objects and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the description of the specification and the accompanying drawings.

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Hereinafter, the structure of this invention is demonstrated according to drawing.

In addition, in description of this invention, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same part and the repeated description is abbreviate | omitted.

1 is a block diagram showing the components of a general portable multimedia player.

As illustrated, the portable multimedia player includes a mass storage device 11, a main memory device 12, a control unit 13, and a display unit 14.

The mass storage device 11 is usually composed of a hard disk drive (HDD) to store various multimedia files.

The main memory 12 is made of SRAM or DRAM, and receives a reproduction key signal of a specific file from a user, and under the control of the control unit 13, the main memory 12 extracts and reproduces the corresponding file stored in the HDD. Play a role.

The control unit 13 controls the overall operation of the portable multimedia player, and the display unit 14 displays various menu data and operation states for driving the portable multimedia player.

In order to reproduce the multimedia data stored in the HDD, the multimedia data must be read by the control unit 13 into a predetermined area called the normal buffer of the main memory 12.

However, as the data stored in the buffer area of the main memory 12 is reproduced by the user's key signal input, the remaining data is exhausted, and the necessary data must be read from the HDD again. At this time, the control unit 13 checks how much reproducible data remains in the buffer area of the current main memory device 12 as a criterion for reading data from the HDD.

Therefore, the control unit 13 determines the number, size and position of the buffer memory in the main memory 12, and when the user inputs a reproduction command, the data rate of the file to be reproduced from the hard disk is detected and the data is determined. Setting means 132 for setting a data threshold value of the buffer memory area according to the rate, copying the audio and video stream data of the file from the hard disk, storing the data in the buffer memory, cutting off the power of the hard disk, or changing the power saving mode. The changing means 133 and the comparison means 134 and the comparing means 134 for comparing the size of the audio and video stream data remaining in the buffer memory with the data threshold value determined by the determining means 131. If the size of the audio and video stream data is smaller than the data threshold, power on or change the access mode to the hard disk, And control means 135 for copying the audio and video stream data and storing it back in the buffer memory.

2 is a diagram illustrating a comparison between a data threshold value in a main memory buffer area of a conventional portable multimedia player and a data threshold value in a main memory buffer area of a portable multimedia player according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2 (a), when the data remaining in the buffer area becomes less than a predetermined amount, the control unit reads data from the HDD again and stores the data in the buffer area. Here, since the data threshold value of the buffer area, which is a criterion for reading data from the HDD again, depends on the amount of data in the multimedia file, the control unit sets the threshold value to a large value so that the multimedia file can be stably reproduced. It is preferable.

However, as shown in Fig. 2 (b), the data threshold of the present invention is varied by the controller 13 according to the data rate of the multimedia file. That is, when playing a multimedia file having a small data rate, by setting the data threshold value smaller, the data remaining in the buffer area can be played for a longer time without accessing data from the HDD. Therefore, when playing one multimedia file, the number of HDD accesses can be reduced by adjusting the data threshold value according to the data rate, and when the data in the buffer area is processed, the power of the HDD is cut off under the control of the control unit 13. Power consumption can be greatly reduced.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a hard disk access method of the portable multimedia player according to the present invention.

First, the controller 13 determines the number, size, and location of the buffer memory in the main memory 12 (S21). Next, when a user inputs a playback command of a desired multimedia file as a key signal (S22), the controller 13 extracts a file to be played back from the HDD (S23).

Subsequently, the controller 13 determines a data threshold value of the buffer memory by analyzing the data rate of the multimedia file to be reproduced (S24 to S25).

 Here, the data threshold value is set to the minimum data size that can be reproduced until power is applied in the power-off state of the hard disk, data is copied, and stored in the buffer memory.

Therefore, the time taken for the T1 to power on the hard disk, the time taken for T2 to read data from the hard disk and stored in the buffer memory, and α the time factor for stabilizing the system after the power is applied. In this case, the data threshold value may be expressed as follows.

Data threshold = file's data rate (D_rate) * (T1 + T2) * (1 + α)

For example, when T1 is 5 seconds, T2 is 1 second, and α is 0.3, when playing a multimedia file with a data rate of 1000 kbps, the power of the HDD is turned off without accessing the HDD until 975 kbytes of data remain in the buffer memory. You can turn it off or go into EconoMode.

Next, the controller 13 copies the audio / video stream data from the HDD and stores it in the buffer memory in order to play the multimedia file desired by the user (S26).

When the HDD access is done once, the HDD is turned off or changed to the saving mode (S27). Then, the control unit 13 compares the size of the audio / video stream data, which has been reproduced and remains in the buffer memory, with the data threshold value (S28).

If the audio / video stream data remaining in the buffer memory is larger than the data threshold as a result of the determination by the control unit 13 in step S28, playback is continued until a user stop command is issued (S31). On the other hand, if the size of the audio and video stream data remaining in the buffer memory is less than the data threshold value, the controller 13 turns on the power of the hard disk or changes to the access mode, and copies the audio and video stream data to be played from the HDD. The data is stored again in the buffer memory (S29 to S30).

Then, the controller 13 again cuts off the power of the HDD or changes to the saving mode, and repeats the step of determining whether to perform the HDD access by comparing the remaining data size with the data threshold value when the audio / video stream data is played. .

In this manner, by varying the data threshold value of the buffer memory area according to the data rate of the multimedia file, the number of times of accessing the hard disk can be reduced to a minimum, so that limited power can be used more efficiently.

As mentioned above, although the invention made by this inventor was demonstrated concretely according to the said Example, this invention is not limited to the said Example and can be variously changed in the range which does not deviate from the summary.

That is, in the above embodiment, the embodiment using the HDD as the mass storage device provided in the hard disk access device of the portable multimedia has been described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and any storage means for digitally storing and outputting files can be used. Of course.

As described above, according to the hard disk access apparatus and method of the portable multimedia according to the present invention, the multimedia having a low data rate by varying the data threshold value of the buffer memory area according to the data rate of the multimedia file to be reproduced When the data is played back, the number of times of accessing the hard disk can be reduced to a minimum, and the stability can be achieved even when playing a multimedia file having a high data rate, and the power can be used more efficiently.

In addition, according to the apparatus and method for accessing a portable multimedia hard disk according to the present invention, an effect of minimizing the amount of battery consumed by minimizing the amount of battery consumed by suppressing the drive of the HDD during file playback can also be obtained. .

Claims (10)

A method of accessing a hard disk of a portable multimedia having a buffer memory for extracting and playing a file from a hard disk drive (HDD) storing a multimedia file, the method comprising: A determination step of determining the number, size and location of the buffer memory in the main memory by the control unit which performs the control operation of the portable multimedia; A setting step of, when a user inputs a play command, the controller detects a data rate of a file to be played from a hard disk, and sets a data threshold value of the buffer memory area according to the data rate; A change step of the control unit copying the audio and video stream data of the file from the hard disk and storing the copied data in the buffer memory, cutting off the power of the hard disk or changing to the saving mode; Comparing, by the controller, the size of the audio and video stream data remaining in the buffer memory with the data threshold value set in the setting step; As a result of the comparison in the comparing step, if the size of the audio and video stream data is less than the data threshold value, the control unit turns on or changes the power mode of the hard disk, and the audio and video stream in the hard disk. And a control step of copying data and storing the data back into the buffer memory. The method of claim 1, In the setting step, the control unit is a hard disk access method of the portable multimedia, characterized in that for changing the data threshold value of the buffer memory area according to the data rate of the file. The method of claim 1, In the controlling step, if the size of the audio and video stream data is larger than the data threshold value, the power of the hard disk is cut off or the power saving mode is set until the user ends the playback command. Disk access method. The method of claim 1, In the setting step, the data threshold value is set to a minimum data size that can be reproduced for a time required for applying power to the hard disk, copying data, and storing the data in the buffer memory for playback. How to access hard disk in portable multimedia. The method of claim 4, wherein The setting step is to set the data threshold value Data threshold = file's data rate * (T1 + T2) * (1 + α) Where T1 is the time taken to power on the hard disk, T2 is the time taken to read data from the hard disk and stored in the buffer memory, and α is the time factor for stabilizing the system after power is applied. ) Hard disk access method of the portable multimedia, characterized in that set to. A device for accessing a hard disk of a portable multimedia having a display unit, a hard disk drive (HDD) storing multimedia files, a main memory device for extracting and storing files from the hard disk drive, and a control unit for controlling the extraction of the file. To The control unit Determination means for determining the number, size, and location of the buffer memory in the main memory; Setting means for detecting a data rate of a file to be reproduced from the hard disk and setting a data threshold value of the buffer memory area according to the data rate when a user inputs a play command; Changing means for copying the audio and video stream data of the file from the hard disk to the buffer memory, cutting off the power of the hard disk, or changing to a saving mode; Comparison means for comparing the size of the audio and video stream data remaining in the buffer memory with the data threshold value determined by the determination means;  If the size of the audio and video stream data is less than the data threshold value, the power-on of the hard disk is turned on or changed to an access mode according to the comparison result of the comparing means, and the audio and video stream data is converted from the hard disk. And a control means for copying and storing the data back into the buffer memory. The method of claim 6, And the detecting means changes a data threshold value of the buffer memory area according to the data rate of the file. The method of claim 6, The control means, if the size of the audio and video stream data is larger than the data threshold value, the hard disk of the portable multimedia, characterized in that to cut off the power of the hard disk or set to the saving mode until the user terminates playback Access device. The method of claim 6, And the setting means sets the data threshold value to a minimum data size that can be reproduced for a time required for applying power to the hard disk, copying data, and storing the data in the buffer memory. Hard disk access device for multimedia. The method of claim 9, The setting means sets the data threshold value. Data threshold = file's data rate * (T1 + T2) * (1 + α) Where T1 is the time taken to power on the hard disk, T2 is the time taken to read data from the hard disk and stored in the buffer memory, and α is the time factor for stabilizing the system after power is applied. ) Hard disk access device for portable multimedia, characterized in that set to.

Images