KR100731534B1 - Personal video recorder and playing method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a PVR device and a method for reproducing the same, wherein when a PVR device reproduces a recording recorded during broadcasting with a time shift function, the playback speed is changed by changing the playback speed through a voice signal, a video change, and a target time of the recording. Not only can you find important scenes for previous broadcasts, you can watch them without missing them, and you can catch up on the broadcasts while accurately grasping the contents of the recordings, and watch the current broadcasts.

PVR, Recording, Playback, Variable Speed, Catch Up, Time Shift, Voice, Talk

Description

PVR device and its playback method {PERSONAL VIDEO RECORDER AND PLAYING METHOD THEREOF}

1 is a system configuration diagram in which a general PVR device is installed.

2 is a block diagram illustrating a general PVR device.

3 is a block diagram illustrating a PVR device according to the present invention.

4 is a block diagram illustrating a playback method of a PVR device according to the present invention.

   -Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings-

10: TV 20: PVR device

21: antenna 22: external device control port

23: AV signal input terminal of external device

24: Tuner part 25: MPEG encoder

26: hard disk 27: MPEG decoder

28: video processor 29: A / V switching unit

30, 300: CPU 31: ROM

32: RAM 33: Modem

34, 340: signal processor 35: video input processor

36: audio input processor 40: cable converter

41: cable broadcasting station 50: IR transmitter

341: sound processor 342: image processor

The present invention relates to a PVR device and a method of reproducing the same, and more particularly, to reproducing a recording speed through a voice signal, a video change, and a target time of a recording when the recording is recorded during broadcasting with a time shift function in the PVR device. The present invention relates to a PVR device and a method of playing the same, which enables users to find important scenes about previous broadcasts that they have not watched and can watch without missing them, as well as accurately grasp the contents of the recording while watching the current broadcast.

Generally, a personal video recorder (PVR) device is digital in real time, unlike receiving a signal from a broadcast signal transmitted from a broadcasting station or a device such as a television and storing an analog signal on a cassette tape. It converts information into digital information, compresses and stores the digital data in a hard disk, which is a mass storage device built into the device, in MPEG2 format, reads the recorded information, and sends the decoded image to the display device in real time. It is a personal video recording and playback device.

This general PVR apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 as follows.

1 is a system configuration diagram in which a general PVR device is installed.

As shown here, the PVR apparatus 20 performs a function of receiving and reproducing over-the-air broadcast signals transmitted from a broadcasting station through the aerial antenna 21, or recording them later when requested by a user. Then, various kinds of point-to-point (PPP) information about a broadcast schedule is transmitted from a broadcasting station using a communication line through a telephone line. In addition, the PVR apparatus 20 is connected to the cable converter 40 to receive various cable broadcast signals transmitted from the cable broadcasting station 41. In this case, the type of cable converter 40 connected to the PVR device 20 is set in the setup mode of the PVR device 20. The cable converter 40 receives the cable broadcast signal applied from the cable broadcasting station 41 and processes the signal, and applies the AV (Audio / video) signal thus obtained to the PVR device 20. In addition, the PVR device 20 records broadcast information when a user requests through an AV signal applied through the antenna 21 or an AV signal applied from the cable converter 40.

For example, when a user wants to record a video while watching a cable broadcast, the user presses a number and a record button of a broadcast channel to be recorded through an operation panel (not shown) provided in the PVR device 20. In addition, when scheduled recording of the broadcast to be watched is pressed through the operation panel of the PVR device 20, the number and broadcast time of the broadcast channel to be recorded are pressed. At this time, the PVR device 20 transmits the broadcast recording request information input by the user to the IR transmitter 50 when the recording button is input or the scheduled broadcast time arrives. The IR transmitter 50 transmits the broadcast recording request information set by the user as a remote controller to a cable converter 40 and the cable converter 40 includes a remote controller receiver (not shown). The cable broadcast signal of the channel received through the IR transmitter 50 is output to the PVR device 20. The PVR device 20 records and plays back a cable broadcast signal of a selected channel in real time through an AV signal applied from the cable converter 40. When a general broadcasting station channel is selected, the PVR device 20 receives an AV signal applied through an antenna in real time. Record and play. The video signal output from the PVR device 20 is input to the TV 10 so that the user can watch the image reproduced through the TV 10 in real time.

2 is a block diagram illustrating a general PVR device.

As shown here, the functions of the PVR apparatus 20 can be largely classified. As a first function, after receiving and playing an airwave broadcasting signal transmitted from a broadcasting station through the air antenna 21, or recording the audio signal upon user's request, The second function is to reproduce the AV signal received through the cable converter 40 in the cable broadcasting station 41 as a second function.

First, as an element related to the first function of reproducing and recording an airwave broadcasting signal, the public antenna 21, the tuner unit 24, the signal encoder 34, the MPEG encoder 25, the MPEG decoder 27, There is a video processor 28, an A / V switching unit 29, a CPU 30, a hard disk 26, a ROM 31, a RAM 32, and a modem 33.

The CPU 30, which is a system controller, has a function of controlling the entire system by being connected to control lines that control each component. The ROM (ROM) 31 is a part in which a driven program is stored. As the program is executed, the operation of the device is performed.

The tuner 24 tunes the broadcast signal input through the antenna 21 and tunes to a desired specific frequency under the control of a system controller (not shown), thereby adjusting the video input processor 35 and the audio input processor 36. Output AV signal through The output AV signal is input to the MPEG encoder 25 and the A / V converter 29, which are signal processing units 34. When the AV signal is input to the MPEG encoder 25, the AV signal is a path for playback after recording. When directly input to the switching unit 29 is a path for direct reproduction.

In this case, the video input processing unit 35 adjusts the input video signal to adjust the screen, and the audio input processing unit 36 adjusts the size of the input audio signal to adjust the size of the input sound.

As an element for reproduction after recording, the MPEG encoder 25, which is a signal processor 34, converts an analog broadcast signal into a digital signal by embedding an analog digital converter (ADC). In other words, the MPEG encoder 25 receives the AV signal from the tuner unit 24, digitizes it in real time, codes it into compressed MPEG data, and outputs it to the hard disk 26, which is a storage location for storing MPEG data.

In addition, the MPEG decoder 27 receives the MPEG data stored in the hard disk 26 and decodes the signal to generate an image signal. That is, the MPEG decoder 27 incorporates a digital analog converter (DAC) to convert digital data stored in the hard disk 26 into an analog signal. The analog signal converted by the MPEG decoder 27 is output to the A / V switching unit 29.

On the other hand, the video processor 28, which is a signal processor 34, composes a screen other than a broadcast screen such as a reservation recording function and outputs the screen to the A / V switching unit 29. In addition, the video processor 28 has a picture-in-picture (PIP) function to simultaneously output two screens on one screen of the TV, or has an alpha-blending function to translucent the image together. Subtitles may be output on the screen of the TV 10.

At this time, the A / V switching unit 29 synthesizes an analog signal from the MPEG decoder 27 and a screen other than the broadcast screen from the video processor 28 and outputs it to the input terminal of the TV 10.

The RAM 32 also functions as a temporary storage location for storing data necessary during program execution.

Hereinafter, the components related to the second function of the PVR apparatus 20 for reproducing the AV signal received from the cable broadcasting station 41 through the cable converter 40 will be described.

The external device AV signal input terminal 23 is a terminal for receiving an AV signal from the cable converter 40. The AV signal input terminal 23 connects the video input processor 35 and the audio input processor 36 to an AV signal applied from the cable converter 40. It receives through the input and outputs to the A / V switching unit (29). The A / V switching unit 29 selects the video input from the external device AV signal input terminal 23 under the control of the CPU 30, and outputs the selected cable broadcast signal to the TV 10.

As described above, the A / V switching unit 29 includes an AV signal for direct playback applied from the tuner unit 24, a recorded analog broadcast signal applied from the MPEG decoder 27, and an AV signal input terminal of an external device ( 23, one of the AV signals applied from the cable converter 40 is selectively processed. That is, the A / V switching unit 29 selects one video signal from the three video signals input under the control of a central processing unit (CPU) 30.

Finally, the external device control port 22 is a port connected to the IR transmitter 50, and transmits the recording request information set by the user to the IR transmitter 50 under the control of the CPU 30.

The conventional PVR apparatus having such a configuration and operation records several channels of over-the-air broadcasts transmitted from broadcasting stations and cables of several channels transmitted from cable broadcasting stations 41.

On the other hand, the function of the PVR device includes a time shift function, which simultaneously stores and decodes and plays the currently broadcast program on the hard disk 26, so that the program can be paused and paused during live broadcasting, and resumed. To make it possible.

It is also possible to play and watch from the beginning of a program that is being recorded even during broadcasting.

However, when watching a program recorded by the time shift function as described above, the end time of the program is terminated as late as the time shifted time. There is a problem of unnecessary use of the storage space because it must be recorded.

In addition, if the playback time is delayed due to the time shift function, if other events occur after the broadcast, it is difficult to watch all the broadcasts, and only afterwards, the user needs to play the latter part to view the connection.

Therefore, as a way to solve such a problem, while using the time shift function, the user manually repeats the speed and play and the normal play according to the importance, while searching for the necessary part to play the recorded part to catch up with the broadcast program. A method of setting the same end time by watching is proposed.

In this way, the use of the time shift function is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-0033433 (published on April 25, 2001) "Time Shifting Method for Recording and Reproducing Data Streams Simultaneously".

However, in the above method, when playing at double speed to catch up with the broadcast, the player catches up at a fixed speed, so in scenes with severe screen changes, the screen changes quickly so that the user cannot recognize the scene, and the scene changes slowly. Rather, there is a problem that does not have a feeling that is displayed quickly.

Therefore, in order to solve the problem caused by the fixed speed playback, the Republic of Korea Patent No. 10-0303727 (September 24, 2001 announcement) "Adaptive display speed automatic control device and method of video" scene according to the rate of change of the image Disclosed is a method of adaptively reproducing a section which has a fast transition and a scene which has a slow scene transition, so as to suit the visual characteristics of the playback section.

However, this method is variable depending on the rate of change of the image regardless of human conversation, so the approximate contents can be inferred by the image, but there is a problem in that it is not possible to grasp the exact contents.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to reproduce the recording speed during a PVR device by using the time shift function. It provides a PVR device and its playback method that enable users to find important scenes about previous broadcasts that they could not watch so that they can be missed and watch them, as well as to accurately grasp the contents of recordings and to catch up with the broadcasts and watch them on the current broadcast. have.

The PVR device according to the present invention for achieving the above object is to receive and watch broadcast signals and AV signals, and convert them into digital information, store them in a built-in mass storage device, and decode and play the stored recording information. An image processing unit for detecting a semantic section with respect to a decoded speech signal, an image processing unit for detecting an image change rate with respect to a decoded video signal, and an image change rate and a target with the semantic section detected by the audio processing unit And a CPU for controlling the storage state as well as switching the output according to the time difference between the reproduced image processed by the signal processor and the input image processed by the signal processor. .

In the present invention, the semantic section is a section in which a conversation section or a specific word is output or a section in which a voice signal of a predetermined level or more is output.

In the present invention, the target time is a time for the time-shifted time to be equal to the current time of receiving the broadcast signal and the AV signal.

In addition, the playback method of the PVR device according to the present invention receives a broadcast signal and an AV signal, and simultaneously converts the digital signal into a digital information, stores it in a built-in mass storage device, and reproduces the stored recording information by decoding the PVR device. A method comprising: selecting a playback time of a stored recording, selecting a playback time, setting a target time for catching up to a broadcast, setting a variable speed according to the target time, and storing the selected playback time. Detecting the semantic section of the audio signal by decoding the recording information, reproducing the variable speed according to the semantic section if the semantic section is detected, and if the semantic section is not detected, the image of the decoded video signal. Playback by applying a variable speed according to the rate of change, and the time difference between the playback video and the input video. And further comprising switching the output accordingly.

In the present invention, the target time is a time for the time-shifted reproduction time to become the same as the current time point at which the broadcast signal and the AV signal are received and viewed.

In the present invention, the target time is automatically set by the time-shifted time.

At this time, if it is set automatically, it is characterized in that it is set to twice the time-shifted time.

In the present invention, the semantic section is a section in which a conversation section or a specific word is output or a section in which a voice signal of a predetermined level or more is output.

At this time, the variable speed is characterized by being set to the basic speed, slow speed and fast speed.

In the present invention, the basic speed is the target time with respect to the time-shifted time, the slow speed is 1/2 times the basic speed, the fast speed is characterized in that twice the basic speed.

The present invention is characterized by outputting a warning message when the basic speed exceeds two times the normal speed.

In addition, the basic speed is characterized in that the normal speed.

In the present invention, the time difference of the image is characterized in that the encoding time of the input image or the decoding time of the reproduced image.

The present invention is characterized in that it further comprises the step of stopping the storage when switched from the playback image to the input image.

According to the present invention made as described above, when a broadcast signal and an AV signal are received and watched, the recorded material which is converted into digital information and played back is recorded while the semantic section is detected from the voice to accurately recognize the meaning and reproduce the semantic section and image. By changing the playback speed according to the rate of change, the user can find important scenes about previous broadcasts that he could not watch and not miss them, as well as accurately grasp the contents of the recording and catch the broadcast to watch the current broadcast.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, and the same parts as in the prior art use the same reference numerals and names. In addition, the present embodiment is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, but is presented by way of example only and those skilled in the art will be capable of many modifications within the technical spirit of the present invention.

3 is a block diagram illustrating a PVR device according to the present invention.

As shown here, the PVR device shown in FIG. 2 is provided to view and receive broadcast signals and AV signals, convert them into digital information, store them in the built-in hard disk 26, and decode and reproduce the stored recording information. In this case, the audio processor 341 detects a semantic section with respect to the decoded audio signal, the video processor 342 for detecting a video change rate with respect to the decoded video signal, and the meaning detected by the audio processor 341. The signal processing unit 340 may vary the playback speed according to the section and the image change rate of the image processing unit 342 and the target time, and the output may be switched according to the time difference between the reproduced image processed by the signal processing unit 340 and the input image. In addition, it further comprises a CPU 300 for controlling the storage state.

In this case, the signal processing unit 340 or the CPU 300, which are further included in the present invention, may be implemented in one configuration by adding a function further included in the present invention to a conventional configuration.

The meaning section above is a section in which the contents can be grasped in the recordings, and important words such as dialogue periods and sports where actors talk to each other, that is, specific words such as "goal ~~ in" in soccer or "home ~~ run" in baseball It indicates the section where the voice signal is output above a certain level in the situation of sudden loud sound such as cheering, buzzing, or explosion due to the output section or the specific event.

In addition, the target time is a time for the time-shifted time to become the same as the current time, and may be set by the user or automatically set as the time for catching the screen currently being broadcast while playing the recording.

As described above, the present invention sets the target time to catch up with the current broadcast and reproduces the recording recorded in the PVR device by the time shift function while watching the current broadcast, so that the voice processing unit can catch up with the variable speed. Through (341), viewers can find important scenes such as a dialogue section, a goal shot, a home run scene, etc. to accurately grasp the contents, and follow the broadcast according to the rate of change of the image through the image processor 342. Apply variable speed to grasp the video so you can catch up and watch the broadcast.

A detailed playback method of the PVR device made as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 for explaining the playback method of the PVR device according to the present invention.

First, a broadcast signal and an AV signal are received and viewed through a PVR device, and converted into digital information at the same time and stored in the built-in hard disk 26. The recording is stored in the hard disk 26 after being paused by a time shift function. Read and decode and play, or specify a point in time to move, and then select a playback time to read and play the stored recording, such as to read and decode and play the recording (S10).

In this way, when the playback time is selected, a target time for catching up with the broadcast is set as a time difference with the broadcast occurs (S12).

In this case, the target time may automatically set a time for catching up to the broadcast by the time shifted time. At this time, if the target time is automatically set, it is set to twice the time shifted time.

In other words, if the playback video catches up with the broadcast within too short time, there is a problem in that it is not possible to accurately grasp the content while it is being played. Can be set twice.

When the target time is set in this way, the variable speed is set according to the target time from the playback time to catching up to the broadcast (S14).

That is, the variable speed can be set to basic speed, slow speed and fast speed as a speed for catching up to the broadcast but adjusting the playback speed according to the meaning section.

At this time, the basic speed is the target time for the time shifted time. If the target time is twice the time shifted time, the basic speed is set to 1.5 times the normal speed.

Therefore, if the target time is 20 minutes when the delay is 10 minutes due to time shift, the video played after 20 minutes becomes the same as the broadcast video when the basic speed is 1.5 times the speed.

When the basic speed is set like this, the slow speed is 1/2 times the basic speed, and the fast speed can be set to twice the basic speed.

At this time, if the basic speed exceeds 2 times the normal speed, it is difficult to accurately understand the voice so that the user can check the output of the warning message.

On the other hand, even if the basic speed is 1.5 times the normal speed, if the conversation is fast recording, you can set the default speed to the normal speed.

When the variable speed is set as above, the semantic section for the audio signal is detected by decoding the stored recording information from the selected playback time (S16) (S18).

At this time, the meaning section is a section in which the contents can be grasped in the recording, and the dialogue section where the actors talk with each other, the important moments such as sports, that is, the specific words such as "goal ~~ in" in soccer or "home ~~ run" in baseball. Is a section where the sound is loud or loud such as cheers, murmurs, explosions, etc. due to a specific event, etc. Done.

Therefore, when the semantic section is detected in the reproduced voice, the reproduction is performed by applying the variable speed set according to the semantic section (S22).

That is, if a conversation section is detected in the process of playing at high speed to catch up, the playback speed is changed to the default speed so that the conversation can be heard.

After the conversation ends, it plays again at a faster speed to catch up with the broadcast.

However, if the semantic section by speech is not detected, variable speed is applied according to the video change rate of the decoded video signal (S24).

In other words, as mentioned in the prior art, the contents of the video change rate are not felt fast even in the case of the fast scene playback in the slow scene, and it is difficult to grasp the contents because the scene transition is fast even in the case of the basic scene in the fast scene. In order to solve the problem, a video with a fast scene is played at a slow speed according to a video change rate, and a video with a slow scene is played at a fast speed, so that the contents can be grasped through the video even if it is not a semantic section of the voice. Make sure

In this way, the semantic section is first identified for the audio signal, and then the variable speed is applied, and if there is no semantic section, the variable speed is applied according to the video change rate so as not to miss important scenes of the recording. You can catch up.

When the playback speed of the video to be played back is varied while a certain time difference occurs between the viewpoint of the video being played back and the video being input (S26), that is, when the encoding time of the input video or the decoding time of the video being played is the same, broadcasting is performed. In the case of catching up, the catching function by the time shift is terminated, and the output is switched to the image input by the broadcast so that the user can watch the broadcast (S28).

On the other hand, it is also possible to stop the operation stored on the hard disk by the time shift function (S30).

Of course, if the recording is made by the scheduled recording function or the arbitrary recording function, the recording continues until the set time.

As described above, the present invention is an important scene for the previous broadcast that was not watched by changing the playback speed through the audio signal and video change and the target time of the recording when the recording recorded during the broadcast in the PVR device by the time shift function Not only does it allow you to watch without missing, but it also has the advantage of being able to catch up with the broadcast while grasping the contents of the recording and watching the current broadcast.

Claims (14)

In the PVR device that receives a broadcast signal and an AV signal to watch and at the same time converts the digital information into a built-in mass storage device and decodes and reproduces the recorded information, A speech processing unit for detecting a semantic section with respect to the decoded speech signal; An image processor for detecting an image change rate with respect to the decoded image signal; A signal processor varying reproduction speed according to a semantic section detected by the sound processor, an image change rate, and a target time of the image processor; CPU for switching the output as well as switching the output according to the time difference between the reproduced image processed by the signal processor and the input image PVR device characterized in that it further comprises. The PVR apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the semantic section is a section in which a conversation section, a specific word is output, or a section in which a voice signal of a predetermined level or more is output. The PVR apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the target time is a time for the time shifted time to become equal to a current time of receiving and watching the broadcast signal and the AV signal. In the playback method of the PVR device to receive and watch the broadcast signal and AV signal at the same time to convert the digital information to the built-in mass storage device and to decode and play the stored recording information, Selecting a playback time point of the stored recordings; Setting a target time for catching up to a broadcast after selecting a playback time point; Setting a variable speed according to the target time; Detecting semantic intervals for the audio signal by decoding the stored recording information from the playback point selected above; Reproducing by applying the variable speed according to the semantic section when the semantic section is detected; Reproducing by applying the variable speed according to the video change rate of the decoded video signal when the semantic section is not detected; Switching the output according to the time difference between the image being played back and the image being input; Replay method of a PVR device characterized in that it further comprises. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the target time is a time for the time-shifted playback time to become the same as the current time point at which the broadcast signal and the AV signal are received and viewed. 6. The method of claim 4 or 5, wherein the target time is automatically set by a time shifted time. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the target time is set to twice the time shifted time when the target time is automatically set. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the semantic section is a section in which a conversation section, a specific word is output, or a section in which a voice signal of a predetermined level or more is output. The method of claim 4, wherein the variable speed is set to a basic speed, a slow speed, and a fast speed. 10. The PVR apparatus of claim 9, wherein the basic speed is a target time with respect to the time-shifted time, the slow speed is 1/2 of the basic speed, and the fast speed is twice the basic speed. How to play. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein a warning message is output when the basic speed exceeds two times the normal speed. The method of claim 9 or 10, wherein the basic speed is a normal speed. The method of claim 4, wherein the time difference is an encoding time of an input video or a decoding time of a reproduced video. 5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of stopping the storage when the playback video is switched from the playback video to the input video.

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