KR100896281B1 - The method for setting maximum memory size in time-shift mode and apparatus for controlling the same - Google Patents

Abstract

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video device capable of setting a maximum time shift region for solving the problems of the prior art, which can use only a very limited memory size and is difficult to operate as a time shift memory. The present invention relates to a method of controlling a video device having a time shift function, the method comprising: performing a time shift function, reading a writable area in which there is no storage in an entire memory area; Resetting the read writable area to a time shift memory in the entire memory area, and performing the time shift function within the reset time shift memory area. It provides a control method of a video device that can set the maximum time shift region characterized in that made. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to efficiently use the time shift memory, and furthermore, the procedure of using the maximum size is simple, thereby improving the user's convenience.

Time shift, memory

Description

The apparatus for setting the maximum time shift area and the control method {the method for setting maximum memory size in time-shift mode and apparatus for controlling the same}

1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a video apparatus capable of setting a maximum time shift region according to the present invention (block diagram).

2A is a diagram illustrating an example in which a size of a time shift memory is changed according to the present invention;

2B is a view showing another example in which the size of a time shift memory according to the present invention is variable

2C is a view illustrating another example in which the size of a time shift memory according to the present invention is changed

FIG. 3A illustrates an example of a display screen providing information on a size of a memory for a time shift variable according to the present invention; FIG.

3B illustrates another example of a display screen providing information on a size of a memory for a time shift variable according to the present invention.

4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a method of controlling a video device capable of setting a maximum time shift region according to the present invention (flow chart).

* Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings *

100: video device 101: external signal input unit

102: Video / audio signal switch

103: MPEG decoder and video / audio signal processor

104: video signal output unit 105: display module

106: tuner 107: video memory

108: Audio signal output section 109: Speaker

110: memory section 111: user interface section

112: control unit 113: PVR control unit

114: storage medium

The present invention relates to a video device, and more particularly, to a video device that can set the maximum time shift region and a control method thereof.

In general, the development of digital technology has promoted the digital broadcasting of analog broadcasting. Accordingly, multi-channel broadcasting and high quality of broadcasting are possible, and video devices such as digital TVs have developed into various application products, not just TV receivers.

Examples of the application products include WEB TV, Personal Video Recorder (PVR), Digital Video Recorder (DVR), and the like.

The PVR, DVR, and the like are digital recording devices that record and reproduce information on a hard disk, unlike a VCR (Video Vassette Recorder), which stores video signals on a magnetic tape. When a channel is selected, the PVR, DVR, and the like automatically store the currently broadcast signal digitally on the hard disk and simultaneously play the signal. As a result, a time shift function, which is one of important functions of the PVR and the DVR, is enabled.

According to the time shift function, when the user presses the stop button and then presses the play button again, the stored broadcast signal is replayed from the point where it was stopped. Thereafter, storage and playback continue at the same time at regular intervals.

In addition, the viewer can watch the program currently being broadcast, play back in slow motion, and skip the boring part.

Therefore, since the video device with the time shift function automatically records the broadcast program being output for 1-2 hours at all times without any special setting, the user of the video device can look back at a scene passed within a predetermined range. There is an advantage.

However, the conventional video apparatus having a time shift function and its control method have the following problems.

First, there is a problem in that the size of the time shift memory is limited to the amount capable of recording a broadcast program for 1-2 hours, and cannot satisfy a user who prefers a larger amount of time shift function.

Secondly, since both the memory for recordings (for example, the memory size occupied by recorded programs) and the memory for time shifting are fixed, the unused memory area cannot be used more efficiently. There was a problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to set a maximum time shift area capable of maximally using the time shift memory size without increasing the existing memory size of the video device. And a control method thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a video device capable of setting a maximum time shift area that can efficiently use a memory of a video device having a time shift function by minimizing an unused memory area, and a control method thereof. will be.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a video device capable of maximizing a time shift memory size and efficiently setting a maximum time shift area in which a procedure for efficiently using a user does not require a separate procedure, and a control method thereof. To provide.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a method of controlling a video device having a time-shift function, the method comprising: performing a time shift function, and write-free with no storage in the entire memory area; Reading an area, resetting the read writable area to a time shift memory, in the area of the entire memory, and within the reset time shift memory area, the time shift function; It provides a control method of a video device that can set the maximum time shift area characterized in that it comprises the step of performing.

The control method of the video apparatus may further include displaying information about a size of the recording memory that changes in real time and a size of the time shift memory.

The minimum capacity of the size of the time shift memory may be fixed irrespective of the size of the variable recording memory.

The control method of the video apparatus may further include the step of, if the recording is additionally stored in the memory, first storing in the region having the oldest storage time in the time shift region and resetting the time shift region.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a video device having a time-shift function, and tunes one or more channels to output broadcast programs received through the tuned one or more channels. A tuner unit, a decoder unit for decoding the broadcast program received through the tuner unit, a memory unit for temporarily or semi-permanently storing the decoded broadcast program, and a writable area having no storage in the entire area of the memory unit. In the entire area of the memory section, the judging section which resets the read-write area to the time shifting memory, and within the area of the time shifting memory reset by the judging section, It characterized in that it comprises a control unit for controlling to be performed It provides a video device that can set the maximum time shift area.

The video apparatus may further include a display unit configured to output information about a size of the recording memory that changes in real time and a size of the time shift memory.

The minimum capacity of the size of the time shift memory may be fixed irrespective of the size of the variable recording memory.

The imaging apparatus may further include a user interface unit for applying a command signal for changing a minimum capacity of the size of the time shift memory.

When the recording is additionally stored in the memory unit, the controller may first store in the region having the oldest storage time in the time shift region and reset the time shift region.

Therefore, according to the present invention, when the time shift function is implemented, there is an effect that the efficiency of memory use can be improved while maximizing the use of the time shift memory space.

In addition, since the user does not require any further measures, there is an effect of enhancing the convenience of the user of the video apparatus having the time shift function.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, preferred embodiments of the present invention that can specifically realize the above object will be described.

1 is a block diagram (block diagram) showing the configuration of a video device capable of setting a maximum time shift area according to the present invention.

2A is a diagram illustrating an example in which a size of a time shift memory according to the present invention is changed.

2B is a diagram illustrating another example in which the size of a time shift memory according to the present invention is changed.

FIG. 2C is a diagram illustrating another example in which the size of the time shift memory according to the present invention is changed.

1 to 2C, an embodiment in which the video device according to the present invention variably operates the size of the time shift memory will be described below.

The video device 100 according to the present invention includes an external signal input unit 101, a video / audio signal switching unit 102, an MPEG decoder and a video / audio signal processing unit 103, a video signal output unit 104, and a display module. 105, tuner unit 106, video memory unit 107, audio signal output unit 108, speaker 109, memory unit 110, user interface unit 111, control unit 112, PVR control unit 113, and a storage medium 114.

However, the video device 100 may be, for example, a personal video recorder (PVR) video device or a digital video recorder (DVR) video device.

The user interface 111 may be, for example, a remote controller, a local key button attached to the video apparatus, and receives various commands and information from a user of the video apparatus 100. 112).

The controller 112 is responsible for controlling the respective components of the image apparatus 100 as a whole.

The tuner 106 tunes one or more channels according to the control of the controller 112 and transmits the signals received through the tuned one or more channels to the video / audio signal switch 102. The MPEG decoder and the video / audio signal processor 103 are provided.

The tuner 106 is composed of one or more tuners, and may be designed to process broadcast streams received from two or more channels at the same time.

The tuner 106 restores and outputs a transport stream (TS) received through the tuned channel into an audio stream, a video stream, and a data stream.

The data stream includes electronic program guide (EPG) information including information about a start time and an end time of a broadcast program.

The external signal input unit 101 receives an external signal received from an external device such as a digital versatile disk (DVD), a set top box, or the like and provides the external signal to the video / audio signal switching unit 102.

The video / audio signal switching unit 102 selectively outputs one or more of the signals input from the external signal input unit 101 and the tuner unit 106 under the control of the control unit 112.

The MPEG decoder and the video / audio signal processing unit 103 restore and process the video and audio streams among the output signals of the video / audio signal switching unit 102 into video and audio data, thereby processing the video signal. The signal output unit 104 is provided, and the audio signal is provided to the audio signal output unit 108.

In addition, the MPEG decoder and the video / audio signal processor 103 may mix the OSD data provided by the controller 1120 with the reconstructed video data to output the OSD to the display module 105.

The image memory unit 107 provides a memory area required for decoding and signal processing of the MPEG decoder and the video / audio signal processor 103.

The video signal output unit 104 outputs the video signal output from the MPEG decoder and the video / audio signal processing unit 103 through the display module 105, and the audio signal output unit 108 outputs the MPEG. The audio signal output from the decoder and the video / audio signal processor 103 is output through the speaker 109.

The PVR controller 113 stores one or more video and audio streams output from the video / audio signal switching unit 102 on the storage medium 114 under the control of the controller 112. The video and audio streams stored in the storage medium 114 are read and provided to the MPEG decoder and the video / audio signal processor 103.

The storage medium 114 may be, for example, a hard disk drive (HDD) or the like, and temporarily stores a broadcast stream such as a video / audio stream under the control of the PVR controller 113 or the like. The shift mode is in operation) or semi-permanently stored (in the case of normal recording).

The read video and audio streams are output through the MPEG decoder and the video / audio signal processor 103 so that the broadcast program stored in the storage medium 114 is reproduced.

Now, a preferred embodiment of the present invention applicable to the imaging apparatus 100 will be described in more detail.

When a command for executing general recording (eg, including reservation recording) is applied through the user interface 111, the control unit 112 controls the PVR control unit 113 and the like to perform a specific broadcast. The stream is semi-permanently stored in the storage medium 114.

On the other hand, when the time shift function is executed, the controller 112 controls the PVR controller 113 or the like to temporarily store a specific broadcast stream in the storage medium 114.

For reference, the time shift function may be executed by a user's special button operation, but is generally designed to automatically operate from the moment the power of the video device 100 is turned on.

When the time shift function is executed, temporarily storing a specific broadcast stream in the storage medium 114 means updating the oldest time shift memory area to the latest time shift memory area within a limited memory area. it means.

However, in the present invention, as shown in Fig. 2A, all the portions except the recording memory area are used as the time shifting memory area, minimizing the dormant memory area and maximizing the time shifting memory area. It is a feature to use.

2A to 2C, the memory region depicted schematically may correspond to the storage medium 114.

Of course, as shown in FIG. 2A, the time shift memory region and the recording memory region may be physically separated around an address, or may be logically separated although not shown.

For example, assuming that the storage medium 114 of the imaging device 100 has a total storage capacity of 100 GB, the present invention will be described in detail.

When the drama broadcasting program 1 and the movie broadcasting program 2 are stored semi-permanently as recordings in the storage medium 114 and occupy 35 GB of memory size, all the remaining 65 GB memory sizes are used as the time shift memory area. Use (see FIG. 2A).

On the other hand, by later storing the sports broadcast program 1 on the storage medium 114 as a general recording, when the memory size for recording is changed to 45 GB, the time shift memory area is also automatically changed to 55 GB (see FIG. 2B). .

If the sports broadcast program 1 and the drama broadcast program 1 stored in the storage medium 114 are later deleted, and the memory size for the recording material is changed to 20 GB, the time shift memory area is automatically changed to 80 GB (Fig. 2c).

Therefore, when the time shift memory is variably utilized, the problem that the capacity of the conventional time shift memory can record only about 1 to 2 hours of a general broadcast program can be solved, and the memory for the time shift memory or the recording material can be solved. There is an effect that the memory area in the dormant state, which has not been used in any one, can be used efficiently.

3A is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen that provides information on a size of a memory for a time shift variable according to the present invention.

3B is a diagram illustrating another example of a display screen that provides information about a size of a time shift memory changed according to the present invention.

Hereinafter, referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B (see FIG. 1 to FIG. 2C), an embodiment in which an image device according to the present invention provides information about a size of a variable time shift memory will be described. same.

When a command signal for displaying information on the size of the variable time shift memory is applied through the user interface 111, or automatically, the controller 112 automatically generates an OSD generator (not shown). Etc., the screen as shown in FIG. 3A is output through the display module 105.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 3B, information on the time shift memory and the recording memory size may be compared and displayed on the lower portion of the screen while outputting another broadcast screen or the like normally.

Of course, the screen illustrated in FIG. 3A or 3B is merely an example, and a display screen providing information on a variable size of a time shift memory and the like will be included in the technical idea of the present invention.

4 is a diagram (flow chart) showing an example of a control method of a video device capable of setting a maximum time shift area according to the present invention.

Hereinafter, referring to FIG. 4 (see FIG. 1 to FIG. 3B), a method of setting a maximum time shift region in a limited memory region according to the present invention will be described in the order of time.

In the video device having the time shift function, the time shift mode is executed (S401).

However, the time shift mode may be automatically executed from the moment the power of the video device is turned on, or may be executed by the application of a specific command signal from the user.

In the entire memory area of the video device, the remaining memory area except for the size of the recording material used for the article is set to be used as the time shifting memory (S402).

It is determined whether a change occurs in the size of the memory for the recording material (S403).

As a result of the determination (S403), when no change occurs in the memory size for the recording material, the memory size for the previous time shift is maintained.

On the other hand, if the variation occurs in the memory size for the recording material (S403), based on the changed memory size for the recording material, the time shift memory size is recalculated again (S404).

In the recalculation method (S404), for example, a method of setting the remaining memory area as a new time shift memory size by subtracting the variable memory size for the recorded material from the entire memory area of the video apparatus. to be.

In other words, the video apparatus reads information on a writable area having no storage (for example, a recording, etc.) from all memory areas, and writes the writable area according to the read information for the time shift. Resetting to memory is a feature of the present invention.

Then, the information on the recalculated time shift memory size is displayed on the screen (S405).

As the display method S405, for example, the screen illustrated in FIG. 3A or 3B may be used.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and as can be seen in the appended claims, modifications can be made by those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains, and such modifications are within the scope of the present invention.

And, the above-mentioned numerical value is a preferred embodiment or merely an example, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the numerical values, and as can be seen in the appended claims, Modifications are possible by those skilled in the art and such modifications are within the scope of the present invention.

The effects of the video apparatus and its control method capable of setting the maximum time shift region according to the present invention described above are as follows.

First, according to the present invention, there is an effect that the time shift memory area can be used at the maximum size within the limited memory area.

Secondly, according to the present invention, since there is no memory area which is not used at all, there is an effect that the efficiency of memory use can be greatly improved than before.

Third, according to the present invention, even if the user does not operate the time shift memory size separately, the time shift memory size of the maximum value is automatically set, which contributes to the improvement of user's convenience.

Claims (9)

Performing a time shift function (Time-Shift); Checking a change in the usage amount of the recording memory; Detecting an area in a dormant state capable of storing data except for the changed usage amount of the recording memory among all areas of the memory; Setting the dormant region as a time shift memory; And And storing the data according to the time shift function in the area of the time shift memory. The method of claim 1, And a maximum time shift area is set on the screen, wherein the changed amount of recording memory and the amount of time shift memory are displayed on a screen. The method of claim 1, The minimum capacity of the size of the time shift memory is A control method of a video apparatus capable of setting a maximum time shift area, wherein the maximum time shift area is fixed regardless of the size of the variable recording memory. The method of claim 1, The control method of the video device, When the recording is additionally stored in the memory, the step of storing the first storage time in the oldest of the time shift region, and further comprising the step of resetting the time shift region, the image of which the maximum time shift region can be set Control method of equipment. A tuner unit for outputting a broadcast program received through the tuned one or more channels by tuning one or more channels; A decoder to decode a broadcast program received through the tuner; A memory unit for temporarily or semi-permanently storing the decoded broadcast program; A determination unit which detects an area in a dormant state capable of storing data except for an area of the semi-permanently stored data which is changed in the entire area of the memory unit, and sets the dormant state as a time shift memory; And And a control unit which controls to store data according to the time shift function in the area of the time shift memory. The method of claim 5, wherein And a display unit for displaying the usage amount of the recording memory which is changed and reset in real time and the usage amount of the time shift memory. The method of claim 5, wherein The minimum capacity of the size of the time shift memory is A video apparatus capable of setting a maximum time shift region, which is fixed irrespective of the size of the variable recording memory. delete The method of claim 5, wherein The control unit, When the recording is additionally stored in the memory unit, the maximum time shift region can be set, characterized in that the first time storage region is stored first in the time shift region and the time shift region is reset.

Images