KR101332287B1 - Portable media player and Docking station for receiving and storing digital broadcasting contents using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mobile media player, and more particularly, to a docking station that operates by docking a mobile media player. The present invention also relates to a media player that can store broadcast information played in a docking station and watch it on the go.
According to the present invention, by connecting the media player itself to the docking station, the media content can be easily stored, and the media player can be used to play the stored media content without time and / or location constraints.

Description

Portable media player and docking station for receiving and storing digital broadcasting contents using the same}

The present invention relates to a mobile media player, and more particularly to a docking station for receiving and storing digital broadcast content operating by docking the mobile media player.

The present invention also relates to a media player that can store broadcast information played by a docking station so that it can be viewed on the go.

As digital content becomes more mobile and the digital convergence trend is accelerating, portable devices commonly encountered in real life are equipped with various functions as well as original functions.

For example, most of today's mobile phones have built-in functions of digital cameras and digital camcorders, and the Portable Multimedia Player (PMP) has the capability to receive and record digital broadcasts.

With such multifunctionalization of portable devices, portable devices have evolved from means for reproducing digital broadcast content to means for producing digital broadcast content, while on the other hand, user interfaces of portable devices are becoming increasingly complex.

Accordingly, it may be difficult for a user who is not familiar with a portable device to play digital broadcast contents stored in the portable device by connecting to a digital TV and / or a set-top box.

On the other hand, even users familiar with mobile devices have limitations such as battery capacity and screen size of the mobile devices, and thus are not a good environment for enjoying digital broadcasting contents using mobile devices.

Moreover, according to the related art, when storing media content received from CATV, satellite antenna, and terrestrial antenna in such a conventional portable device, there is a disadvantage that it must be stored through a complicated process.

This is because the media player must be connected to a set-top box or a digital TV for storing such media content, and the setting is also changed, which is cumbersome to operate.

In addition, in the prior art, it is also possible to connect other media players to the set-top box and / or the digital TV, so there is a problem that security is not maintained. In other words, even if the children are not watching or legitimate users can not restrict the use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been proposed to solve the problems according to the prior art, and an object thereof is to provide a media player that easily stores media content and enables playback of stored media content without time and / or location constraints.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a docking station that facilitates the transfer of media content to a media player by simplifying the connection with the media player.

Another object of the present invention is to enhance security when connecting a media player to a docking station.

One embodiment of the present invention provides a portable media player capable of docking in order to achieve the object raised above.

This removable media player includes a docking connector portion; A tuner connection unit connected to a docking station for providing external media content through the docking connector unit; A media player controller configured to receive and play external media content from the docking station using the tuner connection unit; And output means for outputting media content under control of the media player controller.

In this case, the media player control unit may have unique identification information for connection with the docking station.

In addition, the mobile media player, the storage unit for storing the external digital broadcast content in real time; And a user interface configured to set and control the media player controller.

The mobile media player may further include an output terminal for connecting to an external electronic device.

On the other hand, another embodiment of the present invention, the media player docking unit; A media player recognizing unit recognizing a media player inserted into the media player docking unit; A tuner connected to the media player docking unit and selectively receiving digital broadcasting contents according to the confirmation of the media player recognition unit; And a docking station controller for transmitting the selected received digital broadcast content to the media player.

In this case, the media player recognition unit may recognize only a media player having unique identification information among the media players.

At this time, the control mode of the docking station is characterized in that the entry into the operation mode only when the media player is inserted.

The docking station may further include a storage unit for storing system information and control data for the docking station controller; And a user interface configured to set and control the docking station controller.

The docking station may further include an output terminal for connecting to an external electronic device.

The docking station may further include a Conditional Access System (CAS) module that descrambles the scrambled digital broadcast content when the digital broadcast content is scrambled.

According to the present invention, by connecting the media player itself to the docking station, the media content can be easily stored, and the media player can be used to play the stored media content without time and / or location constraints.

In addition, another effect of the present invention is that the docking station does not operate until it is connected to the media player, so that the use can be restricted.

In addition, another effect of the present invention is that only a specified media player can be connected to a docking station, thereby enhancing security.

1 is a conceptual diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a circuit block diagram of the docking station 100 shown in FIG.
3 is a circuit block diagram of the media player 120 shown in FIG.
4 is a flowchart illustrating a process of storing media content by connecting a media player to a docking station according to an embodiment of the present invention.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments, but includes all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention. Like reference numerals are used for like elements in describing each drawing.

The terms first, second, etc. may be used to describe various components, but the components should not be limited by the terms. The terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another. For example, without departing from the scope of the present invention, the first component may be referred to as a second component, and similarly, the second component may also be referred to as a first component. And / or < / RTI > includes any combination of a plurality of related listed items or any of a plurality of related listed items.

It is to be understood that when an element is referred to as being "connected" or "connected" to another element, it may be directly connected or connected to the other element, . On the other hand, when an element is referred to as being "directly connected" or "directly connected" to another element, it should be understood that there are no other elements in between.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this application, the terms "comprise" or "have" are intended to indicate that there is a feature, number, step, operation, component, part, or combination thereof described in the specification, and one or more other features. It is to be understood that the present invention does not exclude the possibility of the presence or the addition of numbers, steps, operations, components, components, or a combination thereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries are to be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with the meaning in the context of the relevant art and are to be construed as ideal or overly formal in meaning unless explicitly defined in the present application Do not.

Hereinafter, a mobile media player and a docking station using the same according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a conceptual diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, a docking station 100, a media player 120 docked at the docking station 100, a display device 110 connected to the docking station 100, and the like are configured.

The docking station 100 is connected to the antenna 130 to receive digital broadcast content, and transmits the received digital broadcast content to the dear player 120 or to the display device 110. . To this end, the docking station 100 is provided with a tuner 101, a docking station controller 107, a user interface unit 109, etc., for selecting a broadcast type for transmitting digital broadcast content. Here, the digital broadcast content includes video, audio, TTX (TeleTeX), and the like.

Here, as a broadcasting method, DVB (Digital Video Broadcasting), HTSC, ISDB (Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting), ATSC (Advanced TV Systems Committee) and the like are used.

Digital broadcast content defines the information of all digital broadcasts, including satellite, terrestrial, CATV, and IPTV, including video and video-on-demand provided by channels to which consumers generally subscribe. VOD) and pay-per-view (PPV) programs. In addition, video formats include Audio Video Interleaving (AVI), Moving Pictures Expert Group (MP4) -4, Windows Media Audio (WMA), Windows Media Video (WMV), MPEG-2, MPEG-4 (ITU). Also known as -T H.264), RealMedia, etc.

In addition, the docking station 100 has a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI) 103-1, an AV output terminal 103-3, a USB 103-5, for transmitting digital broadcasting content to the display device 110. LAN 103-7 and the like are provided.

In addition, the docking station 100 is configured with a media player docking unit 105 for connection with the media player 120. Docking station 100 will be described in more detail in FIG. 2.

The antenna 130 may be a satellite antenna, terrestrial antenna, CATV, or the like. Of course, the present invention is not limited thereto, but Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL), Local Area Network (LAN), Wide LAN (WLAN), Wireless Broadband Internet (Wibro), Fiber to the home (FTTH), Zigbee (Zigbee) It is also possible to use a wired / wireless communication technology such as). In this case, the antenna 130 becomes a wired / wireless communication modem.

In accordance with the broadcast selected by the tuner 101, media content is displayed on the display apparatus 110 via the HDMI 103-1. In this case, the HDMI 103-1 is connected to the connection terminal 111.

The display device 110 may be a digital TV, a plasma display panel (PDP), a liquid crystal display (LCD) TV, an Internet Protocol (IP) TV, a monitor, or the like. Accordingly, the digital broadcasting content received by the tuner 101 is displayed on the screen by being connected to the docking station 100 through the connection terminal 111.

2 is a circuit block diagram of the docking station 100 shown in FIG. Referring to FIG. 2, the docking station 100 may include a media player docking unit 105, a media player recognition unit 220 that recognizes a media player (120 of FIG. 1) inserted into the media player docking unit 105, and media. A docking station controller connected to the player docking unit 105 and transmitting and receiving the selected digital broadcasting content to the media player 120 by the tuner 101 for selecting and receiving digital broadcasting content according to the confirmation of the media player recognition unit 105. 107, an input / output terminal 103 for connecting the docking station to an external display device (110 of FIG. 1) and / or another external electronic device, and a conditional access system (CAS) module 250 that performs conditional conditional access service. ) And a user interface 109 for controlling and / or setting the user.

The description of the tuner 101 already described with reference to FIG. 1 will be omitted. The docking station controller 107 is configured as a microprocessor or a microcomputer to control the docking station. In particular, the docking station controller 107 enters the operation mode when the media player 120 of FIG. 1 is recognized by the media player recognizer 220 in the power saving state of the standby mode.

The media player recognizing unit 220 performs a function of recognizing the media player 120 when the media player 120 is inserted into the media player docking unit 105. Of course, in this case, the media player recognizing unit 220 recognizes only a specific media player and does not recognize a non-specified media player. In this case, the docking station control unit 107 remains in the standby mode.

The recognition scheme is based on unique identification information associated with the media player 120, and the unique identification information uses a serial number, ID number (ID) number, or Media Access Control (MAC) address.

As shown in FIG. 1, the input / output terminal 103 may be an HDMI, an AV output terminal, a USB, a LAN, or the like. The input / output terminal 103 is used to connect with another electronic device or a display device (110 in FIG. 1).

The storage unit 210 performs a function of storing a program, data, software, etc. used or generated by the docking station controller 107. The storage unit 210 may be a memory provided in the docking station control unit 107 or may be a separate memory. Therefore, nonvolatile devices such as hard disk drives, flash memory, electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), static RAM (SRAM), ferro-electric RAM (FRAM), phase-change RAM (PRAM), and magnetic RAM (MRAM). Memory and / or volatile memory such as random access memory (RAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), or the like may be used.

The user interface 109 transmits a user's command to the docking station controller 107. Therefore, the user interface unit 109 may be provided with a plurality of buttons mechanically configured, or may be a touch screen.

 The bus line 230 includes a tuner 101, an input / output terminal 103, a media player docking unit 105, a docking station control unit 107, a user interface unit 109, a storage unit 210, and a media player recognition unit ( 220) to connect a plurality of components, and the like.

The conditional access system (CAS) module 250 is a conditional access system for satisfying conditional conditional access service. When the digital broadcast content received through the satellite antenna, the terrestrial antenna, the CATV, etc. is scrambled, it is the reception of the reception side. It is a system that allows subscribers to receive a program by descrambling the scrambled digital broadcast content.

The basic requirement for the CAS module 250 to be operated is to be scrambled, protected on the communication link, and become a subscriber authentication function and an access control function for authentication.

3 is a circuit block diagram of the media player 120 shown in FIG. Referring to FIG. 3, the media player 120 includes a docking connector portion 125 and a tuner connection portion 340 connected to a docking station (100 in FIG. 1) that provides external media content through the docking connector portion 125. ), A media player control unit 300 for receiving and playing external media content from the docking station 100 using the tuner connection unit 340, and output means for outputting media content under the control of the media player control unit 300 ( 360) and the like.

The media player controller 300 is configured of a microprocessor or a microcomputer to control the media player. In particular, when the media player controller 300 is connected to the docking station (100 in FIG. 1) by docking, the media player control unit 300 provides the media content received at the docking station 100 to the display device (110 in FIG. 1) to display or displays the media. A function of storing the content in the storage 310.

Of course, the docking connector 125 and the tuner connecting portion 340 is configured for this purpose, the docking connector 125 is inserted into the media player docking portion 105 configured in the docking station (100 of FIG. 1). Of course, the docking connector 125 and the media player docking unit (105 in FIG. 2) are detachable from each other. Accordingly, it is possible to freely insert or remove the media player 120 into the docking station (100 in FIG. 1).

The tuner connection unit 340 is connected to the tuner (101 in FIG. 2) through the docking connector unit 125, and stores the digital broadcasting content according to the type of broadcast in the storage unit 310 via the tuner 101, or displays the display device. It transmits to 110 (FIG. 1).

The display unit 360 may be a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light emitting display (OLED), or the like, and displays digital broadcast contents, menus, information, and the like.

The audio converter 320 converts voice into a digital signal or converts a digital signal into an analog signal and outputs the analog signal. To this end, the audio converter 320 includes a microphone Mic and a speaker SPK.

The storage 310 performs a function of storing a program, data, software, etc. used or generated by the media player 120. In addition, by storing the digital broadcast content, it is possible to display the stored digital broadcast content while the user is moving. The storage unit 310 may be configured similarly to the storage unit 210 configured in the docking station (100 of FIG. 2) described above, and further description thereof will be omitted for a clear understanding of the present invention.

The user interface unit 370 transmits a user command to the media player control unit 300. Accordingly, the user interface unit 370 may include a plurality of buttons mechanically configured, or may be a touch screen. Of course, in the case of a touch screen, it is also possible to use the display unit 360 instead.

The output terminal 350 is a connection terminal for an external electronic device, and may be an HDMI, an AV output terminal, a USB, or a LAN.

 The bus line 330 may include a docking connector 125, a media player controller 300, a storage 310, an audio converter 320, a tuner connector 340, an input / output terminal 350, a display 360, It is used to connect a plurality of components including the user interface unit 370 and the like.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a process of storing media content by connecting a media player to a docking station according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 4, the docking station (100 of FIG. 1) is in a standby mode state (step S400). In other words, the docking station 100 is in an idle state to save power.

In this standby mode, the docking station 100 undergoes a recognition procedure to check whether a media player having a right authority is inserted when the media player (100 in FIG. 1) is inserted (step S410). That is, when the media player 100 is inserted, the docking station 100 checks whether the media player 100 is a legitimate media player 100.

The verification process is performed based on unique identification information associated with the media player 120, and the unique identification information of the media player 120 is previously stored in the docking station (100 in FIG. 1).

In step S410, in the case of a registered media player 120, the docking station (100 in FIG. 1) checks the system information of the media player (120 in FIG. 1) to release the standby mode and enter the operation mode (step S430).

When the docking station 100 is in the operation mode, the user selects a broadcast type by using the user interface 109 provided in the docking station 100 and stores the broadcasted and / or watched broadcast. (Step S450). Accordingly, the digital broadcast content is stored in the media player 120 of FIG. 1 by the broadcast.

100: docking station 110: display
120: media player 130: antenna
101: tuner 105: media player docking unit
125: docking connector portion 210: storage portion
220: media player recognition unit 230,330: bus line
250: Conditional Access System (CAS) Module
300: media player control unit 320: audio conversion unit
340: Tuner connection 350: Output terminal
360: display unit 370: user interface unit

Claims (9)

Docking connector unit;
A tuner connection unit connected to a tuner of a docking station for providing external digital broadcasting content through the docking connector unit;
Unique identification information for connection with the docking station;
A media player controller for receiving and playing external digital broadcast content from the docking station using the tuner connection unit; And
A mobile media player comprising output means for outputting the external digital broadcast content under control of the media player control unit.
The docking station includes:
A media player docking unit to which the media player is docked;
A media player recognition unit recognizing that the media player is inserted only when unique identification information included in the docked media player matches specific identification information;
The digital player docking unit is connected to the tuner connection unit of the media player, and when the media player recognizer recognizes that a media player having unique identification information that matches the specific identification information is inserted, external digital broadcast content is received. A tuner for receiving selection; And
And a docking station controller for changing from a standby mode to an operation mode when the media player recognizer recognizes that a media player having unique identification information matching the specific identification information is inserted. delete The method of claim 1,
A storage unit for storing the external digital broadcasting content in real time; And
And a user interface configured to set and control the media player controller. The method of claim 1,
The mobile media player further comprises an output terminal for connecting to an external electronic device. A media player docking unit;
A media player recognition unit recognizing that a media player is inserted only when unique identification information included in the media player inserted into the media player docking unit matches specific identification information;
Digital broadcast contents when the media player recognizer inserts a media player having unique identification information matching the specific identification information, and is connected to the media player docking unit and to the tuner connection unit of the media player. A tuner to receive the selection; And
A docking station comprising a docking station controller for transmitting the selected received digital broadcast content to the media player.
The media player
A docking connector unit docking the media player docking unit;
A tuner connection portion connected to the tuner through the docking connector portion;
The unique identification information for connection with the docking station; And
It is characterized in that the mobile media player including a media player control unit for receiving and playing digital broadcast content from the docking station using the tuner connection unit,
And the docking station controller changes from a standby mode to an operation mode when the media player recognizer recognizes that a media player having unique identification information matching the specific identification information is inserted. delete delete The method of claim 5, wherein
A storage unit for storing system information and control data for the docking station controller; And
And a user interface configured to set and control the docking station controller. The method of claim 5, wherein
An output terminal for connecting to an external electronic device; And
And a CAS (Conditional Access System) module (250) for descrambling the scrambled digital broadcast content when the digital broadcast content is scrambled.

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