KR101517117B1 - Apparatus and method for controlling media player - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for controlling a media player, and more particularly, to an apparatus and a method for controlling a media player that displays an icon for receiving a user input on a standby screen of a display means and controlling an embedded media player .

An apparatus for controlling a media player according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a display unit for displaying at least one or more icons for accessing a media player on a background screen, a command for extracting a user command corresponding to the icon selected from the icons, And a communication unit for transmitting a job command of the media player corresponding to the extracted command to the media player.

Wallpaper, media player, icon, user command, action command

Description

[0001] Apparatus and method for controlling a media player [0002]

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for controlling a media player, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for controlling a media player that receives a user input on a standby screen of a display means and displays an icon for controlling the built- And more particularly,

Due to the development of integration technology, various portable devices have emerged. In recent years, a pager has appeared, starting with a sound reproducing apparatus such as a tape player or a CD player. At the present time, mobile phones and MP3 players have become popular, and portable game machines have also appeared.

Particularly, the mobile phone is used as various means beyond the use of a communication means. Among them, the mobile phone plays a role as a clock, a digital camera, a camcorder, and a message transceiver, and has been actively used for reproducing multimedia contents.

Here, the multimedia contents refer to video contents and audio contents, and still images, moving pictures, and music files are included in the multimedia contents.

A device for reproducing multimedia contents includes a media player in the form of firmware or software, and the media player reproduces the multimedia contents.

Here, in order to control the media player, the user operates a button or the like provided in the device. A user who wants to control the media player built in the mobile phone can only control the media player through several steps.

For example, in order to display a user interface for controlling a media player on a screen, a user has to input a plurality of buttons, and at least one button must be inputted even if the display of the user interface is made simple.

Therefore, there is a need for the emergence of an invention that allows a user interface that can easily control a built-in media player to be displayed without any additional operation.

An object of the present invention is to display an icon for receiving a user input on a standby screen of a display means and controlling the built-in media player.

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

In order to achieve the above object, an apparatus for controlling a media player according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a display unit for displaying at least one icon for accessing a media player on a background screen, And a communication unit for transmitting a work command of the media player corresponding to the extracted command to the media player.

A method of controlling a media player according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes displaying at least one icon for accessing a media player on a background screen, extracting a user command corresponding to the icon selected from the icons, And transmitting a job command of the media player corresponding to the extracted command to the media player.

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

According to the apparatus and method for controlling the media player of the present invention, one or more of the following effects can be obtained.

First, there is an advantage that a user can easily reproduce multimedia contents by displaying an icon capable of controlling a built-in media player by receiving a user input on a standby screen of the display means.

Second, multimedia content can be reproduced only by adding an interface for controlling a currently-installed built-in media player, thereby reducing manufacturing costs.

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

1 is a diagram illustrating an icon displayed on a background screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Generally, a portable terminal equipped with a display means does not display a screen on a display means in order to prevent waste of power, and displays a screen only after a command is inputted from a user.

For example, the display means of the mobile communication terminal is normally turned off, and when the user performs the operation of opening a folder or raising a slide, a screen is displayed on the display means.

Hereinafter, an initial screen appearing in accordance with a user's operation in a state that is not normally displayed will be referred to as a background screen hereinafter.

A user who wishes to play multimedia contents using a media player built in the mobile communication terminal can execute the media player by inputting a command on the background screen. Accordingly, the user feels inconvenience in playing the multimedia contents .

Accordingly, the apparatus for controlling the media player according to the embodiment of the present invention displays at least one icon 110 capable of controlling the media player on the background screen 100.

Here, the icon 110 to be displayed is preferably composed of a minimum number of icons for playing multimedia contents. For example, it is preferable that the icon 110 is composed of icons representing functions such as play, rewind, fast forward, and stop.

Accordingly, the user can play the multimedia content by opening a folder or selecting a specific icon as soon as the slide is opened. The selection of the icon may be performed using a button or a wheel or the like, and may be performed by a user's touch on the displayed icon 110 when the display means has a touch screen function.

The background screen 100 also provides information (not shown) such as a time or a date to the user or displays a photo (not shown). An icon 110 is placed on the background screen 100 The icon 110 may overlap with the information or the content.

To this end, the device controlling the media player according to the embodiment of the present invention can change the position of the icon 110 or change its size, and the position and size can be determined by the user.

2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating that a media player is controlled according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The media player 200 according to the embodiment of the present invention is embedded in the form of firmware or software and plays the role of reproducing the multimedia contents 230. That is, the media player 200 directly accesses the multimedia contents 230 to control the reproduction of the selected multimedia contents. Here, the multimedia contents 230 may be stored in a device controlling the media player or may be stored in a separate device.

1, an interface 220 for connecting a user command 210 and a media player 200 is provided to transmit a user command 210 through an icon on a background screen to the media player 200 In the present invention, the interface 220 transmits a work command 221 corresponding to the user command 210 to the media player 200.

Here, the work command 221 of the media player 200 includes an application program interface (API) for requesting a specific operation to the media player 200.

That is, the media player 200 exposes an API for receiving an external command to the outside, and converts the user command, which is input by the interface, into API of the media player 200 and transmits the converted API to the media player 200.

In addition, the media player 200 may output information on reproduction of the multimedia contents 230 or other event information. The interface 220 may convert the information and display the information on the display means.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for controlling a media player according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus 300 for controlling a media player includes an input unit 310, an icon management unit 320, a storage unit 330, A management unit 340, a location management unit 350, a communication unit 360, and a display unit 370.

A command input by a user, such as a selection command for selecting an icon, may be input through the input unit 310. The input unit 310 may include a button, a wheel, a jog shuttle, . When the display unit 370 of the device 300 controlling the media player provides a touch screen function, the display unit 370 may serve as the input unit 310. [ For example, the user can input a command for selecting a specific icon by touching one of a plurality of icons displayed on the background screen with a finger or other tool.

In this case, the input unit 310 may be a single device by itself, for example, a wireless remote controller may serve as the input unit 310. [ That is, the user can input information using buttons and wheels provided in the wireless remote controller. When the inertial sensor is provided in the wireless remote controller, the user applies motion to the wireless remote controller and inputs information corresponding to the motion locus It is possible.

The icon managing unit 320 plays a role of changing the shape of the icon displayed on the background screen. For example, when the user selects a specific icon, it is preferable to change the size or temporarily change the shape of the icon to inform the user that the icon is selected. In this case, When the user presses a button or selects an icon through contact, the icon manager 320 highlights the icon and then returns to the original state.

On the other hand, in the case of the rewind icon and the fast forward icon, the icon is changed to the original form after the form is changed according to the user's selection. In the case of the play icon or the play mode setting icon described later, . For example, once the play icon is selected, it changes to the pause icon, and when it is selected again, it changes to the play icon.

5 is a diagram illustrating that the icon according to the embodiment of the present invention is changed on the background screen, in which the icon management unit 320 changes the play icon to the pause icon 500 by selecting the play icon .

6 is a diagram illustrating that an icon according to another embodiment of the present invention is changed on a background screen, in which the icon managing unit 320 changes the playback method setting icon according to the selection of the playback method setting icon to be.

As shown in FIG. 6, when the user selects an icon on the icon 610 in which the initial playback mode setting icon is set to 'current content one time playback', the corresponding icon is displayed as an icon The icon 620 is changed to the icon 630 of the 'all contents once play' state. If the icon 620 is selected again, the icon 620 of the 'all contents is repeatedly played' It is switched to the icon 650 of the 'content random play' state.

In addition, if the icon 650 is selected as the 'content random play', the icon may be switched to the icon 610 of the 'current content one time play' state.

In this way, the icon managing unit 320 may change the icon in a form according to the switching of the function as well as the temporary change of the icon form.

The storage unit 330 stores multimedia contents. In addition, the storage unit 330 stores a user command table indicating a correspondence relationship between a user command input from a user and a corresponding operation command of the media player 200. Here, a detailed description of the user command table will be described later with reference to FIG.

The storage unit 330 stores information such as a hard disk, a flash memory, a Compact Flash card, an SD card (Secure Digital Card), an SM card (Smart Media Card), a MMC (Multimedia Card) Output module of the media player may be provided inside the device 300 for controlling the media player or may be provided in a separate device. If the storage unit 330 is provided in a separate device, (360) may communicate with a separate device to invoke the multimedia content and user command table.

The command management unit 340 extracts a user command corresponding to the selected icon among at least one or more icons displayed on the background screen of the display unit 370 and extracts a work command of the media player 200 corresponding to the extracted command . For this purpose, the command management unit 340 may refer to the user command table stored in the storage unit 330. [

The command management unit 340 controls the overall operation of the input unit 310, the icon management unit 320, the storage unit 330, the location management unit 350, the communication unit 360, and the display unit 370. That is, the command management unit 340 may control whether each module operates or not, and may relay data transmission between the modules.

The position of the icon group displayed on the background screen may be changed according to the user's selection. The position management unit 350 analyzes the user input and positions the icon group on the coordinate corresponding thereto. For example, the user can input an upward, downward, leftward, and rightward directional commands using a button or the like. Accordingly, the position management unit 350 can move the icon group in a direction input by a predetermined distance, When the user performs a drag-and-drop operation on the icon group on the surface of the display unit 370 provided with the screen function, the position management unit 350 determines the contact position and moves the icon group.

The communication unit 360 transmits a job command of the media player 200 received from the command management unit 340 to the media player 200. In addition, the communication unit 360 may receive the information received from the media player 200 and may display the received information through the display unit 370.

The display unit 370 may include a cathode ray tube (CRT), a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light-emitting diode (LED), an organic light emitting diode OLED, or Organic Light-Emitting Diode) or a plasma display panel (PDP). In the present invention, the display unit 370 includes a display unit 370, And displays at least one or more icons for accessing the mobile terminal 200 on the background screen.

In addition, if the display unit 370 is provided with a touch screen function as described above, the display unit 370 may also receive a user input.

FIG. 4 illustrates a user command table according to an embodiment of the present invention. The user command table 400 includes a user command field 410 and a media player API field 420.

The user command field 410 includes a command input from a user who wants to control the media player 200. The command specified in the user command field 410 is an instruction that can be input through icon selection on the background screen . For example, commands such as playback, pause, rewind, fast forward, and playback mode settings corresponding to the respective icons shown in FIG. 1 may be included in the user command field 410.

In the media player API field 420, a work command for controlling the media player 200 is included in the form of an API. Upon receiving the specific API, the media player 200 performs a function corresponding to the corresponding API.

As described above, the command management unit 340 can extract a work command of the media player 200 by referring to the user command table 400. The command management unit 340 receives a command input through the input unit 310 Analyzes one of the commands included in the user command table 400, extracts a media player API corresponding to the user command, and transmits the extracted API to the media player 200.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a setting button for an icon according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention displayed on a background screen. The setting button 700 for the icon includes a detail setting button 710, a theme changing button 720, And a transparency adjustment button 730.

The user can select the setting button 700 for the icon through the input unit 310. The user can touch the portion of the surface of the display unit 370 having the touch screen function where the corresponding button is located, The setting button 700 can be selected.

The setting button 700 for the icon can be used to control the shape of the entire icon displayed on the background screen or to switch the entire background screen.

The theme change button 720 can be used to change the shape of the entire icon, which can be understood to change the skin of the entire icon. For this purpose, it is preferable that a plurality of icon skins are stored in the storage unit 330. The skin of the entire icon can be sequentially changed each time the theme changing button 720 is selected.

The transparency adjustment button 730 may be used to adjust the transparency of the entire icon. In the present invention, the icon is displayed on the background screen, and the background screen may be composed of contents such as a clock, a calendar, or a photograph. At this time, the icon is located on the top layer in the background screen, and can prevent the display of a clock, a calendar, or a photograph.

For this purpose, the user can increase the visibility of the background screen by adjusting the transparency of the icon using the transparency adjustment button 730. [

The user can sequentially adjust the transparency of the icon by continuously selecting the transparency adjusting button 730. When the transparency adjusting button 730 is selected, the user can input a specific transparency through a separate screen on which the displayed transparency can be set It is possible.

The detail setting button 710 may be used to perform detailed settings for the media player 200 or to cause the media player 200 to be displayed on the background screen.

When the detail setting button 710 is selected, the icon display is released on the background screen, and a media player setting button and a media player maximizing button appear. FIG. 8 shows this.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the screen switching according to the embodiment of the present invention. As the user selects the detail setting button 710, the media player setting button 811 and the media player maximizing button 812 are displayed on the screen 810 ), And the screen is switched therefrom.

By selecting the media player setting button 811, the user can perform settings for the media player 200, for example, by adjusting an equalizer, setting a list of multimedia contents to be played back, Can be adjusted.

Here, in order to set the media player 200, it is preferable that a separate setting screen (not shown) is displayed when the media player setting button 811 is selected.

On the other hand, when the user selects the media player maximize button 812, the media player 200 is displayed on the screen 820. The displayed media player 200 is a graphical user interface (GUI) of the built-in media player 200 and allows the user to perform more detailed settings on the multimedia contents.

As described above, the screen 820 can be switched to the initial state screen 840 or the minimized state screen 830 in a state where the media player 200 is displayed. The initial state screen 840 includes icons And the minimized status screen 830 means a screen in which the buttons of the media player 200 minimized on the background screen are displayed.

When the minimized status screen 830 is displayed, the user can control the reproduction of the multimedia content through the icon 110 or the button 831 of the minimized media player 200.

9 is a flowchart illustrating a process of controlling a media player according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In order to control the media player 200, the display unit 370 displays at least one icon 110 on the background screen 100, which is an initial screen for waiting for a user's input (S910).

Then, the user selects one of the icons 110 displayed through the input unit 310 or the direct contact to input a user command (S920). Accordingly, the command management unit 340 determines whether the inputted user command is a media player control (Step S930).

When the confirmation of the user command is completed, the command management unit 340 refers to the user command table 400 stored in the storage unit 330 and displays a work command of the media player 200 corresponding to the user command, (S940) and transmits it to the communication unit 360. Accordingly, the communication unit 360 transmits the received media player API to the media player 200 (S950).

Accordingly, the media player 200 receiving the media player API performs an operation corresponding to the corresponding API.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, It will be understood. It is therefore to be understood that the above-described embodiments are illustrative in all aspects and not restrictive.

1 is a diagram illustrating an icon displayed on a background screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating that a media player is controlled according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for controlling a media player according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a diagram illustrating a user command table according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an icon change according to an embodiment of the present invention on a background screen.

6 is a diagram illustrating an icon according to another embodiment of the present invention changed on a background screen.

7 is a diagram illustrating a setting button for an icon according to an embodiment of the present invention displayed on a background screen.

8 is a diagram illustrating switching of screens according to an embodiment of the present invention.

9 is a flowchart illustrating a process of controlling a media player according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS

310: input unit 320: icon management unit

330: storage unit 340: command management unit

350: location management unit 360: communication unit

370:

Claims (10)

A display unit for displaying at least one icon for accessing a media player on a background screen; An icon management unit for changing a shape of the icon; A location management unit for controlling a location of the icon on the background screen; An input unit for receiving a selection command for selecting the icon from a user; A command management unit for extracting a user command corresponding to the selected icon and extracting a work command for the media player corresponding to the user command with reference to a user command table; And And a communication unit for transmitting the extracted work command to the media player, The display unit A setting button for switching the form of the icon or the entire background screen is further displayed on the background screen, The setting button, A detail setting button for switching the screen to operate the detailed setting of the media player or display the media player on the background screen; A theme changing button for changing the shape of the icon to a predetermined icon skin; And And a transparency adjustment button for adjusting the transparency of the icon to increase the visibility of the background screen, The icon manager When the icon is selected, the size or shape of the icon is temporarily changed and then returned to the original state, and a predetermined icon is changed to a form of an icon indicating a function switched according to the user's selection, The background screen includes an initial screen displayed by the display unit to wait for a user's input, and the media player is embedded in the form of firmware or software to control playback of the multimedia content. Includes an application program interface (API) for requesting a specific operation to the media player, In the user command table, A user command field including a user command input by selection of the icon, and a media player API field including a work command for controlling the media player in an API form, The input unit An apparatus for controlling a media player, comprising: a wireless remote controller including an inertia sensor, the wireless remote controller sensing a selection of the icon using a locus of movement of the wireless remote controller; delete delete delete delete Displaying at least one icon for accessing a media player on a background screen; Receiving a selection command for selecting the icon from a user through an input unit; Extracting a user command corresponding to the selected icon among the icons; And According to the extracted user command, the icon manager temporarily changes the size or shape of the icon and then returns to the original state, and changes the icon to a form of an icon indicating a function switched according to the user's selection step; And Extracting a job command of the media player corresponding to the extracted user command with reference to the user command table and transmitting the extracted job command to the media player, Wherein the displaying step further displays a setting button for switching the form of the icon or the entire background screen on the background screen, The setting button includes a detailed setting button for switching a screen to operate a detailed setting for the media player or displaying the media player on a background screen, a theme changing button for changing the shape of the icon to a predetermined icon skin, And a transparency adjusting button for adjusting the transparency of the background image to increase the visibility of the background image. The background screen includes an initial screen displayed by a display unit to wait for a user's input. The media player is embedded in a form of firmware or software to control playback of the multimedia content. And an application program interface (API) for requesting the media player for a specific operation, In the user command table, A user command field including a user command input by selection of the icon, and a media player API field including a work command for controlling the media player in an API form, The step of receiving the selection command And controlling the media player to use the wireless remote controller including the inertial sensor as the input unit to detect a locus of movement of the wireless remote controller and select an icon corresponding to the locus. delete delete delete The method according to claim 6, And controlling the position of the at least one icon on the background screen.

Images