KR20030010184A - Service method of vhs or dvd type video-on-demand and thereof apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A method and a system for providing high-quality video-on-demand are provided to transmit files with large capacity to a user through the Internet and to allow the user to store and reproduce the transmitted files. CONSTITUTION: A client connects with a VOD server through the Internet to select a movie to be downloaded and inputs an address to which the movie to be downloaded and details related with settlement(S20). Settlement is carried out for the input information(S30). Information about the movie file to be downloaded is constructed(S40). It is confirmed if there is another demand for the file to be downloaded(S50). The file is transmitted to the client through the Internet through a multicast method(S60). The transmitted file is received using multicast file protocol and stored(S100). The stored file is reproduced(S120).

Description

SERVICE METHOD OF VHS OR DVD TYPE VIDEO-ON-DEMAND AND THEREOF APPARATUS

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing a high quality video-on-demand (VOD) service of a VHS or DVD level in a high-speed communication network such as a cable modem or ADSL, and more particularly, to a theater distribution movie. The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for downloading a video movie to a communication network and storing it in a PC or a dedicated terminal at a desired location and then watching the movie on a PC monitor or TV screen.

Conventional video-on-demand video services are generally based on a streaming scheme. When the service user accesses a homepage on the Internet opened to provide a VOD service and selects a desired movie, the movie file is in the form of a bit stream. It is transmitted to the local device, and the service user can watch the movie in real time.

However, as described above, the streaming technology-based VOD service can watch movies in real time, but when a large number of users simultaneously access and request a service, a heavy load is generated on the server of the service provider, resulting in a problem that the file transfer is not smooth. In addition, service providers must have sufficient bandwidth in the network and be prepared for bottlenecks.

In addition, even if a service user watches a movie using a high-speed communication network as in the prior art, a high-quality video of VHS or DVD class requires a fast transmission speed of several Mbps, so that an error such as flakes occurs when viewing it in real time. There is a problem.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention transmits a large amount of files to the user through the Internet to provide a VHS or DVD-quality high-quality video to the user in the form of a VOD service, and stores and stores them in the client of the user. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and a device for reproducing.

1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2a is a block diagram showing an example of configuring a client using a PC in the present invention.

Figure 2b is a block diagram showing an example of configuring a client using a dedicated terminal in the present invention.

Figure 3 is a flowchart of execution of the present invention.

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

A: VOD Server B: Client

B1: Client using PC B2: Client using dedicated terminal

C: Internet 1: Web Server

2: payment system 3: scheduler

4: download server 5: content database

10: client program 11: copy protection processing means

12: HDD13: playback program

14 display means 15 communication unit

16: storage means 17: playback unit

18: TV

The present invention for achieving the above object, the consumer is connected to the VOD server via the Internet to select the movie to download and select the address to be downloaded and payment information and input the information, and the input information Performing payment for the client, configuring the information about the movie file to be downloaded when the payment is completed, checking for duplicate orders for the file to be downloaded, and multicasting the file over the Internet to the client. And transmitting the received file using the multicast file protocol, storing the transmitted file, and reproducing the stored file.

The present invention also provides a content database for managing movie files to be provided to a user, a web server providing a service providing environment to a consumer in connection with the content database, and a payment for processing payment for data downloaded from a consumer. A VOD server comprising a system, a scheduler for controlling a transmission process so that the minimum data can be transmitted based on a paid order history, and a download server for transmitting data according to the scheduler; and a file from the VOD server through the Internet. A client program that receives the control command transmitted from the download server and executes a control command, a copy protection processor for interrogating a digital rights management program and a web server so that only an authenticated user can play the file, and a file that is copy protected. HDD and files stored on the HDD Or a client implemented with a PC including a playback program to play back and a display means for displaying the same; or the client performing data communication by connecting to the Internet to receive data from a VOD server. A communication unit supporting an interface on which a program can be executed, a large-capacity storage device for storing the transmitted data, a reproducing unit for reproducing the video signal by NTSC or PAL so that the stored data can be displayed on a TV monitor, and It may be implemented as a dedicated terminal consisting of a TV for displaying the signal;

The present invention is also characterized in that the download server activates the client during file transfer and deactivates the client when the file transfer is complete.

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

1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. As shown, it is divided into a VOD server (A) for providing a service and a client (B) for requesting and receiving a service.

The VOD server A provides a shopping environment related to a movie file transfer service to a user connected through a web browser, processes an order input from the user, and communicates with a client device to transmit a movie file. ), A web server (1), a payment system (2), a scheduler (3), and a download server (4).

The content database 5 manages information on movie files owned by a service provider, that is, movie show time, genre, viewing grade, etc., and the web server 1 is linked with the content database 5. To provide a service delivery environment to consumers.

When the user accesses the service providing environment provided through the Internet (C) and places an order, the payment system 2 processes the order and transmits the related information to the scheduler 3, and the scheduler 3 has a plurality of schedulers. By referring to the order from the consumer, the download server 4 configures and manages the file transfer schedule so that the minimum data can be transferred.

In accordance with the configured transmission schedule, the download server 4 activates the client to receive data to be transmitted from the client B side, and deactivates the client when data transmission is completed.

In transmitting the data from the VOD server (A) to the client (C) in the above, by using the IP multicast method for efficient use of the network, the movie files are simultaneously transmitted to a plurality of user groups ordering the same movie.

Since the IP multicast method is not perfect in ensuring reliable data transmission, between the download server 4 and the client B, one movie file is divided into a plurality of blocks and transmitted using IP multicast. Multicast transmission protocol is used to guarantee the delivery of movie files.

The client B checks the information of the received blocks, removes the duplicated received blocks, and requests the download server 4 of the VOD server A to resend the blocks that have not arrived, and the blocks of the arrival sequence are mixed. Organize them so that you can download complete movie files.

The client B having a client program for executing data and control commands transmitted from the download server 4 of the VOD server A may be composed of a PC B1 and a dedicated terminal B2. Shows an example in which a client is configured using a PC. As shown in the drawing, the client program 10 stores the transferred movie file in a designated directory, and the license key is interlocked with the digital rights management program and the web server. The copy protection means 11 which allows only an authorized user having a movie file to be executed, and controls the file to be played only on a PC or a dedicated device to which the file is downloaded, a HDD 12 for storing the file, and the HDD And a reproduction program 13 for receiving the stored file from (12) and causing the display means 14 to reproduce the file.

The client program 10 is downloaded through the web server 1, and in the future resides in the memory of the PC to perform a control command transmitted from the download server (4).

Meanwhile, FIG. 2B illustrates an example in which a client is configured using a dedicated terminal. As illustrated, the dedicated terminal B2 includes a communication unit 15 that enables connection to a communication network such as a telephone line or a cable network. Equipped.

The communication unit 15 may be in the form of an Ethernet interface, or may be configured as a modem such as ADSL.

It also has an operating system that supports a network interface on which the download server 4 and a client program for performing data communication via the Internet C can be executed.

When the communication unit 15 receives a file from the VOD server A, the communication unit 15 stores the file in the storage unit 16 having a large capacity such as a hard disk, and the playback unit 17 displays the stored file on the TV 18. Video signals are reproduced by NTSC or PAL.

3 shows the execution procedure of the present invention composed of the VOD server A and the client B as described above. As shown in the drawing, the user accesses the server (S10) and selects a movie file transfer service application, a payment request, and a delivery location in the set shopping environment (S20), and completes payment on the input content (S30). And configuring information to be downloaded based on the service contents requested from the VOD server (S40), transmitting the information to the client via the Internet (S60), and receiving and storing data transmitted from the client ( S100 and reproducing the stored data by the display means (S120).

When the user accesses the VOD server (S10), selects a movie to download and inputs a desired delivery time, a delivery address, that is, an IP address of a PC or a dedicated terminal to be downloaded (S20), the web server makes an online payment. By processing the payment by the billing program for (S30), address information management program and scheduler program based on the transmission time and the transfer address based on this (S40) to receive errors such as duplicate transmission in the order content input from multiple users By removing it, it is possible to transmit the minimum movie files (S50).

In the movie file transmission step (S60), an IP multicast method is used for efficient use of the network. This is to improve the inefficient use of the network caused by duplicate transmission of the same packet when the same data is to be transmitted to multiple receivers. For example, the file is simultaneously sent to multiple recipients who have requested to download a movie file called 'AAA'. This allows the network to be used efficiently.

In the step of receiving and storing the file (S100), the file is received and stored using a PC that supports an Internet connection and a mass storage device, and a client program that manages data packets.

The client program receives data packets of a movie file transmitted by the multicast method, removes duplicated packets (S70, S71), requests the server to retransmit packets that have not arrived (S80, S81), and the arrival sequence. The multicast file transfer protocol is used to organize the mixed packets (S90, S91) so that a complete movie file can be composed.

In the step of playing a file on the display (S120), in order to prohibit illegal copying and distribution (S93), only an authorized user who has a license key in association with a web server uses a normal digital rights management program (S93). In addition to being able to play a movie file and a PC or a dedicated device to which the movie file is downloaded, it also limits the number of times a movie file can be viewed or a date that can be watched.

The file that has been protected from copying is stored in the storage means (S100), when the user requests to play the file, the file is read from the storage means (S110) and the file is reproduced by the display means (S120), and the playback is completed or the user If the playback stops at will, execution ends (S130).

In the above-described high quality video-on-demand providing method and apparatus thereof, it is possible to watch VHS or DVD-quality high-definition movies even at a relatively low transmission speed using the current broadband Internet network.

In addition, the present invention, by using the IP multicast method to facilitate the efficient use of the network by simultaneously transmitting a movie file to a plurality of users who want to watch the same movie, the service provider can reduce the server and network construction costs It works.

In addition, the present invention has the effect that the user can watch the movie regardless of time because the user can download the movie file pre-ordered and play it to watch.

Claims (5)

A step in which information is entered by a consumer connecting to a VOD server through the Internet, selecting a movie to be downloaded, selecting an address to be downloaded and payment information, Executing a payment on the entered information; After the payment is completed, configure the information about the movie file to download, Check for duplicate orders for files to download, Transferring the file to the client via the Internet in a multicast manner; Receiving and storing the transmitted file using the multicast file protocol, A method for providing high quality video on demand, comprising the step of playing a stored file. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving and storing of the file comprises: receiving a data packet, checking whether the packet has been repeatedly transmitted, requesting a retransmission for a packet that has not arrived, and the transmission order. A method of providing high quality video on demand, further comprising the steps of: organizing and combining the scrambled packets and processing copy protection. A content database for managing movie files to be provided to the user, a web server providing a service providing environment to the consumer in connection with the content database, a payment system for processing payment for data requested for download from the consumer, and VOD server consisting of a scheduler for controlling the transmission process to transmit the minimum data based on the order history, and a download server for transmitting the data according to the scheduler; A client program that receives a file from the VOD server via the Internet and executes a control command transmitted from the download server, and a copy protection processing unit that connects a digital rights management program and a web server so that only an authenticated user can play the file. And a client implemented as a PC including a HDD for storing a file which is copy-protected, a playback program for reproducing the file stored in the HDD, and a display means for displaying the same. . According to claim 3, The client is connected to the Internet to receive data from the VOD server, the communication unit for supporting an interface on which a client program for performing data communication can be performed, and storing the transmitted data It can also be implemented as a dedicated terminal consisting of a large-capacity storage device, a playback unit for reproducing the video signal in NTSC or PAL method so that the stored data can be displayed on the TV monitor, and a TV for displaying the reproduced signal; High quality video on demand devices. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the download server activates the client when the file is transmitted, and deactivates the client when the file transfer is completed.