KR20040003344A - Unified contents player - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An integrated contents player is provided to reproduce moving picture files for a computer without a computer by using analog and digital video players, and watch multimedia contents on the best conditions. CONSTITUTION: An optical disk drive(60) reads data from an optical disk on which the data for reproducing multimedia contents are compressedly stored. A selection control unit(70) generates electric signals for executing search and selection control actions for watching the multimedia contents. An input and output control unit(30) sends data signals of the optical disk drive and signals of the selection control unit to a central control unit(10) and a main memory device(40). A non-volatile memory(20) stores an O/S(Operating System), player application, and a codec, and exchanges control signals and operation signals with the central control unit. The central control unit releases compression of video and aural data under the control of the player application for temporarily storing the same in the main memory device, and sends the video and aural signals with subtitles to a video output control unit(50). The main memory device sends the compressed moving picture data to the central control unit, and temporarily stores the compression-released data, and stores the subtitles and temporary files. The video output control unit controls the size and the quality of a picture appropriate for watching the video and aural signals.

Description

Unified Content Player {UNIFIED CONTENTS PLAYER}

The present invention relates to an integrated content player.

Early DVD players were only able to play DVD titles in MPEG2. Since then, products that can play VCD (MPEG1) and MP3 have emerged. However, in this case, the VCD and MP3 are not included in one CD, but only if the same type of contents are contained in separate physical disks, the CD can be played in a VCD format. Playable

In addition to DVDs, video codecs with almost the same picture quality and sound quality are emerging for computers, and most of these types of content have a lower capacity with higher compression ratios than DVDs.

In order to watch the contents of the computer, a computer is necessary. When watching a computer monitor or watching TV out, it is less convenient than watching a TV on a TV like DVDP or VCR. It was hard to see good quality on TV because the inconvenience and quality of connecting wires with a VGA card or TV output card that supports TV out were produced based on the high resolution of the computer.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a content player that can play a video file for a computer without a computer.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a content player that can be updated such as a codec in consideration of the continuous development of technology according to the compression technique.

In addition, it is another object of the present invention to include subtitles when playing a video.

Other objects and features of the present invention will appear in detail in the following detailed description.

1 shows a configuration of an integrated content player of the present invention.

*** Explanation of symbols for main parts of drawing ***

10: central control unit 20: inactive memory

30: input and output control unit 40: main memory device

50: video output control unit 60: optical disk drive

70: selection control unit

The present invention relates to an integrated content player, which includes compressed video data in the form of DivX codec and MPEG4, MP3. It reads video data such as VCD in a directory search form, lists contents in various formats, decompresses the contents in the order and contents desired by users, and outputs video and audio signals to the video device with subtitles. Video can also be viewed on video media, and video data stored at compression rates and image quality can be played back, especially with the latest codec upgrades.

The present invention has the following four characteristics.

The first is an update of the codec. In order to play multimedia contents such as a video, a codec suitable for the format must be decoded, and the latest codecs are being developed to show better compression ratio and image quality. The codec does not match the version, so the latest content cannot be played. Therefore, the codec can be updated to play the latest content. In the case of hardware decoding, it is difficult to cope with the latest codec. In the present invention, the codec is updated by using a software decoding method to cope with the latest codec format.

Second is subtitle playback. In playing a video, most files do not have subtitles and play a separate subtitle file in sync with the video. Since the video without subtitles is not preferred by consumers, it should be possible to play the subtitles. In the present footing, the subtitles are played along with the video file, including the subtitle file. Subtitle files generally use files with the SMIL or SMI extension, which are produced similar to the HTML document format. In particular, the present invention supports two-byte characters, so that not only Korean but also foreign subtitles such as Japanese and Chinese can be reproduced. Meanwhile, in the present invention, the player application embedded in the integrated content player itself has a caption reproduction function.

Third is the directory search function. Conventional players such as DVD players or MP3 players can only play discs made in a format that meets a certain standard when playing VCDs. In the present invention, a file and directory search function shows a playlist and selectively plays a file even if a file using heterogeneous codecs as well as a disc that meets the standard is included. This feature allows the user to spend time in a format that meets standards, eliminating the time to create a disc and playing content more conveniently.

Fourth, the superiority of video and sound output. The resolution of an analog TV is lower than that of a computer output (a monitor for a PC), so when the computer screen is output to an analog TV, the picture quality cannot be easily viewed. In the present invention, even if the analog signal or the same digital output device, the viewing is converted to a smooth resolution and output.

The integrated content player of the present invention is composed of an optical disk drive, an optional controller, an input / output controller, an inactive memory, a central controller, a main memory, and an image output controller.

An optical disc drive such as a CD ROM drive reads data from an optical disc in which data for reproducing multimedia contents such as moving pictures and music is compressed and stored.

The selection controller generates an electrical signal for performing a search and selection adjustment operation necessary for watching multimedia content.

The input controller sends data signals of the optical disk drive and signals of the selection controller to the central controller and the main memory. The input / output control unit can further extend interfaces such as USB and IEEE1394.

Inert memory acts as a kind of C / F memory, stores O / S, player application and codec, and exchanges control signal and operation signal with central controller.

The central controller decompresses the video and audio data under the control of the player application and temporarily stores the data signal read from the optical disk in the main memory, and sends the video and audio signals to the video output controller along with the subtitles.

The main memory sends the compressed video data from the optical disk drive to the central controller, and temporarily stores the decompressed data, and stores subtitles and temporary files. DRAM, SDRAM or other semiconductor memory may be used as the main memory.

The image output controller adjusts a screen size and image quality suitable for viewing a signal such as an image and an audio received from the central controller.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying FIG. 1.

The present invention provides an integrated content player such as an optical disk drive 60, a selection control unit 70, a central control unit 10, an input / output control unit 30, an inactive memory 20, a main memory device 40, and an image output as a CD-ROM driver. It is divided into the control part 50.

The optical disc driver 60 is a basic device that provides a video and music data source. The optical disc driver 60 reads data compressed in such a manner as MPEG-4, MPEG-2, MPEG-1, and Divic Codec, and music files of MP3 and general music CD. It is.

The display device 71 of the selection control unit 70 displays basic information of the stored file name, size, time, etc., and is displayed on the screen in an on-screen manner to retrieve all information in a directory form. Allows you to select data sources quickly and easily. The display device may include all types of display devices such as LCDs.

The input means 72 such as a keypad enables an operation required for viewing, and its functions have functions such as start, stop, fast forward, rewind, power ON / OFF, volume, and the like.

The remote signal controller 73 uses an infrared port and receives the signal sent from the remote controller to operate the optical disk drive 60 through the input controller 30, for example, start, stop, fast forward, rewind, and power. It controls ON / OFF, volume, and the like, and can selectively control programs, video and music data through the central controller 10.

The input / output control unit 30 converts the input / output signal of the selection control unit and the input signal from the optical disk drive 60 through the input / output interface 31 by the control signal from the core processor 11. Will be sent to and saved.

The data stored in the buffer memory 32 is stored in the main memory 40 through the bus interface 13 under the control of the core processor 11. In addition, the input / output control unit 30 may increase the compatibility with peripheral devices by further expanding the interface such as IEEE1394, USB, USB2.0, and the like.

The central control unit 10 compresses the image and music data stored in the CD-ROM drive 60 or the main memory device 40 by the core processor 11 according to the electrical signal applied from the selection control unit 70. And releases the released video and music data to the video / audio output control unit 50.

The central control unit 10 decompresses the video and audio data entered through the input control unit 30 by the O / S and player application stored in the inactive memory 20 and temporarily stores the video and audio data in the main memory device 40. It consists of a bus interface 13 for controlling the input and output of the video control unit 12 for synchronizing the video and audio data and caption data. The image output controller 50 adjusts the size and image quality of the image screen according to respective methods such as analog and digital for the image and audio signals received from the central controller 10, and outputs the image output unit 52 and the audio output unit ( 53).

The image output unit 52 sends a signal to an image display device such as an analog TV, a digital TV, a computer monitor, or the like. In addition, the voice output unit 53 sends a voice signal to an audio device.

According to the integrated content player of the present invention, all video compressed data such as MPEG4, MPEG2, and MPEG1 and music data such as MP3 and general music CD can be viewed on an analog and digital display in a general home. The subtitles are subtitled with subtitles mounted on a disc to make the video easier to understand, and the latest video and music data can be enjoyed by upgrading software such as a quick and easy codec.

Looking at the integrated content playback process according to the present invention in more detail as follows. The operations performed in the integrated content player can be divided into two types. The first is to play the video or music files, that is, the content is coming in and the second is the operation in the base system part to smoothly play the original mission of the codec, player application, OS, etc.

When the optical disc is inserted into the optical disc drive, the optical disc drive recognizes the format of data stored on the optical disc. If it is in DVD format, VCD format, music CD, or a title that does not meet these specifications, check whether the format is DATA. DATA refers to all DAT, MPEG files, and other file formats not made to AVI or VCD.

The contents stored in the optical disc are outputted as a moving image file and a subtitle file based on the file extension, and in the case of a music file such as MP3 or OGG, the file list is output to the display device 71 such as an LCD. Types with tag For example, an MP3 tag contains something like a title. When a play command (the user may execute a play command through an input device such as a keypad) for a file on the list is played, the file is played.

If the system file is not directly related to playback, such as the OS, codec, or player application, update the system using the appropriate process. In the present invention, in the case of OS update, the OS is booted on a disk without booting into the OS embedded in firmware. In other words, the system has the control right in the boot CD loaded in the optical disk drive, not in the OS with the control right.

The codec does not need to be booted from the optical disc drive itself, and is updated when the boot is already done. In this case, data is read from the optical disk drive into the buffer memory and transferred from the buffer to the main memory through the bus interface. This codec is updated in inactive memory through decompression and other processes. If the main memory does not have enough memory, the uncompressed codec file will be stored on the CD and read sequentially.

The player application, like the codec, goes through an update process.

If you update these system files, you will be able to add physical and logical safeguards both physically (such as jumpers or switch buttons) and software methods such as "Yes or No" on the screen. After the approval process, the core processor processes the operation and updates the relevant part of the inactive memory.

On the other hand, in the case of a subtitle file, if a subtitle file having the same file name as the video file, for example, a file having an extension of SMI or SMIL exists in the optical disc, the connection information (frame or The time tag is connected to a video and output as a sub picture on a screen of a video device such as a TV or a monitor.

Such a present invention is not limited only to the above embodiments, and various modifications and applications may be made by those skilled in the art within the embodiments and the appended claims.

As described above, the present invention can read data such as DivIC Codec, MPEG4, VCD, MP3, general music CD, etc., and view them in analog and digital video media with subtitles. With the upgrade of the latest codec, you can easily enjoy data created with better compression ratio and image quality, and adjust the screen size and image quality on analog and digital TVs and PC monitors so that viewers can watch in the best condition. In addition, a plurality of contents are directoryed and output on the screen, so that the selected contents can be played in a desired order.

Claims (11)

An optical disc drive that reads data from an optical disc in which data for playing multimedia contents such as a video and music is compressed and stored; A selection control unit for generating an electrical signal for performing a search and selection control operation necessary for watching multimedia contents; An input / output controller which sends data signals of the optical disk drive and signals of the selection controller to the central controller and the main memory; O / S and player applications and codecs are stored, and an inert memory that sends control signals and operation signals to the central controller, A central control unit which decompresses video and audio data temporarily under the control of a player application under the control of a player application and temporarily stores them in a main memory, and sends video and audio signals to the video output control unit with subtitles; It is a space for temporarily storing the decompressed data, sending compressed video data from the optical disk drive to the central control unit, and main memory for storing subtitles and temporary files, It is configured to include a video output control unit for adjusting the screen size and image quality suitable for viewing the video and audio signals received from the central control unit Integrated content player. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the selection control unit further includes a display device for displaying basic information of a file name, size, time, etc. stored in an optical disc, and input means for enabling an operation required for viewing a moving picture or a music file. Integrated content player. The integrated content player of claim 2, wherein the display apparatus searches all the information displayed on the screen in a directory form to easily and quickly select a desired data source. The integrated content player of claim 1, wherein the selection controller further includes a remote signal controller configured to selectively control an operation of an optical disc drive and a program application, image data, and music data by receiving a signal transmitted from a remote controller. The integrated content player of claim 1, wherein the input / output control unit includes an input / output interface for relaying an input / output signal of a selection control unit and an input signal from an optical disk drive, and a buffer memory as a temporary storage location. The integrated content player of claim 6, wherein an interface such as USB, IEEE1394, or USB2.0 is further connected to the input / output controller. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the central controller is configured to decompress video and music data stored in an optical disk drive or a main memory device according to an electrical signal applied from a selection controller. A bus interface for controlling the decompression of video and audio data entered through the input control unit by the O / S and player applications stored in the inactive memory and the input and output of video and audio data temporarily stored in the main memory, and Integrated content player comprising a video control unit for synchronizing video, audio data and subtitle data. The integrated content player of claim 1, wherein the optical disc includes not only a video file but also a subtitle file associated with the optical disc. The method of claim 1, wherein when the optical disk includes a system file other than the multimedia content file, the system file is read from the optical disk drive to the buffer memory, transferred from the buffer to the main memory through the bus interface, and then, through the core process. Integrated content player, characterized in that for updating the corresponding portion of the inactive memory through the process of decompression. The integrated content player of claim 9, wherein the update of the inactive memory includes a codec, a program application, and an O / S. 10. The integrated content player of claim 9, wherein uncompressed system files are sequentially read from the optical disc if the main memory does not have sufficient storage capacity.