KR20090030126A - Apparatus for scalable video transcoding and multi-channel transmitting, and method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A scalable video transcoding, and a multichannel transmission device and method are provided to scale up or down an inputted source in the maximum resolution mode selected by a host user, and then perform the transcoding for the source. An input unit comprises a multichannel broadcasting receiver(1), an IP(Internet Protocol) network module(2) and an external input module(3). The input unit receives image/audio signals through a plurality of channels. A multichannel decoder and up/down scaling module(5) decodes signals of the plural channels from the input unit, selectively de-interlaces the decoded signals, and then scales up or down and outputs the de-interlaced signals so as to be fitted for the preset maximum resolution. A controller(8) receives the signals from the multichannel decoder and up/down scaling module, and then transmits them to a display processor(7) and storage medium(9).

Description

Scalable video transcoding and multichannel transmitters and methods therefor {APPARATUS FOR SCALABLE VIDEO TRANSCODING AND MULTI-CHANNEL TRANSMITTING, AND METHOD THEREOF}

The present invention relates generally to media coding and multi-channel transmission techniques, and more particularly to a client receiving up or down scaling in a maximum resolution mode selected by a host user and then transcoding the input source. A user relates to a new scalable video transcoding and multichannel transmission apparatus and method for enabling viewing at a resolution equal to a resolution selected by a host user.

Recently, with the development of information and communication technology, various types of information such as text, video, and music are transmitted to various types of client user terminals using various types of transmission media. In order to receive a variety of different media, the user must have a corresponding different decoder. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, different broadcasts such as digital television (DTV), analog broadcast, cable broadcast, DMB, and IPTV have different transmission schemes and different media formats. Therefore, in order for users to enjoy these broadcasts, they must have their own dedicated terminals (TV, set-top box).

In order to solve this problem, a conventional scalable video coding method has been proposed. Scalable video coding means that a portion of the bitstream is truncated with respect to a compressed bitstream in accordance with ambient conditions such as transmission bit rate, transmission error rate, system resource, and the like, and the video resolution, frame rate and signal-to-signal -Noise ratio) means the encoding method that can be adjusted. Internationally, standardization work on this scalable video coding scheme is underway. This standardization work presents the so-called SVC standard. According to this standard, as shown in FIG. 2, the encoder generates a multi-layer or embedded coded scalable bitstream from the beginning, and the router or extractor provided with the same simply extracts some layers of the generated bitstream. Change the quality of the bitstream.

However, in the case of the conventional scalable video, as shown in FIG. 3A, only the resolution of the input media can be supported. After all, even if you want to watch the VTR signal on the TV, only the signal supported by the VTR can be viewed on the TV. This is scalable, but not upscaled, resulting in only status retention or downscaling. If you want to watch the VTR signal in Full HD standard on the TV as shown in (b) of FIG. Done. This has the consequence that the role of scalable video is determined by the TV, not by the media standard. This means that conventional scalable video can only support images of several resolutions, and the display equipment still needs to support various kinds of media.

The ultimate goal of scalable media is to enable different media devices to receive different types of media. However, currently proposed scalable media services are limited to a single terminal in a single media or a plurality of terminals corresponding to the number of layers included in a bitstream. With this system, media networking is still limited. Therefore, it would be advantageous if there were scalable media transcoding and multichannel transmission techniques that could overcome this limitation and support multiple media to multiple users.

The present invention is designed to solve the above-mentioned problem of scalable video transcoding, and converts all types of media into digital media through decoding process, and interlaced video through deinterlacing (progressive media). If the deinterlacing step is omitted, upscaling or downscaling is performed to the maximum resolution mode selected by the host user, and then transcoded so that the receiving client user can watch the video at the resolution selected by the host user. It is an object of the present invention to provide a transcoding and multichannel transmission apparatus and a method thereof.

In addition, in the present invention, a client user connected to a host user via a LAN or a wireless IP network with respect to an input source undergoes a series of processes, such as ID check, media search, media application, and the like. It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel scalable video transcoding and multichannel transmission apparatus and method for transmitting a flexible video transcoding stream as media suitable for a media environment of a client user.

This object is achieved by a customizable scalable video transcoding and multichannel transmission apparatus and method provided according to the present invention.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a scalable video transcoding and multichannel transmission apparatus comprising: an input unit capable of receiving a video / audio signal through a plurality of channels; A multichannel decoder and up / down scaling module for decoding, selectively deinterlacing, signals of a plurality of channels from the input unit, and outputting up or down scaling to a preset maximum resolution; A control unit for controlling the rest of the apparatus, and receiving the signals from the multichannel decoder and the up / down scaling module and transmitting them to a display processor, a storage medium, or outputting them for transmission; And a transmission module for receiving a signal output for transmission from the control unit and transmitting the signal to a remote client user through a communication network.

In a preferred embodiment, the preset maximum resolution scaled by the multichannel decoder and up / down scaling module is basically equal to or less than the maximum resolution supported by the device.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a scalable video transcoding and multichannel transmission method includes: an input step of receiving a video / audio signal through a plurality of channels; A multi-channel decoder and up / down scaling step of decoding, selectively deinterlacing, and outputting the plurality of input signals up or down scaling to a preset maximum resolution; Receiving and passing the signals passed through the multi-channel decoder and up / down scaling steps to a display processor (7), a storage medium (9), or outputting them for transmission; And a transmission step of receiving the output signal for the transmission and transmitting it to a remote client user through a communication network.

According to the present invention, all types of media are decoded in a digital signal state, interlaced video is converted to progressive media through deinterlacing (if the progressive media is omitted, the deinterlacing step is omitted), and the maximum corresponding value selected by the host user. By up- or down-scaling and transcoding in degree mode, a client user receiving the same can provide a scalable video transcoding and multi-channel transmitter and method for enabling viewing at a resolution equal to the resolution selected by the host user. have.

Hereinafter, a scalable video transcoding and multichannel transmission apparatus and a method thereof according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

4 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a home media use state when the present invention is applied. According to the present invention, for example, in the case of a home media service, an in-house broadcasting system, and an in-building media service, each user may use the same service using different displays at different locations. This is accomplished according to the apparatus and method described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 5 to 10.

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram showing an overall structure of a scalable media transcoding and multichannel transmission apparatus according to the present invention, and FIGS. 6 to 8 are detailed views of some portions of the apparatus of FIG.

According to the present invention as shown in FIG. 5, the scalable media transcoding and multichannel transmission device may be implemented as a device integrated with a TV set or a separate set-top box type device. The device transcodes input source signals into N multi-channel scalable video and transmits them to client users connected via LAN or wireless IP network 11. The illustrated apparatus includes a multichannel broadcast receiver 1, an IP network module 2, an external input module 3, a media search engine module 4, a multichannel decoder and up / down scaling module 5, a transcoding module (6), a display processor (7), a control unit (8), a storage medium (9), and a transmission module (10).

The multichannel broadcast receiver 1, the IP network module 2, and the external input module 3 form an input unit. As shown in more detail in FIG. 6, the multi-channel broadcast receiver 1 receives terrestrial DTV (digital television) broadcasts, which is directly used by a host user and one or more client users simultaneously accesses N channels. N antennas, tuners and demodulators are provided for viewing. Where N corresponds to the number of channels that can be accessed simultaneously and is independent of the number of client users. N is an integer greater than one. The IP network module 2 is an input unit for receiving a media service provided based on an IP network such as a LAN or a wireless LAN. The external input module 3 is an external input terminal, for example, a terminal capable of inputting video / audio from an external A / V device such as CVBS, S-Video, RGB, Component, HDMI, IEE1394, USB, or an external content storage medium. .

The multi-channel decoder and up / down scaling module 4 has a scaling block connected to the decoder block as shown in detail in FIG. 7, and decodes and scales so that a plurality of users can watch N channels or contents simultaneously. can do. The decoded video and audio signals have different resolution formats. For example, interlaced video is converted into progressive video after deinterlacing. In the case of progressive video, the deinterlacing process is passed. The host user (e.g., the TV) down or upscales to the resolution selected, or keeps the original resolution. Minimum resolution ≤ user setting resolution ≤ maximum resolution Here, the default setting is the maximum resolution, and the input source is upscaled to the maximum resolution (for example, full HD and HD are deinterlaced and converted to full HD). The reason is to support as much resolution as possible for all client users.

The details of the media search engine 5 are illustrated in FIG. 8, and the media search engine 5 executes a media search when a host user or a client user requests media search. DTV searches using EPG information, analog TV searches using channel information, IP network signals search within serviceable media provided by service providers, external storage media searches by file name, In this case, search using the external terminal name or a name specified separately by the host user. As shown in FIG. 8, it is preferable to design a browser having a resolution selected by the host user to be scrollable. The retrieved media is transmitted to the client's media device at the resolution desired by the client user via the transcoding module 6 and the transmission module 10 at the rear of the device.

The transcoding module 6 transcodes the input signals of the N channels into scalable video (SVC). In this case, transcoding is performed to have the characteristics of scalable video supporting the maximum resolution by supporting the lower resolution and the lower resolution and the higher and the next higher resolution.

The controller 8 controls the input units 1, 2, 3, the multichannel decoding and up / down scaling module 8, the transcoding module 6, and the transmission module 10. In addition, it performs a function of authenticating a host user and a client user. In addition, the display processor 7 for the channel input for output by the host user (when the type of the product with the control unit is a TV, it corresponds to various display driving circuits such as LCD, PDP, CRT, projector, etc.) If the product is attached to form a server or set-top box, it corresponds to an external output processor), and delivers video and audio signals. In addition, video and audio signals are transmitted to the storage medium 9 with respect to a channel input for storage by the host user. On the other hand, for the channel input for transmission by the selection of the host user and the client user sends a signal to the transmission module (10).

The transmission module 10 is responsible for transmitting the transcoded stream delivered by the client user's selection and the host user's permission. This allows the client user to transmit over the IP network 11 (e.g. LAN or WLAN) at the initially specified transmittable resolution (transcoded minimum resolution ≤ transmittable resolution ≤ transcoded maximum resolution) when requesting channel transmission. do.

9 and 10 are flowcharts illustrating steps of a scalable media transcoding and multichannel transmission method according to the present invention. Referring to FIG. 9, when a client requests a connection to a host, the controller 8 is driven. The control unit 8 confirms whether or not the client is a registered user and instructs new registration. After the client applies for registration and the host permits, or is confirmed to be a registered user, the ID and IP address and the desired content resolution are verified. The control unit 8 activates the search engine module 4 to create a search list browser. The search list browser is transcoded and sent to the control section 8, which in turn is sent to the sending module 10.

Referring to Figure 10, the client selects the media content resolution. In parallel with this, the client confirmation procedure may be performed by the controller 8. The search list is sent. The client selects a channel. The control unit 8 receives that the client has selected a channel and checks whether the channel is currently being transmitted. If affirmative, the transmission module 10 transmits the data according to the client selection resolution. If negative, the control unit 8 selects the corresponding channel, decodes various media input sources, selectively deinterlaces it, and performs an up or downscaling process. Send to the user.

Although the present invention has been described through specific embodiments, various modifications are possible to those skilled in the art by referring to and combining various features described herein. Therefore, it should be pointed out that the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments, but should be interpreted by the appended claims.

As described above, the present invention can be used for an integrated TV or a set-top-separated device for multi-channel transmission of a stream that has been transcoded into scalable video. A device in which a client user connected to an IP network undergoes a series of processes such as ID check, media search, and media application, and the host user transmits N multi-channel scalable video transcoding streams as media suitable for the media environment of the client user. And a method, which can be used in the fields of home media services, in-house broadcasting systems, in-building media services, and the like.

1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a conventional domestic media use state.

2 is a diagram illustrating a bitstream transmission process according to a conventional SVC standard.

3 is a block diagram conceptually illustrating a conventional scalable media transcoding process.

Figure 4 is a block diagram schematically showing a home media use state when the present invention is applied.

5 is a schematic block diagram showing the overall structure of a scalable media transcoding and multichannel transmission apparatus according to the present invention.

6 is a detailed view of a multi-channel broadcast receiver of the apparatus of FIG. 5;

7 is a detailed diagram of a multichannel decoder and up / down scaling module of the apparatus of FIG. 5;

8 is a detailed view of a media search engine module of the device of FIG.

9 and 10 are flowcharts illustrating steps of a scalable media transcoding and multichannel transmission method in accordance with the present invention.

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

1: Multi channel broadcasting receiver

2: IP network module

3: external input module

4: Media Search Engine Module

5: Multichannel Decoder and Up / Down Scaling Module

6: transcoding module

7: display processor

8: control unit

9: storage medium

10: Transmission module

11: IP network

Claims (4)

In scalable video transcoding and multichannel transmitter, An input unit (1, 2, 3) capable of receiving a video / audio signal through a plurality of channels; A multi-channel decoder and up / down scaling module (5) for decoding signals of a plurality of channels from the input units (1, 2, 3), selectively deinterlacing, and outputting them up or down scaled to a preset maximum resolution )and; It is responsible for controlling the rest of the device and also receives signals from the multichannel decoder and up / down scaling module 5 for transmission to the display processor 7, the storage medium 9, or for output. A control unit 8; A transmission module 10 for receiving a signal output for transmission from the control unit 8 and transmitting it to a remote client user through a communication network; Scalable video transcoding and multi-channel transmission apparatus comprising a. The scalable video transformer according to claim 1, wherein the preset maximum resolution scaled by the multichannel decoder and up / down scaling module 5 is basically equal to or smaller than the maximum resolution supported by the device. Coding and Multichannel Transmitters. In scalable video transcoding and multichannel transmission method, An input step of receiving a video / audio signal through a plurality of channels; A multi-channel decoder and up / down scaling step of decoding, selectively deinterlacing, and outputting the plurality of input signals up or down scaling to a preset maximum resolution; Receiving and passing the signals passed through the multi-channel decoder and up / down scaling steps to a display processor (7), a storage medium (9), or outputting them for transmission; A transmission step of receiving the output signal for the transmission and transmitting it to a remote client user through a communication network; Scalable video transcoding and multichannel transmission method comprising a. 4. The scalable video transcoding and multicasting method of claim 3, wherein the preset maximum resolution scaled by the multichannel decoder and up / down scaling step is basically equal to or less than the maximum resolution supported by the device. Channel transmission method.

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