KR20090037753A - Method and apparatus for playing a serial continuously - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for continuously playing a serial are provided to download minimum play capacity of the next time in advance, thereby continuously playing the serial. A server and a data transceiver(111) transceives a command about stream control and image contents stream data. A serial searching unit checks whether a serial exists with regard to image contents that a user selects. The serial searching unit reads information added to header information and transmits the information to a serial transmission request unit(113). A seamless play unit(114) controls a buffer to continuously play downloaded image contents right after content being watched. A command input unit(115) transmits a user command to a seamless reproduction unit. A decoding unit(117) decodes and outputs the image contents data into an audio signal and a video signal.

Description

Series continuous playback method and apparatus therefor {METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PLAYING A SERIAL CONTINUOUSLY}

The present invention relates to a video on demand (VOD) service system, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for continuously playing a series provided by a VOD service system.

Away from the classical method of receiving and watching a broadcast program that is unilaterally transmitted, a service that selects and provides a broadcast program desired by a viewer is widely used today. This is called a Video On Demand (VOD) service. This VOD service allows a subscriber to immediately watch a desired video content at a desired time through a computer, a TV, or a set-top box (STB) connected to a communication network. It is stored in a server operated by a video content provider, and a subscriber accesses the server to download and view video content. In such a download and play VOD service, it is common to provide an electronic program guide (EPG) to subscribers to induce content selection.

For reference, when viewing a series using a download and play VOD service, as shown in FIG. 1, after the content data buffering is performed for one time, the corresponding content is reproduced, and again for the second time. After the content data buffering is performed, the second content is played back. Therefore, the user has to wait for the time to download the subsequent episodes in order to continuously watch the episodes of the new series.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a continuous series playback method and apparatus for continuously playing the video content series without a separate time delay when the user wants to continuously watch the video content series being watched,

Furthermore, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for minimizing the continuous playback delay time of a subsequent series when the user wants continuous viewing of the video content series being viewed.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for continuously playing a series product according to an embodiment of the present invention.

A series item checking step of checking whether a series item exists for the selected or viewed image content;

A content download step of transmitting a request for downloading of the next round to the content providing device when the series exists;

A continuous playback query step of asking the user whether to continuously play the next content of the video content;

And continuously downloading and outputting the next video content following the content being viewed upon continuous playback command.

Furthermore, the series continuous playback apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention is an image playback apparatus such as an interactive digital TV, a computer, a set-top box including a video and an audio decoder,

A data transmitting / receiving unit for transmitting / receiving image contents and additional information about the image contents provider-side equipment;

A series article search unit for checking whether a series article exists for the image content selected and viewed by the user through the additional information search;

A series transmission request unit which receives and transmits the next round of image contents to the video content provider device when the series exists;

A buffer for storing the series video content to be downloaded;

And a seamless reproducing unit for continuously reproducing the next video content of the download following the content currently being viewed according to a user command.

According to the above-described problem solving means, the present invention is to download the next series (sequential) for the next series (sequential) when the viewing or selected video content is a series, when the previously downloaded and watched series is completed Since continuous playback is performed according to a user command, it is possible to continuously play the series series at the same time and have the advantage of eliminating or minimizing the waiting time for the series series continuous playback.

Furthermore, the present invention has the effect that seamless playback of the series is possible because the minimum playback capacity of the next series is downloaded in advance when the previous episode is downloaded for the series.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description of the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of related known functions or configurations may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. For reference, an embodiment of the present invention will be described assuming that a set-top box capable of receiving digital broadcasts is a series continuous playback device.

First, FIG. 2 illustrates a diagram of a VOD service system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The server 100 operated by a content provider stores video contents of various genres such as movies, dramas, and sports, and is installed in a home. The image content corresponding to the request of the set-top box 110 is read and provided. Furthermore, the server 100 may provide the EPG, which is a program schedule, to the set-top box 110 of the user side, which is a subscriber.

Meanwhile, the set-top box 110 corresponding to the series continuous playback device basically receives the EPG and video content information provided by the content provider and outputs the information through the digital TV 120 which is a display medium. It receives information and the like and requests the content provider server 100 to transmit the image content.

Furthermore, the set-top box 110 checks whether the video content selected by the user is a series according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention and requests a download of the next episode if the series is a series, and transmits the downloaded contents of the downloaded series to a user command. Therefore, playback may be continued following the current episode. If the configuration of the set-top box 110 for this purpose in more detail with reference to FIG.

3 is a block diagram of a set-top box 110, which is a series continuous playback apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, first, the set-top box 110 corresponding to a series continuous playback apparatus includes a data transmission / reception unit 111 for transmitting and receiving image content and additional information thereof with the server 100 of a video content provider. .

For reference, the server 100 and the data transmitting / receiving unit 111 not only transmit and receive commands for stream control through a real time transmission protocol (RTP) / real time streaming protocol (RTSP), but also video content stream (A / V data). Give and take. Furthermore, the "additional information" may be defined as an EPG containing series flag information for each video content, and a variety of information included in header information of the video content (eg, assuming a system that does not transmit EPG) For example, the series flag information) may be defined as another additional information.

Meanwhile, the series search unit 112 checks whether a series exists for the video content selected and viewed by the user by searching for additional information (EPG or stream header information) received through the data transmission / reception unit 111. do.

To illustrate the method of checking the series, first, the EPG information includes the minimum information necessary for the implementation of the present invention, that is, the content ID (program title), series flag information indicating whether or not the contents are in series, and turn information. Assume The series search unit 112 in the set-top box 110 that receives the EPG including the illustrated information searches for the series flag information indicating whether or not the series is related to the content selected by the user, and if the flag information is true, the corresponding content. It is determined that there is a series item for the next round, and if the flag information is false, the existence of the series item is checked in a manner of judging it as general content and not a series item.

In the case of checking the existence of the series by using information added to the stream header rather than the EPG, the series search unit 112 reads the series flag information included in the stream header information of the video content, and does the series exist? You can check If the series flag information is true, the series search unit 112 reads out the content ID and the turn information added to the header information and passes it to the series transmission request unit 113 to be described later.

If the content ID is simply included in the EPG or the stream header without the series flag information, the series search unit 112 reads the content ID and recalls a series existence query in which the read video content ID is added. It may be transmitted to the server 100 to check whether there is a series of image content selected and viewed by the user.

Meanwhile, if it is determined that the series exists by the series search unit 112, the series transmission request unit 113 requests the image content provider side server 100 to download the next content for the next round. Receive content data. To this end, the series transmission request unit 113 transmits a 'content download request message' including a content ID and episode information (current episode information being viewed or next episode information to be downloaded) to the server 100. Next, the next round of content data transmitted from the server 110 is stored in the buffer 116. As a variant, the series transmission request unit 113 may request to download the video content more than the amount of time necessary to download at least the next video content in requesting to download the next video content. This is to ensure the minimum information necessary for continuous playback of the next video of the video content being viewed without interruption.

The buffer 116 may be any one of a magnetic recording medium (HDD), a nonvolatile memory, a volatile memory, and a flash memory.

The seamless playback unit 114 controls the buffer 116 to continuously play the next video content downloaded after the downloaded content according to a user command.

The command input unit 115 receives a user command and passes it to the seamless playback unit 114. This command input unit 115 includes an operation panel or a remote control receiver.

The decoding unit 117 includes an audio decoder and a video decoder, and decodes the video content data reproduced in the buffer 116 into an outputable audio signal and a video signal and outputs the same.

In addition to the above-described configuration, the series continuous playback apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention further includes a tuner, an I / O interface unit, an OSD processing unit, etc., for an application device such as a set-top box 110, a digital TV, and a computer.

Hereinafter, a method for continuously reproducing a series of products executable in the set top box 110 having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

First, FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a series continuous playback according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 illustrates a simplified series playback process according to an embodiment of the present invention on a time axis.

Referring to FIG. 4, first, a viewer may watch video content desired to be viewed through the set-top box 110 and the EPG. That is, when the user selects the viewing of the video content such as a soap opera through the EPG (step S1), the server 100 requests the server 100 to download the selected video content by the series transmission request unit 113. ) Downloads the requested video content to the set-top box 110 as a subscriber. When the initial buffering operation is completed for the selected video content, the content player which is a basic component of the set-top box 100 starts playing the content (step S2). When the downloading of the video content file selected by the user is completed (step S3), the series search unit 112 checks whether the video content selected or viewed by the user is a series (step S4). As described above, the checking method may be checked by reading series flag information of the corresponding video content included in the EPG. If the EPG system is not provided, the series search unit 112 may simply read and check the series flag information added to the header information of the video content stream.

When the selected content is viewed as a result of checking in step S4, the series transmission request unit 113 receives a 'download request message for the next round' which includes the content ID information and the turn information received from the series search unit 112. Send to the server 100 to request the download of the subsequent series (step S5).

Then, the server 100 reads the video content file of the next round in response to the reception of the "Next request for download request" and downloads it to the set-top box 110. As a result, the set-top box 110 is to play the video content selected and viewed in the step S1 and at the same time download the video content file for the next time.

If playback of the content currently being viewed is completed while the next content image file is being downloaded or has been downloaded (step S6), the seamless playback unit 114 continues the continuous playback of the currently viewed video content through the OSD processing unit. Ask the user whether to do (step S7).

When the user commands continuous playback in response to the query (step S8), the seamless playback unit 114 controls the buffer 116 to continuously play the next content after downloading the content being viewed (step S9). )do. Accordingly, the next content of the image content reproduced and output from the buffer 116 is decoded by the decoding unit 117 and output through the digital TV 120 as an image signal and an audio signal.

Briefly summarizing the above-described operation, the present invention buffers n times of video content selected by the first user for viewing as shown in FIG. 5, and n + 1 times of playback of buffered n times of video content. After buffering the video content of the second time and after the nth video content playback is completed according to the user's continuous playback command, the series content is played back continuously without repetition by playing the second buffered n + 1 video content. It is.

Therefore, the present invention has the effect of preventing or minimizing the interruption or the waiting time of the continuous playback by downloading by downloading the next series in advance while watching the series.

In the above embodiment, the process of continuously playing the series is described using information added to the EPG. However, the series is continuously played in a manner of detecting and including information for checking the series in the stream header information without supporting the EPG information. You can see it.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a continuous playback process of a series in a download and play VOD service.

2 is an exemplary configuration of a VOD service system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a block diagram of a series continuous playback apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a flow chart of a series continuous playback according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 is a simplified view on the time axis of the series of continuous playback process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (13)

In the series playback method of the series executable in the video playback apparatus capable of receiving electronic program guide and video content information, Requesting to download at least a portion of the next episode if the selected or viewed video content is a series; And continuously playing the downloaded contents of the series in accordance with the user's command following the current minute. In the series playback method of the series executable in the video playback apparatus capable of receiving electronic program guide and video content information, A series item checking step of checking whether a series item exists for the selected or viewed image content; A content download step of receiving a request for downloading at least a portion of the next episode to the content providing device when the series exists; A continuous playback query step of asking the user whether to continuously play the next content of the video content; And continuously downloading and outputting the next video content following the content being viewed upon continuous playback command. The method of claim 2, wherein the series check step, A series playback method, characterized in that by reading through the electronic program guide (EPG) to read the series flag information of the selected video content. The method of claim 2, wherein the series check step, Reading the selected video content ID through an electronic program guide (EPG); Transmitting, to the content providing apparatus, a series existence question query to which the read image content ID is added; And receiving a response to the query. The method of claim 2, wherein the series check step, And the series flag information included in the header information of the selected video content is read and checked. 6. The method of claim 2, wherein the downloading of the content comprises requesting download of video content having a time required for downloading at least the next video content. 7. The method of claim 6, further comprising: re-requesting to download the remaining amount of video content when a request for downloading the video content of a time required to download at least the next video content is performed. Way. In the series continuous playback device comprising a video and audio decoder, A data transmitting / receiving unit for transmitting / receiving image contents and additional information about the image contents provider-side equipment; A series article search unit for checking whether a series article exists for the image content selected and viewed by the user through the additional information search; A series transmission request unit which receives and transmits a video content download request of at least a portion of the next round to the video content provider device when the series exists; A buffer for storing the series video content to be downloaded; And a seamless reproducing unit for continuously reproducing the next video content of the next download following the content currently being viewed according to a user command. The method according to claim 8, The series search unit, And reading series flag information of an electronic program guide (EPG) corresponding to the additional information to check whether there is a series of the selected and viewed video content. The method according to claim 8, The series search unit, And checking whether or not a series exists by reading series flag information included in header information of the video content corresponding to the additional information. The method according to claim 8, The series search unit, Reads the image content ID included in the electronic program guide (EPG) corresponding to the additional information or the header information of the image content, and transmits a series existence question to which the read image content ID is added to the image content provider device. And receiving the response. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the series transmission request unit requests to download at least a video content required for downloading at least the next time. 12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the buffer is any one of a magnetic recording medium, a nonvolatile memory, and a volatile memory.

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