KR20110012220A - Apparatus and system for playing streaming contents having continuous-play information sharing function - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A streaming contents playing apparatus is provided to generate and manage continuous-play information in a contents playing apparatus. CONSTITUTION: A streaming content reproducing apparatus comprises a continuous-play information management unit(130), an external communications unit(140), a contents receiving unit(110), and a contents playing unit(120). The content receiving unit transmits contents request signal by accessing a contents providing node, and receives streaming contents. The contents playing unit plays the received contents according to the user's input. The external communications unit transmits the continuous play information to be directly connected to the external content playing unit.

Description

Apparatus and system for playing streaming contents having continuous-play information sharing function}

The present invention relates to a streaming content reproducing terminal for receiving content data through a communication network and reproducing. More particularly, the present invention relates to a streaming content reproducing terminal device and a system capable of sharing rehearsal information.

With the recent development of the Internet and mobile communication networks, such as IPTV, Video on Demand (VOD), Audio on Demand (AoD), etc., which enables users to watch multimedia contents such as movies and music in real time regardless of time and place. Streaming content providing services are in the spotlight.

The above system for providing a streaming content service includes a terminal equipped with a media player on the user side, and a streaming server for transmitting content data on the content providing side. This streaming server is a concept included in the content providing server. In the example of the VoD service, in order to receive a VoD service, a user generally connects to a content providing server through a wired or wireless network using a computer or other content playing terminal, selects a desired content, and receives and plays the stream. To watch in real time.

In this case, generally, the content that is selected and streamed by the user is streamed from the beginning, and the resume function is provided for the case where the user wants to stream and play the content again from the point where the user stops playing it later. have.

The reason for providing this resume function is that the VoD service allows users to log out while watching a movie, such as automatic logout when the computer is powered off, automatic logout when the media player is not running, or by a user on a web page. This is because a logout or the like occurs frequently. In other words, the resume function can be used for various situations, such as when a user needs to go out before watching a movie to the end, when the user needs to stop watching the movie due to other business reasons, or when the company wants to watch the movie at home after work. It is used in various situations.

In addition, in recent years, in accordance with the wireless Internet era, an increasing number of users are provided with IPTV or VoD services while watching mobile contents in real time.

As such, recent users do not want to watch content such as movies using only one content playback device, but instead want to watch content by changing various devices as desired.

In other words, users are increasingly demanding to enjoy content such as movies, such as movies that have been watched through a computer or IPTV, such as at home or at work, on their mobile terminals.

However, when changing the content viewed on one playback device to another device to view the following can not provide a resume function, can not continue from the middle of the interruption, there is an inconvenient problem to see again from the beginning.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and provides a content playback device and system for generating and managing ear show information in a content play device provided with a streaming service and directly sharing the ear show information with other devices. The purpose is to.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be described below and will be appreciated by the embodiments of the invention. Further, objects and advantages of the present invention can be realized by the means and the combination shown in the appended claims.

In order to achieve the above object, the streaming content reproducing apparatus having the following information sharing function according to the present invention is a content reproducing apparatus which receives and reproduces the content streamed from the content providing node, and accesses the content providing node. Content receiving means for transmitting a request signal and receiving content to be streamed; Content reproducing means for reproducing the streamed and received content according to a user's operation input; Earbuds information management means for generating, storing, and managing earbuds information of the content; And external communication means for directly connecting with another external content reproducing apparatus and transmitting the subsequent information.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a streaming content reproduction system that provides streaming content through a wired / wireless communication network, receives and reproduces the content, and maintains the content data and streams the content data to a terminal connected through the wired / wireless communication network. And a content providing server that streams the content according to the earing information from the time of the earing when receiving the earing request; And play the streamed content, generate, store, and manage the resume information, transmit the resume information with other content playback terminals through an external communication means, and display the resume information at the time of the content streaming request. There is provided a streaming content playback system having a content sharing function including a; and a content playback terminal to transmit together to request a resume.

According to the present invention, the content playback apparatus provided with the streaming service generates and manages the direct view information directly, and connects directly with other content playback apparatuses through a short range communication module to transmit the resume information freely between heterogeneous devices. It provides the effect that you can receive the following services by sharing the following information.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Prior to this, terms or words used in the specification and claims should not be construed as having a conventional or dictionary meaning, and the inventors should properly explain the concept of terms in order to best explain their own invention. Based on the principle that can be defined, it should be interpreted as meaning and concept corresponding to the technical idea of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments described in the specification and the drawings shown in the drawings are only the most preferred embodiment of the present invention and do not represent all of the technical idea of the present invention, various modifications that can be replaced at the time of the present application It should be understood that there may be equivalents and variations.

1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a streaming content playback system having a sharing function of subsequent information according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, in the streaming content reproduction system according to the present invention, a content providing server 200 and a plurality of heterogeneous streaming content reproduction apparatuses 100 are connected through a wired or wireless communication network 300.

The content providing server 200 stores and manages a plurality of content data, and plays a role of streaming content data according to a request of a playback device 100 and a terminal connected through a wired or wireless communication network. The content providing server 200 may include a separate web server and a streaming server to allow a user to access the web to select content and to stream data through the streaming server.

In addition, the content providing server 200 provides a resume function. That is, according to the request of the connected playback apparatus 100, the resume information is received, and the resume service is provided for streaming data from the point of view of the requested content through the content identification information and the playback time information included therein.

In addition, the content providing server 200 may be provided with processing functions related to providing general content such as login access processing, user authentication processing, and billing processing.

In addition, the content providing server 200 may provide an IPTV service, a VOD service, and a mobile IPTV service. That is, IPTV service and VOD service can be provided through a wired network, and mobile IPTV and VOD service can be provided through a wireless network.

Here, the wired and wireless communication network 300 may include a network infrastructure capable of data packet communication, such as the Internet, public network, mobile communication network, wireless Internet, Wibro network.

The streaming content reproducing apparatus 100 accesses the content providing server 200 through a wired / wireless communication network, receives content data provided for streaming, and reproduces the data in real time so that the user can view the content. .

The streaming content reproducing apparatus 100 may be classified into a plurality of types according to its use and method. First, a set-top box 101 device and a personal desktop PC 102 device capable of playing and processing streaming content through a TV 150 in the home may be exemplified. have.

Next, for example, a portable media terminal 103 device which the user can carry while playing and play streaming content, and a mobile phone 104 device which is a mobile communication terminal. The portable media terminal 103 may include a portable media player equipped with a network communication function such as a portable multimedia player (PMP) or a laptop, and the mobile phone 104 may be a WCDMA terminal, a smart phone, a PDA phone, or the like.

In addition, the streaming content reproducing apparatus 100 is provided with short-range communication means capable of sharing direct retrieval information data at short distances with other heterogeneous reproducing apparatuses 101, 102, 103, and 104. In addition, the streaming content reproducing apparatus 100 includes a means for generating, storing, and managing the earing information, and directly transmitting or storing the earing information in storage to the other reproducing apparatus 100 through the short range communication means. It is configured to receive and use.

Hereinafter, the streaming content reproducing apparatus 100 will be described in more detail with reference to other drawings.

2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an apparatus for playing streaming content having a function of sharing ear show information according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the streaming content reproducing apparatus 100 according to the present invention includes a content receiving module 110, a content reproducing module 120, a rehearsal information management module 130, an external communication module 140, and the like. Include.

The content receiving module 110 transmits a content request signal to the content providing server 200 through a wired or wireless communication network, and serves to receive the streamed content data. The content receiving module 110 includes a content requesting unit 112, a resume requesting unit 114, a content receiving unit 116, and the like. The content requesting unit 112 accesses the content providing server 200, selects content according to a user's request, and transmits a streaming request signal to the server. The follow-up request unit 114 accesses the content providing server 200 and transmits the follow-up information at the time of the content request to perform streaming of the corresponding content data from the point of view. The content receiving unit 116 performs data communication through a communication network, and serves to receive content data streamed from the content providing server 200.

The content playing module 120 plays a role of playing back content data streamed and received through the content receiving module 110. The content playback module 120 includes a playback processor 122, a user manipulation unit 124, and the like. The reproduction processing unit 122 plays a role of allowing the user to view the content by reproducing the streamed content data. In other words, it plays a role in media play. The user operation unit 124 receives a user's operation during the reproduction processing of the content data and controls the reproduction of the content. Examples of content reproduction control processing according to the user's operation input include content reproduction start, end, pause, rewind, fast forward, chapter movement, volume control, sound control, screen control, subtitle setting, and the like.

The resume information management module 130 creates, archives, and manages the archived information of the contents. That is, the ear show information management module 130 includes an ear show information generating unit 132, an ear show information storage unit 134, and an ear show information management unit 136.

The subsequent viewing information generating unit 132 generates various kinds of information at the time when the streamed content is reproduced and stopped as subsequent viewing information. The ear show information storage unit 134 stores the ear show information or the ear show information previously generated or the ear show information shared and transmitted from another playback device. Here, the following information may be provided in plural, and one of them may be used by a user's selection. The ear show information management unit 136 manages the ear show information stored in the ear show information storage unit 134, extracts any one of the stored ear show information and transmits it to another playback device, or contents A process of transmitting, deleting, or changing the providing server 200 is performed. All of the processing of the retrieval information storage unit 136 is performed by a user's operation input.

The external communication module 140 is a direct communication means for directly connecting with another external content reproducing apparatus 100 to share ear show information such as transmitting or receiving ear show information. The external communication module 140 may include, for example, a short range wireless communication unit 142 or a short range direct connection unit 144. The short range wireless communication unit 142 is a wireless communication interface that enables wireless transmission of resume information data in a short range without a separate cable. Examples of the short range wireless communication interface include Bluetooth, infrared communication (IrDA), RFID, Wi-Fi, and ZigBee.

The short distance direct connection unit 144 is a short distance direct connection interface that enables data transmission by directly connecting a short distance device through a data cable and a data port. Examples of the short range direct connection interface include a USB interface, a serial communication interface, and a parallel communication interface.

As such, the streaming content reproducing apparatus 100 according to the present invention may be provided with an external communication module 140 so as to be directly connected to each other to share the following information. Therefore, if you need to go out while watching IPTV through the set-top box at home, you can interrupt the content you are watching to generate resume information, and connect the set-top box and the mobile device directly to display the resume information generated on the set-top box. Can be sent directly. Through this, when going out with a mobile device, it is possible to request a service for connecting to a content providing server by using the earing information directly received from the set-top box, and there is a convenience in that the user can continuously watch the content that was watched at home.

In addition, the earpiece information transmitted and shared between the devices may include various pieces of information as well as earpoint information of the content.

3 is a table showing an example of the resume information used in the streaming content playback device having a resume information sharing function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in Figure 3, the following information according to the present invention includes a variety of information. First, the following information may be stored and managed in plurality (# 001, # 002, etc.). Next, the following information includes content identification information for identifying content, and information on a playback time of the corresponding content. The content identification information is an identifier indicating the content that the user was watching. Usually, a file name or a content ID can be used. Next, the playback time information indicates information of the time when the user stopped playing the content. Usually, playback time information, playback frame information, or the like can be used.

In addition, various content reproduction setting information values at the time when the user stops watching may be included in the subsequent information. As shown in the figure, the reproduction setting information may include setting information at the time of various reproduction as items such as volume, sound, aspect ratio, subtitle, and the like. The volume and sound are the volume and sound information when the reproduction is stopped, and the aspect ratio and the subtitle are also the aspect ratio and subtitle information when the reproduction is stopped.

Due to the various kinds of replay information, the replay information is transmitted to other heterogeneous playback devices, so that when the content is replayed, all the setting information of the previously viewed content can be connected to the same environment. can do.

In addition, by creating, storing, and managing a plurality of replay information separately, the user can selectively use the replay information as needed, thereby enabling the user to receive a replay service according to various environments and conditions. To provide.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a procedure of performing a subsequent viewing in a heterogeneous playback apparatus in a streaming contents playback system having a subsequent viewing information sharing function according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

In this case, it is assumed that a user who receives and enjoys content through a set-top box continuously connects the content to the mobile terminal.

First, a user accesses a content providing server through a set top box, selects desired content, and requests a streaming of the selected content. At this time, the set-top box is connected to the content providing server through a wired or wireless communication network (S10).

In step S20, the content providing server performs a streaming process on the selected content data according to the streaming request to the corresponding set-top box.

Here, in the above two steps, the login, authentication and billing process may be further included.

The user stops the playback while watching and watching the content on the TV by playing the content streamed through the set-top box. This is a case where the user stops watching the content in the middle when the user needs to go out, go to bed, or do other work while watching the content (S30).

If the playback of the streamed content is interrupted according to the user's request, the set-top box proceeds with generating the resume information at the point of interruption. In this case, the resume information may be generated by including the identification information of the content to be suspended and the information of the time at which the content is stopped, as well as the reproduction environment information when the content is stopped (S40).

Next, since the user wants to continuously watch the contents through the portable terminal, a procedure of directly transmitting the ear piece information generated in the set-top box to the portable terminal is performed. At this time, a procedure of directly transmitting and processing succession information is performed through short-range wireless communication or short-range direct connection means.

After the resume information is transmitted from the set-top box to the portable terminal, the resume information is stored in the portable terminal, and the user accesses the content providing server according to the user's request and transmits the stored earview information to request the resume service. The procedure proceeds. (S60)

The content providing server analyzes the received earpiece information, extracts content identification information and playback timepoint information included in the earbuds information, and streams the content from the earbuds time point.

Therefore, the user can conveniently watch the content that he was watching through the set-top box at home through the portable terminal.

Although the present invention has been described above by means of limited embodiments and drawings, the present invention is not limited thereto and will be described below by the person skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. Of course, various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the claims.

The following drawings, which are attached to this specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and together with the detailed description of the present invention serve to further understand the technical spirit of the present invention, the present invention includes matters described in such drawings. It should not be construed as limited to.

1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a streaming content playback system having a sharing function of subsequent information according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an apparatus for playing streaming content having a function of sharing ear show information according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a table showing an example of the resume information used in the streaming content playback device having a resume information sharing function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a procedure of performing a subsequent viewing in a heterogeneous playback apparatus in a streaming contents playback system having a subsequent viewing information sharing function according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

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

100: content playback device 200: content providing server

300: wired and wireless communication network

Claims (10)

A content playback device that receives and plays content streamed from a content providing node, Content receiving means for connecting to a content providing node to transmit a content request signal and to receive the streamed content; Content reproducing means for reproducing the streamed and received content according to a user's operation input; Earbuds information management means for generating, storing, and managing earbuds information of the content; And And external communication means for directly connecting with another external content reproducing apparatus to transmit the rehearsal information. The method of claim 1, The external communication means, Streaming content playback device having a earbuds information sharing function comprising a short-range wireless communication interface and a short-range direct connection interface. The method of claim 2, The short range wireless communication interface, Streaming content playback device having a sharing function of the Ear Show information, characterized in that any one or a combination of Bluetooth, Infrared Communication (IrDA), RFID, Wi-Fi (WiFi), ZigBee (ZigBee). The method of claim 2, The short distance direct connection interface, Streaming content playback device having a earbuds information sharing function, characterized in that consisting of any one or a combination of a USB interface, a serial communication interface, a parallel communication interface. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The following information, Streaming content playback apparatus having a retrieval information sharing function, characterized in that it comprises any one or a combination of content identification information, content playback time information, content playback setting information. The method of claim 5, The content playback setting information, Streaming content playback device having a retrieval information sharing function, characterized in that any one or a combination of volume, sound, aspect ratio, subtitle information. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The content receiving means, A streaming content reproducing apparatus having a rehearsal information sharing function, wherein the rehearsal information stored in the rehearsal information management means is also transmitted when the content request signal is transmitted by a user's operation. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The following information management means, And reproducing information of the content reproduced by the content reproducing means by a user's operation and storing and managing the replay information in the storage area. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The following information management means, Streaming content reproducing apparatus having a retrieval information sharing function, characterized in that the retrieval information received through the external communication means is stored in the storage area. A streaming content playback system that provides streaming content through a wired or wireless communication network, receives and plays the streaming content. A content providing server for storing and managing content data, streaming content data to a terminal connected through a wired / wireless communication network, and when receiving a request for a subsequent view, streaming the content according to the subsequent view from the time of the subsequent viewing; And Play the streamed content, create, store, and manage the resume information, transmit the resume information with other content playback terminals through external communication means, and share the resume information at the time of request for content streaming. Streaming content playback system having a preview information sharing function comprising a; and a content playback terminal for requesting to continue watching.

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