KR20110057446A - Media streaming server and method for managing media data in the server - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A media streaming server and media data management method thereof are provided to efficiently manage original media data and trans-coded media data and to minimize load due to media trans-coding. CONSTITUTION: In case optimum media data does not exist in media storage, a media managing unit(107) requests original media data to a trans-coder(109). The media managing unit streams trans-coded media data to a reproducing unit. The trans-coder transcodes original media data according to the request of the media managing unit. The trans-coder transfers media data to the media managing unit. The trans-coder stores media data information to the media storage.

Description

Media Streaming Server and Method for Managing Media Data in the Server

The present invention relates to a media streaming server, and more particularly, to a media streaming server capable of minimizing a load due to transcoding of real-time media data in a media streaming server capable of streaming media data that is optimal for the performance of a media player. And how this server manages media data.

The present invention is derived from the research conducted as part of the IT growth engine technology development of the Ministry of Knowledge Economy. [Task Management No.:2008-S-036-02, Title: Integrated u- for supporting One-Service-Cross-Domain] Service framework development (standardization association)].

In recent years, the proliferation of various kinds of playback devices has made the streaming of media data more complicated. In other words, there is a desire to play media data at the best quality by utilizing the capabilities of various media players.

This primary desire, as disclosed in Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2008-0011986, when a terminal transmits not only the media data information that the terminal wants to play but also the playback capability of the terminal to the streaming server, the streaming server may play back the playback capability of the terminal. This can be solved by converting (transcoding) the media data so as to fit the data to the terminal. However, this method has a problem in that it is limited in the processing power of the server or the number of concurrent users that can be supported due to the transcoding throughput that the streaming server needs to process in real time, compared to a relatively simple concept.

In order to minimize the load on the server due to such real-time transcoding, U.S. Patent Publication No. 2005-0246451 discloses a list of media players that can be connected later when new media is stored in a media library. Disclosed is a method of transcoding and storing original media in accordance with characteristics in advance, and transferring the transcoded media data to the media player when the media player is connected. In addition, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009-0019492 discloses that when a playback device receiving media data is first mirrored (copyed) to a remote storage, the remote storage generates and stores additional data converted (transcoded). Then, when the first playback device is connected, the copied data is transmitted to the corresponding playback device for playback, and when another playback device is connected, the converted data is transferred to the corresponding playback device and disclosed. However, since these two methods do not support real-time transcoding, the responsiveness to a new playback device is inferior, and there is a problem that unnecessary storage space is generated when the prediction of the type of terminal to be accessed in the future is wrong. Moreover, there is a problem in that it is difficult to apply a function such as location search, which is mainly used in media streaming, because a method for supporting partial transcoding is not proposed.

In addition, in Korean Patent No. 0870617, when transcoding content to a mobile communication terminal and transmitting the content, the transcoded content is stored in a cache by applying various cache management methods, and then the same content is stored in the subscriber's mobile communication terminal. In the case of transmission, a method is disclosed in which the transcoded content stored in the cache is transmitted, thereby efficiently reducing the load due to the repeated transcoding of the same content. In this method, however, the original content is stored and managed in a content database, and the transcoded data is stored and managed separately in a cache after transcoding the original content in a real-time transcoding device, thereby providing content provided to a playback device (terminal). Since it is possible to reduce the load of transcoding because it must be managed in duplicate, there is a problem causing a new management load.

Therefore, in streaming media data that is optimal for the performance of a media player, it is desirable to develop a technology capable of efficiently managing original media data and transcoded media data while minimizing the load caused by real-time media transcoding.

The present invention has been invented to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems and to meet the above-mentioned conventional requirements, and minimizes the load due to real-time media transcoding in streaming media data that is optimal for the performance of the media player. An object of the present invention is to provide a media streaming server having a transcoder capable of efficiently managing media data and transcoded media data, and a method of managing the media data of the server.

In order to achieve the above object, a media streaming server according to the present invention comprises: a media storage for tying and storing feature information and media data of media data together; Based on the characteristic information of the playback device received from the media player and the media information to be played, media data that is optimal for the media player is read from the media storage and streamed to the playback device. A media management unit for transcoding the original media data to the transcoder and streaming the transcoded media data to the playback device in real time if there is no; A transcoder for transcoding original media data in response to a request of the media manager to deliver transcoded media data in real time to the media manager, and grouping the transcoded media data with characteristic information of the transcoded media data and storing the transcoded media data in the media storage. It is characterized by including.

Here, the media management unit requests the transcoder to perform transcoding for each playback period desired by a playback device user, and then streams the transcoded media data to the playback device, and the transcoder only original media data for the requested section. At the same time as transcoding and bundled with the characteristic information of the transcoded media data and stored in the media storage.

In addition, the media manager periodically retrieves feature information of the media data stored in the media storage, and combines pieces of transcoded media data divided by playback intervals for the same original media data to form one transcoded media data. And store the information in the media storage by tying together the feature information of the transcoded media data.

Alternatively, the media manager may retrieve characteristic information of the media data stored in the media storage in response to the transcoded media data immediately after the streaming of the media data encoded by the media player is completed, and the same media data may be retrieved. In this case, one piece of transcoded media data may be generated by integrating pieces of transcoded media data, which are divided by playback sections, and may be stored together with the characteristic information of the transcoded media data and stored in the media storage.

Meanwhile, in order to achieve the above object, the media data management method of the media streaming server according to the present invention is optimal for the media playback apparatus based on the characteristic information of the playback apparatus received from the media playback apparatus and the desired media information. Retrieving in-media data from a media storage and streaming it to said playback device; A second step of transcoding original media data and streaming it to the playback apparatus when there is no optimal media data in the media storage in the streaming step; Tying the transcoded media data together with feature information of the transcoded media data and storing the transcoded media data in the media storage.

Here, the media data management method of the media streaming server according to the present invention periodically retrieves feature information of the media data stored in the media storage, and divides the transcoded pieces of media data that are divided by play intervals for the same original media data. Integrating to generate a single transcoded media data, and grouping the transcoded media data together with characteristic information of the transcoded media data to store in the media storage.

Alternatively, in the media data management method of the media streaming server according to the present invention, the media data stored in the media storage in response to the transcoded media data immediately after the streaming of the transcoded media data to the media player is completed. Search for feature information, combine pieces of transcoded media data divided by playback intervals for the same original media data to generate a single transcoded media data, and bundle it with the feature information of transcoded media data to store the media storage. It may further comprise the step of storing in.

Here, the feature information of the media data includes a representative name, format, codec, bit rate, resolution, start and end points of the media data.

In addition, the characteristic information of the playback apparatus includes the main processor information, the operating speed (frequency), the memory capacity, the graphics / audio chipset, the screen resolution, and the operating system information of the playback apparatus.

In addition, the media information to be played back includes a representative name of the media data desired by the playback apparatus user and a playback start point.

According to the present invention configured as described above, by reusing the media data once transcoded in the past, it is possible to minimize the load due to transcoding in a media streaming server having a real-time transcoding function and to support more concurrent users. In addition, the original media data and the transcoded media data are bundled and managed in the media storage, and a single intact transcoded media piece of transcoded media data having the same media playback information stored in the media storage is identical to the original media data. Data pieces can be consolidated, stored, managed, and deleted before being consolidated, enabling efficient management of media data.

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Here, the repeated description, well-known functions and configurations that may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention, and detailed description of the configuration will be omitted. Embodiments of the present invention are provided to more completely describe the present invention to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the shape and size of elements in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity.

Hereinafter, a media streaming server and a media data management method of the server will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the media streaming server 105 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of media playback devices 101 to 103 and wired / wireless networks 104 having various shapes / uses / performances. Is connected through.

Each of the media player devices 101 to 103 transmits feature information of the media player devices 101 to 103 together with the user or server subscriber information to the media server 105 when connected to the media streaming server 105.

At this time, the feature information of the media playback apparatuses 101 to 103 includes information related to media playback capability, and includes main processor information, operation speed (frequency), memory capacity, graphics / audio chipset, screen resolution, operating system information, and the like. Include.

The user or server subscriber information is transmitted to the subscriber management unit 110 through the network interface 106 of the media streaming server 105 for user authentication, and the media player feature information is transferred to the media management unit 107.

The media manager 107 searches the media storage 108 for the optimal media data that can be reproduced by the media player 101 to 103 with reference to the received media player feature information.

At this time, if there is suitable media data, the media manager 107 reads the media data from the media storage 108 and streams the media data to the media playback apparatuses 101 to 103. If no proper media data exists in the media storage 108, the media manager 107 requests the transcoder 109 to transcode the requested media data source.

The transcoder 109 transcodes the original media data in real time according to a request of the media manager 107 and transmits the original media data to the media manager 107, and simultaneously transmits the transcoded media data together with the characteristic data of the media. 108).

The media data transcoded by the transcoder 109 is streamed to the media playback devices 101 to 103 through the media manager 107 and the network interface 106.

Next, a method of storing and managing transcoded data for different types of playback devices will be described with reference to FIG. 2.

The characteristic information of the media data includes a name that can represent the media data, playback information for playing the media data, and basic attributes of the media data.

That is, the representative name is a name that can be accessed by multiple media players for one media data source, and information for reproducing media data includes a format, a codec, a bit rate, a resolution, and the like of the media data. It includes. In addition, the basic attributes of the media data include the start and end points of the media data.

In the present invention, by storing the above characteristics of the media data in the media storage 108 together with the original or transcoded media data, media data suitable for media playback devices can be classified and streamed.

For example, if three types of playback devices having different playback capabilities are referred to as playback device A (101), playback device (B 102), and playback device (C 103), one original media data is referred to as respective playback devices. When played back at 101 to 103, media data having three kinds of different playback characteristics are required. Since these data can be grouped into one representative name, they can have a common representative name, and the representative name is used as the main tag 201. On the other hand, since the same representative name but different playback information and media attributes exist for each of the playback apparatuses 101 to 103, the information is used as the subtags 202, 204, and 206, and each sub tag 202, 204, 206 is actually used. Pair with the transcoded media data 203, 205, 207. One media data is stored in the media storage 108 in association with the primary / subtag configured as above.

The media data stored in the media storage 108 may be organized in a logical configuration as shown in FIG. 2, and the media manager 107 searches for the main tags 201 with the representative name of the media data requested by the playback device. Determine if it exists. Thereafter, the media playback capability of the media playback apparatus is compared with the information stored in each subtag 202, 204, 206 to determine whether there is optimal media data that can be actually played back on the playback apparatus. If the optimal media data exists, the media data (that is, one of 203, 205, 207) is selected and streamed to the media player. If the media data does not exist, the transcoder 109 is used to generate a new playback characteristic. Has a newly created primary / subtag, media data bundle and is stored in media storage 108.

Next, a method of transcoding and storing and managing media data for each playback section will be described with reference to FIGS. 3A to 3C.

First, as shown in FIG. 3A, the original media M stored in the media storage 108 of the media streaming server 105 is a main tag 301 for storing a representative name according to the media storage method, and playback information of the original data. And a subtag 302 for storing attribute information, and a bundle of original media data 303.

As shown in FIG. 3B, three playback devices (playback device A1, playback device A2, and playback device A3) having the same playback performance with respect to the original media M configured as described above are used. Let's look at the case of streaming and playing.

If there is a request for playback of the media M from the playback device A1, the media management unit 107 requests transcoding from the transcoder 109 to the original media M of the media storage 108, and the transcoder 109 thus requests the original media. Transcode the data in real time and deliver it to the media management unit 107 for streaming to the playback device A1. At the same time, the transcoded media data is characterized by the characteristic data of the media, that is, playback information A and attribute information (starting time t1). In the media storage 108 together with the end time t3).

In addition, if there is a request for playback of the media M from the playback device A2, the media management unit 107 requests transcoding from the transcoder 109 to the original media M of the media storage 108, and accordingly the transcoder 109 Transcode the original media data in real time and deliver it to the media management unit 107 for streaming to the playback device A2. At the same time, the transcoded media data is characterized by the characteristic data of the media, that is, the playback information A and the attribute information (starting). In the media storage 108 together with the time point t4 and the end time t6).

In addition, if there is a request for playback of the media M from the playback device A3, the media management unit 107 requests transcoding from the transcoder 109 for the original media M of the media storage 108, and accordingly the transcoder 109 Transcode the original media data in real time and deliver it to the media management unit 107 for streaming to the playback device A3. At the same time, the transcoded media data is characterized by the characteristic data of the media, that is, the playback information A and the attribute information (starting). In the media storage 108 together with the time point t2 and the end time t6).

As such, the transcoded media data for each section has the same representative name (media M) and playback information (i.e., A), but different attribute information (i.e., start and end points of media data). . Here, the start and end time points of the media data may vary according to the format of the media data, and the image frame number or time may be used. As shown in FIG. 3C, the three different subtags 304, 306, 308 and the corresponding media data 305, 307, 309, respectively, generated as described above are paired with each other and have the same representation as the original media data 303. It is sorted under the name (media M).

Next, an operation of managing the transcoded media data pieces stored in the media storage will be described with reference to FIG. 4.

First, the media management unit 107 of the media streaming server 105 periodically searches for transcoded media data for each media representative name (i.e., main tag) stored in the media storage 108 (step S11).

In the search, the media manager 107 checks whether there are a plurality of transcoded media data pieces having the same media presentation information in the same media representative name (step S12).

If it is determined in step S12 that there are a plurality of transcoded media data pieces having the same media presentation information, the media management unit 107 checks the attribute information and combines the plurality of transcoded media data pieces to obtain the total number of pieces. Check if it can be reduced (step S13).

If it is determined in step S13 that a plurality of transcoded media data can be integrated, the media management unit 107 integrates a plurality of pieces of transcoded media data, and a subtag having playback information and attribute information corresponding thereto. And store the transcoded media data newly integrated with this subtag in association with the media representative name (ie, main tag), and delete the fragments before the merge.

For example, analyzing the transcoded media data fragments 305, 307, 309 having the same media playback information in FIG. 3C, the first data fragment 305 can be partially integrated with the last data fragment 309 and the second data. Piece 307 is capable of some integration with the last data piece 309. If all three pieces of data (305, 307, 309) are present, ultimately all pieces can be integrated to form a single piece of media data identical to the original. In this case, the media management unit 107 integrates respective pieces of media data pieces 305, 307 and 309 to generate one transcoded media data 311 as shown in FIG. It is bundled with the tag 310 and stored in the media storage 108. Storing one complete transcoded media data bundle 310, 311 deletes all existing fragmented media data fragments 305, 307, 309 and their subtags 304, 306, 308 from the media storage 108.

On the other hand, the integration of the data fragments can be applied even if the result does not necessarily constitute one complete media data 311 transcoded, for example, the second data fragment 307 and the last data fragment 309. If only) are present, merging the two pieces (resultingly the same as the last data piece 309) minimizes the total number of pieces of media data to manage.

Meanwhile, in the above-described embodiment, the media manager periodically integrates pieces of transcoded media data for each media representative name (ie, main tag) stored in the media storage, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Immediately after the end of streaming of transcoded media data, search for fragments of transcoded media data against the media representative name (i.e., main tag) stored in the media store corresponding to the transcoded media data and merge the fragments. The solution is to minimize the total number of media data fragments.

As described above, according to the present invention, by reusing media data once transcoded in the past, a media streaming server having a real-time transcoding function can be minimized to support more simultaneous users.

According to the present invention, the original media data and the transcoded media data are bundled and managed in the media storage, and the integrated storage management is performed so that the total number of pieces of transcoded media data having the same media playback information in the media storage is minimized. Deleting the integrated pieces enables efficient management of media data.

Some steps of the invention may be embodied as computer readable code on a computer readable recording medium. Computer-readable recording media include all kinds of recording devices that store data that can be read by a computer system. Examples of computer-readable recording media may include ROM, RAM, CD-ROM, CD-RW, magnetic tape, floppy disk, HDD, optical disk, magneto-optical storage, and the like. , Transmission over the Internet). The computer readable recording medium can also be distributed over network coupled computer systems so that the computer readable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion.

As described above, the best embodiment has been disclosed in the drawings and the specification. Although specific terms have been used herein, they are used only for the purpose of describing the present invention and are not used to limit the scope of the present invention as defined in the meaning or claims. Therefore, those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and equivalent other embodiments are possible from this. Therefore, the true technical protection scope of the present invention will be defined by the technical spirit of the appended claims.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a media streaming server according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a logical configuration for storing and managing original media data and transcoded media data in the media storage of FIG. 1.

3A to 3C are diagrams for explaining a logical configuration of original media data and transcoded media data stored in a media storage in response to a streaming request of a media player having the same feature information.

4 is a flow diagram illustrating the management of transcoded media data pieces stored in the media repository of FIG.

FIG. 5 illustrates a logical configuration after integrating the transcoded media data fragments according to the flow of FIG. 4 with respect to the original media data and the transcoded media data having the storage management configuration of FIG. 3C.

<Description of Symbols for Main Parts of Drawings>

101 ~ 103: Media player 104: Wired / wireless network

105: media streaming server 106: network interface

107: media management unit 108: media storage

109: transcoder 110: subscriber management unit

Claims (13)

A media storage for tying and storing characteristic information of the media data and the media data together; Based on the characteristic information of the playback device received from the media player and the media information to be played, media data that is optimal for the media player is read from the media storage and streamed to the playback device. A media management unit for transcoding the original media data to the transcoder and streaming the transcoded media data to the playback device in real time if there is no; And A transcoder for transcoding original media data in response to a request of the media manager to deliver transcoded media data in real time to the media manager, and grouping the transcoded media data with characteristic information of the transcoded media data and storing the transcoded media data in the media storage. Media streaming server, characterized in that it comprises. The method according to claim 1, The media management unit requests the transcoder to perform transcoding for each playback section desired by a media player, and then streams the transcoded media data to the player, The transcoder transcodes the original media data only for the requested section and simultaneously stores the original media data together with the characteristic information of the transcoded media data and stores them in the media storage. The method according to claim 1, The media manager periodically retrieves feature information of the media data stored in the media storage, integrates pieces of transcoded media data divided by playback intervals for the same original media data, together with the feature information of the transcoded media data. Bundling and storing in the media storage. The method according to claim 1, The media management unit retrieves the characteristic information of the media data stored in the media storage in response to the transcoded media data immediately after the streaming of the transcoded media data to the media player, and for each playback period for the same original media data. Integrating the divided pieces of transcoded media data and grouping the pieces of transcoded media data together with the characteristic information of the transcoded media data and storing them in the media storage. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, And the characteristic information of the media data includes at least one of a representative name, a format, a codec, a bit rate, a resolution, and a start and end point of the media data. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The characteristic information of the playback device includes at least one of main processor information, operating speed (frequency), memory capacity, graphics / audio chipset, screen resolution, and operating system information of the playback device. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The media information to be played includes a representative name of a media data desired by a user of a playback device and a start point of playback. Searching for media data that is optimal for the media playback apparatus in a media storage based on the feature information of the playback apparatus received from the media playback apparatus and the media information desired for playback, and streaming the media data to the playback apparatus; Transcoding original media data and streaming it to the playback device when there is no optimal media data in the media storage in the streaming step; And And binding the transcoded media data together with the characteristic information of the transcoded media data and storing the transcoded media data in the media storage. The method according to claim 8, Periodically retrieve feature information of media data stored in the media storage, combine pieces of transcoded media data divided by playback intervals for the same original media data, and bundle them together with feature information of transcoded media data. And storing the data in the media streaming server. The method according to claim 8, Immediately after the streaming of the transcoded media data to the media player, the feature information of the media data stored in the media storage is retrieved in response to the transcoded media data, and the same original media data is divided for each playback section and trans Incorporating pieces of coded media data and grouping the pieces of coded media data together with feature information of transcoded media data to store in the media storage. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 10, The characteristic information of the media data may include at least one of a representative name, a format, a codec, a bit rate, a resolution, a start and an end point of the media data. . The method according to any one of claims 8 to 10, The characteristic information of the playback apparatus includes at least one of main processor information, operating speed (frequency), memory capacity, graphics / audio chipset, screen resolution, and operating system information of the playback apparatus. How to manage media data. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 10, The media information desired to be played includes a representative name of a media data desired by a user of a playback device and a starting point of a playback of the media streaming server.

Images