KR20110060552A - Media file access method in television - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A media file access method in a TV is provided to offer a user interface for the convenient use of media files at various locations. CONSTITUTION: A TV searches reproducible media files through connection to a designated Internet site(S115). The TV groups the searched media files(S120). The TV allocates a first channel number or a second channel number to the searched media files and groups thereof(S125). If the first channel number is for the group of the media file, the TV displays the media files within a group corresponding to the first channel number and a channel number thereof(S145,S150).

Description

[0002] MEDIA FILE ACCESS METHOD IN TELEVISION [0003]

The present invention relates to a method of accessing media files on a television.

Along with the rapid development of science and technology, the multimedia and the field of combining various kinds of information such as video and audio, the information storage and existence forms are being digitized from analogue in the rapid development of information and communication. Since the size of digital image data is gradually decreased due to the development of MPEG (Moving Picture Exports Group) technology, which is a compression standard for moving image data for compressing digitized image data requiring a relatively large amount of data, Digital video and audio services have been gradually applied to almost all fields such as home appliances and communication, and digital devices have been introduced to provide such services.

Among them, TV has an important place as an easy and effective information delivery medium in everyday life. By compressing and transmitting video data and audio data by MPEG technology, it is possible to transmit a large amount of information more quickly and stably With the advent of digital TVs that can be provided, more and more broadcasts can be easily viewed at home with clearer picture quality and voice.

In recent years, the development of television continues to provide contents of new fields in addition to the broadcasting program regeneration services that have been provided. The menu becomes complicated and the number of the remote control keys increases, and the usage method and the configuration of the user interface screen are diversified.

However, in the case of a television interface, unlike a mobile phone interface, a user tends to be familiar with an interface that has been used previously and to avoid a sudden change in the interface format.

In particular, recent IPTVs and the like are able to surf the web on a television or access content provided on an Internet site.

However, since the Internet is a completely different method than the reproduction of the television broadcast, it is general that the interface for accessing various Internet contents has a completely different structure from the interface provided by the conventional TV. In addition, various Internet contents have individual user interfaces.

As a result, the user is reluctant to enjoy the internet contents, and this is particularly serious in the case of contents intended for playback on the television, such as Internet broadcasting.

The present invention seeks to provide a media file access method on a television which can be conveniently used by a user.

A media file access method in a television according to an aspect of the present invention includes: accessing a designated Internet site; Searching media files reproducible on the television at the connected Internet site; Grouping the searched media files according to a specified rule; Assigning a channel number to the searched media files and their groups; And inputting a channel number according to a user's operation, and executing a media file corresponding to the inputted channel number.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of accessing a media file on a television, the method comprising: searching media files reproducible on a television in a designated repository, or searching media files for an additional function provided on a television; Grouping the searched media files according to a specified rule; Assigning a channel number to the searched media files and their groups; And inputting a channel number according to a user's operation, and executing a media file corresponding to the inputted channel number.

According to the method of accessing a media file of the present invention according to the above configuration, there is an advantage that a user interface that allows a user to conveniently use media files existing in various locations.

For example, a URL of the Internet can be assigned to a Virtual Channel and managed in the same manner as an existing Air channel.

For example, EMF, DVR and other extended functions can be assigned to Virtual Channels and managed in the same way as existing Air Channels.

For example, Internet content and extended functions can be provided using functions familiar to the general TV user such as Auto Scan, EPG, preferred channel, channel editing, channel browser, and the like.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, an IPTV receiver performing the above-described operation will be described as follows. 4 is an exemplary block diagram of an IPTV receiver to which the concepts of the present invention may be applied.

The receiver includes a network interface 1201, an IP manager 1202, a conditional access system (CAS) / digital rights management (DRM) unit 1203, a service delivery manager 1203, A demultiplexer 1205, an audio / video decoder 1206, a display apparatus 1207, a controller 1208, and a storing apparatus. (1214).

The network interface unit 1201 connects a receiver with a network in order to service a series of contents, and can receive or transmit packets through the connected network.

The IP manager 1202 can participate in the delivery of the packets received from the source network to the destination network through packets or packets transmitted through the connected network. That is, the packets can be classified to correspond to an appropriate protocol.

The CAS / DRM unit 1203 takes charge of functions related to the restriction of the reception of the service relating to the series and digital rights management.

That is, the CAS / DRM unit 1203 receives a packet received from the network connected through the network interface unit 1201 with respect to the service related to the series through the IP manager 1202, Any restrictions on digital rights management can be lifted. In other words, the CAS / DRM unit 1203 is responsible for accessing or controlling the redirection of received packets.

The service delivery manager 1204 is responsible for handling real-time streaming data. At this time, RTP / RTCP can be used for an MPEG-2 transport stream. That is, the MPEG-2 packets are encapsulated in RTP. Accordingly, the service delivery manager 1204 parses the RTP packets and transmits the encapsulated MPEG-2 packets to the demultiplexing unit 1205. [ Or service delivery manager 1204 may send feedback on the quality of network reception using RTCP. At this time, the MPEG-2 transport packets can be directly transmitted to UDP without RTP.

The demultiplexing unit 1205 demultiplexes the audio, video and reproduction control information from the received transport stream packets.

At this time, the demultiplexer 1205 demultiplexes the reproduction control information under the control of the reproduction control information decoder, and demultiplexes the audio / video transmission packets under the control of the channel manager 1209. The demultiplexing unit 1205 transmits the demultiplexed reproduction control information to the reproduction control information decoder 1210.

The audio / video decoder 1206 receives and processes the demultiplexed audio / video packets from the demultiplexer 1205.

The display unit 1207 receives and displays the audio / video signal processed by the audio / video decoder 1206.

The control unit 1208 supports a graphic user interface (GUI) on the display unit for the user and receives a user's input through an external input device such as a remote controller or a front panel, In the case of selection, the input is transmitted to the channel manager 1209. Also, the application control unit 1208 may control the key states of the entire system of the receiver or may store the setting data in the storage unit 1214.

The tuner 1310 is for tuning digital and / or analog broadcast signals transmitted in the air or over a wired cable.

The controller 1208 controls a boot flow according to on / off of the power of the receiver system and stores a ROM image including a downloaded software image And can write or store data in the unit 1214.

The system storage unit 1214 stores set-up data and the like for the system. A nonvolatile random access memory (NVRAM) or a flash memory may be used as the storage unit.

The storage medium 1216 temporarily stores a signal transmitted from the demultiplexing unit 1205 or the audio / video decoder 1206 and transmits the temporarily stored signal to the demultiplexing unit 1205 or the audio / video decoder 1206 do. At this time, the storage medium 1216 writes data from the received signal under the control of the storage medium control unit 1215, stores the signal, and provides the demultiplexed data to the demultiplexer 1205.

The system storage unit 1214 and the storage medium 1216 can be divided into a single storage unit and the system storage unit 1214 and the storage medium 1216 are distinguished from each other. .

If the channel number inputted by the user through the remote controller or the like is a channel number assigned to a general broadcasting station, the controller 1208 tunes a signal corresponding to the channel number and reproduces the corresponding broadcasting program. On the other hand, when the channel number input by the user through the remote controller or the like is for a group of media files or a media file according to the idea of the present invention, an action according to the present invention is performed.

2 shows a method of accessing media files reproducible on a television stored on a designated Internet site of a television by assigning a channel number to the media files.

The method of accessing a media file according to the present invention comprises the steps of: (S110) accessing a designated Internet site; Retrieving media files reproducible on the television at the connected Internet site (S115); Grouping the searched media files according to a specified rule (S120); Allocating a first channel number or a second channel number to the searched media files and the groups (S125); Receiving a first channel number through a remote controller operated by a user (S140); If the first channel number is for the group of the media file (S145), displaying the media files belonging to the group corresponding to the first channel number and the channel number thereof (S150); A step (S155) of accepting a second channel number through a remote controller operated by a user; And if the second channel number is for the displayed media file (S160), executing the media file to which the second channel number is allocated (S180).

The designated Internet site is a site that can be accessed with a predetermined URL address, and may have security procedures such as subscriber confirmation. In this case, the step S110 may include performing security procedures such as the subscriber identification.

The media files that can be reproduced in step S115 may be downloaded to the television from the connected Internet site, and step S180 may include downloading the media file to which the second channel number is allocated.

The rules for grouping the searched media files in step S120 may be variously applied. For example, when a plurality of Internet sites are searched in step S110, a main channel number (first channel number) is assigned to each of the Internet sites, and sub-channel numbers (Second channel number) can be assigned.

Alternatively, the media files searched in step S110 may be classified according to the file type, a main channel number (first channel number) may be assigned to the classified file type, and sub-channel numbers (Second channel number) can be assigned.

2, the user can input the main channel number (first channel number) first (S140) and then input the subchannel number (second channel number) (S140), as shown in the figure. On the other hand, the main channel number and the subchannel number are continuously inputted, so that each media file can be accessed immediately. In this case, steps S145 to S160 are omitted, and step S180 may be performed.

In order to implement the media file access method shown in FIG. 1, a service (serving as a media file) provided by an Internet site in an Internet content format is converted into URL information (PAT) And can provide Video, Audio, and EPG information in the same manner as that managed by a general channel.

For example, as shown in Table 1 below, the URL Descriptor may be added to existing broadcast information to map the PID (Program Identification) information to 1: 1 and operate the same as PID. In this case, all broadcasting standards can receive information by URL instead of PID while maintaining their own information attributes.

syntax No . of bits Format Descriptor_tag 8 Assigned at standard registration Descriptor_length 8 uimsbf reserved 3 '111' Number_of_URL 5 uimsbf for (I = 0; I <number_of_URL; i ++) {               url_length 8 uimsbf               url_name there               reserved 16 '11111111111111111' }

number_of_URL:

- unsigned 5 bit interger in the range 1 to 16

- number of url information

url_length:

- length (in bytes) of url_text

- value 0 is no field

url_name: URL information of the trailer video file managed by the station

In other words, it is possible to receive Video / Audio etc. from a URL instead of a PID in a PMT, receive broadcast information such as EIT and ETT from a URL instead of a PID, and even a service requiring a large bandwidth such as Data Broadcasting . In this case, the bandwidth problem of the broadcasting standard can be solved only by replacing the PID with the URL without adding a completely new interface or protocol.

It is possible to provide a channel operation method of a general TV that is already familiar to a user and to operate it without needing to provide a new user interface for various kinds of Internet broadcasting, VOD service and the like as described above. Then, the service such as VOD provided by the Internet can be used as a familiar channel change interface without feeling the difference from the general TV channel in terms of the general user.

FIG. 3 illustrates a method of accessing media files with additional functions provided by a television and / or media files reproducible in a designated storage unit.

The illustrated media file access method includes: searching media files reproducible on a television in a designated repository, or searching media files for an additional function provided on a television (S116); Grouping the searched media files according to a specified rule (S121); Allocating a first channel number or a second channel number to the searched media files and the groups (S126); Receiving a first channel number through a remote controller operated by a user (S141); If the first channel number is for the group of the media file (S146), displaying the media files belonging to the group corresponding to the first channel number and the channel number thereof (S151); And receiving a second channel number through a remote controller operated by a user (S156); And if the second channel number is for the displayed media file (S161), executing the media file to which the second channel number is allocated (S181).

As the storage designated in step S116, an internal memory space of a television receiver or a set-top box can be applied, and an external storage device including a nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory can be applied.

The rules for grouping the searched media files in step S121 may be variously applied. For example, a structure in which media files are stored in a plurality of folders (or directories) can be grouped based on the plurality of folders (or directories). In this case, a main channel number (first channel number) is assigned to each folder (or directory), and a subchannel number (second channel number) is assigned to each media file stored in each folder have. In this case, as shown in the figure, the user first inputs the main channel number (S140), and then inputs the subchannel number (S140). On the other hand, the main channel number and the subchannel number are continuously inputted, so that each media file can be accessed immediately. In this case, steps S145 to S160 are omitted, and step S180 may be performed.

For example, it is possible to manage a folder by allocating a main channel number (first channel number) for each folder of a storage device such as a USB storage. More specifically, each cell of the EPG for the USB JPEG channel can display a thumbnail of the JPEG image contained in the USB, or USB MP3 and Divx can display a thumbnail for each cell of the EPG in the same manner.

When the emphasis is placed on the additional function, in step S116, a main channel number (first channel number) may be assigned as a virtual channel to a function added to the television (including Internet Contents).

Alternatively, the user can scan the additional functions built in the TV after the general TV scan in the case of the auto scan, allocate the main channel number to each additional function, and register the channel in the channel map. In this case, the user can enter the additional function by the channel switching operation.

EPG information can also display summary information of additional functions in addition to general channel information.

As described above, when a main channel number is allocated to a specific additional function, the sub channel number can be mapped to the internal contents of the additional function.

For example, when 800 main channel numbers are allocated to the USB MP3 function itself and subchannel numbers are assigned to internal mp3 files, the user can achieve the same effect as the Audio Only channel by only changing the channel for the main channel number have. Here, the name of the subchannel to which the subchannel number is allocated may be a file name of mp3. On the other hand, if the number of files is large and can not be expressed by the given subchannel numbers, it can be extended to a scheme of allocating two main channel numbers.

The media file access method shown in FIG. 2 or FIG. 3 can also be applied to various subsidiary functions provided for channels in the television.

For example, the user can register the channel number of the frequently used function (which may be a combination of the main channel number and the sub channel number) in the preferred channel.

In addition, the function can be processed in the same manner as a general channel through the channel editing and the channel browser.

In addition, a rating and a channel lock function can be applied in the same manner as a general channel.

It is to be noted that the technical idea of the present invention has been specifically described in accordance with the above preferred embodiment, but the above-mentioned embodiments are intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. In addition, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various embodiments are possible within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention.

For example, a media file access method in a television of another embodiment may include both the configuration of the embodiment of FIG. 2 and the configuration of the embodiment of FIG. In this case, the description of each constituent element can be inferred from the description of FIG. 2 and the description of FIG. 3, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a television capable of performing a media file access method according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

2 is a flow diagram illustrating a media file access method in a television according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a flow chart illustrating a media file access method in a television according to another embodiment of the present invention;

Claims (9)

Accessing a designated Internet site; Searching media files reproducible on the television at the connected Internet site; Grouping the searched media files according to a specified rule; Assigning a channel number to the searched media files and their groups; And Receiving a channel number according to a user's operation, and executing a media file for the input channel number &Lt; / RTI &gt; The method according to claim 1, Wherein the assigning of the channel number assigns a first channel number or a second channel number to the searched media files and the groups, Receiving a channel number according to an operation of the user and executing a media file corresponding to the input channel number, Receiving a first channel number through a remote controller operated by a user; Displaying media files belonging to a group corresponding to the channel number and a channel number thereof if the first channel number is for the group of the media file; Receiving a second channel number through a remote controller operated by a user; And Executing the media file to which the second channel number is allocated if the second channel number is for the displayed media file, &Lt; / RTI &gt; 3. The method of claim 2, In the step of allocating the searched media files and the channel numbers to the groups, Assigning the first channel number to each of a plurality of searched Internet sites and assigning the second channel number to each media file that can be downloaded from each internet site. 3. The method of claim 2, In the step of allocating the searched media files and the channel numbers to the groups, A media file in a television for classifying the searched media files according to the file type, allocating the first channel number to the classified file type, allocating the second channel number to each media file belonging to one file type, Approach. Retrieving media files reproducible on a television from a designated repository, or retrieving media files for an additional function provided on a television; Grouping the searched media files according to a specified rule; Assigning a channel number to the searched media files and their groups; And Receiving a channel number according to a user's operation, and executing a media file for the input channel number &Lt; / RTI &gt; The method according to claim 1, Wherein the assigning of the channel number assigns a first channel number or a second channel number to the searched media files and the groups, Receiving a channel number according to an operation of the user and executing a media file corresponding to the input channel number, Receiving a first channel number through a remote controller operated by a user; Displaying media files belonging to a group corresponding to the channel number and a channel number thereof if the first channel number is for the group of the media file; Receiving a second channel number through a remote controller operated by a user; And Executing the media file to which the second channel number is allocated if the second channel number is for the displayed media file, &Lt; / RTI &gt; The method according to claim 6, In the step of allocating the searched media files and the channel numbers to the groups, If the media files are stored in a plurality of folders (or directories) of the storage, the first channel number is assigned to each folder (or directory), and the first channel number is assigned to each of the media files stored in each folder And assigning a second channel number to the media file. The method according to claim 6, In the step of allocating the searched media files and the channel numbers to the groups, Assigning the first channel number to the additional function and assigning the second channel number to the inner content of the additional function. 6. The method of claim 5, Prior to grouping the searched media files according to the specified rule, Accessing a designated Internet site; And Searching media files reproducible on the television at the connected Internet site Further comprising the steps of:

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