KR20120070861A - Method and apparatus for syncronizing data in iptv virtualization system environment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A data synchronizing apparatus in an IPTV virtualization system environment and a method thereof are provided to sequentially process received input from a settop box. CONSTITUTION: A service process generating unit(110) generates a service process(111) corresponding to a connected STB(Set Top Box). A queuing buffer(120) stores a request received from the set top box by operation of the service process. An image processing unit(130) encodes a requested image in a format which is proper for the set top box. The service process stores the request in the queuing buffer.

Description

IPHIT AND APPARATUS FOR SYNCRONIZING DATA IN IPTV VIRTUALIZATION SYSTEM ENVIRONMENT}

The present invention relates to a data synchronization method and apparatus in a virtualization system environment, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for synchronizing data between a set-top box and a virtualization server in an IPTV virtualization system environment.

Typically, for IPTV application services to run, the set-top box downloads application files for the application service from the application server.

Recently, as the types of application services are diversified, there is a problem that it is difficult to perform large application services due to the limitation of the disk capacity and CPU processing ability to download and process from the set-top box.

Accordingly, a virtualization system has been proposed that can perform various application services with a minimum CPU performance by performing application services in a cloud method in a virtualization server and providing an interface in an emulation method in a client terminal.

However, when the virtualization system environment is applied to the IPTV system, when the user inputs data through the interface in the set-top box, a synchronization process between the virtualization server and the set-top box is required. It takes a certain amount of time (about 1 to 2 seconds) before it appears on the screen.

In this case, when the user's input is continued through the interface utilizing the function of the IPTV itself, the user is provided with a result that is completely different from the intended contents.

In addition, when synchronizing the image between the virtualization server and the set-top box as a result of the user input, there is a problem that the quality of the image output to the set-top box is greatly reduced.

In order to solve the above problems of the prior art, the present invention provides a method and apparatus that can sequentially process input received from the set-top box when synchronizing data between the virtualization server and the set-top box in the IPTV virtualization system. .

In addition, the present invention provides a method and apparatus that can maintain the output quality of an image when synchronizing an image between a virtualization server and a set-top box in an IPTV virtualization system.

The objects of the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned objects, and other objects not mentioned can be clearly understood from the following description.

In order to achieve the above object, in the IPTV virtualization system environment according to an aspect of the present invention, a virtualization server for synchronizing data with a set-top box, a service process for creating a service process corresponding to the set-top box, when the set-top box is connected A generation unit, when the service process includes a queuing buffer for storing a request received from the set-top box and an image request among the requests, encodes the requested image into a format suitable for the set-top box, An image processing unit for delivering to a service process, wherein the service process stores the request in the queuing buffer first in the order requested, and processes the request stored in the queuing buffer in the order in which the first stored.

In order to achieve the above object, a method of synchronizing data in an IPTV virtualization system environment including a set-top box and a virtualization server according to an aspect of the present invention (a) when the set-top box is connected, in the virtualization server, the set-top Creating a service process corresponding to the box; (b) if a user's request is received from the set-top box, storing the received request in a queuing buffer in the order of request at the virtualization server, and (c) the virtualization In the server, the requests stored in the queuing buffer are processed first in the order of storage, and if the image requests are included in the stored requests, the virtualization server encodes the requested images into a format suitable for the set-top box to the set-top box. And (d) in the set-top box, decode the image in the encoded format. And a step of displaying through the display device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG.

The present invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. It is provided to fully inform the owner of the scope of the invention.

According to one of the problem solving means of the data synchronization method and apparatus in the IPTV virtualization system environment of the present invention described above, when synchronizing data between the virtualization server and the set-top box, by sequentially processing the input received from the set-top box, Malfunction by input can be prevented.

In addition, when synchronizing images between the virtualization server and the set-top box in the IPTV virtualization system, the output quality of the images can be maintained at a constant level.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a system for synchronizing data in a virtualization system environment according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an apparatus for synchronizing data in an IPTV virtualization system environment according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a flowchart illustrating a data synchronization process in an IPTV virtualization system environment according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily carry out the present invention.

The present invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

In the drawings, parts irrelevant to the description are omitted in order to clearly describe the present invention, and like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the specification.

For reference, in the entire specification, when a part is "connected" to another part, it is not only "directly connected" but also "electrically connected" with another element in between. Also includes.

Also, when an element is referred to as "comprising ", it means that it can include other elements as well, without departing from the other elements unless specifically stated otherwise.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a system for synchronizing data in a virtualization system environment according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The system for synchronizing data according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a virtualization server 100 and a set-top box 200 which is a virtualization client terminal.

In describing each component, the virtualization server 100 generates a plurality of service processes for providing a service to the set-top box 200, and manages the plurality of service processes to be maintained at a predetermined number at all times.

In addition, each time the set-top box 200 is connected, the virtualization server 100 generates a service process so as to correspond to each set-top box 200 one-to-one (matching), and when the service is completed (that is, the set-top box 200). When the use of the service is terminated), the service process can be terminated.

For reference, the service process is a process of providing a service requested by the set-top box 200 by connecting to the set-top box 200. The service process is one-to-one matching with the set-top box 200, and the connection of the set-top box 200 is terminated. The service process is terminated and not reused.

In addition, the service process may receive a web page and an action request from the set-top box 200, execute directly in a lower web core module, and provide a result value.

For reference, in order to minimize the size in transmitting an image, the service process uses a chunk of 128 * 128 units in a full screen (up to 960 * 540) specialized for a display device (TV) connected to the set-top box 200. ), Each image chunk may be encoded into an 8-bit Portable Network Graphics (PNG) and transmitted to the set-top box 200.

If the entire screen (up to 960 * 540) specialized for the display device (TV) connected to the set-top box 200 is encoded into 8-bit PNG, the color depth may be degraded and the overall image output quality may be greatly reduced. As shown, by using an independent 8-bit color depth-based palette for each 128 * 128 chunk, it is possible to reduce the size of each image while maintaining a certain level of image quality.

In addition, the service process may generate a personal cookie used by the user when the user accesses each set-top box 200.

In addition, when the service process receives a web page request from the set-top box 200, the service process may retrieve a list of preset blocking sites and provide a predetermined alternative web page if the requested web page is included in the list of blocking sites. Can be.

In addition, when receiving a video viewer and file viewer request from the set-top box 200, the service process may transmit a corresponding address value or necessary content to a separate external companion device based on the request.

In this case, the service process may store and process the 'request' as described above in the form of 'que' received from the set-top box 200.

That is, by processing the request received from the set-top box 200 in a first-in, first-out manner, it is possible to prevent malfunction due to user input that may occur during the synchronization process between the virtual server and the set-top box. have.

Meanwhile, the set-top box 200 accesses the virtualization server 100 and transmits a request input by the user to the virtualization server 100, and responds to the request from the virtualization server 100, that is, responds to the request. Receive a UI (image, etc.) or content, and can be decoded and displayed on the display device (TV).

For example, when the user uses the widget service through the set top box 200, the set top box 200 receives an input of a specific key for using the widget service from the user (remote control), and the virtual server ( The widget service use request and the ID of the set-top box 200 are transmitted to 100.

Thereafter, the set-top box 200 receives a widget list matched with the ID of the set-top box 200 and raw image format information of the widget from the virtualization server 100, and decodes the image through the display device TV. Can be displayed.

Here, the raw image format information of the widget is divided into a full screen (up to 960 * 540) specialized for the display device (TV) connected to the set-top box 200 into image chunks of 128 * 128 units, and each image chunk. May include information encoded by 8-bit PNG (Portable Network Graphics).

Thereafter, the set-top box 200 requests a change value for the state of the widget to the virtualization server 100 at a predetermined time period, and receives a state change value of the widget from the virtualization server 100 to change the value for the corresponding widget. It may also reflect.

In addition, when a specific widget is selected by the user, the set-top box 200 transmits selection information about the corresponding widget and the ID of the set-top box to the virtualization server 100, and receives the execution result of the widget from the virtualization server 100. Can be displayed through the display device.

2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an apparatus for synchronizing data in an IPTV virtualization system environment according to an embodiment of the present invention.

An apparatus for synchronizing data in an IPTV virtualization system environment according to an embodiment of the present invention may be included in the virtualization server 100 shown in FIG. 1, and in the following, the virtualization server 100 may be configured to provide data in an IPTV virtualization system environment. Described as a device to synchronize.

The virtualization server 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a service process manager 110, a service process 111, a queuing buffer 120, and an image processor 130.

In describing each component, when the set-top box 200 connects to the virtualization server 100, the service process generating unit 110 corresponds to the service process 111 corresponding to the set-top box 200 connected to the virtualization server 100. )

For reference, when there are a plurality of set top boxes 200, the service process generating unit 110 may generate a service process 111 corresponding to each set top box 200 (that is, generate a plurality of service processes). .

In addition, when the service use of the set-top box 200 is terminated, the service process generating unit 110 may terminate the service process so that the predetermined number of service processes 111 may be always operated.

On the other hand, the service process 111 is generated in one-to-one correspondence with the set-top box 200, receives the user's request (input) from the set-top box 200, and provides a service corresponding to the received request.

Specifically, the service process 111 may receive a web page and action request from the set-top box 200, execute the request directly in a lower web core module, and provide a result value. .

In addition, the service process 111 may generate a personal cookie used by the user of the set-top box 200 when the set-top box 200 is connected.

In addition, when the service process 111 receives a web page request from the set-top box 200, the service process 111 retrieves a list of preset block sites, and if the requested web page is included in the list of blocked sites, the predetermined alternative web page. Can be provided.

In addition, when the service process 111 receives a video viewer and a file viewer request from the set-top box 200, the service process 111 may transmit a corresponding address value or necessary content to a separate external companion device based on the request.

In addition, when the service process 111 includes an image request among the requests received from the set-top box 200, the service process 111 transmits the image request to the image processor 130, and receives a processing result of the corresponding image from the image processor 130. The set top box 200 may transmit the data.

In addition, the service process 111 sequentially stores the above-described user request received from the set-top box 200 in the queuing buffer 120, and sequentially responds to the user request stored in the queuing buffer 120. It provides to the set-top box 200.

Meanwhile, the queuing buffer 120 stores a request of a user that the service process 111 receives from the set top box 200.

In this case, the queuing buffer 120 may store a request of the user in a first-in, first-out manner.

Meanwhile, the image processor 130 receives the request of the set-top box 200 related to image processing from the service process 111, captures an image corresponding to the request, and divides the image into chunks of 128 * 128 units. Each image chunk is encoded into an 8-bit PNG and transmitted to the service process 111.

2 refers to a hardware component such as software or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) or ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), and performs predetermined roles .

However, 'components' are not meant to be limited to software or hardware, and each component may be configured to be in an addressable storage medium or may be configured to reproduce one or more processors.

Thus, by way of example, an element may comprise components such as software components, object-oriented software components, class components and task components, processes, functions, attributes, procedures, Routines, segments of program code, drivers, firmware, microcode, circuitry, data, databases, data structures, tables, arrays, and variables.

Components and the functionality provided within those components may be combined into a smaller number of components or further separated into additional components.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a data synchronization process in an IPTV virtualization system environment according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, the flowchart of FIG. 3 will be described with reference to the components of the system shown in FIG. 1.

When the set top box 200 is connected, the virtualization server 100 generates a service process 111 corresponding to the set top box 200 (S301).

After the step S301, the virtualization server 100 receives a request input by the user from the set-top box 200, and stores it in the queuing buffer 120 (S302).

After step S302, the virtualization server 100 inquires the queuing buffer 120 and performs a request of the set-top box 200 stored in the queuing buffer in a first-in, first-out manner (S303).

Therefore, in the IPTV virtualization system environment, the user sets the set-top box 100 for a predetermined time (1 to 2 seconds) required for data synchronization between the virtualization server 100 and the set-top box 200 which is a virtualization client terminal. Even if another request is inputted through, the processing is performed in the order stored in the queuing buffer 120, thereby preventing malfunction.

After the step S303, the virtualization server 100 receives the service termination request from the set-top box 200, and terminates the service process 111 that operated in response to the set-top box 200 (S304).

The foregoing description of the present invention is intended for illustration, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention may be easily modified in other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features of the present invention. will be.

It is therefore to be understood that the above-described embodiments are illustrative in all aspects and not restrictive.

For example, each component described as a single entity may be distributed and implemented, and components described as being distributed may also be implemented in a combined form.

The scope of the present invention is shown by the following claims rather than the above description, and all changes or modifications derived from the meaning and scope of the claims and their equivalents should be construed as being included in the scope of the present invention. do.

100: virtualization server
110: service process generation unit
111: service process
120: queuing buffer
130: image processing unit
200: set top box

Claims (5)

A virtualization server for synchronizing data with a set-top box in an IPTV virtualization system environment,
A service process generating unit for generating a service process corresponding to the set top box when the set top box is connected;
A queuing buffer for storing a request received from the set top box by operation of the service process;
When the image request is included in the request, the image processing unit for encoding the requested image in a format suitable for the set-top box, and delivers the image to the service process
Including,
And the service process stores the request in the queuing buffer in the order requested first and processes the request stored in the queuing buffer in the order stored first.
The method of claim 1,
The service process generating unit generates the service process so that the service process and the connected set-top box correspond one-to-one.
The method of claim 1,
The image processing unit divides the requested image into image chunks of 128 * 128 units, and encodes each image chunk into 8-bit Portable Network Graphics (PNG).
In the method of synchronizing data in an IPTV virtualization system environment including a set-top box and a virtualization server,
(a) creating a service process corresponding to the set top box in the virtualization server when the set top box is connected;
(b) if the user's request is received from the set-top box, storing the received request in a queue in a queuing buffer in the virtualization server;
(c) In the mapping server, the requests stored in the queuing buffer are processed first in the order of storage, and when the image requests are included in the stored requests, the virtualization server encodes the requested images in a format suitable for the set-top box. Transmitting to the set top box by
(d) in the set-top box, decoding the image in the encoded format and displaying it on a display device;
Comprising a data synchronization method.
The method of claim 4, wherein
The step (c) divides the requested image into image chunks of 128 * 128 units and encodes each image chunk into 8bit Portable Network Graphics (PNG).

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