KR20130110660A - Method for providing contents search and digital media player for performing the same, and home network system on based dlna - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A method and a device are provided to search content existing in multiple digital media servers comprehensively on a wire network or a wireless network which shares the content, and an integrated search list is provided to have a content directory structure which classifies the content according to a predetermined classification standard. CONSTITUTION: A method for providing a content integrated search comprises the following steps: a step (S10) aims to receive an integrated search mode signal instructing to search content existing in at least one DMS; a step (S20) aims to request information about the content which at least one DMS holds to at least one DMS; and steps (S30,S40) aim to provide an integrated search list having a content directory structure according to a predetermined classification standard based on information about the content received from at least one DMS. [Reference numerals] (AA) Start; (BB) End; (S10) Receive an integrated search mode signal; (S20) Request information about the contents to DMS; (S30) Generate an integrated search list based on information about the received contents; (S40) Provide a content result list corresponding to the search request by searching the integrated search list when the request for searching a content is received

Description

METHOD FOR PROVIDING CONTENTS SEARCH AND DIGITAL MEDIA PLAYER FOR PERFORMING THE SAME, AND HOME NETWORK SYSTEM ON BASED DLNA}

The present invention relates to a method for providing a content integrated search, and a method for providing a content integrated search, a digital media player for performing the same, and a DLNA-based home network system.

The Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) standardization has been ongoing until recently to establish guidelines that must be followed for interoperability among various devices in the home / office and to verify compliance with the guidelines. DLNA enables the interoperability of various devices such as digital AV devices or personal computers connected to the home network so that content such as music, moving pictures, still pictures, images, and text can be shared among various devices in the home network. To help.

DLNA certified devices in the home network are compatible with each other through wired and wireless networks. In other words, DLNA is based on Universal Plug and Play (UPnP), allowing digital devices such as home appliances, PCs, and wireless devices from different manufacturers to access and share content through wired and wireless home networks.

Based on the characteristics of the DLNA, the content can be shared between DLNA authentication terminals. For example, a DLNA authentication terminal such as a digital media player (DMP) may receive content from DLNA authentication terminals (eg, digital media servers) storing content and play the content.

In this case, in order to provide desired contents among the contents shared among DLNA certified terminals, a conventional digital media player repeatedly accesses all digital media servers that have been DLNA certified until they discover the desired contents. Search for content stored on servers.

Thus, there is a need for a method that can collectively retrieve content stored in all digital media servers without having to access each digital media server individually.

Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 10-2001-0107803

The present invention provides a method and apparatus that can collectively search for content present in multiple digital media servers over a wired or wireless network that can share content.

The present invention provides an integrated search list having a content directory structure in which content existing in a plurality of digital media servers on a wired or wireless network capable of sharing content is classified according to a predetermined classification criterion.

One embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for interworking with at least one DMS (Digital Media Server) and providing an integrated content search performed by a DMP (Digital Media Player). Receiving an integrated search mode signal indicative of a search, requesting the at least one DMS for information on the content held by the at least one DMS, and based on the received information from the at least one DMS; Providing a unified search list having a content directory structure according to a predetermined classification criteria.

Providing an integrated search list having a content directory structure according to the predetermined classification criteria may include classifying the content by genre based on the information about the content received from the at least one DMS, and the content directory by the classified genres. And constructing the integrated search list based on the content directory information.

The method may further include searching the integrated search list and providing a content result list corresponding to the keyword search request when a keyword search for content is requested from a user.

The method may further include extracting content directory information corresponding to the genre search request from the integrated search list and providing a content result list when a user requests a genre search of the content.

Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a digital media player (Digital Media Player) in conjunction with at least one digital media server (DMS), the integrated search mode signal for instructing the search for content existing in the at least one DMS A communication unit for receiving information on content stored in the at least one DMS by communicating with the at least one DMS through a generated mode input unit, a wired or wireless network, and a predetermined classification criterion based on the information on the received content. And a control unit for generating an integrated search list having a content directory structure according to the content directory.

The integrated search list may have a directory structure in which content is classified by genre based on information on content received from the at least one DMS.

The apparatus may further include a search input unit configured to receive a search request for content stored in the at least one DMS, and the controller may search the integrated search list and provide a result corresponding to the search request of the content as a content result list. have.

Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a digital living network alliance (DLNA) based home network system, comprising: at least one digital media server storing content and providing information on the content and information on the content; And a digital media player for generating an integrated search list having a content directory structure according to preset classification criteria.

The integrated search list may have a directory structure in which content is classified by genre based on information on content received from the at least one digital media server.

By having a directory structure in which contents existing in a plurality of digital media servers on a wired or wireless network capable of sharing contents are classified according to predetermined classification criteria, the contents can be searched systematically and efficiently.

In addition, by generating the integrated search list of the directory structure according to the predetermined classification criteria, it is possible to collectively search the contents stored in all the digital media servers at once without having to search the contents for each digital media server.

1 shows an embodiment of a DLNA-based home network structure to which the present invention is applied.
2 is a diagram illustrating a method for providing a content integrated search in a DMP according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a diagram illustrating an integrated search list provided by a digital media player (DMP) according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a digital media player (DMP) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following description of the embodiments of the present invention, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present disclosure rather unclear.

It is to be understood that when an element is referred to as being "connected" or "connected" to another element, it may be directly connected or connected to the other element, . In addition, the description of "including" a specific configuration in the present invention does not exclude a configuration other than the configuration, and means that additional configurations can be included in the practice of the present invention or the technical scope of the present invention.

The terms first, second, etc. may be used to describe various components, but the components should not be limited by the terms. The terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another. For example, without departing from the scope of the present invention, the first component may be referred to as a second component, and similarly, the second component may also be referred to as a first component.

In addition, the components shown in the embodiments of the present invention are shown independently to represent different characteristic functions, which does not mean that each component is composed of separate hardware or software constituent units. That is, each constituent unit is included in each constituent unit for convenience of explanation, and at least two constituent units of the constituent units may be combined to form one constituent unit, or one constituent unit may be divided into a plurality of constituent units to perform a function. The integrated embodiments and separate embodiments of the components are also included within the scope of the present invention, unless they depart from the essence of the present invention.

In addition, some of the components are not essential components to perform essential functions in the present invention, but may be optional components only to improve performance. The present invention can be implemented only with components essential for realizing the essence of the present invention, except for the components used for the performance improvement, and can be implemented by only including the essential components except the optional components used for performance improvement Are also included in the scope of the present invention.

1 shows an embodiment of a DLNA-based home network structure to which the present invention is applied.

Referring to FIG. 1, a DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) based home network includes at least one digital media server (hereinafter referred to as 'DMS', 110 to 130) and a digital media player (hereinafter referred to as 'DMP'). 'Ham, 200). At this time, the at least one DMS (110 to 130) and the DMP 200 is connected by a wired or wireless network.

The DMSs 110 to 130 have a storage area to store content and provide content on a DLNA-based home network. For example, the at least one DMS 110 to 130 may be connected to the DMP 200 through a DLNA-based wired or wireless network to provide the DMP 200 with content stored in the DMS 110 to 130.

Here, the DMS 110 to 130 may be, for example, a device such as a set top box, a PC, a notebook, a digital camera, a smart TV, a mobile phone, a DVD player, or the like. The content provided by the DMSs 110 to 130 may be various types of media content such as music, video, images, and text files.

The DMP 200 is a device for playing content. The DMP 200 receives content from a DMS 110 to 130 connected to a DLNA-based home network and plays the content. For example, the DMP 200 may search for content stored in the DMSs 110 to 130, and may receive and play a desired content of the searched content from the DMS 110 to 130 in a file or streaming form.

Here, the DMP may have a function of the DMS in some cases, and the DMS may have a function of the DMP in some cases.

Hereinafter, a method in which the DMP 200 according to the present invention interoperates with at least one DMS 110 to 130 and searches for contents stored in the DMS 110 to 130 to provide desired content will be described.

2 is a diagram illustrating a method for providing a content integrated search in a DMP according to an embodiment of the present invention. The DMP is connected to at least one DMS with a wired or wireless network.

Referring to FIG. 2, the DMP receives an integrated search mode signal instructing a search of content stored in at least one DMS (S10). The integrated search mode signal refers to a signal for collectively searching for content stored in at least one DMS connected to the DMP through a wired or wireless network. In this case, the integrated search mode signal may be generated by a user operating an operation key provided in the DMP or a corresponding key of the remote controller. Alternatively, when the DMP is executed and the DMS connected to the DMP and the DLNA-based wired or wireless network is detected, the integrated search mode signal may be automatically generated in the DMP.

Next, the DMP requests information on the content stored in the at least one DMS to the at least one DMS (S20). Here, the information about the content may include information that may indicate the content of the content or information about the content file. For example, information such as the content name, the genre information of the content, the name of the singer (for music contents), the actor and director information (for dramas or movies), the file name, the file location, the file size, the playing time, the file type, etc. It may include.

Next, the DMP generates an integrated search list having a content directory structure according to a predetermined classification criterion based on the information on the content received from the at least one DMS (S30).

For example, the DMP may classify the content into genres (eg, drama, sports, movies, music, and the like) based on information on content received from at least one DMS. A directory of contents may be configured for each classified genre, and an integrated search list may be generated based on the directory configuration information. In addition, a subdirectory structure may be formed for each classified genre.

Alternatively, an integrated search list may be provided according to various classification criteria such as classification according to file type of content, classification based on content file size, classification based on singer or actor information, and the like.

Here, the integrated search list may be in the form of a list of directory structures in which items of contents are arranged based on a predetermined classification criterion (eg, by genre). Accordingly, by providing contents distributed and stored in a plurality of DMSs in a list having a single integrated directory structure, it is not necessary to access each DMS and search each subdirectory to search for desired contents.

If the DMP receives a search request for content stored in at least one DMS from the user, the DMP provides a content result list corresponding to the search request based on the generated integrated search list (S40).

For example, when a user requests a keyword search such as a word or a symbol to search for content stored in at least one DMS, the DMP searches for contents corresponding to the keyword search request of the content from the integrated search list, and retrieves the searched contents. The results can be provided as a content results list.

As another example, when a user makes a genre search request such as drama or sports to search content stored in at least one DMS by genre, the DMP extracts content directory information corresponding to the genre search request from the integrated search list. Based on the extracted information, a content result list of the corresponding genre may be provided.

3 is a diagram illustrating an integrated search list provided by a digital media player (DMP) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the integrated search list 300 has a directory structure classified by genres, such as a movie 310, a drama 320, a music 330, and a photo 340. For example, the movie 310 directory includes movie 1 311 and movie 2 (not shown). Content with a content name such as movie N 312 is included. At this time, movie 1 (311), movie 2 (not shown). Each content such as movie N 312 may be content stored in different DMS.

Directories classified by genre such as movie 310, drama 320, music 330, and photo 340 may have subdirectories for each genre. For example, the music 330 directory may form a subdirectory classified by artist.

4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a digital media player (DMP) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, the DMP 200 includes a mode signal unit 210, a communication unit 220, a control unit 230, a search input unit 240, and an output unit 250.

The mode signal unit 210 generates an integrated search mode signal for instructing a search for content stored in at least one DMS. The integrated search mode signal refers to a signal for collectively searching for content stored in at least one DMS connected to the DMP 200 through a wired or wireless network.

For example, the integrated search mode signal may be generated by the mode signal unit 210 by a user operating an operation key provided in the DMP 200 or a corresponding key of the remote controller. Alternatively, when the DMP 200 is executed and the DMS connected to the DMP 200 and the DLNA-based wired or wireless home network is detected, the integrated search mode signal may be automatically generated by the mode signal unit 210.

The communication unit 220 may be configured as a wired and / or wireless network interface, and communicates with at least one DMS through a wired or wireless network. That is, it communicates with at least one DMS to request and receive information on content stored in at least one DMS. Information about the received content is provided to the controller 230.

As described above with reference to FIG. 2, the information about the content includes the content name, the genre information of the content, the singer name (for example, music content), actor and director information (for example, drama or movie), file name, file location, file Includes information such as size, playback time, file type, and more.

When the controller 230 receives the integrated search mode signal generated by the mode signal unit 210, the controller 230 controls the communication unit 220 to request and receive information on content from at least one DMS.

In addition, the controller 230 generates an integrated search list having a content directory structure according to a predetermined classification criterion based on the information on the content provided from the communication unit 220. In this case, the integrated search list may be provided to the output unit 250 and output.

As described above with reference to FIG. 2, the integrated search list may be classified into various genres of content based on the information about the content, the classification according to the file type of the content, the classification according to the content file size, and the classification according to the singer or actor information. The content directory may be configured according to preset classification criteria. In addition, the content directory constructed according to a predetermined classification criterion may form a subdirectory.

In addition, when receiving a search request from the search inputter 240, the controller 230 searches the integrated search list and provides a result corresponding to the search request as a content result list. In this case, the content result list may be provided to the output unit 250 and output.

The search input unit 240 receives a search request for content stored in at least one DMS from a user. For example, the search input unit 240 may receive a keyword search request such as a word or a symbol from a user or a search request according to various classifications such as a search request by genre. At this time, the search request for the content by the user is transmitted to the controller 230 and controlled to provide a content result list corresponding to the search request.

The output unit 250 outputs the integrated result list generated by the controller 230, and receives and outputs a content result list corresponding to the search request received from the search inputter 240 from the controller 230.

The integrated content search providing method performed by the digital media player (DMP) according to the present invention described above is distributed to a plurality of digital media servers (DMS) connected to a DMP and a wired or wireless network. In searching the stored contents, it is possible to search the contents stored in all the DMS at once through the integrated search list, without having to repeatedly search for each DMS until the desired contents are found. In addition, by providing an integrated search list in the form of a directory according to a predetermined classification criterion, a directory composed of different classification criteria for each DMS can be configured according to the same classification, so that a user can easily and systematically search.

In the above, the integrated content search provision is described as being performed by a digital media player (DMP), but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the digital media server (DMS) and the digital media controller (DMC) are not limited thereto. It can be performed by).

The foregoing description is merely illustrative of the technical idea of the present invention, and various changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments disclosed in the present invention are intended to illustrate rather than limit the scope of the present invention, and the scope of the technical idea of the present invention is not limited by these embodiments. The scope of protection of the present invention should be construed according to the claims, and all technical ideas within the scope of the claims should be construed as being included in the scope of the present invention.

110, 120, 130: DMS (Digital Media Server)
200: DMP (Digital Media Player)
210: mode signal unit
220: communication unit
230:
240: search input unit
250: output unit

Claims (9)

In the method of interworking with at least one Digital Media Server (DMS) and providing integrated content search performed by the Digital Media Player (DMP),
Receiving an integrated search mode signal indicative of a search for content present in the at least one DMS;
Requesting the at least one DMS for information on content held by the at least one DMS; And
And providing an integrated search list having a content directory structure according to a predetermined classification criterion based on the information on the content received from the at least one DMS. The method of claim 1,
Providing a unified search list having a content directory structure according to the preset classification criteria,
Classifying the content by genre based on the information about the content received from the at least one DMS;
Constructing a content directory for each classified genre; And
Generating the integrated search list based on the content directory information. The method of claim 1,
Searching for the integrated search list and providing a content result list corresponding to the keyword search request when a keyword search for content is requested from a user. The method of claim 2,
And if the user receives a genre search for the content, extracting content directory information corresponding to the genre search request from the integrated search list and providing a content result list. In the digital media player (Digital Media Player) that works with at least one DMS (Digital Media Server),
A mode input unit for generating an integrated search mode signal indicative of searching for content existing in the at least one DMS;
A communication unit which communicates with the at least one DMS via a wired or wireless network to receive information on contents stored in the at least one DMS; And
And a controller configured to generate an integrated search list having a content directory structure according to a predetermined classification criterion based on the information on the received content. 6. The method of claim 5,
The integrated search list,
And a directory structure in which contents are classified by genres based on the information on the contents received from the at least one DMS. 6. The method of claim 5,
And a search input unit configured to receive a search request for content stored in the at least one DMS from a user.
And the control unit searches the integrated search list and provides a result corresponding to the content search request as a content result list. In a DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliiance) based home network system,
At least one digital media server for storing content and providing information about the content; And
And a digital media player for generating an integrated search list having a content directory structure according to a predetermined classification criterion based on the information on the content. The method of claim 8,
The integrated search list,
And a directory structure in which content is classified by genre based on information on content received from the at least one digital media server.

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