KR20140047203A - Method and apparatus for providing adaptively video service - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed are a video service apparatus and a video service method. Adaptive streaming techniques do not provide convenient content management for content providers (CP) because conversion operations such as bit rate change and transcoding have to be performed on a large number of video content. As such, the efforts of the content providers (CP) for adaptive streaming services have to be redoubled and cost- and operation efficiency-related considerations become significant, which, ultimately, could result in the problem that clients cannot be provided with high-quality video services. Proposed in the present invention is a video service technique that is capable of adaptively managing (converting and storing) video content between the clients and the content providers (CP), providing the clients with the resultant adaptive streaming type video content, determining the types of the adaptive streaming services matching client terminals, and differentially setting video quality levels in view of the states of the client terminals. [Reference numerals] (202) Service management unit; (204) Traffic characteristics analysis unit; (206) Video conversion unit; (208) Terminal information analysis unit; (210) Service type determination unit; (212) Client DB; (214) Content DB

Description

Video service device and video service method {METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING ADAPTIVELY VIDEO SERVICE}

The present invention relates to a video service, and more particularly, to a video service device and a video service method suitable for adaptively providing video content according to a video traffic attribute and terminal device information.

Currently, most content providers (CPs) provide a video service through an HPD (Http Progressive Download) method. The HPD method is a service method capable of performing a play operation while downloading video data. Since the HPD method transmits fixed bit-rate video data, network conditions and client-side characteristics are not considered.

In view of this, in recent video service environments, adaptive streaming (AS) technology that utilizes both the advantages of the download method and the streaming method is being provided. Adaptive streaming technology provides a buffering or seamless video viewing environment by a content provider (CP) dynamically changing the bitrate of a video according to terminal characteristics and network load conditions. Http (hypertext transfer protocol) Since the web standard protocol is applied, it has the advantage of higher efficiency than the general streaming method.

Nevertheless, adaptive streaming technology is not easy to manage content from the point of view of the content provider (CP) because it has to perform conversion operations such as bitrate change, transcoding, etc. for a large number of video content. .

As a result, the efforts of the content provider (CP) for the adaptive streaming service is doubled, and the cost and operational efficiency are increased, which may ultimately prevent a high quality video service from being provided to the client. .

Korean Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 10-2010-0052088, publication date May 19, 2010

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the technical limitations of the prior art, the present invention adaptively manages (converts and stores) video content between a client and a content provider (CP), and provides the resulting video content of an adaptive streaming method to the client. We would like to propose a video service technology that can be provided.

In addition, the present invention is to propose a video service technology that can determine the adaptive streaming service type corresponding to the client terminal in the service of the adaptive streaming video content between the client and the content provider (CP).

In addition, the present invention is to propose a video service technology that can differentially set the video quality level in consideration of the state of the client terminal in the service of adaptive streaming video content between the client and the content provider (CP).

According to an embodiment for solving the problems of the present invention, a video conversion unit for converting and caching video content by a plurality of adaptive streaming service types based on video service response information corresponding to video service request information from a client terminal device And a terminal information analyzer for determining whether the client terminal device is capable of adaptive streaming service for the converted and cached video content, and the plurality of cases when the client terminal device is capable of adaptive streaming service. A video service device may include a service type determiner configured to determine an adaptive streaming service type applicable to the client terminal device among adaptive streaming service types of.

The video converter may convert a bit rate of the video content.

The video converter may generate the video content for each bit rate and then divide the video content generated for each bit rate by a predetermined unit.

In addition, the plurality of adaptive streaming service types may include any one of Http Live Streaming (HLS), Smooth Streaming (SS), or Http Dynamic Streaming (HDS).

The video service device may further include means for differentially setting a video quality level considering the state of the client terminal device.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a process of converting video content for each of a plurality of adaptive streaming service types based on video service response information corresponding to video service request information from a client terminal device, and Determining whether the client terminal device is capable of adaptive streaming service with respect to the video content, and when the client terminal device is capable of adaptive streaming service, applying to the client terminal device among the plurality of adaptive streaming service types. A video service method including a process of determining a possible adaptive streaming service type may be provided.

Here, after the determining, the method may further include transmitting the video content to the client terminal device using the determined adaptive streaming service type.

In addition, the video content may be differentially set to a predetermined level range according to the state of the client terminal device.

The method may further include analyzing a traffic attribute of the video content based on the video service response information corresponding to the video service request information from the client terminal device before the converting process.

The converting may include converting a bit rate of the video content, and generating the video content by a plurality of bit rates, and then separating the video content generated by the plurality of bit rates by a predetermined unit. It may include.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a video content of an adaptive streaming scheme adaptively managed between a client and a content provider (CP) to a client, determine an adaptive streaming service type corresponding to the client terminal, or By differentially setting the video quality level considering the state of, it is possible to provide a seamless video service to the client. Accordingly, it is possible to increase the quality of experience (QoE) of the client and to efficiently use radio resources by reducing traffic.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an entire network including a video service device according to an embodiment of the present invention;
2 is a detailed block diagram of a video service device according to an embodiment of the present invention;
3 is a flowchart illustrating a video service method according to an embodiment of the present invention;
4 is a diagram for exemplarily describing a video conversion process in a video service method according to an embodiment of the present invention;
5 is a video service method according to an embodiment of the present invention, a diagram for exemplarily describing a video content transmission technology of an adaptive streaming method.

Brief Description of the Drawings The advantages and features of the present invention, and the manner in which it may be achieved, will become apparent with reference to the embodiments described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted, however, that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below, but may be implemented in various other forms. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. It is just defined. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

In the following description of the present invention, detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention rather unclear. The following terms are defined in consideration of the functions in the embodiments of the present invention, which may vary depending on the intention or custom of the user or operator. Therefore, the definition should be based on the contents throughout this specification.

Prior to the description of the embodiment, the present invention can provide the client with the video content of the adaptive streaming method adaptively managed between the client and the Contents Provider (CP), which is compatible with the client terminal. By determining the adaptive streaming service type or by setting the video quality level in consideration of the state of the client terminal, it provides a seamless video service to the client to increase the client's Quality of Experience (QoE) and reduce traffic. In order to improve radio resource efficiency, it is possible to easily achieve the object of the present invention from this technical idea.

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

1 is a block diagram illustrating an entire network configuration including a video service apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The client terminal device group 100, the network 10, the video service apparatus 200, and the content providing apparatus 300 are illustrated in FIG. ) May be included.

As shown in FIG. 1, the client terminal device group 100 may include a plurality of client terminal devices 100/1 to 100 / N, and provides a video service of an adaptive streaming method according to the present embodiment. As a device group for providing, various types of client terminal devices such as a smart phone, a smart pad, a tablet computer, and the like may be included.

The client terminal device group 100 may provide a broadband wireless communication service to a client by interfacing with a network 10 to be described later through a broadband wireless connection. In this case, the broadband wireless communication service, as well as the third generation wireless communication technology of the Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) method, as well as the fourth generation or more wireless communication technology of the Long Term Evolution (LTE) / Evolved Packet Core (EPC) method It may include all of the wireless communication service environments that support the.

In addition, the client terminal device group 100 may provide a short range wireless communication service to a subscriber by interfacing with a network 10 to be described later through a short range wireless connection. In this case, for example, the Wi-Fi communication service may be applied to the short range wireless communication service, and the client terminal device group 100 may transmit the video service device 200 through the network 10 that provides the short range communication service. May be connected to

In particular, any client terminal device of the client terminal device group 100, for example, client terminal device 1 (100/1), may adaptively apply arbitrary video content by applying an adaptive streaming technique executable in the terminal device. Can be reproduced. The adaptive streaming technology may be applied differently according to the manufacturer of the terminal device, an operating system (OS), and the like, for example, one of Http Live Streaming (HLS), Smooth Streaming (SS), or Http Dynamic Streaming (HDS). The adaptive streaming technique of can be applied.

The network 10 may include a broadband wireless communication network or a short range wireless communication network. The network 10 connects the client terminal device group 100 and the video service device 200 to the video service, for example, a client, according to an embodiment of the present invention. A service for providing video content of an adaptive streaming scheme adaptively managed between the terminal device 1 (100/1) and the content providing device 300 to the client terminal device 1 (100/1), the client terminal device 1 ( A service for determining an adaptive streaming service type corresponding to 100/1), a service for differentially setting a video quality level in consideration of the state of the client terminal device 1 (100/1), and the like may be provided.

Here, the broadband wireless communication network is involved in call setup and resource allocation of the client terminal apparatus group 100. Although not shown in the drawing, a wireless network It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention can be practiced without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Such a broadband wireless communication network plays a role of guaranteeing the mobility of the client terminal device group 100 and can perform a function of managing handover and radio resources. The broadband wireless communication network may comprise a base station and a base station controller and may support both synchronous and asynchronous.

The short range wireless communication network in the network 10 provides a short range communication environment between the client terminal device group 100 and the video service device 200, and may include a wireless communication environment such as Wi-Fi. have.

The video service device 200 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may provide video content of an adaptive streaming scheme that is adaptively managed between the client terminal device 1 (100/1) and the content providing device 300. Provide an adaptive streaming service type corresponding to the client terminal device 1 (100/1) between the client terminal device 1 (100/1) and the content providing device 300; The device 1 100/1 and the content providing device 300 may differentially set a video quality level considering the state of the client terminal device 1 (100/1). A detailed configuration and function of the video service device 200 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5 below.

The content providing device 300 may include a server for providing various contents, for example, video contents, to the client terminal device group 100 through the network 10. Although FIG. 1 illustrates one content providing device 300 connected to the network 10, this is merely an example, and a plurality of content providing devices may be provided as necessary. Those who have knowledge will find it easy.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the video service device 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention in more detail. The service manager 202, the traffic property analyzer 204, the video converter 206, and the terminal are shown in FIG. The information analyzer 208, the service type determiner 210, the client DB (DataBase) 212, the content DB 214, and the like may be included.

As shown in FIG. 2, the service manager 202 may include the traffic attribute analyzer 204, the video converter 206, the terminal information analyzer 208, the service type determiner 210, and the client DB ( DataBase) 212, the content DB (214) can be managed as a whole, and video service request information, video service response information, adaptive streaming scheme between the client terminal device group 100 and the content providing device 300 It can play a role of delivering video content.

For example, if there is a video service request from any client terminal device (for example, client terminal device 1 (100/1)), the service manager 202 transmits the request information to the content providing device 300, and provides the content. If there is a video service response from the device 300, the corresponding response information is transmitted to the client terminal device 1 (100/1), and the adaptive type determined when the adaptive streaming service type is determined by the service type determiner 210 described later. It may serve to transmit streaming video content to the client terminal device 1 (100/1). As described above, the adaptive streaming service type may include a service type of either HLS or SS or HDS. In this case, the video service request information from the client terminal device 1 (100/1) may include not only the video information but also information on the client terminal device 1 (100/1), for example, user information and terminal performance information. The video service response information provided from the content providing apparatus 300 may include information on any video content, for example, a video capacity, a playback time, a bit rate, and the like.

The traffic property analyzer 204 may serve to analyze a property of video traffic provided from the content providing device 300. For example, the video content may be analyzed as a popular video or a video that is frequently watched.

The video converter 206 may convert video content provided from the content providing device 300 and temporarily cache the converted video content in the content DB 214. Here, video content conversion refers to, for example, a process of converting a bit-rate of video content, generating video content by picture quality (by bit rate), and then generating the video content by picture quality in a predetermined unit. It can mean the process of classification.

The terminal information analyzer 208 may analyze whether the client terminal device 1 (100/1) is a terminal device capable of adaptive streaming service. For example, it may be determined whether the client terminal device 1 (100/1) is a terminal device capable of adaptive streaming service from the video service request information.

The service type determination unit 210 may play a role of determining an adaptive streaming service type when the client terminal device 1 (100/1) is a terminal device capable of adaptive streaming service. As described above, the adaptive streaming service type may include a service type of either HLS or SS or HDS.

The client DB 212 may be managed by the service manager 202, and client information, client terminal device information, and the like may be stored, and arbitrary information may be selected by the service manager 202 as necessary.

The content DB 214 may be managed by the service manager 202, and stores the video content provided from the content providing device 300, the video content converted by the video converter 206, and the like, as necessary. Arbitrary information may be selected by the service manager 202.

These DBs 212 and 214 are, for example, relational database management systems (RDBMS) such as Oracle, Infomix, Sybase, DB2, Gemston, Orion. Object-Oriented Database Management System (OODBMS) such as O2, O2, etc. may be implemented for the purposes of the present invention, and may have appropriate fields to achieve its function.

Hereinafter, with reference to the above-described configuration, a video service method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3, if there is a video service request from the client terminal device 1 (100/1) (S100), the video service device 200 displays the video service request information of the client terminal device 1 (100/1). It may be delivered to the providing device 300 (S102). The video service request information at this time includes not only any video information required by the client terminal device 1 (100/1) but also terminal information (manufacturer information, model name, etc.) and user information of the client terminal device 1 (100/1). Etc. may be included.

The content providing device 300 receiving the video service request information may transmit the video service response information corresponding to the video service request information to the video service device 200 (S104). The video service response information may include not only the video content corresponding to the video service request information, but also at least one information of a capacity, a play time, and a bit rate of the video content.

When the video service response information is provided to the video service device 200, the video service device 200 may provide the video service response information to the client terminal device 1 (100/1) (S106). In this case, the video service device 200 may temporarily store the video content corresponding to the above-described video service response information in the content DB 214.

Thereafter, the video service device 200 may analyze the traffic property of the corresponding video content through the traffic property analyzer 204 (S108). For example, the traffic attribute analyzer 204 may analyze whether the corresponding video content is a popular video or a frequently viewed video.

In addition, the video service device 200 may convert the corresponding video content through the video converter 206, and cache the converted video content in the content DB 214 to temporarily store the converted video content (S110).

4 is a diagram for exemplarily describing a video content conversion process.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the case of 40 second video content encoded at 1 Mbps, 1 Mbps video content can be divided into four blocks of 10 seconds and then generated as one video chunk, and 1 Mbps video content. Can be transcoded at 500 Kbps, divided into four blocks of 10 seconds, and then one video chunk is generated. Each block in the generated one video chunk may be adaptively selected as needed.

The video chunks generated as described above may be stored in the content DB 214 through a caching process, and are later adapted by the service manager 202 according to the state of the client terminal device 1 (100/1) or the state of the network 10. The video content may be selected and provided to the client terminal device 1 (100/1). For example, when the client terminal device 1 (100/1) is a smart pad, 1 Mbps video content may be selected and transmitted. When the client terminal device 1 (100/1) is a smart phone, 500 Kbps video content is selected and Can be sent. Of course, even if the client terminal device 1 (100/1) is a smart pad, it is necessary to note that if the reception state of the network 10 is suddenly poor, the 1Mbps video content may be transmitted and then changed to 500Kbps video content. .

On the other hand, the video service device 200 determines whether there is a video service request from the client terminal device 1 (100/1) (S112), and if there is a video service request, transmits the corresponding video service request information to the content providing device 300. It may be (S114). The video service request information at this time includes not only any video information required by the client terminal device 1 (100/1) but also terminal information (manufacturer information, model name, etc.) and user information of the client terminal device 1 (100/1). Etc. may be included.

The content providing device 300 receiving the video service request information may transmit the video service response information corresponding to the video service request information to the video service device 200 (S116). The video service response information may include not only the video content corresponding to the video service request information, but also at least one information of a capacity, a play time, and a bit rate of the video content.

When the video service response information is provided to the video service device 200, the video service device 200 is a terminal device capable of adaptive streaming service through the terminal information analyzer 208. It can be determined (S118). The determination of the availability of the adaptive streaming service may be implemented based on the video service request information provided in step S112.

The video service device 200 may determine the adaptive streaming service type of the client terminal device 1 (100/1) through the service type determiner 210. For example, when the client terminal device 1 (100/1) is a terminal capable of adaptive streaming service, an adaptive streaming service type that can be performed by the client terminal device 1 (100/1) may be determined among a plurality of adaptive streaming service types. have. For example, the service type of either HLS, SS, or HDS may be determined.

When the adaptive streaming service type is determined, the video service device 200 may transmit the adaptive streaming video service response information to the client terminal device 1 (100/1). For example, when the client terminal device 1 (100/1) is the HLS service type, it may be transmitted to the client terminal device 1 (100/1) that the HLS video service is available.

Thereafter, the video service device 200, specifically, the service manager 202, may select the video content having an arbitrary bit rate from the content DB 214 and transmit the video content by the HLS method (S214). For example, if the client terminal device 1 (100/1) is a smart pad and the network 10 is in a good state, video content of 1 Mbps may be transmitted by the HLS method.

At this time, in the embodiment of the present invention, the service management unit 202 of the video service device 200 transmits the HLS video content according to the state of the client terminal device 1 (100/1) or the state of the network 10. The video quality level considering the state of the client terminal device 100/1 may be differentially set.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 5, when the client terminal device 1 (100/1) is a smart pad, the client terminal device 1 (100/1) may be set to a video quality level as shown by reference numeral A, that is, 1Mbps → 900Kbps → 800Kbps. If 1 (100/1) is a smart phone, it can be set to a video quality level as shown by reference numeral B, that is, 800Kbps → 700Kbps → 600Kbps. This is to provide a substantially user-customized service in consideration of the state and performance of the user terminal device in providing an adaptive streaming video service.

As described above, an embodiment of the present invention may provide a client with video content of an adaptive streaming scheme that is adaptively managed between a client and a contents provider (CP), and provided to a client terminal. By determining the type of adaptive streaming service that is matched or by setting the video quality level in consideration of the state of the client terminal, it provides the client with seamless video service, improving the client's quality of experience (QoE) and reducing traffic. It will be implemented to increase the efficiency of radio resources through.

Meanwhile, as described above, the video service method of the present invention, which provides various embodiments, may be embodied as computer executable code on a computer readable recording medium, and the computer readable recording medium may be a computer system. It can include any type of recording device in which data that can be read by is stored. Such a computer readable recording medium may include, for example, a non-volatile memory such as a ROM, a flash memory, a magnetic storage, and the like, a volatile memory such as a RAM, The computer-executable code or program may be stored in a client terminal (or USIM) according to an embodiment of the present invention, or may be distributedly stored in a networked computer system.

In addition, the application (or applet) that can perform the video service according to an embodiment of the present invention has been described as being stored in a recording medium in a client terminal device or a smart card, but this is only illustrative for the description of the embodiment, It does not limit the scope of the invention. For example, the above-mentioned information is permanently stored in the virtualization device (or server) on the network, and the client terminal of the multimedia function on which the smart card or the smart card can be mounted is provided with cloud computing, Environment. That is, it should be noted that the above-described information may be stored in a virtualization device on a network, and the information may be used anytime and anywhere through a client terminal that may include a smart card or various forms of multimedia functions.

In addition, it should be noted that applications for a video service according to an embodiment of the present invention may be utilized in an M2M communication field supporting an intelligent communication service between things so that they can be used and managed in real time anytime and anywhere.

200: video service device 202: service management unit
204: Traffic attribute analyzer 206: Video converter
208: terminal information analyzer 210: service type determiner
212: Client DB 214: Content DB

Claims (10)

A video converter configured to convert and cache video content according to a plurality of adaptive streaming service types based on video service response information corresponding to video service request information from a client terminal device;
A terminal information analyzer for determining whether the client terminal device is capable of adaptive streaming service for the converted and cached video content;
And a service type determination unit configured to determine an adaptive streaming service type applicable to the client terminal device among the plurality of adaptive streaming service types when the client terminal device is capable of adaptive streaming service.
Video service device. The method according to claim 1,
The video converting unit converts a bit rate of the video content.
Video service device. The method according to claim 1,
The video converter generates the video content for each bitrate and then divides the video content generated for each bitrate by a predetermined unit.
Video service device. The method according to claim 1,
The plurality of adaptive streaming service types include any one of Http Live Streaming (HLS), Smooth Streaming (SS), or Http Dynamic Streaming (HDS).
Video service device. The method according to claim 1,
The video service device,
Means for differentially setting a video quality level considering the state of the client terminal device;
Video service device. Converting video content into a plurality of adaptive streaming service types based on video service response information corresponding to video service request information from a client terminal device;
Determining whether the client terminal device is capable of adaptive streaming service for the converted video content;
Determining an adaptive streaming service type applicable to the client terminal device among the plurality of adaptive streaming service types when the client terminal device is capable of adaptive streaming service.
How to service a video. The method according to claim 6,
And after the determining, transmitting the video content to the client terminal device using the determined adaptive streaming service type.
How to service a video. The method of claim 7, wherein
The video content is differentially set to a preset level range according to the state of the client terminal device.
How to service a video. The method according to claim 6,
The method may further include analyzing a traffic attribute of the video content on the basis of the video service response information corresponding to the video service request information from the client terminal device prior to the converting process.
How to service a video. The method according to claim 6,
The conversion process,
Converting a bit rate of the video content;
Generating the video content by a plurality of bitrates, and then classifying the video content generated by the plurality of bitrates in a predetermined unit.
How to service a video.

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