KR20140136802A - Digital video recorder and operation method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed are a digital video recorder and a method for operating the same. The digital video recorder according to embodiments of the present invention comprises: a video data file generation unit for generating a video data file including a plurality of frames by recording a video taken by a camera; a first storage unit for storing the frames of the generated video data file in order of recording time; a control unit for extracting the representative frame of the oldest video data file among the video data files previously stored in the first storage unit and deleting the frames subordinate to the representative frame to secure a storage space when the storage space of the first storage unit is full; and a second storage unit for storing the extracted representative frames in order of extraction time.

Description

Technical Field [0001] The present invention relates to a digital video recording apparatus and a digital video recording apparatus,

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital image recording apparatus and an operation method thereof, and more particularly, to a digital image recording apparatus and an operation method thereof for storing an image in units of image data files.

A digital video recording apparatus (DVR) is a device for monitoring a moving subject in a specific place by using a camera. Such a digital video recording apparatus (DVR) is equipped with a large-capacity storage medium such as a hard disk (HDD) in order to store an image recorded through a camera.

On the other hand, when the capacity of a hard disk (HDD) becomes full, a digital video recording device (DVR) erases a previously stored video image and writes a new video image to the corresponding location. In addition, as the technology has been developed in recent years, the capacity occupied by one file in a hard disk (HDD) has increased, while increasingly using a higher resolution image.

Accordingly, there is a problem that the time for storing a video image recorded on a hard disk (HDD) is gradually reduced, making it impossible to reproduce it.

Therefore, the embodiments of the present invention provide a digital video recording apparatus capable of storing only a part of frames of a previously recorded video data file when a storage space of a recorded video data file is insufficient, And a method of operating the same.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a digital video recording apparatus comprising: an image data file generation unit for recording an image photographed through a camera and generating an image data file including a plurality of frames; A first storage unit for storing a plurality of frames of the generated image data file in a recorded time sequence; Extracting a representative frame of the video data file recorded the earliest from among the video data files previously stored in the first storage unit if the storage space of the first storage unit is in a full state, A controller for deleting frames to secure the storage space; And a second storage unit for storing the extracted representative frames in the extracted time order.

In one embodiment, the control unit stores or deletes the frame in the first storage unit and the second storage unit using a first-in first-out (FIFO) scheme of a circular queue.

In one embodiment, the representative frame is an independently reproducible I-frame, and the plurality of frames dependent on the representative frame include at least one of an I-frame, a B-frame, and a P-frame .

In one embodiment, if the storage space of the first storage unit is full, the control unit may store the video data files recorded in the first storage unit, And the representative frame is extracted.

In one embodiment, the control unit copies the extracted representative frame in the first control mode, stores the extracted representative frame in the second storage unit, and deletes the extracted representative frame from the first storage unit.

In one embodiment, the control unit changes the index value of the extracted representative frame to the index value of the next storage location of the second storage unit in the second control mode, and stores the index value in the second storage unit.

In one embodiment, the control unit sets the number of representative frames to be extracted differently based on the importance of the generated image data file.

In one embodiment, the control unit outputs screen information related to the generated image data file through an external display, outputs a playback screen of the generated image data file to a first area of the external display, And controls to output the attribute of the generated image data file and the image of the representative frame in the second area of the display.

In one embodiment, the image data file generation unit generates the image data file in units of MJPEG including at least one I-frame, and the control unit stores the image data file in the storage unit of the first storage unit as a pool frame, extracts a representative I-frame, stores the extracted representative I-frame in the second storage unit, and deletes a plurality of frames depending on the representative I-frame.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of operating a digital video recording apparatus, comprising: recording an image captured through a camera to generate an image data file including a plurality of frames; Storing the frames of the generated video data file in a first storage unit in the order of recorded time; Extracting a representative frame of an image data file recorded the earliest among image data files previously stored in the first storage unit if the storage space of the first storage unit is in a full state, Deleting frames to secure the storage space; And storing the extracted representative frames in a second storage unit in an extracted time sequence.

In one embodiment, the FIFO (First In First Out) scheme of the circular queue is used for storing and deleting the frames.

Thus, according to the digital video recording apparatus and the operation method thereof according to the embodiments of the present invention, when the storage space of the recorded video data file is insufficient, only the representative frame of the video data file recorded the longest is deleted, And the storage space is ensured, thereby providing an effect of extending the storage time of the recorded image data files.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a digital video recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation method of a digital video recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a diagram illustrating a frame structure included in a recorded image data file according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a diagram for explaining an operation method of a digital video recording apparatus for separately storing a representative frame when deleting a previously recorded video data file according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an operation method of a digital video recording apparatus for changing only the index of a representative frame when a previously recorded video data file is not deleted, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a diagram illustrating screen information associated with a video data file recorded on a display connected to the digital video recording apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, a digital video recording apparatus and an operation method thereof according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the present specification, the same or similar reference numerals are given to different embodiments in the same or similar configurations. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a digital video recording apparatus 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The digital video recording apparatus 200 is connected to the camera 100 and the display 270 to monitor a moving subject in a specific place. The digital video recording apparatus 200 includes a video data file generation unit 210, a first storage unit 220, a second storage unit 230, and a control unit 250. In addition, the digital video recording apparatus 200 may further include a timer 260 and a power supply unit 290. However, the components shown in FIG. 1 are not essential, and a digital video recording apparatus having components having more components or fewer components can be implemented.

The image data file generation unit 210 generates an image data file including a plurality of frames by recording an image photographed through the connected camera 100.

The first storage unit 220 stores a plurality of frames of the image data file generated by the image data file generation unit 210 in the order of time recorded.

The control unit 250 can determine whether the storage space of the first storage unit 220, that is, the capacity is full. If the storage space of the first storage unit 220 is full, the control unit 250 displays a representative of the image data file recorded the earliest among the image data files stored in the first storage unit 220 The frame can be extracted. Then, the control unit 250 can reserve a storage space of the first storage unit 220 by deleting a plurality of frames depending on the extracted representative frame.

The second storage unit 230 stores the extracted representative frames in the extracted time order. For this, the control unit 250 may duplicate the extracted representative frame and provide the duplicated representative frame to the second storage unit 230.

The timer 260 counts the recording time of the video data file, for example, year / month / day / hour / minute / second.

The power supply unit 290 supplies power to the components of the digital video recording apparatus 200. Whether or not power is supplied to each configuration is determined by an on / off signal received from the controller 250.

The display 270 may receive and output the video data file recorded from the controller 250 and related information. The display 270 may be connected to the digital video recording apparatus 200 in a wired or wireless manner. When the display 270 is wirelessly connected to the digital video recording apparatus 200 through a network (e.g., the Internet), the display 270 may display a video stream of the recorded video data file received from the controller 250.

Hereinafter, an operation method of the digital video recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG.

In this regard, FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation method of a digital video recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the digital video recording apparatus 200 (FIG. 1) records an image photographed through the camera 100 (FIG. 1) to generate an image data file including a plurality of frames at step S210.

When the image data file is generated, the controller 250 (FIG. 1) stores the frames of the generated image data file in the first storage 220 (FIG. 1) in order of the recorded time (S220). Here, the first storage unit 220 refers to one area of a hard disk (HDD) built in the digital video recording apparatus 200.

The control unit 250 can determine whether the storage space of the first storage unit 220 is full, that is, whether there is available space (S230).

As a result of the determination, if the storage space of the first storage unit 220 is full, the controller 250 may perform a delete mode of the image data file. Specifically, the controller 250 extracts a representative frame of the image data file recorded the earliest among the image data files previously stored in the first storage unit 220. In addition, the control unit 250 can delete a plurality of frames dependent on the representative frame from the first storage unit 220 to secure a short storage space (S240).

Here, the representative frame indicates an independently reproducible I-frame. The I-frame may mean an Intra-Frame that is a basis for stream-playing a recorded image data file.

Further, a plurality of frames depending on the representative frame may include at least one of an I-frame, a B-frame, and a P-frame. A B-frame is a bi-directional frame reproduced in association with an I-frame, and a P-frame is a predictive frame reproduced in dependence on an I-frame.

For example, in the case of a high-resolution image data file, the capacity occupied by a hard disk (HDD) is also increased because it includes a larger number of I-frames, B-frames, or P-frames.

Therefore, in the embodiment of the present invention, if necessary (for example, when the storage space of a hard disk (HDD) is insufficient), only one representative frame that can be independently reproduced is extracted and a plurality of dependent frames are deleted, By securing the space, there is an effect of extending the storage time of the substantially recorded video data file.

When the representative frame of the image data file is extracted, the control unit 250 stores the extracted representative frames in the second storage unit 230 (FIG. 1) in the extracted time sequence (S250).

Here, the second storage unit 230 indicates a region in the hard disk (HDD) built in the digital video recording apparatus 200, which is distinguished from the first storage unit 220. Meanwhile, when there are a plurality of built-in hard disks (HDD), the first storage unit 220 may be located on the first hard disk, and the second storage unit 230 may be located on the second hard disk.

The control unit 250 may store or delete the frame in the first storage unit 220 and the second storage unit 230 using a first in first out (FIFO) scheme of the circular queue .

When the first-in first-out (FIFO) scheme of the circular queue is used, when the image data file stored at the position indicated by the front of the circular queue is deleted from the hard disk (HDD) The indexes of the files are moved forward one by one and then the new image data file is stored at the position indicated by the rear of the circular queue so that the recorded image data files are stored in the order in which they are recorded in hardware, (HDD) can be performed more quickly and efficiently.

In addition, the control unit 250 may determine whether to delete the representative frame and delete the representative frame when the image is input. For this purpose, the user can turn on / off the corresponding function through user input.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S230 that the first storage unit 220 has available space, the process returns to step S210 and repeats the above steps.

As described above, according to the embodiments of the present invention, when the storage space of the recorded image data file is insufficient, only the representative frame of the image data file recorded the longest is deleted and the remaining frames are deleted, Thereby providing an environment for extending the storage time of recorded video data files even if a hard disk (HDD) having substantially the same capacity is used.

In addition, in the embodiments of the present invention, since the recorded image data is stored in units of files and then the representative frame is extracted, the file fragmentation phenomenon does not occur.

Hereinafter, an operation method of a digital video recording apparatus for extracting a representative frame according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3. FIG.

In this regard, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a frame structure included in a recorded image data file according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The digital video recording apparatus 200 (FIG. 1) may record an image photographed through the camera 100 (FIG. 1) to generate an image data file including a plurality of frames. When the image data file is generated, the controller 250 (FIG. 1) stores the frames of the generated image data file in the first storage unit 220 (FIG. 1) in the order of the recorded time.

The control unit 250 determines whether the storage space of the first storage unit 220 is full or not, and if the storage space of the first storage unit 220 is full, The control unit 250 may extract the representative frame from a video data file recorded the earliest among the video data files previously stored in the first storage unit 220 on a predetermined time basis.

For example, referring to FIG. 3, a digital video recording apparatus 200 may be connected to a connected camera 100, for example, MPEG 4 or H.264 video transmitted from a single or multiple CAM or IP- And generate an image data file for recording the data stream. The generated image data file can be divided into I-frames independently reproducible and P-frames dependent on I-frames, as shown in FIG. For example, image data for one second may include one I-frame and about 29 P-frames. In order to secure a storage space of a hard disk (HDD), the controller 250 may extract an I-frame (representative frame) in units of one second, for example.

Meanwhile, although not shown, the controller 250 may generate the image data file in units of MJPEG including at least one I-frame.

In this case, if the storage space of the first storage unit 220 is full, the control unit 250 extracts only one representative I-frame in a predetermined time unit (e.g., 1 second) It is possible to save the storage space of the hard disk (HDD) by storing it in the storage unit 230 and deleting the other plurality of I-frames.

Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 4, and FIG. 5, a method of performing a control mode in which a representative frame is separately stored by deleting a recorded image data file, A method of performing the control mode will be described.

In this regard, FIG. 4 is a view for explaining an operation method of a digital video recording apparatus for separately storing a representative frame when deleting a previously recorded video data file according to an embodiment of the present invention. 5 is a view for explaining an operation method of a digital video recording apparatus for storing a representative frame by changing only the index of a representative frame when the previously recorded video data file is not deleted according to an embodiment of the present invention .

The digital video recording apparatus 200 (FIG. 1) may record an image photographed through the camera 100 (FIG. 1) to generate an image data file including a plurality of frames. When the image data file is generated as described above, the controller 250 (FIG. 1) stores the frames of the generated image data file in the first storage 220 (FIG. 1) in the order of the recorded time. Accordingly, the control unit 250 can determine whether the storage space of the first storage unit 220 is full, that is, whether there is no available space. As a result of the determination, if the storage space of the first storage unit 220 is full, a representative frame may be generated and stored separately from the previously stored image data file according to a predetermined control mode.

Specifically, in the first control mode, the control unit 250 copies representative frames (e.g., I-frames) extracted from previously stored image data files and stores them in the second storage unit 230. Then, the control unit 250 deletes the extracted representative frame from the first storage unit 220 together with the remaining frames. To this end, the control unit 250 has to perform a series of processes of reading, duplicating, and deleting representative frames.

For example, as shown in FIG. 4, in the first control mode, when an image is input, all frames of the image are stored in the first storage unit, and when the storage space is full, Extracts and copies a representative frame (I-frame) of the recorded image, and stores the extracted representative frame in the second storage unit. Then, the representative frame and the remaining frames corresponding to the representative frame are deleted from the first storage unit to secure the insufficient storage space of the first storage unit. Thereafter, the user can view the old image by reproducing the representative frame stored in the second storage unit. As described above, when the representative frame of the image is stored, the frame rate is decreased, but the image is recorded for a long time.

On the other hand, in the second control mode, the controller 250 changes the index value corresponding to the representative frame of the previously stored image data file to the index value of the next storage position in the second storage unit 230. Accordingly, the control unit 250 may store the representative frame in the second storage unit 230. FIG.

Here, unlike the first control mode, the second control mode requires only reading and changing the index information of the corresponding image data file, so that the control unit 250 does not need to read, duplicate, or delete the representative frame. However, since the data stored in the HDD is not reduced, it is preferable that the second control mode is set to be applied only to the important image data file.

For example, as shown in FIG. 5, in the second control mode, information of a corresponding file index queue is transmitted without deleting the recorded image data file, and the index value is changed. Therefore, the representative frame is read, And there is no need to delete it.

Also, although not shown, the controller 250 may set the number of representative frames to be extracted differently based on the importance of the generated image data file. When only representative frames of previously stored video data files are stored, the picture quality is somewhat deteriorated at the time of reproduction. When the image is input to the digital video recording apparatus 200, stored in the hard disk drive (HDD), or when frames are deleted to secure storage space, the control unit 250 controls the number of representative frames (E.g., 15 frames).

To this end, the control unit 250 may display (for example, mark) the importance of a specific image data file through a user input. In addition, the controller 250 may set the level of the importance level stepwise. For example, when the importance level 1 is set for a specific video data file, the representative frame is set to 15 frames, and if the importance level 2 is set, the representative frame can be set to 30 frames.

Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 6, a method of displaying the image data recorded on the digital video recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention on a display will be described.

In this regard, FIG. 6 is a view showing screen information related to a video data file recorded on a display connected to the digital video recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

1) may record an image photographed through a connected camera 100 (FIG. 1), and output the recorded image data to a connected display 270. The digital image recording apparatus 200 may be a digital camera, The display 270 may be connected to the digital video recording apparatus 200 through a wired or wireless connection and may display a video stream of a recorded video data file received from the controller 250 on a screen Display.

The control unit 250 may control to output the image data file generated through the display 270 and related screen information.

At this time, the control unit 250 outputs a reproduction image of the generated image data file to the first area of the display 270, and the attribute of the generated image data file and the representative The image of the frame can be controlled to be outputted.

Here, the attributes of the file include, for example, the time of recording, whether the motion of the subject is the sensed image, whether the sensor is the sensed image, and other auxiliary data (for example, image related information stored together with the recorded time) And the presence or absence of the attribute may be displayed, for example, by a predetermined shape, color, text, or the like.

For example, referring to FIG. 6, a display 270 connected to the digital video recording apparatus 200 may display a playback picture (e.g., a CCTV recording screen of a specific place) of a recorded video data file in the first area 710 An indicator 723, a control key 721, and an image 727 of a representative frame may be displayed in the second area 720. At this time, the controller 723 may further display a controller 725 for displaying and changing the position of the playback screen to be displayed in the first area 710.

As described above, in the digital video recording apparatus and the control method thereof according to the embodiment of the present invention, when the storage space of the recorded video data file is insufficient, only the representative frame of the video data file recorded the longest ago, And the storage space is ensured by deleting the video data files, thereby realizing the effect of extending the storage time of the substantially recorded video data files.

The configurations and methods of the embodiments described above with respect to the digital video recording apparatus described above are not limitedly applied, but the embodiments may be modified such that all or some of the embodiments are selectively combined .

Claims (11)

An image data file generation unit for generating an image data file including a plurality of frames by recording an image photographed through a camera;
A first storage unit for storing a plurality of frames of the generated image data file in a recorded time sequence;
Extracting a representative frame of the video data file recorded the earliest from among the video data files previously stored in the first storage unit if the storage space of the first storage unit is in a full state, A controller for deleting frames to secure the storage space; And
And a second storage unit for storing the extracted representative frames in the extracted time order. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein,
Wherein the controller stores or deletes the frame in the first storage unit and the second storage unit using a FIFO (First In First Out) scheme of the circular queue. The method according to claim 1,
The representative frame is an independently reproducible I-frame,
Wherein the plurality of frames depending on the representative frame include at least one of an I-frame, a B-frame, and a P-frame. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein,
If the storage space of the first storage unit is in a full state, the representative frame is extracted in units of a predetermined time from an image data file recorded the earliest among image data files previously stored in the first storage unit Digital video recording apparatus. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein,
Wherein in the first control mode, the extracted representative frame is copied and stored in the second storage unit, and the extracted representative frame is deleted from the first storage unit. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein,
And in the second control mode, the index value of the extracted representative frame is changed to the index value of the next storage position of the second storage unit and is stored in the second storage unit. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein,
And sets the number of representative frames to be extracted differently based on the importance of the generated image data file. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein,
Outputting screen information related to the generated image data file through an external display,
And outputting a reproduction image of the generated image data file to a first area of the external display and outputting an attribute of the generated image data file and an image of a representative frame to a second area of the external display, Digital video recording apparatus. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the image data file generation unit generates the image data file in units of AmpE ' PEG (MJPEG) including at least one I-frame,
If the storage space of the first storage unit is full, the control unit extracts a representative I-frame, stores the extracted I-frame in the second storage unit, and deletes a plurality of frames dependent on the representative I-frame A digital video recording device characterized by. Recording an image photographed through a camera to generate an image data file including a plurality of frames;
Storing the frames of the generated image data file in a first storage unit in the order of recorded time;
Extracting a representative frame of an image data file recorded the earliest among image data files previously stored in the first storage unit if the storage space of the first storage unit is in a full state, Deleting frames to secure the storage space; And
And storing the extracted representative frames in a second storage unit in the extracted time order. 11. The method of claim 10,
Wherein the FIFO (First In First Out) method of the circular queue is used for storing and deleting the frames.

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