KR970002418B1 - Multimedia information providing device and control method - Google Patents

Abstract

an information supplier(10) having plural information sources connected in parallel with each other; a hard disk(12) where plural files, which receives information from the information supplier(10), are connected in parallel with each other; an assistant memory(14) having plural buffers receiving by dividing the time of subscribers who apply the file context in time division method as data; a multiplexor(16) transferring the corresponding information to the subscriber line; and a home terminal(18) receiving information from the multiplexor(16) through a telephone line.

Description

Multimedia information providing device and control method

1 is a block diagram of a conventional multimedia information providing apparatus.

2 is a block diagram of a multimedia information providing apparatus according to the present invention.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of a multimedia information providing apparatus according to the present invention.

* Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

1, 10: information provider 2: distribution switch

3: exchanger 4, 16: multiplexer

5, 18: Home terminal device (Decoder) 12: Hard disk

14: Buffer

20: UNIX computer for real-time multiprocessing

The present invention relates to a multimedia information providing apparatus and a control method thereof, and in particular, requests for information (program) requests from a plurality of subscribers are stored on a hard disk of the same content in units of files, and then first-in-first-out (FIFO) through a computer buffer. The present invention relates to a multimedia information providing apparatus and a control method thereof capable of simultaneously providing a plurality of subscribers with desired information.

Nowadays, the moving picture which provides various information sources for those who cannot obtain the desired information quickly by busy daily life and provides the desired information quickly through the terminal device such as telephone line or personal computer according to the subscriber's information request A multimedia information providing apparatus using a data communication processor that provides information as compressed digital data is widely used. Such a multimedia information providing apparatus includes a plurality of information sources as shown in FIG. The information provider 1 and a distribution switch 2 connected in series to output terminals of the plurality of information sources, respectively, and the plurality of output ports connected in series to a plurality of subscriber lines, respectively. Exchange (3) providing data on and corresponding information on desired receiving channels A multiplexer which outputs a subscriber selection signal in accordance with information from the exchange 3, connects the information from the information provider 1 with the corresponding subscriber line through the distribution switch 2 and outputs the desired information ( 4) and an in-home terminal device 5 which transmits information from the multiplexer 4 to the information receiving channel (e.g., telephone, television or personal computer) requested by the subscriber.

Referring to the operation of the conventional multimedia information providing apparatus configured as described above are as follows.

First, when a subscriber subscribed to an information service company equipped with a multimedia information providing device requests information that he / she wants to be provided, the exchange 3 authorizes the subscriber's desired information to the multiplexer 4. Accordingly, the information provided by the information provider 1 is applied to the multiplexer 4 through the distribution switch 2 connected with the corresponding subscriber rotation by the subscriber selection signal from the multiplexer 4. Thereafter, the information output from the multiplexer 4 is transmitted to the subscriber's telephone or personal computer and television exactly through the home terminal 5. Thus, subscribers are provided with the desired information by phone or by the monitor of the personal computer.

However, in the multimedia information providing apparatus of the above-described configuration operation, each of the plurality of information sources in the information provider 1 is interfaced with a plurality of subscriber lines and one-to-one communication lines through the distribution switch 2 (Interface). Therefore, when multiple subscribers want to receive one information source at the same time, the communication speed decreases due to the relationship of information provided sequentially, and the subscriber who receives the last information about the same information delays the time. The problem is caused by the time wasted.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and the object thereof is that if a plurality of subscribers apply for information provision, the information needs are classified by the same list and stored in a file of a computer, and the file contents are first-in-first-out buffer The present invention provides a multimedia information providing apparatus and a method of controlling the same so that the multiplexer outputs the multiplexer to a plurality of subscribers applying for the same list at the same time.

In order to achieve the above object, the multimedia information providing apparatus according to the present invention receives an information provider having a plurality of information sources connected in parallel with each other, and receives information from the information provider for information request applications classified by the same contents. Auxiliary memory with a plurality of buffers that are inputted as data by dividing the time zone of subscribers who applied for the file contents by time-division method for the files accessed by the hard disk and the hard disk drive in which a plurality of files are connected in parallel. And a multiplexer for transmitting the corresponding information on the data of each buffer in the memory to the subscriber's subscriber line, and the home terminal device receiving the information from the multiplexer through the telephone line.

The buffer in the auxiliary memory is configured to input and output data in a first-in first-out manner.

On the other hand, the hard disk and the auxiliary memory is typically part of a Unix computer for real-time multiprocessing.

In addition, in the control method of the multimedia information providing apparatus according to the present invention, after receiving the desired requirements from a plurality of subscribers, the received requirements are classified by the same contents, and the total execution time and data amount of the information on the classified contents. A first step of calculating a value; A second step of allocating a plurality of files in the hard disk based on the calculated data amount and storing information from the information provider in the respective files; A third step of classifying a subscriber's application time zone with respect to the file information stored for each list and storing the data in a buffer in the auxiliary memory as data and transmitting the desired information to the corresponding subscriber line through a multiplexer; If the request for follow-up information requested during the transfer is not assigned to a file in the hard disk, it is accepted as a new requirement, whereas if the request for follow-up information is already assigned to a file in the hard disk, If the buffer allocation is possible, it is classified into a new application time and stored in the buffer if buffer allocation is possible. If buffer allocation is impossible, the fourth process outputs information on the buffer data being transmitted until buffer allocation is possible. .

As described above, according to the present invention, the requirements of the subscribers are classified by the same list, and the hard disk is allocated to a plurality of files based on the classified list, and the corresponding information is stored in each file and stored in the file. The application time zones that the subscribers applied for are classified and stored in a buffer in the auxiliary memory, and then the desired information is simultaneously transmitted through a plurality of subscriber lines by the memory. Even if it is to be provided in the time zone, it is possible to quickly transfer data.

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

2 is a block diagram of a multimedia information providing apparatus according to the present invention, and reference numeral 10 denotes an information source connected in parallel, for example, a compact disc player (CDP), a compact disc interactive (CD-i) player, and a video tape recorder ( Information retrieval device such as a VTR), a laser disc player (LDP), etc., and 12 receives information from an information source in the information provider 10 for information request applications classified by the same contents. A plurality of files are hard disks connected in parallel with each other, and 14 is an auxiliary memory having a plurality of buffers connected in parallel to the output terminal of each file in the hard disk 12. Each buffer in the auxiliary memory 14 includes: Time zones of subscribers who applied for the contents of a file accessed from a hard disk driver (not shown) are divided into time-sharing methods to convert the data into data. In addition a first-in, first-out storage as soon; is output to the (First In First Out FIFO) manner. 16 is a multiplexer for transmitting the corresponding information on the data stored in each buffer of the auxiliary memory 14 to a plurality of subscriber lines applied for receiving information, and 18 is a home receiving information from the multiplexer 16 at home through a telephone line. Home terminal equipment.

Meanwhile, the hard disk 12 and the auxiliary memory 14 generally correspond to a part of the UNIX computer 20 for real-time multiprocessing.

Referring to the control method of the multimedia information providing apparatus according to the present invention configured as described above based on the flowchart of FIG.

First, in step 30, the UNIX computer 20 for real-time multiprocessing receives a request for information that is desired to be provided from a plurality of subscribers, and accordingly, in step 31, the UNIX computer 20 receives the received requirement. Are sorted by the list of the same content and given a group identification number. Thereafter, in steps 32 and 33, the UNIX computer 20 calculates a total running time and data amount of the information of the arranged list to determine the storage capacity of the hard disk 12. As a result of the determination, when the information on the calculated data amount is sufficiently stored, if the storage capacity in the hard disk 12 is redundant, the process returns to the step 30, while when the information on the calculated data amount is stored. If the storage capacity in the hard disk 12 is not redundant, the hard disk 12 is allocated to a plurality of application information data files without receiving any further information request in step 34. Subsequently, the information from the information provider 10 is stored in the plurality of files allocated in step 35.

Thereafter, in step 36, the UNIX computer 20 determines whether the storage of the information applied from the information provider 10 is completed in the file in the hard disk 12. While the operation of step 35 is repeatedly performed, when the saving is completed, in step 37, the UNIX computer 20 outputs a reception deadline message stating that no more applications will be accepted. The computer 20 allocates the auxiliary memory 14 as a buffer for each group identification number (at this time, the capacity of the buffer is allocated to a small capacity of about 2 Kbytes for outputting information data), and then allocates other than the allocated memory area. It is determined whether there is a sufficient memory area. If the storage capacity of the auxiliary memory 14 is redundant, the operation of step 38 may be repeated. On the other hand, if there is no excess capacity in the storage capacity of the auxiliary memory 14, the standby message is output in step 40. Then, in the plurality of buffers allocated in the auxiliary memory 14 in steps 41 and 42, The data that the subscriber applied for to receive the information is classified in a time division manner and stored in the file until the file is finished. Subsequently, in step 43, the file information on the data stored in the buffer is output in a first-in, first-out manner through the multiplexer 16 to transmit the information to the terminal device of each household through the telephone line. Then, in step 44, the UNIX computer 20 transmits the play time of the transmitted information, for example, when the subscriber receives a movie title that he / she desires to watch the movie. The playback time until the end of playback is transmitted to the subscriber terminal is calculated. Subsequently, in step 45 and step 46, the UNIX computer 20 checks whether another information requirement is applied to determine whether the requested information requirement matches the contents of the existing file assigned in the hard disk 12. F. If the result of the determination does not match the contents of the existing file, it is recognized as a new received item and the process returns to step 30. If the contents match the contents of the existing file, the waiting message is output in step 47 for a predetermined time. The same information applicants are collected and a new buffer is allocated in step 48 to perform the service operation of steps 41 to 47 above. At this time, in step 49, the UNIX computer 20 determines the current storage capacity state in the auxiliary memory 14 and returns to step 38 if allocable, whereas if the allocation is impossible, the UNIX computer 20 outputs the requested information request. The operation after step 43 is repeatedly performed while waiting for the reproduction of the information to end.

According to the multimedia information providing apparatus and control method thereof according to the present invention as described above, after classifying the information on the requirements of the subscribers by the list of the same content and assigning the hard disk to a plurality of files based on the classified list After receiving the information from the information provider and storing it in each file in the hard disk, classifying the application time zone that the subscriber has applied for the information stored in the file, and assigning and storing it as a data in the buffer in the auxiliary memory. Since the desired information is simultaneously transmitted through a plurality of subscribers, even when a plurality of subscribers are provided with the same information in the same time slot, a faster data transmission is possible.

Claims (3)

The information provider 10 having a plurality of information sources connected in parallel with each other, and a plurality of files for receiving information from the information provider 10 for information request applications classified by the same content are connected in parallel with each other. An auxiliary memory 14 having a plurality of buffers for inputting data by dividing a time zone of subscribers who have applied for file contents to a hard disk 12 and a file accessed by the hard disk driver in a time division manner, and the auxiliary memory 14 A multiplexer 16 for transmitting the corresponding information to the subscriber's subscriber line with respect to the data of each buffer of the), and an in-house terminal device 18 for receiving information from the multiplexer 16 through a telephone line. Multimedia information providing apparatus. 2. The multimedia information providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the buffer in the auxiliary memory (14) is configured to input and output data in a first-in first-out manner. A first step of receiving the desired requirements from a plurality of subscribers and classifying the received requirements by the same contents and calculating a total execution time and data amount of information on the classified contents; A second process of allocating a plurality of files in the hard disk 12 based on the calculated data amount and storing information from the information provider 10 in the respective files; A third step of classifying a subscriber's application time zone with respect to the file information stored for each list and storing the data in a buffer in the auxiliary memory 14 and transmitting the desired information to the corresponding subscriber line through the multiplexer 16; If the request for subsequent information requested during the transfer is not assigned to a file in the hard disk 12, the request is accepted, but if the request for subsequent information is already assigned to a file in the hard disk 12, It is determined whether to allocate the buffer in the auxiliary memory 14, and if the buffer allocation is possible, it is classified into a new application time and stored in the buffer. If buffer allocation is not possible, information on the buffer data being transmitted until buffer allocation is possible And a fourth process of outputting the multimedia information providing apparatus.