RU2368944C2 - Information storage medium for storing metadata, which support several languages, systems and methods of processing metadata - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: information technology. ^ SUBSTANCE: invention relates to information storage medium for storing metadata, which support several languages, and to a device for processing metadata. A metadata file contains several language files, in which there are various versions associated with information resources, written in several languages, and the languages are identified by names of corresponding language files. Names of language files can include a language identifier. The information can also include loading information, associated with several loaded metadata files, which can be loaded from another storage medium. Accordingly, with reference to the list of supported languages, it is possible to provide the user with several versions of metadata, written in one or more languages, and load metadata written in the desired language from a remote server to a display device with limited memory resources. ^ EFFECT: wider functional capabilities due to display of metadata in desired language. ^ 12 cl, 9 dwg

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to metadata and, in particular, to a storage medium for storing metadata to support multiple languages, and to systems and methods for processing metadata.

State of the art

Information storage media, for example digital multifunctional disks (DVDs), can store information resources (i.e., content), such as audio / video data, and information related to information resources, i.e. metadata. Examples of metadata include information regarding the name of a movie stored on a disc, information regarding the date of production of the film, information regarding the actors and actresses who starred in the film, and information regarding the director of the film. Therefore, referring to metadata, the user can easily search for information resources with the desired name or information resources in which a particular actor or actress played the main role.

If metadata is provided in multiple languages, people from different countries can easily search for information resources by referring to different versions of metadata that are written in multiple languages. In other words, a user can search and view metadata using a language that he understands. In addition, metadata written in a language other than the languages that are stored on the information recording means may also be downloaded via the network, or may be copied from another memory for the convenience of the user.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a data format of 100 subtitles. Referring to FIG. 1, subtitle data 100 includes text data 110 that should be displayed as subtitles, synchronization information 120 that determines when text data 110 should be displayed in synchronization with the audio / video stream, display area information 130 , which determines where the text data 110 should be displayed, and display style information 140, which determines that the text data 110 should be displayed according to a particular display style. Information 130 about the display area can be represented as Area (x, y, w, h) to indicate that text data 110 should be displayed in the area with a width of "w" and a height of "h" above the point with coordinates (x, y ) The display style information 140 includes font information, output direction information, and line spacing information regarding text data 110 to be displayed in the same area.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of an example reproducing apparatus 200 for reproducing subtitle data in synchronization with an audio / video stream. Referring to FIG. 2, the reproducing apparatus 200 reads the subtitle data 100, as shown in FIG. 1, from the information storage means 210, downloads the subtitle data 100 from the server 220 via a network such as the Internet 230, and reproduces the 100 subtitle data in synchronization with audio / video stream 240. Data 100 subtitles can be stored in the storage medium in units that are different from the storage units of the audio / video stream 240. In other words, data 100 subtitles that must be superimposed on the image generated by decoding IAOD audio / video stream 240 may be recorded in the information storage means separate from the audio / video stream. In order to provide the user with 100 subtitle data in multiple languages or various types of subtitle data 100, the reproducing apparatus 200 can also download the subtitle data 100 from the server 220 via a network such as the Internet 230, and can play the downloaded subtitle data in the same manner as and subtitle data obtained from the information storage means 210.

As described above, the subtitle data 100 read from the information storage medium or the subtitle data 100 downloaded from the server 220 via the Internet 230, as shown, for example, in FIG. 2, can be provided to the user. Metadata, such as subtitle data, may be obtained from an information storage medium or from a remote server via the Internet, as shown, for example, in FIG. 2, and provided to a user. In other words, metadata written in some languages can be recorded in an information storage medium, and metadata written in some other languages can be stored in a remote server so that it can be downloaded from the information storage medium and from the server via the Internet. However, in conventional methods for expressing metadata that are downloaded via the network, a significant portion of the storage capacity of the storage device may be wasted in order to store metadata. In addition, when searching metadata, it can be determined that two words written in different languages refer to different information, even if they can have the same meaning.

Disclosure of invention

Technical challenge

Therefore, there is a need to provide metadata in a variety of different languages, where metadata is available and updated, even if the memory resources in the playback device and / or in the storage medium are limited so that the user can easily search for information resources in the desired language that he is clear. Methods are also needed to improve the search for metadata so that multiple words that have the same meaning but are written in different languages are not mistakenly treated as different metadata.

Technical solution

Various features of the present invention advantageously provide a means of storing information for storing multiple languages supporting metadata, which can provide a user with the ability to view metadata using a preferred language and search for desired information resources by referencing metadata in different languages using metadata that are stored in it or downloaded from another storage medium, and a method for processing meta data.

Beneficial effects

As described in the present invention, only a list of languages that can be provided by the reproducing apparatus is provided, and metadata written in the desired language can be downloaded from the server where they are stored, with reference to the stored list of languages. Thus, for a playback device, even with limited memory resources, it seems possible to provide metadata to a user in more than one language. This is accomplished by simply downloading metadata from the server. In addition, when searching for metadata, it now seems possible to easily determine whether metadata written in different languages is identical to each other, based on what they refer to, using many sets of parameters in descriptors written in different languages.

Description of drawings

A better understanding of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of examples of embodiments and claims, when read along with the accompanying drawings, all of which form part of the disclosure of this invention. Although the following, written and illustrated, disclosure is focused on the disclosure of examples of embodiments of the invention, it should be clearly understood that this is done only for the purpose of illustration and example, and that the present invention is not limited to them. The essence and scope of the present invention are limited only by the conditions of the attached claims. The following is a brief description of the drawings, in which:

1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a subtitle data format;

figure 2 shows a structural diagram of an example of a device for playback used to play subtitle data in synchronization with the audio / video stream;

3 is a diagram for explaining a method for providing metadata in multiple languages using a manifest file according to an embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a diagram for explaining a method for displaying information resources using a manifest file according to an embodiment of the present invention;

5 is a diagram for explaining a method for naming each of a plurality of metadata written in different languages;

6 is a structural diagram for explaining a method for providing metadata in multiple languages using representative metadata in which language-independent pieces of metadata that can be written in a common language are set as representative metadata according to an embodiment of the present invention;

7A and 7B are diagrams for explaining a method for providing metadata in multiple languages using a plurality of parameter sets related to a descriptor according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

Fig. 8 is a system diagram for explaining a method for updating metadata using a manifest file obtained from an information storage medium and a remote server according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The best embodiment of the invention

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information storage means (medium) for storing metadata used to search for other information storage means. The information storage facility provides information resources; and at least one metadata file in which information regarding information resources is recorded in at least one language. A metadata file contains a plurality of language files in which a plurality of versions of information resources related to information resources written in a plurality of languages are stored, and languages are identified by the names of the corresponding language files.

The names of the corresponding language files may include a language identifier according to ISO639-2.

The information may also include download information regarding a plurality of downloadable metadata files that can be downloaded from another storage medium.

The download information may include server location information determining the location of one or more servers in which the downloaded metadata files are stored.

Download information includes disk identification information by which storage means are identified; language code information regarding a plurality of languages in which downloadable metadata files are written; and server location information defining a location of one or more servers on which downloadable metadata files are stored.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information storage means for storing metadata used to search for other information storage means. The information storage medium includes information resources; and at least one metadata file in which information regarding information resources is recorded in at least one language. The metadata file contains at least one representative metadata file, in which parts related to information resources of information that are language-independent are recorded in a common language.

The metadata file may also include at least one language-dependent metadata file in which portions relating to information resources of information that are language-dependent are written in one of a plurality of languages different from the common language.

A language dependent metadata file may be downloadable via the network.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information storage means storing metadata used to search for other information storage means. The information storage medium includes information resources; and a metadata file in which information regarding information resources is recorded in at least one language. The metadata file contains at least one descriptor containing a plurality of parameter sets, which are a plurality of versions regarding information resources of information written in a plurality of languages.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for reproducing data from an information storage medium includes a local storage device that stores at least one metadata file in which information regarding at least information resources stored in the information storage medium is recorded. in one language; and a search unit that searches for a given information storage medium that satisfies a certain condition by accessing a metadata file stored in the local storage device. A metadata file contains a plurality of language files in which a plurality of versions of information resources related to information resources written in a plurality of languages are stored, and languages are identified by the names of the corresponding language files.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a method for reproducing data from an information storage means includes reading at least one metadata file in which information regarding information resources stored on the information storage means is recorded in at least one language; and searching for a given information storage medium that satisfies a certain condition, referring to a read metadata file. A read metadata file contains a plurality of language files, in which a plurality of versions of information resources related to information resources written in a plurality of languages are stored, and languages are identified by the names of the corresponding language files.

In addition to the examples of embodiments and features described above, other features and embodiments of the present invention will become apparent by reference to the drawings and by studying the following description.

An embodiment of the invention

The present invention is applicable for use with all types of memory or computer-readable means, recording and / or reproducing devices, and computer systems that implement the described methods according to various embodiments of the present invention.

In accordance with the features of the present invention, metadata in multiple languages can be provided in three ways. In the first method, a plurality of versions of metadata written in a plurality of languages other than a predetermined language stored on a disk of a metadata file can be provided using a manifest file that includes language code information regarding languages in which the corresponding versions of metadata are written, and Unified Resource Locator (URL) information that identifies the location of one or more remote servers via a network where the corresponding versions of metadata in different languages are stored Oh. As a result, a playback device with limited memory resources can be advantageously used to provide metadata in multiple languages using a manifest file that contains language code information (language code information), disk identification information identifying the disk, and also URL information .

In the second method, metadata can be classified into language-dependent parts and language-independent parts. Accordingly, representative metadata can be generated using common metadata, which consists of language-independent parts of the metadata and identifiers of languages in which the language-dependent parts are written. As a result, metadata in multiple languages can advantageously be provided with limited memory resources.

In a third method, metadata in multiple languages can be provided using multiple sets of parameters recorded in each descriptor. Each descriptor can include many parameter sets written in different languages, such as English, Chinese, and Korean. As a result, specific words written in different languages and having the same meaning can be predominantly established without any confusion during the search in the metadata.

Therefore, according to the features of the present invention, metadata can easily be updated, even if the means of recording information, such as discs, by this time were released to the market. Otherwise, the addresses of multiple remote servers from which multiple versions of metadata can be downloaded that differ from the versions of metadata stored on disk can be stored in a manifest file stored on disk (first method) or in a shared metadata file (second method). Therefore, the user can determine on which of the remote servers the desired version of the metadata is stored and can download the desired version of the metadata based on the determination results. In a third method, metadata can be updated based on descriptors.

Next, the above-mentioned methods one to three will be described, referring to FIGS. 3-8.

3 is a diagram for explaining a method for providing metadata in multiple languages using a manifest file, according to an example embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 3, a plurality of versions of metadata written in a plurality of languages are stored as separate metadata files, that is, an English metadata file 310, a Japanese metadata file 320, and a Korean metadata file 330. Server location information regarding a plurality of servers that store metadata in other relevant languages is stored in each corresponding metadata file 310, 320, 330. The server location information may be information about a uniform resource locator (URL). An English metadata file 310, a Japanese metadata file 320, and a Korean metadata file 330 may contain various URL information. Available languages are identified by the names of the corresponding language metadata files, such as an English metadata file 310, a Japanese metadata file 320, and a Korean metadata file 330. Names may include a language identifier according to ISO639-2.

The manifest file 340 may include disc identification information 342 used to identify information storage means, such as a disc, language code information 344 used to determine language codes corresponding to metadata files 310, 320, 330, such as English, Japanese and Korean, as well as server location information 346, used to identify one or more remote servers from which metadata in some other languages can be downloaded via the network.

Accordingly, referring to the manifest file 340, the user can examine the list of languages supported by the disk and select one of the languages from the list, or additionally download the version of metadata written in the desired language from server 420 (as will be shown in FIG. 4). For example, if a user wants to download the French version of metadata, the user can check the manifest file 340 for the URL of the server 420, which stores the version of the French metadata. Subsequently, the user accesses the server 420 by clicking on the URL of the server 420 and then downloads a version of the French metadata from the server 420. The manifest file 340 may be generated with a size of 512 bytes for information regarding each language and includes disk identification information 342 , language code information 344 and server location information 346, as shown, for example, in FIG. Thus, assuming that up to 32 versions of metadata written in 32 languages can be provided with a digital multifunction disk (DVD), a manifest file 340 can be generated to have a size of approximately 16 kbytes (= 32x512 bytes), and in this case the maximum The storage required to store 1000 manifest files is approximately 16 MB. In other words, the storage medium may need to store only a small number of metadata files for several languages and server location information for other metadata files in other languages so as to minimize memory resources used.

Therefore, even when the reproducing apparatus has insufficient memory resources, it can still provide many versions of metadata written in many languages, referring to the manifest file 340, which includes disc identification information identifying the disc, language code information concerning the many available languages, and server location information that determines where many versions of metadata can be found, without having to save many versions of metadata in the device e to play. Since many versions of metadata in different languages can be stored on one or more remote servers, or on another storage medium and can be accessed for user convenience, the memory resources assigned to metadata in the information storage medium can be advantageously minimized.

4 is a flowchart for explaining a method for displaying information resources using a manifest file according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 4, in step S410, when an information storage medium, such as a disc 410, is inserted into the reproducing apparatus 400, the manifest file 340 of the disc 410 is stored in the memory of the reproducing apparatus 400. The manifest file 340 includes disc identification information 342 for disc identification, language code information 344 defining languages supported by the disc, and server location information 346 for identifying the location of at least one server 420, as shown in FIG. 3 . In step S420, the URL of the server 420 is stored, which stores the desired version of the metadata written in the desired language, with reference to the server location information 346 included in the manifest file 340. In step S430, the desired version of the metadata is downloaded from the server 420, and downloaded information resources are displayed on the display device 430.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a method for naming each file of a plurality of metadata files written in different languages, such as an English metadata file 310, a Japanese metadata file 320, and a Korean metadata file 330, as shown in FIG. Referring to FIG. 5, if a name is assigned to the metadata file to determine (1) the identification of the disk (disk_id) to which it belongs, and (2) the language code that it supports, then the disk identification information and language code information may be easily obtained from the metadata file name. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the metadata file may be given the name “disk_id_kor.meta”, which is used to identify not only the disk ID (identifier), but also the Korean language (kor) in which the metadata is written. Similarly, the metadata file can be given the name “disk_id_eng.meta”, which is used to identify not only the disk ID, but also the English language in which the metadata is written. Also, the metadata file can be given the name “disk_id_jpn.meta”, which is used to identify not only the disk ID, but also the Japanese language (jpn) in which the metadata is written. Thus, in the manifest file 340, only server location information, i.e., URL information, needs to be included. In other words, the manifest file 340 may need to include only server location information, not disk identification information or language code information. Consequently, the manifest file 340 can be approximately 8KB (= 256 bytes x 32), and in this case, the maximum storage required to store the 1000 manifest files 340 is approximately 8 MB. As a result, a small storage device such as flash memory may be used in place of the hard disk. Thus, a reproducing apparatus 400 having a small storage capacity, for example a reproducing apparatus with a flash memory instead of a hard disk, can still provide metadata in multiple languages.

6 is a flowchart for explaining a method for providing metadata in multiple languages using representative metadata in which language-independent pieces of metadata that can be written in a common language are set as representative metadata according to an example embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 6, metadata can be classified into language dependent parts and language independent parts. For example, language-dependent pieces of metadata, such as the names of actors and actresses, the name of the disc, and the name of the manufacturer of the information resources, are those that can be entered by the information resource provider in different languages, and therefore are stored as separate metadata files, i.e. files 610-640 language dependent metadata. On the other hand, language-independent pieces of metadata are stored as a 650 file of common metadata. Language-independent parts included in the 650 general metadata file may contain the playing time of information resources, the type of audio file and spatial resolution, which are provided by the disc 410 and which are expressed equally regardless of the language, and information about the genre, which is selected from the list and can be automatically translated device 400 for playback, as shown in Fig.4.

File 650 common metadata includes general data that can be reproduced regardless of the language of information resources reproduced from any file 610, 620, 630, 640 language-dependent metadata on disk 410. Thus, file 650 common metadata can be designated as representative metadata file. Language code information regarding language dependent metadata files 610-640 may also be included in the general metadata file 650. The language-dependent parts of the metadata for another language (not accessible from files 610-640 language-dependent metadata) can also be additionally downloaded from another storage medium or from remote servers via a network so that additional languages can be supported.

7A and 7B are diagrams for explaining a method for providing metadata in various languages using a plurality of parameter sets in a descriptor according to an example embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIGS. 7A and 7B, metadata can be represented as a metadata file 700, which includes a header 710 and a plurality of descriptors 720A-720N, where each descriptor includes a plurality of parameter sets written in multiple languages. As a result, a plurality of parameter sets in a descriptor can be generated in a plurality of languages supported by an information storage medium such as a disk 710, instead of storing a plurality of versions of metadata written in a plurality of languages as separate metadata files. For example, an actor / actress descriptor may include a set of Korean parameters containing the names of many actors, such as Jackie Cheng, Chris Tucker, Tom Wilkinson and Tzi Ma, written in Korean, a set of English parameters containing the names of actors written in English, and a set of Chinese parameters containing the names of the actors written in Chinese. A plurality of descriptors 720A-720N, where each of the descriptors contains a plurality of parameter sets written in a plurality of languages, may constitute a single metadata file 700 that is available on an information storage medium such as the disk shown in FIG. 4. A parameter set written in a language other than a plurality of languages can also be further downloaded from the remote server 420 via the network, as shown in FIG. Thus, the metadata file 700 can be updated in units of descriptors. When the metadata file 700 is updated, the update information may be stored in the header 710 of the metadata file 700. For example, referring to FIG. 7A, if a set of Japanese parameters and a set of French parameters are added to the “actor / actress” descriptor, information about the added languages can be written to the header 710 of the 700 metadata file.

In the method illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B, it is easy to determine whether a plurality of parameter sets written in a plurality of languages are one and the same. For example, in the method illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the name of the actor Jackie Chan, spelled in different languages, for example, English, Chinese, and Korean, can be classified as belonging to different sets of parameters in the same descriptor, thereby making it easier to determine whether the names of the actor, written in different languages, to the same person. As a result, it seems possible to reduce the likelihood that multiple versions of metadata written in multiple languages will be defined as different metadata.

Thus, according to the methods illustrated in FIGS. 3, 6, 7A and 7B, it is also possible to easily update metadata. In other words, according to the methods illustrated in FIGS. 3,6,7A and 7B, it is possible to easily update metadata in several ways: (1) by downloading a plurality of metadata files for a plurality of languages from respective servers, as described in relation to FIG. 3; (2) downloading a plurality of language-dependent metadata files from respective servers, as described in conjunction with FIG. 6; or alternatively, (3) loading a plurality of parameter sets into a descriptor written in a plurality of languages from respective servers, as described in conjunction with FIGS. 7A-7B. In the case of updating metadata, disc identification information can be used to identify the disc, and additional identification information or URL information can be used to control the version of metadata information that can be updated.

FIG. 8 is a system diagram for updating metadata using a manifest file stored on an information storage medium and on a server according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 8, the system includes a reproducing apparatus 800, information storage means 810, and a remote server 820. The reproducing apparatus 800 is provided with memory 802 (i.e., local storage) and search mechanisms (not shown) to enable a user to Search for information resources by referencing metadata. The manifest file 340 stored on the information storage means 810, such as a disk, includes URL information regarding a plurality of servers that are accessible via the network, and the manifest file 340 stored on the server 820 includes a list of languages that can be supported. Thus, it is possible to select and download metadata written in one of the languages listed on the server 820. For example, if the user already has an English version of the metadata stored on the information storage medium 810 and wants to download a different version of the metadata written in a language other than English (for example, Japanese or Korean), which is stored elsewhere using the one stored on the server 820 manifest file 340, the user can check the list of sites that are installed in many languages other than English, and from which many versions of metadata written in many languages can be downloaded, from liable from English. Further, the user can download the metadata file 340 by selecting and downloading a version from a variety of versions of metadata written in a variety of languages other than English. Similarly, metadata that is classified into language-dependent and language-independent parts, as described in conjunction with FIG. 6, and a metadata file including descriptors, as described in relation to FIGS. 7A-7B, can also be updated. in the same manner as described in FIG.

Various embodiments of the present invention used to process metadata can be implemented as computer programs, and can be implemented on general purpose digital computers that run programs using a computer-readable recording medium. Examples of computer-readable recording media include magnetic storage media (e.g., read-only memory, floppy disks, hard drives, etc.), optical recording media (e.g., CD-ROM, DVD, etc.) and recording media, such as carrier waves (e.g., transmission over the Internet). A machine-readable record can also be distributed over networked computer systems so that the machine-readable code is stored and executed in a distributed manner. In addition, functional programs, codes, and code segments for implementing the present invention can be easily implemented by programmers skilled in the technical field to which the present invention relates.

Despite the fact that it has been illustrated and described that is considered as examples of embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and modification may be made therein, and elements may be replaced with equivalents without leaving beyond the essence and scope of the present invention. For example, while metadata processing techniques are used, as described in relation to FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 5, FIG. 6, FIGS. 7A-7B, and FIG. 8, other computer-readable storage media may also be used, such as read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), CD-ROM, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, optical storage media and carrier waves. Similarly, the central controller may be implemented as a chip, or alternatively, as a general or special purpose computer that is programmed to perform methods as described with reference to FIG. 3, FIG. 6 and FIGS. 7A-7B. Accordingly, it is understood that the present invention is not limited to the disclosed examples of embodiments, but the present invention includes all embodiments within the scope of the attached claims.

Claims (12)

1. A means of storing information containing:
informational resources; and
at least one metadata file in which information regarding information resources is recorded in at least one language;
wherein the metadata file is used to search for information resources, in a language corresponding to the metadata file, the metadata file name contains a language code indicating the language used in the metadata file, and the language code from the metadata file name is used by the playback device to identify the language used in the metadata file . 2. The information storage medium according to claim 1, in which the language code contains a language identifier according to ISO639-2. 3. The information storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the information related to information resources also contains download information regarding a plurality of downloadable metadata files that can be downloaded from another storage medium. 4. The information storage medium according to claim 3, wherein the download information contains server location information for determining the location of one or more remote servers, via a network in which, respectively, downloadable metadata files are stored. 5. The information storage medium according to claim 3, wherein the download information comprises:
disc identification information identifying said information storage means;
language code information regarding various languages in which downloadable metadata files are written; and
server location information identifying the location of one or more servers that store downloadable metadata files. 6. A device for processing data from a storage medium containing:
a reading unit that reads from the information storage medium information resources and at least one metadata file in which information regarding information resources is recorded in at least one language;
a search unit that provides the user with the ability to search for information resources using a metadata file in a language corresponding to the metadata file,
the metadata file name contains a language code indicating the language used in the metadata file. 7. The device according to claim 6, in which the language code contains a language identifier according to ISO639-2. 8. The device according to claim 6, in which the reader reads download information regarding the plurality of downloadable metadata files that can be downloaded from another storage medium. 9. The device according to claim 6, in which the download information contains information about the location of the server for determining the location of one or more servers, through the network in which the downloaded metadata files are stored. 10. The device according to claim 6, in which the metadata file contains at least one representative metadata file, in which parts relating to information resources of information that are language independent are recorded in a common language. 11. The device according to claim 10, in which the metadata file also contains at least one language-dependent metadata file, in which parts related to information resources of information that are language-dependent are written in one of a variety of languages that differ from the general language. 12. The device of claim 8, in which the boot information contains: disc identification information identifying information storage means; language code information regarding the different languages in which downloadable metadata files are written; and server location information defining a location of one or more servers in which downloadable metadata files are stored.

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