TW201325211A - Video playback apparatus and operation method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A video playback apparatus and an operation method thereof are provided. The video playback apparatus includes a video content interface unit, a network interface unit, a tag-mixer unit and a display unit. The video content interface unit outputs at least a video frame. The network interface unit obtains tag information with at least a tag corresponding to the video frame from a server via a network. The tag-mixer unit outputs a tag layer according to the tag information, and synchronizes the tag layer with the video frame according to video information of the video frame. The display unit stacks the tag layer on the video frame, and displays the tag layer and the video frame.

Description

Video playback device and method of operating same

The present invention relates to a video device, and more particularly to a video playback device and method of operating the same.

At present, more and more people are watching the Internet (such as movies, TV, etc.) while surfing the Internet, and the proportion is increasing year by year. Users are often interested in some (or some) objects that appear in video content. For objects of interest, the user has to manually search the object online. Obviously, such a conventional device may cause inconvenience in use.

The invention provides a video playback device and an operation method thereof for providing an interactive operation interface in video content.

The embodiment of the invention provides a video playback device, including a video content interface unit, a network interface unit, a tag-mixer, and a display unit. The video content interface unit outputs at least one video picture. The network interface unit obtains label information corresponding to the video screen from the server via the network, where the label information has at least one tag. The tag binding unit is coupled to the video content interface unit and the network interface unit. The label combination unit outputs a label layer according to the label information, and synchronizes the label layer with the video screen according to the video information of the video screen. The display unit is coupled to the video content interface unit and the label combination unit. The display unit overlays the label on the video screen and displays the label layer and the video screen.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for operating a video playback device, including: providing at least one video frame; obtaining, by a server, a tag information corresponding to the video frame from a server, wherein the tag information has at least one tag; Generating a label layer according to the label information; synchronizing the label layer with the video screen according to a video information of the video screen; overlaying the label on the video screen; and displaying the label layer and the video screen.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the foregoing network may be a WiFi wireless network, an Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) network, a Cable MODEM network, and a global microwave interworking. (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, WiMAX) network or Long Term Evolution (LTE) network.

In an embodiment of the invention, the label layer is a transparent layer of an On Screen Display (OSD).

In an embodiment of the invention, the position of the label on the label layer corresponds to a position of an object in the video frame.

In an embodiment of the invention, the label comprises an image, a text string or an area.

In an embodiment of the invention, the tag includes a hyperlink.

In an embodiment of the invention, the label includes a location field, a maintenance time field, a mobile field, and a synchronization field.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the label binding unit synchronizes the label layer with the video screen by detecting a time information or a subtitle information of the video information.

In an embodiment of the present invention, after the label is triggered, the display unit displays an information screen corresponding to the at least one label on the label layer according to the label information.

In an embodiment of the invention, the at least one tag is triggered when the user clicks on the at least one tag, or when the program state meets a predetermined condition.

In an embodiment of the invention, the video playback device further includes a second device. After the at least one tag is triggered, the display unit transmits the information screen corresponding to the at least one tag to the second device according to the tag information.

Based on the above, an embodiment of the present invention provides a video playback device and an operation method thereof, which provide an interactive operation interface in a video content by using a label layer. For example, in some embodiments, when the user is interested in an object appearing in the video content, the user only needs to click the label corresponding to the object in the label layer to automatically search the object online.

The above described features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a video playback device 100 according to an embodiment of the invention. The video playback device 100 may be a television set, a set-top box (STB), a computer, or the like. The video playback device 100 includes a network interface unit 110, a label binding unit 120, a video content interface unit 130, and a display unit 140. FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing a method of operating the video playback device 100 according to an embodiment of the invention. Please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 . In step S210, the video content interface unit 130 can obtain a video signal or a video stream from the video source 11, and then provide at least one video frame VC to the display unit 140. While outputting the video screen VC, the video content interface unit 130 can also synchronously output the corresponding video information VI.

The implementation of the above-described video source 11 is not limited herein. For example, if the television system is taken as an example, the video source 11 may be a television content provider (such as a television station, a cable TV manufacturer, etc.), and the video information VI may be television information. The television information may include an Electronic Program Guide (EPG), an Event Information Table (EIT), a Time and Date Table (TDT), and a Time Offset Table (TOT). ), Service Description Table (SDT), Program Association Table (PAT), Program Map Table (PMT), and/or teletext. For example, the video source 11 can be a video recording medium such as a video compact disk (VCD), a digital versatile disc (DVD), or a blue-ray disk. The video information VI may be a time stamp data (TIME STAMP DATA) and/or a subtitle (subtitle).

The server 12 is configured to store and collect information related to the tag information and the video content. According to the relationship between the tag information and the video content related information, the video playback device 100 can correctly display the tag layer TL and the corresponding video frame VC. In step S220, the network interface unit 110 can obtain the label information corresponding to the video screen VC from the server 12 via the network 13, and then transmit the label information having the at least one label to the label combining unit 120. In this embodiment, the network 13 may be a WiFi wireless network, an Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) network, a Cable MODEM network, and a Worldwide Interoperability. For Microwave Access, WiMAX) network or the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Long Term Evolution (LTE) network. In other embodiments, the server 12 may be a local data storage device, and the network 13 may be a local circuit network. For example, the network interface unit 110 can obtain the label information corresponding to the video screen VC from the flash memory via the Universal Serial Bus (USB), and then transmit the label information to the label combining unit 120.

The tag binding unit 120 is coupled to the network interface unit 110 and the video content interface unit 130. The tag combining unit 120 outputs the tag layer TL according to the tag information (step S230), and synchronizes the tag layer TL with the video frame VC according to the video information VI of the video screen VC (step S240). The display unit 140 is coupled to the label combining unit 120 and the video content interface unit 130. The display unit 140 has display elements, drive circuits, control circuits, and/or scalars therein. The display unit 140 overlays the label layer TL on the video screen VC (step S250), and displays the label layer TL and the video screen VC (step S260). The manner in which the label layer TL is superimposed on the video screen VC can be determined according to product design requirements. For example, the label layer TL may be a transparent layer of an On Screen Display (OSD).

For example, the tag binding unit 120 queries the content of the server 12 from the current video information VI of the video playback device 100 through the network interface unit 110 to obtain tag information corresponding to the current video frame VC. In other embodiments, before the video is played, the label binding unit 120 first downloads all the label information corresponding to the movie from the server 12 to the buffer inside the label combining unit 120 through the network interface unit 110. When the video playback device 100 plays the movie, the tag combining unit 120 reads the preloaded tag information from the internal buffer.

Table 1 is a sample data structure and content example for explaining tag information according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is assumed that the video frame VC is from the television stream. Therefore, the tag combination unit 120 can obtain the information such as the program category, the program name, the program time, and the like of the video frame VC from the electronic program guide (EPG) of the video information VI. The network interface unit 110 downloads corresponding tag information from the server 12. The tag information includes multiple fields, such as the related attributes of the video screen VC corresponding to the attribute field record. The content of the attribute field in Table 1 "Travel, All, Sunday 12:30" indicates that the current video format of the video screen is a tourism type, the age rating is universal (all ages can be viewed), and the playing time is Sunday at 12:30 pm. The synchronization field records the synchronization information of the video screen VC. For example, when the synchronization field record "MIT Taiwan Zhi 516 episode 4:30" indicates that a certain tag layer TL should correspond to the video screen VC at 4 minutes and 30 seconds in the "MIT Taiwan" episode 516 episode. Therefore, the tag binding unit 120 outputs the tag layer TL according to the tag information, and synchronizes the tag layer TL with the video frame VC according to the synchronization field of the tag information and the time stamp data in the video information VI.

The tag binding unit 120 of the embodiment shown in the above table 1 synchronizes the tag layer TL with the video frame VC by detecting time information of the video information VI. Table 2 is a diagram showing an example of the structure and content of the tag information according to another embodiment of the present invention. The difference from Table 1 is that the synchronization field of Table 2 records the subtitle content of the video information VI. The tag binding unit 120 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 synchronizes the tag layer TL with the video frame VC by detecting the caption information of the video information VI. For example, when the synchronization field record "MIT Taiwan Zhi 516 episodes: what we see today is the main peak of Yushan", it means that a certain label layer TL should correspond to the subtitle of "MIT Taiwan" episode 516. What we see today is the video screen VC at the main peak of Yushan. Therefore, the label binding unit 120 outputs the label layer TL according to the label information, and synchronizes the label layer TL with the video screen VC according to the synchronization field of the label information and the subtitle data in the video information VI.

After the label combining unit 120 synchronously outputs the label layer TL, the display unit 140 may overlay the label layer TL on the video screen VC and display the label layer TL and the video screen VC. The column information about the label in the above label information is detailed later.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a scenario of a video screen VC and a label layer TL according to an embodiment of the invention. The video screen VC has people, houses and mountains, in which the person wears a watch and wears a hat. The video playback device 100 can obtain the tag information corresponding to the video screen VC from the server 12 via the network 13, and then generate the tag layer TL according to the tag information. In the context example shown in FIG. 3, the label layer TL has labels 311, 312, 313, and 314. The positions of the labels 311 to 314 at the label layer correspond to the positions of the watch, the hat, the mountain, and the house in the video screen VC, respectively. The display unit 140 overlays the label layer TL on the video screen VC, and displays the label layer TL and the video screen VC. The video playback device 100 can provide additional information and/or network applications to the user through the tag layer TL. Several application examples of the label layer TL will be described below, but the application mode of the label layer TL is not limited thereto.

In the first embodiment, the labels 311 to 314 of the label layer TL are character strings in a hidden state. Table 3 is an example of the structure and content of the label 313 in the label information according to an embodiment of the present invention. Other labels may be analogized. The string field shown in Table 3 indicates that the character string of the tag 313 is "Yushan", and the position field indicates that the position of the tag 313 is at the (800, 20) position in the video screen VC. The maintenance time field indicates that the tag 313 will continue to exist in the tag layer TL for up to 10 video frames. The mobile field indicates that the tag 313 moves the tag 313 to the left by a distance of 10 pixels each time the video frame is changed during the 10 video frames. The trigger mode field indicates that the tag 313 is manually triggered by the user.

Since the labels 311 to 314 are hidden, the label layer TL superimposed on the video screen VC does not affect the content of the user viewing the video screen VC. When the user triggers the label layer TL through a remote controller, a mouse, a touch panel, etc., the labels 311 to 314 are also triggered to be converted into a visible state, so that the user can obtain the video screen through the labels 311 to 314. Additional information on VC content. For example, the user can obtain additional information such as the label and model of the watch in the video screen VC through the label 311, and obtain the name of the mountain in the video screen VC through the label 313 as Yushan.

In the second embodiment, the labels 311 to 314 of the label layer TL are geometric regions corresponding to the corresponding objects in the video screen VC. The geometric region can be transparent or translucent. When the user selects/triggers the labels 311 to 314 through a remote controller, a mouse, a touch panel, or the like, the label combining unit 120 synchronously displays an information window on the label layer TL. This information window is partially or completely covered on the video screen VC. For example, FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a scenario of a video screen VC and a label layer TL according to a second embodiment of the present invention. When the user clicks/triggers the tab 312 (ie, clicks on the hat in the video screen VC), the label combining unit 120 synchronously displays an information window on the label layer TL. The tag binding unit 120 displays the additional information of the tag 312 in the information window as "N brand mountaineering hat" according to the above-mentioned display string field. In this embodiment, the command button "Add Queue" is also displayed in the information window. When the user clicks/triggers the command button "Add Queue", the video playback device 100 places the tag 312 in the wish list or Queue. The video playback device 100 of this embodiment is provided with a tag list storage and storage function. When the user selects a tag, the tag is added to the list to facilitate the user to browse afterwards. The function of adding the foregoing label to the list may store only part or all of the content of the label, or may simultaneously store the corresponding video screen VC.

In the third embodiment, the data structure of the tag in the tag information includes a Hyperlink field in addition to the above-mentioned fields. In the case where the video playback device 100 has a communication network, when the user clicks/triggers the tag of the tag layer TL, the tag combining unit 120 synchronously displays an information window (information screen) on the tag layer TL. This information window is partially or completely covered on the video screen VC. The tag binding unit 120 downloads the related webpage of the hyperlinked field through the communication network according to the web address recorded in the hyperlinked field, and then displays the related webpage in the information window. Therefore, when the user is interested in an object appearing in the video content, the video playback device 100 can automatically provide the relevant web page of the object to improve the convenience in use.

In the fourth embodiment, the data structure of the tag in the tag information includes a hyperlink field in addition to the above-mentioned field. For example, FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a scenario of a video picture VC and a tag layer TL according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 5, the second device 500 is coupled to the video playback device 100 via a wired or wireless communication network. The second device 500 may be a notebook computer, a tablet computer, a smart phone, or the like. In the case where the video playback device 100 has a communication network, when the user clicks/triggers the tab 312 (ie, clicks on the hat in the video screen VC), the label binding unit 120 knows the hat according to the display string field described above. It is "N-brand mountaineering hat". Next, the tag binding unit 120 downloads the related information of the "N brand mountaineering hat" through the communication network according to the website address recorded in the hyperlink field, and then the video playback device 100 will have the "N brand mountaineering hat" and related The information screen 510 of the data is transmitted and displayed on the second device 500. In other embodiments, the video playback device 100 may also transmit and display the web address recorded by the "N-brand mountaineering hat" and the hyperlinked field to the second device 500. The second device 500 downloads the related information of the “N-brand mountaineering hat” from the communication network according to the website provided by the video playback device 100, and then the second device 500 displays the information screen 510 with the “N-brand mountaineering hat” and related materials. .

In the fifth embodiment, a plurality of labels on the label layer TL may be presented in different forms. For example, FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a scenario of a video frame VC and a tag layer TL according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 5, the label layer TL has labels 311, 313, and 315. The tag 311 is an icon to display the position of the watch in the video screen VC. The label 313 displays the position of the mountain in the video screen VC in the area indicated by the four L angles. The tag 315 is the position of the character costume displayed on the video screen VC by the character string "Wind Stopper". For the implementation of the labels 311, 313, and 315 of the present embodiment, reference may be made to the related descriptions of the foregoing various embodiments, and thus are not described herein.

In the above embodiments, whether the user selects the label to determine whether to trigger or not, the implementation manner is not limited thereto. For example, when the program status meets a certain preset condition, the label of the label layer is automatically triggered. The preset conditions of the automatic triggering may be used as a preset condition for automatically determining whether to trigger a label according to a program status, for example, an image is paused, an image is not updated, an image is in a waiting state, and an image has no signal. For example, in the process of the video play device 100 playing a fashion show, when the user clicks the freeze button of the remote controller to make the image pause, the label layer TL is automatically triggered. And the label appeared on the clothes of the film character. For example, in the process of the video playback device 100 playing the fashion show, the system image is in a waiting state due to the temporary poor tuner signal, and the label layer TL is automatically triggered on the clothes of the film character. The label appears.

In other embodiments, the automatically triggered preset condition may be a play time of the video content. For example, the trigger of the label is set to "B brand car + 0: 10 time". When the B-brand car advertisement plays to the 10th second, the tag is automatically triggered to display the corresponding additional information (such as hyperlink). After the user manually clicks on the hyperlink, the TV screen enters the website linked to the B brand car. For example, a 30-second car advertising test ride, click on the hyperlink of this tag to enter the car website, watch the interior or make a reservation.

The manner in which the above label information is built may be prepared by the relevant manufacturer and provided to the server 12. For example, the corresponding tag information is prepared in advance by the television station in accordance with the television program. Alternatively, the program provider and the sponsor prepare the corresponding tag information in advance according to the program content to embed the advertisement content in the tag layer TL. Alternatively, the unspecified network user can create the corresponding tag information according to the specific video content, and upload the tag information to the server 12 for others to download. Many people tag the content of the same movie (television) on different platforms (such as personal computers, mobile phones, and tablets) at different times. When the video playback device 100 plays the video (television), the user can see the latest tag and its corresponding content.

In summary, the embodiment of the present invention provides a video playback device and an operation method thereof, and provides an interactive operation interface in the video screen VC by using the label layer TL. For example, in some embodiments, when the user is interested in an object appearing on the video screen VC, the user only needs to click the label corresponding to the object to automatically search the object online to enhance the use. Convenience.

Although the present invention has been disclosed in the above embodiments, it is not intended to limit the invention, and any one of ordinary skill in the art can make some modifications and refinements without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is defined by the scope of the appended claims.

11. . . Video source

12. . . server

13. . . network

100. . . Video playback device

110. . . Network interface unit

120. . . Label binding unit

130. . . Video content interface unit

140. . . Display unit

311~315. . . label

500. . . Second device

510. . . Information screen

S210~S260. . . step

TL. . . Label layer

VC. . . Video screen

VI. . . Video information

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the function of a video playback device according to an embodiment of the invention.

2 is a flow chart showing a method of operating a video playback device according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a scenario of a video screen and a label layer according to an embodiment of the invention.

4 is a schematic diagram showing the context of a video picture and a tag layer according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a scenario of a video screen and a label layer according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a scenario of a video screen and a label layer according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

11. . . Video source

12. . . server

13. . . network

100. . . Video playback device

110. . . Network interface unit

120. . . Label binding unit

130. . . Video content interface unit

140. . . Display unit

TL. . . Label layer

VC. . . Video screen

VI. . . Video information

Claims (24)

A video playback device includes: a video content interface unit for outputting at least one video frame; and a network interface unit for obtaining a tag information corresponding to the video frame from a server via a network, wherein the tag information Having at least one label; a label binding unit coupled to the video content interface unit and the network interface unit, the label combining unit outputs a label layer according to the label information, and based on a video information of the video screen The label layer is synchronized with the video screen; and a display unit is coupled to the video content interface unit and the label binding unit. The display unit overlays the label on the video screen and displays the label layer and the video screen. . The video playback device of claim 1, wherein the network is a WiFi wireless network, an asymmetric digital subscriber loop network, a cable modem network, a global microwave communication network or a Long-term evolution of the network. The video playback device of claim 1, wherein the label layer is a transparent layer of a screen display menu. The video playback device of claim 1, wherein the location of the at least one tag on the tag layer is a location of the at least one object corresponding to the video frame in the video frame. The video playback device of claim 1, wherein the at least one tag comprises an image, a text string or an area. The video playback device of claim 1, wherein the at least one tag comprises a hyperlink. The video playback device of claim 1, wherein the at least one tag comprises a location field, a maintenance time field, and a mobile field. The video playback device of claim 1, wherein the tag information comprises a synchronization field. The video playback device of claim 1, wherein the tag binding unit synchronizes the tag layer to the video frame by detecting a time information or a caption information of the video information. The video playback device of claim 1, wherein after the at least one tag is triggered, the display unit displays an information screen corresponding to the at least one tag on the tag layer according to the tag information. The video playback device of claim 10, wherein the at least one tag is triggered when a user clicks on the at least one tag, or when a program state meets a predetermined condition. The video playback device of claim 1, further comprising: a second device coupled to the video playback device; wherein after the at least one tag is triggered, the display unit corresponds to the tag information And transmitting an information screen of the at least one tag to the second device. A method for operating a video playback device includes: providing at least one video frame; obtaining, by a server, a tag information corresponding to the video image from a server, wherein the tag information has at least one tag; and generating information according to the tag information a label layer; the label layer is synchronized to the video screen according to a video information of the video screen; the label is layered on the video screen; and the label layer and the video screen are displayed. The method for operating a video playback device according to claim 13, wherein the network is a WiFi wireless network, an asymmetric digital subscriber loop network, a cable modem network, and a global microwave interconnection network. Or a long-term evolutionary network. The method of operating a video playback device according to claim 13, wherein the label layer is a transparent layer of a screen display menu. The method for operating a video playback device according to claim 13, wherein the position of the at least one tag on the tag layer is a position corresponding to at least one object of the video frame in the video frame. The method of operating a video playback device according to claim 13, wherein the at least one tag comprises an image, a text string or an area. The method of operating a video playback device according to claim 13, wherein the at least one tag comprises a hyperlink. The method of operating a video playback device according to claim 13, wherein the at least one tag comprises a location field, a maintenance time field, and a mobile field. The method of operating a video playback device according to claim 13, wherein the tag information includes a synchronization field. The method for operating a video playback device according to claim 13 further includes: synchronizing the tag layer with the video frame by detecting a time information or a caption information of the video information. The method for operating a video playback device according to claim 13 , further comprising: triggering the at least one tag; and after the at least one tag is triggered, according to the tag information, corresponding to the at least one tag An information screen is displayed on the label layer. The method for operating a video playback device according to claim 22, further comprising: triggering the at least one tag when a user clicks on the at least one tag, or when a program state meets a preset condition . The method for operating a video playback device according to claim 13 , further comprising: triggering the at least one tag; and after the at least one tag is triggered, according to the tag information, corresponding to the at least one tag An information screen is transmitted to a second device.