TWI381317B - Extensible disc player - Google Patents

Description

Scalable CD player

The present invention generally relates to a disc player, and more particularly to a disc player capable of upgrading a new content type.

Optical discs are widely used to store various types of media, such as audio, data, video, images, animation, and the like. Such media information can be encoded in a variety of formats. For example, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, ivx, and H26.L are used for video, MP3 and SACD are used for audio, and Flash and SVG are used for animation. Conventional players typically include a fixed number of decoders that support only a subset of one content type. When a new type of content is introduced in the market, consumers will have to purchase a player with this new type of decoding program to play the new format of the disc. For consumers, this will cause a lot of money, they will have to make difficult decisions, whether to buy a new player now, and then find out that it will be eliminated in a few years, or not to buy a new format CDs, if most consumers decide not to buy a new format of the disc, will seriously hinder the recognition of the new format, which will greatly affect the development of new optical storage technology.

Therefore, it is desirable to provide a player that can not only play existing content types, but also upgrade to play new content types.

The present invention provides an extended optical disc player capable of upgrading and playing a new content type. By downloading an appropriate decoding program from a web server on the Internet, the player's capabilities can be extended, in this way, Player function Play back content that was not originally supported.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an expandable optical disc player, the player comprising: means for determining a type of a content object on the optical disc, and after determining that the content type is unknown, checking whether the optical disc includes the specified URL, A method and apparatus for connecting to a website containing a suitable decoding program and for verifying that the optical disc includes a URL to access the website to download an appropriate decoding program.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the player further includes a method and setting for: presetting a preset URL directory for connecting to a related website for downloading a pre-selected decoding program.

According to still another embodiment of the present invention, the player further includes a method for accessing a website of the player manufacturer to search for an appropriate decoding program after checking to confirm that the content type URL does not exist in the preset URL directory Device.

According to the present invention, the ability to extend the recorder is also provided by downloading an appropriate encoding program.

Other objects and attainments of the present invention will be apparent from the description and appended claims.

1 shows an overview of the operation of an expandable optical disc player 10 that can be connected to the Internet and has a basic protocol stack (eg, HTTP protocol) that supports network access, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Stack). When a disc 20 is inserted into the player 10, the player will attempt to recognize and play back the light. The content of the disc. If the player is unable to process the content format, it will search for and download a suitable decoder from the web server 30 via the Internet. Some basic information about the player and unsupported content items will be included in the request to the web server 30 to search for a suitable decoding program. Such information includes, for example, the model of the player, the model and frequency of the chipset, the operating system version, the content type and version, and the like. After the decoding program is downloaded, it is preferably stored in the player, so that the player does not have to download again the next time the same content type needs to be identified. Because the storage space in the player is limited, the player can only store the decoding programs that have been recently downloaded and frequently used, and the decoding programs are overwritten by fewer users. In a similar manner, the user can also change the preset content type combination supported by the player by storing the pre-selected decoding program in the player. The process of obtaining a suitable decoding program will be described in more detail below in conjunction with FIG.

2 is a flow chart illustrating a process performed by an expandable optical disc player 10 for obtaining a suitable decoding program in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. After the disc is inserted into the player, the player will attempt to present a content item on the disc (step 102) and determine if the content item belongs to a type known to the player (step 106). This can be achieved in several ways: one is to read the table of contents (TOC) on the disc to determine the type of content; the other is to apply the file extension in the file system of the disc to identify the type of content; the third method is to read and The content object has a linked content description file, such as an XML file describing the content attributes.

If the content type is known to the player, the player will load and execute the content item (step 112). However, if the player cannot recognize the content It will attempt to determine if a URL to connect to the website containing the appropriate decoding program is available on the disc (step 116). If the URL does not exist on the disc, the player will read the preset URL directory stored in the player (step 122), which includes some popular decoders for the specific content type. The website is updatable. The player will then check if the URL is included in the preset URL directory (step 126). If the URL does not exist, the player will access the player manufacturer's site to search for a suitable decoder (step 132). The site can be used as a search tool that allows the user to search for a suitable decoding program based on certain relevant information (such as the model of the player, etc.); on the other hand, if it is determined in step 116 that a URL exists on the disc, The player will then apply the URL to access the relevant website (step 136), and then the player determines if the decoding program has been found (step 142), and if found, the player will download the decoding program (step 152) and then begin execution. The content item (step 156). However, if the decoding program is not found, the content object cannot be played by the player, and the player will prompt the user and skip the content object (step 162).

Sometimes it is necessary to play a new content type of content object, not only the decoding program, but also the necessary protocol stack (such as the new streaming media protocol). In this case, if the protocol stack is not on the disc or in the player, the player can perform steps similar to the above to download the protocol stack and run the protocols as plug-ins in the player.

Thus, by downloading the appropriate decoding program, the function of the playback device such as a DVD player is expanded. Similarly, by downloading the appropriate encoding program or plug-in from the Internet, a recorder (such as a DVD+RW burner) The function can also be expanded. For example, if the user wants to record data content in a H.26L format on a recorder that does not initially support the format, the recorder can download and apply the H.26L encoding program.

The principles of the invention can also be applied to other types of players that can be connected to the Internet. For example, MPV (Multiphoto Video standard, more information can be obtained from www.osta.org ) CD player, PhotoCD player, Divx player, MP3 player, etc.

While the present invention has been described in connection with the specific embodiments, it is understood that Accordingly, the alternatives, modifications, and variations are intended to be included in the scope of the invention.

10‧‧‧ Player

20‧‧‧Disc

30‧‧‧Web server

102 to 162‧‧ steps

The invention will be explained in detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 is a schematic view showing the operation of an expandable optical disc player according to an embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 2 is a view showing an expandable optical disc player for obtaining a suitable one according to an embodiment of the present invention; A flowchart of the process of decoding the program.

Throughout the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate similar or corresponding features or functions.

10‧‧‧ Player

20‧‧‧Disc

30‧‧‧Web server

Claims (15)

An expandable disc player comprising: determining means for determining a content type of a content object on a disc, wherein if it is determined that a suitable decoding program for playing the content object is missing, Determining that the content type is unknown; the checking device is configured to check whether an address is available when the content type is unknown, wherein the address represents a URL of a website including a suitable decoding program; and the downloading device For determining that the address is available, for downloading the appropriate decoding program; the pre-storage device is configured to pre-store a preset address directory, and the pre-selected decoding program can be downloaded from the preset address directory; The checking device is configured to check whether an address associated with the determined content type exists in the preset address directory. The player of claim 1, further comprising an access device for accessing a default website when checking that the address associated with the content type does not exist in the preset address directory Search for a suitable decoder. The player of claim 2, wherein the access device comprises a transmitting device for transmitting a request to the preset website for information about the player and the type of the content. A player as claimed in claim 1 further comprising determining means for determining that the suitable decoding program is available, and downloading means for downloading the decoding when it is determined that the appropriate decoding program is available Program. The player of claim 4, further comprising a notification device for notifying a user when it is determined that the suitable decoding program is not available. The player of claim 1, further comprising an enabling means for enabling a user to manually delete a downloaded decoding program. An expandable playback device, comprising: determining means for determining a content type of a content item on a data storage component, wherein the expandable playback device lacks a suitable decoding program to play the content When the object is determined, the content type is determined to be unknown; the determining device determines, when the content type is unknown, whether the data storage component includes a URL address linked to a website including a suitable decoding program; The device is configured to download the appropriate decoding program when determining that the data storage component includes the address; the pre-storage device is configured to pre-store a preset address directory, where the preset address directory includes a link to the website. A pre-selected decoding program can be downloaded from the websites; and an inspection device for checking whether an address of the content type exists in the preset address directory. The playback device of claim 7, further comprising an access device for accessing a manufacturer of the playback device when the address of the content type is not present in the preset address directory , To enable the manufacturer's website to search for a suitable decoding program. The playback device of claim 8, wherein the access device comprises a transmitting device for transmitting a request for the related information about the playback device and the content type to the manufacturer's website. A method for upgrading a disc player, comprising: determining a content type of a content object on a disc, wherein if the player lacks a suitable decoding program to play the content object, determining the content The type is unknown; if the content type is unknown, it is determined whether the disc contains a URL address linked to a website containing a suitable decoding program; if the disc contains the address, the address is used to download a suitable decoding program; pre-stored a preset address directory, the preset address directory includes a link to a website, and a pre-selected decoding program can be downloaded from the website; and if the disc does not include the address, Then, it is checked whether one of the address types of the content type exists in the preset address directory. The method of claim 10, further comprising: if the address of the content type does not exist in the preset address directory, accessing the manufacturer website of the player to enable the website to search for a suitable The steps of the decoding program. The method of claim 11, wherein the accessing step comprises the step of transmitting to the manufacturer website a request for information relating to the player and the type of content. For example, the method of claim 10 of the patent scope further includes: Determine if the appropriate decoding program can be obtained from the website; if the appropriate decoding program is available, the decoding program is downloaded. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of notifying a user if the appropriate decoding program is not available from the website. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of enabling a user to manually delete a downloaded decoding program from the player.