TWI634442B - Methods and apparatuses for providing content based on original content and computer-readable recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a method for providing content, including storing, by a first device, a first The content is in a location and stores information that defines the access rights to the first device stored in the first device; the second device sends the second content associated with the first content, accesses the first A third device receives access information of a content and location information identifying the location. In response to receiving a request based on location information and access information, the first device determines that the first content is accessible to a user of the third device based on the information.

Description

Method and system for providing content based on original content and computer Read recording media

The present invention relates generally to methods and devices for providing content over a network, and more specifically, the present invention relates to methods and devices for providing content over a network, wherein The original information of the content is provided for use. The invention further relates to a method and equipment for efficiently backing up data to a plurality of storage devices connected via a network, a backup data providing device, and a backup system.

The term "content" generally refers to various materials such as characters, symbols, voice, images, or video used over a wired or wireless network. Due to the development of information technology (such as the development of information technology provided by the Internet, digital cameras and mobile phones), meaningful information has been made available faster and people can communicate via communication networks compared to conventional media. While sharing their content with other users.

The content may be shared by users connected via the Internet by using various methods (eg, via a web page, a blog, or a web magazine in a bulletin board format). Generally, the content represented on a web page is transcoded or resized to a format suitable for the web page and made available to other users via the Internet. For example, when a user presents his or her photos via a blog, the user edits the photo by uploading it to the blog by reducing the size or capacity of the original photo.

However, according to conventional methods, the content provided via the Internet may be different from the original content, and people who want to use the original content may have difficulty using the original content.

Recently, various content receiving devices have become available, which include a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a smart phone, a Portable Multimedia Player (PMP), a mini notebook computer, and the like. Since these content receiving devices operate differently due to differences in resolution or available codecs, the performance of the devices needs to be considered when providing content to various types of content receiving devices.

Recently, with the increasing demand for better hardware performance and higher quality data, various types of devices (including cameras, camcorders, PCs, mini notebook computers, smart phones, and personal video recorders (Personal Video Recorder (PVR)) is now able to handle larger size data. Although advances in memory technology have increased the storage capacity of these devices, considering the limited data storage capacity of the devices, the size of animation data or audio data is still high.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and device for providing content via a network, wherein the convenience of accessing the original content is increased by providing location information of the original content, and a method and device for receiving content are provided.

Embodiments of the present invention also provide a method and apparatus for modifying content to make it suitable for the performance of a content receiving device and providing the modified content.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a method for providing content is provided, including: storing a first content in a location and storing information by a first device, wherein the information defines a content stored in the first device; Access right to the first device; through the second device, transmitting second content associated with the first content, and access information for accessing the first content stored in the first device 3. Identify the location information of the location to a third device, wherein the first content is stored in the location. In response to receiving a request based on the location information and the access information for accessing the first content stored on the first device, the first device is The information stored in the access right determines that the first content is accessible to a user of the third device.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a system for providing content is provided, including: a first device including at least one processor, the at least one processor is configured to control the first device to store the first content in A location and storing information, wherein the information defines an access right to the first device stored in the first device; and a second device includes at least one processor, the at least one processor Configured to control the second device to transmit second content associated with the first content, to access access information of the first content stored in the first device, to identify the location To the third device, wherein the first content is stored in the location. Wherein, in response to receiving a request based on the location information and the access information for accessing the first content stored by the first device, the first device is based on defining The information of the access right stored in a device determines that the first content is accessible to a user of the third device.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having an embedded computer-readable code is provided, which when executed by a system, causes the system to execute a method for receiving content. The method includes: storing first content in a location and storing information by a first device, wherein the information defines an access right to the first device stored in the first device; and With the second device, the second content associated with the first content, the access information for accessing the first content stored in the first device, and the position information identifying the location are transmitted to the third A device in which said first content is stored at said location. Wherein, in response to receiving a request based on the location information and the access information for accessing the first content stored by the first device, the first device is based on defining The information of the access right stored in a device determines that the first content is accessible to a user of the third device.

The invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the invention are shown.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a content sharing system 100 operated over a network according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the content sharing system 100 includes a content providing device 110, a storage device 120, and a content receiving device 130 interconnected via a predetermined network 140.

The content providing device 110 and the content receiving device 130 may be any of various devices that support various types of wired or wireless networks 140, such as a portable multimedia player (PMP), an ultra mobile personal computer (Ultra Mobile Personal Computer, UMPC), laptop, mobile phone, digital camera, or personal computer (PC). Also, the content providing device 110, the storage device 120, and the content receiving device 130 may be client devices constituting a home network system connected to a controller such as a home gate or a home server. For example, the content providing device 110, the storage device 120, and the content receiving device 130 may interact with each other via the network 140 in accordance with the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) standard regarding the control of household appliances to share content. Connected device.

The network 140 includes one of a short-distance network and a long-distance network. The network 140 may use a wireless Internet solution (such as Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi, WiBro, Ultra Wide Band (UWB) or the like), or a wired Internet solution (such as IEEE 1394, B Ethernet or the like).

The storage device 120 is a network storage device for storing original content. The storage device 120 may be a storage device accessible via a network. For example, the storage device 120 may be a network attached storage (Network Attached Storage, NAS). Although in the embodiment of FIG. 1, the storage device 120 storing the original content is separate from the content providing device 110, the storage device 120 may be integrated with the content providing device 110.

The content providing device 110 modifies the attributes of the original content stored in the storage device 120 to generate the modified content, and generates the location information of the storage device 120 as the metadata.

The content receiving device 130 retrieves the location information of the storage device 120 storing the original content from the modified content and metadata provided by the content providing device 110, and accesses the storage device 120 to receive the original content.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the content providing apparatus 210 illustrated in FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the content providing device 210 includes an original content modifying unit 211, a meta data generating unit 212, and a content providing unit 213.

The original content modification unit 211 modifies the attributes of the original content stored in the storage device 120 to generate modified content. The original content modification unit 211 is connected to the storage device 120 via the network (as illustrated in FIG. 1).

For example, when sharing content by uploading content via a web page (like a blog), the capacity of additional files supported by the web page may be limited, or uploading may take a long time. Therefore, in order to effectively provide the content on the web page, the original content modification unit 211 reduces the capacity of the original content. As another example, when providing a high-resolution photographic image to a content receiving device 130 having a limited resolution, such as a PMP or a mobile phone, the original content modification unit 211 takes into account the storage capacity or analysis of the content receiving device 130 The original image is resized to produce a modified image.

FIG. 3 is a diagram explaining a process of modifying the attributes of the original content by the original content modifying unit 211 illustrated in FIG. 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, for example, when the resolution of the original image 310 corresponding to the original content is 2592 × 1944, the original content modification unit 211 resizes the original image 310 to generate a modified image, such as a resolution having 1920 × 1980. The image 311 having a resolution of 1024, the image 312 having a resolution of 1024 × 768, the image 313 having a resolution of 800 × 480, or the image 314 having a resolution of 400 × 240. The resolution of the image to be uploaded to a specific webpage can be limited, and therefore the original content modification unit 211 modifies the resolution of the original image to an appropriate resolution according to the resolution of the image file supported by the webpage (which will be provided with the content). Degrees (as illustrated in Figure 3) to produce a modified image.

If the storage capacity of the content receiving device 130 interconnected via the network 140 is insufficient or the resolution supported by the webpage is lower than the resolution of the original content, the original content modification unit 211 resizes the original content to generate a small-capacity content . For example, when the content receiving device 130 is a mobile phone and the display of the mobile phone has a maximum resolution of 800 × 480, the original content modification unit 211 adjusts the size of the original image so that it is the best 800 × for the display of the mobile phone. 480 images.

When the original content is a video file and the content receiving device 130 does not support a codec for encoding the video file, the original content modifying unit 211 converts and encodes the original video file to generate a file having Another video file in video codec format.

Meanwhile, as described above, the content providing device 210 may allow the content attributes of the content receiving device 130 to be automatically modified according to the storage capacity or resolution of the content receiving device 130, or allow the user to select for modification through a user interface (not shown) The method of the properties of the original content. For example, the resolution information of the original image can be displayed through the user interface and the available resolution of the original image can be modified, and the user can choose to modify the original image to have the desired resolution.

The metadata generating unit 212 generates metadata including the location information of the storage device 120 storing the original content.

The content providing unit 213 provides modified content and metadata to devices interconnected via a network.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating relay data according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, the metadata according to the current embodiment of the present invention includes content metadata, device metadata, and user metadata.

Content metadata includes content ID, original content location information, and original content access rights information.

The content ID is used to identify the type of content shared via the network. The original content location information is the location information of the storage device 120 storing the original content, and may be in a Universal Resource Locator (Universal Resource Locator, URL) format. In detail, the original content location information includes a protocol and a storage path of the original content. For example, the original content location information can be represented in a format such as "protocol: // location of storage device where original content is stored". For example, if the location of the storage device 120 is represented as http://www.samsung.com/private_contents , URL information can be added to the metadata as the original content location information.

The original content access rights information can be used to prevent the original content from being shared by any user. For example, the above original content location information may be encoded, and the encoding key information used to decode the encoded original content location information may be the original content access rights information.

Device metadata is information about transfer history details when modified content is transferred between devices. For example, when the modified content is transferred from the first device (device ID = 1) via the second device (device ID = 2) to the third device (device ID = 3), the modified content stored in the third device The device metadata of the content may include ID information of the first device and the second device indicating a path that the content has passed. Therefore, content transmission paths and flows of invalid content can be tracked by using device metadata.

User metadata includes edit history and account information. The edit history contains information about the edited details of the modified content. For example, in the case of resized image content, its editing history metadata may include size information of the original image and information about modified details of the original image. In the case of a transcoded video file content, its editing history metadata may include the codec information of the original video file. Account information represents identifying information about the user who provided the content. For example, in the case of content provided to a specific web bulletin board, its account information may be ID information of a user who uploads the corresponding content to the web bulletin board.

As described above, according to the current embodiment of the present invention, the content providing device 210 includes the location information of the original content of the modified content in the metadata, and thus other devices that share the modified content via the network may be in use by Follow the location information of the data to easily access the original content.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a content receiving apparatus 500 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, the content receiving device 500 includes a content receiving unit 510, an additional data extraction unit 520, an input unit 530, and a control unit 540.

The content receiving unit 510 is a communication module that performs data communication with other devices connected to a network and receives content shared via the network.

The additional data extraction unit 520 retrieves additional data of the received content from the metadata of the received content (as explained above in FIG. 4). The additional data extraction unit 520 retrieves the location information of the original content from the metadata of the received content, and the user selects whether to receive the original content via the input unit 530 when necessary to allow the original content to be received. The control unit 540 controls operations of each of the elements of the content receiving apparatus 500.

6A and 6B illustrate a process of receiving original content according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIGS. 6A and 6B, a mobile phone 600 supporting network connection is described as a content receiving device.

Referring to FIG. 6A, when a mobile phone 600 supporting a network connection is connected to a predetermined web page providing content via a network such as a Wi-Fi network, the content lists 621 to 624 appear on the display unit 610 of the mobile phone 600. Referring to FIG. 6B, in a case where the user supports touch recognition via the input unit 630 or the mobile phone 600, one of the contents on the content list 621 to 624 is selected by touching a desired content area on the mobile phone 600 At this time, the data 625 for asking the user whether to receive the original content is displayed via the display unit 610, and the user selects whether to receive the original content through a selection interface 626 or 627.

When the user chooses to receive the original content, the content receiving unit 510 requests the storage device storing the original content to transmit the original content by using the location information of the original content retrieved from the additional information extraction unit 520. The storage device determines whether the receiving device that has requested to transmit the original content has the access right to the original content to determine whether to transmit the original content.

As described above, the original content can be restricted, for example, by encoding the location information of the original content stored in the metadata and granting access to the encoding key that can only be decoded by authorized users as the original content access rights information. Access to content. According to another example, the storage device that stores the original content may have a list of user IDs or device IDs that have access to the original content; and when making a request to access the original content, the storage device may Whether the request for access to the original content was made by a user or device listed on the list to allow or disallow the request, thereby selectively providing the original content.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a content providing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, in step 710, the original content is stored in a predetermined storage device. As described above, the storage device may preferably be a storage device accessible via a network such as a NAS.

In step 720, the original content modification unit 211 of the content providing device 210 modifies the attributes of the original content to generate modified content. As described above, when uploading content to a web page, the capacity of the original content is reduced by considering the size of the additional files supported by the web page. In addition, the content providing device 210 processes the original content in consideration of the storage capacity or resolution of the content receiving device 220 into a format suitable for the content receiving device 220 to generate modified content.

In step 730, the metadata generating unit 212 generates metadata including at least the location information of the original content. The location information indicates the access route of the storage device storing the original content on the network, and may be a URL format as described above.

In step 740, the modified content and metadata are provided to other devices interconnected via the network by using the content providing unit 213.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a content receiving method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 8, in step 810, predetermined content is provided by other devices interconnected via a network using the content receiving unit 510.

In step 820, the additional data extraction unit 520 retrieves the location information of the original content from the metadata of the original content.

In step 830, the content receiving unit 530 requests the storage device storing the original content to transmit the original content by using the captured location information of the original content, and receives the original content from the storage device.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a process of providing original content in a content sharing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 9, in step 941, the original content is stored in a storage device 920 accessible via the network. In step 942, the original content is provided to the content providing device 910. In step 943, the content providing device 910 is additionally provided with information about the content receiving device 930, such as the storage capacity or resolution of the content receiving device 930.

In step 944, the content providing device 910 modifies the original content into a format suitable for the content receiving device 930 in consideration of the storage capacity or resolution information of the content receiving device 930. For example, the video content is resized in consideration of the storage capacity and resolution of the content receiving device 930, and the video content is transcoded in consideration of the playable codec of the content receiving device 930.

In step 945, the content providing device 910 generates metadata including the location information of the storage device storing the original content. Then, the content providing device 910 provides the modified content and metadata to the content receiving device 930 interconnected via the network.

In step 947, the content receiving device 930 retrieves the location information of the storage device storing the original content from the metadata. Next, in step 948, the content receiving device 930 requests the storage device 920 to provide the original content. In step 949, the storage device 920 compares the user ID or device ID that allows access to the original content with the user ID or device ID of the content receiving device 930 that has requested the original content to determine whether the request is made by the Content access rights made by the device. When the user ID or device ID is a user ID or a device ID of a user or a device having an appropriate access right, the storage device 920 provides the original content to the content receiving device 930 in step 950.

According to the present invention, the convenience of accessing the original content can be increased by using the metadata of the content.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a network-operated content sharing system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 10, the content sharing system includes a content providing device 1010 and a content receiving device 1030 interconnected via a predetermined network 1020.

The content providing device 1010 includes a content storage unit 1011, a content modification unit 1012, a device information storage unit 1013, and a communication unit 1014.

The content storage unit 1011 stores content data to be provided to the content receiving device 1030.

The communication unit 1014 receives the device status information of the content receiving device 1030 from the content receiving device 1030, and stores the received device status information in the device information storage unit 1013.

FIG. 11 is a view illustrating an example of device state information of a content receiving device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 11, the device status information includes information about the performance of the device, such as the resolution and storage capacity of the content receiving device and the audio / video format supported by the content receiving device or the like. As illustrated in FIG. 11, the device status information may further include user setting information preset by a user. For example, referring to the status information of the first device from the content receiving devices interconnected via the network, the resolution of the first device is 640 × 480, and its storage capacity (which relates to the remaining capacity / total storage capacity) 20 GB out of a total of 500 GB. In addition, the device status information of the first device indicates that the first device supports codecs of DivX, MPEG-4, and JPEG. In addition, the user sets the resolution of 320 × 240 and the DivX codec as attributes of the content to be received by the first device. The user setting information may be stored in the device status information in advance and then transmitted, or may be set in real time by the user via the user interface 1033 of the content receiving device 1030 (as shown in FIG. 10).

Referring again to FIG. 10, the content modification unit 1012 obtains performance and user setting information of the current device that will receive content by using status information stored in the device information storage unit 1013 of multiple devices, and modifies the content stored in the content storage unit. The attributes of the content in 1011 are adapted to the content receiving device 1030. For example, assume that the first device illustrated in FIG. 11 is a current content receiving device, and the content being provided is a video file with a resolution of 800 × 600 and encoded by an H.264 codec. In this case, the content modification unit 1012 changes the resolution of the video file stored in the content storage unit 1011 to 640 × 480 (based on the resolution of the first device) or 320 × 240 (based on the user setting information) ), And by converting and encoding an H.264 codec that is not supported by the first device into a DivX codec or MPEG4 codec that is supported by the first device, or by converting and encoding into DivX codec to modify the attributes of video files. The content modified by the content modification unit 1012 is transmitted via the communication unit 1014 to the content receiving device 1030 interconnected via the network 1020. Alternatively, or in addition, the content modification unit 1012 may consider the size of the content to be transmitted and the remaining storage space of the content receiving device 1030, and modify the content by adjusting the content to a format that can be received by the content receiving device 1030 to modify the attributes of the content.

The content receiving device 1030 includes a communication unit 1031, a storage unit 1032, a user interface 1033, and a control unit 1034.

The user interface 1033 corresponds to an input unit that allows the user to display a list of content provided by the content providing device 1010 and select the content the user wants to receive and the attributes of the content.

The communication unit 1031 transmits the content information selected by the user interface 1033 and the status information of the content receiving device 1030 to the content providing device 1010. The storage unit 1032 stores content received from the content providing device 1010, and the control unit 1034 controls each of the elements of the content receiving device 1030.

12A to 12D illustrate a process of receiving content based on device state information of a content receiving device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 12A and 12D illustrate the mobile communication terminal 1200 as a content receiving device supporting a network connection. In addition, the video content is described as the content received by the mobile communication terminal 1200 in FIGS. 12A to 12D.

12A, when a mobile communication terminal 1200 supporting a network connection is connected to a content providing device via a network (such as Wi-Fi, 3G, etc.), the content providing device provides content to the display unit 1210 of the mobile communication terminal 1200 List of contents from 1211 to 1214. The user selects one of the contents 1211 to 1214 by touching a region displaying a desired content via a predetermined input unit 1230 or in a case where the mobile communication terminal 1200 supports touch recognition. Referring to FIG. 12B, when the user selects content, an input window 1215 of "Ask whether to receive content" is displayed on the display unit 1210, and the user selects whether to receive the content via the input unit 1230 or the selection interface 1216 or 1217.

Referring to FIG. 12C, when the user selects receiving content, an input window 1221 for selecting a resolution of the content to be received is displayed on the display unit 1210. The user selects the resolution of the content to be received via the input unit 1230 or by touching an area displaying the desired resolution.

Referring to FIG. 12D, after the user has selected the resolution of the content, an input window 1222 for selecting a codec of the content to be received is displayed on the display unit 1210. The user may select the codec of the content to be received via the input unit 1230 or by touching an area displaying a desired codec.

As illustrated in FIGS. 12A to 12D, the user setting information determined according to the user's selection in the content receiving device is transmitted to the content providing device, and the content providing device can determine the content based on the user setting information as described above Attributes to provide modified content to the content receiving device. In addition, when there is no user setting information or the user has automatically selected content transmission, the content providing device may modify the attributes of the content to be suitable for the performance of the content receiving device to provide the modified content.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a content providing method according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 13, in step 1310, the content providing device 1010 obtains device state information of the content receiving device 1030. As described above, the device status information may include the resolutions available in the content receiving device 1030, the remaining capacity of the content receiving device 1030, and the file codecs supported by the content receiving device 1030.

In step 1320, the content providing device 1010 modifies the attributes of the content provided to the content receiving device 1030 by using the device status information of the content receiving device 1030.

In step 1330, the content providing device 1010 provides the modified content to the content receiving device 1030 via the network.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a content receiving method according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 14, in step 1410, content to be received is selected from content provided by the content providing device 1010 via the user interface 1033 of the content receiving device 1030.

In step 1420, the content receiving device 1030 transmits its device state information to the content providing device 1020.

In step 1430, the content providing device 1010 uses the received device status information to modify the attributes of the content to make it suitable for the content receiving device 1030 and transmits the modified content to the content receiving device 1030, and the content receiving device 1030 receives the Modify content.

According to the present invention, by providing content suitable for the performance of the content receiving device or the user setting information, the compatibility of the content can be improved, and the usability of the content can be improved.

Hereinafter, embodiments of a backup device according to the present invention are described in detail. The term "storage device" as used herein means from a dedicated storage device (such as a hard disk, memory, CD, DVD, Blu-ray, HD-DVD, and holographic recording medium) to another capable of storing from a network connection Devices (such as PCs, laptops, mini-notebooks, camcorders, mobile communication terminals, home media servers (HMS), and personal video recorders (Personal Video Recorder) , PVR)).

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram illustrating a data backup system 1500 for backing up data over a network according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 15, the data backup system 1500 includes a data providing device 1510, a first storage device 1520, and a second storage device 1530 interconnected via a network 1540. Although not shown, in addition to the first storage device 1520 and the second storage device 1530, the data backup system 1500 may further include a plurality of storage devices.

The data providing device 1510 may be any of various devices supporting various types of wired or wireless networks 1540, such as PMP, UMPC, mini-notebook computer, laptop computer, mobile phone, digital camera, PVR, HMS or PC. The data providing device 1510, the first storage device 1520, and the second storage device 1530 may each be a client device for constructing a home network system connected to a controller, such as a home gateway or a home server. For example, the data providing device 1510, the first storage device 1520, and the second storage device 1530 may be devices interconnected via the network 1540 in accordance with the DLNA standard on controlling home appliances to share data.

The network 1540 includes one of a short-distance network and a long-distance network. Network 1540 can use a wireless Internet solution (such as Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi, WiBro, UWB, or the like), or a wired Internet solution (such as IEEE 1394, Ethernet, or the like) .

The first storage device 1520 and the second storage device 1530 store data provided by the data providing device 1510. The first storage device 1520 and the second storage device 1530 may be any storage device, including a dedicated storage device (such as a hard disk, a memory, and a NAS device) and a secondary storage device with additional functions. Data sent by another device on the network over the network. Examples of auxiliary storage devices include PCs, notebook computers, mini notebook computers, camcorders, mobile communication terminals, HMS and PVR.

The data providing device 1510 transmits the data stored for backup to the first storage device 1520 and the second storage device 1530 via the network 1540. The data providing device 1510 may select a storage device for backing up data from the first storage device 1520 and the second storage device 1530 connected via the network 1540. Alternatively, the management server of the network 1540 may determine the availability of the first storage device 1520 and the second storage device 1530 to select a storage device for backing up data. An embodiment of backing up data when the first storage device 1520 is unavailable for storing backup data will now be described.

According to the present invention, if the first storage device 1520 is unavailable for backing up data (for example, when the remaining storage capacity of the first storage device 1520 is insufficient to store the data so that the first storage device 1520 cannot store the data transmitted from the data providing device 1510 ), The data backup system 1500 may store the data in the second storage device 1530 connected via the network 1540, and in the first storage device 1520 (for example) by deleting the data stored in the first storage device 1520, When it becomes available for backing up data, the data stored in the second storage device 1530 can be transferred to the first storage device 1520.

The data backup process may be controlled by the data providing device 1510, the management server of the network 1540, the first storage device 1520, and the second storage device 1530. Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the data backup process is controlled by the devices constituting the data backup system 1500 will be described in detail.

FIG. 16 illustrates a structure of a data backup system 1600 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 16 also illustrates a block diagram of a network server 1620 that controls the data backup process. Referring to FIG. 16, the data providing device 1610 may be a mobile communication terminal. The storage devices 1630, 1640, and 1650 may include a TV, a PC, and a PVR, respectively.

Referring to FIG. 16, the server 1620 includes a communication unit 1621, a buffer 1622, and a backup control unit 1623. The communication unit 1621 receives the backup data provided by the data providing device 1610 connected via the network. The received backup data may be temporarily stored in the buffer 1622. The backup control unit 1623 determines the availability of the storage devices 1630 to 1650 connected via the network for storing backup data. The storage devices 1630 to 1650 can autonomously inform the server 1620 about the availability of the storage devices 1630 to 1650. Alternatively, if the data providing device 1610 requests data backup, the backup control unit 1623 may determine the availability of the storage devices 1630 to 1650 to store the backup data by requesting and receiving information about the availability of the storage devices 1630 to 1650 via the communication unit 1621.

The backup control unit 1623 of the server 1620 selects one of the storage devices 1630 to 1650 based on the availability of the storage devices 1630 to 1650 to store the backup data, and the backup data will be transmitted to the selected storage device.

As an example, it is assumed that the first storage device 1630 is a central storage device that stores backup data transmitted over a network, and the remaining capacity is not enough to store the backup data. In this case, the backup control unit 1623 can select one of the second storage device 1640 and the third storage device 1650 that can be used to store backup data via the network, and can control the buffer 1622 and the communication unit 1621 to store The backup data in the buffer 1622 is transmitted to the selected storage device. Alternatively, instead of controlling the selection of one of the plurality of available storage devices and the transmission of backup data, the backup control unit 1623 may divide the backup data based on the remaining capacity of the available storage devices and store the backup data in the available storage devices in a decentralized manner. in. For example, if the remaining capacities of the second storage device 1640 and the third storage device 1650 are 20 GB and 40 GB, respectively, and the backup data has a size of 60 GB, the backup control unit 1623 may control the backup operation to transfer the 60 GB The backup data is divided into 20 GB and 40 GB data units and the divided backup data units are stored in a distributed manner in the second storage device 1640 and the third storage device 1650.

After the storage of the backup data is completed, the backup control unit 1623 periodically communicates with the first storage device 1630 to periodically check the availability of the first storage device 1630 for storing the backup data. If the remaining capacity of the first storage device 1630 is increased, for example, by deleting data stored in the first storage device 1630 to make it available for backup, the backup control unit 1623 may control the backup operation to store the storage in the second storage The backup data in the device 1640 or the third storage device 1650 is transmitted to the first storage device 1630 and the backup data is stored in the storage device 1630. If the transmission of backup data is completed and stored in the first storage device 1630, the backup temporarily stored in the second storage device 1640 or the third storage device 1650 due to insufficient remaining capacity of the first storage device 1630 may be deleted. data.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating a data backup process performed by a network server of a data backup system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 17, in step 1750, the data providing device 1710 provides backup data to the server 1720. The server 1720 may request information about the availability of the first storage device 1730 and the second storage device 1740 connected to the network for storing backup data. Alternatively, in step 1751, the first storage device 1730 may autonomously inform the server 1720 that the first storage device 1730 is not available for storing backup data. In step 1752, the second storage device 1740 can autonomously inform the server 1720 that the second storage device 1740 can be used to store backup data.

In step 1753, the server 1720 selects a storage device to store the backup data based on the availability of the first storage device 1730 and the second storage device 1740. The embodiment of FIG. 17 assumes that the first storage device 1730 cannot be used to store backup data and the second storage device 1740 can be used to store backup data.

In step 1754, the server 1720 sends the backup data to an available second storage device 1740. In step 1755, the second storage device 1740 stores the transmitted backup data.

After the storage of the backup data in the second storage device 1740 is completed, in step 1756, the server 1720 periodically requests to be informed about the availability of the first storage device 1730 to store the backup data. In step 1757, if the remaining capacity of the first storage device 1730 is increased, for example, by deleting data previously stored in the first storage device 1730, the first storage device 1730 notifies the server 1720: the first storage device 1730 Can be used to store the backup data.

If the first storage device 1730 can be used to store the backup data, in step 1758, the server 1720 requests the second storage device 1740 to send the backup data to the first storage device 1730. In step 1759, the second storage device 1740 sends the backup data to the first storage device 1730. In step 1760, the first storage device 1730 stores the transmitted backup data. In step 1761, the backup data temporarily stored in the second storage device 1740 is deleted from the second storage device 1740 before being transferred to the first storage device 1730.

FIG. 18 illustrates a structure of a data backup system according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 18 is a block diagram of a data providing device 1800 including control data backup.

Referring to FIG. 18, the data providing device 1800 includes a communication unit 1810, a storage unit 1820, and a control unit 1830. The communication unit 1810 transmits the backup data to be stored in the storage unit 1820 to a plurality of storage devices 1850, 1860, and 1870. The control unit 1830 determines the availability of the storage devices 1850 to 1870 connected via the network to store the backup data. The availability of the storage backup data of the storage devices 1850 to 1870 can be notified in advance by the storage devices 1850 to 1870. Alternatively, the control unit 1830 of the data providing device 1800 may determine the availability of the storage devices 1850 to 1870 by requesting and receiving information about the availability of the storage devices 1850 to 1870 via the communication unit 1810.

The control unit 1830 of the data providing device 1800 selects one of the storage devices 1850 to 1970 based on the availability of the storage devices 1850 to 1870 for storing the backup data, and the backup data will be transmitted to the selected storage device.

As described above, it is assumed that the first storage device 1850 is a central storage device for storing backup data transmitted over a network, and the remaining capacity is insufficient to store the backup data. In this case, the control unit 1830 can select one of the second storage device 1860 and the third storage device 1870 that can be used to store backup data via the network, and the controllable storage unit 1820 and the communication unit 1810 will be stored in The backup data in the storage unit 1820 is transmitted to the selected storage device. Alternatively, instead of controlling the selection of one of the plurality of available storage devices and the transmission of backup data to the selected storage device, the control unit 1830 may divide the backup data based on the remaining capacity of the available storage devices and decentralize the backups Data is stored on available storage devices.

After the storage of the backup data is completed, the control unit 1830 periodically communicates with the first storage device 1850 to periodically check the availability of the first storage device 1850 for storing the backup data. If the remaining capacity of the first storage device 1850 is increased, for example, by deleting data stored in the first storage device 1850 to make it available for backup, the control unit 1830 may control the backup operation to store the data in the second storage device. The backup data in 1860 or the third storage device 1870 is transmitted to the first storage device 1850 and the backup data is stored in the first storage device 1850. If the transmission of the backup data is completed and stored in the first storage device 1850, the backup data stored in the second storage device 1860 or the third storage device 1870 due to insufficient remaining capacity of the first storage device 1850 may be deleted. .

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating a data backup process performed by a data providing device 1910 of a data backup system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 19, in step 1941, the data providing device 1910 requests the first storage device 1920 to store the backup data. In step 1942, the first storage device 1920 compares the size of the backup data with the available remaining capacity of the first storage device 1920 to check the availability of the first storage device 1920 to store the backup data. If the first storage device 1920 is unavailable for storing backup data due to, for example, insufficient remaining capacity, then in step 1943, the first storage device 1920 notifies the data providing device 1910 that the first storage device 1920 is not available for storage Back up your data. In step 1944, the data providing device 1910 requests another storage device (ie, the second storage device 1930) connected to the network to store the backup data. In step 1945, the second storage device 1930 compares the size of the backup data with the available remaining capacity of the second storage device 1930 to check the availability of the second storage device 1930 for storing the backup data. If the second storage device 1930 can be used to store the backup data, in step 1946, the second storage device 1930 informs the data providing device 1910 about the availability of the second storage device 1930 for storing the backup data. In step 1947, the data providing device 1910 sends the backup data to the second storage device 1930. In step 1948, the second storage device 1930 stores the transmitted backup data.

After the backup data is stored in the second storage device 1930, in step 1949, the data providing device 1910 periodically requests to be informed about the availability of the first storage device 1920 to store the backup data. In step 1950, since the remaining capacity of the first storage device 1920 is increased, for example, by deleting data stored in the first storage device 1920, the first storage device 1920 notifies the data providing device 1910 that the first storage device 1920 is available for Save backup data.

If the first storage device 1920 can be used to store the backup data, in step 1951, the data providing device 1910 requests the second storage device 1930 to send the backup data to the first storage device 1920. In step 1952, the second storage device 1930 sends the backup data to the first storage device 1920. In step 1953, the first storage device 1920 stores the transmitted backup data. In step 1954, the backup data stored in the second storage device 1930 before being transmitted to the first storage device 1920 is deleted from the second storage device 1930.

FIG. 20 illustrates the structure of a data backup system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 20 also illustrates a block diagram of the storage devices 2030 and 2040 that control the data backup process.

Referring to FIG. 20, the first storage device 2030 includes a first communication unit 2031, a first storage unit 2032, and a first control unit 2033. The second storage device 2040 includes a second communication unit 2041, a second storage unit 2042, and a second control unit 2043. Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the first storage device 2030 cannot be used to back up data and the second storage device 2040 can be used to back up data will be described in detail.

The first communication unit 2031 communicates with the data providing device 2010 and the second storage device 2040 via the network 2020. If the data providing device 2010 requests data backup, the first control unit 2033 compares the available remaining capacity of the first storage unit 2032 with the size of the backup data and controls the first communication unit 2031 to inform the data providing device 2010: the first storage unit 2032 is available to store backup data. As described above in the previous embodiment, if the first storage unit 2032 has insufficient remaining capacity and cannot be used to store backup data, the first communication unit 2031 informs the data providing device 2010 about the use of the first storage unit 2032 to store Unavailability of backup data.

If the first storage device 2030 cannot be used to store the backup data, the data providing device 2010 requests the second storage device 2040 to store the backup data. The second control unit 2043 of the second storage device 2040 compares the available remaining capacity of the second storage unit 2042 with the size of the backup data and controls the second communication unit 2041 to inform the data providing device 2010 whether the second storage unit 2042 is available Save backup data. As described in the previous embodiment, the data providing device 2010 is notified to the fact that the second storage unit 2042 has sufficient remaining capacity to store the backup data. When the data providing device 2010 is informed about the availability of the second storage unit 2042 to store the backup data, the data providing device 2010 transmits the backup data to the second communication unit 2041.

The backup data is transmitted via the second communication unit 2041 and stored in the second storage unit 2042. After the storage of the backup data is completed, the second control unit 2043 periodically communicates with the first storage device 2030 to periodically check the availability of the first storage device 2030 for storing the backup data. If the remaining capacity of the first storage device 2030 is increased, for example, by deleting data stored in the first storage unit 2032 to make it available for backup, the second control unit 2043 may control the backup operation to store the storage in the second The backup data in the storage unit 2042 is transmitted to the first storage unit 2032 and the backup data is stored in the first storage device 2030. If the transmission of the backup data to the first storage device 2030 is completed, the second control unit 2043 deletes the backup data once stored in the second storage unit 2042. If the backup data stored in the second storage device 2040 is transmitted and stored in the first storage device 2030, the first control unit 2033 of the first storage device 2030 or the second control unit 2043 of the second storage device 2040 can control The communication unit informs the data providing device 2010 about the transmission of the backup data from the second storage device 2040 to the first storage device 2030 so that the data providing device 2010 can check the storage location of the backup data. The first control unit 2033 of the first storage device 2030 or the second control unit 2043 of the second storage device 2040 may provide data stored in the first storage device 2030 or the second storage device 2040 to other storage devices connected via a network. To prevent overlapping storage of the same data in different storage devices connected over the network.

21 is a flowchart illustrating a data backup process performed by a storage device of a data backup system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 21, in step 2141, the data providing device 2110 requests the first storage device 2120 to store the backup data. In step 2142, the first storage device 2120 compares the size of the backup data with the available remaining capacity of the first storage device 2120 to check the availability of the first storage device 2120 for storing the backup data. If the first storage device 2120 is unavailable for storing backup data due to, for example, insufficient remaining capacity, in step 2143, the first storage device 2120 informs the data providing device 2110 that the first storage device 2120 is not available for storing backups data. In step 2144, the data providing device 2110 requests another storage device (ie, the second storage device 2130) connected via the network to store the backup data. In step 2145, the second storage device 2130 compares the size of the backup data with the available remaining capacity of the second storage device 2130 to check the availability of the second storage device 2130 to store the backup data. If the second storage device 2130 can be used to store the backup data, in step 2146, the second storage device 2130 informs the data providing device 2110 about the availability of the second storage device 2130 for storing the backup data. In step 2147, the data providing device 2110 transmits the backup data to the second storage device 2130. In step 2148, the second storage device 2130 stores the transmitted backup data.

After the backup data is stored in the second storage device 2130, in step 2149, the second storage device 2130 periodically requests to be informed about the availability of the first storage device 2120 to store the backup data. In step 2150, since the remaining capacity of the first storage device 2120 is increased, for example, by deleting data stored in the first storage device 2120, the first storage device 2120 notifies the second storage device 2130: the first storage device 2120 Can be used to store the backup data.

If the first storage device 2120 can be used to store backup data, in step 2152, the second storage device 2130 sends the backup data to the first storage device 2120. In step 2153, the first storage device 2120 stores the transmitted backup data. In step 2154, the backup data stored in the second storage device 2130 before being transmitted to the first storage device 2120 is deleted from the second storage device 2130.

FIG. 22 illustrates a structure of a data providing apparatus 2200 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

22, the data providing device 2200 includes a communication unit 2210, a storage unit 2220, a data conversion unit 2230, and a control unit 2240.

The communication unit 2210 transmits the backup data stored in the storage unit 2220 to a plurality of storage devices 2260, 2270, and 2280 via the network 2250.

The data providing device 2200 may back up data to the storage devices 2260, 2270, and 2280 connected via the network 2250 in a similar manner to the data backup process of the data providing devices 1800 and 1910 described above with reference to FIGS. 18 and 19. Therefore, a detailed description of the data backup process performed by the data providing device 2200 will not be provided herein.

However, in the data providing device 2200 of FIG. 22, if the backup data is stored in a decentralized manner to at least one of the storage devices 2260 to 2280 connected via the network 2250, the data conversion unit 2230 may generate the backup data The metadata of the storage location and the original data stored in the storage unit 2220 can be stored by compression conversion.

For example, if the data providing device 2200 is a digital camera, after completing the process of storing the backup data of the original image data captured by the digital providing device 2200 in at least one of the storage devices 2260 to 2280 in a distributed manner, the data The conversion unit 2230 may convert the original image data into a thumbnail image, and store the converted thumbnail image instead of the original image in the storage unit 2220, and may delete the original image from the data providing device 2200. The data conversion unit 2230 may generate metadata from the location information (such as a URL) of a storage device storing the original image data, and may store the metadata together with the thumbnail image. If the original image data is needed later, the thumbnail image and metadata (which correspond to the location information of the original image data) of the original image data can be used to obtain the original image data from the storage device that has the original image data backed up. Although the data conversion unit 2230 converts the backup data into a thumbnail format in the current embodiment, the data conversion unit 2230 can convert the original data in various forms, for example, by compression conversion to increase the utilization efficiency of the storage space of the storage unit 2220.

According to the present invention, when a storage device connected to the network is not available for storing backup data, the data can be efficiently backed up to other storage devices connected to the network. The convenience of accessing the original content can be improved by using metadata of the original content. By providing content suitable for the performance of the content receiving device, the compatibility of the content can be improved.

The embodiment of the present invention can be written as a computer program that can be executed in a computer, and can be implemented in a general-purpose digital computer that executes the program using a computer-readable recording medium. Examples of the computer-readable recording medium include magnetic storage media (for example, ROM, flexible disk, hard disk, etc.), optical recording media (for example, CD-ROM or DVD), and the like.

Although the present invention has been specifically shown and described with reference to the embodiments of the present invention, those skilled in the art should understand that without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims There are various changes in form and details. Embodiments should be considered only in a descriptive sense and not for limiting purposes. Therefore, the scope of the invention is not defined by the detailed description of the invention but by the scope of the appended patents, and all modifications within the scope will be construed as being included in the invention.

100‧‧‧ Content Sharing System
110‧‧‧content providing device
120‧‧‧Storage device
130‧‧‧Content receiving device
140‧‧‧Internet
210‧‧‧ Content providing device
211‧‧‧original content modification unit
212‧‧‧Metadata generation unit
213‧‧‧Content providing unit
310‧‧‧ original image
311‧‧‧Image with 1920 × 1980 resolution
312‧‧‧Image with 1024 × 768 resolution
313‧‧‧Image with 800 × 480 resolution
314‧‧‧Image with 400 × 240 resolution
500‧‧‧content receiving device
510‧‧‧Content receiving unit
520‧‧‧Extra data extraction unit
530‧‧‧input unit
540‧‧‧control unit
600‧‧‧ mobile phone
610‧‧‧display unit
621‧‧‧List of contents
622‧‧‧List of contents
623‧‧‧Content list
624‧‧‧List of contents
625‧‧‧ is used to ask users if they want to receive the original content
626‧‧‧Select interface
627‧‧‧Select interface
630‧‧‧input unit
910‧‧‧Content providing device
920‧‧‧Storage device
930‧‧‧Content receiving device
1010‧‧‧ Content providing device
1011‧‧‧Content storage unit
1012‧‧‧Content Modification Unit
1013‧‧‧device information storage unit
1014‧‧‧communication unit
1020‧‧‧Internet
1030‧‧‧ Content Receiver
1031‧‧‧communication unit
1032‧‧‧Storage unit
1033‧‧‧User Interface
1034‧‧‧Control unit
1200‧‧‧Mobile communication terminal
1210‧‧‧Display Unit
1211‧‧‧Contents
1212‧‧‧Contents
1213‧‧‧Contents
1214‧‧‧Contents
1215‧‧‧Input window
1216‧‧‧Select interface
1217‧‧‧Select interface
1221‧‧‧Input window
1222‧‧‧Input window
1230‧‧‧Input unit
1500‧‧‧Data backup system
1510‧‧‧ data providing device
1520‧‧‧First storage device
1530‧‧‧Second storage device
1540‧‧‧Internet
1610‧‧‧ Data Providing Device
1620‧‧‧Server
1621‧‧‧Communication Unit
1622‧‧‧Buffer
1623‧‧‧Backup Control Unit
1630‧‧‧Storage device
1640‧‧‧Storage Device
1650‧‧‧Storage device
1710‧‧‧ Data Providing Device
1720‧‧‧Server
1730‧‧‧First storage device
1740‧‧‧Second storage device
1800‧‧‧ data providing device
1810‧‧‧communication unit
1820‧‧‧Storage Unit
1830‧‧‧Control unit
1840‧‧‧Internet
1850‧‧‧Storage device
1860‧‧‧Storage device
1870‧‧‧Storage Device
1910‧‧‧ Data Providing Device
1920‧‧‧ the first storage device
1930‧‧‧Second storage device
2010‧‧‧ Data providing device
2020‧‧‧Internet
2030‧‧‧First storage device
2031‧‧‧First communication unit
2032‧‧‧First storage unit
2033‧‧‧First Control Unit
2040‧‧‧Second storage device
2041‧‧‧Second communication unit
2042‧‧‧Second storage unit
2043‧‧‧Second Control Unit
2110‧‧‧ Data Providing Device
2120‧‧‧First storage device
2130‧‧‧Second storage device
2200‧‧‧ data providing device
2210‧‧‧Communication Unit
2220‧‧‧Storage Unit
2230‧‧‧Data Conversion Unit
2240‧‧‧control unit
2250‧‧‧Internet
2260‧‧‧Storage Device
2270‧‧‧Storage device
2280‧‧‧Storage device

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a content sharing system operated via a network according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the content providing apparatus of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram explaining a first process of modifying the attributes of the original content by the original content modification unit of FIG. 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating relay data according to an embodiment of the present invention. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a content receiving apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 6A and 6B illustrate a process of receiving original content according to an embodiment of the present invention. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a content providing method according to an embodiment of the present invention. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a content receiving method according to an embodiment of the present invention. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a process of providing original content in a content sharing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a content sharing system operated via a network according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a view explaining device state information of a content receiving device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 12A to 12D illustrate a process of receiving content based on device state information of a content receiving device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a content providing method according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a content receiving method according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram illustrating a data backup system for backing up data via a network according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 16 illustrates the structure of a data backup system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a data backup method for backing up data to a network server of a data backup system. FIG. 18 illustrates a structure of a data backup system according to another embodiment of the present invention. 19 is a flowchart illustrating a data backup process performed by a data providing device of a data backup system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 20 illustrates the structure of a data backup system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating a data backup process performed by a storage device of a data backup system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 22 illustrates a structure of a data providing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (10)

A method for providing content is provided based on original content, including: storing an original content file in a location by a storage device and storing access right information, wherein the access right information identifies the original stored in the location. A user having access to the content file; and outputting content information derived from the original content file by a data providing device for allowing authorized users to access the original content file stored in the location Access information and location information for identifying the location, wherein the original content file is stored in the location; and the storage device receives the original content file from a content receiving device used by a user. A request for a content file, wherein the request is based on the location information and the access information used to allow the authorized user to access the original content file stored in the location; and The storage device determines whether to provide the original content file as a response to the request, which is based on the original content file. The request and the identification of the user with access rights to the original contents of the file stored in the position information of the access right. The method for providing content as described in item 1 of the scope of patent application, wherein the content information includes a modified content file generated from the original content file. The method for providing content according to item 2 of the scope of patent application, wherein the original content file includes image content, wherein the modified content file includes image content, and the image content has a lower resolution than the original content file Resolution. The method for providing content as described in item 1 of the scope of patent application, wherein the location information includes a universal resource locator (URL). The method for providing content as described in item 1 of the scope of patent application, wherein a file size of the modified content file is smaller than a file size of the original content file. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having an embedded program that, when executed by a processor of an electronic device, causes the electronic device to execute a method of providing content based on original content. The method includes: storing by a storage device Original content files at a location and storing access rights information, wherein the access rights information identifies users who have access rights to the original content files stored at the location; and Content information of the original content file, access information for allowing authorized users to access the original content file stored in the location, and location information for identifying the location, wherein The location stores the original content file; by the storage device, a request for the original content file is received from a content receiving device used by a user, wherein the request is based on the location information and the Allowing the authorized user to access the access information of the original content file stored in the location; and borrowing The storage device determines whether to provide the original content file as a response to the request, which is based on the request for the original content file and identifying whether the original content file stored in the location has a Access rights information for users who have access rights. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to item 6 of the scope of patent application, wherein the content information includes a modified content file generated from the original content file. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium as described in item 7 of the scope of patent application, wherein the original content file includes image content, and the modified content file includes image content and has a lower resolution than the original content file The resolution of the image content. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to item 6 of the scope of patent application, wherein the location information includes a universal resource locator (URL). The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium described in item 7 of the scope of the patent application, wherein a file size of the modified content file is smaller than a file size of the original content file.