US20130229572A1

US20130229572A1 - Converting image format

Info

Publication number: US20130229572A1
Application number: US13/861,806
Authority: US
Inventors: Kwang Hee Ha
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-05-02
Filing date: 2013-04-12
Publication date: 2013-09-05
Also published as: US8436940B2; KR100793751B1; EP2022259A4; EP2022259A1; KR20070107278A; US20090097544A1; CN101433082A; WO2007126291A1; CN101433082B

Abstract

An apparatus for converting an image format of data and a method thereof is disclosed. An apparatus for converting an image format of data comprises an image converter (126) for converting parameters of the image format, an encoder (127) for encoding the format changed data and a file system converter (128) for changing the encodes data into a file system supported by an external interface (121). Also, a method for converting an image format of data comprises converting the image format of data into another image format, encoding the format changed data into a compressed data, and converting data into a file system which an external interface supports.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a Continuation Application of prior U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/299,060 filed Oct. 30, 2008, which is a National Stage application under 35 U.S.C. §365 of International Application No. PCT/KR2007/002142 filed on May 2, 2007, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Korean Application No. 10-2006-0039573 filed on May 2, 2006, whose entire disclosures are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field
The present disclosure relates to converting image format.
2. Background
Heretofore, a digital broadcasting receiver such as a digital television and a set-top box (STB) having a digital broadcasting reception function receives digital TV broadcasting data of an Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) MPEG-2 Transport Streams (TSs). The digital broadcasting receiver performs a MPEG decoding and a signal processing for the received digital TV broadcasting data, and outputs video data of high picture quality and audio data of high speech quality.
Further, a digital broadcasting receiver with a Personal Video Recording (hereinafter, referred to as PVR) function has also been developed and commercialized. The PVR can store received digital TV broadcasting data of ATSC MPEG-2 TSs in a high capacity hard disk, and reproduce the stored digital TV broadcasting data at a time desired by a user.
However, a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) and a Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB) device has a lower resolution and smaller size than those of conventional digital broadcasting format.
The above references are incorporated by reference herein where appropriate for appropriate teachings of additional or alternative details, features and/or technical background.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Accordingly, the present disclosure is directed to converting image format that substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
An object of the present disclosure is to provide a method/device that can directly or automatically convert high resolution and large size digital TV broadcasting programs into low resolution and small size programs.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a digital television and method that can solve at least the above problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described hereinafter.
A further object of the present disclosure is to provide a digital television and method that can convert first received data format into a different second converted data format so that the received data can be transmitted in the second format for playback in an external apparatus.
Additional advantages, objects, and features of the disclosure will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the disclosure. The objectives and other advantages of the disclosure may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.
To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the disclosure, as embodied and broadly described herein, there is provided a method for converting an image format of data comprising converting the image format of data into another image format, encoding the format changed data into a compressed data, and converting the encoded data into a file system which an external interface supports.
To further achieve the above objects in a whole or in part, according to another aspect of the disclosure, there is provided an apparatus for converting an image format of data comprising an image converter for converting parameters of the image format, an encoder for encoding the format changed data and a file system converter for changing the encoded data into a file system supported by an external interface.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present disclosure are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the disclosure as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the disclosure and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the disclosure.

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a receiver according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of a receiver according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart of converting image format;

FIG. 4 illustrates a television screen displaying a control panel;

FIG. 5 illustrates the control panel illustrated on FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 illustrates the control panel illustrated on FIG. 4 with a different setting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.
Embodiments according to the disclosure can be applied to various types of receivers such as STBs and digital TVs with PVR functions, which receive digital TV broadcasting data and store the received digital TV broadcasting data in a storage device such as a hard disk.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a receiver according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 1, the receiver can include a digital antenna 11, a digital tuner 12, an demultiplexer 13, storage such as a personal video recorder (PVR) 14, a video processor 15, a data processor 16, an audio processor 17, a display 18, and a speaker.
As shown in FIG. 1, the receiver can further include a digital antenna 22, an analog tuner 23, and an A/D converter 24. A mobile terminal (not shown) can be coupled to the receiver through an external interface 21.
First of all, the digital antenna 11 receives broadcast signals as a form of ATSC MPEG-2 streams by tuning the digital tuner 12 according to a user request to select a digital TV broadcasting channel. The digital tuner converts the received MPEG-2 streams into MPEG-2 Transport Streams (TSs). The demultiplxer 13 decodes the MPEG-2 TSs into high resolution (e.g., 1920*1080i pixels) data for large screen television. The video processor 15 can signal process the decoded video data to output video signals of high picture quality, and the audio processor 17 can perform signal processing and amplification for the decoded audio data to output audio signals of high speech quality. The ATSC MPEG-2 TSs of the tuned digital TV broadcasting program can also be stored in the storage 14 such as PVRs.
Moreover, the receiver can receive analog broadcasting programs by analog antenna 122 and analog tuner 123 and converts the analog signals into digital signals through the ND converter 124. The ND converted signals are processed using the same video 15, data 16 and audio processors 17.
FIG. 2 includes a format converter 125 in addition to the elements illustrated on FIG. 1. The video format converter 126 can perform an image downsizing operation of converting the video data decoded by the demultiplxer 113, e.g., a picture sequence with a resolution of 1920.times.1080 pixels, to a picture sequence with a reduced resolution (e.g., 352.times.288 pixels), which can be employed by the DMB receiver, or the H.264 compressed format. In addition, the video format converter 126 can perform an aspect ratio control operation for adjusting the aspect ratio of the video data to be proper for the aspect ratio of an LCD screen with a reduced size (e.g., 2.2, 3.5 or 7 inch), which the mobile terminal can employ. For example, an aspect ratio for conversion may be preset or modified through an environment setup menu, which is provided by the controller 14 through an already embedded Graphic User Interface (GUI), as conversion conditions.
The audio also can be converted from the audio data decoded by the demultiplexer 113, e.g., 5.1 CH Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) audio data, to data of a format that, e.g., the DMB device can support, i.e., 2 CH PCM audio data.
The encoder 127 can encode the video data converted by the video format converter 126 into, e.g., a DMB format video data according to a H.264/AVC standard. The encoder 127 also can encode the audio data converted by the video format converter 126 into, e.g., a DMB format audio data according to an ISO/IEC 14496-3 BSAC standard.
The file system converter 128 converts the encoded data by the encoder 127 into a file system that the external interface 121 supports. The external interface includes Universal Serial Bus (USB), IEEE 1394, and EPF.
The MPEG-2 TSs can be stored in the storage 114. For example, the storage 114 separately stores the format converted MPEG-2 TSs and the ATSC MPEG-2 TSs of the digital TV broadcasting format outputted from the demultiplxer 113 as different data files.
FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart of converting image format according to one embodiment of the disclosure. The embodiment of the method of FIG. 3 can be applied to and will be described using the receiver shown in FIG. 2. However, the disclosure is not intended to be so limited.
The digital tuner 112 tunes one random digital TV broadcasting channel according to a user's request. The ATSC decoder (not shown) can demodulate the audio/video signals from the antenna 111 and stores at the storage 114 the demodulated audio/video signals (S210). The video format converter 126 converts the format of the stored audio/video signals into another format of audio/video signals (S220). The encoder (127) encodes the audio/video data into a compressed data (S230). The file system converter 128 converts the encoded data into a file system which the external interface 121 supports (S240). The external interface 121 outputs the encoded data to an external device (not shown).
FIG. 4 illustrates a television screen displaying a control panel. The television main screen 400 includes preview window 410 and control panel 420. The preview window 410 provides thumbnail images of the format-converted image signals before the format conversion settings are applied to a specific mobile terminal. The control panel 420 is enlarged in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6.
FIG. 5 illustrates the control panel illustrated on FIG. 4. The control panel 420 comprises a current image format part 420 a and a changeable format part 420 b. The current image format part 420 a further comprises a current image format 421, current voice (audio) format 422, and current compression format 423. The changeable format part further comprises change format to manual or automatic 424, width and height sizes 425, change voice format to mono or surround 426, change compression format to MPEG-2 TS or H.264 427, and user interface as USB, IEEE 1394 or EPF 428.
FIG. 6 illustrates the control panel illustrated on FIG. 4 with a different setting. It is possible to select manual or automatic format change. User can input desired format change parameters manually. Also, when the user put the format change to automatic and input the model name and number, the receiver automatically find corresponding prestored parameters.
Any reference in this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “example embodiment,” etc., means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the disclosure. The appearances of such phrases in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with any embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the purview of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other ones of the embodiments. Furthermore, for ease of understanding, certain method procedures may have been delineated as separate procedures; however, these separately delineated procedures should not be construed as necessarily order dependent in their performance. That is, some procedures may be able to be performed in an alternative ordering, simultaneously, etc.
The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting the present disclosure. The present teaching can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. The description of the present disclosure is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims. Many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. In the claims, means- plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present disclosure without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosures. Thus, it is intended that the present disclosure covers the modifications and variations of this disclosure provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
By converting a high resolution, large size image format of a broadcasting program to a low resolution, small size image format, a portable device including PDA, mobile phone and DMB can save and display the high definition television quality broadcasting programs.
Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A method for converting image data in a display apparatus, the method comprising:

storing image data in a memory;

converting the stored image data from a first screen value into a second screen value, wherein the first screen value is different from the second screen value, further the second screen value is further changeable;

displaying, on a screen, at least three areas, the at least three areas including a first area, a second area and a third area,

wherein:

the first area includes image data displayed according to the first screen value before the converting to the second screen value,

the second area includes a preview area that displays the image data that has been converted to the second screen value, and

the third area includes control information for changing the first screen value to the second screen value; and

sending, from the display apparatus, the image data that has been converted to the second screen value to an external device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving audio/video signal from an antenna;

demultiplexing the audio/video signal into audio data and video data; and

extracting image data from the demuliplexed video data.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the converting comprises:

converting the stored image data from a first data format to a second data format;

encoding the converted image data into a compressed data; and

converting the encoded data into a file system which an external interface supports.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a user's command to provide the second screen value.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the third area further includes a first sub area and a second sub area.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein at least one value within the first sub area is changeable, and at least one value within the second sub area is unchangeable based on a type of the screen value.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first area, the second area and the third area are independent of each other.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the screen values correspond to at least one a format type, a width, a height, a size, an aspect ratio, a compression format parameter and a user interface parameter.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the display apparatus corresponds to a television, a monitor or a mobile device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the external device corresponds to a mobile phone, a personal digital assistance or a digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) device.

11. A display apparatus for converting image data, the display apparatus comprising:

a memory configured to store image data;

a converter configured to convert the stored image data from a first screen value into a second screen value, wherein the first screen value is different from the second screen value, and the second screen value is further changeable;

a display module;

a controller configured to the display module for displaying at least three areas the displayed at least three areas including a first area, a second area and a third area,

wherein:

the first area includes image data displayed according to the first screen value before converting the image data from the first screen value to the second screen value,

the second area includes a preview area to display the image data that has been converted to the second screen value, and

a sending device configured to send, to an external device, the image data that has been converted to the second screen value.

12. The display apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

an user interface configured to receive a user's command to provide the second screen value.

13. The display apparatus of claim 11, wherein the third area further includes a first sub area and a second sub area.

14. The display apparatus of claim 13, wherein at least one value within the first sub area is changeable, and at least one value within the second sub area is unchangeable based on a type of the screen's value.

15. The display apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first area, the second area and the third area are independent of each other.

16. The display apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

an encoder configured to encode the image data converted to the second screen value into a format corresponding to an external interface of the display apparatus, and change the encoded image data into a data transfer format corresponding to the external interface.

17. The display apparatus of claim 11, wherein each of the screen values correspond to at least one a format type, a width, a height, a size, a color an aspect ratio, a compression format parameter and a user interface parameter.

18. The display apparatus of claim 11, wherein the display apparatus corresponds to a television, a monitor or a mobile device.

19. The display apparatus of claim 11, wherein the external device corresponds to a mobile phone, a personal digital assistance or a digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) device.

20. The display apparatus of claim 16, wherein the external interface corresponds to USB or IEEE 1394.

21. The display apparatus of claim 11, wherein the sending device includes an external interface.

22. The display apparatus of claim 11, wherein the sending device includes a Universal Serial Bus (USB).

23. The display apparatus of claim 11, wherein the image data is television data.

24. A method of a display apparatus, the method comprising:

storing image data;

displaying, on a screen, the image data in a first area of the screen;

converting a characteristic of the image data from a first value to a second value, wherein the first value is different from the second value, and the second value is further changeable;

displaying, on the screen, the image data having the converted characteristic in a second area of the screen;

displaying information, in a third area of the screen, for changing the characteristic of the image data; and

sending, from the display apparatus, the image data converted to the second value to a device that is external to the display apparatus.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the image data is television data.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the second area is a preview window.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the characteristic is a format type, a width, a height, a size, an aspect ratio, a compression format parameter or a user interface parameter.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the display apparatus is a television.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein the device that is external to the display apparatus is a mobile phone.