Description
METHOD AND APPARATUS OF SCHEDULING MEDIA DATA Technical Field
[1] The present invention relates, in general, to a method and apparatus for performing scheduling to repeatedly play specific sections of source media data and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus which schedule the repetition sequence and number of repetitions of unit sections of specific source media data. Background Art
[2] Generally, there may occur the case in which a user desires to repeatedly play specific sections of media data composed of audio or video data while playing the media data using a media player (including an audio player, such as a cassette tape recorder, a Compact Disc [CD] player or an MP3 player, and a video player, such as a video tape recorder). In particular, when a user studies a language, there may frequently occur the case in which the user desires to repeatedly play a specific section.
[3] For these cases, various repetitive playback methods have been proposed in the prior art. An embodiment of a repetitive playback method is a scheme in which a repetitive playback button is separately provided on a media player, and media data are rewound by a preset period of time (for example, 4 to 8 seconds) at the moment the repetitive playback button is pressed, so that a specific section is repeatedly played. In this case, the number of repetitions can be previously set or determined depending on the user's selection.
[4] As another embodiment, there is a method of allowing a user to personally set unit sections. That is, if a repetitive playback setting button is separately provided on a media player, and a user selects the repetitive playback setting button at start and end points of a desired section to be repeatedly played, respectively, the section between the start and end points is repeatedly played. In this case also, the number of times the section is repeated can be set depending on the user's selection.
[5] In the meantime, recently, there frequently occurs the case in which a language is studied using audio data and video data played by a multimedia player that plays multimedia digital data, such as a Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) player, a moving image CD player of a Personal Computer (PC), or a digital broadcast TV (High Definition TV: HDTV) having a storage device.
[6] For such language study, various methods of easily repeatedly playing specific section of multimedia data have been proposed.
[7] For example, there have been proposed a method of synchronizing audio data and video data with timing tags within the audio and video data of a corresponding unit
section and repeatedly playing the audio and video data together when the unit section is set at the time of playing moving images (Korean Pat. Appln. No. 10-2000-0065300), a method of allowing a user to store a desired repetitive playback section in predetermined memory and playing later only the stored repetitive playback section (Korean Pat. Appln. No. 10-2000-0065890), etc.
[8] However, the conventional methods of playing the unit section of multimedia data have the following problems.
[9] First, multimedia data include various source media data, such as video data, audio data, etc. However, the conventional methods of playing the unit section of multimedia data are problematic in that they can only synchronize these source media data with each other and play the source media data together, but it is impossible to separate the source media data and set individual unit sections.
[10] Second, in the case of language study, there may be an easily understandable sentence even if a user listens to the sentence only once, and a sentence that is difficult to understand even if a user listens to the sentence several times. Therefore, from the standpoint of the user, the user desires to set specific parts of video or audio data, which cannot be easily understood, to unit sections and repeatedly play the unit sections according to his or her scheduled sequence. However, there is no method of realizing the setting and repetitive playback, and of designating and realizing the number of playback repetitions, playback sections, playback sequence, etc., as the user desires, on the basis of the importance level of contents. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem
[11] Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a scheduling method, which can separate multimedia data to be played and set specific source media data to unit sections. Another object of the present invention is to provide a scheduling method, which can variously perform scheduling with respect to the same type of media data in a media player for playing only one type of media data. A further object of the present invention is to provide a scheduling method, which can repeatedly play preset unit sections among the source media data according to a preset repetition sequence and the preset number of repetitions. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a scheduling playback apparatus, which can repeatedly play scheduled media data. Technical Solution
[12] In order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides a media data scheduling method of repeatedly playing specific sections of multimedia data
composed of a plurality of pieces of source media data, comprising the steps of allowing a user to select source media data to be repeatedly played, among the plurality of pieces of source media data in the multimedia data and outputting the selected source media data, designating unit sections among the output source media data, setting a repetition sequence and the number of repetitions of the designated unit sections, and repeatedly playing the unit sections according to schedule setting.
[13] Further, in order to perform the steps, a multimedia player is provided with a media data scheduling apparatus that comprises a source media data calling module for calling and playing specific source media data, a unit section designation module for allowing a user to designate specific sections of the played source media data and setting the specific sections to unit sections, a unit section scheduling module for receiving a repetition sequence and the number of repetitions of the unit sections from the user and performing repetitive playback scheduling, and a unit section database for storing the number of repetitions and a repetition sequence with respect to each unit section.
[14] According to the method and apparatus for playing the unit sections of multimedia data, a user can repeatedly listen to required media data in a desired sequence.
[15] For example, the user may watch only specific sections of video data in a mute state without audio or subtitles or can repeatedly listen to English speech while watching a foreign film, so that the user receives great help in studying a language. Further, the user can set a repetitive playback sequence with respect to desired media sections, thus performing efficient language study. Brief Description of the Drawings
[16] FIG. la is a block diagram showing the internal construction of a media data scheduling apparatus according to the present invention;
[17] FIG. lb is a block diagram showing the internal construction of a playback device for playing data output from the media data scheduling apparatus;
[18] FIG. 2 is a table showing an example of data stored in a unit section database;
[19] FIG. 3 is a view showing a process of repeatedly playing specific sections of multimedia data according to the present invention;
[20] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the external shape of a remote controller for controlling a multimedia player;
[21] FIG. 5 is a view showing the type of source media data;
[22] FIGS. 6a and 6b are views showing the setting of unit sections of source media data;
[23] FIGS. 7a and 7b are unit section designation and scheduling tables;
[24] FIG. 8 is a view showing the scheduling for unit sections; and
[25] FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a method of designating and repeatedly playing unit sections using source media data divided into blocks. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
[26] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.
[27] FIG. la is a block diagram showing the internal construction of a media data scheduling apparatus for repeatedly playing specific sections of multimedia data according to schedule setting.
[28] A source media data calling module 102 functions to retrieve source media data to be repeatedly played from a corresponding data source. The source media data include respective source data required at the time of playing multimedia. For example, when a DVD player plays a foreign film DVD, source media data may correspond to video data, foreign language audio data, and subtitle data. Therefore, the source media data calling module 102 can call respective source media data (video data, foreign language audio data, and subtitle data) stored on the foreign film DVD.
[29] Similar to this example, when a digital broadcast TV having a storage device receives a digital broadcast channel and broadcasts a foreign film, source media data correspond to video data, foreign language audio data, translated (Korean version) audio data, and subtitle data. However, in the digital broadcast TV, the source media data calling module 102 further executes a process of separately recognizing respective broadcast channels of digital broadcasting, without directly calling source media data from a DVD as in the case of repetitive DVD playback, thus calling source media digital data.
[30] That is, digital broadcast TV channels include a video channel for transmitting video data, an audio channel for transmitting audio data, a data channel for transmitting subtitles and required information, a control channel for transmitting control data, etc. In order to call the data in the respective channels, a process of separately recognizing the channels is additionally required.
[31] A unit section designation module 104 functions to allow a user to designate specific sections of source media data to be repeatedly played and to store the designated specific sections in a unit section database 110. Therefore, the unit section designation module has various algorithms to designate unit sections. The unit section designation algorithms will be described in detail later, with reference to unit section designation and storage step S310 of FIG. 3 and unit section designation and storage step S910 of FIG. 9.
[32] A unit section scheduling module 106 functions to allow the user to set the repetitive playback sequence and number of repetitions of the designated unit sections,
store the repetitive playback sequence and number of repetitions in the unit section database 110, and allow the unit sections to be repeatedly played according to the repetitive playback sequence and the number of repetitions.
[33] For example, it is assumed that the unit sections of first source media data are designated as 1-A, 1-B and 1-C, the unit sections of second source media data are designated as 2- A and 2-B, and scheduling is executed to perform repetitive playback in the sequence of [1-C, four repetitions] — » [2- A, three repetitions] — » [1-B, three repetitions] — » [1-A, fiver repetitions] — » [2-B, once], the unit section scheduling module 106 stores the designated repetition sequence and the designated number of repetitions in the unit section database and allows the unit sections to be repeatedly played according to the designated repetition sequence and the designated number of repetitions.
[34] The unit section database 110 is a database for storing the type of source media data to be repeatedly played, unit sections, a repetition sequence, the number of repetitions, etc. An example of a table in the unit section database is shown in FIG. 2.
[35] In FIG. 2, the type of first source media data is indicated as video data and the type of second source media data is indicated as audio data, but it is apparent that this indication is only an example and the type of source media data can be various source media data, such as subtitle data, in addition to video data.
[36] A control unit 108 has an Operating System (OS) and protocols for controlling respective functional units, so that specific sections of source media data can be repeatedly played in a predetermined sequence.
[37] The functional blocks in the media data scheduling apparatus of FIG. la can be implemented using hardware, and can also be implemented using a predetermined algorithm module according to circumstance. Therefore, it is apparent that the media data scheduling apparatus of FIG. la is not limited to hardware, but it is an inclusive concept including an algorithm module and may be implemented using a hardware module or an algorithm module inserted in various multimedia players, such as a DVD player, a moving image CD player, and a digital broadcast TV (HDTV).
[38] In the meantime, a separate scheduling playback device for receiving scheduled source media data from the media data scheduling apparatus and playing the scheduled source media data can be implemented. FIG. lb is a block diagram showing the internal construction of the scheduling playback device.
[39] A scheduling data input module 152 is a functional unit for receiving scheduling data from an external media data scheduling apparatus. Therefore, the scheduling data input module 152 is implemented using a wired terminal, such as a serial communication input terminal, or a local area wireless terminal, such as Bluetooth or infrared communication, so as to receive the scheduling data from the external media
data scheduling apparatus. It is also possible to receive scheduling data from a storage medium on which the scheduling data is stored.
[40] A media data input module 153 is a component for receiving source media data to be played. The media data input module 153 denotes a means in which a storage medium for storing source media data is inserted and mounted to perform playback through a playback module. Further, the source media data input module 153 includes a means that receives source media data from the outside and stores the source media data to allow the source media data to be played by the playback module.
[41] A memory module 154 is a module for storing the data received from the scheduling data input module 152. At the time of playback, the scheduling data stored in the memory module 154 are used by the playback module. Playback is performed in such a way that the unit sections of the source media data are played by a playback module according to the repetition sequence and the number of repetitions, which are the scheduling data stored in the memory module 154.
[42] The playback module 156 is a playback device having a media playback function, such as a speaker, a monitor or digital player, and may correspond to all media players capable of reproducing scheduling data from the media data scheduling apparatus. The playback module 156 plays source media data according to the scheduling data stored in the memory module 154.
[43] FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a process of repeatedly playing specific unit sections of multimedia data through the use of the media data scheduling apparatus.
[44] If the process enters a unit section designation mode at step S302, the media data scheduling apparatus outputs source media data included in corresponding multimedia data at step S304. For example, in the case of a digital broadcast TV having a storage device, a media data scheduling apparatus provided in the digital broadcast TV outputs a list of source media data, constituting multimedia data, that are currently being broadcasted (or multimedia data stored in the internal storage device) in the display form of FIG. 5.
[45] A medium on which the list is displayed can be a monitor when a multimedia player is a moving image CD player, and can be a Braun tube when a multimedia player is a DVD player or digital broadcast TV.
[46] In the case of an audio player lacking a separate monitor, the media data scheduling apparatus allows a user to sequentially listen to foreign language source media data, thus allowing the user to select specific source media data at step S306.
[47] If the user selects specific source media data from the output source media data using a movement key 408 and a selection key 406 of a remote controller 400 in FIG. 4 at step S306, the media data scheduling apparatus calls and plays the selected source media data at step S308.
[48] Playback is performed using various playback methods according to the type of selected source media data. When the user selects video data, only video data are played without audio and subtitle data. When the user selects English audio data, only English audio data are played without video data, subtitle data, Japanese audio data or Korean audio data.
[49] If the selected source media data are played at step S308, the media data scheduling apparatus performs step S310 of allowing the user to designate unit sections and storing the designated unit sections in the unit section database.
[50] For a method of designating unit sections, various methods can be proposed, which will be described below.
[51] A first method is to set unit sections on the basis of unit section division points by pressing a unit section setting key 402 during playback of source media data. That is, if the unit section setting key 402 is pressed once during playback, an interval ranging from the start point of source media data to the point at which the unit section setting key is pressed (the unit section division point) is set to a first unit section (1-a section) 650, as shown in FIG. 6a. Thereafter, if the unit section setting key is pressed a second time S604, an interval ranging from the first key press point S602 of the unit section setting key to the second key press point S604 is set to a second unit section (1-b section) 651. If the unit section setting key is not pressed again before a playback end point after the second press S604 of the unit section setting key has been performed, an interval ranging from the second key press point S604 of the unit section setting key to a playback end point S606 is set to a unit section (1-c section) 652.
[52] A second method of designating unit sections is to press a unit section start key at a unit section start point and press a unit section stop key at a unit section end point so as to designate a unit section among played source media data, thus designating a single unit section. Thereafter, unit sections can be continuously designated by pressing the unit section start key and the unit section stop key while the user watches continuously played video data.
[53] That is, the unit section start key and the unit section stop key are pressed during playback of specific source media data at steps S652 and S654, as shown in FIG. 6b, so that desired sections to be repeatedly played can be set. In the description, it will be apparent that the unit sections can be designated using various methods. For example, the unit sections can be designated on the basis of specific time intervals by utilizing time tags for the unit section start and end points, or on the basis of media data block- based tags.
[54] A third method of designating unit sections is to automatically designate unit sections by pressing a unit section automatic designation key 414 of a remote controller without separately designating the unit sections. For example, if the
automatic designation key 414 is pressed, source media data are divided according to a preset time interval (for example, 10, 15 or 20 seconds), so that the unit sections can be designated.
[55] Further, in the case of audio data, if the automatic designation key 414 is pressed, sections to be repeated are automatically set on the basis of mute points at which audio data are not output. For example, when a mute state having a sound volume lower than a certain level is maintained for a certain period of time starting at a specific point after a sound volume higher than a certain level was maintained, an interval ranging from the initial point to the mute point is set to a first repetition section.
[56] The indexes of the unit sections designated through the above process are stored in the unit section database in the form of a table in a designated sequence 702 at step S310, as shown in FIG. 7a.
[57] After the designation of unit sections of specific source media data at step S310 has terminated, step S312 of asking whether to designate the unit sections of other source media data is performed. When the unit sections of other source media data are required to be designated at step S312a, the unit sections are designated after steps S304, S306, S308 and S310 are performed.
[58] For example, when the unit sections of second source media data (audio data) are required to be designated after the designation of the unit sections of first source media data (video data) has terminated, unit sections 712 designated with respect to the second source media data are stored in the unit section database as shown in FIG. 7b, after steps S304, S306, S308 and S310 are performed.
[59] After the designation of unit sections has terminated at step S312b as described above, unit section playback scheduling step S314 is performed. That is, at step S314, the repetition sequence and number of repetitions of the designated unit sections are determined. Furthermore, specific unit sections can be set so that they are repeated in a mute state in which no sound is output.
[60] The scheduling is to set the repetition sequence and the number of repetitions with respect to each unit section. The user can set the repetition sequence and the number of repetitions with reference to the contents output for unit sections.
[61] For example, an audio player playing only audio data sequentially outputs audio data according to respective sections, thus allowing the user to set the repetition sequence and number of repetitions of a given section.
[62] A video player (for example, a DVD player, or a digital broadcast TV) provided with a monitor capable of displaying video pictures displays a repetition section field, a repetition sequence field and a repetition number field on a monitor for convenience in scheduling, as shown in FIG. 8.
[63] That is, when the user locates a cursor 802 in a specific field using the movement
key 408 of the remote controller 400 and presses a selection key, the user can enter a repetition sequence or the number of repetitions in a corresponding field. Therefore, the user can easily set the number of repetitions and a repetition sequence with respect to each unit section. If the user locates a cursor in a corresponding unit section and presses a selection key when the user does not know contents in a designated unit section, contents in the corresponding unit section are output, thus allowing the user to perform scheduling after viewing or listening to the contents in the corresponding unit section.
[64] In the meantime, when the number of repetitions is set, the output of source media data can be limited. If the source media data are audio data, scheduling can be performed to repeat a corresponding section in a mute state, instead of repeatedly playing the audio data of the section. If the source media data are video data, scheduling can be performed to prohibit the video data of a corresponding section from being output, instead of repeatedly playing the video data of a corresponding section. For example, if the number of repetitions of a corresponding unit section is set to 0, the corresponding unit section is repeatedly played while remaining in a mute state.
[65] After the above-described unit section designation steps S304, S306, S308 and S310 and scheduling step S314 are performed, the contents of FIG. 2 are stored in the unit section database.
[66] Further, if the user presses a repetition key 404 after the above-described unit section designation steps S304, S306, S308 and S310 and scheduling step S314 have terminated, source media data are repeatedly played according to the unit section designation and schedule setting at step S316.
[67] For example, if scheduling has been performed as shown in FIG. 2, the playback of unit sections is performed in the sequence of [1-C section, four repetitions] — »[2- A section, three repetitions] →[1-B section, three repetitions] — »[1-A section, five repetitions] →[2-B section, once].
[68] In this embodiment, the steps of designating unit sections and performing repetitive playback using the remote controller 400 are described. However, it is apparent that, when a multimedia player is a personal computer including a moving image CD player, the designation of unit sections and the performance of repetition playback can be realized through a keyboard.
[69] Further, in this embodiment, the scheduling performed with respect to various types of source media data in multimedia data is described, but it is apparent that various scheduling operations can be performed with respect to the same type of source media data.
[70] In the meantime, a method of designating unit sections at unit section designation and storage step S310 is problematic in that it forces the user to separately designate
unit section start points among the source media data being played. That is, there is a disadvantage in that the user must always separately designate unit section start points before the scheduling of the repetition sequence and the number of repetitions is performed.
[71] A method of directly performing scheduling, without designating the unit sections, to eliminate this disadvantage, is proposed in the flowchart of FIG. 9.
[72] If the method enters a unit section confirmation mode at step S902, scheduling step S904 of outputting the unit blocks of source media data and designating a repetition sequence and the number of repetitions is performed. In the above step, the source media data are characterized in that unit sections to be repeatedly played are preset therein at the time of generating the data.
[73] Therefore, if the unit section confirmation mode is performed, the media data scheduling apparatus outputs preset unit sections.
[74] For example, an audio player outputs audio data of respective sections of corresponding source media data, thus allowing the user to set the repetition sequence and number of repetitions of the audio data.
[75] After scheduling for specific source media data has terminated, step S906 of asking whether to perform scheduling for other source media data is performed. When scheduling is desired to be performed for other source media data, a repetition sequence and the number of repetitions are designated after scheduling step S904 is performed.
[76] After the scheduling has terminated as described above, source media data are repeatedly played according to the schedule setting at any time if the user presses a playback key at step S908.
[77] Although the technical spirit of the present invention has been described in detail according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the embodiments have been disclosed for illustrative purposes and those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims. Industrial Applicability
[78] As described above, the present invention is useful for a user to variously study languages because only specific source media data can be repeatedly played at the time of repeatedly playing multimedia data including a plurality of pieces of source media data. Further, the present invention is useful for language study in that, even at the time of repetitively playing media for outputting the same type of media data, various scheduling operations are possible with respect to the corresponding media. Further, the present invention is advantageous in that a user can set the repetition sequence and
number of repetitions of designated unit sections, thus providing various repetitive playback methods.