WO2010149901A1

WO2010149901A1 - Storage of digital content in a storage system

Info

Publication number: WO2010149901A1
Application number: PCT/FR2010/051214
Authority: WO
Inventors: Anthony Foulonneau
Original assignee: France Telecom
Priority date: 2009-06-24
Filing date: 2010-06-17
Publication date: 2010-12-29
Also published as: EP2446379A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for storing digital content in a storage system (S) including a set of storage units (MEM1, MEM2) connected to content reproduction devices (D1, D2, D3) of a home network adapted for obtaining at least one content characteristic, for determining a reproduction device in accordance with said at least one content characteristic, for determining a storage unit from among the set of storage units in accordance with the predetermined storage device, and storing the content in the predetermined storage unit. The invention also relates to a management device and to a system implementing the method for storing content.

Description

Storing digital content in a storage system

The field of the invention is that of distributed storage systems, and more particularly distributed storage systems adapted for home use.

Existing systems offer an infrastructure dedicated to the storage and dissemination of information. In these systems, the different contents are distributed on different remote servers accessible via the Internet network.

Some systems also allow storage of content on private storage devices. Because of this, they are suitable for use in a domestic setting.

Such a system is, for example, a product offered by the company Wuala (registered trademark) based on the use of a peer-to-peer network. In this system, the contents are stored on disk spaces of the user terminals.

This system also allows data sharing at a private network level. A user can thus use such a system to distribute his data on the various equipment, for example a computer, a remote server, a mobile terminal, etc., which he owns, while having the possibility of accessing it. from any terminal in this network.

When the user then wants to access one of the stored contents, he sends a request to a system manager module, via a communication network, gets in return the list of files corresponding to his request and their location. He can then download content from the list and use it. For example, the user can request the list of songs of a predetermined artist and get in return the list of contents of this artist recorded in the different terminals connected to the network. Following receipt of this list, the user can then request access to a particular title.

In this state-of-the-art system, the manager module is responsible for storing the contents. This storage is done without taking into account future uses content. Thus, a file often used from the mobile terminal can be stored on a remote server and a download is required at each use.

There is therefore a need for a more satisfactory solution. For this purpose, the present invention proposes a method for storing a digital content in a storage system comprising a set of storage units linked to content restoration devices of a home network characterized in that it comprises the following steps:

obtaining at least one characteristic of the content; determining a rendering device according to the at least one characteristic of the content;

determination of a storage unit among all the storage units as a function of the determined restitution device;

storage of the content in the determined storage unit. Thus, the contents are stored according to the use that will be made thereafter. For example, musical content is preferably stored in a memory of a music content playback device and a word processing document is preferably recorded on a computer equipped with word processing software. This type of storage reduces the number of downloads when using content.

According to a particular embodiment, the at least one characteristic is information relating to the format of the content.

Since the format of the content is a feature extracted from the name of the content, it is not necessary to add information to the content. According to a particular embodiment, the rendering device is determined according to predetermined data associated with the at least one characteristic of the content.

This embodiment has the advantage of taking into account user-defined usage rules. Moreover, since these rules are defined by the user, he knows the associations between the predetermined data and the characteristics and can thus know where these files are stored. It is particularly advantageous when the user wants to access a file without using the network.

According to another embodiment, the rendering device is determined according to dynamic measurements of the actual use of contents. This embodiment makes it possible to take into account the real uses of the user as well as the usual changes of the user.

According to a particular embodiment, the storage unit is determined according to its proximity to the determined restitution device.

The contents are thus stored closer to the playback device, or even in the playback device if it has a storage unit. Access to the content can in this case be performed without use of the network.

This embodiment makes it possible to reduce the access times to the contents by a rendering device.

According to a particular characteristic, the storage method further comprises a step of identifying the accessible storage units among the set of storage units and in that the determined storage unit is one of the accessible storage units.

Thus, if a storage unit is temporarily inaccessible, storage is performed on another storage unit. The file or content thus stored is immediately available for playback equipment connected to the network.

According to another particular characteristic of the storage method, when the determined storage unit is inaccessible, the method further comprises a step of storing the content in a temporary memory.

Storage in the determined storage unit can then be performed as soon as the network connection with the storage unit is reestablished.

The invention also relates to a device for managing digital content in a storage system comprising a set of storage units linked to content restoration devices of a home network comprising: means for obtaining data at least one characteristic of the content; means for determining a rendering device according to the at least one characteristic of the content;

means for determining a storage unit among all the storage units as a function of the determined restitution device; means for storing the content in the determined storage unit.

The invention also relates to a home gateway comprising a management device as described above.

The invention also relates to a system comprising a management device as described above, a set of storage units and at least one content retrieval device of a home network.

According to a particular characteristic of the system, the management device is integrated in a rendering device.

The invention finally relates to a computer program product comprising instructions for implementing the steps of a storage method as described above when it is loaded and executed by a processor.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear in the following description of two embodiments given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the appended drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the general context of the invention according to a first embodiment, FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the various steps of a method for storing a digital content according to the first embodiment of the invention, FIG. 3 illustrates a first correspondence table. 4 illustrates a second correspondence table used in a storage method according to one embodiment of the invention, FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the general context of the invention according to a second embodiment, FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the various steps of a digital content storage method according to the second embodiment of the invention, FIG. 7 illustrates a first correspondence table used in a method of storage in one mode. embodiment of the invention, Figure 8 is a block diagram showing a management device adapted to perform the steps of a method of storing a digital content according to one embodiment of the invention.

A first embodiment of a storage method according to the invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

With reference to FIG. 1, a system S comprises a domestic gateway P and three rendering devices D1, D2 and D3.

The first rendering device D1 is, for example, a PC personal computer (for "Personal Computer") connected to a telecommunications network R via the home gateway P. The connection between the device D1 and the home gateway P is, for example, a wired link.

The personal computer D1 has a memory MEMl able to store data. The personal computer D1 is also able to access a memory MEM2 of a hard disk D connected to the personal computer D1.

As an alternative, the memory MEM2 is a memory of a USB type key or a disk type CD (for "Compact Disc") or DVD ("Digital Video Disc").

The second rendering device D2 is, for example, a mobile terminal capable of communicating with the telecommunications network R. The mobile terminal D2 comprises a memory MEM3 for storing data.

The third rendering device D3 is, for example, a PC-type personal computer connected to a telecommunications network R via the home gateway P. The connection between the device D3 and the home gateway P is, for example, a wireless link , for example a wireless connection (for Wireless Fidelity). The personal computer D3 has a memory MEM4 able to store data.

The home gateway P comprises a memory MEM6 for storing data, a directory A, a first correspondence table TB1, a second correspondence table TB 2 and a management module MG.

As an alternative, the memory MEM6 for storing data, the directory A, the first correspondence table TB1, the second correspondence table TB2 and the management module MG are installed in a remote server, accessible by the network R Also as an alternative, the memory MEM6 of data storage, the directory A, the first correspondence table TB1, the second correspondence table TB2 are stored in an external memory (for example a hard disk) connected to the P gateway for example by a wired link and the MG management module is installed in the gateway. The first D1, second D2 and third D3 rendering devices are also able to access a memory MEM5 of a server B through the communication network R.

Memories MEM1, MEM2 ... MEM6 represent storage units.

Each rendering device D1, D2, D3 also includes an access module MA1, MA2, M A3 to access the different contents stored in the system S.

The directory A includes information relating to each content stored in the system S. Among these information is information relating to the location of the content. For example, the directory A comprises for each content stored in the system S, an identifier of the content associated with an identifier of the memory where this content is stored. The identifier of the memory where the content is stored is an identifier relative to the location of the content.

In the embodiment described, the file format is also stored in the directory A in association with the file name. As an alternative, other content metadata can be associated with the identifier of the content in directory A.

Also as an alternative, the location information is a location identifier assigned by the MG. An address table (not shown) recorded in the gateway P has for each assigned location identifier, a value, for example a pointer, for finding the address of the content in the system S.

When a rendering device, for example the mobile terminal D2, wishes to access a content C of the system S, the access module MA2 of this rendering device D2 sends a request to the directory A and obtains a list content corresponding to the request and for each content of the list, information relating to the storage location of this content in the system S.

In this embodiment, the location information is for example a storage unit identifier and an address of the content in that storage unit.

For example, the request is a request for files in "MP3" format.

As an alternative, the request is a request for the contents of a specific author.

The user then selects content from the list. The access module MA2 of the rendering device D2 then sends a request for access to the content to the associated storage unit indicated in the list and receives the requested content in return.

One embodiment of the storage method in the system S will now be described with reference to FIG. 2. During a preliminary configuration step, a set of content parameters is defined and is recorded in the first correspondence table TB1. , information relating to a rendering device in association with each content parameter of the set. As an alternative, several rendering devices are stored in the first correspondence table TB1 in association with each content parameter.

Fig. 3 shows an example of a first correspondence table TB1. In this particular example, all content parameters include format types: MP3, DOC, JPG. To the MP3 type of content contents is associated the mobile terminal D2, with contents of type "DOC" is associated with the computer D1 and the format contents of type "JPG" is associated with the rendering device D3. As an alternative, we record in the first correspondence table

TBl, information relating to a rendering device in association with one or more content parameters. For example, the device D1 is associated with the contents of the JPG type whose author is A and the device D3 is associated with the content of the JPG type whose author is B. On the other hand, it records in the second correspondence table TB 2, one or more storage unit identifiers in association with information relating to a rendering device.

Figure 4 shows an example of a second correspondence table TB2.

In this particular example, the storage units MEM1 and MEM2 are associated with the rendering device D1, the storage unit MEM3 is associated with the rendering device D2 and the storage unit MEM4 is associated with the rendering device

D3.

During a first step EO, the home gateway P receives a digital content C. The digital content C is for example received following a download request sent by the personal computer D1 via the home gateway P and via the communication network. R.

The step EO is followed by a step E1 in which the management module MG located in the home gateway P obtains an X characteristic of the content.

In the embodiment described, the characteristic X is information relating to the format of the content and is extracted, by the management module MG, from the name received content For example, if the content name is "toto mp3", the X feature is "mp3".

As an alternative, the feature is extracted from metadata associated with the content. Still as an alternative, several features of the content are extracted during step El

During a step E2, the MG of the home gateway P determines a rendering device according to the characteristic X obtained by reading the first correspondence table TB 1. In the embodiment described, for the characteristic of content X = MP3, the rendering device indicated in the first correspondence table TB 1 is D2

During a following step E3, the MG of the home gateway P determines a storage unit among the set of storage units as a function of the playback device determined in step E2.

In the embodiment described, the storage unit is determined by reading the second correspondence table TB2

For example, for the device D2, the storage unit indicated is MEM3

Alternatively, several storage units are registered in association with the device D2 and the management module selects the second storage unit indicated if the first storage unit indicated is not accessible or if it does not contain enough storage space. available memory space

The step E3 is followed by a step E4 during which the management module MG controls the storage of the content C in the storage unit determined during the step E3, that is to say the storage unit. storage MEM3 in the embodiment described Then, the management module MG controls the addition in the directory A of the name of the content C with, in correspondence, the storage unit MEM3

Also as an alternative, several storage units are registered in association with the device D2 and in step E3, the management module MG selects all the storage units registered in association with the device. D2 device. During the following step E4, the content C is recorded in each of the selected memories. Storing content in multiple memories avoids the loss of content if one of the memories is destroyed. It also allows the storage near the playback devices for content used regularly by several playback devices.

As a variant, in the case where several rendering devices are recorded in the first correspondence table TB 1 in association with each content parameter, several rendering devices are determined during the step E2.

Steps E3 and E4 are then repeated for each playback device selected in step E2.

A second embodiment of a storage method according to the invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

With reference to FIG. 5, a system S2 comprises a home gateway P2, two rendering devices D4 and D5 and an SG server.

As an alternative, the system S2 does not include a home gateway.

The first rendering device D4 is, for example, a PC personal computer (for "Personal Computer") connected to a telecommunications network R via the home gateway P2. The personal computer D4 comprises a memory MM1 able to store data, an access module MA4 to access the contents stored in the system S2 and a management module MG4.

The personal computer D4 is also able to access digital contents recorded on an AP digital camera connected to the computer D4 via a wired link, for example using USB ports (for "Universal Serial Bus").

The second rendering device D5 is, for example, a mobile terminal capable of communicating with the telecommunications network R. The mobile terminal D5 includes a memory MM2 for storing data, an access module MA5 for the contents stored in the system S2 and a management module MG5.

The server SG has a memory MM3 of data storage, a directory A2, a first TB 3 and a second TB4 correspondence tables.

As an alternative, the directory A2 and the correspondence tables are located in one of the rendering devices, for example the computer D4, or in a storage memory of the system S2.

The memories MM1, MM2 and MM3 represent storage units. The directory A2 includes information relating to each content stored in the system S2.

When a rendering device, for example the terminal D4, wishes to access a content C of the system S2, the access module MA4 of this rendering device D4 sends an access request to the directory A2 and gets back a list of contents corresponding to the access request transmitted. The received list contains, for each content, information relating to the storage location associated with the content.

When the user then selects a content in the list, the access module MA4 of the rendering device D4 sends a request for access to the content and receives the requested content in return.

An embodiment of the storage method in the system S2 will now be described with reference to FIG.

In a preliminary configuration step, a set of content parameters is defined and information relating to a rendering device is recorded in association with each content parameter of the set in the first correspondence table TB3.

Fig. 7 shows an example of first correspondence table TB 3.

In this particular example, all content parameters include format types: MP3, DOC, JPG. MP3 format content is associated with the most used playback device for listening to "mp3" type content. content of type "DOC" is associated with the computer D4 and content type "JPG" is associated with the rendering device the most used to access content type "jpg".

On the other hand, in the second correspondence table TB4, one or more storage unit identifiers are registered in association with information relating to a rendering device. The second correspondence table TB4 is similar to the second correspondence table TB2 described in relation to the first embodiment.

In a first step ElO, the personal computer D4 receives a digital content C. The digital content C is for example received following a content access control C transmitted by the computer D4 to the camera AP.

The step ElO is followed by a step EI l during which the management module MG4 of the device D4 extracts from the name of the content, information relating to the format of this content. Format information represents a feature of the content.

For example, the information obtained is "mp3"

During a step E 12, the MG4 management module of the device D4 determines a rendering device according to the characteristic obtained.

In this embodiment, the rendering device is determined by accessing the first correspondence table TB 3 and then comparing a first access counter to the "mp3" type files by the rendering device D4 with a second counter access to the "mp3" type files by the rendering device D5. The rendering device associated with the highest access counter is selected. For example, the determined rendering device is the mobile terminal D5.

The access counters are for example updated by one of the access modules of the rendering devices with each access to a content. They are for example saved in a memory of the server SG. During a subsequent step E13, the management module MG4 of the device D4 determines a storage unit among the set of storage units as a function of the reproduction device determined in step E1.

In the embodiment described here, step E1 comprises three sub-steps E14, E15 and E16.

During the first substep E 14, the MG4 management module of the device D4 accesses the second correspondence table TB4 and determines, by reading this table that the storage unit associated with the determined device D5 is MM2.

During the second substep El 5, the management module MG4 of the device D4 sends an access request to the storage unit MM2 and does not obtain a response to the access request, the mobile terminal D5 being not connected to the R network.

The substep E15 is then followed by the substep E16 during which the management module MG4 then selects the storage unit MM3.

The step E13 is followed by a step E17 during which the management module MG4 controls the storage of the content in the storage unit MM3 of the server SG and updates the directory A2.

The updating of the directory A2 consists in adding in the directory A2, information relating to the content C, for example an identifier of the content C as well as information relating to the location of the content, for example, an identifier of the memory where is stored the content C and an address of the content in the memory. In a subsequent step El 8, when the mobile terminal D2 is connected again to the network R, the management module MG4 of the device D4 controls the transfer of the content C from the storage unit MM3 to the storage unit MM2 and update the A2 directory. The updating of the directory A2 then consists in modifying the information relating to the location of the content C in the directory A2

According to an embodiment chosen and represented in FIG. 8, a management device implementing a method of storing a digital content according to the invention is for example a home gateway 100 which comprises in a manner known, in particular a processing unit 102 equipped with a microprocessor, a ROM type ROM or EEPROM 103, a random access memory RAM 104, a communication interface 105 with a communication network R.

This device 100 comprises a MEl module for transmitting / receiving data via a communication network R, a module ME2 for transmitting / receiving data with a rendering device D and a management module MG.

The management module MG is able to obtain at least one characteristic of a content, to determine a rendering device according to the at least one characteristic of the content, to determine a storage unit among the set of storage units. according to the determined reproduction device and to control the storage of the content in the determined storage unit.

The read-only memory 103 comprises registers storing a computer program PG comprising program instructions adapted to carry out the steps of a storage method according to the invention. When powering up, the PG program stored in the memory type

EEPROM 103 is transferred into the RAM which will then contain executable code as well as registers for storing the variables necessary for the implementation of a step of obtaining at least one characteristic of the content, a determination step of a rendering device according to the at least one characteristic of the content, a step of determining a storage unit among the set of storage units according to the determined restitution device and a step of storage of the content in the determined storage unit.

More generally, a means of storage, readable by a computer or by a microprocessor, integrated or not into the device, possibly removable, stores a program implementing the steps of a method of storing a digital content, according to the invention.

Claims

1. A method for storing a digital content (C) in a storage system (S) comprising a set of storage units (MEM1, MEM2, MEM3) linked to content restoration devices (D1, D2, D3 ) of a home network characterized in that it comprises the following steps:

obtaining (El) at least one characteristic (X) of the content;

determination (E2) of a rendering device (D2) as a function of the at least one characteristic of the content;

determination (E3) of a storage unit (MEM3) among all the storage units as a function of the determined restitution device;

storage (E4) of the contents in the determined storage unit (MEM3).

2. The method of storage according to claim 1 characterized in that the at least one characteristic is information relating to the format of the content.

3. The storage method according to claim 1 characterized in that the rendering device is determined according to predetermined data associated with the at least one characteristic of the content.

4. Storage method according to claim 1 characterized in that the rendering device is determined according to dynamic measurements of the actual use of contents.

5. Storage method according to claim 1 characterized in that the storage unit is determined according to its proximity to the determined restitution device.

6. Storage method according to claim 1 characterized in that it further comprises a step of identifying the accessible storage units among all the storage units and in that the determined storage unit is one of the units. accessible storage.

7. Storage method according to claim 1 wherein the determined storage unit is inaccessible and in that the method further comprises a step of storing the contents in a temporary memory.

8. Device for managing digital content in a storage system (S) comprising a set of storage units (MEM1, MEM2, MEM3) linked to content restoration devices (D1, D2, D3) of a network domestic appliance comprising: means for obtaining at least one characteristic of the contents;

means for determining a rendering device according to the at least one characteristic of the content;

9. Domestic gateway characterized in that it comprises a management device according to claim 8.

10. System comprising a management device according to claim 8, a set of storage unit and at least one content retrieval device of a home network.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the management device is integrated in a rendering device.

A computer program product comprising instructions for implementing the steps of a storage method according to one of claims 1 to 7 when loaded and executed by a processor.