KR20080060546A - Apparatus and method for content searching and playback in home network system - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for searching and reproducing contents in a home network system are provided to enable a home device receiving contents information to search and reproduce contents corresponding to the contents information when the portable terminal of the home network system transmits only the contents information to the home device, thereby receiving high-quality contents by transmitting a small amount of data. A method for searching and reproducing contents in a home network system comprises the following steps of: receiving a contents reproduction request message from a portable terminal(700); analyzing contents information(702); searching for contents corresponding to the analyzed contents information(704); checking whether there are contents(706); outputting a contents list if there are the contents(708); checking whether additional contents searching is requested(710); searching for a contents server to request contents searching(712); transmitting a contents request message to the searched contents server(714); checking whether a contents response message is received from the contents server(716); checking whether there is the contents list or contents in the contents response message(718); outputting a contents list(720); checking whether contents is selected(722); and reproducing the selected contents(724).

Description

Apparatus and method for searching and playing content in a home network system {APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTENT SEARCHING AND PLAYBACK IN HOME NETWORK SYSTEM}

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a home network system having a home device that searches for content using content information according to an embodiment of the present invention;

2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a portable terminal in a home network system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a home device in a home network system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a content server in a home network system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

5 is a flowchart illustrating a process of searching for and playing content in a home network system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

6 is a flowchart illustrating a process of requesting reproduction of content from a portable terminal of a home network system to a home device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

7 is a flowchart illustrating a process of searching for and playing back content using content information received by a home device of a home network system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

8 is a flowchart illustrating a process of searching for content and providing searched content according to a request of a home device in a content server of a home network system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for searching for and playing content in a home network system. In particular, the present invention relates to a method for transmitting information of a content to be played on a home device of a home network system from a content stored in a portable terminal to a home device. An apparatus and method for retrieving and playing content corresponding to received content information are provided.

Recently, with the rapid development of portable terminals, mobile phones capable of wireless voice call and information exchange have become a necessity. In the early days of portable terminals, it was recognized that they could be simply carried and wirelessly talked.However, due to the development of technology and the introduction of wireless Internet, portable terminals are not only for the purpose of calling but also for simple phone calls or schedule management. The range of applications is increasing, such as photographing images with a camera, watching satellite broadcasts, playing games, and surfing the web through the wireless Internet. As the usage range of the portable terminal increases, the types of contents played and stored in the portable terminal are increasing.

On the other hand, the user of the portable terminal may want to play the content stored in the portable terminal on another device having a richer resource (for example, digital TV, audio, karaoke half cycle, etc., hereinafter referred to as "home device").

According to the related art, there are several methods described below when a content stored in a portable terminal is to be played on a home device. First, in a first method, the user checks the information of the content to be played on the home device in the portable terminal, searches for the information corresponding to the content checked on the home device, and if there is, plays it. However, this method does not provide convenience to the user by manually inputting the user.

Second, there is a method using home network technology (DLNA: Digital Living Network Alliance) to transmit content stored in a portable terminal to a home device and to play content received from the home device. However, in this case, in order to play the content stored in the portable terminal through the home device may cause a problem that consumes a lot of bandwidth of the network, and also to play the content produced in accordance with the environment of the portable terminal on the home device having abundant resources If you do not provide satisfactory content quality (eg resolution, sound quality, etc.).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for retrieving and playing content in a home network system.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for transmitting content information of a portable terminal to a home device to retrieve and play content corresponding to the content information in the home device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for requesting a content server corresponding to content information received from a home device of a home network system, and receiving and playing the content server from the content server.

According to a first aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object, the home network system for searching and playing content, the content is selected from the stored content to play on the home device, the content playback including the content information of the selected content A portable terminal for transmitting a request message to the home device, and when the content reproduction request message is received from the portable terminal, interprets the included content information, searches for a content corresponding to the content information, outputs the content list, and outputs the content. And a home device for selecting and playing contents to be played from a list.

According to a second aspect of the present invention for achieving the above objects, a method for playing content in a home network system includes the steps of transmitting content information to be played on a portable terminal to a home device, and receiving the content information. The apparatus may include searching for the contents corresponding to the contents information and outputting them to a list, receiving a selection of contents to be played in the searched contents list, and reproducing the selected contents.

According to a third aspect of the present invention for achieving the above objects, a method for requesting remote playback of content in a portable terminal of a home network system includes: selecting a content to be played remotely from among contents stored in the portable terminal; Checking the information of the selected content, generating a content playback request message including the content information, connecting a communication with a home device that is a target of remote playback, and displaying the content playback request message. And transmitting to the home device.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention for achieving the above objects, a method of playing content requested from a home device of a home network system includes a content play request message when a content play request message is received from a portable terminal. Analyzing the content information, searching for content corresponding to the analyzed content information among contents stored in the home device, outputting a content list that is a list of searched contents, and The method may further include receiving a content to be played, and playing the selected content.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. If it is determined that the gist of the present invention may be unnecessarily obscured, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for retrieving and reproducing content corresponding to content information from a home device that receives the content information even when only the content information is transmitted from the portable terminal of the home network system to the home device.

Prior to the description of the present invention, the home device in the present invention refers to a device capable of playing content and transmitting / receiving data in connection with a portable terminal. Examples of such a device include digital TV, audio, Karaoke half cycle, etc.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a home network system having a home device that searches for content using content information according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, the home network system of the present invention includes a portable terminal 100, a home device 110, the Internet 120, and content servers 132, 134, and 136.

The portable terminal 100 receives a content to be played on the home device 110 from the user among the stored contents, and transmits the information of the selected content to the home device 110.

Here, the content information refers to content data such as name, compression method, author, and the like. When the MP3 music file is described as an example, the content information may include information about a composer, a singer, a song name, an album name, a production company, and a playing time. . The configuration of the content information may use a format of DIDL-Lite defined by W3C, which is a format derived from Digital Item Declaration Language (DIDL) defined in ISO / MPEG21.

The home device 110 searches for content corresponding to the content information received from the portable terminal 100. At this time, the content search may be limited to the content stored in the home device 110, and in some cases, the content server 132, 134, 136 connected to the Internet through the request to search the content to search the content Can also receive and play.

The content server 132, 134, 136 is a server that stores and manages various types of content. When the content information is received from the home device 110, the content server 132, 134, 136 searches for and transmits the corresponding content to the home device 110.

A detailed description of each device of the home network system described with reference to FIG. 1 will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, the portable terminal 100 will be described.

2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a portable terminal in a home network system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 2, the portable terminal of the present invention includes a control unit 200, a display unit 202, an input unit 204, a memory unit 216, a short range communication unit 208, a content management unit 210, and a remote playback request unit. It comprises 212.

The display unit 202 displays state information (or indicators) generated during operation of the terminal, limited numbers and characters, moving pictures, still pictures, and the like, and is stored according to the present invention. Print a list of these. The display unit 202 may use a color liquid crystal display (LCD).

The input unit 204 is a device for detecting a user's input such as a keypad or a touch screen, and detects the input when the content to be played on the home device 110 is selected according to the present invention. The memory unit 206 stores a program for controlling the overall operation of the portable terminal 100, an application program, storage data (telephone number, SMS message, compressed image file, video, etc.), and various contents. do.

The local area communication unit 208 is a device that connects and communicates with the home device 110 located in the local area to transmit / receive data, and may be, for example, Bluetooth or WLAN.

The content management unit 210 controls the storage of the content that retrieves or receives the contents stored in the memory unit 206 or the deletion of the stored content according to a user's request. The remote play request unit 212 selects a content to be played by the home device 110 from the content searched through the content manager 210 from a user and selects the selected content information through the short range communication unit 208. Control to transmit to the home device (110).

The controller 200 controls the content manager 210 and the remote playback requester 212. That is, the controller 200 may perform the functions of the content manager 210 and the remote playback requester 212. In the present invention, it is shown to configure them separately to explain each function separately. Therefore, in the case of actually implementing a product, all of them may be configured to be processed by the controller 200, and only some of them may be configured to be processed by the controller 200.

3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a home device in a home network system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 3, the home device 110 of the present invention includes a control unit 300, a display unit 302, an input unit 304, a memory unit 306, a content input / output unit 308, and a near field communication unit 310. , An internet communication unit 312, a content information analysis unit 314, a content retrieval unit 316, and a content reproducing unit 318.

The display unit 302 displays state information (or indicators), limited numbers and characters, moving pictures, still pictures, and the like, which are generated during the operation of the home device 110, and also includes the present invention. In accordance with the present invention, a content list generated by searching for content corresponding to the received content information is output.

The input unit 304 is a device for detecting a user's input such as a keypad, a touch screen, a wired / wireless remote controller, and the like, and detects a user's input for selecting content to be played in a searched content list according to the present invention. . The memory unit 306 stores a program, an application program, and contents for controlling the overall operation of the home device 110. In addition, according to the present invention, the memory unit 306 stores a content server table having information of a content server to be searched according to the type or characteristic of the content.

The content input / output unit 308 is an input or output device other than the display unit 302 which is required when playing content, for example, a microphone and a speaker.

The short range communication unit 310 is a device that connects and communicates with the portable terminal 100 located within a short distance to transmit / receive data, and receives content information for requesting playback from the portable terminal 100 according to the present invention. . The short range communication unit 310 may be a Bluetooth or a wireless LAN. The Internet communication unit 312 is a device that connects and communicates with the content servers 132, 134, and 136 to transmit / receive data through the Internet, and transmits content information to be searched according to the present invention. Receive a content list or content accordingly.

The content information analysis unit 314 analyzes the content information received from the portable terminal 100 and checks the type of content to be searched and the search target.

The content search unit 316 searches for the corresponding contents in the memory unit 306 by using the content information analyzed by the content information analyzer 314, and returns a list of the searched contents to the display unit 302. Control the output.

In addition, the content search unit 316 searches for the content server table stored in the memory unit 306 when a content corresponding to the search result content information does not exist in the memory unit 306 or a user requests a further search. The server checks the content server requesting the request, and transmits the content information to the content server checked through the Internet communication unit 312. Subsequently, when the content list or the content retrieved from the content server is received, the control is output.

The content reproducing unit 318 controls to reproduce the selected content when the content to be reproduced is selected from the content list output from the content retrieval unit 316. If the selected content is not the content stored in the memory unit 306 and receives only the list of the content from the content server, the content server requests the content server to receive and play the content.

The controller 300 controls the content information analyzer 314, the content search unit 316, and the content playback unit 318. That is, the controller 300 may perform the functions of the content information analyzer 314, the content search unit 316, and the content playback unit 318. In the present invention, it is shown to configure them separately to explain each function separately. Therefore, in the case of actually implementing a product, all of them may be configured to be processed by the controller 300, and only some of them may be configured to be processed by the controller 300.

4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a content server in a home network system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 4, the content server 132, 134, or 136 of the present invention includes a control unit 400, a memory unit 402, an internet communication unit 404, a content information analysis unit 406, and a content search unit 408. And a content manager 410.

The memory unit 402 stores a program, an application program, and contents for controlling the overall operation of the content server 132, 134, 136. The Internet communication unit 404 is a device that connects and communicates with the home device 110 to transmit / receive data through the Internet, and receives content information to be searched from the home device 110 according to the present invention. The content list or the content according to the search is transmitted to the home device 110.

The content information analysis unit 406 analyzes the content information received from the home device 110 to control the type of content to be searched and the search target. The content retrieval unit 408 controls the memory unit 402 to search for corresponding contents by using the content information analyzed by the content information analyzer 406. The content management unit 410 manages storing or deleting content in the memory unit 402, and also manages a list of the content searched by the content search unit 408 or the searched content in the Internet communication unit ( 404 transmits the search to the home device 110 requesting the search.

The controller 400 controls the content information analyzer 406, the content search unit 408, and the content manager 410. That is, the controller 400 may perform the functions of the content information analyzer 406, the content searcher 408, and the content manager 410. In the present invention, it is shown to configure them separately to explain each function separately. Therefore, when the actual product is implemented, all of them may be configured to be processed by the controller 400, and only some of them may be configured to be processed by the controller 400.

Hereinafter, a method of searching and playing content in a home network system according to the present invention configured as described above will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a process of searching for and playing content in a home network system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, in step 500, the portable terminal 100 generates content information to be reproduced and transmits a content reproduction request message M10 including the content information to the home device 110.

In step 502, the home device 110 receiving the content play request message M10 searches for content corresponding to the content information included in the content play request message M10. At this time, if a content corresponding to the content information is not searched or a user requests an additional search, the content server 132 transmits a content request message (M20) including the content information.

In step 504, the content server 132 receiving the content request message M20 searches for content corresponding to the content information included in the content request message M20 and includes a content response message M30. To the home device 110.

In step 506, the home device 110 outputs a content list corresponding to the content information searched by the home device 110 and the content server 132. In step 508, the user searches for the user. In step 510, the selected content is selected, and the selected content is played.

6 is a flowchart illustrating a process of requesting reproduction of content from a portable terminal of a home network system to a home device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, when the mobile terminal 100 detects the occurrence of the remote playback event of the content in step 600, the mobile terminal 100 proceeds to step 602 and outputs a list of contents stored in the mobile terminal 100. In operation 606, the user selects a content to be remotely played from the content list. In operation 606, information of the selected content is checked, a content reproduction request message including the content information is generated, and operation 608 is performed. In step 610, the mobile terminal 110 transmits the content reproduction request message to the home device 110.

7 is a flowchart illustrating a process of retrieving and playing content by using content information received by a home device of a home network system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, when the home device 110 receives a content play request message from the portable terminal 100 in step 700, the home device 110 proceeds to step 702 to interpret content information included in the content play request message. In step 704, the content corresponding to the analyzed content information is searched among the contents stored in the home device 110, and in step 706, whether the content corresponding to the analyzed content information exists as a result of the search. Check it. If the corresponding content does not exist as a result of the check, the home device 110 proceeds to step 710. Detailed description of the step 710 will be described later after step 708.

In step 706, if the corresponding content exists, the process proceeds to step 708 to output a content list that is a list of searched content, and proceeds to step 710 to search for the content information through a content server as an external device. Check if the request is made. The occurrence of the request for the additional search occurs when the user is requested to perform an additional search automatically when there is no content when there is no searched content.

If the additional search request has not occurred in step 710, the home device 110 proceeds to step 722. Operation 722 will be described later in detail after operation 720.

In step 710, when the detection result of the additional search request is detected, the home device 110 proceeds to step 712 to search for a content server to request a search for in a content server table by using the analyzed content information. In step 716, the content request message including the content information is transmitted to the searched content server 132. In step 716, the content request message is received from the content server 132 that has transmitted the content request message. .

When the content response message is received in step 716, the home device 110 checks whether the content response message received from the content server 132 includes the content list or the content searched for. If there is no content list or content included in the test result, the home device 110 proceeds to step 726 and outputs a guide message indicating that there is no searched content and ends.

However, if there is a content list or content included in the test result of step 718, the home device 110 proceeds to step 720 and the content searched by the home device 110 and the content server 132 as a content list. In step 722, the controller selects the content to be played back from the content list.

If the content of the check result of step 722 is selected, the home device 110 proceeds to step 724 to play the selected content.

8 is a flowchart illustrating a process of searching for content and providing searched content according to a request of a home device in a content server of a home network system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 8, when the content server 132 receives the content request message in step 800, the content server 132 analyzes content information included in the content request message in step 802, and proceeds to step 804. In step 806, the content corresponding to the information is searched for, and the content response message including the searched content list or the content is generated and transmitted to the home device 110 that has transmitted the content request message.

Apparently, there are many ways to modify these embodiments while remaining within the scope of the claims. In other words, there may be many other ways in which the invention may be practiced without departing from the scope of the following claims.

As described above, the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for retrieving and reproducing content corresponding to the content information from a home device that receives the content information even when only the content information is transmitted from the portable terminal of the home network system to the home device. By transmitting data, high quality content is provided.

Claims (13)

In the home network system for searching and playing content, A portable terminal for selecting a content to be played on a home device among stored contents and transmitting a content playback request message including content information of the selected content to the home device; Receiving the content playback request message from the portable terminal, interpreting the content information included, searching for the content corresponding to the content information, outputting the content list, and selecting and playing the content from the content list to play the home device; Home network system, characterized in that it comprises a. The method of claim 1, The home device, When a content corresponding to the content information does not exist or a search result is received from a user, the content request message including the content information is transmitted to a content server. Receiving the content request message, further comprising the content server interpreting the included content information, searching for content corresponding to the content information, and transmitting a content response message including a search result to the home device; Home network system. The method of claim 1, The portable terminal, A communication unit communicating with the home device for communication; A memory unit for storing various contents, A content management unit for managing the contents stored in the memory unit and controlling to output a list of stored contents by searching according to a request; If a content to be played on the home device is selected from among the contents searched through the content manager, the remote playback request to control the content playback request message including the content information of the selected content to be transmitted to the home device through the communication unit. A home network system, characterized in that it comprises a portion. The method of claim 2, The home device, A first communication unit connecting with the portable terminal to receive the content playback request message; A memory unit for storing various contents, A content information analyzer for analyzing the content information included in the content reproduction request message; A content search unit which controls to search for a corresponding content in the memory unit and output a search result as a content list by using the content information analyzed by the content information analysis unit; And a content reproducing unit controlling to reproduce the selected content when the content to be reproduced is selected from the content list output from the content retrieval unit. The method of claim 4, wherein The home device, Further comprising a second communication unit for communicating with the content server, The content search unit controls to transmit a content request message including the content information to the content server through the second communication unit when the content corresponding to the content information does not exist in the memory unit or when the user requests an additional search. Home network system. The method of claim 5, When the content search unit receives the content response message from the content server, the content search unit outputs a content list searched by the content server, which is a search result included in the content response message, and selects a content to be played by the content list searched by the content server. And if selected, controls to receive and play the content from the content server. The method of claim 2, The content server, A communication unit communicating with the home device for communication; A memory unit for storing various contents, A content information analyzer for analyzing the content information included in the content request message received from the home device; A content searching unit controlling to search for a corresponding content in the memory unit by using the content information analyzed by the content information analyzing unit; And a content manager configured to transmit the content response message including the search result searched by the content search unit to the home device that has requested a search through the communication unit. In the method of playing content in a home network system, Transmitting the content information to be played on the portable terminal to the home device; Receiving the content information, the home device searching for and outputting a content corresponding to the content information as a list; Receiving a content to be played from the searched content list; And playing back the selected content. A method for requesting remote playback of content in a portable terminal of a home network system, Receiving content to be remotely played from among contents stored in the portable terminal; Checking the information of the selected content; Generating a content reproduction request message including the content information; Connecting the communication with the home device which is the object of remote playback; And transmitting the content reproduction request message to the home device. In the method for playing the content requested from the home device of the home network system, Receiving a content play request message from a portable terminal, interpreting content information included in the content play request message; Searching for contents corresponding to the analyzed content information among contents stored in the home device; Outputting a content list which is a list of searched contents; Receiving a content to be played in the content list; And playing the requested content on the home device, further comprising playing the selected content. The method of claim 10, The process of searching for the content, If there is no content corresponding to the content information as a result of color matching, or the user requests further search, Transmitting a content request message including the content information to a content server requesting a search; And receiving a content response message including a content list searched by the content server from the content server. The method of claim 10, In the process of outputting the content list, the content list, And a list of contents searched by the home device and the content server. The method of claim 11, The content server receiving the content request message, Interpreting the content information included in the content request message; Searching for contents corresponding to the contents information analyzed from contents stored in the contents server; And transmitting the list or contents of the searched contents to the home device by including the contents in the content response message.

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