U.S. patent application number 12/331578 was filed with the patent office on 2009-06-11 for system and method for data transmission in dlna network environment.
Invention is credited to Chul Seung KIM, Joon Oo Kim, Won Sang Kwon, Yun Je Oh.
Application Number | 20090150962 12/331578 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40723078 |
Filed Date | 2009-06-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090150962 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KIM; Chul Seung ; et
al. |
June 11, 2009 |
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DATA TRANSMISSION IN DLNA NETWORK
ENVIRONMENT
Abstract
A system and method for data transmission in a DLNA network
environment are disclosed. The data transmission system includes a
content creation unit creating at least one content, a content
correlation check unit checking a created content to classify the
created content by category and a conversion content creation unit
extracting header information and body information of the
classified content and converting the extracted information into
preset type information.
Inventors: |
KIM; Chul Seung; (Seoul,
KR) ; Oh; Yun Je; (Yongin-si, KR) ; Kim; Joon
Oo; (Suwon-si, KR) ; Kwon; Won Sang; (Seoul,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CHA & REITER, LLC
210 ROUTE 4 EAST STE 103
PARAMUS
NJ
07652
US
|
Family ID: |
40723078 |
Appl. No.: |
12/331578 |
Filed: |
December 10, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
725/118 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 7/163 20130101;
H04N 21/6125 20130101; H04N 21/4402 20130101; H04N 21/85406
20130101; H04N 21/65 20130101; H04N 21/43615 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
725/118 |
International
Class: |
H04N 7/173 20060101
H04N007/173 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 11, 2007 |
KR |
2007-0128215 |
Claims
1. A data transmission system in a Digital Living Network Alliance
(DLNA) network environment, comprising: a content creation unit
creating at least one content; a content correlation check unit
checking the at least one created content to classify the at least
one created content by category; and a conversion content creation
unit extracting header information and body information of each of
the at least one classified content and converting the extracted
information into preset type information.
2. The data transmission system of claim 1, wherein the content
correlation check unit classifies a content into an audio content
or image content.
3. The data transmission system of claim 2, wherein the content
correlation check unit further classifies the content classified as
an audio content or image content by indexes.
4. The data transmission system of claim 2, wherein the conversion
content creation unit converts the audio content header
information, extracted from the content, into MPEG-7 type
metadata.
5. The data transmission system of claim 2, wherein the conversion
content creation unit converts the audio content body information,
extracted from the content, into MPEG-4 or MAF type
information.
6. The data transmission system of claim 2, wherein the conversion
content creation unit converts the image content header
information, extracted from the content, into one of MPEG-7 MDS
metadata and MPEG-7 visual metadata.
7. The data transmission system of claim 1, wherein the conversion
content creation unit: extracts supplementary information from the
at least one created content; and generates supplementary metadata
based on of the extracted supplementary information.
8. The data transmission system of claim 1, wherein the conversion
content creation unit combines multiple related content into a
unified file on the basis of the classification result.
9. The data transmission system of claim 8, further comprising: a
content directory service unit creating and providing a list of
content, list of converted contents, and list of unified files; a
content storage unit storing at least one of contents, converted
contents and unified files; and a content transmission unit
transmitting at least one of contents, converted contents and
unified files.
10. A method for data transmission in a Digital Living Network
Alliance (DLNA) network environment, comprising: creating a
content; classifying the created content by checking the category
of the content; and extracting header information and body
information of the content classified by category, and converting
the extracted information into preset type information.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein classifying a created content
comprises: classifying the content into an audio content or an
image content.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein classifying a created content
further comprises: classifying the content classified as an audio
content or image content by indexes.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein converting the extracted
information comprises: converting an audio content header
information, extracted from the content, into MPEG-7 type
metadata.
14. The method of claim 11, wherein converting the extracted
information comprises: converting body information of the audio
content extracted from the content into MPEG-4 or MAF type
information.
15. The method of claim 11, wherein converting the extracted
information comprises: converting an image content header
information extracted from the content into one of MPEG-7 MDS
metadata and MPEG-7 visual metadata.
16. The method of claim 10, wherein extracting header information
and body information further comprises: extracting supplementary
information from a created content; and generating supplementary
metadata based on of the extracted supplementary information.
17. The method of claim 10, wherein extracting header information
and body information comprises: combining multiple related contents
into a unified file on the basis of the classification result.
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising: storing the
contents, converted contents and unified files; creating and
providing a list of content, list of converted content, and list of
unified files; and transmitting at least one of said contents,
converted contents and unified files.
Description
CLAIM OF PRIORITY
[0001] This application claims the benefit of the earlier filing
date, pursuant to 35 USC 119, to that patent application entitled
"SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DATA TRANSMISSION IN DLNA NETWORK
ENVIRONMENT" filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on
Dec. 11, 2007 and assigned Serial No. 2007-0128215, the contents of
which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to data transmission in a
Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) network environment and,
more particularly, to a system and method for data transmission in
a DLNA network environment wherein created content is classified by
category and the classified content are converted into
common-format contents and can be provided as a single unified
file.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] In recent years, a growing number of audio/video (AV)
content such as songs and videos have been exchanged through
Internet Protocol (IP) networks. For example, viewing television
programs or listening to songs through the Internet is now regarded
as a matter of course. Home users tend to exchange AV contents
through networks. Users have a growing interest in home networks,
which connect various home AV appliances together for easy
enjoyment of AV contents. To achieve this, various automation
mechanisms are necessary. Connecting home appliances to LAN
interfaces or providing wireless LAN features to the home
appliances is not enough. The home appliances must be aware of the
presence of other appliances, discover necessary content and
exchange desired contents, through networks.
[0006] Various middleware-related standards such as UPnP, HaVi,
Jini, VESA and DLNA are employed to discover other appliances on
networks, and find and exchange desired content through the
networks.
[0007] In particular, DLNA focuses on sharing of all types of
contents provided by various appliances such as a TV, VCR, digital
camera and audio system. Content sharing requires interoperability
between appliances. A network in the home connecting an Internet
network (PC and printer), mobile network (PDA, mobile phone and
notebook) and home appliance network (TV, audio system and DVD
player) together should conform to a standardized interoperability
framework and satisfy operability requirements for products.
[0008] DLNA aims to enable consumers to acquire digital media
contents (for example, photographs, songs and videos) from mobile
devices or personal devices such as PCs, and to distribute and
manage them. That is, DLNA aims to enable a consumer to
conveniently enjoy media content irrespective of the locations and
appliances in the home.
[0009] To achieve this, a DLNA system is based on Universal Plug
and Play (UPnP) technology, and can be a wired/wireless network
system including Digital Media Server (DMS) devices, Digital Media
Player (DMP) devices, Digital Media Controller (DMC) devices, and
Digital Media Renderer (DMR) devices.
[0010] The DMS devices, DMP devices, and DMC devices include mobile
DMS (M-DMS) devices, mobile DMP (M-DMP) devices, and mobile (M-DMC)
devices, respectively. M-DMS, M-DMP and M-DMC devices can be
connected directly or through access points (AP) to the DLNA
system. A Mobile Network Connectivity Function (M-NCF) device is
present at an AP as an intermediate node connecting an M-DMS device
and M-DMP device together.
[0011] The DLNA system can employ a wired network (IEEE 802.3) or
wireless network (IEEE 802.11) to compose a home network. DMS, DMP
and DMR devices on the home network are interconnected through the
wired network or wireless network. Digital devices on the home
network can transmit data such as images and voices through the
IEEE 1394 interface.
[0012] For standardization of DLNA systems, the DLNA Networked
Device Interoperability Guidelines define the Home Network Device
category including DMS devices, DMP devices, DMC devices and DMR
devices, and provide conditions for interoperability between DMS,
DMP, DMC and DMR devices.
[0013] A DMS device, corresponding to a media server device (MSD)
in the UPnP AV model, has functions to access and store digital
media content and provide them to DMR devices. The DMS device is to
permit a control point (CP) acting as a user interface application
to discover digital media content in the DMS device so that users
of a DLNA network can display or distribute the content. As an
example of interaction between a DMS device and DMR device in
digital broadcast reception, the DMS device receives and stores
broadcast programs, and then sends a requested broadcast program to
the DMR device, in response to a request from the DMR device. The
DMR device then reproduces the received broadcast program. The DMP
device is a DMR device including a UPnP CP, and acts as a Media
Renderer Device (MRD) and Media Renderer Control Point (MRCP) for
selecting and controlling media contents and playing back selected
contents. Media contents provided through the DMS device to the DMP
device and DMR device have been received from various sources in
various ways.
[0014] As described above, media content provided through a DMS
device have various data formats. To play back a media content of a
particular format, a home appliance has to install a required
application. If the required application cannot be installed, the
home appliance cannot play back the media content.
[0015] The content providing service of the DMS device is limited
to reception and reproduction of media content files selected by
the CP. Hence, it is necessary to provide an extended service that
enables the CP to discover and access media content files in
various and convenient manners.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0016] The present invention provides a system and method for data
transmission in a DLNA network environment wherein the format of
media content is converted into a preset format for transmission to
increase the diversity in content usage and facilitate searching of
media contents.
[0017] In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention, there is provided a data transmission system in a DLNA
network environment, including a content creation unit creating at
least one content, a content correlation check unit checking a
created content to classify the created content by category; and a
conversion content creation unit extracting header information and
body information of the content classified by category and
converting the extracted information into preset type
information.
[0018] In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention, there is provided a data transmission method in a DLNA
network environment, including: creating at least one content;
classifying a created content by checking the category of the
content and extracting header information and body information of
the content classified by category and header information, and
converting the extracted information into preset type
information.
[0019] In a feature of the present invention, various content in a
DLNA network environment are classified by category, the format of
classified content is converted into a common format, and closely
related content is provided as a single unified file. Hence, the
user can easily find and receive contents.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] The features and advantages of the present invention will be
more apparent from the following detailed description in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0021] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a digital media
server of a DLNA network according to an exemplary embodiment of
the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a conversion content creation
unit in the digital media server of FIG. 1;
[0023] FIG. 3 illustrates conversion of an audio content in
accordance with the principles of the present invention; and
[0024] FIG. 4 illustrates conversion of an image content in
accordance with the principles of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0025] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described
in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same
reference symbols are used throughout the drawings to refer to the
same or like parts. Detailed descriptions of well-known functions
and structures incorporated herein may be omitted to avoid
obscuring the subject matter of the present invention. Particular
terms may be defined to describe the invention in the best manner.
Accordingly, the meaning of specific terms or words used in the
specification and the claims should not be limited to the literal
or commonly employed sense, but should be construed in accordance
with the spirit of the invention. The description of the various
embodiments is to be construed as exemplary only and does not
describe every possible instance of the invention. Therefore, it
should be understood that various changes may be made and
equivalents may be substituted for elements of the invention.
[0026] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a digital media
server (DMS) 100 of a DLNA network according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention.
[0027] Referring to FIG. 1, the DMS 100 includes a content creation
unit 110, content management unit 120, content storage unit 130,
content transmission unit 140, content correlation check unit 150,
conversion content creation unit 160, content directory service
unit 170, connection service control unit 180, and AV transmission
service unit 190. The content directory service unit 170,
connection service control unit 180, and AV transmission service
unit 190 are supplementary components.
[0028] The content creation unit 110 directly creates content or
captures a broadcast stream. The content creation unit 110 can
process a content received through the network from another DMS to
create a new content. The content creation unit 110 sends created
content to the content management unit 120 and content correlation
check unit 150.
[0029] The content management unit 120 manages content created by
the content creation unit 110. The content management unit 120 can
also manage converted content from the conversion content creation
unit 160. The content management unit 120 sends content from the
content creation unit 110 and converted content from the conversion
content creation unit 160 to the content storage unit 130. The
content management unit 120 can send content or converted content
to the content directory service unit 170.
[0030] The content storage unit 130 stores contents from the
content creation unit 110 and also stores converted contents from
the conversion content creation unit 160. Preferably, the content
storage unit 130 stores content or converted content in a
accordance with the classification of the content. The content
transmission unit 140 transmits content or converted content stored
in the content storage unit 130 through the network to a user
terminal. The user terminal can be a home appliance connected to
the DLNA network. In particular, the content transmission unit 140
can provide a two-way communication interface to a user terminal.
That is, when a user terminal is connected, the content
transmission unit 140 may provide a list of available converted
content to the user terminal, and may then send only selected items
of the list (or all items in the list) to the user terminal. To be
more specific, available converted content can be categorized into
image content and audio content, and the image content and audio
content can be further classified by various indexes. The converted
content list can further include lists of indexed items (files).
Hence, the user terminal can obtain information regarding lists of
playable content using the converted content list. The user
terminal can specify one of file lists in the converted content
list, or specify a group of files by selecting indexes and
categories.
[0031] The content correlation check unit 150 examines the class of
a content created by the content creation unit 110, and sends the
content together with its class information to the conversion
content creation unit 160. The content correlation check unit 150
can determine the class of a content by categories and indexes. To
be more specific, the content correlation check unit 150 determines
which category (for example, audio or image) to which a content
created by the content creation unit 110 belongs. If the content
belongs to the image content category, the content correlation
check unit 150 further classifies the content according to various
indexes such as location (for GPS data), time (year, month, day and
hour), and character (for photographs). If the content belongs to
the audio content category, the content correlation check unit 150
further classifies the content according to various indexes such as
album, genre and singer.
[0032] The conversion content creation unit 160 converts the format
of a content into a common format on the basis of the
classification result of the content correlation check unit 150. A
content in the common format can be utilized by various home
appliances connected to the DLNA network. The common format may be
a MPEG-4 format or Multimedia Application Format (MAF) format.
Conversion of content formats is described in connection with FIG.
2.
[0033] The content directory service unit 170 provides a service
based on the UPnP AV model, and sends a content list to external
devices for providing content information. That is, the content
directory service unit 170 creates a list of content or converted
content managed by the content management unit 120, and sends the
created list to the content storage unit 130 and content
transmission unit 140 through the content management unit 120.
[0034] The connection service control unit 180 provides a service
based on the UPnP AV model, and manages connection of an appliance
to the DMS 100. That is, the connection service control unit 180
manages connections between the DMS 100 and devices on the DLNA
network including a home appliance, DMP device and DMC device.
[0035] The AV transmission service unit 190 provides a service
based on the UPnP AV model, and manages the transmission of
content. That is, when the DMS 100 supports a full control service
for content including features such as, play, stop and pause, the
AV transmission service unit 190 manages the transmission of the
content being sent.
[0036] As described above, the DMS 100 converts the format of a
created content into a common format according to the category of
the content. Hence, when a home appliance connected to the DLNA
network already has an application for playback of MPEG-4 or MAF
content, the home appliance can play back the converted content
without additional application installation or download. For
content transmission, the DMS 100 sends content classified
according to the categories and indexes, and permits selection of
files to be sent on a group basis. Hence, files in a particular
group can be received, stored, and reproduced without selection of
an individual file.
[0037] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the conversion content creation
unit 160 in the DMS 100.
[0038] Referring to FIG. 2, the conversion content creation unit
160 includes a content format converter 161, content metadata
converter 163, and supplementary metadata converter 165.
[0039] The content format converter 161 converts the format of
content into a known format (e.g., MPEG-4 or MAF format). The
content format converter 161 converts the format of a content
created by the content creation unit 110 into the known format
regardless of the content type. Here, the MPEG-4 format and MAF
format is used for substantial compatibility and are not the only
formats that are contemplated as being within the scope of the
invention. It would be recognized by those skilled in the art, that
the MPEG-4 and MAF formats are only used herein to describe the
principles of the invention. Thus, when a content is composed of a
header part, body part and supplementary part, for example, the
content format converter 161 converts the format of details in the
body part (the substance of the content) into the exemplary MPEG-4
format or MAF format.
[0040] The content metadata converter 163 converts the format of
metadata of content into the well-known MPEG-7 Multimedia
Description Scheme (MDS) format, which need not be described in
herein. That is, the content metadata converter 163 extracts
metadata from content created by the content creation unit 110, and
converts the format of the extracted metadata into the MPEG-7 MDS
format. For example, when content is composed of a header part,
body part and supplementary part, the content metadata converter
163 extracts metadata, i.e., information stored in the header part
to define the body part and describe property of the content, from
the header part, and converts the format of the extracted metadata
into the MPEG-7 MDS format. In addition to the MPEG-7 MDS format,
the format of metadata may also be converted into the MPEG-4 format
or MAF format.
[0041] The supplementary metadata converter 165 provides
supplementary metadata to content created by the content creation
unit 110. If the content belongs to the audio content category, the
supplementary metadata converter 165 can generate supplementary
metadata, including information regarding a photograph associated
with a song, album, or album cover, or information regarding
Exchangeable Image file format (EXIF) for a photograph.
[0042] Next, content conversion by the conversion content creation
unit 160 is described in connection with FIGS. 3 and 4.
[0043] FIG. 3 illustrates conversion of an audio content by the
conversion content creation unit 160. In the description, an audio
content includes at least a header part, a body part, and a
supplementary part. However, the audio content may further include
a part necessary for an application. That is, it should be
understood that an audio content includes an information part to
store primary material data of the content, a metadata part to
store data defining and describing the primary material data, and a
supplementary part to store data further describing the content. In
the description provided herein, an MP3 file is described as an
audio content. However, it would be recognized that other audio
formats may be applied to the conversion unit 160.
[0044] Referring to FIG. 3, the conversion content creation unit
160 forwards an audio content created by the content creation unit
110 to the content format converter 161, content metadata converter
163, and supplementary metadata converter 165. The conversion
content creation unit 160 subdivides information in the audio
content by type into distinct segments, which are then given to
suitable modules. For example, when the audio content includes a
header part storing metadata, body part defined by the header part
and a supplementary part storing supplementary data, the conversion
content creation unit 160 extracts information stored in the header
part (for example, IDv3 tag information in relation to MP3 format)
and sends the extracted information to the content metadata
converter 163. In addition, the conversion content creation unit
160 extracts information stored in the body part (i.e. audio
streams) and sends the extracted information to the content format
converter 161, and extracts information described as supplementary
data (for example, album arts/cover/photograph) in the
supplementary part and sends the extracted information to the
supplementary metadata converter 165.
[0045] Thereafter, the content format converter 161 converts the
audio stream of the body part into an elementary stream in the
exemplary MPEG-4 or MAF format. The content metadata converter 163
converts metadata of the header part into metadata in the exemplary
MPEG-7 format conforming to the conversion result of the content
format converter 161. That is, the metadata in the MPEG-7 format
describes the content converted by the content format converter
161. When the audio content includes supplementary data describing
the content, e.g., image or text information, the supplementary
metadata converter 165 converts the supplementary data into image
data in an exemplary MPEG-4 compatible format. For example, the
supplementary metadata converter 165 can convert the supplementary
data of the audio content into JPEG image data based on MPEG-4.
[0046] Hence, using the content format converter 161, content
metadata converter 163 and supplementary metadata converter 165,
the conversion content creation unit 160 can produce an MPEG-4
format content composed of an MPEG-4 or MAF type body 171, MPEG-7
metadata 173, and JPEG image data 175, respectively. Here, the JPEG
image data is supplementary, and can be created and added according
to the policy of the DMS 100 if present in the audio content.
[0047] In the description above, an audio content with a single
track may be converted into an MPEG-4 type content. When an audio
content includes multiple tracks, the conversion content creation
unit 160 converts the audio content into a MAF type content with
multiple tracks. In other words, to compose related audio contents
as a single file, the conversion content creation unit 160 can
package converted content as a single file using MPEG-21 Digital
Item Declarations (MPEG-21 DID).
[0048] For playback of a converted content from the conversion
content creation unit 160, the MPEG-7 metadata of the content is
extracted and output through a display device. For the content body
part, MP3 bit stream fragments are extracted from MP3-on-MP4 bit
streams and reproduced through an existing MP3 player. For a JPEG
still image in the content, the JPEG still image is extracted and
decoded through a JPEG decoder, and the decoded signal is rendered
through the display device.
[0049] FIG. 4 illustrates conversion of an image content by the
conversion content creation unit 160.
[0050] Referring to FIG. 4, for an image content, the conversion
content creation unit 160 extracts image information from the body
part of the image content 181, metadata from the header part 183,
184, and supplementary metadata from the supplementary part 185,
respectively. For example, for a JPEG file, the conversion content
creation unit 160 creates MPEG-7 metadata on the basis of the image
data, and extracts supplementary metadata on the basis of EXIF
information. The conversion content creation unit 160 converts
extracted image information, MPEG-7 MDS metadata based on EXIF
information, MPEG-7 visual metadata, and visual information in the
image such as color, texture and shape data into MPEG-4 or MAF type
data. Here, the conversion content creation unit 160 can convert
header information into one of MPEG-7 MDS metadata 184 and MPEG-7
visual metadata 193 depending upon the property of the header
information. That is, if visual information of the image is present
in the header part of the image content, the conversion content
creation unit 160 can convert header information into MPEG-7 visual
metadata 183.
[0051] When multiple related image contents are combined into a
file, the conversion content creation unit 160 can package the
multiple image contents in a container, which can be stored like a
single file.
[0052] As described above, in the digital media server (DMS) of an
embodiment of the present invention, a content created by the
content creation unit 110 is classified by category and indexes,
and converted into a converted content in a particular format such
as the MPEG-4 or MAF format according to the classification result.
The DMS can store various classified contents, and provide
information regarding these contents using a converted content list
through the content directory service unit to a user terminal such
as a home appliance connected to the DLNA network. Hence, the user
of a home appliance can readily search the converted content list
for a desired content and related information. In addition, for
multiple related contents, the user can utilize a converted content
in the form of a single file, and does not have to select and
playback one file at a time.
[0053] The above-described methods according to the present
invention can be realized in hardware or as software or computer
code that can be stored in a recording medium such as a CD ROM, an
RAM, a floppy disk, a hard disk, or a magneto-optical disk or
downloaded over a network, so that the methods described herein can
be executed by such software using a general purpose computer, or a
special processor or in programmable or dedicated hardware, such as
an ASIC or FPGA. As would be understood in the art, the computer,
the processor or the programmable hardware include memory
components, e.g., RAM, ROM, Flash, etc. that may store or receive
software or computer code that when accessed and executed by the
computer, processor or hardware implement the processing methods
described herein.
[0054] Although exemplary embodiments of the present invention have
been described in detail hereinabove, it should be understood that
many variations and modifications of the basic inventive concept
herein described, which may appear to those skilled in the art,
will still fall within the spirit and scope of the exemplary
embodiments of the present invention as defined in the appended
claims.
* * * * *