MX2008008255A - Method and apparatus for providing dvd content with rendering device in upnp network - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus and method for transmitting digital versatile disc (DVD) content to a media renderer according to a menu set by a user via a network are provided. In the apparatus and method, a media server generates two or more types of menu setting information from combinations of options available from a menu for the DVD content, generates item information for the DVD content for each piece of the menu setting information, and transmits the item information to a control point. Accordingly, a user can use various menu information items for a DVD title which is the same as can be obtained in a local DVD system while evaluating DVD content under remote control via a network.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS THAT SUPPLIES DIGITAL VERSATILE DISC CONTENT WITH DISPLAY DISPLAY IN PLUG AND NETWORK UNIVERSAL REPRODUCTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION The apparatus and methods consistent with the present invention relate to a home network, and more particularly, to a method of using a digital versatile disk (DVD) content in a Universal Plug and Play network ( UPnP).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) technology is a technology that establishes the communications between a plurality of connected devices by means of a network that does not require a complicated process of establishment, by means of which, this allows, automatically, that a device detects a service provided by another device. If a user simply made contact with a device in a UPnP network, the devices connected to the UPnP network would automatically detect the connected device, and the user could easily use the desired service that is provided by one of the devices that has previously been connected to the UPnP network. REF. 193202 Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating a conventional method of using content in a UPnP network. With reference to Figure 1, a contol point, i.e., a device that provides a user interface, inquires into the media server, which is a source device that provides content, about the content information. The media server provides a Content Directory Service (CDS) that defines the actions that allow the control point to search and manage content stored on the media server. A Navigation call message is a representative example of the actions. The control point transmits a Navigation call message to obtain information about the content that the media server can provide, in the form of the Extensible Signaling Language (XML). Based on the reception of the information about the content, the control point transmits a playback call message, which is an action defined by a TransportAV Service (AVTS) of the player or media viewer in order to request the reproduction of a piece of content that the media server can provide. In this case, the Uniform Resource Identifiers (URIs) of the requested piece of content are transmitted to the media viewer, and in this way, the media viewer requests the media server to transmit the required piece of content by sending an HTTP-GET request to the media server, based on the URI. The media server receiving the HTTP-GET request transmits a flow of the required piece of content to the media player or viewer, so that the media viewer can play the required piece of content. The media player or viewer provides a Playback Control Service (RCS) that defines the actions that control the state of the media viewer, such as volume, contrast, and brightness. Here, as illustrated in Figure 2, an XML document that receives the control point by transmitting the Navigation call message contains the title, resource URI and protocol information. When a UPnP is applied to a digital versatile disc (DVD) system, the media server can transmit the DVD content to the media player or viewer through a network. However, with the conventional method of displaying the content information used by UPnP CDS, it is impossible to display the DVD menu information (audio, language, subtitles, etc.) provided by the DVD system. That is, as illustrated in Figure 2, a CDS conventional media server provides the URI of the DVD content and therefore, the media player or viewer must require the transmission of the DVD content that corresponds to the URI. In this way, while playing the contents of a DVD system via a network, the user can not use several additional functions of a DVD, for example, the audio selection, the subtitle selection and the language selection.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus and method for transmitting the menu information of the digital versatile disk content (DVD) to a control point, and the DVD content to a media viewer according to a menu set by the user through a Universal Plug and Play network (UPnP). In accordance with the exemplary embodiments of the present invention through the newly defined content information in a CDS of a media server without altering the existing UPnP control point, the user may employ various menu information elements related to the DVD title, which is the same as can be obtained on a local DVD system, 'while evaluating DVD content using a remote control over a network.

While this invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in the form and details thereof could be made without departing from spirit and scope. of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating a conventional method of using content in a Universal Plug and Play network (UPnP); Figure 2 illustrates the content information defined in a conventional Content Directory Service (CDS) of a media server; Figure 3 is a flowchart illustrating a process that allows a media server to provide the digital versatile disk (DVD) content to a media player or viewer in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 illustrates the structure of a message that provides a media server in response to a Navigation call in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; Figures 5A and 5B illustrate a method of constructing the menu setting information of the DVD content according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 6 is a block diagram of a media server according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method that allows a media server to provide digital versatile disk (DVD) content in a Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) network, the method comprising : (a) generate at least two types of menu setting information from the combinations of all available options of a menu for DVD content; (b) generating the item information for the DVD content for each piece of the menu setting information, and transmitting the generated item information to a control point; and (c) transmitting the DVD content to a media player or viewer designated by the control point, to which the menu setting information corresponding to an item requested by the control point is applied. The generation of the element information and the transmission of the generated element information could understand the transmission of element information in response to a CDS Navigation call message from the control point. Each piece of menu setting information could be entered into a label that represents the title of the DVD content in the corresponding item information. The transmission of the DVD content could comprise: (cl) receiving a request for content corresponding to an element which in turn corresponds to a piece of the information generated from the media viewer element; (c2) generate the flow data of the DVD content by reflecting the menu setting information that corresponds to the requested item; and (c3) transmitting the flow data to the media viewer. The menu setting information could comprise the information for the selection of at least one of a language, the audio mode and the subtitles. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer-readable medium which has recorded therein a computer program that executes the method that allows a media server to provide the DVD content. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a media server apparatus is provided providing digital versatile disk (DVD) content in a Universal Plug and Play network (UPnP), the media server apparatus comprises: a menu setting information generation unit that creates two or more types of information menu setting from the combinations of options available in a menu for DVD content; an item information supply unit that generates the item information for the DVD content for each piece of information generated from menu setting, and transmits the generated item information to a control point; and a content transmission unit that sends the DVD content to a media player or viewer, which is designated through the control point, in which the menu setting information corresponding to an item requested by the user is applied. check Point . Figure 3 is a flow chart illustrating a process that allows a media server to provide digital versatile disk (DVD) content to a media player or viewer in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. With reference to Figure 3, the media server that holds the DVD content, extracts the item information from a DVD, and generates at least two types of menu setting information from the combinations of options that the user can select. from a menu (operation 310). Then, the media server generates the item information for each piece of the menu setting information (operation 320). Here, the element information indicates the units of information that have different element identifiers (IDs) in the UPnP Content Directory Service (CDS). For example, when the Korean or English language could be selected, both for the language and for the subtitles from a DVD title menu, there are four combinations of options. In this way, four pieces of element information will be obtained. Hereinafter, when the media server receives a navigation call message from a control point that inquires about information about the content that the media server can provide (operation 330), the media server transmits a response message containing the generated item information in operation 320 to the control point in response to the call message of Navigation (operation 340). If the control point receiving the response message selects a piece of the item information and requests a specific media viewer to play the selected content, the media viewer would transmit a Playback call message requesting the reproduction of the selected content to the media server (operation 350). Next, the media server examines the playback call message in order to analyze the menu setting information that corresponds to the result of the analysis, then generates the data of the DVD content flow by reflecting the corresponding information of menu setting and finally, transmits the streaming data of the DVD content to the media player or viewer (operation 360). Figure 4 illustrates the construction of a message that the media server transmits in response to a Navigation call message in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. With reference to Figure 4, three types of menu setting information are set for the same DVD title, and the item information for each piece of the menu setting information is generated. That is, if the element ID of an element were 23, the language (SL) would be set in English, the subtitles (ST) would be set in Korean, and the audio (AU) would be set to a stereo mode. If the element ID of an element were 24, the SL language would be set in English, the ST subtitles would be set in Korean and the AU audio would be set to a Dolby 5.1 mode. If the element ID of an element were 25, the SL language would be set in English, the ST subtitles would be set in Korean and the AU audio would be set to a Digital Theater System (DTS) mode. When a control point sends a Navigation call message defined in a CDS of the media server, the media server transmits a response message of Navigation in the format illustrated in Figure 4 to the control point in response to the message of Navigation call. Based on the reception of the response message, the control point selects one of the elements indicated in the response message and requests the media viewer to reproduce the selected element. Therefore, the user can evaluate a DVD title by reflecting the menu setting information set by him or herself. The menu setting information could be obtained by defining a new label and entering the new label in the Navigation call message, although it is preferred that the subtitle adjustment information be entered in a < title > , so that the user can recognize the subtitle adjustment information by means of the user interface of the control point without adding a function to interpret a new label through the control point. Figures 5A and 5B illustrate a method of constructing the menu setting information of the DVD content according to an example embodiment of the present invention. In detail, Figure 5A illustrates a menu from which options related to a DVD could be selected in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. That is, when a local DVD system plays a DVD title, the Korean or English languages could be selected, both for the language and for the subtitle and the audio could be set to one of the DTS mode and the Dolby 5.1 mode. Figure 5B illustrates a plurality of menu setting information pieces that can be generated from combinations of the available options, when a menu for a DVD title is the same as that illustrated in Figure 5A. Specifically, because each of the three menu information elements has two options, eight pieces of the menu setting information are generated from the combinations of all the options as illustrated in Figure 5B. As described above, the generated menu setting information is input to a plurality of pieces of element information each with a different element ID. Figure 6 is a block diagram of a media server 600 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. With reference to Figure 6, the media server 600 includes an input / output (I / O) interface 605, a content transmission unit 610, a unit Element Information Supply 630 - and a menu setting information generation unit 620. The I / O interface 605 provides a means through which the media server 600 establishes communications with the control point 640 and the display means 650, and the menu setting information generating unit 620 extracts the item information from a DVD in order to generate the menu setting information. The item information supply unit 630 receives the menu setting information of the menu setting information generation unit 620, furthermore, it creates the item information for each piece of the menu setting information and transmits the information of element to the control point 640 in response to a CDS Navigation call message of the control point 640. The content transmission unit 610 includes a request receiving unit 611, a flow generator 612 and a flow transmitter 613. The request receiving unit 611 receives a Playback call message from the media player or viewer 650, and transmits it to the flow generator 612 in response to a request from the control point 640. The flow generator 612 creates the data flow of the DVD content based on the menu setting information contained in the Playback call message. The 613 flow transmitter sends the flow data generated to the media viewer 650 through the I / O interface 605. The above example embodiments of the present invention can be included as a computer program in a medium capable of being read by computer, and are executed by a general digital computer through the medium that can be read by computer. The medium capable of being read by computer could be a magnetic storage medium, for example, a read-only memory (ROM), a flexible disk and a hard disk, an optical storage medium, for example, a compact disc (CD ) -ROM and a DVD, and a carrier wave that transmits data, for example, through the Internet. In accordance with the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, by means of the newly defined content information in a CDS of a media server without altering the existing UPnP control point, the user may employ various menu information elements related to a title. DVD, which is the same that can be obtained in a local DVD system, while the DVD content is evaluated using a remote control through a network. While this invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the example modalities thereof, it will be understood by those persons skilled in the art that various changes in shape and details could be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. It is noted that in relation to this date the best method known by the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is that which is clear from the present description of the invention.

Claims (13)

1. CLAIMS Having described the invention as above, the content of the following claims is claimed as property: 1. A method that allows a media server to provide digital versatile disk content < DVD) in a Universal Plug and Play network (UPnP), characterized in that it comprises: (a) generating at least two types of menu setting information based on the combinations of all the available options of a menu for a DVD content; (b) generating the item information for the DVD content for each piece of the menu setting information, and transmitting the generated item information to a control point; and (c) transmitting the DVD content to a media viewer designated by the control point, to which the menu setting information corresponding to an item requested by the control point is applied. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that (b) comprises the transmission of the element information in response to the call message of the Content directory service navigation from the control point. 3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that each piece of the menu setting information is entered into a label representing the title of the DVD content in the item information. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that (c) comprises: (cl) receiving a content request corresponding to a portion of the item generated information from the media viewer; (c2) generating the flow data of the DVD content based on the menu setting information that corresponds to the portion of the item generated information which in turn corresponds to the content request; and (c3) transmitting the flow data to the media viewer. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the menu setting information comprises the information for the selection of at least one of a language, the audio mode and the subtitle. 6. The medium capable of being read by computer, characterized in that it has recorded in it a computer program to perform the method according to claim 1. 7. A media server apparatus that provides digital versatile disk content (DVD ) in a Universal Plug and Play network (UPnP), characterized in that comprising: a menu setting information generation unit that creates two or more types of menu setting information from combinations of the available options of a menu for DVD content; an item information supply unit that generates the item information for the DVD content for each piece of information generated from menu setting, and transmits the generated item information to the control point; and a content transmission unit that sends the DVD content to a media viewer designated by the control point, to which the menu setting information corresponding to the item information requested by the control point is applied. The media server apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the element information provision unit transmits the element information in response to a call message of Content directory service navigation from the point of control . The media server apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the item information supply unit introduces each piece of menu setting information into a label that represents the title of the DVD content in the item information. The media server apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the content transmission unit comprises: a request receiving unit that supports a request for content corresponding to a piece of the item generated information from of the media viewer; a flow generator that creates the flow data of the DVD content based on the piece of the item generated information; and a flow transmitter that sends the flow data to the media viewer. The media server apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the menu setting information comprises the information for the selection of at least one of a language, the audio mode and the subtitle. 12. A method of a media server that provides digital versatile disk (DVD) content in a Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) network, characterized in that it comprises: extracting DVD menu options from a DVD; generate the element information that represents the selectable combinations of the options extracted from the DVD menu; and transmit element information to a control point. 13. The method according to the claim 12, further characterized in that it comprises: receiving a request from a control point representing one of the selectable combinations of the options extracted from the DVD menu; and transmitting the DVD content to the media viewer based on the received request.