JP2001069487A - VOD system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] An arbitrary scene can be easily reproduced. SOLUTION: In a VOD system comprising a video server 1 for storing digital video data, and a client 3 for making a video data transmission request to the video server and reproducing the received video data, A scene information storage unit 13 that stores time position information, scene titles, and titles of digital video data in a scene's digital video data as scene information. Means 16 and 10 for adding the corresponding time position information and title to the video server in the transmission request and transmitting the request are added. In addition, the video server
The video data in the time domain specified by the time position information in the digital video data of the title included in the transmission request is read out from the plurality of digital video data and transmitted to the client.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video on demand (VOD) system comprising a video server for storing digital video data and a client for requesting the video server to transmit video data. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a recent VOD system, high-quality digital video data can be distributed from a video server to each client.

In such a VOD system, a video server stores and holds a large number of digital video data in a video data file. Then, when a video data transmission request specifying a title of digital video data is input from a client connected to the video server through various communication networks including a public telephone network, the video server The designated digital video data is read from the data file and transmitted to the requesting client.

[0004] The client reproduces digital video data supplied online from the video server into a video signal at the decoder section and displays the video signal on the monitor device.

[0005] In such a VOD system, a user (customer) who handles a client does not need all images from the beginning to the end of a movie or the like supplied from the video server as digital video data. Only the scene (scene) may be required.

Specifically, when the client is installed in a general home, the user (customer) may be driven to desire to repeatedly see only the moving scenes (scenes) in the movie that he / she has seen in the past. is there. Further, when the client is installed in a broadcasting station or a video production company, the user (customer) can use each of the necessary news videos in the digital video data composed of many past news videos stored in the video server. A scene (scene) is extracted and edited to create a new video, or each extracted scene is incorporated into a newly created video.

[0007] As described above, the user (customer) demands that the VOD system can cope with various use forms.

[0008]

However, in the conventional VOD system, when a transmission request for video data specifying a title is input from each client, the digital video data of the specified title is read from the video data file, and The digital video data is transmitted to the requesting client in order from the start position to the end position.

Therefore, it is necessary for the client user (customer) to wait until the target scene (scene) appears on the monitor device. In particular, when the digital video data has one hour or more from the start to the end of a theatrical movie or the like, it has been extremely difficult to extract each target scene from a plurality of digital video data in a short time.

When the client is installed at a broadcasting station or a movie production company, each digital video data received from the video server is temporarily stored in a storage medium, such as an HDD, from which data can be read from an arbitrary storage location. In addition, it is conceivable that a necessary scene (scene) is immediately extracted from the storage medium.

However, in order to store moving image data for a long time, the storage capacity required for the storage medium is enormous, and the manufacturing cost of the client is greatly increased. further,
Storing the digital video data received from the video server in the storage medium once does not fulfill the original function of the VDO system in which the digital video data can be reproduced and watched at the time requested by the user (customer) and in real time.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and enables a client (a customer) to specify a time position and time in digital video data of a scene required by a user (customer) to a video server. By doing so, only the video data of the scene required by the user (customer) can be received and reproduced from the video server, and only the scene required by the user (customer) can be obtained almost in real time, It is an object of the present invention to provide a VOD system that can significantly improve services for users (customers).

[0013]

According to the present invention, a video server for storing a plurality of digital video data, a video data transmission request to the video server, and reproduction of the video data received from the video server. Applied to a VOD system with a client.

In order to solve the above problem, in the present invention, the time position information, the scene title, and the title of the digital video data in the digital video data of the scene included in the digital video data are transmitted to the client. A scene information storage unit for storing as information, a means for transmitting, in response to a scene reproduction request specifying the input scene title, incorporating time position information and a title corresponding to the scene title into a transmission request to a video server; Is added.

[0015] Further, the video server reads out video data in the time domain specified by the time position information in the digital video data of the title included in the transmission request from the plurality of digital video data, and transmits the video data to the client.

In the VOD system configured as described above, in the scene information storage unit of the client, time position information in digital video data of each scene,
A scene title and a title of digital video data are stored as scene information.

The client user (customer)
When a user inputs a scene title of a scene (scene) that the user wants to see, the time position information of the scene and the title of the digital video data are transmitted to the video server as a video data transmission request.

Therefore, the video server transmits the video data in the time domain specified by the time position information in the digital video data of the specified title among the stored plurality of digital video data to the client that has requested transmission. I do.

In the client, only the intended scene (scene) is reproduced.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the client in the VOD system according to the above aspect of the present invention obtains, from the video server, time position information of a scene designated to be operated during reproduction of video data received from the video server. A means for adding a scene title and a title, which are also designated and registered, to the scene information storage unit is added.

In the VOD system configured as described above, for example, when a user (customer) of a client registers a scene (scene) that he / she wants to see again in his / her client, digital video data including the scene is transferred to the client. During reception and reproduction from the video server, a start instruction is given when a scene to be registered appears, and an end instruction is given when the scene ends, so that the time position information on the digital video data of the scene from the video server can be obtained. Is transmitted and registered in the scene information storage unit of the client.

As described above, the client user (customer) can register an arbitrary scene he wants to see.

In still another invention, a plurality of pieces of scene information registered in the scene information storage unit are collectively added to a client in the VOD system of the above-described invention in accordance with an editing operation, and a new scene title is added. A means for registering in the scene information storage unit is added.

In the VOD system configured as described above, a plurality of scenes registered in the scene information storage unit can be easily collected. For example, in a broadcasting station or a video production company, a video editing work is performed. Work efficiency can be improved.

Still another aspect of the present invention is a video server that stores a plurality of digital video data, sends a video data transmission request to the video server, and decodes the compressed video data received from the video server. This is applied to a VOD system including a client that reproduces the data on a monitor and displays the data on a monitor device.

Then, a scene in which a start time, an end time, an offset time, the number of frames, a scene title, and a title of the digital video data in the digital video data of the scene included in the digital video data are stored as scene information to the client. According to the information storage unit and the scene playback request specifying the input scene title,
Means for incorporating the start time, end time and title corresponding to the scene title into the transmission request to the video server and transmitting the compressed video data received from the video server by the decoder unit; There is added a means for reproducing from the position where the offset time corresponding to the scene title is specified by the number of frames corresponding to the specified scene title and displaying it on the monitor device.

The video server extracts video data in the time domain specified by the time position information in the digital video data of the title included in the transmission request from the plurality of digital video data, and transmits the video data to the client.

First, the operation principle of the VOD system configured as described above will be described. Each digital video data is stored in a state where data compression (image compression) is performed. Then, the data is transmitted to the client in a compressed state. This data compression (image compression) method uses MPEG
When the technique is adopted, when performing inter-frame compression, a reference frame (I picture) is inserted every predetermined number of frames, and in each frame between the reference frames, only difference information from the immediately preceding frame is provided. Not included.

Therefore, in order to reproduce a frame of a required scene, each frame existing between the corresponding frame and the immediately preceding reference frame (I picture) to the corresponding frame is required. For this purpose, it is necessary to acquire, at a minimum, one cycle of frame data including a reference frame (I picture) from a required scene frame. The time for one cycle is called an offset time.

FIG. 7 shows the correlation among the start time of the digital video data, the start time of the required scene, the offset time, and the end time in the digital video data that has been subjected to data compression (image compression). Video data containing data from the start time to the end time is transmitted from the video server to the client.

The decoder section of the client originally reproduces (decodes) the video data in which the data is confined from the start time to the end time into an image signal (reproduction data), but reproduces each frame existing within the offset time. No need to do. Also, there is no need for a frame from the end of the required scene frame to the end time.

Therefore, in the present invention, the offset time and the number of frames are sent to the decoder section,
Only the scenes that are really needed are reproduced and output.

[0033]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 shows a V according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
It is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of an OD system. A plurality of clients 3 are connected to one video server 1 via a communication network 2. Although only one client 3 is shown in FIG. 1 for simplicity of description, a plurality of clients 3 are connected in an actual system.

In the video server 1, each client 3
Is provided with a video data file 4 storing a plurality of digital video data to be provided. Further, in the video server 1, a communication interface for performing data transmission with each client 3 via the communication network 2 is provided.
(Interface) 5, a request receiving unit 6, a video data reading unit 7, a video data transmitting unit 8, and the like are provided.

In the client 3, an operation panel for the user (customer) of the client 3 to input a transmission request for digital video data to be obtained from the video server 1 or a transmission request for a specific scene (scene). (User IF) 9, a request transmitting unit 10 for transmitting various requests to the video server 1 to the video server 1 via the communication IF 11, receiving digital video data and time position information of a scene via the communication IF 11. A data receiving unit 12 and the like are provided.

Further, in the client 3, a decoder unit 13 for reproducing the received digital video data and displaying and outputting the digital video data to a monitor device 14, a scene information table 1
5, a scene information reading unit 16, a scene information creating unit 17, a scene information registering unit 18, and a scene information editing unit 19 are provided.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the scene information table 15 as the scene information storage unit, the user (customer) of the client 3 included in the digital video data stored in the video data file 4 of the video server 1 )
, The scene title of each scene (scene) designated, the video title of the digital video data including the scene, the start time from the start time (start position) of the digital video data shown in FIG. Is stored from the start time (head position).

The registration processing of the scene information in the scene information table 15 in the scene information creating unit 17 in the client 3 of the VOD system thus configured will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

The client 3 via the operation panel 9
When the video title of the digital video data to which the scene (customer) to be registered belongs is input from the user (customer) (S1), this video title is incorporated into the transmission request, and the transmission request transmitting unit 10 and the communication IF 11 are transmitted. The data is transmitted to the video server 1 via the server (S2).

The request receiving section 6 of the video server 1
When a transmission request specifying a video title is received via F5, the video title is transmitted to the video data reading unit 7. The video data reading unit 7 starts reading digital video data of the specified video title from the video data file 4. The video data transmission unit 8 starts transmitting the read digital video data to the requesting client 3 via the communication IF 5 and the communication network 2.

When the data receiving unit 12 of the client 1 starts receiving the digital video data of the video title from the video server 1 via the communication IF 11, it starts transmitting the received digital video data to the decoder unit 13. As a result, the decoder unit 13 reproduces the digital video data into a video signal and sends it to the monitor device 14.

The monitor device 14 starts displaying an image (S
3) Thereafter, when a scene start instruction is input from the operation panel 9 (S4), an inquiry about the start time for this scene is incorporated into the request signal and transmitted to the video server 1 (S5).

Upon receiving the request signal for the start time inquiry, the request receiving section 6 of the video server 1 sends the start time inquiry to the video data reading section 7. The video data reading unit 7 extracts, as a start time, the elapsed time from the head position of the digital video data currently being read to the current position from the video data file 4 and transmits it to the requesting client 3 via the communication IF 5.

When the data receiving section 12 of the client 1 receives the start time of the relevant scene from the video server 1 via the communication IF 11 (S6), it sends it to the scene information creating section 17. The scene information creation unit 17 writes this start time into a new area of the scene information table 15 shown in FIG. 2 via the scene information registration unit 18 (S7).

Subsequently, when a scene end instruction is input from the operation panel 9 (S8), an inquiry about the end time for this scene is incorporated into the request signal and transmitted to the video server 1 (S9).

Upon receiving the inquiry about the end time, the request receiving section 6 of the video server 1 sends the inquiry about the end time to the video data reading section 7. The video data reading unit 7 extracts, from the video data file 4, the elapsed time from the head position of the digital video data currently being read to the current position as the end time, and transmits it to the requesting client 3 via the communication IF 5.

When the data receiving section 12 of the client 1 receives the end time of the scene from the video server 1 via the communication IF 11 (S10), the scene information creating section 17
Send to The scene information creation unit 17 writes this end time via the scene information registration unit 18 in the area where the start time is previously written in the scene information table 15 shown in FIG. 2 (S11).

Next, when the title of the scene arbitrarily assigned by the user (customer) is input from the operation panel 9 (S12),
The current scene title and the previously input video title are added to the scene information table 15 shown in FIG. S13).

Next, the scene information table 15
In the state in which the scene information including the scene title, the video title, the start time, and the end time is registered, the client 3 performs the scene reproduction process according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

When a scene title specified by the user (customer) is input via the operation panel 9 (Q1), the scene information reading section 16 is activated and the scene information reading section 16 is activated.
The video title, start time,
The end time is read (Q2), incorporated in the transmission request, and transmitted to the video server 1 (Q3).

The request receiving section 6 of the video server 1
When a transmission request specifying a video title, a start time, and an end time is received via F5, the video title, start time, and end time are sent to the video data reading unit 7.
The video data reading unit 7 starts reading video data in the time domain specified by the start time and the end time from the digital video data of the video title specified from the video data file 4. The video data transmitting unit 8 starts transmitting the read video data to the requesting client 3 via the communication IF 5 and the communication network 2.

When the data receiving section 12 of the client 1 starts receiving video data specified by the start time and the end time of the digital video data of the title from the video server 1 via the communication IF 11 (Q4), the decoder The transmission of the video data to the unit 13 is started. As a result, the decoder unit 13 reproduces the video data into a video signal and sends it to the monitor device 14 (Q5). As a result, only the scene (scene) of the scene title designated by the user (customer) of the client 3 is displayed on the monitor device 14.

The client 3 can collectively set a plurality of pieces of scene information already set in the scene information table 15, assign a new scene title, and newly register the new scene title in the scene information table 15. It is possible.

More specifically, when a user (customer) inputs a scene title of a plurality of scenes and a new scene title to be put together from the operation panel 9 in the editing mode, the scene information editing unit 19 starts up, Scene information table 15
, A new scene title and the video title, start time, and end time of each scene included in the new scene title are set in a new area.

When reproducing the scene of the combined scene title at the time of reproducing the scene, when the combined scene title is input, it corresponds to the combined scene title stored in the scene information table 15. The video title, start time, and end time of each scene are read out, incorporated in the transmission request, and transmitted to the video server 1.

The video server 1 reads from the video data file 4 a plurality of video data specifying the video title, start time, and end time of each scene included in the received transmission request, and continuously reads the transmission request source. Send to client 3. The client 3 causes the monitor device 14 to continuously display the received plurality of video data.

In the VOD system configured as described above, the scene information table 15 of the client 3 stores the start time, the end time, and the start time in the digital video data of each scene set by the user (customer) of the client 3. A scene title and a video title of digital video data are stored as scene information.

Then, the user (customer) of the client 3
However, when a scene title of a scene (scene) that the user wants to view is input from the operation panel 9, only video data of the designated scene (scene) is transmitted from the video server 1. As a result, in the client 3, only the target scene (scene) is reproduced and displayed on the monitor device 14.

The user (customer) of the client 3
When registering a scene (scene) that the user wants to view again in the scene information table 15 of the client 3, the digital video data including the scene is received from the video server 2, and during the playback period, a scene start instruction is issued. Since only the end instruction and the scene title need to be specified, the user (customer) of the client 3 can easily register any scene he or she wants to see.

Further, the scene information table 15
Since a plurality of scenes registered in a video file can be collected, for example, in a broadcasting station or a video production company, the work efficiency of video editing can be improved.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a VOD system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The same parts as those of the VOD system of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

In the scene information table 15a of the client 3a of the VOD system according to the second embodiment,
As shown in FIG. 6, the digital video data stored in the video data file 4 of the video server 1 includes:
The scene title of each scene (scene) designated by the user (customer) of the client 3, the video title of the digital video data including the scene, and the start time (start position) of the digital video data shown in FIG. The start time, the end time from the start time (start position) of the corresponding digital video data, the offset time mentioned above, and the number of frames of the target scene are stored and held as scene information.

In the video data file 4 of the video server 1, each digital video data is stored in a state where the data is compressed (image compression).

Then, the client 3a performs a scene reproduction process according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

When a scene title specified by the user (customer) is input via the operation panel 9 (R1), the scene information reading section 16a is activated and the video corresponding to the scene title is read from the scene information table 15a. The title, start time, end time, offset time, and number of frames are read (R2). Then, the video title, the start time, and the end time are incorporated in the transmission request and transmitted to the video server 1 (R3). Further, the scene information reading section 16a sends the read offset time and the read frame number to the decoder section 13a (R4).

The request receiving unit 6 of the video server 1
When a transmission request specifying a video title, a start time, and an end time is received via F5, the video title, start time, and end time are sent to the video data reading unit 7.
The video data reading unit 7 starts reading video data in the time domain specified by the start time and the end time from the compressed digital video data of the video title specified from the video data file 4. The video data transmitting unit 8 starts transmitting the read data compressed video data to the requesting client 3 via the communication IF 5 and the communication network 2.

When the data receiving unit 12 of the client 1 starts to receive the compressed video data specified by the start time and the end time of the digital video data of the title from the video server 1 via the communication IF 11 ( R5), transmission of the compressed video data to the decoder unit 13a is started.

The decoder 13 reproduces the video data that has been compressed into a video signal (reproduction data). In this case, transmission of the reproduced image signal (reproduction data) to the monitor device 14 is started from the time when the offset time designated by the scene information reading unit 16a has elapsed from the start of reproduction.
Then, the output of the image signal (reproduction data) is stopped when the image signals (reproduction data) for the number of frames specified by the scene information reading unit 16a are output (R6).

Therefore, only the true scene (scene) of the scene title designated by the user (customer) excluding the offset time shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the monitor device 14. In this way, only the scenes that are truly needed can be reproduced and displayed, so that the editing accuracy when a plurality of scenes are collected and edited can be improved.

[0070]

As described above, in the VOD system of the present invention, a client (a customer) can designate a time position and time in digital video data of a scene required by a user (customer) to a video server. I have.

Therefore, the client can receive and reproduce only the video data of the scene required by the user (customer) from the video server, and
Can obtain only necessary scenes in almost real time, and can greatly improve the service for users (customers).

Further, in addition to the start time, the end time, the scene title, and the title, the offset time and the number of frames are also stored in the scene information storage unit, and the offset time and the number of frames are stored in the decoder unit of the client. Used when reproducing digital data. Therefore, it is possible to reproduce and display only a truly necessary scene excluding the offset time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a VOD system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing storage contents of a scene information table formed in a client of the VOD system.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a scene information registration processing operation in a client of the VOD system.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a scene reproduction processing operation in a client of the VOD system.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a VOD system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing storage contents of a scene information table formed in a client of the VOD system.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a correlation among a start time, an offset time, the number of frames, and an end time stored in a scene information table of the VOD system.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a scene reproduction processing operation in a client of the VOD system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Video server 2 ... Communication line 3 and 3a ... Client 4 ... Video data file 5, 11 ... Communication IF 6 ... Request receiving part 7 ... Video data reading part 8 ... Video data transmitting part 9 ... Operation panel 10 ... Request transmitting part 12 Data receiving unit 13, 13a Decoder unit 14 Monitor unit 15, 15a Scene information table 16, 16a Scene information reading unit 17 Scene information creating unit 18 Scene information registering unit 19 Scene information editing unit

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A VOD system comprising: a video server that stores a plurality of digital video data; and a client that sends a video data transmission request to the video server and reproduces the video data received from the video server. The client includes a scene information storage unit that stores, as scene information, time position information, a scene title, and a title of the digital video data in the digital video data of a scene included in the digital video data; Means for transmitting time position information and a title corresponding to the scene title in the transmission request to the video server in response to the designated scene reproduction request, the video server comprising: The data included in the transmission request from the data V, characterized in that the time position information in Torr of the digital video data to send reads the video data of the given time domain to the client
OD system. 2. The client obtains, from the video server, time position information of a scene specified by operation during reproduction of video data received from the video server, and attaches a scene title and a title specified by the same. 2. The VOD system according to claim 1, further comprising means for registering the information in the scene information storage unit. 3. The client has means for collecting a plurality of pieces of scene information registered in the scene information storage unit in response to an editing operation, adding a new scene title, and registering the new scene title in the scene information storage unit. The VOD system according to claim 2, wherein: 4. A video server for storing a plurality of digital video data, a transmission request of the video data to the video server, and the data compressed video data received from the video server is reproduced by a decoder unit. In a VOD system comprising a client to be displayed on a monitor device, the client comprises: a start time, an end time, an offset time, a frame number, a frame title, a scene title, and a scene title included in the digital video data. A scene information storage unit that stores the title of the video data as scene information; and, in response to a scene playback request that specifies the input scene title, a start time, an end time, and a title corresponding to the scene title to the video server. Means for sending in a transmission request The decoder compresses the data-compressed video data received from the video server from a position designated by the offset time corresponding to the designated scene title to a number of frames corresponding to the designated scene title. Means for playing back and displaying on the monitor device, the video server comprises: a time domain designated by the time position information in the digital video data of the title included in the transmission request from the plurality of digital video data. V that extracts video data of the
OD system.