JP2008530681A - Integrated view of network content provided by UPnP network server - Google Patents

Abstract

A Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) server (1-1) and a method for providing an aggregated view of content available on a UPnP network will be described. Content data on available content items from a set of devices (1-6, 1-7, 1-8) that are logically connected to the UPnP network, for example, each UPnP networked device Received based on broadcasting. Based on the received content data, data representing an aggregated view of the available content on the UPnP network independent of the device and location is generated and the client device (1-5 logically connected to the UPnP network) Prepared). Aggregated views may be searchable. The UPnP server can broadcast the aggregate view to all devices on the network.

Description

  The present invention relates to the field of network content information display, the field of information provided or broadcast by Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) network servers, and the field of aggregated view of network content.

  With the advent of home network and universal plug and play (UPnP) technology, a greater number of types of devices can be interconnected. In universal plug and play network devices that store data representing music, audio, video, and photos, text files and other documents, as well as other types of content, can all be interconnected. In addition, different users can provide devices and content to the same UPnP network, thereby compromising transparency and accessibility to information or content available on the UPnP network.

  Solutions for facilitating access to content on the network are provided in other network related technologies. For example, European Patent 1,234,442 by Clark et al. Describes a large-scale personalized distributed media-on-demand with a searchable server having metadata of a list of content that may be appropriate for a subscriber. • The system is disclosed. However, the systems disclosed by Clark and other related art systems do not provide the aforementioned solution for UPnP networks. Furthermore, Clark does not disclose an aggregate view of content available on the network, independent of device and location.

  A method, system, apparatus, and computer-readable medium that implements or performs the function of a UPnP server that provides an aggregated view of content on a UPnP network.

  The method includes receiving and receiving data about content (content data) about available content items from a set of devices logically connected to a Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) network. Generating an aggregate view of available content on the UPnP network as data representing the aggregate view based on the obtained content data, and data representing the aggregate view on client devices logically connected to the UPnP network Transmitting. The aggregate view is an integrated view of available content on the UPnP network that is device independent and location independent.

  It also provides additional functions. For example, data representing an aggregate view provided to a client device may be searchable for available content items. In addition, data representing the aggregated view may be searchable by one of keywords, usage history, content type, and content genre.

  The device set may include all of the devices that are logically connected to the UPnP network.

  In addition, each device in the device set can broadcast its content to enable reception of content data.

  Furthermore, data representing the aggregated view can be automatically transmitted to each of a plurality of devices.

  Further, the UPnP server will be described. The server includes a content data receiver for receiving content data about available content items from a plurality of devices logically connected to a Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) network, and a reception Based on the content data, the aggregated view is represented on an aggregated view generator that generates an aggregated view of available content on the UPnP network as data representing the aggregated view, and client devices logically connected to the UPnP network. A view providing means interface for transmitting data. The aggregate view is an integrated view of available content on the UPnP network that is device independent and location independent.

  The aforementioned server may further include a search handler that allows the client device to search for data representing the aggregate view provided for available content items.

  The following description, and the preceding figures, represent examples of Applicant's invention as best understood by the inventor of the present application. However, many modifications of the invention are possible and the invention may be implemented in other forms and carried out in other ways without departing from the spirit of the invention. Furthermore, unless departing from the spirit of the present invention, the configuration of the above-described embodiments is omitted, selectively or entirely combined with other embodiments, or the configuration of other embodiments, or one of them. Can be used to replace parts. The drawings and detailed description are therefore to be regarded as illustrative illustrations of aspects of the invention, but should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, UPnP server 1-1 includes several modules, which will be described below. The module of UPnP server 1-1, or a part thereof, and / or the entire search system may have hardware, software, firmware, or a combination of the foregoing, but some modules may have hardware, for example On the other hand, other modules may have software, firmware, or a combination thereof. Furthermore, not all modules of the search system need to be co-located with similar devices or integrated with similar devices. The search system also contemplates a distributed architecture such that the system or component can be “separated” from the appropriate modules provided by existing devices.

  The following description is either physically integrated with database 1-2, or connected via a wired / wireless connection, or connected via network 1-9 as shown in FIG. Represents UPnP server 1-1. The UPnP server 1-1 and / or the database 1-2 can be physically integrated or connected to each other. Each or a combination of devices (MP3 player, CD mini-disc player and other types of media players and / or recorders, data cartridge players, home entertainment systems, television receivers, handheld entertainment Equipment, personal computers, laptop / notebook computers, printers, scanners, copiers and other peripherals, game stations, workstations, intelligent kitchen / home appliances, personal video recorders, entertainment systems, electronic notebooks Or as a personal handheld device, etc.) or physically integrated with the aforementioned device.

  Database 1-2 may include a number of storage devices connected so as to be capable of organizing or grouping content items on two or more of the aforementioned devices. In addition, the database can be loaded into the database 1-2 and one or more storage media (disk (CD, DVD, zip disk, floppy disk, data) that can be retrieved by the database 1-2. -Including cartridges, etc.). However, the UPnP server 1-1 can also store content in another specific remote storage device via the network 1-9 (LAN, WAN, Internet, etc.).

  FIG. 1 shows a UPnP server 1-1 and a UPnP network 1-9 together with a connected UPnP device L-Q (1-6, 1-7 and 1-8 in FIG. 1) and a client device 1-5. The UPnP devices LQ (1-6, 1-7 and 1-8) described above can be connected to the network 1-9 by wire or wireless, and can be of many different types (eg MP3 players, CD minis) Disc players and other types of media players and / or recorders, data cartridge players, home entertainment systems, television receivers, handheld entertainment devices, personal computers, laptop / notebook computers, printers, scanners, Copiers and other peripheral devices, game stations, workstations, intelligent kitchen / home appliances, personal video recorders, entertainment systems, electronic notebooks, personal handheld devices, and any combination of the above Including a device having a function to be provided). Any number of devices may be connected. The term UPnP network is sometimes used in this specification and claims to denote all of the configurations shown in FIG. In the above case, the network 1-9 represents the connection between the devices, and may include other devices not shown.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the UPnP network includes a client device 1-5, a UPnP device L (1-6), a UPnP device M (1-7), and a UPnP device Q (1-8). The UPnP server 1-1 can be used on the UPnP network, which is independent of the content data receiver 1-11 that receives content data from UPnP networked devices and the location and devices where the content is on the network And an aggregate view generator 1-12 that edits an aggregate view that can be viewed as an integrated view of secure content based on content data received from UPnP networked devices. The controller 1-15 of the UPnP server 1-1 can handle the overall coordination of the modules of the UPnP server 1-1, and can be external (with a user interface (not shown), etc.) and / or UPnP It can interface with other modules of the system, where server 1-1 is integrated.

  In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the aggregate view provides duplicate content items to be shown only once, or the secondary heading indicates a device that can be described and found under the primary heading. Can do. Aggregated views are many different types of content (music and audio content, playlists, videos, photos, text files, spreadsheets, JPEG files, MPEG (including MPEG-2, MPEG-3, etc.) files, Provides a view of XML data, HTML, multimedia and other types of files, documents, lists (including a list of executable or executed commands), software, device status information, and other types of data can do. It may also include metadata, usage history information (related to content items and / or the device itself), and combinations of the types of information described above.

  The UPnP server 1-1 sends the data representing this aggregated view to the client device 1-5 (for example, automatically, upon activation of the client device 1-5, or by the client device 1-5 for the above-mentioned information). A view providing means interface 1-13 for transmitting) and a search handler 1-14. The search handler 1-14 receives a search argument from the client device 1-5 based on the provided aggregate view data, and supplies information to the client device 1-5 in response to the received search argument. Link to UPnP networked devices 1-6, 1-7 or 1-8, or other access information about the location on the UPnP network where the determined content is located to client device 1-5 Further supply may be provided.

  Next, the operation of the UPnP server 1-1 will be described with reference to FIGS. Typically, in a UPnP network, networked UPnP devices broadcast their stored content. In S1 of FIG. 2, the content data receiver 1-11 of the UPnP server 1-1 shown in FIG. 1 is a device connected to the UPnP network (a device having an available content item of the type identified above. Receive content data from LQ (1-6, 1-7 and 1-8). Devices in the UPnP network can broadcast content data (which is then received by the UPnP server 1-1). Alternatively, UPnP and server 1-1 can query devices connected to the UPnP network for content items stored on available devices.

  According to an aspect of the present invention, the content data receiver 1-11 receives content data of all devices connected to the UPnP network that store content items. The client device 1-5 can also supply the content information to the UPnP server 1-1, so that the aggregate view can include the content information of the client device itself. Alternatively, UPnP server 1-1 may filter the aggregate view provided to each client to eliminate content available on that client in order to eliminate display duplication and / or user confusion. it can.

  According to an aspect of the present invention, the aggregate view server can also be used to search for content on “out” devices (ie, devices that are not currently present or are offline). For example, it is assumed that the aggregated view content is stored on the aggregated view server and there is a mobile UPnP device that includes the content in the aggregated view. In that case, it is possible to search for the content, but if the mobile device moves out of range, there may be no way to reach the content. Further, according to aspects of the present invention, the behavior at this point may change depending on the setting of the aggregate view server.

  Further in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, an apparatus that requires an aggregate view server to track its content in order to facilitate the search of offline (currently non-existing) devices. If you have a list of Thus, if the neighborhood is entered by a portable UPnP device, this device may only be visible through an aggregate view as long as the device is within range, but the user's device may not exist It may be searchable.

  In S2 of FIG. 2, the aggregate view generator 1-12 generates an aggregate view of available content on the UPnP network device based on the content data received in S1. The aggregate view can be a display of all available content on the devices in the network. The aggregate view is a device and location to release the user (not shown) using the client device 1-5 from the need to identify a particular networked device or location on the network where content is available. Displayed irrelevantly.

  In S3, data representing the aggregated view is supplied to the client device 1-5 by the view providing unit 1-13 of the UPnP server 1-1. This is due to the activation of the client device 1-5, based on the request for the above information by the client device 1-5, the change in available content data (one or more existing devices on the UPnP network). Based on the addition of a content item, etc., based on the addition of a device connected to the UPnP network, or based on another specific event relating to the UPnP network. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the aforementioned data representing the aggregated view is broadcast periodically by the UPnP server.

  The type of aggregate view described above can vary and may depend on the particular application and the capabilities of the client device to which the aggregate view is provided. Thus, some forms of the aforementioned aggregate views can be pre-edited and provided to the client device 1-5 based on the capabilities, parameters and / or operating system of the client device 1-5. In addition, the format can vary to meet client device 1-5 and user requirements and settings in real time as needed. For example, aggregates sent to client device 1-5 by a screen or display available on client device 1-5, an operating system of client device 1-5, and memory available on client device 1-5 The type and / or depth of information presented for a view, or the granularity of information can be determined. Further, although the aggregated view is described in some cases in this specification and claims as being displayed by the client device 1-5, alternatively or in addition, printout, video, audio, It can be provided as audio information, other types of output, or a combination of the foregoing.

  The type of aggregate view available on the client device 1-5 can be defined by the client device 1-5, or the user profile or device profile of the client device 1-5 stored in advance. It can be determined by reference. For example, the aforementioned form of aggregate view is organized under available content (headings (photos, music, movies, text files, personal contact information, etc.) logically organized by content type). A list of content items, etc.) that can be organized by the user (such as an aggregated view that includes user 1 content, an aggregated view that includes user 2 content, etc.) Or it can be organized in other specific matters suitable for carrying out the objects of the invention.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention, the aggregate view is transmitted by UPnP server 1-1 to each device connected on UPnP (eg, UPnP server 1-1 broadcasts data representing the aggregate view). Can do). Thus, in addition to the client device 1-5, each of the device LQs (1-6, 1-7, 1-8 in FIG. 1) can thus provide an aggregate view to the user and is therefore considered a client device. be able to. Further, the subset of devices LQ (1-6, 1-7, 1-8) can be client devices (eg, those with settings (default settings or user-initiated settings) set) or as described above Devices that can present the view can receive data representing the aggregated view.

  According to an aspect of the present invention, only one device in the UPnP network can function as an aggregate view server. For example, the server can check whether a device (or more than one other device) on the UPnP network is also broadcasting content that does not exist locally on that device. The server assumes that the device is an aggregate view server and does not broadcast the aggregate view. Of course, more sophisticated ways to block multiple aggregate view servers on the network (setting special metadata flags or simply configuring the device as an aggregate view server for UPnP networks) To make things possible). Therefore, it is possible to avoid a situation where the two aggregate view servers keep updating by going back and forth by adding the already available content.

  According to an aspect of the present invention, as described in S4, UPnP search handler 1-14 of UPnP server 1-1 can receive a search argument for a content item. The one or more of the above-mentioned arguments may include content item keywords (such as a title), other identifiers of the content item, creator, artist or performer name associated with the content item, genre of content item, content -The device or location where the item can be stored, the type of content item (music file, text file, etc.), content item usage information (date of last use, last user, etc.), content item Of other metadata.

  Alternatively, the data representing the aggregate view supplied to the client device 1-5 may be based on the data supplied by the UPnP server 1-1 on its own or as part of the data representing the aggregate view. In combination with other information already available on 5, it may be sufficient to provide a satisfactory response to the search. Thus, it may not be necessary to rely on search handler 1-14. Furthermore, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the client device 1-5 can provide a simple search argument (eg, an aggregate view is presented as a list of content items by content name, If the search argument includes the content item name), it provides a satisfactory response to the search, but for more complex searches and other types of searches, the search handler 1 of UPnP server 1-1 Request information from 14.

  In S5, the search is performed based on one or more search arguments, and in S6, information corresponding to the search is provided. For example, the above information may include a host device connected to the UPnP network where the requested content item is located, the above UPnP networked host device, and / or other information about the requested item (usage information, artist information, etc.) , May include metadata and other types of information about the aforementioned content items.

  In S7, the host device with the content item is instructed to play or present the found content item. For example, a photograph stored on the device 1-6 can be transmitted to the client device 1-5. This can be done automatically upon finding the content item, or can be done by a request from the client device 1-5 recognized by the UPnP server 1-1. The content item can be displayed or played on the host device instead of or in addition to playback or presentation by device 1-5. This S7 is optional similarly to the other steps shown in FIG. 2 (for example, S4 and S5), and the processing can be stopped after the aforementioned steps. The process is S8 (eg, in response to the end of S7 (Retrieve or Play Content Item), in response to the completion of providing the aggregated view for the content item, or the client device 1-5 Or in response to a user command received from UPnP at server 1-1 or from some other device (such as a remote control).

  The embodiments of the present invention described above are intended to be illustrative only. However, the scope of the invention is set forth in the appended claims.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a UPnP server according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the system according to the present invention.

Claims (17)

A method for providing content information to a client device, comprising:
Receiving content data about available content items from a plurality of devices logically connected to a Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) network;
Generating an aggregate view of available content on the UPnP network based on the received content data as data representing the aggregate view;
Transmitting the data representing the aggregate view to a client device logically connected to the UPnP network, the aggregate view being independent of the device of the available content on the UPnP network. A method that is an integrated view that is independent of position.   The method of claim 1, wherein the data representing the aggregate view provided to the client device is searchable for available content items.   The method of claim 2, wherein the data representing the aggregated view is searchable by one of a keyword, usage history, content type, and content genre.   The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of devices includes all devices logically connected to the UPnP network.   The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of devices broadcasts its content to enable the reception of the content data.   The method of claim 1, wherein the data representing the aggregated view is automatically transmitted to each of the plurality of devices.   The method of claim 1, wherein the UPnP network includes only one device that is enabled to supply the data representing the aggregated view.   The method of claim 1, wherein the aggregate view includes content of an out-of-device among the plurality of devices, and the out-of-out device is currently in at least one of an offline state and an out-of-range state. A method that is a device. A server configured to provide content information to a client device,
A content data receiver configured to receive content data about available content items from a plurality of devices logically connected to a Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) network;
An aggregate view generator configured to generate an aggregate view of available content on the UPnP network as data representing the aggregate view based on the received content data;
A view providing means interface configured to transmit the data representing the aggregate view to a client device logically connected to the UPnP network, the aggregate view comprising the available content on the UPnP network. A server that is an integrated view that is device independent and location independent.   The server of claim 9, further comprising a search handler configured to allow the client device to search for the data representing the aggregated view prepared for an available content item. .   10. The server of claim 9, wherein the search handler is configured to allow the search by one of a keyword, usage history, content type, and content genre.   10. The server according to claim 9, wherein the content data receiver is configured to receive the content data from the plurality of devices, and the plurality of devices are logically connected to the UPnP network. Server that contains all devices.   The server according to claim 9, wherein the content data receiver is configured to receive broadcasted data as the content data from the plurality of devices.   10. The server according to claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of devices broadcasts the content and enables the reception of the content data.   10. The server according to claim 9, wherein the data representing the aggregate view is automatically transmitted to each of the plurality of devices.   The server according to claim 9, wherein the server has settings for defining the plurality of devices.   10. The server according to claim 9, wherein the aggregate view includes content of an out-state device among the plurality of devices, and the out-state device is currently in at least one of an offline state and an out-of-range state. A server that is a device.

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