Abstract:
A method and apparatus for recording broadcast data and providing content, in which the content is recorded based on a time at which the content is actually transmitted using interaction between a server and a host device is provided. The method includes receiving a request for recording a particular program, registering program information of the requested program in a content server, and performing recording of the program upon detection of stream output notification information for the registered program from the content server.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2007-0089079, filed on Sep. 3, 2007, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    Methods and apparatuses consistent with the present invention relate to a Video On Demand (VOD) system, and more particularly, to recording broadcast data and providing content, in which the content is recorded based on a time at which the content is actually transmitted between a server and a host device. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    In general, data broadcasting is a service for providing not only an existing broadcasting program but also information associated with the broadcasting program, life information, Internet connection, electronic commercial trade, interactive entertainment, and the like using a broadcasting network such as terrestrial waves, satellites, or cables. At present, there are international data broadcasting standards such as an Open Cable Application Platform (OCAP), an Advanced Common Application Platform (ACAP), and a Multimedia Home Platform (MHP). Standards for OCAP, OCAP 1.0 Profile OC-SP-OCAP1.0-I16-050803, which will hereinafter be referred to as OCAP I16, and OC-SP-OCAP-DVR-I02-050524, which will hereinafter be referred to as OCAP I02, provide and support an Application Program Interface (API) for storing recorded data in a specific storage area. 
         [0006]    Broadcast data is recorded using a Personal Video Recorder (PVR) system or a Digital Video Recorder (DVR) system. 
         [0007]    Typically, in the DVR system, when a server transmits an Electronic Program Guide (EPG) or a program list regarding programs to be broadcasted, a host device applies for or reserves desired content based on the program list. The host device starts recording at a scheduled point in time, regardless of content that is actually transmitted from the server at that point in time. 
         [0008]    As a result, in a related art reserved recording method, if a program broadcasting schedule is changed and a scheduled recording start time changes to a different start time, desired broadcasting cannot be recorded because it has been reserved based on time information. In particular, when a user desires to record a series, the user has to re-input recording data one by one if a broadcasting schedule of the series is changed. 
         [0009]    Moreover, in the related art reserved recording method, only content registered in the server can be subject to reserved recording and the host device controls the recording process. As a result, the server has difficulty in recognizing user&#39;s information in detail. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    Exemplary embodiments of the present invention overcome the above disadvantages and other disadvantages not described above. Also, the present invention is not required to overcome the disadvantages described above, and an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may not overcome any of the problems described above. 
         [0011]    The present invention provides a method and apparatus for recording broadcast data and providing content in which the content is reserved-recorded at a time at which the content is actually transmitted by synchronizing a point of time at which a stream is output from a content server with a recording start time of a host device. 
         [0012]    According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of recording broadcast data. The method includes receiving a request for recording a particular program, registering program information of the requested program in a content server, and performing recording of the program upon detection of stream output notification information for the registered program from the content server. 
         [0013]    According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of providing content by a server. The method includes receiving a request for recording a particular program from a host device, registering program information of the requested program and identification (ID) information of the host device, and transmitting the program and stream output notification information for the program to the host device if it is confirmed that the requested program is secured, irrespective of a recording time that is set in the host device. 
         [0014]    According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for recording content. The apparatus includes a user interface unit receiving an input user command, a recording module unit performing recording of the content, and a register module unit receiving a request for recording a particular program through the user interface unit, registering program information of the requested program in a server, and performing recording through the recording module upon recognition of a stream output notification signal from the server. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    The above and other aspects of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail an exemplary embodiment thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  illustrates an example of a Video On Demand (VOD) system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a detailed block diagram of a host device illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is an overall conceptual diagram for implementing a method of recording broadcast data and providing content by a server to a host device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0019]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  are flowcharts illustrating in detail a method of recording broadcast data and providing content by a server to a host device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]    Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that like reference numerals refer to like elements illustrated in one or more of the drawings. In the following description of the present invention, detailed descriptions of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted for conciseness and clarity. 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  illustrates an example of a Video On Demand (VOD) system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the VOD system includes a content server  110  and a host device  120 . 
         [0023]    The content server  110  and the host device  120  are connected by wired or wireless cables that allow 2-way communication. 
         [0024]    The content server  110  and the host device  120  perform 2-way communication over an access network such as an In-Band (IB) type network, a Data-Over-Cable Service Interface Specifications (DOCSIS) Set-top box Gateway (DSG) type network, a DOCSIS type, or an Out of Band (OOB) type network. For example, the content server  110  transmits service information (SI) such as an Electronic Program Guide (EPG), weather, sports, channel information, program information, program names, and broadcasting times to the host device  120  through an OOB channel. The content server  110  provides a video signal compressed by Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG)-2 and an MPEG audio signal including an audio signal compressed by AC-3 to the host device  120  through an IB channel. 
         [0025]    The content server  110  receives a request for a selected VOD service from the host device  120 , registers program information of the requested VOD service and identification (ID) information of the host device  120 , and then transmits the registered program and stream output notification information to the host device  120 . The content server  110  recognizes the state of the host device  120  that reserves recording and then transmits a stream via unicast or multicast methods. 
         [0026]    In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the content server  110  may include a content management system  111 , a stream output system  112 , and a content providing system  113 . The content providing system  113  provides content to the stream output system  112  and notifies the content management system  111  of a time at which content is provided. The content management system  111  is notified of the time at which content is provided by the content providing system  113 , controls the stream output system  112 , and transmits a VOD service list, e.g., including released films or re-transmitted programs, to the host device  120  in the form of Extensible Markup Language (XML)-based metadata, section data of an SI, or a file. The stream output system  112  provides a VOD service to the host device  120  according to an output control signal of the content management system  111 . 
         [0027]    In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the content management system  111 , the stream output system  112 , and the content providing system  113  may be independently provided without being included in the content server  110 . 
         [0028]    The host device  120  receives a selection of a VOD service from a user, registers the selected VOD service in the content server  110 , and records a corresponding program upon detection of stream output notification information regarding the registered VOD service from the content server  110 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 2  is a detailed block diagram of the host device  120  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the host device  120  includes a user interface unit  210 , a data communication unit  220 , a register module unit  230 , a storage unit  240 , a recording module unit  250 , and a display unit  260 . 
         [0031]    The user interface unit  210  receives an input user command. 
         [0032]    The recording module unit  250  performs recording of a program according to a recording control command. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the recording module unit  250  includes a Digital Video Recorder (DVR) module and a host recording system. 
         [0033]    The register module unit  230  receives a request for recording the program through the user interface unit  210 , registers program information of the requested program in the content server  110 , and applies the recording control command to the recording module unit  250  upon recognition of a stream output notification signal from the content server  110 . 
         [0034]    The storage unit  240  stores program data recorded in the recording module unit  250  via the register module unit  230 . 
         [0035]    The display unit  260  displays various commands and messages controlled by the recording module unit  250 . 
         [0036]    The data communication unit  220  performs 2-way communication by exchanging the request for the selected VOD service and corresponding program data with the content server  110 . 
         [0037]    The 2-way communication may employ a channel standard such as In-Band (IB), Data-Over-Cable Service Interface Specifications (DOCSIS) Set-top box Gateway (DSG), DOCSIS, or Out of Band (OOB). 
         [0038]      FIG. 3  is an overall conceptual diagram for implementing a method of recording broadcast data and providing content by a content server to a host device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0039]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the overall concept of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention can be divided into the following processes. A DVR module  340  and a host recording system  350  are included in the recording module unit  250  illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0040]    An application/user  320  of a host device transmits a request for recording a desired program to a register module  330  through a Java Application Program Interface (API). The register module  330  of the host device requests a specific program at the request of the user/application  320 . The register module  330  may be provided to an application as a Java interface or provided as a native code. 
         [0041]    The register module  330  of the host device registers program information of the requested program in a content server  310  using 2-way communication. 
         [0042]    The content server  310  manages the registered program information and information of the host device and sends stream output notification information to the register module  330  when a stream including the program is output. 
         [0043]    The register module  330  of the host device recognizes the stream output notification information and gives a recording command to the DVR module  340 . Thus, the DVR module  340  of the host device commands the host recording system  350  to record the program. 
         [0044]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  are flowcharts illustrating in detail a method of recording broadcast data and providing content by the content server  110  to the host device  120  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0045]    In operation  412 , the content server  110  transmits a program service list and a DVR application through SI or 2-way communication. 
         [0046]    In operation  414 , the host device  120  stores the program service list received through 2-way communication. In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the host device  120  may have already stored the program service list received through the SI. 
         [0047]    In operation  416 , the host device  120  provides the program service list to a user using a user interface. The user interface may be a native application, or a data broadcasting application received from the content server  110 . 
         [0048]    In operation  418 , the host device  120  checks if a request for recording a program is received from the user through the user interface. 
         [0049]    If so, the host device  120  causes the user to select a desired program in operation  422 . 
         [0050]    The host device  120  registers program information about the program selected by the user in a register module in operation  424 . 
         [0051]    The host device  120  transmits the information about the selected program and ID information of the host device  120  to the content server  110  through the register module in operation  426 . 
         [0052]    In operation  428 , the content server  110  registers the program information and the ID information of the host device  120 , which are received from the host device  120 . The content server  110  may perform a predetermined authentication process using the ID information of the host device  120 . 
         [0053]    In operation  432 , the content server  110  generates and manages a trigger for outputting a stream corresponding to the requested program. The trigger corresponds to stream output notification information. 
         [0054]    In operation  434 , the content server  110  searches in a database for the program requested by the host device  120 . 
         [0055]    In operation  436 , the content server  110  checks if the program requested by the host device  120  is secured, and if not, the content server  110  continues searching the database. If the requested program is secured, the content server  110  generates and manages a trigger in order to transmit the program to the host device  120  immediately after content corresponding to the program is secured. 
         [0056]    In operation  438 , the content server  110  transmits a request for state check information of the host device  120  to the host device  120  if the requested program is secured. 
         [0057]    The host device  120  generates state information, e.g., including existence of a tuner, a standby operation, or a normal operation, in operation  442  and transmits the state information to the content server  110  in operation  444 . 
         [0058]    In operation  446 , the content server  110  analyzes the state information of the host device  120  in order to check if the host device  120  is in a transmission allowable state. 
         [0059]    If the content server  110  determines that the host device  120  is in the transmission allowable state, the content server  110  transmits a stream output notification signal for the program to the host device  120  using a previously generated trigger in operation  448 . The stream output notification signal includes output frequency band information and program information of the stream. Thus, the content server  110  transmits the stream output notification signal for the program to the host device  120  regardless of a recording time that is set in the host device  120 . 
         [0060]    In operation  452 , the host device  120  analyzes the stream output notification signal in order to determine the point of time at which the content server  110  outputs a stream corresponding to the program. In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the host device  120  may display a stream output notification message on a screen upon detection of the stream output notification information received from the content server  110 . 
         [0061]    In operation  454 , the content server  110  transmits the stream corresponding to the program immediately after transmission of the stream output notification signal. 
         [0062]    In operation  456 , the host device  120  starts recording the received stream corresponding to the program in synchronization with the point of time at which the stream is output. 
         [0063]    Consequently, in the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the host device  120  remotely registers a desired program to be reserved-recorded in the content server  110  and the content server  110  may perform triggering of the recording. 
         [0064]    In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when the user performs reserved-recording using an EPG, the host device  120  does not have to proceed with recording if an actual broadcasting time for a desired program is changed for some reason. Instead, the host device  120  proceeds with recording when a stream output notification signal is transmitted from the content server  110 , thereby smoothly synchronizing a recording start time with the output time of a stream output notification signal. 
         [0065]    As described above, according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, by synchronizing a point of time at which a stream is output from the server with a recording start time in the host device, content can be recorded based on an actual output time of the content transmitted from the server, irrespective of a scheduled recording start time set in the host device. Moreover, the server can easily recognize users&#39; demands through registration of content that are not contained in a database of the server and create new business models using various price plans such as pre-payment. Furthermore, the host device can easily recognize a change in a scheduled recording time for desired content and thus accurately record the desired content. The exemplary embodiments of the present invention can be used in data broadcasting standards such as Open Cable Application Platform (OCAP), Advanced Common Application Platform (ACAP), and Multimedia Home Platform (MHP). 
         [0066]    The present invention can be embodied as a computer-readable code on a computer-readable recording medium. The computer-readable recording medium is any data storage device that can store data which can be thereafter read by a computer system. Examples of computer-readable recording media include read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory (RAM), CD-ROMs, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, and optical data storage devices. The computer-readable recording medium can also be distributed over a network of coupled computer systems so that the computer-readable code is stored and executed in a decentralized fashion. 
         [0067]    While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to an exemplary embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.