Method of optimized-sharing of multimedia content and mobile terminal employing the same

Provided are a method of optimized sharing of multimedia content that allows delivery of optimized multimedia content using device profiles shared between devices connected via a short-range wireless communication and a mobile terminal employing the same method. The method includes: exchanging, upon connecting with peripheral devices via one of a wired network having a predetermined wired communication protocol and a wireless network having a predetermined wireless communication protocol, profile information with the peripheral devices; displaying the received profile information about the peripheral devices in order of network distances of the peripheral devices; and arranging and displaying, if the displayed profile information about each of the peripheral devices is selected, a list of shareable and playable multimedia content items pertaining to each peripheral device in order of priority.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2008-1864, filed on Jan. 7, 2008 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

Aspects of the present invention relate to a mobile terminal system capable of performing short-range wireless communications, and more particularly, to a method of optimized-sharing of multimedia content that allows delivery of optimized multimedia content by using device profiles shared between devices connected via short-range wireless communication and a mobile terminal employing the same.

2. Description of the Related Art

In recent years, mobile terminals (such as cellular phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and camcorders) have increasingly become popular. With advances in communication technology, mobile terminals have evolved to provide diverse supplementary functions such as games using various images and sounds, alarm clock and MP3 player functions, in addition to their basic communication functions such as making and receiving phone calls and providing a short message service (SMS). Therefore, a user can enjoy a wide variety of services in addition to the basic telephone functions.

Despite the increased convenience in terms of use, a user had to access a network via an intermediate device (such as a personal computer (PC) or base station system) in order to share various types of content data that can be stored in a mobile terminal, including music files, ringtones, images, and motion videos. Thus, a user can only use content data that is downloaded from Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) or Web sites. However, downloading content via a wired/wireless network in this way causes user inconvenience as well as a tremendous waste of time and economic loss for the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Aspects of the present invention provide a method of optimized sharing of multimedia content, which allows delivery of optimized multimedia content by using profile information shared between devices via short-range wireless communication.

Aspects of the present invention also provide a mobile terminal employing the above method of optimized sharing of multimedia content.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for optimized sharing of multimedia content, including: exchanging, upon connecting with peripheral devices via one of a wired network having a predetermined wired communication protocol and a wireless network having a predetermined wireless communication protocol, profile information with the peripheral devices; displaying the received profile information about the peripheral devices in order of network distances of the peripheral devices; and arranging and displaying, if the displayed profile information about each of the peripheral devices is selected, a list of shareable and playable multimedia content items pertaining to each peripheral device in order of priority.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mobile terminal including: a Near Field Communication (NFC) unit exchanging data necessary for a communication setup so as to perform one of Bluetooth and Infrared Data Association (IrDA) communication with an external mobile terminal; a controller exchanging, if a network connection is being established with peripheral devices through the NFC unit, profile information with the peripheral devices, arranging profile information about the peripheral devices in order of network distances of the peripheral devices, and arranging if profile information about each of the peripheral devices is being selected, a list of shareable and playable content items pertaining to the device in order of priority; and a display unit displaying profile information and a list of content items pertaining to the devices, which are generated and arranged by the controller in order of priority.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1is a block diagram of a mobile terminal designed to enable optimized sharing of multimedia content according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring toFIG. 1, the mobile terminal includes an input unit110, a storage unit120, a display unit130, a radio frequency (RF) transceiver140, a Near Field Communication (NFC) unit150, and a controller160. It is understood that the mobile terminal can include additional elements, such as detachable media and/or optical systems. Further, the controller160can be a processor or a collection of processors.

The input unit110is a keypad or touch screen. The input unit110includes a plurality of numeric/character keys, function keys for allowing a user to interface with the mobile terminal, and keys for making/receiving a call. In particular, a user uses a predetermined button in the input unit110to select desired information or a content item from profile information about devices or a list of content items.

The storage unit120includes a read-only memory (ROM) for storing a plurality of programs and data, and an audio memory which is rewritable. In particular, the storage unit120stores downloaded content and shared profile information about devices created by the controller160. While described has having a ROM, it is understood that the memory can be rewritable to allow updating of the programs and data in addition to or instead of a ROM. Further, the storage unit120can include video memory in addition to the audio memory for storing video or images, and the audio and video memories can be combined in other aspects such that the partition of the memory for storing data is not specifically limited.

The display unit130may be a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organo-electro luminescent display (OLED), or any device through which text and/or images can be displayed. The display unit130outputs various display data and text messages generated by the controller160. In particular, the display unit130displays profile information about devices and a list of content items generated by the controller160in order of priority. Moreover, where the input unit110is a touch screen display, the display unit130and the input unit110can be combined.

The RF transceiver140modulates a signal generated by the controller160into a signal having a desired frequency band for amplification. The RF transceiver140amplifies an RF signal being received via a network and demodulates the RF signal into a signal having a desired frequency band.

The NFC unit150includes an NFC chip. Upon connecting with peripheral devices via the NFC chip, the NFC unit150exchanges data necessary for a communication setup so as to perform short-range wireless communication. Examples of such short-range wireless communication can include Bluetooth or Infrared Data Association (IrDA), but is not limited thereto.

When the NFC unit150is connected to peripheral devices via a network, the controller160controls the RF transceiver140to exchange profile information with the peripheral devices. The controller160also controls the display unit130to display profile information about the peripheral devices in order of network distance between the mobile terminal and each of the connected peripheral devices. Upon selecting profile information about each of the peripheral devices displayed, the controller160controls the display unit130to arrange and display a list of content items pertaining to the peripheral device, which can be shared and played back, in order of priority. While described in terms of sorting by distance, it is understood that other criteria can be used to sort, such as signal strength or if the profiles is of a known person. Further, while limited thereto, the content items which are sharable can be music, video, images, and/or other non-audio/video data.

FIG. 2is a flowchart illustrating a method of optimized sharing of multimedia content in a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring toFIG. 2, if a device is powered on, the mobile terminal is set to a short-range wired/wireless communication mode (Operation210). The short-range wired/wireless communication may be Bluetooth or IrDA communication. Bluetooth enables a connection or communication between devices within a range of 10 m to 100 m regardless of the presence of an obstacle. IrDA communication typically operates within a range of 1 m and is directional, enabling the transfer of data in a certain direction. However, other protocols can be used, such as those using Ultra-Wide Band (UWB) and/or Wibree technologies.

After having been set to the short-range wired/wireless communication mode, the mobile terminal is connected to peripheral devices having short-range wired/wireless communication protocols via a network. For example, referring toFIG. 3A, a user's mobile terminal310may be connected to peripheral devices320,330, and340having Bluetooth protocols via a network. As shown, the devices are a camera320, a portable computer330, and a camcorder340. However, the peripheral devices are not limited thereto and can include personal digital assistants, telephones, and portable or non-portable audio/video recording and/or reproducing apparatuses.

The user's mobile terminal310then checks whether a peripheral device that can be connected using a short-range wired/wireless communication protocol exists (Operation220). For example, referring toFIG. 3A, the user's mobile terminal310performs an inquiry scan using a service discovery profile to discover other devices that can be accessible within its wireless communication range. The user's mobile terminal310also performs the inquiry scan to check whether there is another Bluetooth device within the Bluetooth communication range.

If a peripheral device that can be connected using a short-range wired/wireless communication protocol exists in operation200, the user's mobile terminal310is then set to a content sharing mode so that it can receive profile information about peripheral devices connected via a wired/wireless communication network and send its profile information (Operation230). The profile information includes user information, a manufacturer's name and device model number, file extensions associated with content, the number of shared files, and other information. However, it is understood that the profile information can include additional information in addition to or instead of the shown information, or can be limited to the user information and a listing of contents and content types available for sharing.

For example, as shown inFIG. 3A, the user's mobile terminal310may exchange location information, user information, a manufacturer's name and device model number, file extensions associated with content, and the number of shared files with each of the devices320,330, and340by using Bluetooth or IrDA communication. Thus, devices having short-range wired/wireless communication protocols can share profile information about the respective devices with one another. While not required, it is understood that security protocols can be set up to prevent exchanging profile information with unknown peripheral devices, such as requiring a user to accept a request for exchange of profile information.

Subsequently, the user's mobile terminal310displays profile information about the respective peripheral devices, which is shared with the peripheral devices, according to network distance (or network accessibility) (Operation240). For example, if the peripheral devices320,330, and340are connected to the user's mobile terminal310via a short-range wireless network as shown inFIG. 3A, the user's mobile terminal310first determines network distances of the respective peripheral devices320,330, and340therefrom by using location information received from the peripheral devices320,330, and340. The user's mobile terminal310then displays profile information about first through third peripheral devices320,330, and340that are respectively located closest ({circle around (1)}), second closest ({circle around (2)}), and third closest ({circle around (3)}) thereto at the top, middle, and bottom of the screen, as shown on the right side ofFIG. 3A. In this case, the profile information about the respective peripheral devices320,330, and340may be displayed in graphic images, characters, or other various ways.

The user's mobile terminal310then checks whether profile information about a device whose content it desires to share is selected from among profile information about the respective devices displayed (Operation S250). If the profile information about the desired device is selected, the user's mobile terminal310arranges and displays a list of content items pertaining to the device, which can be shared and played back, in order of priority (Operation260). In this case, the user's mobile terminal310preferentially displays multimedia content items that do not violate another's copyright. If the user selects a content item that violates another's copyright or that he/she has no legal right to use, the user's mobile terminal310also has to display shareable purchase/source information about the selected content item. Furthermore, the user's mobile terminal310displays information about file sizes of content items that can be changed from original file sizes received from the peripheral devices.

Referring toFIG. 3B, if a specific device370is selected on the screen of the user's mobile terminal310, the user's mobile terminal310determines a priority order in which multimedia content being shared with the specific device370can be optimally reproduced based on metadata associated with the multimedia content. Examples are metadata related to file extensions, file sizes, and DRM (Digital Rights Management) protection. For example, it is assumed that the user's mobile terminal310can play back motion videos and still images at a file size of 480×240 pixels. In this case, shared profile information about the selected device370includes “to sea.mpe” of 680×480 pixels, “raw fish feast.jpg” of 1280×1024 pixels, “show.jpg” of 1280×1024 pixels, and “show2.jpg” of 1280×1024 pixels.

After determining the priority order of the multimedia content, the user's mobile terminal310then arranges a list of multimedia content items that can be shared and played back according to the priority order based on information received from the desired device370, such as the information on the file extension, file size, and DRM protection associated with each content item. Referring toFIG. 3B, the user's mobile terminal310determines “to sea.mpe” with no DRM that is the most suitable for its screen size and playback format, “raw fish feast.jpg”, “show.jpg”, and “show2.jpg” as the first through fourth priority items. The user's mobile terminal310also displays metadata associated with each content item in order of the determined priority. The metadata associated with each content may include metadata related to a file name, file extension, current file size, resize dimension, and other information.

Returning toFIG. 2, the user's mobile terminal310checks whether the desired content item is selected from a displayed list of multimedia content items (Operation270). If the user selects the desired content that can be shared and played back, the user's mobile terminal310downloads the content item from the device (Operation280).

The user's mobile terminal310also transforms the profile information about the selected content item, such as information on the file size and file extension, into profile information suitable for the user's mobile terminal310before downloading and playing back the content item. For example, as shown inFIG. 3B, if the user's mobile terminal310selects “show.jpg”360from content items displayed, the original “1280×1024” pixel file size is resized to a “480×240” pixel file size optimized for a screen size of the user's mobile terminal310before downloading. A file size can be either increased or reduced using a known file conversion program. Similarly, file types can be converted between formats (such as between JPEG and TIFF or MP3 and AAC) so as allow greater exchange of files.

As described above, according to aspects of the present invention, profile information can be shared between devices connected via short-range wireless communication, thereby allowing delivery of optimized multimedia content to users of the devices using the shared profile information. Aspects of the present invention also allow multimedia content that a user desires to share to be automatically converted into multimedia content suitable for an environment of the user's device, thereby providing playing back of the multimedia content in an optimized environment.

While not required, aspects of the invention can be embodied as computer readable code on one or more computer readable recording medium for use with one or more processors and/or computers. The computer readable recording medium is any data storage device that can store data which can thereafter be read by a computer system. Examples of the computer readable recording medium include read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory (RAM), CD-ROMs, magnetic tapes, hard disks, floppy disks, flash memories, and optical data storage devices. Moreover, aspects allow transmission of the code in carrier waves (such as data transmission through the Internet). The computer readable recording medium can also be distributed over network coupled computer systems so that the computer readable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion.