Patent Publication Number: US-2007116005-A1

Title: Apparatus to output multimedia data and method of outputting the same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This application claims from the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2005-105002 filed on Nov. 3, 2005, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      Aspects of the present invention relate to an apparatus to output multimedia data and a method of outputting the same, and more particularly, to an apparatus to output multimedia data and a method of outputting the same, in which multimedia data of all applicable formats is converted into multimedia data formats supported by a media center extender so as to be outputted.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      A media center extender (hereinafter, referred to as an MCX) receives multimedia data from a computer through wire communication and wireless communication, and displays the multimedia data through a display unit, such as a TV. Generally, the MCX is provided near the TV, and converts the multimedia data received from the computer into an analog signal and transmits it to the TV. In this way, the multimedia data is displayed through the TV.  
       FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating a conventional MCX system including a TV  10 , an MCX  20 , and a computer  30 .  
      The TV  10  displays the multimedia signal transmitted by the MCX  20 . In this case, the multimedia signal transmitted by the MCX  20  may be a composite signal, a component signal or an S-Video signal.  
      The MCX  20  converts the multimedia data transmitted by the computer  30  into the composite signal, the component signal or the S-Video signal, and transmits the signal to the TV  10 . In order to perform this function, the MCX  20  includes a communication unit that can communicate with the computer  30 , such as an LAN or a wireless LAN.  
      The MCX  20  receives a user&#39;s instruction inputted through an input unit, such as a remote controller, and requests multimedia data according to the user&#39;s instruction, from the computer  30 .  
      The computer  30  stores the multimedia data, and transmits the multimedia data according to the request of the MCX  20 . Accordingly, the computer  30  may also include a communication unit, such as an LAN or a wireless LAN, as in the MCX  20 .  
      A plurality of TVs  10  and a plurality of MCXs  20  can process multimedia data transmitted by one computer  30 . Similarly, a plurality of TVs  10  can display the data.  
      Meanwhile, a format of the multimedia data that the MCX  20  can receive from the computer  30  so as to convert the multimedia data into an analog signal is restricted. That is, the MCX  20  may only be able to convert data having formats of Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG) and Window Media Video (WMV).  
      Accordingly, the multimedia data of the MPEG format or the WMV format is transmitted to the MCX  20  while being displayed through a monitor  40  of the computer  30 , and the multimedia data can be displayed through the TV  10 . In contrast, since multimedia data having formats other than the MPEG or WMV format cannot be converted into that analog signal by the MCX  20 , such multimedia data cannot be displayed through the TV  10 .  
      Korean Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-6107 discloses an apparatus to display Internet data on a television screen that includes: a signal conversion and output unit to convert digital A/V signals of a computer, provided through the Internet, into TV signals for wireless transmission, and transmits the TV signals; and a receiver to divide the TV signals into video signals and audio signals to output them.  
      However, there is a problem in that the computer is exclusively interlocked with the TV. Specifically, since an individual computer needs to be provided to transmit the digital A/V signal to each TV, a plurality of computers are required to display multimedia contents through a plurality of TVs spaced apart from one another.  
      Therefore, various methods have been required for multimedia data having various data formats stored in the computer to be processed through the conventional MCX.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      Aspects of the present invention provide an apparatus to output multimedia data and a method of outputting the same, in which multimedia data of all formats is converted into multimedia data formats supported by a media center extender so as to be outputted.  
      According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus to output multimedia data, the apparatus including a data processing unit receiving video data and audio data, a control unit converting process paths of the video data and the audio data, an encoding unit encoding the video data and the audio data transmitted according to the converted process paths into a predetermined compression format, and a communication unit transmitting the multimedia data according to the encoded result.  
      According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of outputting multimedia data, the method including receiving video data and audio data, converting process paths of the video data and the audio data, encoding the video data and the audio data transmitted according to the converted process paths into a predetermined compression format, and transmitting the multimedia data according to the encoded result.  
      Additional aspects and/or advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which:  
       FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating a conventional MCX system;  
       FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating an MCX system according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus to output multimedia data according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  are diagrams illustrating a path processing multimedia data according to an embodiment of the present invention; and  
       FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating a process to output multimedia data according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS  
      Reference will now be made in detail to the present embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below in order to explain the present invention by referring to the figures.  
      It is understood that blocks in the accompanying block diagrams and compositions of operations in flow charts can be performed by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions can be provided to processors of, for example, general-purpose computers, special-purpose computers, and programmable data processing apparatuses, although not limited thereto. Therefore, the instructions performed by, for example, the computer or the processors of the programmable data processing apparatus execute functions described in the blocks in the block diagrams or the operations in the flow charts. The computer program instructions can be stored in a computer available memory or a computer readable memory of the computer or the programmable data processing apparatus in order to realize the functions in a specific manner. However, it is understood that the instructions may be stored in any computer-readable storage medium. Therefore, the instructions stored in, for example, the computer-available memory or the computer-readable memory can perform the functions described in the blocks in the block diagrams or the operations in the flow charts. Also, the computer program instructions can, for example, be loaded onto the computer or the programmable data processing apparatus. Therefore, a series of operations is performed in the computer or the programmable data processing apparatus to generate a process executed by the computer, which makes it possible for instructions driving the computer or the programmable data processing apparatus to provide operations to execute the functions described in the blocks of the block diagrams or the operations of the flow charts.  
      Each block or each operation may indicate a portion of a module, a segment, or a code including one or more executable instructions to perform a specific logical function (or functions). It should be noted that, in some modifications of the present invention, the functions described in the blocks or the operations may be executed out of order. For example, two blocks or operations continuously shown can actually be performed at the same time, or they can be performed in reverse order according to the corresponding functions.  
       FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating an MCX system according to an embodiment of the present invention. This MCX system includes a TV  210 , an MCX  220 , and an apparatus to output multimedia data  230  (hereinafter, referred to as a multimedia data output apparatus  230 ).  
      The multimedia data output apparatus  230  stores multimedia data, and transmits the stored multimedia data in accordance with a request message  225  of the MCX  220 . Further, when the multimedia data according to the request message  225  of the MCX  220  is not multimedia data of a format supported by the MCX  220 , the multimedia data output apparatus  230  converts the corresponding multimedia data into multimedia data  235  of a format supported by the MCX  220 , and transmits the converted multimedia data  235  to the MCX  220 . That is, the multimedia data output apparatus  230  converts the corresponding multimedia data into a Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG) format or a Windows Media Video (WMV) format. However, it is understood that the MPEG and WMV formats are not the only formats that the multimedia data output apparatus  230  converts the multimedia data into. The multimedia data output apparatus  230  performs data conversions according to formats supported by the MCX  220 .  
      According to a method of converting data, after the stored multimedia data is reproduced, the reproduced video and audio signals are transmitted to a TV output port  410 , and the signals transmitted to the TV output port  410  are encoded into the above-mentioned compression format.  
      The encoded multimedia data is transmitted to the MCX  220  through a communication unit.  
      The MCX  220  converts the multimedia data transmitted by the multimedia data output apparatus  230  into a composite, component, or S-Video signal, and then transmits the converted signal to the TV  210 . However, it is understood that the multimedia signal may be of any type or form capable of transmitting multimedia data to a TV  210 .  
      A user can retrieve the multimedia data stored in the multimedia data output apparatus  230  through a remote controller, although not limited thereto. The multimedia data, which has been retrieved through, for example, the remote controller and selected by the user, is converted into data of a proper format by the multimedia data output apparatus  230 , and then transmitted to the MCX  220 .  
      The TV  210  outputs the multimedia signal received from the MCX  220  on a screen. In this case, since the received multimedia signal may be an analog signal or digital data, the TV  210  may be an analog TV or a digital TV. Further, the MCX  220  converts the multimedia data into the analog signal or the digital data according to a process capability of the TV  210 , and transmits the multimedia signal.  
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating a multimedia data output apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The multimedia data output apparatus  230  includes an output unit  310 , a data processing unit  320 , a control unit  330 , a retrieving unit  340 , an encoding unit  350 , a storing unit  360 , and a communication unit  370 , although not limited thereto.  
      The data processing unit  320  receives video data and audio data. Specifically, the data processing unit  320  includes a video processing unit  321  that receives the video data, and an audio processing unit  322  that receives the audio data.  
      The video processing unit  321  converts the video data into signals that are used to reproduce characters or graphic patterns (bitmaps) in a memory on a screen. The video processing unit  321  may have a memory incorporated therein, and the memory may be used to create videos before the characters or graphic patterns are displayed on the screen.  
      The audio processing unit  321  receives the audio data of a digital format, and converts the audio data of the digital format into an audio signal of an analog format.  
      The video data and the audio data, which are inputted to the video processing unit  321  and the audio processing unit  322 , may, although not necessarily, be multimedia data stored in the storing unit  360  or may, although not necessarily, be TV signals inputted through a TV receiving unit (not shown) provided in the multimedia data output apparatus  230 . In this case, the video signal of the TV signal may be converted into a digital signal and then inputted to the video processing unit  321 .  
      The output unit  310  includes a display unit  311  and an audio output unit  312 . The display unit  311  corresponds to a module that includes a video display device, such as, although not limited to, a cathode ray tube (CRT), a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light-emitting diode (LED), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), or a plasma display (PDP), which is capable of displaying inputted video data. The display unit  311  displays the transmitted video information.  
      The audio output unit  312  outputs the analog audio signal transmitted by the audio processing unit  322 . That is, the audio output unit  312  corresponds to an audio output device, such as a speaker.  
      The retrieving unit  340  retrieves multimedia data contained in the request message  225  received from the MCX  220 . That is, the retrieving unit  340  retrieves the multimedia data by, for example, using a file name and a storage path of the multimedia data contained in the request message, and transmits the retrieved multimedia data to the control unit  330 . In this case, the retrieved result may contain a header or metadata of the multimedia data.  
      The control unit  330  converts process paths of the video data and the audio data. That is, the video data and the audio data that have been processed by the data processing unit  320  are not necessarily transmitted to only the output unit  310 , but may be transmitted to the encoding unit  350 .  
      A multimedia data process path determined by the control unit  330  may be determined according to an instruction of the user. Further, the multimedia data process path may be determined by only the output unit  310  or the encoding unit  350 . Moreover, the multimedia data process path may be determined such that the multimedia data is simultaneously transmitted to the output unit  310  and the encoding unit  350 .  
      The multimedia data process path determined by the control unit  330  may be determined according to the retrieved results transmitted by the retrieving unit  340 . That is, in a case in which the format of the requested multimedia data corresponds to a format supported by the MCX  220 , the control unit  330  converts the process path to lead to the output unit  310 , and in a case in which the format of the requested multimedia data does not correspond to a format supported by the MCX  220 , the control unit  330  may convert the process path to lead to the encoding unit  350 .  
      In a case in which the process path of the multimedia data leads to the encoding unit  350 , the video processing unit  321  and the audio processing unit  322  output the video data and the audio data through a TV out port  410  and a line out port  420 , respectively. In this case, each of the TV out port  410  and the line out port  420  includes a port exposed to the exterior and a port for inner connection. When the process path of the multimedia data leads to the encoding unit  350 , the video data and the audio data are transmitted to the encoding unit  350  through the ports for inner connection. That is, the configuration is such that the video data and the audio data are not transmitted through the ports exposed to the exterior, which can be achieved by switches.  
      The detailed description for the multimedia data process path will be described below with reference to  FIGS. 4A and 4B .  
      The encoding unit  350  encodes the video data and the audio data transmitted through the converted path of the multimedia data, converted by the control unit  330 , in a predetermined compression format.  
      That is, the encoding unit  350  converts the multimedia data into a data format recognized by the MCX  220 . In the present embodiment, the recognized conversion format may be an MPEG format or a WMV format. However, it is understood that the multimedia data can be encoded into a different moving picture compression format according to a data format supported by the MCX  220  in the future.  
      The storing unit  360  stores the multimedia data encoded by the encoding unit  350 . That is, the storing unit  360  stores the multimedia data in a data format recognized by the MCX  220 . The storing unit  360  serves as a buffer in order for the multimedia data to be transmitted through the communication unit  370 .  
      The storing unit  360  corresponds to a module in which input and output of information can be made, such as, although not limited to, a hard disk, a flash memory, a compact flash (CF) card, a secure digital (SD) card, a smart media (SM) card, a multimedia card (MMC), or a memory stick. The storing unit  360  may be provided in the apparatus to output multimedia data or may be provided in a separate device.  
      The communication unit  370  transmits the multimedia data according to the encoded result. That is, the communication unit  370  transmits the multimedia data stored in the storing unit  360  or transmits the multimedia directly transmitted by the encoding unit  350  to the MCX  220 .  
      Further, the communication unit  370  receives the request message  225  for multimedia data from the MCX  220 . Then, the transmitted request message  225  is transmitted to the control unit  330  and used in determining the process path of the stored multimedia data.  
      Wire communication methods such as, although not limited to, Ethernet, Universal Serial Bus (USB), IEEE 1394, serial communication, and parallel communication may, although not necessarily, be used between the communication unit  370  and the MCX  220 . In addition, wireless communication methods such as, although not limited to, Infrared Data Association, Bluetooth, home RF, and a wireless LAN may, although not necessarily, be used.  
      The multimedia data transmitted through the communication unit  370  is transmitted to the MCX  220 . Then, the MCX  220  displays the multimedia data through the TV  210  because the multimedia data of the format supported by the MCX  220  is transmitted.  
      As described above, the video processing unit  321  includes a TV out port  410 , and the audio processing unit  322  includes a line out port  420 . The TV out port  410  converts the reproduced video contents into analog video signals and outputs the converted analog signals. The analog video signals outputted by the TV out port  410  may be displayed through the TV  210 . Meanwhile, the line out port  420  converts the reproduced audio contents into analog audio signals and outputs the converted analog signals. The analog audio signals outputted by the line out port  420  may be outputted through the audio output unit  312 , such as a speaker,  
      The encoding unit  350  includes a TV in port  430  and a line in port  440 . Thus, the encoding unit  350  encodes the video signals and the audio signals inputted through the TV in port  430  and the line in port  440 .  
      As shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , each of the TV out port  410  of the video processing unit  321 , the line out port  420  of the audio processing unit  322 , and the TV in port  430  of the encoding unit  350  includes a switch such that the multimedia data is processed according to the multimedia data process path determined by the control unit  330 .  
       FIG. 4A  is a diagram illustrating a process path determined by the control unit  330  in a case in which the multimedia data  400   a  of a format supported by the MCX  220  is requested. The multimedia data having been inputted to the video processing unit  321  and the audio processing unit  322  corresponds to the multimedia data  400   a  of the format supported by the MCX  220 . Thus, the control unit  330  transmits control instructions to the video processing unit  321 , the audio processing unit  322 , and the encoding unit  350 , such that the video data is displayed through the display unit  311 , and the audio data is outputted through the audio output unit  312 .  
      That is, the multimedia data process path is determined such that the TV out port  410  of the video processing unit  321  is connected to the display unit  311 , and the line out port  420  of the audio processing unit  322  is connected to the audio output unit  312 .  
       FIG. 4B  is a diagram illustrating a process path determined by the control unit  330  in a case in which the multimedia data  400   b  of a format not supported by the MCX  220  is requested. The multimedia data having been inputted to the video processing unit  321  and the audio processing unit  322  corresponds to the multimedia data  400   b  of the format that is not supported by the MCX  220 . Thus, the control unit  330  transmits control instructions to the video processing unit  321 , the audio processing unit  322 , and the encoding unit  350 , such that the video data and the audio data are inputted to the encoding unit  350 .  
      That is, the multimedia data process path is determined such that the TV out port  410  of the video processing unit  321  is connected to the TV in port  430  of the encoding unit  350 , and the line out port  420  of the audio processing unit  322  is connected to the line in port  440  of the encoding unit  350 .  
      The video data and the audio data that are transmitted to the encoding unit  350  are encoded into multimedia data of a format that is supported by the MCX  220 , and then may, although not necessarily, be transmitted to the storing unit  360  to be stored therein.  
      As described above, the multimedia data process path determined by the control unit  330  may be determined according to the user&#39;s instruction or may be determined according to the format of the multimedia data requested by the MCX  220 .  
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating a process to output multimedia data according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
      In order to output the multimedia data, the communication unit  370  of the multimedia data output apparatus  230  receives the request message  225  for multimedia data transmitted by the MCX  220  (S 510 ). The request message  225  may, although not necessarily, include a file name and a storage path of the multimedia data.  
      The request message  225  is transmitted to the retrieving unit  340 , and the retrieving unit  340  retrieves the multimedia data described in the request message from the storing unit  360  (S 520 ). That is, the retrieving unit  340  retrieves the multimedia data by, for example, using the file name and the storing path of the multimedia data contained in the request message, and the retrieved result is transmitted to the control unit  330 . In this case, a header or metadata of the multimedia data may, although not necessarily, be contained in the retrieved result.  
      The control unit  330  determines whether the multimedia data is of the format supported by the MCX  220  by referring to the transmitted retrieved result (S 530 ). As a result, if the retrieved multimedia data is of the format supported by the MCX  220 , the control unit  330  transmits a transmission instruction of the corresponding multimedia data to the communication unit  370 .  
      Then, the communication unit  370  transmits the multimedia data stored in the storing unit  360  to the MCX  220  by using a predetermined communication method (S 590 ). Wire communication methods such as, although not limited to, Ethernet, Universal Serial Bus (USB), IEEE 1394, serial communication, and parallel communication may, although not necessarily, be used to communicate between the communication unit  370  and the MCX  220 . In addition, wireless communication methods such as, although not limited to, Infrared Data Association, Bluetooth, home RF, and a wireless LAN may, although not necessarily, be used.  
      The multimedia data process path determined by the control unit  330  may be determined according to the user&#39;s instruction. The multimedia data process path may be determined by only the output unit  310  or the encoding unit  350 , and the multimedia data process path may be determined such that the multimedia data can be transmitted to the output unit  310  and the encoding unit  350 .  
      If the retrieved multimedia data has a data format not supported by the MCX  220 , the control unit  330  converts the multimedia data process path (S 540 ). That is, the switches included in the video processing unit  321  and the audio processing unit  322  are controlled such that the video data and the audio data inputted to the video processing unit  321  and the audio processing unit  322  are outputted to the encoding unit  350 .  
      In addition, the retrieved multimedia data is reproduced by a predetermined reproducing program (S 550 ), and the reproduced video data and the audio data are inputted to the video processing unit  321  and the audio processing unit  322  (S 560 ).  
      The video data and the audio data that are inputted to the video processing unit  321  and the audio processing unit  322  are outputted through the TV out port  410  and the line out port  420  according to the multimedia data process path determined by the control unit  330 , and then transmitted to the TV in port  430  and the line in port  440  of the encoding unit  350 .  
      In addition, the encoding unit  350  encodes the transmitted video data and audio data to multimedia data of the format supported by the MCX  220  (S 570 ). That is, the encoding unit  350  encodes the transmitted video data and audio data into data of an MPEG or a WMV format.  
      The encoded multimedia data may, although not necessarily, be stored in the storing unit  360 , and the communication unit  370  transmits the multimedia data stored in the format supported by the MCX  220  to the MCX  220  (S 580 ).  
      The apparatus to output multimedia data converts multimedia data of all applicable formats into multimedia data formats supported by the media center extender and outputs the converted multimedia data. Therefore, multimedia data of formats not supported by the media center extender can also be displayed through a TV screen. However, it is understood that the media center extender does not necessarily transmit the multimedia data to be displayed by a TV. The media center extender may transmit the multimedia data to be displayed by any moving picture projection device.  
      Multimedia data of all of formats supported by the computer is displayed without changing the system structure of the media center extender, which results in reducing the cost required when a new system is constructed.  
      Although a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in this embodiment without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.