Patent Publication Number: US-2005135780-A1

Title: Apparatus and method for displaying moving picture in a portable terminal

Description:
PRIORITY  
      This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C 119(a) of an application entitled “Method For Displaying Moving Picture In Portable Terminal” filed in the Korean Industrial Property Office on Dec. 22, 2003 and assigned Serial No. 2003-94370, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to a portable terminal. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for displaying a moving picture in a mobile terminal, by which a user can enjoy a moving picture in a mobile terminal by replaying data of the moving picture together with text data prepared by the user.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      Recently, technology in the field of portable terminals has been developed so as to empower the user with digital audio and video recording capabilities via a camera embedded in a portable terminal as well as simple voice communication and wireless internet service.  
      Additionally, due to the technological development of wireless internet, it is possible to enjoy moving picture content provided by Video On Demand (VOD) service.  
      VOD service is broadly classified into two types. The first type is a streaming service in which moving picture data corresponding to moving picture content are replayed while they are received from a VOD server by means of Realtime Transport Protocol (RTP). The second type is a download service in which moving picture data are downloaded as a full file by means of Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP), decoded and then replayed.  
      Such content for streaming and downloading are managed by a VOD server and are classified into content created by companies dealing in content for commercial purposes and content prepared by general users for the purpose of sending e-mail. When such moving picture content is replayed according to the Moving Picture Experts Group standards 4 (MPEG standards 4), text related to the content may be displayed at the same time.  
      Heretofore, in order to display text while moving picture content is replayed, the MPEG standards 4 may be used. In other words, text has to be inserted when encoding MPEG4 moving pictures. Therefore, there is a problem in that it is not possible to insert text into MPEG4 files that are previously encoded and formed. As a result, even if a user wants to display text related to a previously formed moving picture file, it is not possible to replay the moving picture simultaneously while displaying the text.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem occurring in the prior art. An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for displaying a moving picture in a portable terminal. According to the method, a text file voluntarily prepared by a user is linked to a moving picture file that is previously encoded and formed so that the text file can be replayed while the moving picture is replayed at the same time.  
      In order to accomplish this object, there is provided an apparatus and method for displaying a moving picture in a portable terminal capable of playback of moving pictures. The apparatus and method include inputting text to be displayed, storing the input text as a text file and selecting a moving picture file to be linked with the text file to set a text file to be replayed simultaneously with playback of the moving picture; executing a moving picture mode by operating keys in a stand-by mode, determining whether a moving picture playback mode is selected or not, and displaying a list of stored moving picture files when the moving picture playback mode is selected; and selecting a moving picture file to be replayed from the list of moving picture files so that the text file can be replayed and displayed simultaneously with playback of the moving picture. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating the structure of a portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a schematic view illustrating the structure of a database for the management of moving picture files and text files according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 3  is a flow chart illustrating a method for displaying a moving picture in a portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention; and  
       FIG. 4  is a flow chart illustrating a method for setting a text file to be linked with a moving picture file according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
      In the following description of the present invention, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted for conciseness.  
      Further, specific definitions of the data format of a moving picture file and that of a text file are provided as examples, and it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention can be implemented without the specific examples.  
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating the structure of a portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
      Referring to  FIG. 1 , a radio frequency (RF) module  21  performs communication functions for the portable terminal. The RF module  21  includes an RF transmitter (not shown) for the up-conversion and amplification of the frequency of signals to be transmitted and a RF receiver (not shown) for performing low-noise amplification of received signals and down-conversion of the frequency thereof.  
      A data processor  23  includes a transmitter (not shown) for encoding and modulating the signals to be transmitted and a receiver (not shown) for demodulating and decoding the received signals. In other words, the data processor  23  may comprise a modulator/demodulator MODEM and a coder/decoder (CODEC).  
      An audio processor  25  performs the function for replaying received audio signals output from the data processor  23  to output to a speaker SPK, or for sending audio signals for transmission generated from a microphone MIC to the data processor  23 .  
      A keypad  27  is equipped with keys for inputting number and letter information and various function keys for setting various functions. Additionally, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the keypad  27  may be equipped with a “menu” key, an “OK” key, function keys (for example a moving picture playback mode key and a text mode key) for executing the moving picture playback mode and the text mode, which are sub-menus of the moving picture mode, via the “menu” key and the “OK” key (or the like).  
      A memory module  29  may comprise program memory and data memory. In the program memory, programs are stored for controlling general actions of a portable terminal and programs for replaying a text file linked to a moving picture file when the moving picture is replayed according to an embodiment of the present invention. Additionally, the moving picture file and the text file are stored in the data memory, which further performs the function for temporarily storing data generated during execution of the above-mentioned programs.  
      A control module  10  controls overall actions of a portable terminal. Additionally, the control module  10  may include the data processor  23 . According to an embodiment of the present invention, the control module  10  recognizes a text file linked to a moving picture file selected to be replayed in the moving picture playback mode and controls overall actions related with playback of the moving picture accompanied with playback of the text file. Further, the control module  10  causes the moving picture file to be linked to the predetermined text file according to an embodiment of the present invention. Further, the control module  10  permits the text file to be edited, corrected and deleted in a text edit mode according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
      A camera  50  performs photographing of image data and has a camera sensor for transforming optical signals obtained by photographing into electrical signals. The camera sensor may be assumed as a Charge-Coupled Device (CCD) sensor. A signal processor  60  transforms image signals output from the camera  50  into image signals. The signal processor  60  may be realized as a Digital Signal Processor (DSP).  
      An image processor  70  performs the function for generating screen data for displaying the image signals output from the signal processor  60 . The image processor  70  transmits the received image signals or image data photographed by the camera  50  in a compatible form of a display module  80 , under the control of the control module  10 . Additionally, the image processor  70  compresses and expands the image data.  
      The display module  80  displays messages generated during execution of programs under the control of the control module  10 . Additionally, the display module  80  displays image signals output from the image processor  70  on the screen in a camera-photographing mode, and displays user data output from the control module  10 . Particularly, the display module  80  displays data of a moving picture file together with text data according to an embodiment of the present invention. Further, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the display module  80  displays a text file linked to a moving picture file and the moving picture file on the background screen as moving picture data and text data to be simultaneously replayed. More particularly, the display module  80  displays the text at any one position of the top, the bottom, the left and the right sides depending on the display position determined through the selection by a user. The display module  80  may be a liquid crystal display (LCD). In this case, the display module  80  may be equipped with a LCD controller, memory capable of storing image data, a LCD display device, etc. When the LCD is realized in the form of a touch screen, each of the keypad  27  and the LCD may act as an input section.  
      Hereinafter, the action of a portable terminal will be explained with reference to  FIG. 1 . When a user performs a dialing action through the keypad  27  and sets an outgoing mode, the control module  10  detects this, processes the dialed information received through the data processor  23 , transforms it into RF signals through the RF module  21  and then output the RF signals. Next, when a partner generates response signals, the RF module  21  and the data processor  23  receive the signals. Then, the user can use the communication service upon the formation of a voice traffic channel through the audio processor  25 . Additionally, in an incoming mode, the control module  10  detects the incoming mode through the data processor  23  and generates ring signals through the audio processor  25 . When a user responses thereto, the control module  10  detects this and the user can use the communication service by the formation of a voice traffic channel through the audio processor  25 . Although the outgoing and incoming modes as mentioned above were described as examples with regard to voice communication, it is possible to perform other data communication functions for the communication of packet data and image data. Further, when the stand-by mode or word communication mode is engaged, the control module  10  displays word data processed by the data processor  23  on the display module  80 .  
      In addition, the above-described terminal can perform the action of displaying or sending an image screen obtained by photographing a person or the surroundings. First, the camera  50  may be mounted on a portable phone or connected to a desired external position. In other words, the camera  50  may be an external camera or an embedded camera. The camera  50  may use a Charge Coupled Device (CCD) sensor. The image photographed by the camera  50  is transformed into electrical signals by the internal CCD sensor and applied to the signal processor  60 . Then, the signal processor  60  transforms the image signals into digital image data and outputs the data to the image processor  70 .  
      In order to process and replay moving picture data, the above-described portable terminal can act as follows: first, in the stand-by mode, a user causes a text edit mode to be executed through the keypad  27 . Then, the control module  10  stores a text file composed of texts (e.g., Hangul, English, special characters and numbers) corresponding to the keys inputted by the user in the memory  29 .  
      After completing the text edit mode, the control module  10  permits the user to select a moving picture file to be replayed simultaneously with the text file. Then, the control module  10  recognizes the moving picture file selected through the keypad  27  and completes the step of setting the text file to be replayed simultaneously with playback of the moving picture file. Further, the linkage relationship between the moving picture file and the text file linked thereto is placed into the database and then stored in the memory  29 .  
      Next, the control module  10  recognizes whether a moving picture playback mode is selected and whether the moving picture selected in the moving picture playback mode has a text file linked thereto. Then the control module  10  causes the text file to be replayed simultaneously with playback of the moving picture so that the moving picture can be displayed with the text on the display module  80 .  
      The structure of the above-mentioned database for the management of the linkage relationship between the moving picture file and the text file will be explained hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
       FIG. 2  is a schematic view illustrating the structure of database for the management of moving picture files and text files according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
      Referring to  FIG. 2 , a list A of moving picture files is made into the database in the format of header fields assuring the identity of a moving picture and representing the identity as moving picture data, an MPEG file name in which an actual moving picture is stored, the number of user text files linked to the moving picture file, i.e., Tid number, and text IDs Tid-1˜Tid-n for identifying a user texts linked to a moving picture file. More particularly, the text IDs exist for the number of user text files linked to the moving picture file, i.e., Tid number.  
      Additionally, a text list B including the information of the text file linked to the moving picture file is stored in the database in the format of ID Tid assuring the identity of the text, a moving picture ID Mid for determining between a user text and a moving picture, and a text file name in which actual text is stored. The text file name format will be explained in detail hereinafter.  
      As shown in  FIG. 2 , the text file name format includes the manner for displaying text simultaneously with playback of a moving picture (i.e. information about displaying the text on a screen at the top, the bottom, the left and the right sides simultaneously with playback of the moving picture, depending on the state set by the user), password information for placing restrictions on users with regard to display of the text, information about the length of the text to be displayed and information about text content to be displayed. More particularly, the information about the length of the text refers to the information used for synchronizing playback of the moving picture with displaying of the text after calculating the playback time of the moving picture file linked with the text. The text content refers to actual text content to be displayed, which are prepared by the user.  
      As described above, a moving picture file and a text file are separately stored in the memory  29 . Then, the control module  10  causes playback of the moving picture file to be synchronized with the display of the text file by using the information made into database so that the moving picture file and the text file can be replayed at the same time and displayed on the display module  80 .  
       FIG. 3  is a flow chart illustrating a method for displaying a moving picture in a portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
      Referring to  FIG. 3 , in a stand-by mode, in other words, in step  311  for waiting for a key input of a portable terminal, a moving picture mode is executed by operating keys in the keypad  27 .  
      Then, the control module  10  determines whether a moving picture mode is selected in step  312 . If the moving picture mode is not selected, the control module  10  advances to step  321  where another function other than the moving picture mode is executed. If the moving picture mode is selected, the control module  10  advances to step  313 , reads a list of moving picture files stored in the memory  29  and displays the list on the display module  80 .  
      When a user selects a moving picture file to be replayed from the list displayed on the display module  80  through an “OK” key, the control module  10  determines whether the selected moving picture file is in the moving picture playback mode in step  314 . If the selected moving picture file is not in the moving picture playback mode in step  314 , the control module returns to step  314 .  
      After determining in step  314 , that the selected moving picture file is in the moving picture file playback mode, the control module  10  recognizes the selected moving picture file through the “OK” key in step  315  and then advances to step  316  to determine whether any text file linked to the moving picture file is present.  
      Because the information about the moving picture file and the text file linked thereto is stored in the memory  29  in the form of a database, it is possible to determine whether any text file linked to the moving picture file is present based on the database, in step  317 .  
      The database contains the information about linkage relationship between the moving picture file and the text file to be replayed simultaneously with playback of the moving picture file, the linkage relationship being set before executing the moving picture file playback mode. Such setting follows the procedure illustrated in  FIG. 4 .  
       FIG. 4  is a flow chart illustrating the step for setting a text file to be linked with a moving picture file according to an embodiment of the present invention. When the text mode is executed in step  412  by operating keys in the keypad  27  in step  411 , the control module  10  determines whether a text edit mode is executed.  
      The control module  10  provides a text file containing text contents input through key handling of the keypad  27  and completes the text edit mode in step  413 .  
      Next, the control module  10  determines whether a moving picture file to be linked to the text file stored in the memory  29  through the above-described steps is selected in step  414 . When the moving picture file to be linked to the text file is selected, the control module  10  advances to step  415  to provide the text list B as shown in  FIG. 2  into a database and stores the database in the memory  29 .  
      By using the information of such database, the control module  10  determines whether any text file linked to the selected moving picture file is present, in step  316 .  
      If a text file linked to the selected moving picture file is present based on the result obtained from step  316 , the control module  10  recognizes the text file linked to the moving picture file through the database information in step  317 . Then, the control module  10  advances to step  318  to read the moving picture file and the text file stored in the memory  29  through the database information, so that the moving picture file and the text file linked thereto can be replayed at the same time in step  319 .  
      Then, the control module  10  displays the text file linked to the moving picture file by means of the display module  80 . Particularly, the text contents of the text file displayed by the display module  80  are provided at any one position selected from the top, the bottom, the left and the right sides of the display module  80 , according to the display manner information of the text list B as shown in  FIG. 2  set by the user. More particularly, the text is displayed at a certain time calculated by considering the running time of the moving picture and the length of the text contents.  
      On the other hand, if no text file is linked to the selected moving picture file based on the result obtained from step  316 , only the selected moving picture file is replayed and displayed in step  320 .  
      While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Particularly, while the operations and functions of the present invention have been described with reference to a conventional portable terminal as shown in  FIG. 1 , it is also possible to use a portable terminal further including multimedia chips for processing VOD data (recently appearing through technological development in the field of portable terminals). Therefore, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments but defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.  
      As can be seen from the foregoing, according to the embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to insert text to a previously encoded and formed moving picture data so that the text data matched to the moving picture data can be replayed simultaneously with playback of the moving picture. Therefore, it is possible to enjoy a moving picture with text by using a previously formed moving picture data.  
      Further, it is possible to correct and edit text data voluntarily prepared by the user with ease during playback of the moving picture and thus the user&#39;s convenience and enjoyment are greatly increased.