System and method for synchronizing video indexing between audio/video signal and data

• US 20010014210A1
• Filed: 01/10/2001
• Published: 08/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kang, Bae Guen
• Granted Patent: US 7,072,575 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/96
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/275 Synchronous replication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/332 Query formulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4305 Synchronising client clock from received content stream, e.g. locking decoder clock with encoder clock, extraction of the PCR packets arrangements for synchronising receiver with transmitter by comparing receiver clock with transmitter clock H04L7/0012; arrangements for synchronising receiver with transmitter wherein the receiver takes measures against momentary loss of synchronisation H04L7/0083
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8455 involving pointers to the content, e.g. pointers to the I-frames of the video stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/04 Synchronising for television systems using pulse code modulation H04N7/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording

Abstract

A personal TV with improved functions is disclosed. In the present system and method, synchronization information is inserted into specified positions of the content of a multimedia stream at the time when the contents are produced. Thus, the present invention enables a user to easily search the synchronization information on the specified positions through an annotation. As a result, a user can selectively control the playback of a video cartridge recorder through the annotation of a recorded MPEG stream.

Claims

1. A system for synchronizing video indexing between an A/V signal and data for a broadcast program comprising:

a broadcast data synchronization and transmission system which produces live broadcast program to be broadcasted and XML information for the live broadcast program, combining the XML TAG information with the produced broadcast program, and transmitting the combined data of MPEG transport stream to a broadcasting network; and

a receiving system which receives the MPEG transport stream from the broadcasting network, simultaneously records and playbacks the MPEG transport stream, and reads information required for user video indexing by analyzing the XML TAG received in synchronization with specified sections of the MPEG transport stream.

2. A system of

claim 1

, wherein the broadcast data synchronization and transmission system comprises:

a contents production and synchronization unit which produces, in real time, the XML TAG information and produces live broadcast program to be broadcasted; and

a data transmission unit combines the XML TAG information from the contents production and synchronization unit with the produced broadcast program, and transmits the combined data as the MPEG transport stream.

3. A system of

claim 2

, wherein the contents production and synchronization unit comprises:

a stream unit which detects GOP positions of an MPEG stream to be broadcasted on a TV;

a shot/scene unit which sets and marks the XML TAG in the corresponding GOP positions detected by the stream unit;

an XML unit which synchronizes the marked XML TAG with the MPEG stream to be broadcasted; and

a generation unit which generates and outputs the XML TAG information based upon the result from the XML unit.

4. A system of

claim 2

, wherein the data transmission unit comprises:

a data encoder which combines the XML TAG information with the produced broadcast program to be transmitted; and

an MPEG stream transmitter which transmits to the broadcasting network the combined data from the data encoder.

5. A system of

claim 1

, wherein the receiving system comprises:

a simultaneous record/playback unit which simultaneously records and playbacks the MPEG transport stream received from the broadcast data synchronization and transmission system;

a storage unit which stores the MPEG transport stream to be recorded in the simultaneous record/playback unit;

a XML parser unit which analyzes a XML file among the MPEG transport stream stored in the storage unit;

a media control unit which synchronizes an object file among the MPEG transport stream stored in the storage unit and controls an operation of a video cartridge recorder, where the object file is a combination of an MPEG file and the XML file;

a synchronization decomposition unit which searches for synchronized positions of specified section of the MPEG stream based on the outputs from the XML parser unit and the media control unit; and

a metadata index unit which systematically stores information output from the sync decomposition unit.

6. A system of

claim 5

, wherein the simultaneous record/playback unit comprises:

a tuner which tunes the MPEG transport stream received through a broadcasting network;

a demodulator which demodulates a digital broadcasting signal output from the tuner and outputting a live stream;

an encoder which encodes an analog broadcasting signal output from the tuner and outputs transport stream signals;

a data PID filter unit which detects transport stream signals to be stored by filtering the live stream output from the demodulator;

a time stamp header unit which constructs a header by considering transport stream signals other than the transport stream signals detected at the data PID filter unit and by counting figures of a NULL packet, and inserts the header among the considered TS signals;

a TS storage unit which stores the transport stream signal produced from the time stamp header unit and the transport stream signal produced from the encoder;

a stamp control unit which controls edition and reading of the transport stream signal stored in the TS storage unit;

a storage control unit which manages information stored in the TS storage unit;

a MUX which selects and outputs one of the TS signals output from the stamp control unit or the demodulator; and

a decoder unit which decodes a signal selected by the MUX.

7. A system of

claim 5

, wherein the receiving system further comprises:

an EPG unit which controls the metadata index unit such that a user can search information stored in the metadata index unit; and

a TV display unit which displays information stored in the metadata index unit and the broadcasting information read by the simultaneous R/P unit.

8. A system for synchronizing video indexing between an A/V signal and data for a broadcast program comprising:

a contents production and synchronization unit which produces live broadcast program to be broadcasted and XML TAG information of the broadcast program; and

a data transmission unit combines the XML TAG information from the contents production and synchronization unit with the produced broadcast program, and transmits the combined data as MPEG transport stream to a broadcasting network.

9. A system of

claim 8

, wherein the contents production and synchronization unit comprises:

a stream unit which detects GOP positions of an MPEG stream to be broadcasted on a TV;

a shot/scene unit which sets and marks the XML TAG in the corresponding GOP positions detected by the stream unit;

an XML unit which synchronizes the marked XML TAG with the MPEG stream to be broadcasted; and

a generation unit which generates and outputs the XML TAG information based upon the result from the XML unit.

10. A system of

claim 8

, wherein the data transmission unit comprises:

a data encoder which combines the XML TAG information with the produced broadcast program to be transmitted; and

an MPEG stream transmitter which transmits to the broadcasting network the combined data from the data encoder.

11. A system of

claim 8

, further comprising a receiving system which receives the MPEG transport stream from the broadcasting network, simultaneously records and playbacks the MPEG transport stream, and reads information required for user video indexing by analyzing the XML TAG received in synchronization with specified sections of the MPEG transport stream.

12. A system of

claim 11

, wherein the receiving system comprises:

a simultaneous record/playback unit which simultaneously records and playbacks the MPEG transport stream received from the broadcast data synchronization and transmission system;

a storage unit which stores the MPEG transport stream to be recorded in the simultaneous record/playback unit;

a XML parser unit which analyzes a XML file among the MPEG transport stream stored in the storage unit;

a media control unit which synchronizes an object file among the MPEG transport stream stored in the storage unit and controls an operation of a video cartridge recorder, where the object file is a combination of an MPEG file and the XML file;

a synchronization decomposition unit which searches for synchronized positions of specified section of the MPEG stream based on the outputs from the XML parser unit and the media control unit; and

a metadata index unit which systematically stores information output from the sync decomposition unit.

13. A system of

claim 12

, wherein the simultaneous record/playback unit which simultaneously records and playbacks the MPEG transport stream received from the broadcast data synchronization and transmission system;

a tuner which tunes the MPEG transport stream received through a broadcasting network;

a demodulator which demodulates a digital broadcasting signal output from the tuner and outputting a live stream;

an encoder which encodes an analog broadcasting signal output from the tuner and outputs transport stream signals;

a data PID filter unit which detects transport stream signals to be stored by filtering the live stream output from the demodulator;

a time stamp header unit which constructs a header by considering transport stream signals other than the transport stream signals detected by the data PID filter unit and by counting figures of a NULL packet, and inserts the header among the considered transport stream signals;

a TS storage unit which stores the transport stream signal produced from the time stamp header unit and the transport stream signal produced from the encoder;

a stamp control unit which controls edition and reading of the transport stream signal stored in the TS storage unit;

a storage control unit which manages information stored in the TS storage unit;

a MUX which selects and outputs one of the transport stream signals output from the stamp control unit or the demodulator; and

a decoder unit which decodes a signal selected by the MUX.

14. A receiving system in a system for synchronizing video indexing between an A/V signal and data for a broadcast program comprising:

a simultaneous record/playback unit which simultaneously records and playbacks a broadcast program received from a broadcasting network;

a storage unit which stores the broadcast program to be recorded in the simultaneous record/playback unit;

a XML parser unit which analyzes a XML file in the broadcast program stored in the storage unit;

a media control unit which synchronizes an object file in the broadcast program stored in the storage unit and controls an operation of a video cartridge recorder, where the object file is a combination of an MPEG file and the XML file;

a synchronization decomposition unit which searches for synchronized positions of specified section of the broadcast program based on the outputs from the XML parser unit and the media control unit; and

a metadata index unit which systematically stores information output from the sync decomposition unit.

15. A system of

claim 14

, wherein the receiving system further comprises:

an EPG unit which controls the metadata index unit such that a user can search information stored in the metadata index unit; and

a TV display unit which displays information stored in the metadata index unit and the broadcasting information read by the simultaneous R/P unit.

16. A system of

claim 14

, wherein the storage unit comprises:

an MPEG file unit which stores a corresponding MPEG stream of the broadcast program from the simultaneous record/playback unit; and

an XML file unit which stores the XML data carrying synchronization information from the simultaneous record/playback unit.

17. A system of

claim 16

, wherein the synchronization information is time information.

18. A method for synchronizing video indexing between an A/V signal and data for a broadcast program comprising:

producing, at a transmitting unit, live broadcast program to be broadcasted and XML TAG information for the live broadcast program; and

combining the XML TAG information with the produced broadcast program, and transmitting the combined data of MPEG-2 transport stream to a broadcasting network.

19. A method of

claim 18

, further comprising:

receiving, at the receiving unit, the MPEG transport stream from the broadcasting network; and

simultaneously recording and playing back the MPEG-2 transport stream, and reads information required for user video indexing by analyzing the XML TAG received in synchronization with specified sections of the MPEG transport stream.

20. A method of

claim 19

, wherein simultaneously recording and playing back the MPEG transport stream comprises:

reading an XML TAG from the MPEG transport stream and detecting a time offset from the XML TAG;

converting the detected time offset to a file offset;

generating GOP index files from the MPEG transport stream;

reading a GOP index file and comparing the GOP index file to the file offset;

storing the GOP index file and the XML TAG if the file offset is equal to the GOP index file, otherwise, reading a next GOP index file and compared to the file offset until a GOP index file which matches the file offset is found for storage with the XML TAG.