Image processing apparatus, image storing system comprising the same and control method thereof

• US 20060253778A1
• Filed: 02/21/2006
• Published: 11/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Dae-gu
• Granted Patent: US 7,853,878 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/700
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4112 having fewer capabilities than the client, e.g. thin client having less processing power or no tuning capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43622 Interfacing an external recording device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/488 Data services, e.g. news ticker systems specially adapted for using meteorological information in broadcast systems H04H60/71
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/965 for process control and configuration

Abstract

A method is provided for controlling an image storing system comprising an external storage device including a plurality of storage processors, and an image processing apparatus connected with the external storage device and storing a received video signal in the external storage device. The method includes storing data about operation state of the plurality of storage processors of the image processing apparatus by the image processing apparatus; and generating a user interface menu representing the external storage device as a plurality of storage device items on the basis of the stored data about the operation states of the plurality of storage processors when a storing operation for the video signal is selected.

Claims

1. A method of controlling an image storing system comprising an external storage device including a plurality of storage processors, and an image processing apparatus connected with the external storage device and storing a received video signal in the external storage device, the method comprising:

storing data about operation states of the plurality of storage processors of the image processing apparatus; and

generating a user interface (UI) menu representing the external storage device as a plurality of storage device items on the basis of the stored data about the operation states of the plurality of storage processors if a storing operation for the video signal is selected.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising requesting the data about the operating states from the external storage device, and receiving the requested data.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the generating the UI menu for selecting the external storage device comprises representing the external storage device as the storage device items corresponding to the storage processors.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising generating a message that the storing operation can be started when the storage device item being on standby is pointed by manipulating a user selection unit, and a message that the storing operation can be stopped when the storage device item performing the storing operation is pointed by manipulating the user selection unit.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising starting the storing operation in the case that the storage processor corresponding to the selected storage device item is on standby, and stopping the storing operation in the case that the storage processor corresponding to the selected storage device item performs the storing operation, when the pointed storage device item is selected through the user selection unit.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the generating the UI menu for selecting the external storage device comprises representing the storage processors performing the storing operation as the respective storage device items, and representing the storage processors being on standby as one storage device item on the basis of the data about the operation state.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising generating a message that the storing operation can be started when the storage device item being on standby is pointed by manipulating a user selection unit, and a message that the storing operation can be stopped when the storage device item performing the storing operation is pointed.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising starting the storing operation in the case that the storage processor corresponding to the selected storage device item is on standby, and stopping the storing operation in the case that the storage processor corresponding to the selected storage device item performs the storing operation, when the pointed storage device item is selected through the user selection unit.

9. A method of controlling an image processing apparatus to store a received video signal in an external storage device including a plurality of storage processors, the method comprising:

storing data about operation states of the plurality of storage processors; and

generating a user interface (UI) menu used for selecting the external storage device and representing the external storage device as a plurality of storage device items corresponding to the storage processors on the basis of the stored data if a storing operation for the video signal is selected.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising requesting and receiving the data about operation states of the plurality of storage processors from the external storage device.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the generating the UI menu for selecting the external storage device comprises representing the storage processors performing the storing operation as the respective storage device items, and representing the storage processors being on standby as one storage device item on the basis of the data about the operation state.

12. An image processing apparatus comprising:

a communication unit which communicates with an external storage device including a plurality of storage processors;

a video signal processing unit which processes a received video signal, and stores the video signal in the external storage device;

a user selection unit;

a memory which stores data about operation states of the plurality of storage processors;

a user interface (UI) generator which generates a UI menu for selecting the external storage device; and

a controller which controls the UI generator to generate a UI menu representing the external storage device as a plurality of storage device items on the basis of the data stored in the memory if a storing operation for the video signal is selected through the user selection unit.

13. The image processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the controller controls the UI generator to generate the UI menu representing the external storage device as the storage device items corresponding to the storage processors.

14. The image processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the controller controls the UI generator to generate a message that the storing operation can be started if the storage device item being on standby is pointed by manipulating the user selection unit, and a message that the storing operation can be stopped if the storage device item performing the storing operation is pointed by manipulating the user selection unit.

15. The image processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the controller starts the storing operation in the case that the storage processor corresponding to the selected storage device item is on standby, and stops the storing operation in the case that the storage processor corresponding to the selected storage device item performs the storing operation, if the pointed storage device item is selected through the user selection unit.

16. The method according to claim 12, wherein the controller controls the UI generator to represent the storage processors performing the storing operation as the respective storage device items, and represent the storage processors being on standby as one storage device item.

17. The image processing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the controller controls the UI generator to generate a message that the storing operation can be started if the storage device item being on standby is pointed by manipulating the user selection unit, and a message that the storing operation can be stopped if the storage device item performing the storing operation is pointed by manipulating the user selection unit.

18. The image processing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the controller starts the storing operation in the case that the storage processor corresponding to the selected storage device item is on standby, and stops the storing operation in the case that the storage processor corresponding to the selected storage device item performs the storing operation, if the pointed storage device item is selected through the user selection unit.

19. The image processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the controller requests the data from the external storage device through the communication unit if the memory does not store data about the operating states of the storage processors.

20. The image processing apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the communication unit comprises an IEEE 1394 port.

21. An image storing system comprising:

an external storage device including a plurality of storage processors; and

an image processing apparatus which is connected with the external storage device and stores a received video signal in the external storage device, the image processing apparatus comprising;

a communication unit which communicates with the external storage device;

a user selection unit;

a video signal processing unit which processes the video signal;

a memory which stores data about operation states of the plurality of storage processors;

a user interface (UI) generator which generates a UI menu for selecting the external storage device; and

a controller which controls the UI generator to generate a UI menu representing the external storage device as a plurality of storage device items on the basis of the data stored in the memory if a storing operation for the video signal is selected through the user selection unit.

22. The image processing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the controller requests the data from the external storage device through the communication unit if the memory does not store the data about the operating states of the storage processors.

23. The image processing apparatus according to claim 22, further comprising an IEEE 1394 communication cable which connects the external storage device to the communication unit of the image processing apparatus.