KR20110126927A - Video equipment and thumbnail information processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A video processing apparatus and a method for processing a thumbnail image using the same are provided to additionally express a thumbnail image related with the corresponding image with other thumbnail images. CONSTITUTION: If a moving picture is suspended during reproducing a moving picture, a thumbnail information generator(17) creates thumbnail information related with the corresponding moving picture. A storage unit(11) stores the thumbnail information which is created by the thumbnail information generator. A user interface unit(13) enable s a user to search the thumbnail information which is stored in the storage unit.

Description

Video Processing Apparatus, and Method of Processing Thumbnail Information}

The present invention relates to a video device and a thumbnail information processing method, and in particular, when a video is stopped in various video devices capable of playing a video, a user generates a thumbnail image of the corresponding video to provide a video to distinguish the video from being stopped. To identify them.

Various video devices capable of playing video provide a thumbnail image as well as a video file name of text so that a user can easily check the stored video information.

A thumbnail image is a compressed image of a specific frame of a video. The thumbnail image is a method of directly compressing a video frame encoded by a Moving Pictures Experts Group (MPEG) method and then directly reducing the DC frame of an intra frame. It is generated through the method used.

Such thumbnail images may be generated by compressing any of a plurality of frames of the video, such as the first I frame.

Alternatively, a plurality of frames may be compressed to create multiple thumbnail images and then alternately displayed.

However, since the conventional thumbnail image is used only to inform what kind of video exists in the video device, it is difficult for the user to know information other than that the video exists.

In particular, as video contents are widely produced and distributed, a plurality of videos may be stored in a video device, and playback is stopped due to the user's circumstances or influence of other programs while the users play and watch the video. This can happen frequently.

At this time, if the user does not play the video immediately, it becomes difficult to remember which video was stopped while watching as time passed.

It is also difficult to distinguish between videos that have already been watched and videos that have not yet been watched.

This difficulty in use may appear larger as more videos are stored in the video device.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above problems, by displaying the thumbnail information, such as a video paused during playback or video playback is completed, the video device and thumbnails for the user to use the video more conveniently The purpose is to provide an information processing method.

In order to achieve the above object, an embodiment of a video device according to the present invention includes a thumbnail information generator for generating thumbnail information associated with a video when the video is stopped during playback; A storage unit which stores thumbnail information generated by the thumbnail information generator; And a user interface unit for allowing a user to search for thumbnail information stored in the storage unit.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a method of processing thumbnail information is a method of processing a thumbnail information related to a video by a video device capable of playing a video, and generating and storing thumbnail information related to the video when an event in which the video is stopped during playback occurs. ; And enabling a user to retrieve the stored thumbnail information.

The thumbnail information may include a thumbnail image of a corresponding video and information regarding a position stopped during playback.

Information regarding the position stopped during the playback may be visually displayed together with the thumbnail image of the corresponding video.

The thumbnail image may be generated using the I frame closest to the position at which playback is stopped, or may be generated using video data most recently decoded from the time at which playback is stopped.

When the user selects specific thumbnail information to instruct the playback of the video, the video device may be configured to play back the video from the position where it was stopped during playback.

Another embodiment of the video device according to the present invention, the thumbnail information generating unit for generating thumbnail information associated with the video when the playback of the video is completed; A storage unit which stores thumbnail information generated by the thumbnail information generator; And a user interface unit for allowing a user to search for thumbnail information stored in the storage unit.

As a method for identifying a thumbnail image of a video that has not been played back and a video that has not been played, the thumbnail information generator may separately generate a thumbnail image of a video that has not been played back and a video that has not been played back, or the user interface. The thumbnail images of the video on which the additional playback is completed and the video on which the playback is not completed may be distinguished from each other so as to be distinguishable from each other.

According to the present invention, when the video is stopped during playback or playback is completed, the thumbnail information related to the video may be displayed separately from the thumbnail information of the other video.

Accordingly, the user can easily identify whether each video is stopped during playback or has already finished watching.

In particular, the thumbnail information of the stopped video during the playback may include information about the stopped position, it is possible to play the video again from the stopped position using this.

Therefore, there is an effect that can improve the convenience of users watching a video using a variety of video devices.

1 illustrates an embodiment of an imaging apparatus according to the present invention;
2 is an example of a structure of thumbnail information;
3 and 4 are examples of representing thumbnail images of a still image during playback;
5 illustrates an embodiment of playing a video with reference to a stop position when a user instructs playback of a video through a thumbnail image;
6 and 7 are flowcharts illustrating a method of processing thumbnail information according to the present invention.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The video device according to the present invention refers to any device capable of playing a video such as a personal computer (PC), a digital TV (TV) set, a set-top box for receiving digital broadcasts, various portable terminals, and the like. And a video receiving function through various communication networks.

That is, the video device according to the present invention refers to a device capable of playing a video and outputting it on a display screen according to a user's instruction. The type and shape of the video device may vary.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an imaging device 10 according to the present invention. Although only portions necessary for describing the present invention are shown, the imaging device 10 may have various types and structures as described above.

The input unit 12 may include various types of input means such as a keypad, a keyboard, a mouse, a touch screen, and the like so that a user may input various commands or information to the image device 10.

The display unit 15 visually outputs various information related to the operation of the image device 10 on the display screen, and the speaker 16 outputs various sound information related to the operation of the image device 10.

The user interface unit 13 provides various user interface (UI) screens through the display unit 15 so that the user can generally operate the image apparatus 10.

In particular, the user interface unit 15 allows the user to search for various video files or thumbnail information stored in the storage unit 11.

The storage unit 11 is a nonvolatile storage medium capable of reading and writing digital data such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a flash memory. The storage unit 11 may be detachable, non-removable, built-in type according to the structure of the video device 10. It may be made of various types of storage media such as external type.

The storage unit 11 may store any computer program or information for driving the imaging device 10. The storage unit 11 may store various video files 11-1 according to the present invention, and in particular, a thumbnail database 11-2 for storing and maintaining thumbnail information is maintained.

The reproduction unit 14 includes an audio decoder 14-1 and a video decoder 14-2 for reproducing a moving image file.

The audio decoder 14-1 decodes the audio data of the video file and outputs it to the speaker 16. The video decoder 14-2 decodes the video data of the video file and outputs the signal as an RGB or YUV signal. 15) to pass.

When a user searches a list of video files 11-1 stored in the storage unit 11 through a user interface screen provided by the user interface unit 13, selects a specific video file and instructs execution to play the file. The unit 14 decodes the corresponding video file and outputs the same through the display unit 15 and the speaker 16.

If the playback is stopped for some reason, such as by a user or by another program while the video is being played, the thumbnail information generation unit 17 generates thumbnail information related to the video to display the thumbnail database 11 of the storage unit 11. Store in -2).

The video playback stop state for the thumbnail information generation unit 17 to generate the thumbnail information may be variously set.

For example, this may include a case in which the user instructs to pause the video playback screen. However, if the user immediately replays the video, it may not be necessary to generate thumbnail information. Therefore, the user may be configured to generate the thumbnail information only when the video playback is completely finished, such as when the video playback program is terminated.

The type and shape of the thumbnail information generated by the thumbnail information generator 17 may be variously configured as necessary.

A specific example of the thumbnail information is information about a thumbnail image and a stopped position of a motion picture that is stopped during playback.

FIG. 2 is an example of a structure of thumbnail information stored in the thumbnail database 11-2. Each thumbnail information includes video information indicating which video the thumbnail is associated with, a thumbnail image, and information about a stopped position during playback. And the like.

One or more thumbnail images included in each thumbnail information may be present. That is, two or more thumbnail images related to the corresponding video may be generated.

The thumbnail information generation unit 17 may be configured in various ways to generate a thumbnail image by using the frame of the moving image is stopped during playback.

One example is to generate a thumbnail image using the I frame closest to the position where playback is stopped.

I frame (Intra Frame) refers to a frame encoded by its own information without predicting the front and rear frame, and specified by Moving Pictures Experts Group (MPEG), H.261, H.264, etc. to be.

In addition to the I frame, any frame arrangement that can be restored and reproduced regardless of the video compression method may be used to generate a thumbnail image.

In addition, the thumbnail image may be generated using the video data most recently decoded from the point in time at which playback is stopped.

In this case, the thumbnail information generation unit 17 may receive the decoded video information from the playback unit 14 and generate a thumbnail image using the same.

When thumbnail information is generated by the thumbnail information generation unit 17 and stored in the thumbnail database 11-2 of the storage unit 11, the user can search for the corresponding thumbnail information on the display screen through the user interface unit 13. Can be.

It is preferable to display the thumbnail information generated by the thumbnail information generating unit 17, that is, the thumbnail information related to the video stopped during playback, so as to be distinguished from other thumbnail images.

As one method for this, the user interface unit 13 may separately collect corresponding thumbnail information and display it on the screen.

Another way is to visually display information about the location where it was paused during playback, along with the thumbnail image, so that the user can easily visually identify which thumbnail image is related to the still image during playback, even when displayed with the thumbnail image of another video. To make it possible.

3 shows a bar 31 indicating the total playing time of the video and a progress bar 32 indicating a position where the video is stopped during playback by displaying a video at which the thumbnail image is stopped during playback. An example is shown to indicate that it is an associated thumbnail image.

Such division marks may be variously configured as necessary, and may be included in advance when the thumbnail information generating unit 17 generates the thumbnail image, and the user interface unit 13 outputs the thumbnail image correspondingly. It can also be displayed by referring to the location information.

4 shows an example in which a thumbnail image associated with a motion picture stopped during playback and a thumbnail image related to a motion picture that are not played are displayed on one screen.

In FIG. 4A, the thumbnail image in the upper left is a thumbnail image of a normal video, and in FIG. 4B, the thumbnail image in the upper left is shown as being stopped during playback at the bottom.

Meanwhile, when the user selects a specific thumbnail image stored in the storage unit 11 and instructs to play the video, the video device 10 may play the video again from the position where it was stopped during playback.

Referring to FIG. 5, the user may search for thumbnail information stored in the thumbnail database 11-2 through the user interface 13 and select a specific thumbnail image to instruct execution of the corresponding video (S51). ).

Then, the playback unit 14 may play back the video from the position where it was stopped during playback by referring to the information about the stop position corresponding to the thumbnail information, rather than playing the video from the beginning (S52).

Then, the user can watch the video again from the position where playback was stopped without going directly to the position where it was stopped.

Referring to FIG. 6, an embodiment of a thumbnail information processing method according to the present invention will be described.

As described above, a video device for processing thumbnail information according to the thumbnail information processing method according to the present invention may be a personal computer (PC), a digital TV (TV) set, a set-top box for receiving digital broadcasts, various portable terminals, or the like. Any device that can play video.

In addition, the video device may have a function of receiving video or video information through various communication networks such as an internet network and a broadcasting network.

When a user searches a list of video files through a user interface (UI) screen provided by a video device, selects a specific video file to instruct it to execute, the video device decodes the video file and outputs it through the display screen. Beginning (S61).

If playback of the video starts through step S61, the playback of the video continues until playback is complete unless playback is stopped in the middle (S62, S62-1).

If an event that is stopped while the corresponding video is playing occurs, the video device generates thumbnail information related to the corresponding video (S63), and stores the generated thumbnail information in the thumbnail database (S64).

In operation S62, a criterion for determining whether an event of stopping a corresponding video occurs may be variously set.

For example, this may include a case in which the user instructs to pause the video playback screen. However, if the user replays the video immediately, it may not be necessary to generate the thumbnail information. Therefore, proceed to step S63 to generate the thumbnail information only when the video playback is completely terminated, such as when the video playback program ends. It can also be configured.

The type and shape of the thumbnail information generated in step S63 may be variously configured as necessary.

A specific example of the thumbnail information is information about a thumbnail image and a stopped position of a motion picture that is stopped during playback.

As described with reference to FIG. 2, as the thumbnail information to be generated when the playback of the video started to be reproduced through step S61 is stopped, video information indicating which video the thumbnail is associated with, the thumbnail image, and the stopped position during playback Information about the service, and the like.

One or more thumbnail images included in each thumbnail information may be present. That is, two or more thumbnail images related to the corresponding video may be generated.

Various frames may be configured to generate a thumbnail image by using a frame of the moving image still while playing in step S63.

One example is to generate a thumbnail image using the I frame closest to the position where playback is stopped.

I frame (Intra Frame) refers to a frame encoded by its own information without predicting the front and rear frame, and specified by Moving Pictures Experts Group (MPEG), H.261, H.264, etc. to be.

In addition to the I frame, any frame arrangement that can be restored and reproduced regardless of the video compression method may be used to generate a thumbnail image.

In addition, the thumbnail image may be generated using the video data most recently decoded from the point in time at which playback is stopped.

If thumbnail information is generated in step S63, and the thumbnail information is stored in the thumbnail database in step S64, the user can search the thumbnail database to search for thumbnail images associated with each video stopped during playback.

It is preferable to display the thumbnail information generated through the step S63, that is, the thumbnail information associated with the video stopped during playback, to be distinguished from other thumbnail images.

One way to do this is to collect the relevant thumbnail information separately and display it on the screen.

Another method is to visually display information 31 and 32 regarding the position stopped during playback as well as the example described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 together with the thumbnail image 30 to display the thumbnail image of another video. Even if it is, the user can easily visually recognize which thumbnail image is related to the still image during playback.

The division display may be configured in various ways as necessary, and may be included in advance when generating the thumbnail image in step S63, or may be displayed by referring to the location information corresponding to the image device while outputting the thumbnail image.

On the other hand, if the user instructs the playback of the video through a method of selecting a specific thumbnail image, the video device may play back the video from the position where it was stopped during playback.

Referring to FIG. 7, a user searches for a thumbnail image (thumbnail information generated through step S63) stored in a thumbnail database through a user interface screen provided by a video device (S71).

The user may instruct execution by selecting a specific thumbnail image while continuing to search for a thumbnail image stored in the thumbnail database (S74).

When the user selects a specific thumbnail image to instruct the execution of the corresponding video (S72), the video device does not play the video corresponding to the selected thumbnail image from the beginning but from the stopped position (SS73).

Then, the user can watch the video again from the position where playback was stopped without going directly to the corresponding position.

The video device according to the present invention may be configured to generate thumbnail information related to the video when the video is not normally stopped while the video is played.

Referring back to FIG. 1, in this embodiment, the thumbnail information generation unit 17 generates thumbnail information related to the video when the video playback is normally completed, and then generates a thumbnail database 11-2 of the storage unit 11-2. ).

In this case, the thumbnail information generated by the thumbnail information generator 17 may be configured in various ways. Examples of the thumbnail information may include a thumbnail image and time information when the playback of the corresponding video is completed.

Thumbnail images can be created in a variety of ways. For example, a thumbnail image may be generated using an I frame closest to a predetermined time from a time point at which playback is completed or a time point at which playback is completed, or may be generated using video data most recently decoded from the time point at which playback is completed.

The user interface unit 13 allows the user to search for thumbnail information stored in the thumbnail database 11-2.

In this case, it is preferable to display the thumbnail image of the moving picture which is normally completed to be distinguished from the thumbnail image of the moving picture.

As one method for this, the thumbnail information generation unit 17 may generate a thumbnail image of the video that has been played back in a form that can be identified from the thumbnail image of the video that has not been played yet.

For example, various methods may be used, such as displaying a thick line on the outside of the thumbnail image, or inserting a guide phrase such as a reproduced video or visual information upon completion of reproduction in a specific portion of the thumbnail image.

Then, even if the thumbnail image of the completed video is output along with the thumbnail image that is not, the user can easily distinguish whether or not the video is finished watching.

As another method, the user interface unit 13 may display the thumbnail image of the video on which playback is completed and the thumbnail image of the video on which playback has not been completed yet to be distinguishable from each other.

For example, the user interface unit 13 may display the playback time information and the like along with the thumbnail image, or the thumbnail image of the playback complete video may be displayed in a different window from the thumbnail image that is not played.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention. to be.

10: video device 11: storage unit
11-1: Video File 11-2: Thumbnail Database
12: input unit 13: user interface unit
14: playback unit 14-1: audio decoder
14-2: video decoder 15: display unit
16: Speaker 17: Thumbnail information generator
30,41,42: thumbnail image

Claims (15)

In a video device that can play a video,
A thumbnail information generator configured to generate thumbnail information associated with the video when the video is stopped during playback;
A storage unit which stores thumbnail information generated by the thumbnail information generator; And
And a user interface unit for allowing a user to search for thumbnail information stored in the storage unit. The method of claim 1,
The thumbnail information may include a thumbnail image of a corresponding video and information regarding a position stopped during playback. The method of claim 2,
The information regarding the position stopped during the playback is visually displayed with a thumbnail image of the video. The method of claim 2,
And the thumbnail image is generated using an I frame closest to a position where the playback is stopped. The method of claim 2,
And the thumbnail image is generated by using video data most recently decoded from a time point at which playback is stopped. The method of claim 2,
And when the user selects a specific thumbnail image stored in the storage unit to instruct the playback of the video, the video device plays back the video from the position where it was stopped during playback. In a thumbnail information processing method for processing a thumbnail information associated with a video video device capable of playing a video,
Generating and storing thumbnail information related to the corresponding video when an event in which the video is stopped while playing occurs; And
And enabling a user to search the stored thumbnail information. The method of claim 7, wherein
The thumbnail information processing method of the thumbnail information, characterized in that it comprises a thumbnail image of the corresponding video, and information about the position stopped during playback. The method of claim 8,
And the information regarding the position stopped during the playback is visually displayed together with the thumbnail image of the corresponding video. The method of claim 8,
And the thumbnail image is generated using an I frame closest to the position where playback is stopped. The method of claim 8,
The thumbnail image processing method according to claim 1, wherein the thumbnail image is generated by using the video data most recently decoded from the point in time at which playback is stopped. The method of claim 8,
If the user selects specific thumbnail information to instruct the playback of the video, the video device plays back the video from the position where it was stopped during playback. In a video device capable of providing thumbnail information about a video and playing back the video,
A thumbnail information generator configured to generate thumbnail information associated with a corresponding video when playback of the video is completed;
A storage unit which stores thumbnail information generated by the thumbnail information generator; And
And a user interface unit for allowing a user to search for thumbnail information stored in the storage unit. The method of claim 13,
The thumbnail information generating unit may generate a thumbnail image of a corresponding video in a form distinguished from a thumbnail image of a video that is not yet played. The method of claim 13,
And the user interface unit displays a thumbnail image of a video that has been played back and a thumbnail image of a video that has not been played yet.

Images