WO2006059887A2

WO2006059887A2 - Method and apparatus for managing data files stored in local storage

Info

Publication number: WO2006059887A2
Application number: PCT/KR2005/004102
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kang Soo Seo; Jea Yong Yoo; Byung Jin Kim
Original assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Current assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Priority date: 2004-12-03
Filing date: 2005-12-02
Publication date: 2006-06-08
Anticipated expiration: 2007-06-03
Also published as: EP1817772A2; EP1817772A4; WO2006059887A3

Abstract

A method and apparatus for managing data files of a local storage is disclosed. The method for managing data files of a local storage includes the steps of: a) downloading at least one data file from a content provider, storing the downloaded data file in the local storage, and forming a binding unit using the stored file; and b) upon receiving a command for deleting a specific file contained in the binding unit, deleting all files contained in the binding unit, deleting all files associated with a title including a specific file to be deleted, or deleting only the specific file to be deleted.

Description

[DESCRIPTION]

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING DATA FILES STORED IN LOCAL

STORAGE

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for managing data files stored in a local storage contained in an optical recording/reproducing device.

Background Art

Generally, there has been widely used an optical disc acting as a recording medium capable of recording a large amount of data therein. Particularly, there has recently been developed a high-density optical recording medium capable of recording/storing high-quality video data and high-quality audio data for a long period of time, for example, a Blu-ray Disc (BD) .

The BD based on the next-generation recording medium technique has been considered to be the next-generation optical recording solution capable of storing much more data than a conventional DVD. In recent times, many developers have conducted intensive research into the international standard technical specification associated with the BD along with those of other digital devices. In association with the above-mentioned situation, there has recently been developed an optical recording/reproducing device based on the BD international standard, but the BD international standard has not yet been completed, such that many limitations and problems occur in developing the optical recording/reproducing device.

Particularly, the above-mentioned optical recording/reproducing device must consider not only a basic function for recording/reproducing data of the BD, but also an additional function for enabling the optical recording/reproducing device to interact with peripheral digital devices. In other words, the optical recording/reproducing device must receive an external input signal, must display the received signal, and must reproduce desired data using the external input signal and the BD. However, a method for deleting local storage data to simultaneously reproduce a downloaded external input signal and data of the BD and to effectively manage data stored in the local storage has not yet been established, such that many limitations and problems occur in developing a BD-based optical recording/reproducing device.

Disclosure of Invention

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for managing data files stored in a local storage that substantially obviate one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art. ■An object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for effectively managing data files stored in a local storage. Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for deleting data files stored in a local storage in disc units, content units, or content units. Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a method for managing data files of a local storage comprises the steps of: a) downloading at least one data file from a content provider, storing the downloaded data file in the local storage, and forming a binding unit using the stored file; and b) upon receiving a command for deleting a specific file contained in the binding unit, deleting all files contained in the binding unit. In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for managing data files of a local storage comprising the steps of: a) downloading at least one data file from a content provider, storing the downloaded data file in the local storage, and forming a binding unit using the stored file; and b) upon receiving a command for deleting a specific file contained in the binding unit, simultaneously deleting all files associated with a title including the specific file to be deleted. In yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for managing data files of a local storage comprising the steps of: a) downloading at least one data file from a content provider, storing the downloaded data file in the local storage, and forming a binding unit using the stored file; and b) upon receiving a command for deleting a specific file contained in the binding unit, deleting only the specific file to be deleted, and correcting a database file associated with the deletion of the file. In yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for managing data files of a local storage comprising: a pickup unit for reading data from a recording medium; a local storage for downloading at least one file associated with the recording medium data, and storing the downloaded file; and a controller for forming a binding unit using the file stored in the local storage, and deleting a specific file or specific files from the binding unit in disc units, title units, or content units. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

Brief Description of Drawings The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment (s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a method and apparatus for reproducing data from a recording medium according to the present invention; FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a file structure recorded in an optical disc acting as a recording medium and a method for reproducing a specific title using the file structure;

FIG. 3 is a structural diagram illustrating a data record structure of an optical disc acting as a recording medium according to the present invention; FIG. 4a is a block diagram illustrating an optical recording/reproducing device according to the present invention;

FIG. 4b is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for reproducing data using a local storage from among overall components contained in the optical recording/reproducing device according to the present invention;

FIGS. 5a~5b are conceptual diagrams illustrating a method for deleting local storage data in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, in which a binding unit of the local storage is configured in disc units

(i.e., per disc) ;

FIGS. 6a~6b are conceptual diagrams illustrating a method for deleting local storage data in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, in which a binding unit of the local storage is configured in title units (i.e., per title); and

FIGS. 7a~7b are conceptual diagrams illustrating a method for deleting local storage data in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the present invention, in which a binding unit of the local storage is configured in content units (i.e., per content) .

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. A method and apparatus for deleting local storage data according to the present invention will hereinafter be described with reference to the annexed drawings. Prior to describing the present invention, it should be noted that most terms disclosed in the present invention correspond to general terms well known in the art, but some terms have been selected by the applicant as necessary and will hereinafter be disclosed in the following description of the present invention. Therefore, it is preferable that the terms defined by the applicant be understood on the basis of their meanings in the present invention.

A recording medium for use in the present invention is indicative of all recordable mediums, for example, an optical disc, and a magnetic tape, etc., according to various recording schemes. For the convenience of description and better understanding of the present invention, the optical disc, such as a BD, will hereinafter be exemplarily used as the above-mentioned recording medium in the present invention. It should be noted that technical ideas of the present invention can be applied to other recording mediums without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

The term "local storage" is indicative of a storage unit contained in an optical recording/reproducing device 10 shown in FIG. 1. In more detail, the term "local storage" is indicative of a component capable of receiving necessary information or data from a user, and storing the received information or data. For example, a general local storage may be indicative of a Hard Disc Drive (HDD) , but it should be noted that the term "local storage" of the present invention is not limited to the HDD, and is applicable to other examples as necessary.

Particularly, the term "local storage" is indicative of a storage unit for storing data associated with a recording medium such as a BD. The data associated with the recording medium is generally downloaded from an external device.

In association with the above-mentioned description, a directory area capable of storing the downloaded data of the local storage is referred to as a local storage file structure. In association with the above-mentioned description, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that the local storage may directly read some permission data from the recording medium, and may generate system data (e.g., metadata) associated with record/reproduction operations of the recording medium, such that the system data may be stored in the local storage.

The term "binding unit" is indicative of a set of files stored in the local storage. Particularly, the binding unit is indicative of a set of information (i.e., information set) associated with a specific recording medium. In this case, the information set is combined with or is added to a file contained in the recording medium, such that it can simultaneously reproduce data of the recording medium and data of the local storage. For the convenience of description, data recorded in the recording medium is referred to as "original data", data associated with the recording medium from among a plurality of data units stored in the local storage is referred to as "additional data". FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a method and apparatus for reproducing data according to the present invention. Unified usages of the optical recording/reproducing 10 and peripheral devices are shown in FIG. 1. The optical recording/reproducing device 10 can record/reproduce data in/from various optical discs having different formats. If necessary, the optical recording/reproducing device 10 can record/reproduce specific data in/from only a specific optical disc such as a BD, or can reproduce the data from the optical disc without recording the data in the same. It should be noted that the present invention exemplarily uses a BD-player capable of reproducing data from the BD or a BD-recorder capable of recording data in the BD in consideration of correlation between the BD and peripheral devices for the convenience of description. It is well known in the art that the optical recording/reproduction device 10 is also applicable to a drive embedded in a specific device such as a computer. The optical recording/reproducing device 10 records or reproduces data in/from the optical disc 30, receives an external input signal, performs a signal process on the received signal, and transmits the signal processed result to the external display 20, such that a user can view the signal processed result on the display 20. In this case, there is no limitation in a receivable external signal. For example, representative external input signals may be determined to be a DTV-associated signal and an Internet-associated signal, etc. Specifically, the Internet is indicative of a communication network to which a user easily gains access, such that the user can download specific Internet data using the optical recording/reproducing device 10, and can use the downloaded data.

In association with the above-mentioned description, a person for providing content data used as an external source is generally referred to as a content provider (CP) . For example, it is assumed that multiplexed AV (Audio/Video) streams are recorded as the original data recorded in the optical disc, and additional data for use in the Internet is an audio stream different from an audio stream (e.g., Korean) of the original data. In this case, some users may download a specific audio stream (e.g., English) acting as additional data from the Internet, may desire to reproduce the downloaded audio stream along with the AV stream acting as original data, or may desire to reproduce only the additional data. In order to implement the above-mentioned desires of the users, correlation between the original data and the additional data must be established, and there is needed a systemized method for managing/reproducing the above- mentioned data according to a user request. For the convenience of description, although a signal recorded in the disc is called the original data, and other signals existing in the outside of the disc are called the additional data, it should be noted that the original data and the additional data are not limited to only specific data. Generally, additional data may be indicative of audio data, presentation graphic (PG) data, interactive graphic (IG) data, or text subtitle, etc., but the additional data may also be indicative of a multiplexed AV stream including the above- mentioned data and video data. In other words, data associated with the original data simultaneously existing in the outside of the optical disc may act as additional data. When original data is recorded in the optical disc 30 seated in the optical recording/reproducing device 10, and additional data associated with the original data is present in other storage places (e.g., Internet), the present invention deletes unnecessary files, forms a binding unit to be combined with original data, such that it reproduces the original data and the additional data at the same time. In addition, if a local storage must be empty to download new data from an external content provider (CP) , the present invention provides a method for deleting additional data files stored in the local storage.

In order to satisfy the above-mentioned original and additional data desired by a user, a predetermined file structure must be established between the original data and the additional data. Accordingly, a file structure and data record structure for use in the BD will hereinafter be

described with reference to FIGS. 2~3. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a file structure for reproducing/managing the original data recorded in an optical disc, and a method for reproducing a specific title according to the file structure.

An example of the above-mentioned file structure is shown in FIG. 2. The file structure according to the present invention includes one or more BD directories (BDMV) under a single root directory. The BD directory (BDMV) includes not only an index file "index" acting as a general file (i.e., an upper file) capable of guaranteeing user interactivity, but also the above-mentioned object. The file structure includes a variety of directories for storing information of actual data recorded in a disc and other information associated with a method for reproducing the data, for example, a playlist directory (PLAYLIST) , a clip information directory (CLIPINF) , a stream directory (STREAM) , an auxiliary directory (AUXDATA) , and a backup directory (BACKUP) . The above-mentioned directories and a variety of files included in the directory will hereinafter be described.

The AUXDATA directory includes an additional data file for reproducing data of the disc. For example, the AUXDATA directory includes a "Sound.bdmv" file for providing a user with sound data when an interactive graphic function is executed, and an "11111.otf" file for providing the user with font information when data of the disc is reproduced. The stream directory (STREAM) includes a plurality of AV stream files recorded in a disc according to a specific format. Generally, individual streams are recorded using an

MPEG-2 based transport packet, and the stream directory

(STREAM) uses extension names of stream files (01000.m2ts and

02000.m2ts) as a specific extension name "*.πι2ts". Particularly, if video/audio/graphic information from among the above-mentioned streams is multiplexed, the multiplexed information is called an AV stream, and a single title is composed of at least one AV stream file.

The clip information (Clip-info) directory (CLIPINF) is composed of a plurality of clip-info files (01000.clpi and 02000. clpi) connected to the above-mentioned stream files on a one-to-one basis. Particularly, the clip-info files (*.clpi) record attribute information and timing information of the stream files (*.m2ts) therein. The clip-info files (*.clpi) connected to the stream files (*.m2ts) on a one-to- one basis are generically named a "Clip". In other words, this means that a single clip is indicative of data composed of a stream file (*.m2ts) and a clip-info file (*.clpi) . A clip recorded in the disc is referred to as an original clip. A clip, which is downloaded and stored in a local storage, is referred to as an additional clip.

The playlist directory (PLAYLIST) includes a plurality of playlist files (*.mpls) . Each playlist file (*.mpls) includes one or more playitems (Playltem) and one or more sub-playitems (SubPlayltem) . Each playitem (Playltem) and each sub-playitem (SubPlayltem) are adapted to designate a playing interval during which a specific clip is reproduced. The playitem (Playltem) and the sub-playitem (SubPlayltem) include information associated with a specific clip to be reproduced, i.e., information associated with a reproduction start time (IN-Time) and other information associated with a reproduction termination time (OUT-Time) of the specific clip. In association with the above-mentioned description, a process for reproducing data using at least one playitem (Playitem) in the playlist file is referred to as a main path, and a process for reproducing data using individual sub-play items (SubPlayltem) is referred to as a sub-path. The playlist file must contain a single main path. The playlist file may contain at least one sub-path according to the presence or absence of the sub-playitem (SubPlayltem) as necessary.

In conclusion, the playlist file acts as a basic reproduction/management file unit contained in overall reproduction/management file structures for reproducing a desired clip by combination of one or more playitems (Playitem) .

The backup directory (BACKUP) stores a plurality of duplicate files, i.e., a duplicate file (also called "copied files") of the index file "index" storing information associated with disc reproduction, a duplicate file of the object file "MovieObject", duplicate files of all playlist files (*.mpls) contained in the playlist directory (PLAYLIST) , and duplicate files of all clip-info files (*.clpi) contained in the clip- info directory (CLIPINF) . If the above-mentioned files ("index", "MovieObject", "*.mpls", and "*.clpi") are damaged, a disc reproduction process is also fatally damaged, such that the backup directory (BACKUP) is designed to pre-store duplicate files of the above-mentioned files as backup files. In association with the above-mentioned description, a method for reproducing a specific title using the above-mentioned disc file structure is shown in FIG. 2.

If a user enters a title reproduction command in association with a title used as an index file (also called "index table"), reproduction of the title begins. A detailed description thereof will hereinafter be described.

The index file (index.bdmv) includes first playback information "First Playback" indicative of information associated with a first reproduction image when data of a corresponding disc is loaded, top menu information "Top Menu" for providing a menu image, and at least one title

information "Title #1 -Title #n".

If the optical disc 30 is loaded in the optical recording/reproducing device 10, title menu information associated with the index table is provided to the user via the display 20. If the user selects a specific title or a specific menu contained in a menu image, data reproduction begins according to a scenario pre-defined by a disc manufacturer. In other words, if the user enters a command for reproducing a specific title (e.g., title #1), a specific playlist file is executed according to a command contained in the object file (MovieObject) of the reproduction/management file structure. Thereafter, one or more clips (e.g., Clip #1

^~- Clip #3) constructing the title #1 are reproduced by a specific playitem and/or sub-playitem contained in the playlist file according to the playlist file information.

FIG. 3 is a structural diagram illustrating a data record structure recorded in a recording medium according to the present invention. In more detail, FIG. 3 shows a disc record format of information associated with the file structure. As shown in FIG. 3, from the viewpoint of an inner area of the disc, the above-mentioned disc structure sequentially includes a file system information area serving as system information for managing overall files, a database area for recording a playlist file and a clip-info file to reproduce a recorded AV stream (*.m2ts), and an AV stream area for recording a plurality of streams composed of audio data, video data, and graphic data, etc. Particularly, it should be noted that data recorded in the AV stream area may be determined to be original data as previously stated above. The present invention provides a method and apparatus for downloading external additional data in a local storage, and deleting specific data from the downloaded data upon receiving a request command from a user, before reproducing original data (e.g., a file structure shown in FIG. 2) recorded in the disc and additional data recorded in the local storage, such that a variety of preferred embodiments according to the present invention will hereinafter be described.

FIG. 4a is a block diagram illustrating the optical recording/reproducing device 10 according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4a, the optical recording/reproducing device 10 includes a pickup unit 11, a servo unit 14, a signal processor 13, and a microprocessor 16. The pickup unit 11 reproduces original data recorded in the optical disc and management information including reproduction/management file information. The servo unit 14 controls operations of the pickup unit 11. The signal processor 13 receives a reproduction signal from the pickup unit 11, restores the received reproduction signal to a desired signal value, or modulates a signal to be recorded into another signal recorded in the optical disc, such that it transmits the restored or modulated result. The microprocessor 16 controls mutual operations of the above-mentioned components. A controller 12 downloads additional data existing outside of the optical disc upon receiving a command from a user, stores the downloaded additional data in the local storage 15, and configures a virtual file system (VFS) to reproduce the original data recorded in the optical disc and the additional data stored in the local storage. The controller 12 forms a virtual package including the original data and associated additional data using the VFS, and reproduces the original data and/or the additional data using the formed virtual package upon receiving a request from a user. In this case, the virtual file system (VFS) is indicative of a virtual file system which unifies a file system contained in the local storage 15 and a file system of the loaded disc such that it manages the unified system. In order to simultaneously reproduce the original data contained in the disc and the additional data contained in the local storage using the virtual file system (VFS) , a new virtual package is formed. The virtual package formed by the binding operation acts as a reproduction management file structure for reproducing/managing an original clip composed of the original data of the disc and an additional clip composed of the additional data of the local storage. In this case, the original clip and the additional clip are stored in different areas. In association with the local storage 15, a local storage file structure includes a binding unit whose additional data associated with original data is configured in disc units, title units, or content units. Therefore, the additional data is stored in the local storage file structure. The controller 12 forms a local storage file structure in the local storage 15, and controls external data in the local storage file structure. In addition, the controller 12 controls a function for storing the downloaded data in the local storage file structure, and a function for deleting user-selected files contained in the downloaded data from the local storage file structure.

A decoder 17 finally decodes output data (i.e., original data and/or additional data) upon receiving a control signal from the controller 12, and provides the user with the decoded result. An encoder 18 converts an input signal into a specific format signal (e.g., an MPEG2 transport stream) upon receiving a control signal from the controller 12, and transmits the converted result to the signal processor 13. The new virtual package may be stored in the local ^' storage 15 such that it can be re-used in the future. Also, the new virtual package may be temporarily stored in an additional dynamic memory, and may then be used.

FIG. 4b is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for reproducing data of an optical disc using a local storage from among overall components contained in the optical recording/reproducing device 10 according to the present invention.

Information stored in the local storage 15 will hereinafter be described. The local storage 15 according to the present invention stores file information (Directory-File Tree Information for Disc_id #n) including directories and files for every individual disc identification (ID) information, and a plurality of additional clips downloaded from an external part. A binding unit of the local storage 15 is formed, and the binding unit manifest files including binding unit manifest information for a binding operation associated with a disc file structure (i.e., a disc package) may be formed. Specifically, the local storage 15 may include a plurality of file information units (Directory-File for disc_IDs #n dependent) to cope with different discs. Therefore, the local storage 15 additionally requires a file system for managing the above-mentioned file information units. Specifically, the file system is also referred to as a local storage file system 41, and the local storage file system 41 is indicative of a system for managing all files stored in the local storage 15.

Therefore, if an optical disc (e.g., disc_ID #1) of a specific disc ID (disc_ID) is loaded in the optical recording/reproducing device 10, the controller 12 contained in the optical recording/reproducing device 10 recognizes ID information of the disc using the pickup unit 11 and the signal processor 13. If the local storage 15 stores file information, the controller reads binding unit file information equal to the loaded disc ID information from among all file information units stored in the local storage 15, forms a virtual package by binding (or combining) the read information and the disc package, and reproduces both the original data of the disc and the additional data of the local storage using the formed virtual package.

However, if the data pre-downloaded from the external content provider (CP) is not stored in the local storage file structure, i.e., if no file information is contained in the local storage 15, the data downloaded from the content provider (CP) acting as an external input source is downloaded in the local storage file structure, such that a binding unit is formed. And, the controller 12 reads the binding unit file information, and forms a virtual package by binding (or combining) the read information and the disc package.

If data downloaded from the external content provider (CP) is stored in disc units, title units, or content units, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for deleting data files from the local storage file structure upon receiving a deletion command from a user.

In association with a method for downloading data in a local storage and deleting the downloaded data from the local storage, a local storage binding unit configured in disc units (i.e., per disc), a local storage binding unit configured in title units (i.e., per title), and a local storage binding unit configured in content units (i.e., per content) will hereinafter be described with reference to FIGS.

5a~7b.

(i.e. , per disc) .

The local storage file structure includes a binding unit data (BindingUnitData) directory including a plurality of binding units in a root directory. The local storage file structure may include an organization directory (e.g., org_ID #1) indicative of a content provider (CP) equal to a disc author in the binding unit data (BindingUnitData) directory. The organization directory (org_ID #1) includes a plurality of specific disc directories (disc_ID) and a shared directory

(Shared) in the org_ID directory of the content provider.

A method for deleting local storage data according to the present invention will hereinafter be described with reference to FIG. 5b.

Referring to FIG. 5b, if a disc is loaded in an optical recording/reproducing device, the optical recording/reproducing device downloads additional data from an external content provider (CP) , forms a local storage file structure in disc units, and stores the local storage file structure in a local storage at step SlO.

When the local storage downloads data from the external content provider (CP) , the controller of the optical recording/reproducing device forms a binding unit acting as a local storage file structure in disc units using a BDJ application serving as a download application, and downloads the additional data.

The local storage file structure including the downloaded data includes a disc specific directory (disc_ID #1) and another specific directory (disc_ID #1) in a directory (e.g., org_ID #1) for each content provider (CP) . A BD directory (BDMV) indicative of a binding unit 60 is contained in the disc specific directory (disc_ID #1) .

The binding unit 60 indicated by the BDMV directory is configured in disc units. The binding unit 60 includes an index file (index.bdmv) 61 acting as a general file (i.e., an upper file) capable of guaranteeing user interactivity, an object file (MovieObject.bdmv) 62, a playlist directory

(PLAYLIST) composed of playlist files (00000.mpls: 63 and 00002.mpls: 64) , a clip-info directory (CLIPINF) composed of a clip-info file (01002.clpi) 65, and a stream directory (STREAM) composed of a stream file (01002.m2ts) 66 in the

BDMV directory.

After performing the above step SlO, the optical

recording/reproducing device determines the presence of a command for deleting specific disc (disc #1) files downloaded/stored in the local storage at step SlI. If the absence of the aforementioned deletion command for deleting the specific disc (disc #1) files is determined, the optical recording/reproducing device does not delete all files of the specific disc at step S12.

If the presence of the deletion command for deleting the specific disc (disc #1) files is determined at step SIl, the optical recording/reproducing device deletes all files of a specific disc from the local storage file structure at step S13, such that it can delete the binding unit 60. Preferably, the deletion of the specific disc files at the above step S13 may be executed by a resident application of the controller contained in the optical recording/reproducing device, such that it means that all downloaded content data of the binding unit for the disc is deleted.

Also, all the content data of the binding unit is deleted at step S13, there is no need to modify a data structure of an index table of the index file (index.bdmv) and/or an object file (MovieObject.bdmv) .

Therefore, the local storage file structure deleted by the above step S13 includes only the disc specific directory (disc_ID #2) in a directory (e.g., org_ID #1 directory) for each content provider (CP) .

FIGS. 6a~βb are conceptual diagrams illustrating a method for deleting local storage data in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, in which a binding unit of the local storage is configured in title units (i.e., per title) . The basic directory structure of the local storage in FIG. 6a is equal to that of FIG. 5a. Differently from the first preferred embodiment of FIG. 5, files contained in individual directories of the binding unit 70 of the local storage file structure are changed according to individual titles, and a detailed description thereof will hereinafter be described

with reference to FIGS. 6a~-βb.

Referring to FIGS. 6a~6b, if a disc is loaded in an optical recording/reproducing device, the optical recording/reproducing device downloads additional data from an external content provider (CP) , forms a local storage file structure in title units, and stores the local storage file structure in a local storage at step S20.

When the local storage downloads data from the external content provider (CP) , the controller of the optical recording/reproducing device forms a binding unit acting as a local storage file structure in title units using a BDJ application serving as a download application, and downloads the additional data. In association with specific information indicating whether files of the binding unit 70 contained in the local storage file structure are indicative of files of a specific title, the local storage downloads not only data but also the file information of the titles. In this case, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that the local storage downloads not only first information indicating that specific files

(00000.mpls:74, 01002.clpi:76, and 01002.m2ts: 77) are equal to files associated with the title #1 binding unit, but also second information indicating that a specific file

(00002.mpls) 75 is equal to a file associated with the title #2 binding unit while it downloads data from the external content provider (CP) .

Specifically, it should be noted that specific information, which indicates whether files of the binding unit 70 contained in the aforementioned local storage file structure are equal to files of a specific title, may be included in information of the binding unit manifest files downloaded from the content provider (CP) .

The local storage file structure including the downloaded data includes a disc specific directory (disc_ID #1) and another specific directory (disc__ID #1) in a directory (e.g., org_ID #1) for each content provider (CP) . A BD directory (BDMV) indicative of a binding unit 70 is contained in the disc specific directory (disc_ID #1) . The binding unit 70 indicated by the BDMV directory is configured in title units. The binding unit 70 includes an index file (index.bdmv) 71 acting as a general file (i.e., an upper file) capable of guaranteeing user interactivity, a title #l's object file (MovieObject.bdmv) 72, a title #2's object file (MovieObject.bdmv) 73, a playlist directory (PLAYLIST) composed of playlist files (00000.mpls: 74 and

00002.mpls:75) , a clip-info directory (CLIPINF) composed of a clip-info file (01002. clpi) 76, and a stream directory

(STREAM) composed of a stream file (01002.m2ts) 77 in the

BDMV directory. In this case, the object file (MovieObject.bdmv) 72, the playlist file (00000.mpls) 74, the clip-info file

(01002.clpi) 76, and the stream file (01002.m2ts) 77 from among the aforementioned files of the binding unit 70 are available for the title #1. The object file (MovieObject.bdmv) 73 and the playlist file (00002.mpls) 75 are available for the title #2.

After performing the above step S20, the optical recording/reproducing device determines the presence of a command for deleting specific title (Title #1) files downloaded/stored in the local storage at step S21.

If the absence of the aforementioned deletion command for deleting the specific title (Title #1) files is determined, the optical recording/reproducing device does not delete the files of the specific title (Title #1) at step S22. If the presence of the deletion command for deleting the specific title (Title #1) files is determined at step S21, the optical recording/reproducing device deletes the files of a specific title (Title #1) from the local storage file structure at step S23. In other words, a plurality of files of the specific title

(Title #1) (i.e., the object file (MovieObject.bdmv) 72, the playlist file (00000.mpls) 74, the clip-info file

(01002.clpi) 76, and the stream file (01002.m2ts) 77) are deleted from the binding unit 70 at step S23. Preferably, the deletion of the specific title files at the above step S23 may be executed by a resident application of the controller contained in the optical recording/reproducing device, such that it means that all downloaded content data of the binding unit for the title #1 is deleted. After performing the above step S23, the optical recording/reproducing device modifies a database structure 'of a specific file from among the files of the local storage at step S24. For example, an index table of an index file

(Index.bdmv) 71-1 may be modified according to a title formed after the database structure is deleted, or a database structure of the object file (MovieObject.bdmv) 73 may be modified.

Therefore, according to the local storage file structure formed after the aforementioned files are deleted/modified by the above steps, the binding unit 70-1 includes an index file (Index.bdmv) 71-1 having a modified database file structure, an object file (Movie0bject2.bdmv) 73, a playlist directory (PLAYLIST) equipped with a playlist file (00002.mpls) 75 for the title #2, a clip-info directory (CLIPINF) having no files, and a stream directory (STREAM) having no files in the BDMV directory.

Referring to FIGS. 7a~7b, if a disc is loaded in an optical recording/reproducing device, the optical recording/reproducing device downloads additional data from an external content provider (CP) , forms a local storage file structure in content units, and stores the local storage file structure in a local storage at step S30.

When the local storage downloads data from the external content provider (CP) , the controller of the optical recording/reproducing device forms a binding unit acting as a local storage file structure in content units using a BDJ application serving as a download application, and downloads the additional data. The local storage file structure including the downloaded data includes a disc specific directory (disc ID #1) and another specific directory (disc__ID #1) in a directory (e.g., org_ID #1) for each content provider (CP) . The BDMV directory indicative of a binding unit 80 is contained in the disc specific directory (disc_ID #1) . The binding unit 80 indicated by the BDMV directory is configured in content units. The binding unit 80 includes an index file (index.bdmv) 81 acting as a general file (i.e., an upper file) capable of guaranteeing user interactivity, an object file (MovieObject.bdmv) 82, a playlist directory (PLAYLIST) composed of playlist files (00000.00.mpls: 83, 00000.01.mpls:84, and 00002.mpls: 85) , a clip-info directory (CLIPINF) composed of clip-info files (01002.clpi: 86 and 01003. clpi: 87) , and a stream directory (STREAM) composed of a stream file (01002.m2ts: 88 and 01003.m2ts: 89) in the BDMV directory.

In this case, the playlist file (00000.00.mpls) 83, the clip- info file (01002.clpi) 86, and the stream file (01002.m2ts) 88 from among the aforementioned files of the binding unit 80 are available for the content #1. The playlist file (00000.01.mpls) 84, the clip-info file (01003.clpi) 87, and the stream file (01003.m2ts) 89 are available for the title #2.

After performing the above step S30, the optical recording/reproducing device determines the presence of a command for deleting specific content (Content #1) files downloaded/stored in the local storage at step S31. If the absence of the aforementioned deletion command for deleting the specific content (Content #1) files is determined at step S31, the optical recording/reproducing device does not delete the files of the specific content (Content #1) at step S32.

If the presence of the deletion command for deleting the specific content (Content #1) files is determined at step S31, the optical recording/reproducing device deletes the files of a specific content (Content #1) from the local storage file structure at step S33.

In other words, a plurality of files of the specific content (Content #1) (i.e., the playlist file (00000.00.mpls) 83, the clip-info file (01002.clpi) 86, and the stream file (01002.m2ts) 88) are deleted from the binding unit 80 at step S33.

Preferably, the deletion of the specific content files at the above step S33 may be executed by a resident application of the controller contained in the optical recording/reproducing device, such that it means that all downloaded content data of the binding unit for the content is deleted. After performing the above step S33, the optical recording/reproducing device modifies a database structure of a specific file from among the files of the local storage at step S34. For example, an index table of a partial index file (Index.bdmv) 81-1 and a database structure of the object file (MovieObject.bdmv) 8201 may be mofidled according to a content formed after the database structure is deleted.

Therefore, according to the local storage file structure formed after the aforementioned files are deleted/modified by the above steps, the binding unit 80-1 includes an index file

(Index.bdmv) 81-1 having a modified database file structure for the content #2, an object file (MovieObject.bdmv) 82-1, a playlist directory (PLAYLIST) equipped with playlist files (00000.01.mpls:84 and 00002.mpls: 85) for the content #2, a clip-info directory (CLIPINF) composed of a clip-info file (01003.clpi) 87, and a stream directory (STREAM) composed of a stream file (01003.m2ts) 89 in the BDMV directory. In association with the above-mentioned description, provided that the binding unit configured in content units is damaged or corrupted, the aforementioned method for deleting data of the binding unit in content units can delete only the damaged or corrupted content data. However, if data of the binding unit is deleted in disc units, all disc files may be deleted. If data of the binding unit is deleted in title units, all title files may be deleted.

As apparent from the above description, a method and apparatus for deleting local storage data according to the present invention can delete data from, the binding unit of the local storage file structure in disc units, title units, or content units, such that it can maximally use the local storage having limited capacity. Also, the present invention can effectively reproduce original data recorded in a recording medium and additional data downloaded from an external part, resulting in the creation of more convenient functions for a user.

Industrial Applicability

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

[CLAIMS]

1. A method for managing data files of a local storage comprising the steps of: a) downloading at least one data file from a content provider, storing the downloaded data file in the local storage, and forming a binding unit using the stored file; and b) upon receiving a command for deleting a specific file contained in the binding unit, deleting all files contained in the binding unit.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the data file is stored in the local storage in units of a corresponding disc.

3. A method for managing data files of a local storage comprising the steps of: a) downloading at least one data file from a content provider, storing the downloaded data file in the local storage, and forming a binding unit using the stored file; and b) upon receiving a command for deleting a specific file contained in the binding unit, deleting all files associated with a title including the specific file to be deleted.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the binding unit includes information associated with the title (i.e., title- associated information) .

5. The method according to claim 3, further comprising the step of: after deleting the overall files associated with the title, modifying a database file contained in the binding unit.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the database file is indicative of an index file.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the database file is indicative of an object file.

8. The method according to claim 3, wherein the data file is stored in the local storage in title units for each disc.

9. The method according to claim 3, wherein the title- associated information is contained in a binding unit manifest file, and is then downloaded.

10. A method for managing data files of a local storage comprising the steps of: a) downloading at least one data file from a content provider, storing the downloaded data file in the local storage, and forming a binding unit using the stored file/ and b) upon receiving a command for deleting a specific file contained in the binding unit, deleting only the specific file to be deleted, and correcting a database file associated with the deletion of the file.

11.^' The method according to claim 10, wherein the data file is stored in the local storage in content units for each disc.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein: a local storage file structure configured in content units includes a playlist file per content.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the database file is indicative of an index file.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein the database file is indicative of an object file.

15. An apparatus for managing data files of a local storage comprising: a pickup unit for reading data from a recording medium; a local storage for downloading at least one file associated with the recording medium data, and storing the downloaded file; and

a controller for forming a binding unit using the file stored in the local storage, and deleting a specific file or specific files from the binding unit in disc units, title units, or content units.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the controller includes a BDJ application such that it downloads/stores the file in the local storage using the BDJ application.

17. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the controller includes a resident application such that it deletes a specific file or specific files from the binding unit using the resident application.