WO2008110087A1

WO2008110087A1 - Mehtod for playing multimedia, system, client-side and server

Info

Publication number: WO2008110087A1
Application number: PCT/CN2008/070361
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jianqiang Liu
Original assignee: Tencent Technology (Shenzhen) Company Limited
Priority date: 2007-03-13
Filing date: 2008-02-26
Publication date: 2008-09-18
Also published as: CN101079721A; CN100505630C

Abstract

A method for playing multimedia, a system for playing multimedia, a client-side and a server. The method includes that: generates an indexing file, the indexing file comprises at least an identification of the multimedia file and a playing attribute; obtains the multimedia file corresponding to at least one identification of the multimedia file which is comprised in the indexing file respectively; plays one of the obtained multimedia file according to the playing attribute which is comprised in the indexing file.

Description

Multimedia playback method, system, client and server

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to the field of communications, and more particularly to a method, system, client, and server for multimedia playback. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION With the development of network transmission technologies and streaming media technologies, multimedia live broadcast services provided through the Internet are becoming more and more popular, and a large number of webcasting softwares have emerged.

The webcasting software needs to obtain the playing data from the Internet before playing the program. When the playing data is received to a certain extent, the playing is triggered, and the screen is normally displayed to the user. The process of acquiring and accumulating the playback data by the player is called buffering when the playback data is started to be displayed until the user sees the first frame. Any network playback software has this buffering process before the screen data can be seen. The buffering time is different. The advertisements played during the buffering period are called buffered advertisements, and the contents of the buffered advertisements are in the form of material files. The material file here is actually a multimedia file, and all the material files mentioned below are multimedia files.

The original buffered advertisement has a one-to-one relationship with the material file, that is, a material file contains only one buffered advertisement content, which is looped during buffering. If the buffering time is too long, the user will repeatedly watch the same buffer advertisement repeatedly, which is easy to get bored. From a commercial point of view, repeated repetitions also waste valuable buffering advertising opportunities.

The current material file integrates multiple buffered advertisement contents, so when playing the material file in one buffer time, the user can view multiple buffered advertisement contents, but the playback order of the buffered advertisements in the material file is generated. It has been determined that this time each buffer During this period, playback can only start from the same buffered content, which may result in some ads never being played. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention provide a multimedia playing method, system, client, and server, thereby implementing flexible media playing.

The embodiment of the invention provides a multimedia playing method, including:

Generating an index file, where the index file includes an identifier of at least one multimedia file and a play attribute;

Obtaining a multimedia file corresponding to each of the at least one multimedia file identifier included in the index file;

At least one of the acquired multimedia files is played according to the play attribute included in the index file.

The embodiment of the invention provides a multimedia playing system, including:

a server, configured to provide a multimedia file, and generate an index file, where the index file includes an identifier of at least one multimedia file and a play attribute;

a client, configured to receive an index file from a server and obtain a multimedia file corresponding to each of the at least one multimedia file identifier included in the index file; and play at least the acquired multimedia file according to a play attribute included in the file one.

The embodiment of the invention further provides a multimedia playing system, including:

Server for providing multimedia files;

a client, configured to generate an index file, where the index file includes an identifier of at least one multimedia file and a play attribute; and acquire, from the server, a multimedia file corresponding to each of the at least one multimedia file identifier included in the index file; The playback function contained in the cable I file at least plays one of the acquired multimedia files. An embodiment of the present invention provides a multimedia playback server, including: a first module, configured to generate an index file, where the index file includes an identifier of at least one multimedia file and a play attribute.

The embodiment of the invention provides a multimedia playing client, including:

a first module, configured to obtain an index file from a server, where the index file includes an identifier of at least one multimedia file and a play attribute; and acquire a multimedia file corresponding to each of the at least one multimedia file identifier included in the index file;

a second module, configured to control, according to a play attribute in the index file, the third module to play at least one of the multimedia files acquired by the first module;

The third module is configured to play at least one of the acquired multimedia files.

The embodiment of the invention further provides a multimedia playing client, including:

a first module, configured to generate an index file, where the index file includes an identifier of at least one multimedia file and a play attribute;

a second module, configured to acquire a multimedia file corresponding to each of the at least one multimedia file identifier included in the index file generated by the first module;

a third module, configured to control, according to the play attribute included in the index file, the fourth module to play at least one of the multimedia files acquired by the second module;

The fourth module is configured to play at least one of the acquired multimedia files.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the server or the client generates an index file according to the multimedia file stored in the server; the client plays the corresponding multimedia file according to the play attribute of the multimedia file in the index file. Since different index files can be generated for different buffer periods, the multimedia files played during each buffer and their playback properties may be different from the past, which greatly improves the flexibility of controlling the playback of multimedia files. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a flow chart of a method for playing a material file according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a flow chart of a method for playing a material file according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of a material file playing in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic structural diagram of a material file playing according to another embodiment of the present invention. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In order to make the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention more comprehensible, the present invention will be further described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a method for playing a material file according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1 , the specific process of the method is as follows:

The material file is stored in the server, and the inherent attributes of each material file are also stored in the server, such as the duration of the material file, the content of the material file, the playing geographic range, the playing object, and the like, wherein the material file may be buffered. The content of the advertisement, such as content containing multiple buffered advertisement contents or a buffered advertisement, may also be other audio and video files and the like.

After receiving the index file request message reported by the client, the server may, according to the client personalized data carried in the request message, such as the geographical location of the client, the age of the user, the gender of the user, and the occupation of the user. And the like, to match the intrinsic property of the material file stored thereon, determine at least one material file from the stored material file as the material file to be played, and determine the material according to the intrinsic property of the at least one material file to be played. The play attribute of the file, the play attribute may include a play permission of the material file, a play priority, a play period (ie, a validity period of the material file), and the like, and then generate an index file, where the index file includes the at least one material file to be played. Logo and Its playback properties.

The server may also determine the play attribute of the at least one material file to be played based on the business strategy of the advertising operator.

It can be understood that when the index file request message reported by the client includes the client personalized data, such as the geographical location of the client, the age of the user, the gender of the user, the occupation of the user, etc., the server according to the personalized data of the client. Determine the most suitable material file to be played, to generate an index file that best matches the client's personality. For example, when the client personalization data received by the server indicates that the client is located in a commercial area and the age is 25 years old, the server can search for the intrinsic attributes of all the stored material files based on the information, and play the geographical range in the intrinsic attribute. The material file for the commercial area and the playing object is selected as the material file to be played. It can also be understood that the index file request message reported by the client may not include the client personalized data, so that the server may determine at least one material file from the stored material file as a material file to be played by random selection or the like.

It can also be understood that the server does not need to generate an index file after receiving the index file request message reported by the client. Instead, after the client logs in, the server actively detects the characteristic data of the client, such as the geographical location of the client, so as to match the intrinsic properties of the material file stored thereon according to the characteristic data, thereby from the stored material file. Determine at least one material file as the material file to be played.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the index file may further include a correspondence between the at least one material file to be played and the channel. In an example scenario, the correspondence between the material file and the channel is a many-to-many mapping relationship, that is, one material file can be placed on multiple channels, and each channel can serve multiple material files.

In step S101, the client obtains an index file and a material file, wherein the material file In this embodiment, the client can download the index file and the material file from the server, and the direct download method can be adopted here. Those skilled in the art can easily understand that the client needs to first download the index file from the server, and then download the corresponding material file according to the material file identifier in the index file.

The process of the client downloading the index file and the material file from the server may be: The client first downloads the index file from the server, and checks whether the material files corresponding to the material file identifier included in the index file are stored locally; if there is at least one material If the file is not stored locally, at least one material file that is not stored locally is downloaded.

Of course, the process of downloading the index file and the material file from the server by the client may also be that the client downloads the index file from the server, and then downloads all the material files corresponding to the material file identifier in the index file from the server.

In step S102, the client generates a play queue for each channel based on the index file.

In an example solution, the client determines the play permission and the play period of each material file according to the play attribute of each material file in the obtained index file, that is, by interpreting the play attribute of each material file in the obtained index file, The playback permission and the playback period information that the client can recognize, and the material files having the playback permission and the playback period are organized into a play queue according to the playback channel.

In another example scenario, the process of generating a play queue includes: organizing all material files corresponding to the same channel into one play queue. As for whether or not each material file can be played, when it is played, etc., it can be asked and determined one by one during playback.

When there is no correspondence between the material file and the playback channel in the index file, the material file can be played back in all channels by default.

Here, the play queues composed of the material files do not have an explicit sequence of play, and should be understood here as a set of each material file. In step S103, the client determines a play policy according to the index file, where the play policy includes a play start point and a play order, and then the client plays the material file in the play queue in the buffer time according to the determined play policy, until the buffer ends.

In an example scenario, the playback attribute includes a play priority, and the client first determines the priority order of each material file in the play queue, and then determines the play start point and the play order according to the priority order, that is, the highest priority The material file serves as the starting point for playback, and the material file with the second priority is placed in the second play, and so on. When some material files have the same playback priority, these material files can be sorted in a random manner.

In another example scenario, the play priority does not include the play priority, and the client may select any material file in the play queue as the play start point, and the subsequent material files may also be played in a random manner. In this way, some of the material files that are not caused by insufficient buffering time can never be played, and the exposure of the material files can be equalized to some extent.

As can be seen from the above embodiment, the client first generates a play queue according to the play permission and the play period of the material file, and then confirms the play start point and the play order according to the priority of the material file during playback. In actual operation, the client may also compose a material file having a play right and a play time period into a play queue according to the priority, and the play queue has an explicit play order, so that the play file is in the play queue according to the material file during playback. The material files are played in sequence, in order.

FIG. 2 shows a flow of a method of playing a material file in another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 2, the specific process of the method is as follows:

The server generates an index file based on the material files stored on it.

In step S201, the client obtains an index file and a material file.

In step S202, the client composes all the material files corresponding to each channel into one play queue.

In step S203, the client randomly selects a material file from the play queue as Broadcast start point.

In step S204, the client queries whether the selected material file has the playing right, and can confirm according to the previously downloaded index file, or can send it to the server for confirmation immediately; if yes, go to step S205; otherwise, go to step S206.

In step S205, after confirming that the selected material file has the play permission, the material file is played, and the playback ends to step S206.

In step S206, the next material file in the play queue is selected, and this step can be performed in the same manner as step S203.

In step S207, it is asked whether the buffering time has ended; if yes, the process goes to step S208; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S204.

In step S208, the playback of the material file is stopped.

In the method described above, the index file is generated by the server. In fact, the generation of the index file can also be performed by the client. If the client needs, according to its own characteristics, such as personalized data or feature data, query and match the material files stored on the server and their intrinsic properties, determine at least one material file from the material files stored in the server as soon as possible. Playing the material file, determining the play attribute of the material file according to the intrinsic property of the at least one material file to be played, and then generating an index file, where the index file includes the identifier of the at least one material file to be played and its playing Attributes. Thus, the client FIG. 3 is a system structure for playing a material file in the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the system includes a server 100, and a plurality of clients (client 200, client 300, ... client N) connected thereto. It should be noted that the connection relationship between the devices in the embodiment of the present invention is for the purpose of clearly explaining the information interaction and control process, and therefore should be regarded as a logical connection relationship, and should not be limited to a physical connection.

The server 100 is configured to store the material file and its intrinsic attributes, and according to the stored material The file and its intrinsic attributes, determining at least one material file as the material file to be played, and determining a play attribute of the at least one material file to be played, and composing the identifier of the at least one material file to be played and its play attribute into an index file .

Each client (client 200, client 300, ... client N) is connected to the server 100, and is configured to download an index file from the server 100 and a material file corresponding to the material file identifier in the index file, and according to the index The playback properties in the file control the playback of these footage files.

In practical applications, server 100 can also be used to store material files and their intrinsic properties. Each client (client 200, client 300, ... client N) is configured to query the material file and its intrinsic attributes stored on the matching server 100 when needed, and determine at least one material file as soon as it is to be played. a material file, and determining a play attribute of the material file according to an intrinsic attribute of the at least one material file to be played, and then generating an index file, where the index file includes an identifier of the at least one material file to be played and a play attribute thereof, The material files corresponding to the material file identifiers in the index file are downloaded from the server 100, and the play of the material files is controlled according to the play attributes in the index file.

A typical server 100 can be a dedicated advertisement server, or a large website server with advertisement servo function, etc., and thus the scope of protection of the present invention should not be limited to a particular type of server.

Each client 200 can be a variety of terminal devices capable of playing video or pictures, such as a personal computer (PC), a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile phone (MP), and the like. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should not be limited to a particular type of client.

FIG. 4 is a schematic structural diagram of a material file playing according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, the system includes a server 100 and a client 200. The server 100 includes a transceiver module 401, a database 402, and a policy generation module 403. The client 200 includes a download module 501 and plays. Control module 502 and player 503.

The transceiver module 401 is connected to the database 402 and the policy generation module 403 for interacting with the client 200 to exchange various messages, such as the index file generated by the policy generation module 403, to the client 200.

The database 402 is coupled to the transceiver module 401 and the policy generation module 403 for storing material files and their inherent attributes.

The policy generation module 403 is connected to the database 402 and the transceiver module 401, and determines at least one material file as a playable material file according to the material file and its intrinsic attributes stored in the database 402, and determines a play attribute of the playable material file. An index file is generated, and the index file is fed back to the client 200 through the transceiver module 401.

The downloading module 501 is connected to the play control module 502, and is configured to download an index file from the policy generation module 403 of the server 100; and is further configured to download the material file from the database 402, where the material file corresponds to the material file identifier in the index file; or On the client 200

402 downloads the material file corresponding to the material file identifier in the index file but not stored by the client.

The play control module 502 is connected to the download module 501 and the player 503, and is configured to control the player 503 to play the material file corresponding to the material file identifier in the index file according to the index file downloaded by the download module 501, and play the material file in the player 503. At the same time, it is judged whether or not the buffer is ended, and the player 503 is instructed to stop the playback of the material file at the end of the judgment.

The player 503 is connected to the play control module 502 for playing the material file corresponding to the material file identifier in the index file.

In a practical application, the server 100 may include a transceiver module 401 and a database 402. The client 200 includes a download module 501, a policy generation module 403, a play control module 502, and a player 503.

At this time, the transceiver module 401 and the database 402 are used to record the material files in the database 402. Sent to the client 200.

The policy generation module 403 queries the database 402 through the transceiver module 401 to dynamically generate an index file.

The downloading module 501 is configured to download the material file corresponding to the material file identifier in the index file from the database 402; or to download and index from the database 402 when the client 200 does not store all the material files corresponding to the material file identifier in the index file. The material file in the file identifies the material file that corresponds to the client but is not stored by the client.

The play control module 502 is connected to the policy generation module 403 and the player 503, and is configured to control the player 503 to play the material file corresponding to the material file identifier in the index file according to the index file generated by the policy generation module 403, and play the content file in the player 503. The material file is judged whether or not the buffer is ended, and the player 503 is instructed to stop the playback of the material file at the end of the judgment.

The above is only the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included in the protection of the present invention. Within the scope.

Claims

Claim

A method for playing multimedia, characterized in that it comprises:

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the generating the index file comprises: determining at least one multimedia file as a playable multimedia file according to the stored inherent attributes of the respective multimedia files, and determining the playable The play attribute of the multimedia file generates an index file, and the index file includes an identifier of the playable multimedia file and a play attribute thereof.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein at least one multimedia file whose intrinsic attribute matches the personalized data of the user is determined from the stored multimedia files as a playable multimedia file.

The method according to claim 2, wherein at least one multimedia file whose intrinsic attribute matches the actively detected client characteristic data is determined from the stored multimedia files as a playable multimedia file.

The method according to claim 1, wherein the acquiring the multimedia file corresponding to each of the at least one multimedia file identifier included in the index file comprises: viewing whether the multimedia file corresponding to the multimedia file identifier included in the index file is All are stored locally; if at least one multimedia file is not stored locally, at least one multimedia file not stored locally is downloaded.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the index file is further The step includes a correspondence between the at least one multimedia file and a channel;

And playing the multimedia file on the corresponding channel according to the correspondence between the at least one multimedia file and the channel when at least one of the acquired multimedia files is played.

The method according to claim 1, wherein, when at least one of the acquired multimedia files is played, at least one multimedia file is selected according to the acquired playing attributes of the respective multimedia files, and the selected multimedia files are combined into one Queue, and play at least one multimedia file in the queue.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the play attribute comprises at least a play right and a play period, and the selected multimedia file comprises a multimedia file having a play right and the play period is valid.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the playing attribute further comprises a play priority;

After the queue is formed, the play start point and the play sequence of the queue are further determined, and the multimedia files in the queue are played according to the play start point and the play order.

The method according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein the intrinsic attributes of the multimedia files include: a duration of a multimedia file, a content cartridge, a playback object, and a playback geographic range. Or any number of items.

The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the multimedia file contains a buffer advertisement.

12. A multimedia playback system, comprising:

The system according to claim 12, wherein the server determines at least one multimedia file as a playable multimedia file according to the stored inherent attributes of the respective multimedia files, and determines the playable multimedia file. The play attribute generates an index file, wherein the index file includes an identifier of the playable multimedia file and a play attribute thereof.

The system according to claim 13, wherein the server further receives user personalized data reported by the client, and the server determines at least one of its inherent attributes from the stored multimedia files and the The received multimedia data matching the user's personalized data is used as a playable multimedia file.

The system according to claim 13, wherein the server detects client characteristic data after the client logs in, and the server determines at least one inherent attribute from each stored multimedia file. The detected multimedia data of the client characteristic data is matched as a playable multimedia file.

16. A system for multimedia playback, comprising:

Server for providing multimedia files;

a client, configured to generate an index file, where the index file includes an identifier of at least one multimedia file and a play attribute; and acquire, from the server, a multimedia file corresponding to each of the at least one multimedia file identifier included in the index file; The playback function contained in the cable I file at least plays one of the acquired multimedia files.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein:

Determining, by the client, at least one multimedia file as a playable multimedia file according to an intrinsic attribute of each multimedia file provided by the server, and determining a play attribute of the playable multimedia file, generating an index file, where the index file includes the playable file The identity of the multimedia file is determined by its playback properties.

18. A server for multimedia playback, comprising: The first module is configured to generate an index file, where the index file includes an identifier of at least one multimedia file and a play attribute.

The server according to claim 18, comprising: a second module, configured to store at least one multimedia file and its intrinsic attributes; and then the first module determines, according to an intrinsic attribute of the multimedia file stored by the second module, And playing at least one multimedia file as a playable multimedia file, and determining a play attribute of the playable multimedia file, and generating an index file, where the index file includes an identifier of the playable multimedia file and a play attribute thereof.

The server according to claim 18 or 19, further comprising:

And a third module, configured to provide the index file generated by the first module and the multimedia file corresponding to the multimedia file identifier included in the index file stored by the second module to the client.

21. A client for multimedia playback, comprising:

The client according to claim 21, wherein the first module downloads, from the server, a multimedia file corresponding to the at least one multimedia file identifier included in the index file.

23. A client for multimedia playback, comprising:

a first module, configured to generate an index file, where the index file includes an identifier of at least one multimedia file and a play attribute; a second module, configured to acquire a multimedia file corresponding to each of the at least one multimedia file identifier included in the index file generated by the first module;

The client according to claim 23, wherein the first module determines at least one multimedia file as a playable multimedia file according to an intrinsic attribute of the stored multimedia file, and determines the playable multimedia The play attribute of the file generates an index file, and the index file includes an identifier of the playable multimedia file and a play attribute thereof.