EP1934799A1

EP1934799A1 - Method and system for providing multimedia content to multiple clients

Info

Publication number: EP1934799A1
Application number: EP05856537A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jong Lok Yoon
Original assignee: KT Corp
Current assignee: KT Corp
Priority date: 2005-10-13
Filing date: 2005-10-13
Publication date: 2008-06-25
Also published as: EP1934799A4; WO2007043722A1; JP2009512313A

Abstract

A method for supplying multimedia contents to a plurality of clients is implemented by a system which includes a plurality of contents distribution networks provided with a plurality of local centers and a central center connected to the local centers of each contents distribution network to receive contents from a plurality of contents providers in each or separate nations, wherein the contents distribution networks are prepared according to each nation and the plurality of contents providers are linked to the plurality of clients. The method includes the steps of: receiving contents from a plurality of contents providers of a corresponding nation according to a predetermined period by the local centers; receiving the contents from the local centers of each contents distribution network by the central center; and supplying the contents to each client.

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING MULTIMEDIA CONTENT TO MULTIPLE CLIENTS

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a method and a system for supplying multimedia contents to a plurality of clients linked to a network; and, more particularly, to a method and a system for receiving multimedia contents from a plurality of contents providers linked to a network, after constructing the received multimedia contents to be matched with characteristics and requirements derived from each of a plurality of clients, and supplying the constructed multimedia contents to each client. Background Art

[2] As the speed of information communication has increased, the Internet is now considered a new media in which a single information source can provide various types of services. Now, multimedia contents from various air broadcasting channels and Internet service businesses are serviced using the Internet.

[3] However, in these Internet broadcasting services, users have to access each broadcasting sources or channels in order to receive broadcast programs, i.e., multimedia contents. For example, to receive broadcast programs from other countries, users have to individually connect to web sites of each broadcasting station and select desired broadcast programs from such websites. Further, in certain countries or air broadcasting stations, broadcast programs may not be available via the Internet, or the quality of services may be poor.

[4] Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2005-0079175 discloses a method and a system for providing a broadcast service which integrates broadcast programs from many distributed broadcast program providers and delivers them in one channel. In this method, a broadcasting schedule is created and various programs are formed to be broadcast in one channel according to the broadcasting schedule. In this method, the broadcasting schedule is created by the service provider without an input from users, and users may not have the opportunity to select certain desired contents.

[5] Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2002-0065112 disclosed a method for supplying a multimedia Internet service, in which air broadcast programs and multimedia contents are supplied to an Internet web hosting site and stored in a database thereof. In this method, users connect to the web site, and can search for desired programs in the database and play programs in the database. In this method, the broadcast programs may not be available real time, and therefore, it may not be suitable for certain programs like news programs. Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[6] It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a method and a system for supplying multimedia contents which allows a user to receive a desired broadcast program by integrating broadcast programs provided by a plurality of multimedia contents providers such as air channels of each nation through one supplying source and supplying the same in real time.

[7] It is another object of the present invention to provide a method and a system for supplying multimedia contents which allows a user to edit the multimedia contents in accordance with the requirements given by the user. Technical Solution

[8] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for supplying multimedia contents supplied from a plurality of contents providers to a plurality of clients through a network, the method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving the multimedia contents from each of the plurality of contents providers; (b) storing the multimedia contents from each of the plurality of contents providers; (c) constructing the multimedia contents received from the plurality of contents providers to be matched with characteristics or requirements derived from a client; (d) receiving a request for supplying a multimedia content among the multimedia contents from the client; and (e) supplying said multimedia content corresponding to the request of the client.

[9] The multimedia contents of each of the plurality of contents providers may be constructed into integrated multimedia contents in step (c) by editing according to a predetermined edit method.

[10] The integrated multimedia contents may be in a form to display a plurality of multimedia contents simultaneously.

[11] Step (d) may be a step to receive a request for supplying a specific type of content among the plurality of multimedia contents simultaneously displayed as the integrated multimedia contents from the client.

[12] The integrated multimedia contents may be prepared by extracting at least a predetermined portion extracted from each of the plurality of multimedia contents and displaying each of the extracted portions sequentially.

[13] Preferably, the predetermined editing method is supplied by the client.

[14] Step (d) may include the steps of: (d-1) receiving from the client organization information for contents to be supplied and storing the received organization information, wherein the organization information includes a type of the contents and a time to supply the contents; and (d-2) determining whether or not a condition of the or- ganization information is achieved.

[15] Step (e) may include the steps of: (e-1) searching for said multimedia content requested by the client among the multimedia contents stored at step (b); (e-2) supplying said multimedia content to the clients; and (e-3) if the requested multimedia content is not stored, informing the client of the same.

[16] Step (d) includes a step of receiving information for a terminal of the client and step

(e) may include a step of adjusting said multimedia contents corresponding to the information for the terminal.

[17] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method for supplying contents to a client in a network provided with a plurality of contents distribution networks, wherein a plurality of contents providers and a plurality of clients are connected to at least one contents distribution network, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing the contents from the contents provider connected to a contents network to the local server of each contents distribution network; (b) transmitting the contents supplied in step (a) to a central server connected to each local server of the respective contents distribution network by the local servers of each contents distribution network; (c) constructing a plurality of contents supplied from each local server by the central server to match the characteristics or requirements derived from the clients and transmitting the plurality of contents to each local server by a multicast method, and each local server supplying the plurality of contents to the plurality of clients in the contents distribution network connected to each local server; (d) receiving a request for supplying a certain content from one of the plurality of clients; and (e) supplying said content corresponding to the request of the client.

[18] The multimedia contents may be constructed into integrated multimedia contents in

Step (c) according to a predetermined edit method.

[19] The integrated multimedia contents may be in the form of displaying a plurality of multimedia contents simultaneously.

[20] Step (d) may be the step of receiving a request for supplying a certain content among the plurality of multimedia contents simultaneously displayed in the integrated multimedia contents from the client.

[21] The integrated multimedia contents may be in a form of extracting at least a predetermined portion from each of the plurality of multimedia contents and displaying each of the extracted portions sequentially.

[22] Step (e) may include the steps of: (e-1) determining whether or not said requested content is stored in an edge server in the contents distribution network to which the client is connected; and (e-2) if the requested contents are stored in an edge server, supplying the stored content to the client.

[23] Step (e) may further include: (e-3) if the requested content is not stored at any edge server, determining whether or not the requested content is stored at a server in the other contents distribution network, and if the requested content is stored in the other contents distribution network, providing the client with the content.

[24] Step (d) may include the step of receiving information for a client's terminal and

Step (e) include the step of adjusting the multimedia contents corresponding to information for the client's terminal.

[25] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a system for supplying multimedia contents supplied from a plurality of contents providers to a plurality of clients through a network, the system comprising: contents reception modules for receiving contents from each of the plurality of contents providers; a contents database for storing the received contents; a contents editing module for constructing contents supplied from the plurality of contents providers or contents stored at the contents database to match the characteristics or requirements derived from a subscriber; a subscriber information managing module for receiving a request to supply contents from the subscriber and determining whether to approve the request to supply contents; a subscriber information database for storing information concerning each subscriber; a subscriber interface module for supplying contents constructed by the contents editing module in a form to be supplied to the subscriber and receiving a request from the subscriber for supplying contents; and a control unit to control other modules for performing serial processes related to the broadcast service.

[26] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a system for supplying multimedia contents to clients in a network where a plurality of contents providers and a plurality of clients are interconnected, comprising: a plurality of contents distribution networks, wherein each of the contents distribution networks includes a local server to receive contents from a contents provider connected thereto and a plurality of edge servers which receives contents from the local servers, stores the contents from the local servers and supplies the contents to the clients, wherein each of the plurality of contents providers and the plurality of clients is connected to one of the contents distribution networks among the plurality of contents distribution networks; and a central server for receiving contents from each of the local servers of the contents distribution network and storing the received contents, wherein the central server supplies contents received from one contents distribution network to another contents distribution network.

Advantageous Effects

[27] In accordance with the present invention, the contents supplied by the providers of the plurality of the multimedia contents can be supplied in real time by integrating the plurality of the multimedia contents through one supplying source. In addition, the user can receive various multimedia contents by editing or scheduling the various multimedia contents in a desired fashion. Brief Description of the Drawings

[28] The above and other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments given in conjunction with the following drawings: [29] Fig. 1 is a network construction diagram in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; [30] Fig. 2 is a flow chart depicting a method in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention; [31] Fig. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a system to implement a method in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention; [32] Fig. 4 is a diagram representing a method for supplying a plurality of contents in the first embodiment of the present invention; [33] Fig. 5 is a diagram showing a state when a subscriber selects a specific content in

Fig. 4; [34] Fig. 6 is a diagram depicting another method to supply a plurality of contents in the first embodiment of the present invention; [35] Fig. 7 is a network construction diagram in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; and [36] Fig. 8 is a flow chart illustrating a method in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention.

Mode for the Invention [37] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with respect to the accompanying drawings in such a manner that it may easily be carried out by a person having ordinary skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. [38] Fig. 1 shows a network construction diagram in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown, a system 100 (hereinafter, referred to as "the multimedia contents supplying system 100") for supplying multimedia contents to a plurality of clients 310 and 320 are linked to a plurality of contents providers 210, 220 and 230 through an information communication network. [39] Herein, the term "information communication network" is a general term meaning a data communication network providing Internet access. [40] After the multimedia contents supplying system 100 receives contents from a plurality of contents providers 210, 220 and 230, the contents are matched with each subscriber's requirements or the characteristics of the terminal (client) and the contents are provided to terminals 310 and 320. Each element of the multimedia contents supplying system 100 is hereinafter described with reference to Fig. 2.

[41] The contents providers 210, 220 and 230 may be an air channel broadcast station, an Internet broadcast station or the like. More generally, the contents providers 210, 220 and 230 may be a supplying source to supply various multimedia contents including audio and video contents via wire, wireless or off-line supply.

[42] The subscriber terminals (clients) 310 and 320 are terminals to allow the subscribers to request contents by connecting to the multimedia contents supplying system 100 and receiving the supplied contents. The subscriber terminals (clients) may be a TV provided with a set-top box, a computer, a mobile terminal or the like.

[43] For example, each of the contents providers 210, 220 and 230 supplies news from broadcast stations located in various nations, the multimedia contents system 100 receives this news from these broadcast stations and supplies the received news to clients located in various nations. In this situation, the multimedia contents supplying system 100 may edit the language content (for example, English as a first language and Japanese or Chinese as a second language) and supply the edited contents to clients located in various nations.

[44] Fig. 2 shows a flow chart depicting a method in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. In Step Sl 10, in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention, the multimedia contents supplying system 100 receives the multimedia contents from the plurality of the contents providers. In Step S 120, the multimedia contents received from each of the contents providers 210, 220 and 230 are stored on a predetermined storage medium.

[45] In Step S 130, the multimedia contents supplying system 100 constructs the multimedia contents supplied from the plurality of the contents providers 210, 220 and 230 to match the characteristics and requirements derived from the subscriber or the terminal of the subscriber. The characteristics of the subscriber or the subscriber's terminal may include information such as the age of the subscriber, a preferred program, a hobby, a connection time or the like, a type of terminal (e.g., TV, mobile phone, a notebook computer or the like), a compression method decodable by the terminal, a size of the terminal display, information related to the connection method of the terminal or the like. The requirements of the subscriber may include a specified category of contents, a transmission time, a specified transmission target terminal or the like.

[46] Thereafter, if a request for supplying the multimedia contents is received from the clients (Step S 140), the corresponding multimedia contents are supplied to the clients corresponding to the request of the clients at Step S 150.

[47] Herein, each of the multimedia contents of the plurality of contents providers 210,

220 and 230 may be edited according to a previously prepared editing method resulting in integrated multimedia contents.

[48] For example, the integrated multimedia contents may be a simultaneous display of a plurality of multimedia contents on a subscriber terminal, as shown in Fig. 4. In this situation, the multimedia contents supplying system 100 may receive a request from a client to supply certain content among a plurality of multimedia contents being displayed simultaneously on a terminal. If such a request is received, the requested content will be transported to the user's terminal as shown in Fig. 5.

[49] The integrated multimedia contents may also be in a form where at least some of the integrated portions content are sequentially displayed after at least some of the predetermined portions are extracted from each of the plurality of multimedia contents. Fig. 6 shows a diagram depicting a method to supply a plurality of contents according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Fig. 6, the integrated multimedia contents are of a type that all or a portion of each of the contents are extracted and all or a portion of each of these contents are sequentially reproduced.

[50] Meanwhile, the editing method for editing the multimedia contents may be supplied by a client or a service provider. For example, the multimedia contents supplying system 100 may receive contents edit requirements from a client, store the edit requirements, and supply the service by determining whether a condition of the edit requirements is achieved or not. Herein, the "contents edit requirements" may include information such as content type, time for supplying the contents or the like.

[51] The multimedia contents are generally supplied in real time. However, the present invention is not limited to real-time transmission, but can also include the situation where a client requests specific contents from among previously stored contents. In this situation, the multimedia content supplying system 100 would search among the stored multimedia contents to locate the multimedia contents requested by the client. The multimedia content supplying system 100 would then supply the requested contents to the client. If the requested multimedia contents are not found, the client would be informed accordingly.

[52] In addition, an embodiment of the present invention may further include a step of configuring the multimedia contents corresponding to information related to the terminal of the client.

[53] Fig. 3 shows a schematic construction block diagram of the multimedia contents supplying system 100 in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

[54] As shown in the drawing, the multimedia contents supplying system 100 includes a contents receiving module 110, a contents editing module 120, a subscriber interface module 130, a subscriber information managing module 140, an operator interface module 150, a control unit 160, a contents database 170 and a subscriber information database 180.

[55] The contents receiving module 110 receives the contents from each of the plurality of contents providers 210, 220 and 230. The control unit 160 stores the received contents on the contents database 170. The contents editing module 120 processes the contents supplied from the plurality of contents providers 210, 220 and 230 or the contents stored at the contents database 170 such that the processed contents match the characteristics or requirements derived from the client. The characteristics of the client may include information derived from the subscriber or the subscriber's terminal such as the age of the subscriber, a preferred program, a hobby, a connection time or the like, a description of the type of terminal, a compression method decodable by the terminal, a size of the terminal display and information related to the connection method. The requirements of the subscriber may also include a request for a certain category of contents, a transmission time and a transmission target terminal.

[56] The subscriber information managing module 140 manages such information. The subscriber information managing module 140 also receives a request from the subscriber to supply specific contents and determines whether the request can be satisfied. Information from each subscriber is stored on the subscriber information database 180.

[57] The subscriber interface module 130 receives the request of the contents from the subscriber and supplies the contents that have been constructed by the contents editing module 120 in a form requested by the subscriber.

[58] The control unit 160 controls each of the modules to operate serial processes related to the broadcast service. The operator interface module 150 allows the service provider to adjust the service supplying method or to manage the data by connecting to the system in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.

[59] Fig. 7 shows a multimedia contents supplying system 500 in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the drawing, the multimedia contents supplying system 500 is connected to a plurality of contents distribution networks 510, 520 and 530 and a central managing server 550 through an information communication network.

[60] In each of the contents distribution networks 510,520 and 530, a plurality of contents providers 511, 512, 521 and 522 and a plurality of the clients are connected. Each of the contents distribution networks 510, 520 and 530 is provided with a plurality of local managing servers 515, 525 and 535 which receive the contents from the plurality of contents providers 511, 512, 521 and 522 connected to each of the contents distribution networks 510, 520 and 530. In addition, although not shown in the drawing, the plurality of the contents distribution networks 510, 520 and 530 receives the contents from the plurality of the local managing servers 515, 525 and 535 and stores the received contents. The plurality of the contents distribution networks 510, 520 and 530 may have a plurality of edge servers to supply the stored contents to the clients.

[61] The central managing server 550 is connected to the plurality of local managing servers 515, 525 and 535 of each of the contents distribution networks 510, 520 and 530. The central managing server 550 receives the contents from the plurality of local managing servers 515, 525 and 535, stores the received contents and supplies the contents received from one contents distribution network to the other contents distrib ution networks.

[62] The contents distribution networks 510, 520 and 530, for example, can be prepared for each individual nation. In this situation, the contents providers 511, 512, 521 and 522 are air channel broadcast stations, the contents distribution networks 510, 520 and 530 are Internet broadcast stations of the corresponding nation and the clients are the subscribers of each nation. The central managing server 550 collects the contents from the plurality of local managing servers 515, 525 and 535 connected to the plurality of contents distribution networks 510, 520 and 530 of each nation and distributes the contents to the plurality of the local managing servers 515, 525 and 535 of a nation's contents distribution networks 510, 520 and 530. For example, systems disclosed in Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2004-0074403 entitled "SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SUPPLYING CDN UNIFIED SERVICE" or Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2004-0073630 entitled "SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMMONLY OWNING CONTENTS BETWEEN CDN SERVICE PROVIDERS" can be used in the multimedia contents supplying system in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention.

[63] Fig. 8 shows a flow chart illustrating a method for supplying the multimedia contents in the system shown in Fig. 7.

[64] In Step S210, a local managing server of each contents distribution network receives the contents from the contents providers connected to the corresponding contents distribution network. The contents can be supplied in real time or at a predetermined time frame. In Step S220, the local managing server of each contents distribution network transmits the received contents to the central managing server. In Step S230, the central managing server constructs a plurality of contents supplied from each local server so as to match with the characteristics or the requirements derived from the clients. In Step S240, the central managing server transmits the plurality of supplied contents to each local server in a multicast. In this case, the local managing server which transmits the corresponding contents can be excluded from the distribution target.

[65] On the other hand, if a request is received from the client, the corresponding contents are supplied corresponding to such request. Since the contents of this step are substantially similar to those of the method in the first embodiment of the present invention, a detailed description will be omitted.

[66] While the present invention has been described with respect to certain preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims

[1] A method for providing multimedia contents to a plurality of clients through a system comprising a plurality of local contents distribution networks and a central center, wherein each local content distribution network comprises a local center connected to a plurality of contents providers and a plurality of clients in a nation, wherein the central center is connected to the plurality of local centers, the method comprising: periodically receiving, by a local center, multimedia contents from a plurality of contents providers in a nation at predetermined intervals; receiving, by the central center, the multimedia contents from the local center; and supplying the multimedia contents to a plurality of clients.

[2] A method for providing multimedia contents supplied from a plurality of contents providers to a plurality of clients through a network, the method comprising:

(a) receiving multimedia contents from a plurality of contents providers;

(b) storing the received multimedia contents;

(c) processing the received multimedia contents to construct in accordance with attributes or instructions of a client;

(d) receiving a request from the client for supplying a piece of multimedia content among the multimedia contents; and

(e) supplying the requested piece of multimedia content to the client.

[3] The method of Claim 2, wherein the step (c) comprises providing an integrated multimedia content produced from the received multimedia contents in accordance with a predetermined method.

[4] The method of Claim 3, wherein the integrated multimedia content is configured in a format in which a plurality of pieces of multimedia contents are simultaneously displayed.

[5] The method of Claim 4, wherein the step (d) comprises receiving a request for one of the plurality of pieces of multimedia contents that are simultaneously displayed on a screen.

[6] The method of Claim 3, wherein the integrated multimedia content comprises a portion selected from each of the multimedia contents, and wherein the selected portions are configured to be sequentially displayed.

[7] The method of Claim 3, wherein the predetermined method is derived from the client.

[8] The method of Claim 2, wherein the step (d) comprises: (d-1) receiving and storing schedule information which comprises identification of the requested piece of multimedia content and time for supplying the requested piece of multimedia content; and

(d-2) determining whether conditions in the schedule information are accomplished.

[9] The method of Claim 2, wherein the step (e) comprises:

(e-1) searching for the requested piece of multimedia content among the stored multimedia contents;

(e-2) supplying the requested piece to the client; and

(e-3) if the requested piece is not located from the stored multimedia contents, notifying such to the client.

[10] The method of Claim 2, wherein the step (d) comprises receiving information about a device of the client on which the requested piece is to be played, and wherein the step (e) comprises configuring the requested piece of multimedia content into a form that the client's device can play.

[11] A method for providing multimedia contents to a client via a network comprising a plurality of contents distribution networks, wherein a plurality of contents providers and a plurality of clients are connected to at least one contents distribution network, the method comprising:

(a) receiving, by a local server of each contents distribution network, multimedia contents from a plurality of contents providers connected thereto;

(b) transmitting, by each local server, the received multimedia contents to a central server;

(c) processing, by the central server, the transmitted multimedia contents to construct in accordance with attributes or instructions of a plurality of clients, broadcasting the result to each local server, and wherein each local server supplies the processed result to a plurality of clients connected thereto;

(d) receiving a request for supplying a piece of multimedia content from one of the plurality of clients; and

(e) supplying the requested piece of multimedia content to the requesting client.

[12] The method of Claim 11, wherein the step (c) comprises producing an integrated multimedia content using a predetermined method.

[13] The method of Claim 12, wherein the integrated multimedia content comprises a plurality of pieces of multimedia contents that are to be simultaneously displayed.

[14] The method of Claim 13, wherein the step (d) comprises receiving a request for one of the plurality of pieces of multimedia contents that are simultaneously displayed.

[15] The method of Claim 12, wherein the integrated multimedia content comprises a portion selected from each of the multimedia contents, and wherein the selected portions are configured to be sequentially displayed.

[16] The method of Claim 11, wherein the step (e) comprises:

(e-1) determining whether the requested piece is stored in an edge server within the contents distribution network to which the client is connected; (e-2) if the requested contents are stored in the edge server, supplying the stored piece from the edge server to the client.

[17] The method of Claim 16, wherein the step (e) comprises:

(e-3) if the requested piece is not stored at any edge servers, determining whether the requested piece is stored in a server in another contents distribution network, if the requested content is stored in the other contents distribution network, wherein the requested piece is supplied from the other contents distribution network to the client.

[18] The method of Claim 11, wherein the step (d) comprises receiving information about a device of the client on which the requested piece is to be played, and wherein the step (e) comprises configuring the requested piece of multimedia content into a form that the client's device can play.

[19] A system for supplying multimedia contents supplied from a plurality of contents providers to a plurality of clients through a network, the system comprising: a multimedia contents reception module configured to receive contents from a plurality of contents providers; a multimedia contents database configured to store the received multimedia contents; a multimedia contents editing module configured to edit the multimedia contents supplied from the plurality of contents providers or contents stored in the contents database according to attributes or instructions of a subscriber; a subscriber information managing module configured to process a request from a subscriber for supplying multimedia contents and to determine whether to approve the contents supplying request; a subscriber information database configured to store information of each subscriber; a subscriber interface module configured to supply an edited content edited by the contents editing module and to receive a request for supplying contents from the subscriber; and a control unit configured to control processing of other modules relating to broadcasting services.

[20] A system for supplying multimedia contents to clients in a network through which a plurality of contents providers and a plurality of clients are interconnected, the system comprising: a plurality of contents distribution networks, wherein a plurality of contents providers and a plurality of clients are connected to one of the plurality of contents distribution networks, which comprises a local server and a plurality of edge servers, wherein the local server is configured to receive contents from a multimedia contents provider connected thereto, wherein the plurality of edge servers are configured to receive multimedia contents from the local server, to store the multimedia contents and to supply the contents to the clients; and a central server configured to receive multimedia contents from the local servers of the plurality of contents distribution networks and to store the received multimedia contents, wherein the central server is further configured to supply multimedia contents received from one contents distribution network to another contents distribution network.