WO2008032992A1

WO2008032992A1 - Method for downloading multimedia contents to electronic picture frame

Info

Publication number: WO2008032992A1
Application number: PCT/KR2007/004433
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yo-Han Oh
Original assignee: Emtrace Technologies, Inc.
Priority date: 2006-09-13
Filing date: 2007-09-13
Publication date: 2008-03-20
Also published as: KR20080024335A; KR100876105B1

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for downloading multimedia contents to an electronic picture frame. The present invention relates to a method for downloading multimedia contents to an electronic picture frame connected to a multimedia contents management server (hereinafter referred to as 'management server') via a mobile communication network or a wire communication network, comprising the steps of A) classifying and storing the multimedia contents into a plurality of groups formed according to preference rating; B) extracting a predetermined number of multimedia contents to be downloaded to the electronic picture frame from the plurality of groups and generating a download list of the predetermined number of multimedia contents; C) transmitting the predetermined number of multimedia contents included in the download list to the electronic picture frame; D) when the downloading is completed, storing the time of downloading the predetermined number of multimedia contents for each of the predetermined number of multimedia contents; and E) when a predetermined requirement is satisfied in the management server, performing steps B) to D) repeatedly.

Description

METHOD FOR DOWNLOADING MULTIMEDIA CONTENTS TO ELECTRONIC PICTURE FRAME

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a system for downloading multimedia contents, and specifically to a method for downloading multimedia contents to an electronic picture frame to provide a plurality of multimedia contents to the electronic picture frame having a memory with a limited storage capacity by substitution and rotation. Background Art

[2] In general, a mobile communication network established by a mobile communication service provider provides communication services and additional services to subscribers. One of the additional services provided via the mobile communication network is wireless Internet. Wireless Internet has been operated in a wireless transmission format suitable for the mobile communication service provider to transmit Internet contents to an electronic picture frame based on the Wireless Access Protocol (WAP).

[3] In addition, there is a problem with the electronic picture frame in that a user cannot store all desired multimedia contents on the memory of the electronic picture frame because the storage capacity of the memory of the electronic picture frame is limited while the size of multimedia contents provided via wireless Internet becomes larger and larger due to the development of wireless Internet.

[4] To solve this problem, a virtual storage device using a web hard disk drive or a web disk drive has been used. However, the web hard disk drive or the web disk drive provides only a simple storage function that simply stores the multimedia contents and allows the user of the electronic picture frame to use the multimedia contents later if necessary.

[5] Accordingly, even when the virtual storage device is used, there exists an inconvenience that the user of the electronic picture frame must access the virtual storage device every time to download the desired multimedia contents.

Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[6] The present invention is directed to solve the problems described above. An object of the present invention is to provide a method for transferring multimedia contents to an electronic picture frame to download a plurality of multimedia contents on the electronic picture frame with a memory of limited storage capacity by rotation and substitution. Technical Solution

[7] To achieve the above object, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for downloading multimedia contents to an electronic picture frame connected to a multimedia contents management server (hereinafter referred to as "management server") via a mobile communication network or a wire communication network, comprising the steps of A) classifying and storing the multimedia contents into a plurality of groups formed according to preference rating; B) extracting a predetermined number of multimedia contents to be downloaded to the electronic picture frame from the plurality of groups and generating a download list of the predetermined number of multimedia contents; C) transmitting the predetermined number of multimedia contents included in the download list to the electronic picture frame; D) when the downloading is completed, storing the time of downloading the predetermined number of multimedia contents for each of the predetermined number of multimedia contents; and E) when a predetermined requirement is satisfied in the management server, performing steps B) to D) repeatedly.

[8] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided, in a multimedia contents management server (hereinafter referred to as "management server"), a computer readable recording medium storing a program for executing the steps of: (i) receiving a storage request message of the multimedia contents from an electronic picture frame connected to the management server via a mobile communication network or a wire communication network; (ii) providing the electronic picture frame with a web or WAP page implemented to register a preference rating of the multimedia contents when storing the multimedia contents; (iii) classifying and storing the web or WAP page into a plurality of groups according to the preference rating; (iv) extracting a predetermined number of the multimedia contents to be downloaded to the electronic picture frame from each of the plurality of groups to generate a download list; (v) transmitting the multimedia contents included in the download list to the electronic picture frame; (vi) if the downloading is completed, storing the date the downloading was performed in association with the multimedia contents; and (vii) performing said steps (iv) to (vi) repeatedly if a predetermined requirement is satisfied in the management server.

Advantageous Effects

[9] As described above, according to a method for downloading multimedia contents to an electronic picture frame of the present invention, even though a user cannot store all desired multimedia contents on a memory because of the limited storage capacity of the electronic picture frame, if the user stores the desired multimedia contents on the management server, the management server periodically repeats the substitution of the multimedia contents according to the available storage capacity of the electronic picture frame, so that the user can view all the multimedia contents over a given time.

[10] In other words, the multimedia contents having the properties that a user needs a relatively short time to view the contents of one unit, such as a picture or a music file, and repeatedly enjoys the same contents, have a distribution characteristic that the number of multimedia contents becomes smaller as the preference rating among the entire group possessed by the user is higher. Due to this characteristic, the user can view a group of a higher preference rating on the electronic picture frame more frequently because the period of time of automatic substitution becomes shorter. Brief Description of the Drawings

[11] Figure 1 illustrates a system for downloading multimedia contents in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

[12] Figure 2 illustrates a schematic block diagram of a multimedia contents management server in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

[13] Figures 3 and 4 illustrate flow charts showing a method for downloading multimedia contents to an electronic picture frame in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[14] Referring to the attached drawings, the preferred embodiments according to this invention will be explained.

[15] FIG. 1 illustrates a system for downloading multimedia contents in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

[16] Referring to Fig. 1, the system for downloading multimedia contents comprises a multimedia contents management system (300; hereinafter referred to as "management server"), a database (400) operating in association with the management server (300) and storing the multimedia contents, a mobile communication network (200), a wire communication network (600), and an electronic picture frame (100) capable of downloading the multimedia contents via the mobile communication network and the wire communication network.

[17] A flash ROM is built into the electronic picture frame to store a variety of multimedia contents, such as music, pictures, moving pictures, and the like. The electronic picture frame is configured to be portable by a user, and the memory capacity thereof cannot be extended arbitrarily. That is, since the memory of the electronic picture frame can store only a predetermined number of multimedia contents, if the memory is in a full state, new multimedia contents cannot be stored until stored multimedia contents are deleted.

[18] If the user of the electronic picture frame (100) stores a plurality of multimedia contents with a preference rating on the management server (300), and sets an update period, that is when the multimedia contents should be updated, and an update rate, that is how many of the multimedia contents should be updated, on the management server (300), the multimedia contents are automatically substituted at the update period by the update rate.

[19] In one embodiment of the present invention, after the multimedia contents are stored on the management server (300), the preference rating of the multimedia contents can be modified by the user, if necessary, by connecting the electronic picture frame to the management server (300).

[20] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the update period and the update rate are set on the electronic picture frame (100), and if the update period has come, the electronic picture frame (100) informs the management server (300) of the fact, and at this time, it is possible to inform the update rate to the management server (300) as well.

[21] An electronic picture frame connected to a wire communication network (600) is accessible to the management server (300) via the wire communication network, and the storage capacity thereof is typically larger than that of a portable electronic picture frame accessible through a wireless communication network, but it still has the same advantageous effect of automatic downloading as the portable electronic picture frame accessible through the wireless communications network. For the specific technical embodiment of the present invention, it does not matter whether the physical type of communication means is wireless or wired.

[22] The management server (300) stores the multimedia contents in association with the identification information of the electronic picture frame, and operates in conjunction with the database (400) to acquire storage space.

[23] A plurality of multimedia contents corresponding to the personal information of the electronic picture frame are stored on the management server (300) by the user of the electronic picture frame (100) or an administrator of the management server (300). Since the plurality of multimedia contents stored on the management server (300) cannot be simultaneously stored on the memory of the electronic picture frame, the multimedia contents are periodically substituted by rotation according to the storage capacity of the electronic picture frame.

[24] In one embodiment of the present invention, the management server (300) is a personal computer, and the multimedia contents, such as pictures or MP3 files, stored on a hard disk drive of the personal computer are downloaded to the electronic picture frame via P2P (Peer to Peer) communication.

[25] Referring to Fig. 2, a method for using a memory in an electronic picture frame

(500) and a method for downloading multimedia contents will be explained below. [26] The electronic picture frame (500) allocates a predetermined space of the total memory to store the multimedia contents, and then divides the allocated space into the number of groups according to the preference rating of the multimedia contents. Reference numbers 510, 530, and 550 designate the divided spaces in the memory of the electronic picture frame (500). The divided spaces, which are allocated to the electronic picture frame according to the preference rating, will be referred to herein as ASPR (Allocated Spaces per Preference Rating).

[27] The management server (300) stores the multimedia contents for the respective user of the electronic picture frame, for example User 1, User 2, . . . User n, as represented by reference number 370. At this time, the user designates a preference rating for each of the multimedia contents. The multimedia contents are grouped based on the preference rating (PR) designated by the user, and classified into a predetermined number of PR groups. The groups of multimedia contents, which are grouped based on the PR in the management server (300), will be referred to herein as CSPR (Contents Set based on Preference Rating).

[28] For example, referring to Fig. 2, User 1 of the management server (300) is classified into three CSPRs, and the order of the preference rating of the CSPRs is CSPR 1, CSPR 2, and CSPR 3.

[29] The system for downloading multimedia contents extracts and substitutes some of the multimedia contents stored in the CSPRs corresponding to the management server (300) according to the update rate designated for each of the ASPRs that are the storage spaces of the electronic picture frame (500). That is, since the universal set of CSPRs and the subset of ASPRs are substituted at a regular period, a unique period of rotation is formed for each of the groups. As such, although the user cannot store the entire multimedia contents on the electronic picture frame at a certain point of time, the entire multimedia contents stored on the management server (300) are periodically downloaded to the electronic picture frame over a given time.

[30] Typically, if the multimedia contents possessed by any user are divided into groups according to a preference rating, a triangular distribution characteristic appears that the number of multimedia contents becomes smaller as the preference rating is higher so that the size of a CSPR is smaller as the preference rating of the CSPR is higher.

[31] Taking this characteristic into consideration, although the respective ASPR of the electronic picture frame (500) is allocated, there is a high possibility that the multimedia contents in a group of a higher preference rating can be downloaded to the electronic picture frame more frequently because of the short period of rotation since the size of the universal set of CSPR becomes smaller as the preference rating thereof is higher.

[32] An update period determining the download period of time is set on the management server (300), and the update period is set as "at 3 o'clock once a day" or "every six hours," for example.

[33] In one embodiment of the present invention, the update period is set on the electronic picture frame, and if a predetermined update period has come, the electronic picture frame transmits a message to the management server to inform the fact, and the management server receives the message and extracts the multimedia contents to be downloaded to the electronic picture frame to generate a download list.

[34] According to another embodiment of the present invention, if the electronic picture frame is mounted on a support connected to the management server, a predefined message is transmitted from the support to the management server, so that the management server extracts the multimedia contents to generate a download list.

[35] According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, if the management server receives a message requesting the downloading of multimedia contents from the electronic picture frame, the management server immediately generates a download list to allow the multimedia contents to be downloaded to the electronic picture frame.

[36] In addition, an update rate determining the rate of the multimedia contents to be substituted at every downloading is set on the management server (300), and the multimedia contents stored in the respective ASPR of the electronic picture frame (500) are substituted with some of the multimedia contents of the corresponding CSPR of the management server (300) at an amount determined by the update rate. In one embodiment, if the update rate is 100%, the entire multimedia contents of the electronic picture frame are substituted with new ones at every update period.

[37] In another embodiment, if the update rate is 50%, an amount of 50% of the space allocated to the respective ASPR of the electronic picture frame is substituted with the multimedia contents of the corresponding CSPR of the management server (300). The top 50% of the existing multimedia contents of the electronic picture frame is maintained in the recently downloaded order.

[38] Next, the operation of the present invention configured as described above will be explained below.

[39]

[40] [EMBODIMENT 1]

[41] FIG. 3 illustrates a flow chart showing a method for downloading multimedia contents from a multimedia contents management server to an electronic picture frame. The first embodiment will be explained below with reference to Fig. 3.

[42] A multimedia contents management server (300; hereinafter referred to as

"management server"), which is connected to a mobile communication network or a wire communication network to transmit multimedia contents to an electronic picture frame, operates in conjunction with a database (400) storing the multimedia contents. [43] A method for transmitting the multimedia contents from the management server

(300) to the electronic picture frame (100) via a mobile communication network or a wire communication network will be explained below.

[44] The management server (300) stores the identification information of the electronic picture frame and the multimedia contents corresponding to the identification information together with preference rating information (S310). In one embodiment, the preference rating may be modified through access to the management server (300), and it does not always need to register the preference rating when storing the multimedia contents. If the multimedia contents are stored while the preference rating is not registered, the multimedia contents have a predesignated preference rating.

[45] The management server (300) classifies the multimedia contents into a predetermined number of groups according to the preset preference rating (S320).

[46] In other words, the predetermined number of groups has a distribution characteristic that a group of a higher preference rating contains a smaller number of multimedia contents, as illustrated in Fig. 2. Due to this distribution characteristic, even though the same number of multimedia contents in the respective group is substituted, a user can view the multimedia contents of a higher preference rating more frequently since the group of a higher preference rating has a shorter period of rotation.

[47] For example, if the same number of five multimedia contents are substituted for each group, fifteen multimedia contents among the entire multimedia contents stored on the electronic picture frame are substituted with new ones at every update period. If 5 of 10 multimedia contents of CSPR 1, 5 of 100 multimedia contents of CSPR 2, and 5 of 1,000 multimedia contents of CSPR 3 are substituted, the multimedia contents of CSPR 1 rotate once per two update periods, the multimedia contents of CSPR 2 rotate once per 20 update periods, and the multimedia contents of CSPR 3 rotate once per 200 update periods.

[48] The management server (300) extracts a predetermined number of multimedia contents in order of the update periods according to volume, which is calculated for the respective CSPR by the update rate, to generate a download list (S330).

[49] The update period allows the multimedia contents belonging to the same group to rotate in turn in a regular order. In one embodiment, the point of time when the multimedia contents are downloaded last is recorded for each of the multimedia contents, and then the multimedia contents having the oldest point of time of downloading are ranked on the list of high priorities. The multimedia contents, which have not yet been downloaded once, have the highest priority, and if they have the same priority, the multimedia contents, which were registered on the management server most recently, have a higher priority. The multimedia contents of the top priority in the update period generated as above are the items to be downloaded first and foremost.

[50] In another embodiment, the management sever (300) stores and maintains an update period for the respective CSPR. If a user registers new multimedia contents on the management server (300), an entry is added to the update period of the corresponding CSPR at the point of time of registration. Since the point of time of the last downloading is recorded for each of the multimedia contents, the position of starting the next downloading, that is the update period, is determined based on the point of time of the last downloading.

[51] If the downloading from the management server (300) to the electronic picture frame is completed, the date the downloading was performed is stored in association with the multimedia contents (S350).

[52] If the update period set on the management server (300) has come, steps S330 to

S350 are performed repeatedly.

[53]

[54] [EMBODIMENT 2]

[55] FIG. 4 illustrates a flow chart showing a method for receiving multimedia contents from a multimedia contents management server (300; hereinafter referred to as "management server") to an electronic picture frame according to the storage capacity of the electronic picture frame. The second embodiment of the present invention will be explained below with reference to FIG. 4.

[56] As described above in Embodiment 1, the management server (300) classifies the multimedia contents into a plurality of groups according to a preference rating which is set together when storing the multimedia contents or separately set (S410). The electronic picture frame also divides its storage space into the number of groups classified according to the preference rating.

[57] The management server (300) determines the number or capacity of the multimedia contents to be downloaded based on an update rate which was set on the management server (300) or the electronic picture frame by a user of the electronic picture frame. The update rate is set in proportion to the capacity of the memory of the electronic picture frame. For example, if the update rate is 50%, the multimedia contents can be downloaded at an amount of 50% of the storage capacity of the memory of the electronic picture frame.

[58] The management server (300) extracts a predetermined number of multimedia contents in order of the update period according to the capacity which is calculated by the update rate for the respective CSPR to generate a download list (S420).

[59] If a downloading start signal is exchanged between the management server and the electronic picture frame, the electronic picture frame searches for free space from the storage capacity allocated to the respective CSPR (S430, S440). If the free space is smaller than the capacity for the update rate, the electronic picture frame deletes multimedia contents stored on the memory, starting from the oldest, in terms of the point of time of downloading, until space sufficient for the update rate is available (S450, S460).

[60] If free space is available in the electronic picture frame, the multimedia contents of the download list are downloaded to the electronic picture frame one after another (S470). If the downloading of the entire multimedia contents of the download list is completed, the process is ended.

[61] The present invention can also be embodied as computer readable codes on a computer readable recording medium. The computer readable recording medium may be any data storage device that can store data which can be thereafter read by a computer system. Examples of computer readable recording media include read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory (RAM), CD-ROMs, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, optical data storage devices, and carrier waves such as data transmission through the Internet. The computer readable recording medium can also be distributed over network coupled computer systems so that the computer readable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion.

Claims

[1] A method for downloading multimedia contents to an electronic picture frame connected to a multimedia contents management server (hereinafter referred to as "management server") via a mobile communication network or a wire communication network, comprising the steps of:

A) classifying and storing the multimedia contents into a plurality of groups formed according to preference rating;

B) extracting a predetermined number of multimedia contents to be downloaded to the electronic picture frame from the plurality of groups and generating a download list of the predetermined number of multimedia contents;

C) transmitting the predetermined number of multimedia contents included in the download list to the electronic picture frame;

D) when the downloading is completed, storing the time of downloading the predetermined number of multimedia contents for each of the predetermined number of multimedia contents; and

E) when a predetermined requirement is satisfied in the management server, performing steps B) to D) repeatedly.

[2] The method for downloading multimedia contents to an electronic picture frame according to claim 1, wherein said step A) further comprises the steps of: A-I) receiving a storage request message of the multimedia contents from the electronic picture frame;

A-2) providing the electronic picture frame with a web or WAP page for registering a preference rating of the multimedia contents when storing the multimedia contents; and

A-3) classifying and storing the multimedia contents on the plurality of groups according to the preference rating registered through the web or WAP page.

[3] The method for downloading multimedia contents to an electronic picture frame according to claim 1, wherein said method further comprises the step of connecting to the management server to register or modify the preference rating registered through the web or WAP page.

[4] The method for downloading multimedia contents to an electronic picture frame according to claim 3, wherein the multimedia contents included in the plurality of groups are sorted according to the point of time when they are registered on the management server and when they are downloaded to the electronic picture frame to determine an update period that determines the order of downloading to the electronic picture frame.

[5] The method for downloading multimedia contents to an electronic picture frame according to claim 4, wherein the download list is generated based on the storage capacity of the electronic picture frame and the update period.

[6] The method for downloading multimedia contents to an electronic picture frame according to claim 5, wherein said step B) further comprises the steps of: B-I) when a part of the storage of the electronic picture frame is set to be substituted, calculating a capacity corresponding to the predetermined part; and B-2) extracting a certain number of multimedia contents based on the update period according to the calculated capacity to generate the download list.

[7] The method for downloading multimedia contents to an electronic picture frame according to claim 6, wherein said step C) further comprises the steps of: C-I) exchanging a downloading start message of the multimedia contents between the electronic picture frame and the management server; and C-2) acquiring capacity corresponding to the part set to be substituted in the electronic picture frame according to the downloading start message.

[8] The method for downloading multimedia contents to an electronic picture frame according to claim 7, wherein said step C-2) further comprises the steps of: C-21) searching for free space among the storage capacity of the electronic picture frame;

C-22) when the free space is smaller than the capacity set to be substituted, deleting the multimedia contents starting from the oldest, in terms of time of downloading.

[9] The method for downloading multimedia contents to an electronic picture frame according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the predetermined requirement in said step E) is a message notifying the management server that a predetermined update period which is set on the electronic picture frame has come in the electronic picture frame.

[10] The method for downloading multimedia contents to an electronic picture frame according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the predetermined requirement in said step E) is satisfied when a predetermined update period is set on the management server and the predetermined update period has come.

[11] The method for downloading multimedia contents to an electronic picture frame according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the predetermined requirement in said step E) is satisfied by transmitting a predetermined message to the management server when the electronic picture frame is mounted to a support connected to the management server.

[12] The method for downloading multimedia contents to an electronic picture frame according to claim 11, wherein the management server is a personal computer.

[13] The method for downloading multimedia contents to an electronic picture frame according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the predetermined requirement in said step E) is satisfied by receiving a download request message of the multimedia contents transmitted via the mobile communication network or the wire communication network.

[14] The method for downloading multimedia contents to an electronic picture frame according to claim 13, wherein the management server is a personal computer.