Patent Application
20130089019
This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2011-0103253 filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Oct. 10, 2011, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for multicasting a video in real-time, and more particularly, to an apparatus for multicasting a video photographed by a portable terminal in real-time.
A current technology of synchronizing video contents transmits a stored video file to a server and then sends the stored video file to user terminals. To send a video stored in a user terminal to another user terminal, the stored video may be sent using a function of an MMS, a mail, and the like.
According to the related art, to show a video photographed by the user terminal to another person, stored files need to be sent after photographing the video or to be sent to only one person through a video phone call.
In the meantime, as another example, an video phone call service such as face time of iPhone can transmit and output the video as one-to-one correspondence, but cannot support 1:N transmission.
The present invention has been made in an effort to provide an apparatus for streaming and multicasting a video photographed by a portable terminal in real-time, and a method thereof.
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus for multicasting a video in real-time, including: a target selector selecting receiving terminals which will receive the video; and a video multi-caster provided in a portable terminal and multi-casting the video to the selected receiving terminals through a multicasting server such that the video is real-time multicasted for every selected receiving terminal.
The target selector may include: a querying unit querying first terminals already knowing terminal information which will receive the video; a response message collecting unit collecting a response message to the query for a preset time; and a terminal selecting unit interpreting the collected response message and selecting receiving terminals of the first terminals which will receive the video. The querying unit may query about whether to receive the video to second terminals to meet a preset reference as a terminal not previously knowing the terminal information, and the terminal selecting unit further includes a terminal registering unit registering a terminal of the second terminals allowing reception of the video. The querying unit may be located within a communicable distance with the multicasting server based on the reference.
The apparatus for multicasting a video in real-time may further include a video photographer included in the portable terminal and photographing the video, and the video multi-caster uses a photographed video or a video which starts to be photographed as a target of the multi-casting.
The target selector may use a terminal of which a user is connected to a human network formed through a social network service (SNS) accesses as a query target terminal querying whether to receive the video.
The video multi-caster may include: a video buffering unit buffering a photographed video or a video which starts to be photographed; and a video transmitting unit transmitting the buffered video to the multicasting server such that multi-casting is performed through the multicasting server simultaneously with buffering.
The querying unit may transmit a message with the query the first terminal such that a receiver recognizes the message immediately after receiving the message in a push message form.
The apparatus for multicasting a video in real-time may further include: a terminal information requester requesting terminal information of the fourth terminal to the third terminal when receiving recommendation for a fourth terminal from a third terminal receiving or having received the video; and a target adder adding the fourth terminal to a target to receive video according to whether the fourth terminal receives the video when receiving the terminal information of the fourth terminal.
Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a method for real-time multicasting a video, including: selecting receiving terminals which will receive the video; and multi-casting the video to selected receiving terminals through a multicasting server such that the video is real-time multicasted for every selected receiving terminal.
The selecting of receiving terminals which will receive the video may include: querying first terminals already knowing terminal information which will receive the video; collecting a response message to the query for a preset time; and interpreting the collected response message and selecting receiving terminals of the first terminals which will receive the video. The querying of first terminals already knowing terminal information which will receive the video may include querying second terminals to meet a preset reference whether to receive the video to as a terminal not previously knowing the terminal information, and the selecting of receiving terminals which will receive the video may include registering a terminal of the second terminals allowing reception of the video. The querying of first terminals may be located within a communicable distance with the multicasting server based on the reference.
The method for real-time multicasting a video may further include photographing the video using the portable terminal, and the multi-casting the video uses a photographed video or a video which starts to be photographed as a target of the multi-casting.
The selecting of the receiving terminals for real-time multicasting a video uses a terminal of which a user is connected to a human network is formed through a social network service (SNS) that accesses as a query target terminal querying whether to receive the video.
The multi-casting the video may include buffering the photographed video or the video which starts to be photographed in the portable terminal; and transmitting the buffered video to the multicasting server such that multi-casting is performed through the multicasting server simultaneously with buffering.
The querying about whether to receive the video may transmit a message with a query to the first terminal such that a receiver recognizes the message immediately after receiving the message in a push message form.
The method for real-time multicasting a video may further include: requesting terminal information of the fourth terminal to the third terminal when receiving recommendation for a fourth terminal from a third terminal receiving or having received the video; and adding the fourth terminal to a target to receive video according to whether the fourth terminal receives the video when receiving the terminal information of the fourth terminal.
According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to real-time stream and multi-cast a video photographed by a portable terminal, which achieves following effects by real-time streaming and multi-casting a video photographed by a portable terminal. First, the user may multicast a currently photographed video in a manner of simultaneously real-time streaming the video to a plurality of users. The user may simultaneously share various information with friends, acquaintances, and the like through a video. Second, the user may vividly and simultaneously transfer a field situation to a plurality of users without storing a video.
The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.
It should be understood that the appended drawings are not necessarily to scale, presenting a somewhat simplified representation of various features illustrative of the basic principles of the invention. The specific design features of the present invention as disclosed herein, including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, locations, and shapes will be determined in part by the particular intended application and use environment.
In the figures, reference numbers refer to the same or equivalent parts of the present invention throughout the several figures of the drawing.
Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. First of all, we should note that in giving reference numerals to elements of each drawing, like reference numerals refer to like elements even though like elements are shown in different drawings. In describing the present invention, well-known functions or constructions will not be described in detail since they may unnecessarily obscure the understanding of the present invention. It should be understood that although exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described hereafter, the spirit of the present invention is not limited thereto and may be changed and modified in various ways by those skilled in the art.
The apparatus 100 for multicasting a video in real-time is provided in a portable terminal, which is a device for real-time streaming and multi-casting a video photographed by the portable terminal.
The apparatus 100 multi-casts a video photographed by the portable terminal to other terminals based on a social network. The apparatus 100 selects a terminal which will receive a video for real-time multicasting the video, transmits a message to the selected terminal, and determines whether to provide in real-time a streaming service to a corresponding terminal according to an ACK message. If the video is photographed, the apparatus 100 provides a real-time streaming service to a target terminal to receive video through a server with a push message.
A target selector 110 functions to select receiving terminals which will receive the video. The target selector 110 may use a terminal of which a user is connected to a human network is formed through a social network service (SNS) that accesses as a query target terminal querying whether to receive the video. That is, a terminal associated with the user through a multicasting server based on the social network may be used as a query target terminal. The human network means a human relationship, personal connection, or the like.
As shown in
The querying unit 111 may query second terminals to meet a preset reference whether to receive the video as a terminal not previously knowing the terminal information. The target selector 110 may further include a terminal registering unit 114 in consideration of this point. The terminal registering unit 114 functions to register a terminal of the second terminals allowing reception of the video. The first terminal means a terminal which persons (friend, family, and the like) communicating with each other at any time access, and the second terminal means a terminal which acquaintances communicating with each other occasionally access. In the meantime, the querying unit 111 may be located within a communicable distance with the multicasting server based on the reference.
The video multi-caster 120 functions to multi-cast a video to selected receiving terminals through a multicasting server such that the video is real-time multicasted for every selected receiving terminal.
As shown in
The power supply 130 functions to supply power to respective constituent elements included in the apparatus 100.
A main controller 140 functions to control an overall operation of the respective constituent elements included in the apparatus 100.
As shown in
As shown in
Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment of the apparatus 100 will be described with reference to
An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for sending a video photographed by a portable terminal to plural users or terminal devices to provide a real-time multicasting without storing the video as a file.
The exemplary embodiment of the present invention performs next steps. In a first step, a user selects a person to send an image of friends or families on a social network. In a second step, the apparatus 100 sends a push alarm message to a selected friend to query whether to real-time receive an image. In a third step, when the user is taking a video, the video is sent to the server in a streaming scheme. Next, in the fourth step, the apparatus 100 sends an image to a terminal of a user have responded that the user will receive the video.
The apparatus 100 may additionally select friends or a family on a social network in the middle of a streaming service. A next procedure sends a push message to query whether to receive the streaming service. When the reception of the streaming service is allowed, the apparatus 100 puts a streaming service into effect.
As shown in
As shown in
The video providing terminal 410 may receive and view a video multicasted by another terminal. Upon considering this point, the video providing terminal 410 may further include a push management module, a video output streaming module, and the like. Functions performed by the push management module and the video output streaming module will be described below.
As shown in
As shown in
While viewing the video, a viewing terminal may recommend a corresponding multicasting to another user of a social network. In this case, the multicasting server 420 recognizes a viewing terminal recommending event and sends a recommending message to the video providing terminal 410. If accepting the recommending message, the video providing terminal 410 again sends a push message to the viewing terminal recommended to query whether to view the video. If accepting to view the video, the recommended viewing terminal may receive the video.
The video transmission process shown in
The viewer selecting step S600 selects a user viewing an video to be photographed by an video providing terminal 410 on an existing social network such as a messenger or a face-book in which friends or neighbors have a relationship with each other. The reporting step by a push message S610 sends a push message to a viewing terminals 430 selected by the multicasting server 420 to inform a fact that the video providing terminal 410 will send a photographed video. When a viewer agrees to provision of the video, the video requesting step S620 requests the video to the multicasting server 420 through a viewing terminals 430. In the video photographing step S630, an video providing terminal 410 starts photographing a video. The first video transmitting step S640 real-time transmits an video photographed by the video providing terminal 410 to the multicasting server 420 while simultaneously buffering the photographed video on a terminal. In the video storing step S650, the multicasting server 420 stores a received video. The second video transmitting step S660 is performed simultaneously with the video storing step S650. In the second video transmitting step S660, the multicasting server 420 stores a video and simultaneously transmits the video to a viewing terminals 430 having requested the video.
In the meantime, this exemplary embodiment may provide a video transmission service without using the multicasting server 420.
In the real-time streaming service system 700 according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an video providing terminal 410 instead of the multicasting server 420 functions as a streaming server. The video providing terminal 410 selects a viewing target through a social network managing server 710 (751). The social network managing server 710 notifies a push message about whether to receive a streaming service to each viewing terminal and receives a response thereof (752). Next, the social network managing server 710 transmits a list of streaming service requesting terminals to the video providing terminal 410. The terminals for requesting streaming service are under the preparing state for receiving the image (754), the video providing terminal 410 directly connects to a corresponding viewing terminal (755) and provides a video (756).
As shown in
The social network managing server 710 includes a push processing module 421 and a second server module 821. The second server module 821 performs the same function as that of the social network processing module 422.
The viewing terminals 430 includes a push management module 431 and a second client module 831. The second client module 831 performs the same function as that of the video output streaming module 432.
The video transmission process shown in
The viewer selecting step S900 selects a user who will use an video to be photographed by the video providing terminal 410 on a social network. The streaming service reporting step S910 sends a push message to the viewing terminals 430 selected from the social network managing server 710 to report sending by a notice that a video photographed by the video providing terminal 410. The determining step S920 receives a message indicating whether the social network managing server 710 receives a streaming service from the viewing terminals 430. In the list processing step S930, the social network managing server 710 transmits a list of streaming service requesting terminals to the video providing terminal 410. The video transmitting step S940 real-time streams the video photographed by the video providing terminal 410 to a corresponding viewing terminals.
Hereinafter, the following is an explanation of a method for multicasting video in real-time using the apparatus 100 of
First, a target selector 110 selects receiving terminals which will receive a target to receive video (Hereinafter, target selecting step). The target selector 110 may use a terminal which a user for which a human network is formed through a social network service (SNS) accesses as a query target terminal querying whether to receive the video. The target selecting step may include a query step S20, a response message collecting step and a target selecting step (S30˜S40). In the query step S20, the querying unit 111 queries first terminals already knowing terminal information about whether the first terminals receive the video. The querying unit 111 may transmit a message with a query to the first terminal such that a receiver recognizes the message immediately after receiving the message in a push message form. Next, in the response message collecting step, the response message collecting unit 112 collects a response message to the query for a preset time. In the target selecting step (S30˜S40), the terminal selecting unit 113 interprets the collected response message and selects receiving terminals of the first terminals receiving the video. The selected terminal is a terminal having allowed reception of the video. However, there may be a terminal rejecting the reception of the video. The terminal is not selected as a terminal receiving the video (S40′).
However, there may be a terminal not knowing terminal information among terminals allowing a user to view the video (S10). In the query step S20, in consideration of a fact that there may be a terminal not knowing terminal information among terminals allowing a user to view the video, the querying unit 111 may query second terminals meeting a preset reference about whether to receive the video as a terminal not previously knowing the terminal information. In a terminal registering step, the terminal registering unit 114 registers all of the second terminals (S15). The step S15 may be performed before the query step S20. In the meantime, the terminal registering unit 114 may register terminals having allowed reception of the video of the second terminals. This may be performed at any time after the query step S20. In the meantime, the query step S20 may be located within a distance capable of communicating with a multicasting server based on the reference. After the target selecting step, the video multi-caster 120 multi-casts the video receiving terminal selected from a portable terminal through a multicasting server (S50) such that the video is real-time multicasted for each receiving terminal (video multi-casting step S60).
The video multi-casting step may include a video buffering step and a video transmitting step. In the video buffering step, the video buffering unit 121 buffers a photographed video or a video starting photographing in a portable terminal. In the video transmitting step, the video transmitting unit 122 transmits the buffered video to the multicasting server such that multi-casting is performed through the multicasting server simultaneously with the buffering.
Before the video multi-casting step, the video photographing step may be performed. The video photographing step may be performed at any time before the video multi-casting step. That is, the video photographing step may be performed before the target selecting step, or between the target selecting step and the video multi-casting step. As shown in
After the video multi-casting step, a terminal information requesting step and a target adding step may be performed. In the terminal information requesting step, when receiving recommendation for a fourth terminal from a third terminal receiving or having received the video, the terminal information requester 160 requests terminal information of the fourth terminal to the third terminal. Next, in the target adding step, when receiving the terminal information of the fourth terminal, the target adder 170 functions to add the fourth terminal to a target to receive video according to whether the fourth terminal receives the video.
As mentioned above, the apparatus and a method for real-time multicasting a video, described with reference to
As described above, the exemplary embodiments have been described and illustrated in the drawings and the specification. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain certain principles of the invention and their practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to make and utilize various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, as well as various alternatives and modifications thereof. As is evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of the present invention are not limited by the particular details of the examples illustrated herein, and it is therefore contemplated that other modifications and applications, or equivalents thereof, will occur to those skilled in the art. Many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the present construction will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the specification and the accompanying drawings. All such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is limited only by the claims which follow.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-2011-0103253 | Oct 2011 | KR | national |
