Method of managing metadata and set top box device

Abstract

A method of managing metadata applied in a set top box (STB) device is provided. The set top box device is operable to receive plural types of media data. The method of managing metadata begins with receiving a first media data and a second media data. Next, a first metadata of the first media data and a second metadata of the second media data are separately obtained, and a first metadata table and a second metadata table respectively complying with a specific table are generated. Lastly, the first media data and the second media data are respectively stored in the database according to the context of the first metadata table and the context of the second metadata table.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a set top box according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method of managing metadata according to the preferred embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 3 illustrates the relationship among media data, metadata tables and a database according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Claims

1. A method of managing metadata applied in a set top box device, wherein the set top box device is operable to receive a plurality of types of media data, the managing method comprises: receiving a first media data and a second media data;seperately obtaining a first metadata of the first media data and a second metadata of the second media data, and respectively generating a first metadata table and a second metadata table both complying with a specific table; andrespectively storing the first media data and the second media data in a database according to the context of the first metadata table and the context of the second metadata table;wherein the type of the first media data and the type of the second media data are different.

2. The managing method according to claim 1, wherein following the step of generating the first metadata table and the second metadata table, the method further comprises analyzing the context of the first metadata table and the context of the second metadata table.

3. The managing method according to claim 1, wherein the columns of the specific table comprise the columns corresponding to the first metadata, the columns corresponding to the second metadata and partial columns of the specific table corresponding to the first metadata and the second metadata at the same time, in the first metadata table, only the columns corresponding to the first metadata are inputted with data, and in the second metadata table, only the columns corresponding to the second metadata are inputted with data.

4. The managing method according to claim 1, wherein the specific table is of extensible markup language file format.

5. The managing method according to claim 1, wherein the media data comprise audio data, video data or image data.

6. The managing method according to claim 1, wherein the first media data or the second media data is an MPEG file, an MP3 file, a VoD program, a WMA file, a JPEG file, a digital TV program, or a cabled TV program.

7. A set top box device operable to receive a plurality of types of media data, wherein the set top box device comprises: a first importer operable to receive a first media data and obtain a first metadata from the first media data, wherein the first importer is further used for generating a first metadata table complying with a specific table;a second importer operable to receive a second media data and obtain a second metadata from the second media data, wherein the second importer is further used for generating a second metadata table complying with the specific table; anda database used for respectively storing the first media data and the second media data according to the context of the first metadata table and the context of the second metadata table;wherein the type of the first media data and the type of the second media data are different.

8. The set top box device according to claim 7, comprising a media context control unit used for analyzing the context of the first metadata table and the context of the second metadata table.

9. The set top box device according to claim 7, wherein the columns of the specific table comprise the columns corresponding to the first metadata, the columns corresponding to the second metadata and partial columns of the specific table corresponding to the first metadata and the second metadata at the same time, in the first metadata table, only the columns corresponding to the first metadata are inputted with data, and in the second metadata table, only the columns corresponding to the second metadata are inputted with data.

10. The set top box device according to claim 7, wherein the specific table is of extensible markup language file format.

11. The set top box device according to claim 7, wherein the media data comprise audio data, video data or image data.

12. The set top box device according to claim 7, wherein the first media data or the second media data is an MPEG file, an MP3 file, a VoD programs, a WMA file, a JPEG file, a digital TV program, or a cabled TV program.

13. The set top box device according to claim 8, further comprising a user interface used for retrieving the media data stored in the database.

14. The set top box device according to claim 13, wherein the user interface retrieves the media data stored in the database according to the specific table.