METHOD FOR PROCESSING DIGITAL BROADCASTING DATA APPLICATION

Abstract

A method for processing a digital broadcasting data application are disclosed. In accordance with the method of the present invention, a data of a minimum quantity required for executing a data application is received the digital broadcast network and other data is received by a pull method to minimize a time required for receiving and executing the data application.

Claims

1. A method for executing, by a receiver, a data application, the method comprising steps of: obtaining metadata of the data application, wherein the metadata includes location information and time information for executing the data application which include at least one resource divided into at least one segment; requesting a segment included in the at least one resource based on the metadata; and receiving the segment in response to the request.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a type of the at least one resource includes image, text and video required for executing the data application.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the resource includes at least one data which is different encoded versions of additional data included in the data application.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the requesting comprises transmitting a http request specifying the segment.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprises executing the received segment.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0049] FIG. 1 is a block diagram exemplifying a conventional data broadcast system of a digital broadcast.

[0050] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram exemplifying a method for executing a data application of a digital broadcasting in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0051] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram exemplifying a method for executing a data application of a digital broadcasting in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0052]

TABLE-US-00001 [Description of the reference numerals] 110: broadcasting server 120: content provider server 130: data provider server 140: receiver

BEST MODE

[0053] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanied drawings.

[0054] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram exemplifying a method for executing a data application in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0055] The method for executing the data application of the digital broadcasting in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention is embodied in a receiver of the digital broadcast. For instance, the method is embodied in a set-top box of a terrestrial broadcasting, a cable broadcasting or a satellite broadcasting, a television, a personal computer or a DMB receiver capable of receiving the terrestrial broadcasting, the cable broadcasting or the satellite broadcasting.

[0056] Referring to FIG. 2, the receiver receives a minimum execution data for executing the data application through a digital broadcast network (S110).

[0057] A conventional receiver receives an entirety of a data of the data application via the digital broadcast network. Particularly, an entirety of a class and a resource constituting the data application is received. Therefore, an excessive time is required to receive the data application. Accordingly, a large amount of delay occurs in executing the data application due to the excessive reception time.

[0058] Contrarily, the receiver in accordance with the present invention receives the minimum execution data instead of the entirety of the data of the data application. A remaining data may be received via a return channel. When the return channel is used instead of the digital broadcast network, the remaining data may be received faster. As a result, the time required for receiving the data application is minimized.

[0059] The digital broadcast network in the step S110 refers to various broadcast network such as a terrestrial broadcast network, a cable broadcast network, a satellite broadcast network, a high speed communication network of the IP-TV and a DMB network. In addition, the reception of the minimum execution data may be carried out by receiving the minimum execution data in a broadcast format, a multicast format or unicast format via the digital broadcast network.

[0060] The minimum execution data may include a foundation class data required for executing the data application. The minimum execution data is a data configured for a minimum execution of the data application.

[0061] The remaining data constituting the data application is referred to as an additional data hereinafter, wherein the additional data may include an additional class data or a resource data required for executing the data application.

[0062] The minimum execution data may comprise a metadata for the execution of the data application. That is, the metadata may comprise a download location information of the additional data or an execution condition information of the data application in order to facilitate a downloading of the additional data.

[0063] The receiver may minimize the time required to receive the data application via the digital broadcast network via the step S110.

[0064] Thereafter, the received minimum execution data is executed (S130). That is, the receiver executes the minimum execution data using an information processing apparatus such as a CPU.

[0065] In addition, when the minimum execution data includes the metadata, the download location information of the additional data or the execution condition information of the data application may be extracted from the metadata.

[0066] Thereafter, the receiver receives an additional data required during the execution of the minimum execution data in the step S130.

[0067] As described above, the minimum execution data is the minimum data required in executing the data application. Therefore, the receiver requires the additional data such as an additional resource, text or a class data in order to provide the data application wherein the additional data is received via the return channel embodied in a receiving stage of the digital broadcasting.

[0068] The receiver may receive the additional data by a conventional HTTP request. However, in order to minimize the reception time, it is preferable that the receiver receives the additional data by generating a socket. That is, the receiver may receive the additional data through an asynchronous socket-based communication with an data application providing server.

[0069] Thereafter, the minimum execution data and the addition data is combined to provide the data application (S170).

[0070] In accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention, the time required for providing the data application is minimized compared to the conventional receiver wherein the data application is received and executed via the digital broadcast network.

[0071] On the other hand, in order to further reduce the time required for executing the data application, a method described below may be used.

[0072] The conventional receiver receives an entirety of the data application and executes the data application as a whole. Therefore, a resource of the receiver such as a memory is excessively used.

[0073] In order to overcome the above-described problem, the receiver in accordance with the present invention divides the data application into scenes based on the minimum execution data and the data application is executed based on the scenes.

[0074] That is, in the step S130, the data application is divided into scenes based on the minimum execution data. The data application may be divided with respect to the resource. For instance, the data application may be divided into an image portion and a text portion.

[0075] Thereafter, when the additional data is received in the step S150, the additional data may be received for each of the scenes.

[0076] Thereafter, the additional data for each of the scenes may be executed to provide the data application.

[0077] For instance, since the time required for receiving a text data is less than that of an image data, the scene corresponding to the text data may be immediately executed and provided once the reception of the text data is complete. The scene corresponding to the image data is provided by executing the image data when the reception of the image data is complete.

[0078] As a result, the time required for providing the data application may be minimized.

Mode for Invention

[0079] In accordance with the first embodiment, the data application is executed based on the minimum execution data. A metadata may be received and analyzed instead of the minimum execution data to provide the data application.

[0080] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram exemplifying a method for executing a data application in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0081] Referring to FIG. 3, a receiver embodying the method for executing the data application in accordance with second embodiment receives a metadata for the data application (S210).

[0082] The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the following. In accordance with first embodiment, the receiver receives the minimum execution data such as the foundation class data of the data application. In accordance with second embodiment, the receiver receives only the metadata in the step S210. that is, the data application is not transmitted via the digital broadcast network but only the metadata is transmitted.

[0083] In addition, the receiver may receive the metadata via other methods as well as the digital broadcast network. For instance, the receiver may receive the metadata through the return channel. However, it is preferable that the receiver receives the metadata via the digital broadcast network.

[0084] The metadata may comprise a download location information of the data application or an execution condition information of the data application.

[0085] That is, the download location information of the data application may include a network connection location information of an data application providing server that may be connected via the return channel. The execution condition information of the data application may include an information on an association or an execution time of a particular broadcast program.

[0086] Thereafter, the metadata received in the step S210 is analyzed to extract an information required for executing the data application (S230).

[0087] The information required for executing the data application may include the download location information of the data application or the execution condition information of the data application.

[0088] Thereafter, the data application is received based on the information extracted in the step S230 (S250).

[0089] In the step S250, the receiver may receive the data application by establishing a connection to the data application providing server through the return channel.

[0090] In addition, it is preferable that the additional data is received by generating a socket in order to minimize a receiving time. That is, the receiver may receive the additional data through an asynchronous socket-based communication with the data application providing server.

[0091] Thereafter, the data application received in the step S250 is executed and provided (S270).

[0092] In accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention, only the metadata is received through the digital broadcast network and the data application is received through the return channel providing a high speed connection in order to minimize the time required for receiving the data application.

[0093] On the other hand, a method described below may be employed in order to reduce the time required to receive the data application.

[0094] The conventional receiver is disadvantageous in that the entirety of the data application is received and executed, resulting in an excessive use of the resource such as the memory of the receiver.

[0095] In order to overcome the disadvantage of the conventional receiver, the data application providing server may divide and store the data application for each of the resources. That is, the data application may be divided into a divided data application for a text resource, a divided data application for an image resource and a divided data application for controlling the resources.

[0096] Therefore, the receiver may receive the plurality of divided data applications in the step S250, and the receiver executes and provides the divided data application in the step S270. As a result, the execution time of the data application is minimized.

[0097] While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be effected therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Industrial Applicability

[0098] In accordance with the present invention, the data of the minimum quantity required for executing the data application is received and other data is received by the pull method to minimize the time required for receiving and executing the data application. Particularly, the data application may be divided and executed for each of the scenes to minimize the time required for receiving and executing the data application.