JP2002245720A - Audio playback unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To speed up the reproduction processing of an audio playback unit by arbitrarily specifying the read of an ID3 tag added to music data compressed by an MP3 mode. SOLUTION: When a playback of MP3 music data is instructed by a playback key operation, a CPU1a checks whether or not the read of ID3 tag information is set (for example, an ID3 tag reading flag to be set in a RAM 1c is checked) (Step S1). If the read is not set (for example, the flag OFF) (Step S1; No), the performance of the instructed MP3 music data is immediately started.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to an audio reproducing apparatus for reproducing music data recorded on a recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, digital data such as music has become widely available with the development of Internet-related technology and the rapid increase of personal computer owners.
As a data format for storing music as digital data, an MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer-3) system has been receiving attention. The MP3 format refers to MPEG (Moving Picture).
The MP3 method is one of the music data compression methods standardized by the Experts Group, and it is possible to compress music data to a compact data capacity and maintain good sound quality even after the compression.

[0003] By writing such MP3 music data on a recording medium such as a CD-R (Compact Disc Recordable), the user can write the original audio CD or CD-ROM (CD Read Only Memory).
y) etc. can be created. However, MP3
The format is a format for music data compression,
It was not designed to retain character information such as song names and artist names.

[0004] Therefore, in response to a demand to store such character information together with music data in a recording medium,
A format has been devised in which a data area having a fixed length of 128 bytes is added to the end of an MP3 file, and additional character information such as a song title, an album name, and an artist name can be embedded in this area. This format is currently ID3v
1 (ID3 version 1), and the MP3 player corresponding to ID3v1 can display and edit the above additional information (ID3 tag information).

A process for reading ID3 tag information in a conventional MP3 player will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG.

When the user instructs to reproduce MP3 data, the address of the ID3 tag is calculated based on the address of the specified data to be accessed and the data amount (step P1). Next, the address of the ID3 tag calculated in step P1 is searched (step P2).

When the address of the ID3 tag of the specified data is searched, the character data recorded in the ID3 data area is obtained (step P3), and reproduction of the specified MP3 data is started (step P4). . During reproduction, this character information is displayed on the display unit.

[0008]

However, in the conventional MP3 player, when the user issues a reproduction instruction, as shown in FIG. 4, before the performance of the specified MP3 data is started, as shown in FIG. The mechanism is such that the ID3 tag information of the data is automatically read. Even if the tag information is not recorded, the reading operation is performed. Therefore, the additional information of the MP3 data instructed to be reproduced is already known. For some users, waiting time until the reading operation is completed is wasted. In particular, in the case of an ID3v1 tag, since tag information is added to the end of MP3 data, it takes a long time to read, and there is a problem that the time required from the reproduction instruction by the user to the start of performance becomes long.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to speed up reproduction processing in an audio reproduction apparatus by arbitrarily designating reading of an ID3 tag added to music data compressed by the MP3 system.

[0010]

The present invention has the following features in order to solve such a problem. In the following description of the means and the like, a configuration corresponding to the embodiment is exemplified by parentheses as an example. Reference numerals and the like are reference numerals of the attached drawings.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a reproducing means (for example, a memory reproducing unit 4 and a CD reproducing unit 5 in FIG. 1) for reproducing music data recorded on a recording medium, and music recorded on the recording medium. Playback designating means (for example, operation unit 3 in FIG. 1) for designating data playback, and display means for reading and displaying additional information added to the music data (for example, FIG. 1)
Display unit 2), the read designation unit (for example, the MP3 player 10 shown in FIG. 1) for designating whether or not to read the additional information added to the music data. When the reading of the additional information is designated by the operation unit 3) and the reading designation unit, the additional information of the music data recorded on the recording medium is displayed by the display unit in accordance with the reproduction designation by the reproduction designation unit. The music data recorded on the recording medium is displayed and reproduced by the reproducing means, and when the reading of the additional information is not specified by the reading specifying means, the reproduction is specified by the reproducing specifying means. And control means (for example, CPU 1a in FIG. 1) for immediately starting the reproduction by the reproduction means. To have.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a reading designating means for designating whether or not to read the additional information added to the music data, and when the reading of the additional information is designated by the reading designating means, According to the reproduction designation by the reproduction designation means, the additional information of the music data recorded on the recording medium is displayed by the display means, the music data is reproduced by the reproduction means, and the reading of the additional information by the read designation means is performed. If not specified, control means for immediately starting reproduction of the music data recorded on the recording medium by the reproduction means in accordance with the reproduction specification by the reproduction specification means, thereby reading the additional information of the music data. Since the processing can be arbitrarily specified, and when the reading of the additional information is not specified, the reproduction of the music data is started and the performance is started. It is possible to shorten the time required to.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. First, the configuration will be described.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of an MP3 player 10 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the MP3 player 10 includes a system controller 1, a display unit 2, an operation unit 3, a memory reproduction unit 4, and a CD.
The system controller 1 includes a reproducing unit 5, an MP3 decoder 6, an amplifier circuit 7, and an audio output terminal 8. The system controller 1 has a CPU 1a, a ROM 1b, and a RAM 1c therein.

The CPU (Cent) in the system controller 1
ral Processing Unit) 1a is an operation unit 3 by a user.
Key stored in ROM 1b
Various control programs and application programs for the P3 player are read out, developed in a program storage area in the RAM 1c, and various processes are executed, and various data generated in this process are stored in a work area (data storage) formed in the RAM 1c. Area).

For example, the CPU 1a reads the tag information accompanying the MP3 music data recorded on the semiconductor memory loaded in the memory reproducing section 4 or the disc loaded in the CD reproducing section 5 (see FIG. 2). )I do.

The ROM (Read Only Memory) 1b has a CP
It stores various control programs for the MP3 player executed by U1a, data processed by the processing program, and the like.

A RAM (Random Access Memory) 1c is
When the CPU 1a executes various control programs such as the tag reading process, the programs are loaded in a program storage area (not shown), and data read by the CPU 1a in these processings is stored in a data storage area (not shown). For example, the RAM 1c is a CD
When a disc is loaded in the reproducing unit 5, the TOC (Table Of Contents) obtained by the reproducing operation on the innermost peripheral side of the disc is performed.
tents) information is recorded in the data storage area.

The display unit 2 includes an LCD (Liquid Crystal Dis
play) or the like, and a required display is performed based on the control of the system controller 1. For example, it displays TOC information such as a progress time and a track number during reproduction of a disc loaded in the CD reproduction unit 5, an operation mode, and the like.

The display unit 2 displays the MP3 player 10
Whether the ID3 tag information is read (O
N / OFF) is displayed. Further, if the reading of the ID3 tag information is set (ON), when the MP3 music data is reproduced by the memory reproducing unit 4 or the CD reproducing unit 5, the I3 of the MP3 music data is reproduced.
Display D3 tag information.

The operation unit 3 has various keys such as a reproduction key, a stop key, and a cursor key, and outputs an operation signal by a key operation to the system controller 1. For example, the display unit 2
Whether ID3 tag information is read (ON / OFF)
Is displayed, a signal for setting whether or not to read the tag information is output to the system controller 1 in accordance with the operation of the cursor key by the user.

The memory reproducing unit 4 has a loading unit for loading a semiconductor memory such as a compact flash (trademark) or a memory stick (trademark). At the time of reproducing the semiconductor memory, the memory reproducing unit 4 receives a control signal input from the system controller 1. The music data recorded in the semiconductor memory is read, subjected to a predetermined decoding process, and output to a D / A converter (not shown) described later. When reproducing the compressed data in the MP3 format, the memory reproducing unit 4 outputs the MP3 compressed data to the MP3 decoder 6.

The CD reproducing unit 5 comprises an optical pickup (not shown), a tracking thread servo circuit, a spindle servo circuit, and the like, and is read from the disk by the optical pickup according to a control signal input from the system controller 1 during disk reproduction. The digital audio signal is subjected to processing such as EFM decoding,
/ A converter (not shown). When reproducing the compressed data in the MP3 format, the CD reproducing unit 5 outputs the MP3 compressed data to the MP3 decoder 6.

The optical pickup moves in the radial direction of the disk by a thread (not shown) controlled by a tracking thread servo circuit, which will be described later, at the time of reproducing the disk, and irradiates the disk with laser light to reflect the laser light. The data recorded on the disc is extracted from the light.

The tracking sled servo circuit moves the optical pickup in the radial direction of the disk by applying a sled drive signal to the sled motor during disk reproduction.

The spindle servo circuit applies a spindle drive signal to a spindle motor supporting the disk from below at the time of reproducing the disk, thereby controlling the spindle motor at a constant linear velocity and rotating the disk.

The MP3 decoder 6 decodes the music data compressed and encoded by the MP3 system input from the memory reproducing unit 4 or the CD reproducing unit 5 and outputs the data to the D / A converter.

A D / A converter (not shown) converts a digital audio signal input from the memory reproducing unit 4, the CD reproducing unit 5, and the MP3 decoder 6 into an analog audio signal.

The amplifier circuit 7 amplifies the reproduced audio signal analog-converted by the D / A converter and outputs the amplified audio signal to the audio output terminal 7.

The audio output terminal 8 is constituted by an earphone, headphones or a speaker built in the main body (not shown), and outputs the reproduced audio signal amplified by the amplifier circuit 7 to the outside.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. The tag reading process at the time of reproducing MP3 data recorded on the semiconductor memory of the memory reproducing unit 4 or the disk of the CD reproducing unit 5 will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.

When an instruction to reproduce MP3 music data is issued by operating a reproduction key, the CPU 1a checks whether reading of ID3 tag information is set (for example, RAM1).
Check the ID3 tag reading flag set in c) (step S1). If reading is not set (for example, the flag is OFF) (step S1; No),
The performance of the instructed MP3 music data is immediately started (step S5).

If reading of ID3 tag information is set (for example, flag ON) (step S1; Yes),
The CPU 1a calculates the address of the ID3 tag based on the address of the MP3 music data to be accessed and the data amount (step S2), and searches for the calculated address of the ID3 tag (step S3).

After retrieving the address of the ID3 tag of the MP3 music data, the CPU 1a acquires the character data recorded in the ID3 data area (step S4) and starts playing the MP3 music data instructed to be reproduced (step S4). Step S5), the character data acquired in Step S4 is displayed on the display unit 2, and the present tag reading process ends.

As described above, the MP according to the present embodiment
According to the three-player 10, the user can specify in advance whether or not to read the ID3 tag, and when not reading the ID3 tag information, the time required from the reproduction instruction to the start of the performance can be reduced.

The description contents in the present embodiment are as follows.
Changes can be made as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
For example, the setting for reading the ID3 tag information is displayed on the display unit 2.
Is performed by selecting “ON / OFF” displayed by the cursor key operation. However, the operation unit 3 is provided with an ON / OFF key for reading the ID3 tag, and the setting is switched by the key operation. You may.

In this embodiment, an ID3 tag that can be recorded at the end of MP3 data is taken up as character information associated with music data. However, if it is additional information of music data, the type of music data and its The recording position of the additional information and the like are not particularly limited.

For example, CD-TEXT which is a kind of CD
In, character information desired by the user can be recorded as additional information of each music data in the subcode in the lead-in area. In MD (Mini Disc), UTOC
In the (User TOC) area, desired character information such as a track name can be recorded along with each track.

FIG. 3 shows a process of reading a title (additional information) at the time of reproducing the above-mentioned CD-TEXT or MD.
A description will be given based on the flowchart of FIG.

When an instruction to reproduce music data is issued by operating the reproduction key, the CPU 1a checks whether reading of a title is set (for example, checks a title reading flag set in the RAM 1c) (step S11). , If read is not set (for example,
The flag is turned off) (step S11; No), and the performance of the designated music data is immediately started (step S1).
3).

If the reading of the title has been set (for example, the flag is ON) (step S11; Yes), C
PU1a sets R when reading TOC when loading a recording medium.
The title data stored in the AM 1c is read (step S12), the performance of the music data instructed to be played is started (step S13), and the title data is displayed on the display unit 2.
Is displayed, and the title reading process ends.

According to the title reading process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3, it is possible to specify whether or not to read not only the ID3 tag information of the MP3 music data but also the title information (additional information) accompanying the music data in general.

[0043]

According to the audio reproducing apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to arbitrarily designate the process of reading the additional information of the music data. If the reading of the additional information is not specified, the reproduction of the music data is performed. The time required from the designation to the start of the performance can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of an MP3 player 10 according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a tag reading process according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a title reading process according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a tag reading process in a conventional MP3 player.

[Description of Signs] 1 System controller 1a CPU 1b ROM 1c RAM 2 Display unit 3 Operation unit 4 Memory playback unit 5 CD playback unit 6 MP3 decoder 7 Amplification circuit 8 Audio output terminal 10 MP3 player

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] August 30, 2001 (2001.8.3
0)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Claims]

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0043

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0043]

According to the audio reproducing apparatus of the present invention ,
Since the reading processing of the additional information of the music data can be arbitrarily specified, and when the reading of the additional information is not specified,
The time required from the reproduction of the music data to the start of the performance can be reduced.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A reproducing means for reproducing music data recorded on a recording medium, a reproducing designating means for specifying reproduction of music data recorded on the recording medium, and reading additional information added to the music data. Display means for displaying the additional information, the read designation means for designating whether or not the additional information added to the music data is to be read, and the reading of the additional information is designated by the read designation means. In the case, according to the reproduction designation by the reproduction designation means, the additional information of the music data recorded on the recording medium is displayed by the display means, the music data is reproduced by the reproduction means, and If the reading of the additional information is not specified, the music data recorded on the recording medium is specified according to the reproduction specification by the reproduction specification means. Audio reproduction apparatus characterized by data playback of and a control means for initiating immediately by the reproducing means.