JP2005032408A - Recording/playback device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording and playback device capable of evading adverse effects caused by the dropout of sound information at an instant when the output is changed from catching-up playback to real time live broadcast in performing the catch-up playback. <P>SOLUTION: After playback catches up with real time live broadcast in simultaneous recording/playback of the same stream, a playback speed change unit 2 smoothly changes a playback speed to single-speed playback. An output switching unit 4 continues the output of single-speed playback as it is. During the single-speed playback, a switching timing indicating unit 3 indicates a timing of switching to real time live broadcast to the output switching part 4. Upon receiving the indication from the switching timing instruction part 3, the output switching unit 4 switches its output to real time live broadcast. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording / reproducing apparatus, and more particularly to a recording / reproducing apparatus having a simultaneous recording / reproducing function of a television broadcast signal and an audio broadcast signal.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a recording / playback apparatus that realizes simultaneous recording / playback of the same stream of television broadcasting or audio broadcasting, there are two types of program playback methods, chasing playback and catch-up playback. Chasing playback simply performs recording and playback at the same time. For example, when returning home in the middle of scheduled recording, the program is reproduced from the beginning at 1 × speed while continuing program recording without waiting for the end of recording. In the catch-up reproduction, the program is played back at a speed faster than 1 × speed while recording the program. As a result, it is possible to quickly confirm the missed part of the program and finally catch up with the part currently being broadcast. As an example of the catch-up playback, there is one that performs fast-forward playback at a constant speed with a constant voice pitch, such as “1.5 times normal speed with natural sound” (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This makes it easy to hear the sound even during fast-forwarding reproduction, and prevents the voice information from being missed during the catch-up reproduction.

  The configuration of a conventional recording / reproducing apparatus employing such a method will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram showing a conventional recording / reproducing apparatus. In FIG. 10, the conventional recording / reproducing apparatus includes a simultaneous recording / reading unit 1, a reproduction speed converting unit 15, and an output switching unit 4. The simultaneous recording / reading unit 1 simultaneously records and reads an input signal, and detects a delay time of a read signal (hereinafter simply referred to as a read signal) with respect to the input signal. The reproduction speed conversion unit 15 converts the reproduction speed of the read signal. The output switching unit 4 selects and outputs either an input signal or a readout signal. The output switching unit 4 outputs a readout signal at the start of catch-up reproduction, and the delay time detected by the simultaneous recording / reading unit 1 is predetermined. The output is switched from the read signal to the input signal when the time is below, that is, immediately before the reproduced video catches up with the real-time live broadcast.

  FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the simultaneous recording / reading unit 1. In FIG. 11, the simultaneous recording / reading unit 1 includes a data recording unit 5, a storage device 6, a data reading unit 7, and a time difference detection unit 8.

  The data recording unit 5 is for recording an input signal in the storage device 6. It is also conceivable that the data recording unit 5 includes an A / D converter for digitizing an analog signal and an encoder for encoding a digital signal. The encoder includes, for example, a video encoder and an audio encoder, and the video encoder is an encoding unit corresponding to a moving image compression standard such as mpeg1, mpeg2, mpeg4, and WMV (WINDOWS (registered trademark) Media Video). The audio encoder is Dolby AC3, dts adopted in DVD-Video, mpeg1-layer II adopted in CS digital, mpeg2-AAC adopted in BS digital, etc., and MLP adopted in DVD-Audio. The encoding means is compatible with a voice compression standard such as mp3 (mpeg1-layerIII) that is prevalent on the Internet. In order to realize recording and reproduction at the same time, a process of recording and reproducing alternately by dividing the time for recording in the storage device 6 and the time for reading from the storage device 6 can be considered. In this case, the data recording unit 5 is generally provided with a buffer memory for temporarily recording moving images and sounds.

  The storage device 6 is a digital signal storage medium and has a recording capacity sufficient to record signal data for several tens of hours. For example, a hard disk drive, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD + RW, Blu-ray Disc, or the like can be used as the storage device 6.

  The data reading unit 7 reads the data recorded in the storage device 6 by the data recording unit 5 and outputs it as a read signal. The data reading unit 7 is generally provided with a buffer memory for temporarily recording moving images and sounds. Thereby, in the simultaneous recording / reproducing, the time for recording the signal to the storage device 6 and the time for reading the signal from the storage device 6 are divided, and the process of alternately recording and reproducing is realized. Further, it is conceivable that the data reading unit 7 has a built-in decoder for decoding the digital signal. The decoder includes, for example, a video decoder and an audio decoder. Examples of the video decoder include decoding means corresponding to a moving image compression standard such as mpeg1, mpeg2, mpeg4 and WMV (WINDOWS (registered trademark) Media Video). Audio decoders are Dolby AC3 and dts adopted in DVD-Video, mpeg1-layer II adopted in CS digital, mpeg2-AAC adopted in BS digital, MLP adopted in DVD-Audio, the Internet The decoding means corresponding to audio | voice compression standards, such as mp3 (mpeg1-layerIII) prevailing above, is mentioned.

  The time difference detection unit 8 detects a difference on the time axis between signals handled by the data recording unit 5 and the data reading unit 7. During catch-up reproduction, the time difference detection unit 8 compares the time stamp of the signal being recorded by the data recording unit 5 with the time stamp of the signal being read by the data reading unit 7, and detects the time difference.

  Returning to FIG. 10, the playback speed conversion unit 15 includes a moving image playback speed conversion unit and an audio playback speed conversion unit (not shown). In the mpeg standard, the moving image playback speed conversion unit performs speed conversion using a playback method for skipping P and B pictures, a playback method for skipping only B pictures, and the like. The audio playback speed conversion unit implements a method called PICOLA that realizes compression / expansion of time-axis data by thinning / inserting repeated time waveform portions, for example, and crossfading of neighboring frame data at regular time intervals Audio using a method such as OLA that realizes compression / expansion and SOLA that calculates the correlation between neighboring frame data and shifts to the most correlated part and crossfades to achieve high-quality compression / expansion Convert playback speed. When the user selects catch-up playback by operating a device built-in button or a remote control, the playback speed conversion unit 15 performs fast playback, and when the user catches up with the real-time live broadcast being recorded, speed conversion processing is performed. Cancel. At the same time, the simultaneous recording / reading unit 1 (time difference detecting unit 8) notifies the output switching unit 4 that the real-time live broadcast has been caught up. Upon receiving the notification, the output switching unit 4 immediately switches the output to the real-time live broadcast.

In this way, by combining simultaneous recording and playback and playback speed conversion, for example, recording of a broadcast program is started, and recording is started at 1.5 times speed from the beginning of the program while continuing recording after a certain time. It is possible to realize a catch-up playback function that naturally catches up with real-time live broadcasting. FIG. 12 shows the output (read signal or input signal) of the output switching unit 4. In FIG. 12, the horizontal axis represents real time, and the vertical axis represents broadcast time. In FIG. 12, recording started when real-time live broadcasting (in this case, a two-hour program) was started, and catch-up playback (fast playback at about 1.4 times speed) started 20 minutes later. This is an example. For example, at the time 50 minutes after the start of recording, the broadcast content at the time 40 minutes after the start of the program is output. The catch-up playback catches up with the real-time live broadcast 55 minutes after the catch-up playback is started (that is, 75 minutes after the start of recording), and at this time, the output of the output switching unit 4 changes from the readout signal (the catch-up playback) to the input signal. Switch to (real-time live broadcast).
JP 2001-119671 A

  However, the conventional recording / reproducing apparatus as described above has the following problems. In the conventional recording / playback apparatus, when the real-time live broadcast is caught up, the simultaneous recording / playback state is immediately switched to the real-time live broadcast. However, in the recording process, an input signal encoding process, a recording process to a storage device, a reading process from the recording apparatus, and a decoding process are performed. On the other hand, such a procedure is not necessary in real-time live broadcasting. . For this reason, a time lag always occurs between the input signal and the read signal. Therefore, voice information is lost at the moment of switching to real-time live broadcasting. In addition, the user cannot control the switching timing. For this reason, when the above switching timing overlaps, for example, when the actor is speaking, the dialogue is not output, and the user is uncomfortable. FIG. 13 shows a state of missing voice information at the switching timing (around 75 minutes) in FIG. In FIG. 13, when the time lag is, for example, 1 second, the conventional recording / reproducing apparatus determines that it has caught up with the real-time live broadcast when the broadcast content at the time of 75:00 is output from the start of the program, and switches the output. . As a result, audio information between 75 minutes 00 seconds and 75 minutes 01 seconds is not reproduced and is lost.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a recording / reproducing apparatus capable of avoiding adverse effects due to lack of audio information at the moment of switching output from catch-up reproduction to real-time live broadcasting when performing catch-up reproduction. .

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided simultaneous recording / reading means for simultaneously reading an input signal in a storage device and reading out the input signal recorded in the storage device as a read signal, and a playback speed conversion capable of changing the playback speed of the read signal without interruption. Means for selectively selecting an input signal or a readout signal and outputting it to the output device, and a switching timing instruction means for instructing a switching timing of the output switching means. After starting the reproduction with the signal reproduction speed larger than 1 time, when the delay time of the read signal with respect to the input signal falls below a predetermined time, the reproduction speed of the read signal is set to 1 time speed, and the output switching means After the delay time of the read signal with respect to the input signal falls below a predetermined time, the output is switched from the read signal to the input signal after waiting for an instruction from the switching timing instruction means. And wherein a recording and reproducing apparatus. The reproduction speed conversion means may convert the speed of the read signal output from the simultaneous recording / reading means, or may convert the speed of the read signal output from the output switching means.

  According to a second aspect, in the first aspect, the switching timing instruction means instructs the switching timing of the output switching means at the time when the user gives an instruction.

  According to a third aspect, in the first aspect, the reproduction speed converting means is configured such that the reproduction speed of the read signal is stepwise when the delay time of the read time of the read signal with respect to the recording time of the input signal is greater than a predetermined threshold. A playback speed is determined as needed so as to approach 1 × speed, and thereafter a playback speed determining means for setting the playback speed of the readout signal to 1 × when the delay time becomes smaller than the threshold, and a playback speed of the readout signal, And speed conversion processing means for changing to the playback speed determined by the playback speed determining means.

  According to a fourth aspect, in the first aspect, when the delay time of the read signal with respect to the input signal is less than a predetermined time, and the reproduction speed converting means changes the reproduction speed of the read signal to 1 × speed, the user is notified of this fact. It is further characterized by further comprising a notification means for notifying. Note that the notification means may be a display on a screen, a voice notification, or the like.

  In a fifth aspect based on the first aspect, the switching timing instruction means includes CM section detection means for detecting a CM section in the input signal, and switches the output signal in the CM section detected by the CM section detection means. An instruction is given to the output switching means.

  In a sixth aspect based on the first aspect, the switching timing instruction means includes a silent section detecting means for detecting a silent section in the input signal, and the output signal is switched in the silent section detected by the silent section detecting means. An instruction is given to the output switching means.

  In a seventh aspect based on the first aspect, the switching timing instruction means includes non-speech section detection means for detecting a non-speech section in the input signal, and is output in the non-speech section detected by the non-speech section detection means. The output switching means is instructed to switch signals.

  According to the first to fourth inventions described above, the time difference between recording and reproduction during simultaneous recording and reproduction is monitored, and immediately before catching up with the real-time live broadcast, the reproduction speed of the readout signal is changed to 1 × speed, and then switched. Based on the instruction from the timing instruction means, it is possible to switch to the real-time live broadcast at an appropriate timing with little influence of missing audio information. Then, by enabling the user to operate a control signal input from the outside, it is possible to appropriately select a scene that does not require sound for the user and switch to real-time live broadcasting.

  According to the fifth aspect, it is possible to automatically detect a CM section and switch to real-time live broadcasting during the CM section. As a result, it is possible to prevent a sense of incongruity such as discontinuity of sound in the program.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to realize a transition without interruption of sound even during a program by detecting a silent section and making a transition to a real-time live broadcast in the silent section.

  According to the seventh aspect, by detecting a non-speech segment and transitioning to real-time live broadcasting in the non-speech segment, even if there is no silence segment in the program, there is no interruption in human voice such as dialogue Switching can be realized.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
A recording / reproducing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a recording / reproducing apparatus according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 1, the recording / reproducing apparatus includes a simultaneous recording / reading unit 1, a reproduction speed conversion unit 2, a switching timing instruction unit 3, and an output switching unit 4.

  The simultaneous recording / reading unit 1 simultaneously records an input signal to a storage device and reads a signal from the recording device. Further, the simultaneous recording / reading unit 1 outputs the difference between the input signal and the read signal on the time axis. Here, the input signal means a signal directly received by a tuner or the like. The input signal may be a signal composed of a moving image and sound such as a television broadcast signal, or may be a signal only of sound such as a radio broadcast signal. Further, the read signal means a signal read from the storage device, that is, an input signal that is once recorded in the storage device and then read from the storage device. The playback speed conversion unit 2 converts the playback speed of the read signal output from the simultaneous recording / reading unit 1. The switching timing instruction unit 3 instructs the output switching unit 4 to switch the output from the read signal to the input signal. The output switching unit 4 switches the output from the read signal to the input signal in accordance with an instruction from the switching timing instruction unit 3.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the simultaneous recording / reading unit 1 and the playback speed converting unit 2. In FIG. 2, the simultaneous recording / reading unit 1 includes a data recording unit 5, a storage device 6, a data reading unit 7, and a time difference detection unit 8. The playback speed conversion unit 2 includes a playback speed determination unit 9 and a speed conversion processing unit 10.

  The data recording unit 5 is for recording an input signal in a storage device (storage device 6). The data reading unit 7 reads the signal recorded by the data recording unit 5 from the storage device 6. Further, the data reading unit 7 outputs a signal (read signal) read from the storage device 6 to the speed conversion processing unit 10. The time difference detection unit 8 detects the difference on the time axis between the input signal and the read signal by comparing the time stamps. Further, the time difference detection unit 8 notifies the reproduction speed determination unit 9 of the difference as time difference information.

  The reproduction speed determination unit 9 determines the reproduction speed of the read signal based on the time difference information detected by the time difference detection unit 8. Furthermore, the playback speed determination unit 9 instructs the speed conversion processing unit 10 to convert the playback speed of the readout signal into the determined playback speed. When the time difference information detected by the time difference detection unit 8 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value (for example, 300 milliseconds), the playback speed determination unit 9 determines the playback speed to be an arbitrary speed greater than 1 × speed. On the other hand, when the time difference information becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value, the playback speed is determined to be 1 × speed. Here, for example, the predetermined value is preferably a value that is larger than the sum of delay amounts in the simultaneous recording / reading unit 1 and the reproduction speed converting unit 2 and is as small as possible. This is because the larger the predetermined value is, the more audio information is lost when switching to real-time live broadcasting. Note that the playback speed determination unit 9 can determine the playback speed in accordance with, for example, an instruction input by the user using a device built-in button or a remote control. That is, the user can arbitrarily specify the playback speed during the catch-up playback. That is, the user can speed up or slow down the playback speed or even pause during the catch-up playback.

  The speed conversion processing unit 10 converts the reproduction speed of the read signal output from the data reading unit 7 at the reproduction speed determined by the reproduction speed determination unit 9. It is assumed that the speed conversion processing unit 10 has a function of changing the reproduction speed of the read signal without interruption (for example, changing from 1.5 × speed to 1 × speed). Since the technique for changing the playback speed without interruption is known, the description thereof is omitted here. When the time difference information detected by the time difference detection unit 8 falls below an arbitrary value, the speed conversion processing unit 10 receives an instruction from the reproduction speed determination unit 9 and shifts the reproduction speed of the read signal to 1 × without interruption. Let

  Returning to FIG. 1, the switching timing instruction unit 3 instructs the output switching unit 4 to switch the output. In the present embodiment, the switching timing instruction is realized by the user operating a device built-in button, a remote controller, or the like.

  The output switching unit 4 receives an instruction from the switching timing instruction unit 3 and outputs a signal to be output to a display, a speaker, or the like as either an input signal (that is, real-time live broadcast during recording) or a readout signal (catch-up reproduction). Switch. Here, when the difference on the time axis between the input signal and the read signal (that is, the time difference information detected by the time difference detection unit 8) falls below an arbitrary value, the output switching unit 4 changes the reproduction speed conversion unit 2 to 1 Continues to output a readout signal reproduced at double speed. That is, conventionally, when catch-up playback catches up with a real-time live broadcast, the output switching unit 4 immediately switches the output from the readout signal to the input signal, whereas in the present invention, the output switching unit 4 immediately Will continue to reproduce the read signal at 1 × speed without switching the output signal. Then, when the switching instruction is given from the switching timing instruction unit 3, the output switching unit 4 switches the output from the read signal to the input signal.

  When the time difference between the input signal and the readout signal (that is, the real-time live broadcast and the catch-up playback) is sufficiently large, the catch-up playback is performed from the playback speed specified by the user, but then gradually until the catch-up to the real-time live broadcast. The playback speed may be changed. For example, when the time difference between the input signal and the read signal is large, the playback speed is set to a speed determined by the user (for example, 1.5 times speed) and catch-up playback is performed, and the playback speed is gradually increased to 1 time as the time difference becomes small. It approaches (for example, 1.5 times speed → 1.2 times speed). A control method is conceivable in which the playback speed is set to 1 × when the time difference becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value. Further, the time difference detection unit 8 may continue to monitor the time difference between the input signal and the readout signal even after the reproduction speed is once set to 1 × speed. For example, if the user performs a pause operation or the like during reproduction at the 1 × speed, the time difference between the input signal and the readout signal becomes larger than a predetermined value. In this case, the time difference detection unit 8 may instruct the speed conversion processing unit 10 to switch the playback speed from the 1 × speed playback to an arbitrary speed larger than the 1 × speed.

  Note that in the catch-up playback, all of the processes that continue playback at a single speed when catching up with a real-time live broadcast and switch the output to the real-time live broadcast in accordance with a user instruction are included in the embodiments described herein.

  Thus, in the first embodiment, even if the catch-up playback catches up with the real-time live broadcast, the catch-up playback at 1 × speed is continued without immediately switching to the real-time live broadcast. And a user can switch to real-time live broadcasting at arbitrary timings by giving a switching instruction to the output switching unit 4. Therefore, the user can switch to real-time live broadcasting, for example, in anticipation of timing without sound. As a result, it is possible to minimize adverse effects due to the lack of audio information at the moment of switching to real-time live broadcasting. FIG. 3 shows the output (read signal or input signal) of the output switching unit 4 in the present embodiment. In FIG. 3, the horizontal axis represents real time, and the vertical axis represents broadcast time. In Fig. 3, recording started when real-time live broadcasting (in this case, a two-hour program) was started, and catch-up playback (fast playback at about 1.4x speed) started 20 minutes later. This is an example. For example, at the time 50 minutes after the start of recording, the broadcast content at the time 40 minutes after the start of the program is output. The catch-up playback catches up with the real-time live broadcast 55 minutes after starting the catch-up playback (that is, 75 minutes after the start of recording). At this time, the output switching unit 4 does not immediately switch the output but continues to play at the normal speed for a while. Then, when the user issues a switching instruction 100 minutes after the start of recording, the output of the output switching unit 4 is switched from the readout signal (catch-up playback) to the input signal (real-time live broadcast). That is, compared with FIG. 12, the user can arbitrarily control the timing of switching the output to the real-time live broadcast.

  Note that the playback speed conversion unit 2 may perform speed conversion processing on the signal output from the output switching unit 4. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the recording / reproducing apparatus when the speed conversion process is performed on the signal output from the output switching unit 4. In this case, the output switching unit 4 outputs an output signal to which information for determining whether the output signal is an input signal or a read signal and the time difference information detected by the simultaneous recording / reading unit 1 is added to a reproduction speed conversion unit. 2 may be configured to output to 2. The reproduction speed conversion unit 2 may be configured to include a unit that determines whether the signal output from the output switching unit 4 is an input signal or a read signal. When the signal output from the output switching unit 4 is a read signal, the reproduction speed conversion unit 2 outputs a read signal converted to a predetermined reproduction speed based on time difference information added to the read signal. On the other hand, when the signal output from the output switching unit 4 is an input signal, the playback speed conversion unit 2 outputs the input signal as it is without performing playback speed conversion processing.

  Further, the recording / reproducing apparatus has a notification unit for notifying the user that the transition to the 1 × speed reproduction (that is, catching up with the real-time live broadcasting, but being slightly delayed). Also good. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration when the notification unit 11 is added to the configuration of FIG. The notification unit 11 informs the user that the reproduction speed conversion unit 2 has made a transition to the 1 × speed reproduction in response to the reproduction speed of the read signal transitioning to the 1 × speed. Alternatively, the user is notified that the output can be switched to the real-time live broadcast. The notification method is arbitrary. For example, it may be displayed on the screen that the 1 × speed transition has been made, or a notification such as an alarm may be used for notification. Further, notification may be made by blinking a lamp on the recording / reproducing apparatus.

  Further, after switching to the real-time live broadcast, the recording process may be continued or the recording process may be stopped. If the recording process is continued, it is advantageous in that all recorded programs can be repeatedly viewed later, and if the recording process is stopped, it is advantageous in that the capacity of the recording apparatus can be saved.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, with reference to FIG. 6, the recording / reproducing apparatus in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a recording / reproducing apparatus according to the second embodiment. In FIG. 6, the switching timing instruction unit 3 corresponds to the switching timing instruction unit 3 described with reference to FIG. 1 in the first embodiment, and a CM section detection unit 12 is added. This is the same as in the first embodiment. Accordingly, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  In FIG. 6, a CM section detection unit 12 analyzes an input signal (real-time live broadcast) that is currently being recorded, and detects whether or not it is in a CM section. Here, as a method for the CM section detection unit 12 to detect the CM section, a method of detecting a stereo broadcast of audio and monaural or bilingual broadcast and determining a CM section if the stereo broadcast is partially inserted can be considered. . Note that the CM section detection method is not limited to this, and may be a method of detecting a CM section from the switching timing of moving images, the periodicity of silent section appearance, and the like.

  Similar to the first embodiment, the playback speed determination unit 9 determines the playback speed to be 1 × when the time difference information detected by the time difference detection unit 8 falls below a predetermined value. Then, the playback speed determination unit 9 notifies the switching timing instruction unit 3 of the determination in addition to instructing the speed conversion processing unit 10 to perform playback at 1 × speed. Then, after receiving the above notification, the switching timing instruction unit 3 is not a control signal input by the user's operation of the remote controller or the like, but information on whether or not it is in the CM section output from the CM section detection unit 12. Based on this, the output switching unit 4 is instructed to switch the output from the read signal to the input signal. That is, if the CM section detection unit 12 detects a CM section during 1 × speed playback after catching up with a real-time live broadcast, the switching timing instruction unit 3 issues a switching instruction to the output switching unit 4. The output switching unit 4 switches the output from the read signal to the input signal. FIG. 7 shows an output state of the output switching unit 4 at this time.

  As described above, in the second embodiment, a CM section is detected during playback at 1 × speed after catching up, and the transition from catch-up playback to real-time live broadcasting is automatically performed during the CM section. Therefore, it is possible to avoid discontinuity of sound during program viewing without requiring a user switching timing instruction operation.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a recording / reproducing apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a recording / reproducing apparatus according to the third embodiment. In FIG. 8, the switching timing instruction unit 3 corresponds to the CM section detection unit 12 described with reference to FIG. 6 in the second embodiment replaced with a silent section detection unit 13. This is the same as in the second embodiment. For this reason, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  In FIG. 8, the silent section detector 13 analyzes the input signal currently being recorded and determines whether or not it is in the silent section. Here, as a method for detecting a silent section, a voice detection method based on a normal voice power level can be considered. This may be a detection method in which the audio power level of the input signal is compared with a predetermined threshold value, or the silence level is estimated by continuously monitoring the input signal, and the threshold value is determined based on the estimation result. It is also possible to use a detection method that does not depend on the level so as to change the above as appropriate.

  The switching timing instruction unit 3 outputs an instruction to switch the output from the read signal to the input signal based on the information indicating whether or not the silent period is output from the silent period detection unit 13 as in the second embodiment. The switching unit 4 is used. In other words, if the silent section detector 13 detects a silent section during 1x playback after catching up with a real-time live broadcast, the switching timing instruction section 3 issues a switching instruction to the output switching section 4. The output switching unit 4 switches the output from the read signal to the input signal.

  As described above, in the third embodiment, a silent section is detected during playback at 1 × speed after catching up, and the transition from catch-up playback to real-time live broadcasting is automatically performed during the silent section. Therefore, it is possible for a user to realize transition to real-time live broadcasting without interruption of sound even during a program.

(Fourth embodiment)
Next, with reference to FIG. 9, the recording / reproducing apparatus in the 4th Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a recording / reproducing apparatus according to the fourth embodiment. In FIG. 9, the switching timing instruction unit 3 corresponds to the CM section detection unit 12 described with reference to FIG. 6 in the second embodiment replaced with a non-voice section detection unit 14, and the other components are as follows. This is the same as in the second embodiment. Accordingly, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  In FIG. 9, the non-speech section detector 14 analyzes the input signal currently being recorded, and determines whether or not the input signal is in the non-speech section. A non-speech segment is a segment that is sounded but is not a human voice. For example, a scene with only the sound of applause corresponds to the non-voice segment. Here, as a method for detecting a non-speech segment, a combination of a speech detection unit based on a normal speech power level and a vowel pitch detection unit is used to determine a portion having a large power level and a vowel pitch detection as speech, and the other as non-speech A way to do this is conceivable. As the sound detection means based on the sound power level, the same method as that used in the third embodiment can be considered. As the vowel pitch detection means, a method of detecting a repetitive pitch waveform by calculating an autocorrelation function or a method of detecting the presence or absence of pitch periodicity by calculating a cepstrum can be considered.

  Similar to the second embodiment described above, the switching timing instruction unit 3 issues an instruction to switch the output from the read signal to the input signal based on the information indicating whether or not the non-speech segment is output from the non-speech segment detector 14. To the output switching unit 4. That is, if the non-speech section detector 14 detects a non-speech section during 1x playback after catching up with a real-time live broadcast, the switching timing instruction unit 3 issues a switching instruction to the output switching unit 4. The output switching unit 4 switches the output from the read signal to the input signal.

  As described above, in the fourth embodiment, a non-speech section is detected during playback at 1 × speed after catching up, and the transition from catch-up playback to real-time live broadcasting is automatically made during the non-speech section. Therefore, even when there is no silent section in the program, it is possible to realize transition to a real-time live broadcast that is uninterrupted in human voice.

  In the present embodiment, the switching timing instruction unit 3 includes only the non-speech section detection unit 14, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the switching timing instruction unit 3 further includes the CM section detection unit 12 described above. And the silent section detector 13 may be combined. As for the determination of the switching timing, the switching timing is determined based on the tag information in the case of a method for determining the switching timing from image or audio information, or compressed data with indexing (tag information) such as mpeg7. Such a method may be used.

  The recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention, when catching up with a real-time live broadcast during catch-up reproduction, does not immediately switch to the real-time live broadcast, but continues to play at 1x speed and waits for an optimal timing. Switching without a sense of incongruity can be performed, which is useful for applications such as DVD recorders and HDD recorders.

1 is a functional block diagram showing a recording / reproducing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The block diagram which shows the function structure of the simultaneous recording / reading part 1 and the reproduction speed conversion part 2 of FIG. The figure which shows the output of the output switching part 4 which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. Functional block diagram showing a recording / reproducing apparatus in the case where a reproduction speed conversion process is performed on a signal output from the output switching unit 1 is a functional block diagram showing a recording / reproducing apparatus in which a notification unit is added to the first embodiment of the present invention Functional block diagram showing a recording / reproducing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The figure which shows the output of the output switching part 4 which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. Functional block diagram showing a recording / reproducing apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Functional block diagram showing a recording / reproducing apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Functional block diagram showing a conventional recording / reproducing apparatus The block diagram which shows the function structure of the simultaneous recording / reading part 1 of FIG. The figure which shows the output of the output switching part 4 in the conventional recording / reproducing apparatus. The figure which shows the lack of information at the time of output switching of the output switching part 4 in the conventional recording / reproducing apparatus

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Simultaneous recording / reading part 2 Reproduction | regeneration speed conversion part 3 Switching timing instruction | indication part 4 Output switching part 5 Data recording part 6 Storage device 7 Data reading part 8 Time difference detection part 9 Reproduction speed determination part 10 Speed conversion process part 11 Notification part 12 CM section Detection unit 13 Silent section detection unit 14 Non-speech section detection unit 15 Playback speed conversion unit

Claims (7)

Simultaneous recording / reading means for simultaneously reading the input signal recorded in the storage device and reading the input signal recorded in the storage device as a read signal;
Playback speed conversion means capable of changing the playback speed of the readout signal without sound interruption;
An output switching means for alternatively selecting the input signal or the readout signal and outputting it to an output device;
Switching timing instruction means for instructing the switching timing of the output switching means,
The reproduction speed conversion means reproduces the read signal when the delay time of the read signal with respect to the input signal falls below a predetermined time after starting reproduction with a reproduction speed of the read signal larger than 1 time. Set the speed to 1x,
The output switching means waits for an instruction from the switching timing instruction means after the delay time of the read signal with respect to the input signal is less than a predetermined time, and then switches the output from the read signal to the input signal. The recording / reproducing apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned.   2. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the switching timing instruction means instructs the switching timing of the output switching means at the time when the user gives an instruction. The reproduction speed converting means is
When the delay time of the readout time of the readout signal with respect to the recording time of the input signal is larger than a predetermined threshold, the playback speed is determined as needed so that the readout speed of the readout signal approaches stepwise speed, and thereafter Playback speed determining means for setting the playback speed of the readout signal to 1 × when the delay time becomes smaller than the threshold;
2. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising speed conversion processing means for changing the reproduction speed of the read signal to the reproduction speed determined by the reproduction speed determining means.   When the delay time of the read signal with respect to the input signal is less than a predetermined time and the playback speed converting means changes the playback speed of the read signal to 1 × speed, it further comprises notification means for notifying the user to that effect. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1.   The switching timing instruction means includes CM section detection means for detecting a CM section in the input signal, and instructs the output switching means to switch the output signal in the CM section detected by the CM section detection means. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein   The switching timing instruction means includes a silent section detecting means for detecting a silent section in the input signal, and issues an instruction to the output switching means to switch the output signal in the silent section detected by the silent section detecting means. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein   The switching timing instruction means includes a non-speech section detection means for detecting a non-speech section in the input signal, and instructs the output switching means to switch the output signal in the non-speech section detected by the non-speech section detection means. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

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