JP2007005962A - Remote video recording system and remote reservation video recording method thereof, and program video recording device thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a remote video recording system with high versatility for controlling a program recording apparatus and to provide the program video recording device thereof. <P>SOLUTION: A mobile terminal 1 generates electronic mail for program video recording reservation, in which mail addresses of the program video recording device and the mobile terminal 1 and a code for instructing video recording reservation processing are attached to information for the program video recording reservation on the basis of program guide information acquired from a program guide information site 5 and transmits the electronic mail to a mail server 6, the program video recording device 7 is provided with a video recording side communication control section 25 that periodically accesses the mail server 6 at a prescribed time interval, searches presence of the electronic mail for program video recording reservation, and receives the electronic mail when the electronic mail for program video recording reservation is present, and a video recording/reproduction control section 17 reserves video recording of a corresponding program on the basis of information for reserving the recording of the program included in the electronic mail for program video recording reservation and records the program to program storage sections 14, 15 when the video recording reservation time of the corresponding program comes. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a remote recording system that performs control such as recording reservation of a television program to a program recording device installed at home or the like from a remote place such as a place where the user is outside, and particularly uses a general-purpose mobile phone device or the like. The present invention relates to a remote recording system for controlling recording from a remote place to a television program recording apparatus.

  In general, when a user of a program recording apparatus (hereinafter also referred to as a user) reserves a recording program for a program to be broadcast by television broadcasting, the user must use a newspaper or a television program magazine in advance. Investigate program recording reservation information such as the channel number, recording start time, recording end time, etc., on which the program for which recording reservation is desired is broadcast, and the program using an infrared remote control device (short distance remote control device) attached to the program recording device Recording reservation information is input to the program recording device. At that time, the recording quality mode (high quality mode or standard mode) is also input to the program recording apparatus.

  In addition, information on an electronic program guide service is multiplexed and transmitted to a television signal of a recently broadcast program. In the electronic program guide service, for example, a program table (electronic program guide: hereinafter also referred to as EPG) of all broadcasting stations is displayed on a screen of a television receiver or the like having a function corresponding to the electronic program guide service. be able to. For example, the user presses a button corresponding to an EPG on a remote controller (hereinafter also referred to as a short-distance remote control device) to display a program guide for all stations on the screen of a television receiver connected to the program recorder. It is possible to make a reservation for receiving or recording a program by displaying it and selecting an arbitrary program from the remote controller. In addition to program reservation, for example, it is possible to search for a favorite genre from a program guide of all stations.

  As such an electronic program guide service, for example, a G guide (G-GUIDE system electronic program guide developed by Gemstar, USA) is known. In the case of the G guide, since the program recording reservation information selected by the EPG includes other additional information such as a recording reservation broadcast channel or a recording title other than the recording quality mode, the user selects it. Such information can be automatically input to the program recording apparatus with a small amount of work (labor).

  In general, even if there is a program that the user wants to watch, the user may forget to make a recording reservation and go out, and if the user wants to make a recording reservation while out, or newly obtained information In some cases, it is desirable to add a recording reservation for a new television program. Even when the user makes a recording reservation in the program recording device, for example, an emergency case or a serious case may occur while the user is out, and the television program may be changed due to a temporary news broadcast that reports the case. is there. In that case, the target television program will no longer be broadcast at the scheduled recording time, so the user can suspend the recording reservation from a remote location or change the broadcast time of the scheduled television program. You may want to change the scheduled recording time. However, in a conventional program recording apparatus that can make a recording reservation using the EPG, the recording reservation is registered in the program recording apparatus from a remote place where the program recording apparatus such as a remote place cannot be operated with a remote control or the like. It was difficult to check and change the recording status (recording start, recording in progress, recording end, recording content, etc.).

  In order to improve the problems of the conventional program recording device described above, for example, a receiving device (a receiving device with a program reservation function) connected to a telephone line and having a program reservation function is installed at the user's home and at the user's hand A portable television broadcast program reservation device is provided, and when the user is away from home and in a remote location, the user can use the telephone line from the receiver device by operating the television program reservation device at hand. There is known a remote recording system in which program guide information is transmitted, and a user operates a television program reservation device based on the television program guide information to register (set) recording reservation of a program in a receiving device ( For example, see Patent Document 1).

  In addition, a dedicated hardware (pager) for controlling the program recording device is installed in the user's home, and is carried by a user in a remote place away from the home, such as a mobile communication terminal device such as a mobile phone. The display unit displays program guide information acquired from a recording reservation site (program guide information site) on the Internet, and allows a user to specify a program for which recording reservation is desired. At the recording reservation site, the G code is output to the portable communication terminal device, and the user calls the dedicated hardware with the portable communication terminal device to transmit the G code. The dedicated hardware is a remote recording system that can make a recording reservation of the program recording device by sending an infrared remote control signal to the program recording device so that the program can be reserved for recording according to the contents of the received G code. It is known (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

  In other words, in a conventional remote recording system, a dedicated recording device receiving device with a program reservation function (Patent Document 1) or dedicated hardware (Patent Document 2) is controlled at home to control the program recording device. It is installed for (program reservation), and the user first receives a program guide from a receiving device with a program reservation function (or a program guide information site on the Internet) via a telephone line including a mobile phone line from a remote place. The information is obtained and the program guide information is displayed on the program reservation device (or portable communication terminal device). Then, when the user designates a program for which recording reservation is desired from the display screen, the program reservation device (or portable communication terminal device) dedicates information on the program desired to be recorded to the above-described dedicated device via a telephone line. To the device. Then, the dedicated device performs program recording reservation for the program recording device in accordance with the received program information. In this way, in a conventional remote recording system, a user at a remote location can make a reservation for recording in a program recording apparatus such as a home.

  Further, for example, among the program recording apparatuses that perform recording reservation registration on the EPG menu screen, in recent program recording apparatuses such as a DVD + hard disk drive (HDD) recorder, EPG information is converted from a plurality of programs reserved for recording by the user. There is a program that recognizes contents such as program title names included, can learn a user's preference tendency, etc. based on a statistical number of occurrences, and can reflect the learning result in the next recording reservation. For example, the learning result from the previous recording reservation is recorded, and the function of displaying the list as a “favorite program list”, and the program having the title name and keyword selected from the list are automatically recorded. “Preference program automatic recording function” is known. In addition, the accuracy of the learning result of the user's preference tendency can be improved by repeating the recording reservation for learning the user's preference tendency and the like.

JP 2000-13697 A (page 8, FIG. 1) JP 2001-145140 A (page 11, FIG. 1)

  However, in the above-described conventional remote recording system, in order to control the program recording apparatus, a dedicated recording apparatus with a program reservation function (Patent Document 1) or dedicated hardware (Patent Document 2) is controlled ( It is necessary to install a device for making a program reservation in the home, and in the remote recording system of Patent Document 1, it is also necessary for the program reservation device operated by the user at a remote place to carry a dedicated device when going out. From, for example, an infrared remote control signal is different for each manufacturer of the program recording device, and a communication method or a data conversion method is different for each mobile phone operator (manufacturer). Or there was a problem that it could not be changed to a highly versatile remote recording system using any mobile phone device.

  In a conventional remote recording system, for example, when a television program is changed due to a temporary news broadcast for notifying the occurrence of an emergency while the user is out, the program recording device is completely different from the user's intention. Will start recording. In this case, for example, if the user confirms the change of the program reserved for recording from the outside (remote location) to the program recording apparatus before the recording operation and can delete or change the recording reservation, unnecessary recording is possible. However, in the conventional remote recording system, there is no means for knowing the change of the program reserved by the user at the remote place, and there is no means for the user to know such an emergency situation in advance. Since the remote user can instruct the home program recorder only by simple control such as registration and deletion of the recorded program based on the program guide information acquired in advance, the program recorder can be used when the broadcast contents are changed. However, there is a problem that it is impossible to avoid recording a program different from the program reserved for recording or recording an unnecessary program.

  In the “favorite program automatic recording function” of the conventional program recording apparatus, the program is automatically recorded / stored without the user recognizing the start time, program content, etc., except for the program that the user intentionally reserved for recording. . Many of the programs automatically recorded by the “favorite program automatic recording function” are eventually deleted by the user without meeting the user's preference. When the user is out, the program automatically recorded in this way cannot be erased, so much is accumulated and must be erased collectively when the user returns home. In addition, even if the program is intentionally reserved for recording by the user, there are many cases where the user notices that the content is not necessary after viewing the program. Therefore, the user desires to efficiently check the recording start timing and the program start content from the remote location, or the entire recorded program content after the recording ends, but in the conventional remote recording system, the user There was a problem that it could not be confirmed.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and a first object of the present invention is to provide a remote recording system having high versatility for controlling a program recording apparatus and the program recording apparatus. .

  The second aspect of the present invention also provides a remote recording system and a program recording apparatus thereof capable of confirming the registration status of the recording reservation of a program from the outside (remote location) and whether or not the recording reservation has been properly completed. The purpose.

  Furthermore, the present invention allows a remote user to quickly and efficiently record the recording start timing and the recording program start content of the scheduled recording program in the program recording apparatus or the entire recorded program content at the end of the recording scheduled program recording. It is a third object of the present invention to provide a remote recording system and a program recording apparatus 7 that can notify the user, and that allows the user to remotely control the program recording apparatus using the notification result.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the remote recording system of the present invention provides
A program guide information site connected to the Internet, storing program guide information of at least one television broadcast station, and sending the program guide information to the Internet;
A mail server that is connected to the Internet, forwards at least the outgoing mail received from each terminal device to the destination email address, and temporarily stores the outgoing email if the destination cannot receive the email;
A terminal-side communication control unit that can be connected to the Internet, can browse information on sites connected to the Internet, and can send and receive emails via the mail server, and displays the site information and email content A portable communication terminal device including at least a display unit capable of performing selection input for at least display contents and character input of an e-mail;
A recording / playback control unit that is connected to the Internet and can receive television broadcast programs and can perform reservation recording processing of at least an arbitrary program. The video and audio signals of the received television broadcast program are encoded and output. A remote recording system comprising: a first encoder; and a program recording apparatus including at least a program storage unit for storing the encoded video and audio signals in a nonvolatile medium,
In the portable communication terminal device,
Based on the program guide information acquired from the program guide information site by the terminal side communication control unit, information for reserving a recording of a program including at least a broadcast date, a broadcast channel, a broadcast start time, and a broadcast time. Generating a program recording reservation e-mail to which at least a mail address of the program recording device as a transmission destination, a mail address of the portable communication terminal device as a transmission source and a code for instructing recording reservation processing are added, and the mail Send it to the server,
The program recording device comprises:
Recording side communication control that periodically accesses the mail server at a predetermined time interval, searches for the presence of the program recording reservation email, and receives the email when there is the program recording reservation email Part
The recording / playback control unit reserves recording of the corresponding program based on information for reserving recording of the program included in the program recording reservation e-mail, and records the program when the recording reservation time of the corresponding program comes. The program is recorded in the program storage unit.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to make a reservation for recording an arbitrary program in a program recording device at home or the like by e-mail using a portable communication terminal device such as a general-purpose mobile phone device carried by a remote user. The dedicated hardware for program reservation control of the program recording apparatus is not required, and a highly versatile remote recording system can be provided.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings showing embodiments thereof.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic overall configuration of a remote control system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention together with related facilities.
In FIG. 1, a portable communication terminal device (hereinafter referred to as a portable terminal) 1 is a remote place such as a mobile phone device that is connected to the Internet 4 and can browse a site and send and receive mail. It is a device that allows a user in the ground to browse and send and receive emails by connecting to the Internet 4 with a user. The base station 2 mediates connection to the Internet 4 by establishing communication connection with the mobile terminal 1 by radio waves. The public line network 3 is, for example, a wired telephone line network and a general-purpose communication line network connected to the base station 2.

  The Internet 4 is connected to communication lines of various infrastructures including various sites, servers, and the public line network 3, and can browse each site, write / download to the server, or send / receive e-mails. It is a possible communication network. The program guide information site 5 is a site that is connected to the Internet 4 and stores information on various programs and updates the information sequentially. The mail server 6 is connected to the Internet 4 and implements various services relating to e-mail. For example, the e-mail server 6 can temporarily store received e-mails and send out corresponding e-mails according to requests from e-mail destinations. It is a server.

  A program recording device (hereinafter referred to as a recording device) 7 is a recording device capable of making a reservation for recording an arbitrary television broadcast program by an attached remote controller 9 to be described later. Alternatively, the apparatus is connected to the Internet 4 by a not-shown wired broadcast network, an optical fiber line network, or the like, and is capable of receiving an e-mail, analyzing the contents of the e-mail, and recording a program based on the analysis result.

  The video display device 8 is a device connected to the recording device 7 and capable of displaying a video of a program or a menu image. The remote controller 9 can send a wireless transmission signal that can be communicated at a short distance, such as infrared rays, to the recording device 7 by a user operation, and can control recording of an arbitrary program in the recording device 7 using the wireless transmission signal. Hereinafter, it is described as a remote control or a short-distance remote control device.

  The program guide information data center 51 is a center that manages the data of the program table (electronic program guide, EPG) of all broadcast stations broadcast together with the video of the program and the like and supplies the data to the broadcast station 52 described later. The broadcasting station 52 is a broadcasting station that broadcasts various television programs by radio waves and transmits EPG data using wireless assets such as a wireless band between channels.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic internal configuration of the recording apparatus 7 of FIG. 1 together with some related facilities.
Note that reference numerals 1 and 4 to 7 in FIG. 2 are the same as the corresponding items of the same reference numerals in FIG.

  A television (TV) tuner (hereinafter referred to as a tuner) 10 in the recording device 7 receives a television broadcast program and EPG data transmitted from the broadcasting station 52 of FIG. The broadcast signal and EPG data are selected from the radio waves in the entire broadcast band and output. The tuner 10 receives, for example, video and audio distributed from an information distributor represented by a broadcaster or the like, selectively receives a predetermined broadcast program by a control signal from the CPU 20, and sends it to the first encoder 12. Output video / audio signals.

  The external video input I / F (interface) unit 11 receives an external video signal (video signal) such as an external video playback device or cable broadcasting, and converts it into a signal that can be internally processed by the recording device 7. It is an interface part. The external video input I / F (interface) unit 11 has a function of controlling an interface of video / audio signals with an externally connected device, and first inputs video / audio signals input from the external device. Output to the encoder 12 enables recording of an externally input video / audio signal. At this time, it also has a function of synchronizing the video signal with an externally connected device.

  The first encoder 12 is a part that codes (digitally encodes) television program data and EPG data received or input by a predetermined data encoding method such as MPEG2. The first encoder 12 selects and encodes one of the video / audio signals input from the tuner 10 or the external video input I / F (interface) unit 11 under the control of the CPU 20. As an encoding method in this case, for example, a format conforming to the MPEG2 standard is used.

  A video / audio signal storage unit (hereinafter referred to as a storage unit) 13 receives an externally input video signal such as television program data or a video signal, for example, a non-volatile disk such as a hard disk or an optical disk such as a DVD. It is a part that accumulates in a storage medium (media). The storage unit 13 includes a hard disk drive (HDD) device 14 and an optical device using a nonvolatile storage medium capable of storing a large amount of TV broadcast programs and EPG data in an arbitrarily input / output manner. A disk drive device 15, a temporary storage unit 16, and a first recording / playback control unit 17 are provided.

A hard disk drive (hereinafter referred to as HDD) device 14 is a storage device that generally includes a hard disk with a fixed storage medium. The optical disk drive device 15 is a portable storage medium that can be exchanged, such as a DVD ± R that can be additionally recorded in accordance with a standard such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), and a rewritable DVD ± RW. This is a storage device incorporating a recordable optical disk. In general, the HDD device 14 can store a large amount of data much larger than the disk of the optical disk drive device 15.

  The temporary storage unit 16 includes, for example, a RAM (Random Access Memory) or the like, and can temporarily store a certain amount of data recorded on a disk set in the optical disk drive device 15 or data reproduced from the disk. It functions as a buffer memory. For example, when a situation occurs in which the storage capacity of the disk of the optical disk drive device 15 is used up during recording (the remaining capacity is small), the temporary storage unit 16 and the storage capacity of the disk that has been recorded so far It is necessary to exchange the remaining disk, and in this case, a place (storage unit) for temporarily saving recording information during the disk exchange is required. The temporary storage unit 16 can be used as a place for temporarily saving such recording information.

  The first recording / playback control unit 17 controls reading (playback) / writing (recording) of data to the HDD device 14 and the optical disk drive device 15. That is, the first recording / playback control unit 17 supplies the recording data output from the first encoder 12 to the optical disk drive device 15 or controls the optical disk drive device 15 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 20. Thus, it has a function of reading information from the (optical) disk and supplying it to the decoder 18. The first recording / playback control unit 17 supplies the recording data output from the first encoder 12 to the HDD device 14 and reads information from the HDD device 14 by controlling the HDD device 14. Also, it has a function of supplying to the decoder 18. Further, the first recording / playback control unit 17 rewrites the management information written on the disk or the HDD device 14 or deletes the recorded data in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 20.

  The decoder 18 decompresses the original video and audio data stored in the storage unit 13 after being compressed (encoded) in the HDD unit 14 or the optical disk drive unit 15 when the storage unit 13 outputs the data. Is output as a decoded video / audio signal (playback signal). The decoding method in this case conforms to, for example, the MPEG2 standard.

  The graphics processing unit 19 adds (blends) various graphics information to the reproduced video / audio signal output from the decoder 18 and then outputs it to the monitor. The graphics information in this case is controlled by the CPU 20, and various graphics information such as EPG program guide information and recording reservation information list can be added.

  A CPU (central processing element: device control unit) 20 controls each unit in the recording device 7 and also controls overall processing of recording / reading. The memory 21 is composed of, for example, a RAM (Random Access Memory) or the like, and is broadcast (transmitted) by being multiplexed with a television signal, and program guide information acquired at predetermined time intervals is stored as the latest program guide information. The The program recording reservation information determined by the user is also stored in the memory 21 so as to be added as new program recording reservation information.

  The operation unit 22 is a part where a user directly inputs (operates) an instruction. An operation for reserving a recording of a program can be performed using the short-distance remote control device 9 such as an infrared remote controller, but can also be performed using the operation unit 22. The near field communication I / F (interface) unit 23 enables communication with the near field remote control device 9, and in this embodiment, can particularly receive a signal from the near field remote control device 9. The display unit 24 displays, for example, display of received program guide information, display of options, display of the selected content after selection, recording reservation information of a program reserved for recording (registered), and the like (not shown). It can be displayed together with the monitor, and the selection contents and the recording reservation contents can be confirmed.

  The first recording-side communication control unit 25 has a communication protocol for transmitting / receiving mail from the mail server 6 via the Internet 4, and the CPU 20 analyzes the content (information) in the received mail text to determine. can do. Although not shown in FIG. 2, in addition to the above, the recording device 7 has a timer for managing time (real time information) such as recording start time and end time of the program reserved for recording. Provided.

  Here, with reference to FIG. 2, a description will be given of processing in the case of performing an operation for reserving (registering) recording of a program in the recording apparatus 7 other than the case of remote control according to the present invention. First, the recording device 7 always obtains information on an electronic program guide service that is multiplexed and transmitted on a broadcast signal at a predetermined time interval, and stores the information therein. As a specific example, for example, when the program guide information is G-Guide, the CPU 20 operates the tuner 10 on the program guide information that is multiplexed and broadcast on the television signal at predetermined time intervals. Each time it is acquired, it is stored in the memory 21 as the latest program guide information.

  In this state, for example, the user reserves (registers) recording of a program in the vicinity of the recording device 7 using the short-distance remote control device 9 or the operation unit 22 (operation button) provided in the recording device 7. ) Is considered. The user in that case looks at the program guide information (EPG information) such as G-Guide displayed on the monitor screen and selects it with the short-distance remote control device 9 or the operation unit 22 (operation button). A desired program for recording reservation can be determined from the EPG information.

  Then, when the user operates the short-distance remote control device 9, the remote control device generates a control signal for reserving recording of the program in the recording device 7, and the control signal is recorded from the remote control device. Sent to device 7. Then, the control signal is received by the short-range communication I / F unit 23 of the recording device 7. When the short-range communication I / F unit 23 determines that the control signal has been received, the CPU 20 of the recording device 7 reads, for example, the latest program guide information stored in the memory 21 at that time, and performs graphics processing. The unit 19 performs processing on the latest program guide information and displays it as EPG information on the monitor. Thereafter, for example, when the user selects one program from the EPG information on the monitor and reserves recording, the user places the monitor on the monitor with the short-distance remote control device 9 or the operation unit 22 (operation button). By selecting and inputting an arbitrary program from the displayed ones, recording of the program can be reserved.

  When the user makes a recording reservation for a program selected by the short-distance remote control device 9 on the monitor, a control signal for recording reservation of the program is transmitted from the short-distance remote control device 9 and the short-distance in the recording device 7 The data is input to the CPU 20 via the communication I / F unit 23. Then, the CPU 20 displays a control signal for making a recording reservation for the selected program on the display unit 24 as well as on the monitor. The CPU 20 that has determined that the short-distance communication I / F unit 23 has received the recording reservation control signal from the short-distance remote control device 9 or the like reads out the latest program guide information stored in the memory 21, and the graphics processing unit By controlling 19, the latest program guide information is displayed as EPG information on the monitor.

  When one program is selected for recording reservation by the user viewing the EPG information, the short-distance remote control device 9 transmits instruction information for recording reservation of the selected program. The instruction information is input to the CPU 20 via the near field communication I / F unit 23 in the recording device 7. Then, the CPU 20 displays information for making a recording reservation for the selected program on the display unit 24 as well as on the monitor. In addition to the above-described processing for recording (registering) a program, the user directly operates the operation unit 22 in addition to the processing by the user operating the short-distance remote control device 9 as described above. You can also. The program recording reservation information determined by the user is stored in the memory 21 so as to be added as new program recording reservation information.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing processing of the portable terminal, the program guide information site, and the recording device in the remote recording system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
Hereinafter, an example of a procedure for making a recording reservation from a remote location in the remote recording system of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 and FIG. In the flowchart of FIG. 3, the processing of the mobile terminal 1 carried by the user at a remote location, the processing of the program guide information site 5 described later, and the processing of the recording device installed in the home are separated from each other. It was shown to.

  In this system, when the user operates the mobile terminal 1, for example, the recording device 7 installed in the home can be remotely operated (controlled) to reserve recording. The mobile terminal 1 carried by the user is, for example, a personal mobile phone device, and the user communicates with the base station 2 wirelessly and is connected to the Internet 4 via the public network 3. You can access the device. The base station 2 receives a signal from the mobile terminal 1 and transmits the signal to a predetermined communicable device via the public line network 3 and the Internet 4 and also to the mobile communication network. A signal is received, and the signal is transmitted to the mobile terminal 1, for example.

  For example, when a user in a remote location performs an operation of registering a recording reservation for the recording device 7 installed in his / her home, the program guide information site 5 is first accessed from the portable terminal 1 carried by the user. (S10). The program guide information site 5 is a guide information site for television broadcast programs. This site is opened, for example, by the manufacturer of the recording device 7 in order to make effective use of the recording reservation function of its own product, and the user can pay a fixed amount or use it free of charge. Further, the program guide information site 5 includes, for example, program guides for all television broadcast stations that can be viewed in the area where the user lives, simple information on the contents of each program, and the like as information necessary for recording reservation. Contained. Further, the program guide information site 5 is always connected to the Internet 4 and is always accessed from the mobile terminal 1 carried by the user via the public network 3 and the base station 2, so that the above-mentioned program guide, Program guide information can be acquired (downloaded). The user can access the program guide information site 5 by inputting a URL (Uniform Resource Locator), which is an Internet address unique to the program guide information site 5, into the mobile terminal 1.

  The program guide information site 5 performs user authentication (S <b> 40) for the user who has accessed from the mobile terminal 1. As a typical user authentication method, the program guide information site 5 is accessed by inputting personal information such as an ID number and a password issued in advance for each user to the portable terminal 1 and transmitting it to the program guide information site 5. It is possible to specify the user who has been and the area information to which the user belongs.

  The program guide information site 5 that has identified the user in step S40 transmits the individual program guide information to the mobile terminal 1 that has accessed (S41). The program guide information at this time is a broadcast program table that can be viewed by the user, simple information on the contents of each program, and the like (hereinafter referred to as program guide information).

  The mobile terminal 1 that has received the program guide information from the program guide information site 5 displays the received program guide information on its display screen (S11). The program guide information displayed here is preferably a GUI (Graphical User Interface) that allows the user to easily select a program that the user wants to record.

  The user who visually recognizes the program guide information displayed on the display screen of the mobile terminal 1 selects a desired recording reservation program from among them (S12), so that the user performs a recording reservation operation from a remote location. .

  The mobile terminal 1 that has received the selection operation of the scheduled recording program by the user has information indicating at least the broadcast date, the broadcast channel, the broadcast start time, and the broadcast end time (or broadcast time) from the information of the selected scheduled recording program. Is generated as information for reserving a recording of a program and added to an e-mail (hereinafter referred to as e-mail). Also, as other additional information, a predetermined type of unique information (code, ID, etc.) for specifying the accessing user and the operation content (in this case, the recording reservation operation) is also added. A mail including information for making a recording reservation for the program to which the additional information is added is transmitted to a predetermined mail address (S13). In this case, the mail address can be arbitrarily set, for example, to be issued by a service provider to which the user subscribes, and it is desirable that the mail address can be changed. Hereinafter, this transmission mail is referred to as program recording reservation information transmission mail.

  As described above, by performing the processing of steps S10 to S13 from the mobile terminal 1 carried by the user at the remote location, the operation for registering the recording reservation from the remote location is performed. The series of processing in steps S10 to S13 is performed by, for example, using a simple GUI using application software (such as NTT Docomo's i-αppli) built in the mobile terminal 1, so that the user can register recording reservations as easily as possible. It is preferable that an operation to be performed can be input. For example, since the URL input work in step S10 is a time-consuming work for the user, when the application software provided for remote operation is started, the URL indicating the predetermined program guide information site 5 is automatically set. It is possible to make it an accessible configuration. Further, in the process of transmitting the program recording reservation information from the recording reservation program selection operation in steps S12 to S13, the user can make a reservation for recording a desired program from the program guide information displayed on the display screen of the portable terminal 1. It is conceivable to process so that an e-mail including the recording reservation information of the program is automatically transmitted without any user operation other than the confirmation operation. The application software that manages the processing as described above is normally provided by, for example, the manufacturer of the recording device 7 or the operating company of the program guide information site 5.

  The recording device 7 installed in the user's home or the like includes a first recording-side communication control unit 25 for accessing a predetermined mail server 6 via the Internet 4. The first recording-side communication control unit 25 includes a communication protocol for transmitting / receiving mail from the mail server 6 via the Internet 4, and the content (information) in the text of the received mail is evaluated and determined by the CPU 20. It has a function that can.

  The mail server 6 is the same as the server that stores the program recording reservation information transmission mail transmitted from the portable terminal 1 in the process of step S13. Further, the first recording-side communication control unit 25 accesses the mail server 6 at a time interval determined in advance by the CPU 20 and determines whether or not the mail server 6 has a received mail addressed to its own device address (search). (S50).

  Since the recording device 7 performs a process of periodically acquiring the received mail from the mail server 6, the CPU 20, the memory 21, the first recording side communication control unit 25, The power source of the timer (not shown) is continuously energized. By energizing these parts during standby, remote control can be performed both in the power-on state and in the standby state.

  If the first recording-side communication control unit 25 determines that there is a received mail in the mail server 6 (S50: YES), the first recording-side communication control unit 25 acquires a received mail addressed to its own device address from the mail server 6 (S51). If it is determined that there is no received mail (S50: NO), the process of searching for the presence of received mail again after a certain period is repeated.

  When the received mail is acquired by the process of the first recording side communication control unit 25, the CPU 20 determines whether or not the received mail is a program recording reservation information transmission mail including the recording reservation information of the program (S52). . As a result of the determination, if the mail does not include the recording reservation information (S52: NO), the determination process is terminated, and the above determination for other mail existing in the mail server 6 is sequentially repeated. However, even after all mails existing in the mail server 6 have been judged, if there is no program recording reservation information received mail, the process returns to the process of S50 after a certain period of time and the above process is performed again. It may be set to repeat.

  The CPU 20 decodes the unique information (code, ID, etc.) added in advance to the mail to determine whether it is a program recording reservation information transmission mail. This unique information (code, ID, etc.) is a predetermined format (code) for the contents that can be specified for the user to be accessed and the operation content (in this case, the recording reservation operation) described in the process (S13) in the portable terminal 1. Information added to the mail according to the column).

  When the CPU 20 determines that the program recording reservation information transmission mail has been received in the process of S52, the CPU 20 determines the program recording reservation information (broadcast date, broadcast channel, broadcast start time, broadcast end time (or broadcast end) from the mail text. Time), etc.) (S53). Further, the program recording reservation information acquired here is newly stored in the memory 21 in the same manner as when the operation for registering the recording reservation from the vicinity of the recording device 7 is performed using the short-distance remote control device 9. Additional program recording reservation information is registered (S54).

  However, if there is a situation where the recording reservation content registered by a user at a remote location matches or partially overlaps the recording reservation content of another different program that was previously registered, When the CPU 20 determines that the program recording reservation information acquired by the CPU 20 matches or partially overlaps with all the program recording reservation information stored in the memory 21 in advance, the recording device 7 Cancels program recording reservation information from a remote location (no additional registration in the memory 21), and can prioritize program recording reservation information that has existed before. Also, the reverse process, that is, the previous program recording reservation information can be discarded (erased from the memory 21), and the program recording reservation information newly registered from a remote location can be given priority (additional registration to the memory 21). For the selection of both processes, for example, a configuration in which the user can arbitrarily select at the time of initial setting of the recording device 7 is conceivable.

  Even when processing other than the above is performed, the CPU 20 determines that recording reservation is impossible depending on the result of the internal processing status of the recording device 7 (error etc.), despite receiving the program recording reservation information transmission mail. Is also present.

  The CPU 20 describes the reservation registration processing result of the recording device 7 in the mail text regardless of the registration / unregistration result of the new recording reservation program from a remote location. For example, when reservation registration is complete, the CPU 20 determines a sentence indicating the contents, and when reservation registration is not possible, the CPU 20 determines the reason why the reservation is impossible, and describes a sentence indicating error contents prepared in the memory 21 in advance. The CPU 20, which has finished creating the mail text, transmits the reservation completion notification mail by causing the first recording-side communication control unit 25 to process the mail address that has been initialized in advance (S55). The transmission destination mail address at this time is a mail address unique to the portable terminal 1 carried by the user at the remote place.

  The portable terminal 1 carried by the remote user receives the reservation completion notification mail sent from the recording device 7 (S14). The remote portable terminal 1 that has received the reservation completion notification mail displays the content on the terminal screen by the user's operation, so that the user knows whether or not the registration of the desired scheduled recording program has been completed. Can do. If registration is impossible, the reason can be known from the contents of the mail text (S15).

  As described above, an operation for reserving a recording of a program in the mobile terminal 1 from a remote location is performed, and the recording device 7 that has completed the process of reserving the recording is then reserved by the CPU 20 with reference to an internal timer ( When it is determined that the recording start date and time is registered, the process of recording the program is started (S56), and when the CPU 20 determines that the registered recording end time is reached, the process of recording the program is performed. The process ends (S57).

As described above, the remote recording system of the present embodiment is connected to the Internet 4, stores program guide information of at least one television broadcasting station 52, and program guide information that can send the program guide information to the Internet 4. A mail server 6 that is connected to the site 5 and the Internet 4 and that forwards at least the outgoing mail received from each terminal device 1 to the destination mail address and temporarily stores the outgoing mail if the destination cannot be received A terminal-side communication control unit 1a that can be connected to the Internet 4 and can browse information on a site connected to the Internet 4 and can send and receive e-mails via the mail server 6, and site information and contents of e-mails Display unit 1b, and at least a selection input and an electronic mem A first recording / recording device connected to the Internet 4 and capable of receiving a television broadcast program and capable of performing a reserved recording process of at least an arbitrary program. The reproduction control unit 17, the first encoder 12 that encodes and outputs the video and audio signals of the received television broadcast program, and the program that stores the encoded video and audio signals in a non-volatile medium A remote recording system comprising a recording device 7 having at least a storage unit (HDD 14, disk drive 15),
In the mobile terminal 1, the terminal side communication control unit 1 a reserves recording of a program including at least a broadcast date, a broadcast channel, a broadcast start time, and a broadcast time based on the program guide information acquired from the program guide information site 5. The program recording reservation e-mail is generated by adding at least the e-mail address of the recording device 7 as the transmission destination, the e-mail address of the portable terminal 1 as the transmission source and the code for instructing the recording reservation process to the information for Send to server 6,
The recording device 7 periodically accesses the mail server 6 at predetermined time intervals, searches for the presence of a program recording reservation e-mail, and receives the e-mail when there is a program recording reservation e-mail. A recording-side communication control unit 25 is provided, and the first recording / playback control unit 17 reserves recording of the corresponding program based on the information for recording recording of the program included in the program recording reservation e-mail, and corresponds. When the scheduled recording time for the program is reached, the program is recorded in the program storage unit (HDD device 14, optical disk drive device 15).

  Further, in the recording device 7 of the present embodiment, the recording-side communication control unit 25 includes information indicating that the recording reservation has ended toward the e-mail address of the mobile terminal 1 when the recording reservation of the corresponding program has ended. Generate and send a reservation completion notification email. Further, the recording device 7 can reproduce the program recorded by the instruction using the electronic mail from the portable terminal 1 by outputting the instruction to the first recording / playback control unit 17 by the short-range communication means. it can.

In addition, the remote reservation recording method of the remote recording system of the present embodiment includes a program guide information site 5 that is connected to the Internet 4 and stores program guide information of the television broadcasting station 52, and a transmission that is connected to the Internet 4 and received. A mail server 6 for transferring or temporarily storing mail to a destination mail address, and a portable terminal that can be connected to the Internet 4 and can browse information on the program guide information site 5 and send / receive e-mails via the mail server 6 1 and a recording apparatus 7 connected to the Internet 4 for receiving a television broadcast program, encoding a video and audio signal of the program with the first encoder 12 and recording the program. A remote recording method for a remote recording system comprising:
In the mobile terminal 1,
(A1) obtaining program guide information from the program guide information site 5;
(A2) Based on the program guide information, at least the broadcast date, broadcast channel, broadcast start time, and broadcast time, and information for reserving recording of the program, at least the mail address of the recording device 7 that is the transmission destination and the transmission Generating a program recording reservation e-mail to which an e-mail address of the original mobile terminal 1 and a code for instructing recording reservation processing are added;
(A3) sending a program recording reservation e-mail to the mail server 6;
In the recording device 7,
(B1) accessing the mail server 6 periodically at predetermined time intervals;
(B2) searching for the presence of a program recording reservation e-mail;
(B3) receiving an e-mail when a program recording reservation e-mail exists;
(B4) reserving recording of the corresponding program based on information for reserving recording of the program included in the program recording reservation e-mail;
(B5) A step of recording the program when the recording reservation time of the corresponding program is reached.

  As described above, the remote recording system of the present embodiment can register a scheduled recording program by e-mail via the Internet 4 between the portable terminal 1 carried by a remote user and the recording device 7. I made it. That is, since the user can make a reservation for recording an arbitrary program in a recording device at home or the like by e-mail using the portable terminal 1 such as a general-purpose mobile phone device carried by a remote user, the recording device 7 Other dedicated hardware (program reservation device or the like) for controlling the program reservation of the program can be eliminated, and a simple and versatile remote recording system can be realized.

  In addition, when registering a recording reservation program from a remote location, for example, the status of the recording device 7 such as whether or not the program reservation for the recording device 7 has been properly completed can be notified to the user at the remote location. Therefore, it is possible to provide a remote recording system that allows a user in a remote location to confirm program reservation with certainty. And the video recording apparatus 7 for implement | achieving the process of the remote video recording system can be provided.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
In the first embodiment described above, the recording apparatus and the remote recording system have been described in which the mobile terminal 1 is used to reserve recording by e-mail from a remote location and further notify the mobile terminal 1 of the recording reservation state by e-mail. However, some of the broadcasted programs are broadcast with a delay in the start time due to the insertion of a special program due to the occurrence of a serious incident or the extension of a sports broadcast, etc. immediately before that, and as a result, Broadcast end time may also be delayed. Therefore, in the present embodiment, at the start of recording of a scheduled recording program of the recording device, the contents of the program start are notified to a remote user by e-mail efficiently in a short time, and the user who sees the contents is remotely An embodiment in which the recording time can be extended will be described.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic internal configuration of a recording apparatus of the remote recording system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention together with some related facilities.
The block configuration of the entire remote recording system of the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. In FIG. 4, the main difference from the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is that the first recording / playback control unit 17 is changed to the second recording / playback control unit 27, and the first recording side communication control is performed. The part 25 is changed to the second recording side communication control part 28, and the second encoder 26 is added. 4 are the same as those in FIG. 2, and therefore, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted. In FIG. 4, the second encoder 26 is an encoder that encodes a video / audio signal at a lower bit rate than the first encoder 12. The second recording / playback control unit 27 adds to the processing of the first recording / playback control unit 17 of the first embodiment and receives the notification result of notifying the contents by e-mail when the program recording starts, and extends the processing. Control processing such as The processing of the second recording side communication control unit 28 will be described later.

Next, processing of the mobile terminal 1 and the recording device 7 in the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing of the portable terminal 1 and the recording device 7 in the remote recording system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
In this embodiment also, a recording reservation is made to the recording device from a remote location, the recording reservation is notified by e-mail and displayed on the mobile terminal (step S15), and the recording of the program is started by the recording device (step S15). The processing up to S56) is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 3, but in FIG. 5, the description of those similar operations is omitted and only the operation added thereafter is described. .

  When the reservation for recording the program is stored in the memory 21 inside the recording apparatus 7 by the mobile terminal 1 from a remote place as shown in step S54 in FIG. 3, the CPU 20 inside the recording apparatus 7 stores the reservation in the memory 21. The recording reservation information of the stored program is constantly compared (monitored) with a timer (real-time time information) built in the apparatus, and it is determined whether there is a recording reservation set at that time (S58). If there is a recording reservation (S58: YES), the process proceeds to the next step S59. If there is no recording reservation (S58: NO), step S58 is repeated to constantly monitor the recording reservation.

  The recording device 7 starts recording the reserved program when the recording date of the program has been reserved (registered). Before starting the recording process, the CPU 20 in the device starts the program start contents. It is determined whether or not to send (S59). This determination may be arbitrarily set by the user at the time of initial setting of the apparatus, for example. If not sent (S59: NO), the program recording process starts as shown in FIG. 3 (S56), and ends when the recording end time is reached (S57).

  In S59, for example, when the CPU 20 determines that the process set by the user at the time of initial setting of the apparatus is a process for sending the program start content (S59: YES), the following process is performed. The recording device 7 that has started recording the reserved program causes the first encoder 12 and the second encoder 26 to simultaneously process in parallel. As in the case of the first embodiment, the first encoder 12 employs, for example, an encoding format conforming to the MPEG2 standard. At the same time, the second encoder 26 employs, for example, an encoding format that complies with the MPEG4 standard. In this case, the video / audio signal input from the tuner 10 is encoded at a lower bit rate than the first encoder 12. A format is used (S60). However, the second encoder 26 in this case performs processing according to a control method described later.

  Recording signals (encoded video / audio information) output from the first encoder 12 and the second encoder 26 are input to the second recording / playback control unit 27, respectively. After these signals are input, the recording signal input from the first encoder 12 is processed in the same way as the first recording / playback control unit 17 of the first embodiment (the program is stored in the HDD device 14 or Recording to the optical disk drive device 15). Further, the recording signal input from the second encoder 26 is recorded on the HDD device 14 as the contents at the start of the program. At this time, the CPU 20 stores the recording reservation information of the program stored in the memory 21 and the recording location of the program start content recorded in the HDD device 14 in association with each other. As a result, the storage location of the recording information of the program start contents corresponding to the recording reservation information of each program can be grasped.

Here, the program start content recording process for recording the output signal from the second encoder 26 to the HDD device 14 will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 6 is a timing chart showing the output period and output timing of the output signal of the second encoder 26 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
In the case of FIG. 6 (1), the CPU 20 operates the second encoder 26 only during a total recording period (for example, 2 minutes after the start of recording) of a predetermined program start content set in advance, and the total recording is performed. The program start contents during the period are recorded on the HDD device 14 by the processing of the second recording / playback control unit 27 (S60). At that time, as shown in FIG. 6 (0), the output from the first encoder 12 is continuously output until the end of the program recording, similarly to the processing of the first embodiment, and the HDD device 14 or optical Recording is performed on the disk drive device 15.

  Further, as another processing method for recording the start content of the program, as shown in FIG. 6B, the CPU 20 uses the output from the second encoder 26 as a program start content as a predetermined preset. After the end of the recording, and after a predetermined recording interval has elapsed, the recording process is repeated again as a program start content for a predetermined intermittent recording time. For example, immediately after the start of recording, the output from the second encoder 26 is recorded with 10 seconds as an intermittent recording time, and after 30 seconds from the start of recording as a predetermined recording interval, 10 seconds is again set as the intermittent recording time. For example, the output from the second encoder 26 is recorded. Also in this case, the second recording / playback control unit 27 causes the HDD device 14 to record the program start content intermittently.

  Also, the output signals from the second encoder 26 as shown in FIGS. 6 (1) and 6 (2) both have the same frame rate as the video / audio signal (TV signal) input from the TV tuner 10. It is not necessary to have. The output signal may be encoded and output by the second encoder 26 so that only the video signal portion has a lower frame rate than the input signal, for example. When the frame rate of the output signal from the second encoder 26 is lowered, the data volume recorded in the HDD device 14 can be reduced, and the output signal to be reproduced at the time of decoding is used as a frame advance video. be able to. Even when the frame-advanced video signal is output, the timing at which the video signal is output from the second encoder 26 is the same as that shown in FIGS. 6 (1) and 6 (2). As a result, frame-by-frame video is reproduced.

  As described above, the recording process of the program start content is turned on and off, the two types of recording processes (methods) shown in FIGS. 6 (1) and (2) are selected, and each time (period) is set. 6 (1) and 6 (2), the setting of the encoding process in which the frame rate is lowered for each recording process can be arbitrarily selected and set by the user at the time of initial setting of the apparatus, for example.

  In the recording device 7 in which the program start content is started to be recorded in the HDD device 14 in step 60 of FIG. 5, immediately after the total recording period elapses and the recording of the program start content is finished, the CPU 20 performs the second recording. The side communication control unit 28 is operated to transmit a program start content confirmation mail having the following content to the mobile terminal 1 (S61).

  The second recording-side communication control unit 28 is directed to a predetermined e-mail address indicating the portable terminal 1 in the same manner as the processing performed by the first recording-side communication control unit 25 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. Send an email. At that time, the second recording side communication control unit 28 uses the second recording / playback control unit 27 to access the program start content once recorded on the HDD device 14 (program start content). Is attached to a mail and transmitted as a program start content confirmation mail. The destination mail address at this time is a mail address unique to the mobile terminal 1 carried by the user at the remote location. After the program start content confirmation mail is transmitted, the CPU 20 operates the second recording / playback control unit 27 to erase the target program start content recording information in the HDD device 14.

  On the other hand, the portable terminal 1 carried by the remote user receives the program start content confirmation mail sent from the recording device 7 (S16). The user of the portable terminal 1 at a remote location can know that the recording of the program reserved for recording in the recording device 7 has started by receiving this program start content confirmation mail. Further, when the user inputs a command to display the program start content on the display unit 1b which is the screen of the terminal device 1 in FIG. 1 (S17), the user starts recording the reserved program. The program contents until the total recording period of the program start contents is reached can be confirmed. Note that the portable terminal 1 at this time needs to include a decoder 18 for decoding the recording information encoded in the encoding format used by the second encoder 26.

  The user of the mobile terminal 1 looks at the recording reserved program start content displayed on the mobile terminal 1 to determine whether or not it is necessary to extend the recording time of the program (S18), and determines that extension is necessary. If it is (S18: YES), the user inputs the program recording time extension command and the desired extension time to the portable terminal 1. If it is determined by the user that the program recording time does not need to be extended (S18: NO), the user leaves without performing the input process, so the mobile terminal 1 sends the program recording extension mail. The process ends without sending.

  When the portable terminal 1 receives an input of a program recording time extension command from the user, the portable terminal 1 creates a program recording extension mail. In the program recording extension mail, at least extension time information (for example, 30 minutes) input from the user is added as program recording extension information, and the personal authentication ID of the user to be accessed and the operation content (in this case) The unique information (code, ID, etc.) for specifying the operation content for extending the program recording is also added as other information. The program recording extension mail to which the additional information including the program recording extension information is added is transmitted to the mail address of the program recording apparatus as in the first embodiment (S19).

  Then, the recording device 7 that has transmitted the program start content confirmation mail in step S61, like the processing performed by the first recording side communication control unit 25 in the first embodiment, the CPU 20, the memory 21, and the second recording side. The communication control unit 28 is operated to access the mail server 6 of FIG. 1 periodically (every fixed time), and at the time of the access, it is determined whether or not there is a program recording extension mail from the portable terminal 1 (S62).

  The period during which the recording device 7 determines whether or not there is a program recording extension mail is a period until the preset recording scheduled program end time based on the recording reservation registration information. For example, the recording apparatus 7 described above after this time (after recording ends) When a program recording extension mail is received, the corresponding program recording extension process described below is not performed. Further, as a method for discriminating other mails and program recording extension mails when the recording device 7 receives mails, for example, the operation content (in this case, program recording extension operation) described in the text of the received mails is used. Specific information (code, ID, etc.) for identification can be determined by decoding (decoding) with the CPU 20.

  As described above, when the program recording extension mail is received during the determination period until the recording reserved program end time, the CPU 20 of the recording device 7 displays the program recording extension information included in the program recording extension mail transmitted from the mobile terminal 1. Each part is controlled to extend the recording time by adding the extension time requested by the user to the program recording reservation information extracted and stored in the memory 21 (S63). By performing this extension control, the program recording end time set in the recording device 7 is extended by the time requested by the user at the remote place and ended (S57).

As described above, in the remote recording system of the present embodiment, the recording device 7 encodes and outputs the video and audio signals for a predetermined period at the start of the received television broadcast program. The program storage unit (HDD device 14 and optical disk drive device 15) includes an encoder 26, stores the signal output from the first encoder 12, and stores the signal output from the second encoder 26, The second recording-side communication control unit 28 stores the video and audio signals for a predetermined period at the start of the program output from the second encoder 26 in the program storage unit (HDD device 14, optical disk drive device 15). If so, a program start content notification e-mail including a video and audio signal for a predetermined period at the start of the program is generated toward the e-mail address of the mobile terminal 1 To send Te.
In the portable terminal 1, when the terminal-side communication control unit 1a receives the program start content notification e-mail, the program start content is displayed on the display unit 1b, and the program start time is delayed. Then, the program recording extension time of the recording device 7 is input from the input unit 1c based on the program start content displayed on the display unit 1b, and at least the program recording extension time information is transmitted by the terminal side communication control unit 1a. A program recording extension e-mail to which the e-mail address of the recording device 7 as the destination, the e-mail address of the mobile terminal 1 as the transmission source and a code for instructing the recording extension process is added is generated and sent to the mail server 6.
Further, in the recording device 7, the second recording-side communication control unit 28 periodically accesses the mail server 6 at predetermined time intervals during the recording of the program, and determines whether or not the program recording extension e-mail has been received. When the second recording / playback control unit 27 receives the program recording extension e-mail, the second recording / playback control unit 27 extends the recording time of the recording device 7 based on the program recording extension time information in the e-mail.

  In the remote recording system of the present embodiment, the recording period of the output of the second encoder 26 is at least a predetermined period for confirmation in which the program content can be confirmed with respect to the recording period of the output of the first encoder 12. As described above, it is a recording period that is continuous from the start of the program, or a plurality of recording periods that are discontinuous from the start of the program and that are longer than the predetermined period for confirmation. In addition, a plurality of recording periods that are discontinuous from the start of the program in the recording period of the output of the second encoder 26 and are equal to or longer than the predetermined period for confirmation are recorded at predetermined recording intervals within the predetermined period for confirmation. A plurality of recording times of a predetermined length.

  In the remote recording system of the present embodiment, the encoding of the second encoder 26 is higher than the encoding conversion rate of the encoding of the first encoder 12, and the encoding in the first encoder 12 is performed. The frame rate at the time of encoding in the second encoder 26 is lower than the frame rate at the time of encoding, and the first encoder 12 converts the received video and audio signals of the television broadcast program into MPEG2 The second encoder 26 encodes and outputs the video and audio signals of the received television broadcast program in a format compliant with the MPEG4 standard and outputs the result.

Also, in the remote reservation recording method of the remote recording system of the present embodiment, the recording device 7 of the remote recording system encodes the received video and audio signals for a predetermined period at the start of the television broadcast program received. In the recording device 7, the second encoder 26 for outputting is provided.
(C1) storing the signal output from the first encoder 12 and storing the signal output from the second encoder 26;
(C2) When a video and audio signal for a predetermined period at the start of the program output from the second encoder 26 is stored, the video for a predetermined period at the start of the program toward the mail address of the mobile terminal 1 And generating a program start content notification e-mail including an audio signal;
(C3) sending a program start content notification e-mail;
In the mobile terminal 1,
(A4) a step of displaying the program start content when receiving the program start content notification e-mail;
(A5) inputting a program recording extension time of the recording device 7 based on the program start content when the program start time is delayed;
(A6) Program recording extension e-mail in which at least the e-mail address of the recording device 7 as the transmission destination, the e-mail address of the mobile terminal 1 as the transmission source, and a code for instructing the recording extension process are added to the information on the program recording extension time (A7) sending an e-mail for program recording extension to the mail server 6;
In the recording device 7,
(B6) accessing the mail server 6 periodically at predetermined time intervals during recording of the program;
(B7) determining whether or not a program recording extension e-mail has been received;
(B8) When receiving an e-mail for program recording extension, there is a step of extending the recording time of the recording device 7 based on the information of the program recording extension time in the e-mail.

  As described above, the remote recording system of the present embodiment can transmit the recording start timing and program start contents of the recording reservation program of the recording device 7 to the user in the remote location via the mobile terminal 1. Depending on the contents, it is possible to provide a remote recording system in which the user can extend the recording end time. And the video recording apparatus 7 for implement | achieving the process of this remote video recording system can be provided.

  In the remote recording system of the present embodiment, the remote user can know the recording start timing of the scheduled recording program of the recording device 7 installed at home or the like. By being able to check efficiently, for example, it is possible to know a change in a television program due to an emergency news broadcast. Furthermore, from the confirmation result, it is possible to realize a remote recording system in which an operation for extending the recording time according to the user's intention can be performed from a remote location.

  Further, the remote recording system of the present embodiment uses a format conforming to the MPEG2 standard for the first encoder 12 of the recording device 7, and further uses a format conforming to the MPEG4 standard for the second encoder 26, thereby It is possible to realize a remote recording system having high connectivity and high connectivity with various portable terminals 1.

  In the remote recording system of the present embodiment, the recording device 7 can notify the remote user of the recording start timing of the scheduled recording program and the contents of the program start efficiently gathered using an e-mail. it can. Furthermore, a remote user who has confirmed the program start content efficiently can know the change of the television program due to, for example, an emergency news broadcast on his / her mobile terminal. The recording time of the recording device can be extended from the ground.

  In addition, the remote recording system of the present embodiment can record the program start content with a smaller recording capacity by recording at a lower frame rate when recording the program start content, and with the same size recording capacity. When compared, it is possible to record the program start content for a longer time and transmit it to the user.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
In Embodiment 2 described above, at the start of recording of a scheduled recording program of the recording device, the start contents of the program are notified to a remote user by e-mail, and the user who sees the contents can extend the recording time from the remote place. Although the case where it comprised is shown, the case where the user who looked at the program start content wants to stop program recording can also be considered. Therefore, in the third embodiment described below, a remote user who sees the program start contents not only extends the recording end time as shown in the second embodiment but also stops the program recording itself. The case where it was comprised so that operation could also be implemented is shown.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing processing of the portable terminal 1 and the recording device 7 in the remote recording system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.
Further, the overall system configuration of the present embodiment is the same as the block diagram of FIG. 1 of the first embodiment, and the configuration of the recording device 7 is also the same as the block diagram of FIG. 4 of the second embodiment.

  The processing of this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. In the processing of the present embodiment, the processing until the remote user confirms the program start content by the mobile terminal 1 is the same as that of the second embodiment. Therefore, in FIG. 7, the description of the processing flow similar to that in the second embodiment is omitted, and the processing flow for the processing added to the second embodiment is mainly described.

  Similarly to the processing of the second embodiment, the portable terminal 1 that has received the program start content confirmation email transmitted from the recording device 7 in step S16 and displayed the program content from the email by user input (operation) is as follows. After displaying the program content (S17), a screen display for confirming the user's intention as to whether or not to continue the program recording is performed, and a command input from the user is accepted (S20).

  In step S20, when the user inputs a command to continue program recording (S20: YES), the same processing as in the second embodiment is performed in step S18. That is, a screen display for confirming the user's intention as to whether or not to extend the program recording and a command input from the user are accepted (S18). If the user inputs a command that does not extend the program recording, the portable terminal 1 does not do anything on the spot and ends the process.

  When the user inputs a command to extend program recording in step S18 (S18: YES), the same processing as S19 in the second embodiment of FIG. 5 is performed, but a command that does not continue program recording in step S20, That is, when the user inputs a command to stop program recording (S20: NO), in the present embodiment, the information is also added to the mail and transmitted as a program recording stop / extension mail (S21). As described above, the program recording stop processing and extension processing according to the present embodiment are not performed at the same time, so the program recording stop / extension mail is added with information indicating either stop or extension processing. Sent.

  The recording device 7 also performs the same mail receiving process as the process performed in S62 of the second embodiment in FIG. 5 even when the program recording stop / extension mail is received (S64). However, in the present embodiment, in addition to the process of acquiring information for extending the recording of a program, the subsequent process executes a process of acquiring information for stopping recording of the program.

  The recording device 7 determines whether or not the process by the mail reception is to stop program recording (S65). If the program recording is to be stopped (S65: YES), the CPU 20 immediately records the program. (S66), and then deletes all recording data of the scheduled recording program (including program recording reservation information for the program being recorded) from the HDD device 14 (S67) The recording of the program ends (S57). If the program recording is not stopped (S65: NO), the recording device 7 determines whether the process is an extension of the program recording (S68), and if it is an extension of the program recording (S68: YES). In the same manner as in the second embodiment of FIG. 5, the CPU 20 performs control so as to extend the program recording (S63), and when the program is recorded until the extension time, the recording process is terminated (S57).

As described above, in the remote recording system of the present embodiment, the recording apparatus 7 encodes and outputs the video and audio signals for a predetermined period at the start of the received television broadcast program. And the program storage unit (HDD device 14 and optical disk drive device 15) stores the signal output from the first encoder 12, stores the signal output from the second encoder 26, and stores the second signal. In the recording side communication control unit 28, the video and audio signals for a predetermined period at the start of the program output from the second encoder 26 are stored in the program storage unit (HDD device 14, optical disk drive device 15). In this case, a program start content notification e-mail including a video and audio signal for a predetermined period at the start of the program is generated and transmitted toward the e-mail address of the mobile terminal 1,
In the portable terminal 1, when the terminal-side communication control unit 1a receives the program start content notification e-mail, the program start content is displayed on the display unit 1b, and the program start time is delayed or changed. In this case, the input unit 1c inputs the program recording extension time of the recording device 7 or a program recording stop instruction based on the program start content displayed on the display unit 1b, and the terminal side communication control unit 1a extends the program recording extension time. In this case, the program recording extension time / information in which at least the e-mail address of the recording device 7 as the transmission destination, the e-mail address of the mobile terminal 1 as the transmission source, and a code for instructing the recording extension process are added to the information of the program recording extension time. When generating a cancellation e-mail and canceling program recording, at least the e-mail address and the transmission source of the recording device 7 as the transmission destination are included in the code instructing the cancellation instruction. It generates a program recording extension / stop for e-mail added with the mail address of the mobile terminal 1 sends to the mail server 6,
In the recording device 7, the second recording-side communication control unit 28 periodically accesses the mail server 6 at predetermined time intervals during the recording of the program, and determines whether or not the program recording extension / stop email has been received. The second recording / playback control unit 27 discriminates, based on the program recording extension time information in the e-mail if the received e-mail for program recording extension / stop is an instruction to extend the recording. When the recording time of the recording device 7 is extended and the received program recording extension / cancellation e-mail is an instruction to stop recording, the recording of the recording device 7 is stopped.

In the remote reservation recording method of the remote recording system according to the present embodiment, the recording device 7 encodes and outputs the video and audio signals for a predetermined period at the start of the received television broadcast program. In the recording device 7,
(C4) storing the signal output from the first encoder 12 and storing the signal output from the second encoder 26;
(C5) When a video and audio signal for a predetermined period at the start of the program output from the second encoder 26 is stored, the video for a predetermined period at the start of the program toward the mail address of the mobile terminal 1 And generating a program start content notification e-mail including an audio signal;
(C6) transmitting a program start content notification e-mail;
In the mobile terminal 1,
(A8) displaying a program start content when an e-mail for notifying program start content is received;
(A9) inputting a program recording extension time of the recording device 7 or a program recording stop instruction based on the program start contents when the program start time is delayed or changed;
(A10) When the program recording time of the recording device 7 is extended, the information of the program recording extension time includes at least the mail address of the recording device 7 as the transmission destination and the mail address of the portable terminal 1 as the transmission source. Generating an e-mail for extending / stopping program recording with a code for instructing recording extension processing;
(A11) When the program recording of the recording device 7 is stopped, a program in which at least the mail address of the recording device 7 as the transmission destination and the mail address of the portable terminal 1 as the transmission source are added to the code instructing the stop instruction Generating an e-mail for recording extension / suspension;
(A12) sending an e-mail for program recording extension / cancellation to the mail server 6;
In the recording device 7,
(B9) accessing the mail server 6 periodically at predetermined time intervals during program recording;
(B10) determining whether or not an e-mail for program recording extension / stop is received;
(B11) When a program recording extension / cancellation e-mail is received, if the received program recording extension / cancellation e-mail indicates extension of recording, information on the program recording extension time in the e-mail And extending the recording time of the recording device 7 based on
(B12) When the received program recording extension / cancellation e-mail is an instruction to stop recording, the recording apparatus 7 has a step of stopping recording.

  As described above, the remote recording system of the present embodiment can confirm the recording start timing and program start contents of the recording reservation program of the recording device 7 on the portable terminal 1, and can extend the recording end time of the confirmed program. In addition to the processing of the second embodiment, it is possible to provide a remote recording system that can stop recording depending on program contents. And the video recording apparatus 7 for implement | achieving the process of this remote video recording system can be provided.

  In the remote recording system of the present embodiment, a remote user who has confirmed the recording start timing and program start contents of the recording device 7 efficiently can extend the recording time or stop the recording operation from the remote location. When implemented, it is possible to provide a recording device 7 capable of extending the recording time or canceling the recording.

  Further, the remote recording system of the present embodiment uses a format conforming to the MPEG2 standard for the first encoder 12 of the recording device 7, and further uses a format conforming to the MPEG4 standard for the second encoder 26, thereby It is possible to provide a remote recording system having high connectivity and high connectivity with various portable terminals.

Embodiment 4 FIG.
In the above-described third embodiment, the remote content user can see the recorded content at the start of the program so that the recording end time extension process and the program recording stop operation can be performed from the remote location. . However, there may be a case where the content of the program cannot be confirmed only by the recorded content at the start of the program. In the present embodiment, it is possible for a remote user to efficiently check the contents of the program after the recording process of the program has been completed by the recording device 7, and further to the recorded program confirmed by the remote user. A case in which various control operations can be performed will be described.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a schematic internal configuration of a recording apparatus of a remote recording system according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention together with some related facilities.
The overall block configuration of the remote recording system of the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. In FIG. 8, the main difference from the second embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is that the second recording / playback control unit 27 is changed to the third recording / playback control unit 30 and second recording side communication control is performed. The part 28 is changed to the third recording side communication control part 31, and a program extraction judgment part 29 is added. Since the configuration of FIG. 8 other than the above is the same as that of FIG. 4, those similar portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and redundant description is omitted.

  The program extraction determining unit 29 in FIG. 8 selects a desired program part by controlling the encoding process of the second encoder 26. The third recording / playback control unit 30 is a control unit that can perform control processing added to the processing of the second recording / playback control unit 27 shown in FIG. The processing of the third recording side communication control unit 31 will be described later.

  Next, processing will be described. The processing up to S61 in which the recording device 7 starts the program recording reservation processing and transmits the program start content confirmation mail is the same as that in the second embodiment shown in FIG. 5 and the third embodiment shown in FIG. Therefore, only the process added to the second and third embodiments will be described below.

  The recording device 7 which has started recording the program and the program start content in step S60 of FIG. 5 or FIG. 7 records the program start content in the HDD device 14 for the set recording period, and in S61, the program confirmation content confirmation mail Is sent out. The processing so far is the same as in the second and third embodiments. In this embodiment, thereafter, the processing shown in the timing chart of FIG. 9 is performed.

FIG. 9 is a timing chart showing the output period and output timing of the output signal of the second encoder 26 according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.
The second encoder 26 outputs the recording signal at the timing shown in FIG. 9A after the recording of the start content of the program is completed. That is, as the program content recording information, as shown in FIG. 9 (1), a recording signal of a predetermined recording time which is a program content concise recording time registered in the recording device 7 in advance is used. It is output periodically until the recording of the reserved program ends at a predetermined recording interval.

  The program content recording information is stored in the HDD device 14 by the third recording / playback control unit 30. At this time, as in the case of the second embodiment, the CPU 20 associates the storage location of the program recording reservation information stored in the memory 21 with the storage location of the program content recording information stored in the HDD device 14. Thus, the program content recording information is associated with each program recording reservation information.

  Further, the program content recording information output from the second encoder 26 can be output at another processing timing shown in FIG. In this case, the output timing of the second encoder 26 is controlled by the newly provided program extraction determination unit 29. As an outline of the control by the program extraction determination unit 29, as shown in FIG. 9 (2), the program extraction determination unit 29 determines the program extraction start timing, and the program content recording information of a predetermined program content intermittent recording time is It is output irregularly until the scheduled program recording ends.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating processing (program extraction start timing determination method) of the program extraction determination unit 29 in FIG.
Of the signals output from the tuner 10, the program extraction determination unit 29 in FIG. 8 receives an audio signal of a program that is reserved for recording and currently being recorded. The program extraction determination unit 29 further determines the input level of the input audio signal (the volume of the program audio), and the input level is determined as shown in FIGS. 10 (1) and 10 (3). When the state continues for a time longer than a preset time: t as compared with a preset threshold, it is determined that it is the program extraction start timing.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 10 (2), the program extraction determination unit 29 has a time shorter than a preset time: t (for example, t / 2) as compared with a preset threshold as shown in FIG. However, when the large state does not continue, the program extraction start timing is not determined.

  The input signal that is compared with the threshold value by the program extraction determination unit 29 to determine the program extraction start timing may be a signal that can determine the program extraction start timing, and has a predetermined magnitude (amplitude) over a predetermined time. As long as the signal continues as described above, either an analog signal or a digital signal may be used. For example, a signal obtained by applying some signal processing such as low-pass filter processing to a digitally input audio signal may be determined.

  In addition, the audio input signal from the tuner 10 is not subjected to evaluation as it is, but a signal related to the sound being processed in the second encoder 26 is input to the program extraction determination unit 29, and the signal is determined as the determination object. Also good.

  Alternatively, a video-related signal (for example, generated code amount, quantization parameter, scene change information, etc.) being processed in the second encoder 26 may be input to the program extraction determination unit 29 and the signal may be determined.

  The program extraction determination unit 29 that has determined the program extraction start timing by the above method, sets the program content intermittent recording time set in advance as shown in FIG. By controlling the processing (recording signal output processing), it is possible to output program content recording information at irregular extraction timings. Also, for example, when the process of not transmitting the program start content confirmation mail shown in the second or third embodiment (not recording the program start content recording) is selected, immediately after starting the recording of the reserved program, The recorded program content recording information can be started.

  Here, the program content recording information output from the second encoder 26 shown in FIGS. 9 (1) and 9 (2) is output at a lower frame rate at the time of encoding, as in the first embodiment. The method can also be selected. As a result, the timing of the output signal from the second encoder 26 is the same as the processing shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, but a frame-by-frame video is reproduced during reproduction.

  As described above, the program content recording process shown in this embodiment is turned on and off, the selection of the two types of program content recording processing methods shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, and various set times (program content intermittent recording time, The program content recording interval) and the selection of the encoding process with a reduced frame rate for each of the recording processing methods shown in FIGS. 9 (1) and 9 (2) can be arbitrarily selected by the user at the initial setting of the apparatus, for example. What is necessary is just to select and set. Further, the threshold value of the program extraction determination unit 29 and the set value of time: t are not released to the user, and may be set in advance by the manufacturer of the recording device 7, for example.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing processing of the remote recording system according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
The recording device 7 performs the recording process of the program contents shown in the above embodiments until the end of the program recording, and then performs the process shown in the flowchart of FIG. The contents of the later program can be conveyed and various control operations from the user can be accepted.

  After the program recording ends (S57), the CPU 20 of the recording device 7 selects whether or not to send the program contents from information initially set in the device (S69). If the setting information does not send out the program contents (S69: NO), the CPU 20 ends the process as it is.

  When the program content is transmitted according to the setting information (S69: YES), the CPU 20 causes the third recording-side communication control unit 31 to process a program content confirmation mail having the following content toward the mobile terminal 1. It is sent out (S70).

  The third recording side communication control unit 31 transmits a mail to a predetermined mail address in the same manner as the processing performed by the second recording side communication control unit 28. At this time, the program content recording information once recorded in the HDD device 14 is accessed by the processing of the third recording / playback control unit 30, and the information is attached to an email and transmitted as a program content confirmation email. The destination mail address at this time is a mail address unique to the mobile terminal 1 carried by the user at the remote location.

  The portable terminal 1 carried by the remote user receives the program content confirmation mail sent from the recording device 7 (S22). As a result, the user having the remote portable terminal 1 that has received the program content confirmation mail can recognize that the recording reservation program recording of the recording device 7 has ended. Further, by displaying the recorded program content on the terminal screen by the user's command input operation (S23), the user can efficiently check the program content in a short time. The portable terminal 1 at this time needs to include a decoder 18 for decoding the recording information encoded in the encoding format used by the second encoder 26, as in the case of the second embodiment. is there.

  The mobile terminal 1 on which the program content is displayed is determined by the user and receives a program content evaluation command as a result of the determination. In this case, for example, a command is input by displaying three kinds of evaluation items for a recorded program prepared in advance on the screen of the mobile terminal 1 and selecting one from the user (S24). ).

  There are three types of evaluation items: “erase”, “preferred recorded program”, and “recorded program to be viewed later”. “Erase” is selected when the user who has viewed the recorded program content determines that there is no need for viewing and requests the recording device 7 to delete the recorded program. “Preference recording program” is to be registered in the recording apparatus 7 as a favorite recording program that has a high possibility of being viewed in the future, although it is not necessary to immediately view the recorded recording program after the user returns home. Select in such a case. “Recorded program to be viewed later” is selected, for example, when a user wants to watch a recorded program whose contents have been confirmed in a remote place immediately after returning home.

  After receiving the command input from the user, the mobile terminal 1 creates a program content evaluation mail. In the mail, the item selected by the user from the above three types of evaluation items is converted into distinguishable information and input as program content evaluation information. As other additional information, the user to be accessed, target recorded program guide information (information specifying a recorded program such as the title of the recorded program and the recording date and time), and operation content (in this case, program content evaluation operation) Unique information (code, ID, etc.) for specifying is also added together. The mail including the program content evaluation information to which the additional information is added is transmitted to the same mail address as in the second and third embodiments (S25). In step S25, if the program content evaluation mail cannot be sent (eg, the mobile terminal 1 is turned off suddenly during the process) (S25: NO), the process ends.

  In step S70 described above, the recording device 7 that has transmitted the program content confirmation mail performs the second recording-side communication in the second embodiment by the processing of the CPU 20, the memory 21, and the third recording-side communication control unit 31. Similar to the processing performed by the control unit 28, it is determined whether or not there is a program content evaluation mail from the portable terminal 1 during periodic access to the mail server 6 (S71). The CPU 20 decodes the unique information (code, ID, etc.) for specifying the operation content (in this case, the operation for evaluating the program content) described in the mail body. To implement. At the same time, the recorded program guide information (information for identifying the recorded program such as the title of the recorded program and the recording date / time) is decoded from the unique information (code, ID, etc.), thereby specifying the target recorded program. The determination period of this process continues not only when the recording device 7 is turned on, but also during the standby state. Therefore, in the recording device 7, the power of the CPU 20, the memory 21, the third recording-side communication control unit 31, and the timer is continuously energized even at the standby time other than when the power is turned on. The recording apparatus 7 that has received the program content evaluation mail by the above processing performs the following processing.

  CPU20 reads the program content evaluation information contained in the program content evaluation mail transmitted from the portable terminal 1, and performs the following program content evaluation control process with respect to the recording device 7 (S72). When the CPU 20 determines that the program content evaluation information is the “erase” process, the CPU 20 identifies the target recording reservation program after recording from the recorded program guide information included in the unique information (code, ID, etc.) Immediately, all the recording information related to the target program such as the recorded program data recorded in the HDD device 14 and the program content recording information is deleted from the third recording / playback control unit 30 (S73).

  When the CPU 20 determines that the program content evaluation information is the “favorite recording program” process, the target program recording reservation information is registered in the “favorite recording program” list prepared in advance in the memory 21 (S74). The “favorite recording program” list is a list of programs that the user wants to watch many times among the recorded recording reserved programs. For example, a configuration is conceivable in which recorded program guide information such as the title of a recorded program and recording date / time is stored together in the memory 21 and displayed on a monitor as a list at any time by a user's selection operation. In addition, the registered contents of the “favorite recorded program” list can be accessed by the user at any time and deleted in units of recorded programs. Further, at the time of erasure, “reserved program recording data to be erased” stored in another area of the HDD device 14 is simultaneously erased.

  When the CPU 20 determines that the program content evaluation information is the “recorded program to be viewed later” process, as in the registration process to the “favorite recorded program” list, The target program recording reservation information is registered in the “recorded program” list (S75). The processing is the same as the registration processing to the “favorite recording program” list, except that it is stored in another area predefined in the memory 21.

For example, a user who has returned from a remote location, for example, to a home where the recording device 7 is installed, views the recorded program evaluated at the remote location as a “recorded program to be viewed later” by the method described below.
The user sends a predetermined short-distance control signal (“recorded program to be viewed later” reproduction request signal) from the portable terminal 1 to the recording device 7 (S26). The CPU 20 that has determined that the short-range communication I / F unit 23 has received the short-range control signal controls reproduction of the scheduled recording program registered in the “recorded program to be viewed later” list stored in the memory 21. Implement (S76). If the recording device 7 that has received the playback request signal from the portable terminal 1 is in the standby state in step S76, the CPU 20 cancels the standby state and automatically turns on the power of the device body without any user operation. Then, playback start control is performed. When a plurality of program recording reservation information exists in the “program to be viewed later” list, the latest one of the dates and times added to the list is preferentially reproduced in order. Further, the portable terminal 1 used at this time needs to be provided with a short-range communication means similar to a remote control such as an infrared communication device provided in the recording device 7, for example.

As described above, in the remote recording system of the present embodiment, the recording device 7 includes the second encoder 26 that encodes and outputs the video and audio signals of the received television broadcast program for a predetermined period. The program storage unit (HDD device 14 and optical disk drive device 15) stores the signal output from the first encoder 12, stores the signal output from the second encoder 26, and receives the received television. By inputting video and / or audio signals of the broadcast program, the video and audio signals of the program encoded by the second encoder 26 are stored in the program storage unit (HDD device 14 and optical disk drive device 15) for a predetermined period. The third recording / playback control unit 30 includes a program extraction determination unit 29 that determines whether or not the program is to be output. The video and audio signals of the program determined to be output from the encoder 26 are stored in the program storage unit (HDD device 14 and optical disk drive device 15), and the third recording side communication control unit 31 is connected to the second encoder. 26, when video and audio signals for a predetermined period at the end of the program output from the program 26 are stored in the program storage unit (HDD device 14, optical disk drive device 15), toward the mail address of the portable terminal 1. Generate and send a program content notification email including all video and audio signals for each predetermined period until the end of the program,
In the portable terminal 1, when the terminal-side communication control unit 1a receives the program content notification e-mail, the program content is displayed on the display unit 1b, and at least the programs that are not viewed after returning home and the programs that are not viewed after returning home are viewed. If the result of classification is not seen after returning home, an instruction to delete the program recorded by the recording device 7 is input from the input unit 1c, and the terminal-side communication control unit 1a selects the recorded program. A program recording selection e-mail is generated by adding at least the e-mail address of the recording device 7 as the transmission destination and the e-mail address of the portable terminal 1 as the transmission source to the code instructing to be erased. When viewing, an instruction to hold a program recorded by the recording device 7 is input from the input unit 1c, and the terminal-side communication control unit 1a instructs to hold the recorded program. To de, sent to the mail server 6 generates a program recording selected e-mail added with the mail address of the mobile terminal 1 is the mail address of the recording device 7 is at least the destination source,
In the recording device 7, the third recording-side communication control unit 31 periodically accesses the mail server 6 at predetermined time intervals after recording the program, determines whether or not a program recording selection email has been received, When the received program recording selection e-mail is to delete the recording, the second recording / playback control unit 30 selects the corresponding program from the recording device 7 based on the instruction to delete the program recording in the e-mail. When the recording is erased and the received program recording selection email is retention of recording, the recording of the corresponding program in the recording device 7 is retained based on the retention instruction of the program recording in the email.

Further, in the remote recording system of the present embodiment, the recording device 7 further includes a program divided area to be viewed immediately after returning to the program storage unit (HDD device 14 and optical disk drive device 15) and a program to be viewed in the future. A separate area is provided,
At the time of classification, the portable terminal 1 classifies the program to be viewed after returning home into a program to be viewed immediately after returning home and a program to be viewed in the future, and holds the program recorded by the recording device 7 when the classification result is viewed after returning home. In the instruction, the terminal unit communication control unit 1a inputs the distinction between whether the program is to be held in the segment area of the program to be viewed immediately after returning home or in the segment area of the program to be viewed in the future from the input unit 1c. A program recording selection e-mail added to the instruction information of the segment area to be held in the code instructing to hold the recorded program is generated and sent to the mail server 6;
In the recording device 7, when the received program recording selection e-mail is retention of recording, recording of the corresponding program in the recording device 7 is performed on the basis of the instruction information of the segment area that retains the program recording in the e-mail. Stored in the section area of the instruction information.

  In the remote recording system of the present embodiment, the program extraction determination unit 29 determines whether or not to output the video and audio signals of the program to the program storage unit (HDD device 14 and optical disk drive device 15) for a predetermined period. Is determined based on whether the level of the audio signal of the program is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, or the amount of at least one of code generation by the video signal of the program, quantization parameter, or scene change is a predetermined value. Judgment is made based on whether or not this is the case, or based on whether or not the predetermined time has passed.

In the remote reservation recording method of the remote recording system of the present embodiment, the recording device 7 of the remote recording system encodes and outputs the received video and audio signals for a predetermined period of the television broadcast program. Two encoders 26,
In the recording device 7,
(C7) storing the signal output from the first encoder 12 and storing the signal output from the second encoder 26;
(C8) It is determined whether or not to output the video and / or audio signal of the program encoded by the second encoder 26 for a predetermined period in response to the input of the video and / or audio signal of the received television broadcast program. Steps,
(C9) storing video and audio signals of a program determined to be output from the second encoder 26;
(C10) When a video and audio signal for a predetermined period at the end of the program output from the second encoder 26 is stored, each predetermined period until the end of the program toward the mail address of the mobile terminal 1 Generating a program content notification email including all video and audio signals for each, (C11) transmitting a program start content notification email;
In the mobile terminal 1,
(A13) a step of displaying the program content when the program content notification e-mail is received;
(A14) According to the contents of the program, at least a program that is not viewed after returning home and a program that is viewed after returning home are classified, and if the classification result is not viewed after returning home, an instruction to delete the program recorded by the recording device 7 is issued. Step to enter,
(A15) A program recording selection e-mail is generated by adding at least the e-mail address of the recording device 7 as the transmission destination and the e-mail address of the portable terminal 1 as the transmission source to the code instructing to delete the recorded program. Steps,
(A16) When viewing the classification result after returning home, inputting an instruction to hold the program recorded by the recording device 7;
(A17) A program recording selection e-mail is generated by adding at least the e-mail address of the recording device 7 as the transmission destination and the e-mail address of the portable terminal 1 as the transmission source to the code instructing to hold the recorded program. Steps,
(A18) sending a program recording selection e-mail to the mail server 6;
In the recording device 7,
(B13) accessing the mail server 6 periodically at predetermined time intervals after recording the program;
(B14) determining whether or not a program recording selection email has been received;
(B15) If the received program recording selection e-mail is erasure of recording, erasing the recording of the corresponding program from the recording device 7 based on the erasing instruction of the program recording in the e-mail;
(B16) In the case where the received program recording selection e-mail is holding of recording, there is a step of holding the recording of the corresponding program in the recording device 7 based on the instruction to hold the program recording in the e-mail. .

  As described above, the remote recording system of the present embodiment can transmit the recording reservation program recording end timing and the recorded program content of the recording device 7 to the user in the remote location via the mobile terminal 1. The user who sees the contents can evaluate the recorded program, and can perform program evaluation such as deleting the recorded program or registering it in the “favorite recorded program” list from a remote location. A remote recording system that can be viewed immediately after returning from the ground can be provided. And the video recording apparatus 7 for implement | achieving the process of the remote video recording system can be provided.

  In the above-described embodiment, the program extraction determination unit 29 determines the program extraction start timing while the first encoder 12 is recording the video / audio signal. After the program recording is completed by the encoder 12 (step S57 in FIG. 11), the recorded data in the optical disk drive device 15 is decoded by the decoder 18, and the video / audio signal output from the decoder 18 is converted to the program extraction determination unit 29. The second encoder 26 may be configured to output the program content recording information in accordance with the program extraction start timing input to the second encoder 26 and determined by the program extraction determination unit 29.

  According to the remote recording system of the present embodiment, after the program recording operation of the recording device 7 is completed, the recorded program content separately recorded separately can be confirmed by the remote user using the mobile terminal 1. The user can efficiently check the entire contents of the recorded program. Furthermore, it is possible to provide a remote recording system that can perform various evaluations on recorded programs (erasing recorded programs, registering to favorite recorded programs, registering to recorded programs to be viewed later) from a remote location.

  According to the remote recording system of the present embodiment, when the recording device 7 records a program, only the important part of the program content is separately selected and recorded, and only the important program content selected after the program recording operation ends is recorded in the remote location. When the user confirms using the mobile terminal 1, it is possible to realize a remote recording system in which a remote user can efficiently confirm only an important part of a program such as a goal scene of a sports broadcast.

  According to the remote recording system of the present embodiment, during the program recording operation of the recording device 7, the content of the program selected in pieces is separately recorded, and selected after being recorded on the portable terminal 1 carried by the remote user. The program evaluation contents corresponding to the target recorded program (regarding “delete recorded program”, “favorite recorded program”, “after” The recording device 7 can be provided that can perform registration on the “recorded program to be viewed”.

  According to the remote recording system of the present embodiment, when recording a program by the recording device 7, for example, only important contents of a program such as a goal scene of a sports broadcast are selected and recorded separately, and selected after the program recording operation ends. Thus, it is possible to provide a recording device 7 that can transmit the contents of important programs to the mobile terminal 1 of the user at a remote location.

  According to the remote recording system of the present embodiment, when recording the program content, the program content can be recorded with a smaller recording capacity by lowering the frame rate, and further recording information is transmitted to the user. By realizing the recording device 7 capable of performing the above, it is possible to cope with a case where there is a capacity limitation or the like in the mail server 6 to be transmitted.

  According to the remote recording system of the present embodiment, for example, a user who has returned to his / her home from a remote location accesses the mobile terminal 1 to carry it in advance and evaluates it in advance as a “program to be viewed later” in the remote location. It is possible to provide the recording apparatus 7 that allows a program to be viewed immediately without other complicated operations.

  According to the remote recording system of the present embodiment, a format compliant with the MPEG2 standard is used for the first encoder 12 of the recording device 7 and a format compliant with the MPEG4 standard is used for the second encoder 26, thereby It is possible to provide a remote recording system that has high connectivity and high connectivity with various portable terminals 1.

Embodiment 5. FIG.
In Embodiment 4 described above, after the recording process of the recording apparatus 7 is completed, the remote user can efficiently confirm the contents of the program, and the remote user can perform various controls on the confirmed recorded program. The case where the operation can be performed is shown. On the other hand, for example, the recording apparatus 7 has a function for automatically extracting and listing a user-preferred program table such as a “favorite program list” from a program table such as program guide information. It has been. In the present embodiment, when the recording device 7 has such a function, when registering a program extracted in the “favorite program list”, an email for selecting whether or not to make a recording reservation for the program. Is shown in a case where it can be sent to a remote user.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a schematic internal configuration of a recording apparatus of a remote recording system according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention together with some related facilities.
The overall block configuration of the remote recording system of the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. In FIG. 12, the main difference from the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 8 is that the third recording / playback control unit 30 is changed to the fourth recording / playback control unit 34, and third recording side communication control is performed. The part 31 is changed to the fourth recording side communication control part 33, and a favorite program guide information registration part 32 is added. Since configurations other than those described above in FIG. 12 are the same as those in FIG. 8, those similar portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and redundant description is omitted.

  The preference program guide information registration unit 32 in FIG. 12 learns the recording reservation information of the program executed by the user, and automatically selects the “favorite program” expected to be preferred by the user from the newly acquired EPG program guide information. It is a choice. The fourth recording-side communication control unit 33 sends the “favorite program” selected by the process of the favorite program guide information registration unit 32 to the remote user. Below, the process of the portable terminal 1 and the video recording apparatus 7 in this Embodiment is demonstrated using a flowchart.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing processing of the remote recording system according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.
First, the process will be described. A user browses information on the program guide information site 5 and performs a recording reservation operation on the recording device 7 from a remote location. The recording device 7 starts the recording operation of the program reserved for recording at the reserved date and time, and during or after the recording process, the program start contents (Embodiments 2 and 3) and the entire program contents (implementation). The process for informing the remote user of the form 4) is the same as in the above-described second to fourth embodiments. Therefore, in the following description, only the process added to the first to fourth embodiments will be described. explain.

  A preference program guide information registration unit 32 newly provided in the recording device 7 learns a user's favorite program, and automatically extracts a user's favorite program from EPG program guide information acquired periodically. In addition, it has a function of additionally registering in an area provided in the memory 21 as a “favorite program list”. The information of the “favorite program list” is processed by the graphics processing unit 19 by a user operation, and can be displayed on the monitor at any time. Although the details of the method of learning the program preferred by the user are not described, for example, the following method can be simply considered.

  The favorite program guide information registration unit 32 accesses the program recording reservation information stored in the memory 21 at a predetermined time interval determined in advance, and “program title” in which the user has made a recording reservation from the information. By extracting various types of information such as “channel”, “date and time”, “genre”, and “performer”, and comparing the appearance frequency and the like, the program guide information preferred by the user is learned. Further, when the recording device 7 periodically acquires EPG information, EPG information that matches or is close to the learning result is extracted, and a “favorite program list” provided in advance in the memory 21 is extracted. (S77). In this case, the number of program guide information extracted may be zero when the number is small, or may be plural when the number is large.

  Moreover, after performing the registration process of step S77, CPU20 transmits a favorite program confirmation mail with respect to the portable terminal 1 by the process of the 4th video recording side communication control part 33 (S78). The fourth recording-side communication control unit 33 transmits an e-mail to a predetermined e-mail address in the same manner as the processing performed by the first to third recording-side communication control units 25, 28, and 31. In this case, the fourth recording-side communication control unit 33 has a function of attaching “favorite program guide information” additionally registered in the “favorite program list” in step S77 to the mail and transmitting it as a favorite program confirmation mail. The destination mail address at this time is a mail address unique to the mobile terminal 1 carried by the user at the remote location.

  The portable terminal 1 that has received the favorite program confirmation mail transmitted from the recording device 7 displays the favorite program guide information on the screen of the portable terminal 1 (S27), and determines whether or not to make a recording reservation for the displayed program. Is selected by the user (S28). When making a recording reservation, the same processing as that shown in step S13 in Embodiment 1 of FIG. 3 is performed, and a favorite program recording reservation information transmission mail is transmitted to the recording device 7 (S29). However, at this time, the specific information (code, ID, etc.) for specifying the operation content (in this case, the preferred recording reservation operation) added to the mail is different from that in step S13. In step S28, if the user selects not to reserve recording of the program displayed, the subsequent processing does not occur. If there is a plurality of preference program guide information to be displayed in the process of S27, the user performs a selection process for each program guide information in S28.

  When acquiring a mail from the mail server 6, the recording device 7 performs the processing of steps S50 to S51 in the first embodiment of FIG. 3, and extracts a favorite program recording reservation information transmission mail from the received mail ( S79). The CPU 20 decodes the unique information (code, ID, etc.) added in advance to the mail to determine whether it is a favorite program recording reservation information transmission mail. The unique information (code, ID, etc.) in this case is the content that can specify the accessing user and the operation content (in this case, the favorite program recording reservation operation) as described in the processing step S13 in the mobile terminal 1. And added to the mail according to a predetermined format (code string). The recording device 7 extracts the favorite program recording reservation information from the information included in the received mail (S80), and then performs the processing of steps S54 to 57 as in the case of the first embodiment. Each process of registration of a favorite recording reserved program, transmission of a reservation completion notice, and program recording is performed.

  In portable terminal 1, confirmation of whether or not the favorite program recording reservation operation from a remote location is completed is processing by reply to the mail transmission processing in step S29, which is the same as in the case of Embodiment 1, steps S14 to S15. The remote user can know by executing the process.

According to the remote recording system of the present embodiment, the recording device 7 includes a user's information based on various program information stored in the program storage unit (HDD device 14, optical disk drive device 15) of the recording device 7. Preference program guide information for selecting a program judged from the learning process result when it matches the user's preference from the program guide information acquired from the program guide information site 5 and recording it as preference program guide information by statistical learning processing of preference. The fourth recording-side communication control unit 33 includes a registration unit 32, and generates and transmits a preference program guide information notification email including preference program guide information toward the email address of the mobile terminal 1,
In the portable terminal 1, when the terminal-side communication control unit 1a receives a favorite program guide information notification e-mail, the content of the favorite program guide information is displayed on the display unit 1b. The program information that is classified into programs that are not scheduled to be recorded and whose classification result is not scheduled to be recorded is input from the input unit 1c as an instruction to delete from the contents registered as the favorite program guide information, and the terminal side communication control unit 1a Selection of preference program guide information in which at least a mail address of the recording device 7 as a transmission destination and a mail address of the portable terminal 1 as a transmission source are added to a code instructing deletion from the contents registered as the preference program guide information The information of the program for which the e-mail is generated and the recording result of the classification is reserved for recording is instructed to retain the contents registered as the favorite program guide information. The code that is input from the input unit 1c and instructs the terminal-side communication control unit 1a to retain the content registered as the favorite program guide information is at least the mail address and the transmission source of the recording device 7 that is the transmission destination. A preference program guide information selection e-mail to which a mail address of a mobile terminal 1 is added is generated and sent to the mail server 6;
In the recording device 7, the fourth recording-side communication control unit 33 periodically accesses the mail server 6 at predetermined time intervals to determine whether or not the preference program guide information selection email has been received, and the fourth When the received preference program guide information selection e-mail includes an instruction to delete the contents registered as the preference program guide information, the recording / playback control unit 34 of the preference program guide information is based on the deletion instruction. When the corresponding registered content is deleted and the received program recording selection e-mail is retention of the content registered as the preference program guide information, the corresponding registration content of the preference program guide information is changed based on the retention instruction. Hold.

Further, in the remote recording system of the present embodiment, in the recording device 7, the favorite program guide information registration unit 32 lists the favorite program guide information of programs determined from the learning processing results that match the user's preference. The fourth recording-side communication control unit 33 transmits the preference program guide information listed in the email address of the mobile terminal 1 by an email for notification of preference program guide information,
In the portable terminal 1, preference program guide information selection is made based on the contents of the list of favorite program guide information, which is classified into programs to be reserved for recording and programs not to be reserved for recording, and to be erased or retained corresponding to each category. The electronic mail is sent to the mail server 6.

In the remote reservation recording method of the remote recording system of the present embodiment, the recording device 7
(C12) A program that is judged from the learning processing result when it matches the user's preference from the program guide information acquired from the program guide information site 5 by the statistical learning process of the user's preference based on the various information of the stored program Selecting and recording as favorite program guide information,
(C13) generating a preference program guide information notification email including preference program guide information toward the email address of the mobile terminal 1;
(C14) sending a preference program guide information notification e-mail;
In the mobile terminal 1,
(A19) a step of displaying the contents of the favorite program guide information when the favorite program guide information notification e-mail is received;
(A20) An instruction to delete from the contents registered as the favorite program guide information is classified into programs to be reserved for recording and programs not to be reserved for recording based on the contents of the information. Step to
(A21) A favorite program guide in which at least a mail address of the recording device 7 as a transmission destination and a mail address of the portable terminal 1 as a transmission source are added to a code instructing deletion from the contents registered as preference program guide information Generating an information selection email; and
(A22) The information of the program to be reserved for recording as a result of the classification is input to a code for inputting an instruction to retain the contents registered as the favorite program guide information and instructing to retain the contents registered as the favorite program guide information. Generating a preference program guide information selection e-mail to which at least the e-mail address of the recording device 7 as the transmission destination and the e-mail address of the portable terminal 1 as the transmission source are added;
(A23) sending a preference program guide information selection e-mail to the mail server 6;
In the recording device 7,
(B17) accessing the mail server 6 periodically at predetermined time intervals;
(B18) a step of determining whether or not a preference program guide information selection e-mail has been received;
(B19) When the received preference program guide information selection e-mail includes an instruction to delete the contents registered as the preference program guide information, the corresponding registered contents of the preference program guide information are deleted based on the deletion instruction. And steps to
(B20) When the received program recording selection e-mail is holding the contents registered as the favorite program guide information, the program has a step of holding the corresponding registered contents of the favorite program guide information based on the holding instruction. .

  As described above, the remote recording system of the present embodiment can automatically extract a favorite program when the recording device 7 learns a favorite program that the user likes and acquires new program guide information. Furthermore, it is possible to provide a remote recording system that allows a remote user to select whether or not to make a recording reservation when registering in the “favorite program list”. And the recording device 7 of the remote recording system can be provided.

  In the above-described fifth embodiment, a recording reservation is made for the favorite programs (0 to plural) newly registered in the “favorite program list” in the processes of steps S77 to 78 and S27 to 29. However, at this time, all the favorite programs registered in the “favorite program list” are transmitted to the user, and the user selects a program to be reserved for recording. May be.

  Further, according to the remote recording system of the present embodiment, the recording device 7 can learn a favorite program that the user likes and can automatically extract a favorite program when acquiring new program guide information. Further, it is possible to provide a remote recording system in which a user at a remote location can confirm the acquired favorite program, and can perform an operation for registering a recording reservation of a favorite program to be reserved for recording from the remote location.

  Further, according to the remote recording system of the present embodiment, the recording device 7 can learn a favorite program that the user likes, and can automatically extract a favorite program when acquiring new program guide information. Furthermore, it is possible to provide a recording apparatus 7 that allows a user at a remote location to check the acquired favorite program and that can perform an operation for reserving a recording of a favorite program to be reserved for recording from a remote location.

  Further, in the remote recording system of the present embodiment, for example, the recording device 7 learns a user's favorite program, lists it in a “favorite reserved program”, etc., and the user does not know the recording process of the listed program When the recording device 7 automatically starts recording or when the user forgets a previously reserved recording program and starts recording the program, the program recording start timing and the program start contents are Thus, it is possible to provide a remote recording system in which a remote user can extend the recording time or perform a recording stop operation based on the confirmation result.

  Further, according to the remote recording system of the present embodiment, a format conforming to the MPEG2 standard is used for the first encoder 12 of the recording device 7, and a format conforming to the MPEG4 standard is used for the second encoder 26. Thus, it is possible to provide the recording device 7 having high versatility and high connectivity with various portable terminals 1.

  As an application example of the remote recording system of the present invention, it can be applied to a digital video disk recorder (DVD recorder) or a hybrid recorder (a composite machine of DVD and HDD device 14).

It is the block diagram which showed the schematic whole structure of the remote control system which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention with related facilities. It is the block diagram which showed the internal structure of the outline of the video recording apparatus of FIG. 1 with some related facilities. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the portable terminal, program guide information site, and recording device in the remote recording system of Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is the block diagram which showed the internal structure of the outline of the video recording apparatus of the remote video recording system which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention with some related facilities. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the portable terminal and recording device in the remote recording system of Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a timing chart which shows the output period and output timing of the output signal of the 2nd encoder which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is the flowchart which showed the process of the portable terminal and recording device in the remote recording system which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is the block diagram which showed the internal structure of the outline of the video recording apparatus of the remote video recording system which concerns on Embodiment 4 of this invention with some related facilities. It is a timing chart which shows the output period and output timing of the output signal of the 2nd encoder which concerns on Embodiment 4 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the process (Determination method of a program extraction start timing) of the program extraction judgment part of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the remote recording system of Embodiment 4 of this invention. It is the block diagram which showed the internal structure of the outline of the video recording apparatus of the remote video recording system which concerns on Embodiment 5 of this invention with some related facilities. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the remote recording system of Embodiment 5 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Mobile terminal, 1a Terminal side communication control part, 1b, 24 Display part, 1c Input part, 2 Base station, 3 Public line network, 4 Internet, 5 Program guide information site, 6 Mail server, 7 Recording apparatus, 8 Video display Device, 9 remote controller, 10 tuner, 11 external video input I / F (interface) unit, 12 first encoder, 13 storage unit, 14 HDD device, 15 optical disk drive device, 16 temporary storage unit, 17 first recording / Playback control unit, 18 decoder, 19 graphics processing unit, 20 CPU (central processing element: device control unit), 21 memory, 22 operation unit, 23 near field communication I / F (interface) unit, 25 first recording Side communication control unit, 26 second encoder, 27 second recording / playback control unit, 28 second recording side communication control unit, 9 program extraction determining unit, 30 a third recording / reproduction control unit, 31 a third recording-side communication control unit, 32 preference program guide information registration unit, 33 a fourth recording-side communication control unit.

Claims (23)

A program guide information site connected to the Internet, storing program guide information of at least one television broadcast station, and sending the program guide information to the Internet;
A mail server that is connected to the Internet, forwards at least the outgoing mail received from each terminal device to the destination email address, and temporarily stores the outgoing email if the destination cannot receive the email;
A terminal-side communication control unit that can be connected to the Internet, can browse information on sites connected to the Internet, and can send and receive emails via the mail server, and displays the site information and email content A portable communication terminal device including at least a display unit capable of performing selection input for at least display contents and character input of an e-mail;
A recording / playback control unit that is connected to the Internet and can receive television broadcast programs and can perform reservation recording processing of at least an arbitrary program. The video and audio signals of the received television broadcast program are encoded and output. A remote recording system comprising: a first encoder; and a program recording apparatus including at least a program storage unit for storing the encoded video and audio signals in a nonvolatile medium,
In the portable communication terminal device,
Based on the program guide information acquired from the program guide information site by the terminal side communication control unit, information for reserving a recording of a program including at least a broadcast date, a broadcast channel, a broadcast start time, and a broadcast time. Generating a program recording reservation e-mail to which at least a mail address of the program recording device as a transmission destination, a mail address of the portable communication terminal device as a transmission source and a code for instructing recording reservation processing are added, and the mail Send it to the server,
The program recording device comprises:
Recording side communication control that periodically accesses the mail server at a predetermined time interval, searches for the presence of the program recording reservation email, and receives the email when there is the program recording reservation email Part
The recording / playback control unit reserves recording of the corresponding program based on information for reserving recording of the program included in the program recording reservation e-mail, and records the program when the recording reservation time of the corresponding program comes. A remote recording system, wherein recording is performed in the program storage unit. In the program recording device,
When the recording side communication control unit completes the recording reservation of the corresponding program, a reservation completion notification e-mail including information indicating that the recording reservation has ended toward the e-mail address of the portable communication terminal device is sent. The remote recording system according to claim 1, wherein the remote recording system is generated and transmitted. In the program recording device,
A second encoder that encodes and outputs a video and audio signal for a predetermined period at the start of a received television broadcast program;
The program storage unit stores the signal output from the first encoder and stores the signal output from the second encoder,
The recording-side communication control unit sends an e-mail to the portable communication terminal device when video and audio signals for a predetermined period at the start of the program output from the second encoder are stored in the program storage unit. Generate and send a program start content notification e-mail containing video and audio signals for a predetermined period at the start of the program toward the address,
In the portable communication terminal device,
When the terminal side communication control unit receives the program start content notification e-mail, the display unit displays the program start content, and when the program start time is delayed, the input unit The program recording extension time of the program recording device is input based on the program start contents displayed on the display unit, and the terminal side communication control unit includes at least the transmission destination in the information on the program recording extension time. A program recording extension e-mail to which a mail address of the program recording device and a mail address of the portable communication terminal device that is a transmission source and a code for instructing a recording extension process are added and sent to the mail server;
In the program recording device,
The recording-side communication control unit periodically accesses the mail server at predetermined time intervals during program recording, and determines whether or not the program recording extension e-mail has been received,
When the recording / playback control unit receives the program recording extension e-mail, the recording / playback control unit extends the recording time of the program recording apparatus based on the information of the program recording extension time in the e-mail. The remote recording system according to claim 1 or 2. In the program recording device,
A second encoder that encodes and outputs a video and audio signal for a predetermined period at the start of a received television broadcast program;
The program storage unit stores the signal output from the first encoder and stores the signal output from the second encoder,
The recording-side communication control unit sends an e-mail to the portable communication terminal device when video and audio signals for a predetermined period at the start of the program output from the second encoder are stored in the program storage unit. Generate and send a program start content notification e-mail containing video and audio signals for a predetermined period at the start of the program toward the address,
In the portable communication terminal device,
When the terminal-side communication control unit receives the program start content notification e-mail, the program start content is displayed on the display unit, and the program start time is delayed or changed. ,
From the input unit, based on the program start content displayed on the display unit, input a program recording extension time of the program recording device or a program recording stop instruction,
In the case of extension by the terminal-side communication control unit, the program recording extension time information includes at least an email address of the program recording device as a transmission destination and an email address of the portable communication terminal device as a transmission source. When a program recording extension / stop email to which a code for instructing a recording extension process is added is generated and the program recording is to be stopped, at least the email of the program recording apparatus as the transmission destination is added to the code for instructing the stop instruction. Generate an e-mail for program recording extension / cancellation with the address and the e-mail address of the portable communication terminal device that is the transmission source added, and send it to the e-mail server,
In the program recording device,
The recording-side communication control unit periodically accesses the mail server at predetermined time intervals during program recording, and determines whether or not the program recording extension / stop email has been received,
When the received program recording extension / stop email is an instruction to extend the recording, the recording / playback control unit, based on the information of the program recording extension time in the email, the program recording device The recording time of the program recording apparatus is extended, and when the received e-mail for extending or canceling the program recording is an instruction to stop the recording, the recording of the program recording apparatus is stopped. The remote recording system described in 1. The recording period of the output of the second encoder with respect to the recording period of the output of the first encoder is a recording period that is continuous from the start of the program for at least a predetermined period for confirmation that can confirm the program content, or The remote recording system according to claim 3, wherein the recording period is a plurality of recording periods that are discontinuous and longer than a predetermined period for confirmation from the start of the program. The plurality of recording periods that are discontinuous and longer than the predetermined period for confirmation from the start of the program in the recording period of the output of the second encoder are recorded at predetermined recording intervals within the predetermined period for confirmation. The remote recording system according to claim 5, wherein the recording time is a plurality of recording times of a predetermined length. In the program recording device,
A second encoder for encoding and outputting video and audio signals for a predetermined period of the received television broadcast program;
The program storage unit stores the signal output from the first encoder and stores the signal output from the second encoder,
Whether or not to output the video and / or audio signal of the program encoded by the second encoder to the program storage unit for a predetermined period by the input of the video and / or audio signal of the received television broadcast program A program extraction judging unit for judging,
The recording / playback control unit causes the program storage unit to store the video and audio signals of the program determined to be output from the second encoder by the program extraction determination unit,
The recording-side communication control unit sends an e-mail to the portable communication terminal device when video and audio signals for a predetermined period at the end of the program output from the second encoder are stored in the program storage unit. Generate and send a program content notification email including all video and audio signals for each predetermined period until the end of the program toward the address,
In the portable communication terminal device,
When the terminal-side communication control unit receives the program content notification e-mail, the program content is displayed on the display unit, and from the program content, at least a program that is not viewed after returning home and a program that is viewed after returning home Let them classify
When the classification result is not seen after returning home, an instruction to delete the program recorded by the program recording device is input from the input unit, and the terminal side communication control unit is configured to delete the recorded program. Generate a program recording selection e-mail in which at least the e-mail address of the program recording device as a transmission destination and the e-mail address of the portable communication terminal device as a transmission source are added to the instruction code,
When the classification result is viewed after returning home, an instruction to hold the program recorded by the program recording device is input from the input unit, and the terminal side communication control unit instructs to hold the recorded program A program recording selection email in which at least a mail address of the program recording device as a transmission destination and a mail address of the portable communication terminal device as a transmission source are added to the code to be transmitted to the mail server;
In the program recording device,
The recording-side communication control unit periodically accesses the mail server at predetermined time intervals after recording a program, determines whether or not the program recording selection email has been received,
When the received program recording selection e-mail is to delete the recording, the recording / playback control unit records the corresponding program from the program recording apparatus based on an instruction to delete the program recording in the e-mail. Erase
When the received program recording selection e-mail is holding of recording, the recording of the corresponding program in the program recording device is held based on a program recording holding instruction in the e-mail. The remote recording system according to claim 1 or 2. In the program recording device,
The program storage unit is further provided with a program segment area to be viewed immediately after returning home and a program segment area to be viewed in the future,
In the portable communication terminal device,
At the time of the classification, the program to be viewed after returning home is further classified into a program to be viewed immediately after returning home, a program to be viewed in the future,
When the result of the classification is viewed after returning home, the instruction to retain the program recorded by the program recording device is further retained in the segment area of the program to be viewed immediately after returning home or retained in the segment area of the program to be viewed in the future The program recording selection e-mail added to the instruction information of the segment area to be held in the code instructing to hold the recorded program in the terminal-side communication control unit Is generated and sent to the mail server,
In the program recording device,
When the received program recording selection e-mail is holding of recording, the recording of the corresponding program in the program recording apparatus is recorded on the basis of the instruction information of the divided area holding the program recording in the e-mail. The remote recording system according to claim 7, wherein the remote recording system is held in a divided area. The program extraction determining unit determines whether to output video and audio signals of the program to the program storage unit for a predetermined period, depending on whether the level of the audio signal of the program is equal to or higher than a predetermined value. The remote recording system according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the remote recording system is determined. The program extraction determining unit determines whether or not to output video and audio signals of the program to the program storage unit for a predetermined period of time, at least of code generation, quantization parameter, or scene change based on the video signal of the program The remote recording system according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the determination is made based on whether any one amount is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. The program extraction determining unit determines whether or not to output the video and audio signals of the program to the program storage unit for a predetermined period based on whether or not the predetermined time has elapsed. The remote recording system according to claim 7 or 8. The remote recording system according to claim 3, wherein the encoding of the second encoder has a higher compression conversion rate than the compression conversion rate of the encoding of the first encoder. The frame rate at the time of encoding in the second encoder is a lower rate than the frame rate at the time of encoding in the first encoder. Remote recording system. The first encoder encodes and outputs a video and audio signal of the received television broadcast program in a format compliant with the MPEG2 standard,
The remote recording system according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the second encoder encodes and outputs a video and audio signal of the received television broadcast program in a format compliant with the MPEG4 standard. . In the program recording device,
Learning that the user's preference matches with the user's preference from the program guide information acquired from the program guide information site by the statistical learning process of the user's preference based on various information of the program stored in the program storage unit of the program recording device A preference program guide information registration unit 32 that selects a program judged from the processing result and records it as preference program guide information is provided,
The recording-side communication control unit generates and transmits a preference program guide information notification email including the preference program guide information toward the email address of the portable communication terminal device,
In the portable communication terminal device,
When the terminal side communication control unit receives the preference program guide information notification e-mail, the content of the preference program guide information is displayed on the display unit. Categorize it as a non-
Information on the program whose recording result is not reserved for recording is input from the input unit as an instruction to delete from the content registered as the favorite program guide information, and is registered as the favorite program guide information in the terminal-side communication control unit. Preferred program guide information selection e-mail in which at least the e-mail address of the program recording device as the transmission destination and the e-mail address of the portable communication terminal device as the transmission source are added to the code instructing to be erased from the recorded contents Produces
The information of the program to be reserved for recording as a result of the classification is input as an instruction to hold the contents registered as the favorite program guide information from the input unit, and is registered as the favorite program guide information in the terminal-side communication control unit. Preferred program guide information selection e-mail in which at least the e-mail address of the program recording device as the transmission destination and the e-mail address of the portable communication terminal device as the transmission source are added to the code instructing to retain the recorded contents Is generated and sent to the mail server,
In the program recording device,
The recording-side communication control unit periodically accesses the mail server at predetermined time intervals, determines whether or not the preference program guide information selection email has been received,
When the received preference program guide information selection e-mail includes an instruction to delete the contents registered as the favorite program guide information, the recording / playback control unit, based on the deletion instruction, selects the favorite program guide information. Delete the corresponding registration details of
When the received program recording selection e-mail is holding the contents registered as favorite program guide information, the corresponding registered contents of the favorite program guide information are held based on the holding instruction. The remote recording system according to claim 1 or 2. In the program recording device, the preference program guide information registration unit records the preference program guide information of the program determined from the learning processing result to match the user's preference as a list,
The recording-side communication control unit transmits the list of preference program guide information to the email address of the portable communication terminal device by an email for preference program guide information notification,
In the portable communication terminal device,
E-mail for selecting preferred program guide information indicating whether to classify a program to be reserved for recording and a program not to be reserved for recording from the contents of the list of preferred program guide information, and whether to delete or retain corresponding to each category. The remote recording system according to claim 15, wherein the remote recording system is transmitted to the mail server. The program recording apparatus can reproduce the program recorded by the instruction using the electronic mail from the portable communication terminal apparatus 1 by outputting the instruction to the recording / reproduction control unit by the short-range communication means. it can.
The remote recording system according to any one of claims 1 to 16. It is used for the remote recording system in any one of Claims 1-17. The program recording device characterized by the above-mentioned. A program guide information site connected to the Internet for storing program guide information of a television broadcast station, a mail server connected to the Internet for transferring or temporarily storing outgoing mails to a destination mail address, A portable communication terminal device that can be connected and allows browsing of information on the program guide information site and transmission / reception of e-mails via the mail server; a television broadcast program connected to the Internet; A remote reservation recording method for a remote recording system comprising a program recording apparatus capable of recording by recording a sound signal encoded by a first encoder and capable of reservation recording,
In the portable communication terminal device,
(A1) obtaining the program guide information from the program guide information site;
(A2) Based on the program guide information, at least a broadcast date, a broadcast channel, a broadcast start time, a broadcast time, and information for reserving recording of a program include at least a mail address of the program recording device that is a transmission destination Generating a program recording reservation email to which a mail address of the portable communication terminal device that is the transmission source and a code for instructing recording reservation processing are added, and
(A3) sending the program recording reservation e-mail to the mail server;
In the program recording device,
(B1) accessing the mail server periodically at predetermined time intervals;
(B2) searching for the presence of the program recording reservation e-mail;
(B3) receiving an e-mail when the program recording reservation e-mail exists;
(B4) reserving a recording of the corresponding program based on information for reserving recording of the program included in the program recording reservation e-mail;
(B5) A remote reservation recording method for a remote recording system, comprising the step of recording the program when the recording reservation time of the corresponding program is reached. The program recording apparatus of the remote recording system includes a second encoder that encodes and outputs a video and audio signal for a predetermined period at the start of the received television broadcast program,
In the program recording device,
(C1) storing the signal output from the first encoder and storing the signal output from the second encoder;
(C2) When video and audio signals for a predetermined period at the start of the program output from the second encoder are stored, the program starts at the start of the program toward the e-mail address of the portable communication terminal device. Generating a program start content notification e-mail including video and audio signals for a predetermined period;
(C3) transmitting the program start content notification e-mail;
In the portable communication terminal device,
(A4) displaying the program start content when receiving the program start content notification e-mail;
(A5) When the start time of the program is delayed, inputting a program recording extension time of the program recording device 7 based on the program start content;
(A6) At least a mail address of the program recording device as a transmission destination, a mail address of the portable communication terminal device 1 as a transmission source, and a code for instructing a recording extension process are added to the information of the program recording extension time Generating a program recording extension email; (A7) sending the program recording extension email to the mail server;
In the program recording device,
(B6) accessing the mail server periodically at predetermined time intervals during recording of the program;
(B7) determining whether or not the program recording extension e-mail has been received;
(B8) When receiving the program recording extension e-mail, the step of extending the recording time of the program recording device based on the information of the program recording extension time in the e-mail is provided. The remote reservation recording method of the remote recording system according to 19. The program recording apparatus of the remote recording system includes a second encoder that encodes and outputs a video and audio signal for a predetermined period at the start of the received television broadcast program,
In the program recording device,
(C4) storing the signal output from the first encoder and storing the signal output from the second encoder;
(C5) When the video and audio signals for a predetermined period at the start of the program output from the second encoder are stored, the start of the program toward the mail address of the portable communication terminal device 1 Generating a program start content notification email containing video and audio signals for a predetermined period of time;
(C6) transmitting the program start content notification e-mail;
In the portable communication terminal device,
(A8) displaying the program start content when receiving the program start content notification e-mail;
(A9) inputting a program recording extension time of the program recording device or a program recording stop instruction based on the program start content when the start time of the program is delayed or changed; ,
(A10) When extending the program recording time of the program recording device, at least the e-mail address of the program recording device as the transmission destination and the portable communication terminal device as the transmission source are included in the information of the program recording extension time Generating a program recording extension / suspension e-mail with an e-mail address and a code for instructing recording extension processing added;
(A11) When canceling program recording of the program recording device, at least a mail address of the program recording device as a transmission destination and a mail of the portable communication terminal device as a transmission source are included in the code for instructing the stop instruction. Generating an e-mail for extending / stopping program recording with an address added;
(A12) sending the program recording extension / stop email to the mail server;
In the program recording device,
(B9) accessing the mail server periodically at predetermined time intervals during recording of the program;
(B10) determining whether or not the program recording extension / stop email has been received;
(B11) When the program recording extension / cancellation e-mail is received and the received program recording extension / cancellation e-mail is an instruction to extend recording, the program recording extension time in the e-mail Extending the recording time of the program recording device based on the information of
The remote control according to claim 19, further comprising the step of: (B12) canceling recording of the program recording device when the received program recording extension / stop email is an instruction to stop recording. Remote reservation recording method of the recording system. The program recording device of the remote recording system includes a second encoder that encodes and outputs video and audio signals for a predetermined period of the received television broadcast program,
In the program recording device,
(C7) storing the signal output from the first encoder and storing the signal output from the second encoder;
(C8) It is determined whether or not to output the video and / or audio signal of the program encoded by the second encoder for a predetermined period by the input of the video and / or audio signal of the received television broadcast program. Steps,
(C9) storing video and audio signals of a program determined to be output from the second encoder;
(C10) When the video and audio signals for a predetermined period at the end of the program output from the second encoder are stored, when the program ends toward the mail address of the portable communication terminal device 1 Generating a program content notification e-mail including all video and audio signals for each predetermined period until (C11) transmitting the program start content notification e-mail;
In the portable communication terminal device,
(A13) displaying the program content when receiving the program content notification e-mail;
(A14) The content of the program is classified into at least a program that is not viewed after returning home and a program that is viewed after returning home, and if the result of the classification is not viewed after returning home, the program recorded by the program recording device is deleted. A step of inputting an instruction to be performed;
(A15) For program recording selection in which at least a mail address of the program recording device as a transmission destination and a mail address of the portable communication terminal device as a transmission source are added to a code instructing to delete the recorded program Generating an email; and
(A16) If the classification result is viewed after returning home, inputting an instruction to hold the program recorded by the program recording device;
(A17) For program recording selection in which at least a mail address of the program recording device as a transmission destination and a mail address of the portable communication terminal device as a transmission source are added to a code instructing to hold the recorded program Generating an email; and
(A18) sending the program recording selection e-mail to the mail server;
In the program recording device,
(B13) accessing the mail server periodically at predetermined time intervals after recording the program;
(B14) determining whether or not the program recording selection e-mail has been received;
(B15) When the received program recording selection e-mail is erasure of recording, erasing the recording of the corresponding program from the program recording device 7 based on the erasure instruction of program recording in the e-mail When,
(B16) If the received program recording selection e-mail is to hold a recording, the recording of the corresponding program in the program recording device 7 is held based on a program recording holding instruction in the e-mail. The remote reservation recording method for a remote recording system according to claim 19, further comprising: In the program recording device 7,
(C12) A program that is judged from the learning processing result when it matches the user's preference from the program guide information acquired from the program guide information site by the statistical learning process of the user's preference based on the various information of the stored program Selecting and recording as favorite program guide information,
(C13) generating a preference program guide information notification email including the preference program guide information toward the email address of the portable communication terminal device;
(C14) transmitting the preference program guide information notification e-mail;
In the portable communication terminal device,
(A19) displaying the content of the preference program guide information when the preference program guide information notification e-mail is received;
(A20) The contents of the information are classified into programs to be reserved for recording and programs not to be reserved for recording, and information on programs whose recording result is not reserved for recording is deleted from the contents registered as the favorite program guide information. Entering instructions,
(A21) At least a mail address of the program recording device 7 as a transmission destination and a mail address of the portable communication terminal device as a transmission source in a code instructing to delete from the contents registered as the favorite program guide information Generating a preference program guide information selection e-mail to which is added,
(A22) As for the information of the program to be reserved for recording as a result of the classification, an instruction to hold the contents registered as the favorite program guide information is input, and the instruction to hold the contents registered as the favorite program guide information Generating a preference program guide information selection e-mail in which at least the e-mail address of the program recording device as a transmission destination and the e-mail address of the portable communication terminal device as a transmission source are added to the code to be transmitted;
(A23) sending the preference program guide information selection e-mail to the mail server;
In the program recording device,
(B17) accessing the mail server periodically at predetermined time intervals;
(B18) determining whether or not the preference program guide information selection e-mail has been received;
(B19) If the received e-mail for selecting the favorite program guide information includes an instruction to delete the contents registered as the favorite program guide information, the corresponding registered contents of the favorite program guide information based on the deletion instruction A step of deleting
(B20) When the received program recording selection e-mail is holding the contents registered as the favorite program guide information, the step of holding the corresponding registered contents of the favorite program guide information based on the holding instruction 20. The remote reserved recording method for a remote recording system according to claim 19, wherein:

Images