JP2007053510A - Recording/reproducing device, reproducing device, and method and program for adjusting volume automatically - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To adjust the volume difference between the main portion of content and the others automatically, when utilizing a content signal such as a television broadcasting program. <P>SOLUTION: When the content signal is recorded on a recording medium 21, change points are detected in the content signal at a scene section processor 17, the section sandwiched between the change points is identified, and the type of each identified section is determined. The detected or identified information is recorded and held at a section information holder 53. In reproduction, a reproduction place is determined in the content signal read from a recording medium 21 by a reproduction place determination section 31. By a volume gain determination section 32, information at the section information holder 52 is referred to. Based on the type of the section to which the reproduction place belongs, the gain of a sound signal to be reproduced is determined and the gate of the sound signal to be reproduced is adjusted at a sound processor. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus that uses, for example, an optical disk such as a hard disk or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) or a video tape as a recording medium, and a method and program for automatically adjusting the volume used in this apparatus.

  Various types of TV programs such as dramas and movies, news programs, music programs, variety programs, etc. are provided by TV broadcasting. In general, a program provided by a television broadcast is inserted with a commercial of a sponsor who provides the program (hereinafter abbreviated as CM).

  Depending on the program or broadcast station, the sponsor's commercial is not inserted in the program, but the program main part that the viewer intends to view is in the form of program advertisements or announcements immediately before or after the program. Other information may have been inserted. In this specification, program advertisements and announcements performed by television broadcasting are also considered as CMs in a broad sense.

  When inserting a CM into a television program, consideration is given to inserting the program in such a way that the result of information switching by insertion increases the program structure so as not to destroy the atmosphere of the program. For example, if the TV broadcast program is a live baseball program, insert a CM at the timing of switching between the first attack and the second attack, insert a CM avoiding the excitement of the program, or CM immediately before the result announcement And so on.

  However, since the sound of the CM part and the sound of the main part of the program do not have much correlation with each other, the difference in volume (volume level) between the main part of the program and the CM part is not considered at present. For this reason, there are many cases where the sound volume of the CM part is larger than the sound volume of the main part of the program. For this reason, when the program main part is switched to the CM part, the reproduced sound of the CM part becomes loud, and the viewer may be surprised or feel uncomfortable.

  In such a case, in order to balance the volume, the viewer decreases the volume through, for example, a remote control (remote commander) of the television receiver, then increases the volume again after starting the main story, and in some cases increases or decreases the volume. Therefore, it is necessary to repeat an operation to match the sound volume of the main part of the program before the CM starts.

  However, it is troublesome to frequently perform a volume adjustment operation during viewing of a television broadcast program. Therefore, in Patent Document 1 described later, the set volume level is stored and held in the volume level storage circuit, the volume level of the audio signal to be reproduced is detected by the volume level detection circuit, and the set volume level stored and held is An invention of an automatic volume control device that controls a volume control circuit and automatically adjusts the volume level of reproduced sound based on a difference from the detected volume level detected is disclosed.

  By using the invention described in Patent Document 1, not only the volume difference between the CM and the main program in TV broadcasting but also the trouble of adjusting the volume every time a channel is selected or each audio source such as a CD (Compact Disc) is switched. This can be eliminated.

In addition, said patent document 1 is as follows.
JP-A-6-37563

  By the way, in the case of the technique described in Patent Document 1 described above, the playback audio level is automatically adjusted based on the difference between the set volume level and the detected volume level. In some cases, the volume level may be automatically adjusted, which may be inconvenient.

  For example, in the case of a television broadcast program of a movie or a drama, the volume may be different between the conversation scene and the car chase scene, and the volume is increased in the climax scene. As described above, there may be a part where the volume is different even in the main part of the program, and in order to enjoy the television broadcast program itself, it may not be preferable to automatically adjust the volume up to such a part.

  Furthermore, in recent years, recording and playback devices such as DVD recorders and hard disk recorders that receive and record television broadcast programs have been widely used. In such a recording / reproducing apparatus, a television broadcast program is faithfully recorded and reproduced faithfully, and an audio signal is reproduced with a certain gain. For this reason, even when a recorded (recorded) television broadcast program is played back and viewed, there is a problem that the volume is different at the playback portion.

  In view of the above points, the present invention automatically adjusts the volume difference that occurs between the main part of the content and the other parts when using a content signal such as a TV broadcast program, and the content signal can be transmitted without a sense of incongruity. The purpose is to make it available.

In order to solve the above problems, a recording / reproducing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention provides:
Recording / reproduction comprising a recording system for performing processing for recording a content signal including an audio signal having a section with a different volume on a recording medium, and a reproducing system for reproducing and using the content signal recorded on the recording medium A device,
The recording system is
Change point detecting means for detecting a change point of the content signal to be recorded;
Section specifying means for specifying a section sandwiched between change points detected by the change point detecting means;
For each section specified by the section specifying means, type determining means for determining the type of section;
Section information holding means for storing and holding information indicating the section specified by the section specifying means and information indicating the type of the section determined by the type determining means;
The regeneration system is
Reading means for reading out a content signal to be reproduced from the recording medium;
Determining means for determining a reproduction location for the content signal to be reproduced read by the reading means;
Based on the playback location determined by the determination means, the information held in the section information holding means is referred to, and the gain of the audio signal to be played back is determined based on the type of the section including the playback location. Gain determination means;
Adjusting means for adjusting the gain of the audio signal to be reproduced according to the gain determined by the gain determining means.

  According to the recording / reproducing apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, the target content signal is recorded on the recording medium by the function of the recording system. At the time of recording, the change point of the content signal is detected by the change point detection means, the section sandwiched between the change points is specified by the section specifying means, and the type of each section, for example, the main program section, A type such as a CM section is determined. The section information holding unit stores and holds information indicating the section and information indicating the type of the section.

  Then, the content signal recorded on the recording medium is reproduced by the function of the reproduction system. At the time of reproduction, the content signal stored in the recording medium is read by the reading unit, and the reproduction part of the read content signal is determined by the determining unit. Then, the gain determination means refers to the information stored and held in the section information holding means, and determines the gain with respect to the volume of the audio signal to be played based on the type of the section to which the playback location belongs. According to the gain, the gain with respect to the volume of the reproduced sound is adjusted by the adjusting means.

  As a result, when the content signal recorded on the recording medium is, for example, a recorded TV broadcast program, the gain with respect to the volume of the reproduced sound is automatically adjusted in the main part of the program and other parts, and the user's The content signal can be always reproduced without a sense of incongruity and the content can be used at an appropriate volume without bothering hands.

A recording / reproducing apparatus according to a second aspect of the invention is the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the first aspect,
The recording system includes a representative value generating unit that generates a representative value of the volume of the audio signal for each section specified by the section specifying unit,
The section information holding means of the recording system is generated by the representative value generating means, information indicating the section specified by the section specifying means, information indicating the type of the section determined by the type determining means, and In association with the representative value of the volume, it is stored and retained,
The gain determination means of the reproduction system refers to information held in the representative value holding means based on the reproduction location determined by the determination means, and shows information indicating the representative value of the volume of each section. The gain of the audio signal to be reproduced is determined in consideration of the above.

  According to the recording / reproducing apparatus of the second aspect of the present invention, at the time of recording the content signal, the representative value generating unit generates the representative value of the volume for each section specified by the section specifying unit. The representative value of the volume is stored and held in the section information holding unit for each section. Then, the gain determination means determines the gain with respect to the volume of the reproduced sound in consideration of the representative value of the volume of the section including the reproduction location and the sections before and after the section, and the gain with respect to the volume of the reproduced sound is determined accordingly. Adjusted. As a result, the volume gain of the reproduced sound can be automatically adjusted more appropriately.

The recording / reproducing apparatus of the invention according to claim 3
A recording / reproducing apparatus comprising a recording system for performing processing for recording a content signal including an audio signal on a recording medium, and a reproducing system for reproducing and using the content signal recorded on the recording medium,
The recording system is
At the time of recording, a detecting means for detecting one or both of a no-signal section and a predetermined pattern section in which a signal of a predetermined pattern continues,
Section information holding means for storing and holding information indicating no-signal sections or predetermined pattern sections detected by the detection means and information indicating types of those sections;
The regeneration system is
Reading means for reading out a content signal to be reproduced from the recording medium;
Determining means for determining a reproduction location for the content signal to be reproduced read by the reading means;
Based on the playback location determined by the determination means, the information held in the section information holding means is referred to, and the gain of the audio signal to be played back is determined based on the type of the section including the playback location. Gain determination means;
Adjusting means for adjusting the gain of the audio signal to be reproduced according to the gain determined by the gain determining means.

  According to the recording / reproducing apparatus of the third aspect of the invention, the target content signal is recorded on the recording medium by the function of the recording system. At the time of recording, one or both of the no-signal section and the predetermined pattern section is detected by the detecting means, and for the detected no-signal section and the predetermined pattern section, information indicating the section, its type, Are stored and held in the section information holding means.

  Then, the content signal recorded on the recording medium is reproduced by the function of the reproduction system. At the time of reproduction, the content signal stored in the recording medium is read by the reading unit, and the reproduction part of the read content signal is determined by the determining unit. Then, the gain determination means refers to the information stored and held in the section information holding means, determines the gain of the audio signal to be played based on the type of the section to which the playback location belongs, and according to the determined gain The gain with respect to the volume of the audio signal to be reproduced is adjusted by the adjusting means.

  As a result, for example, when a television broadcast program is recorded, recording is performed in the state where no broadcast signal exists before or after the start of the broadcast, or a test signal such as a so-called color pattern is recorded. Even if you have recorded a large amount of audio that is meaningless to the viewer, such as the sound of “Zar” generated due to no signal and the sound of “Peep” of a predetermined tone signal The gain with respect to the volume can be automatically adjusted so as not to continue the reproduction at the volume.

  In the target content signal, the gain with respect to the volume of the reproduced audio can be automatically adjusted appropriately between the main part and other parts. Therefore, it is possible to reduce discomfort and discomfort that the user feels due to the volume difference (volume level difference) in the audio signal between the main part of the target content signal and other parts without having to perform volume adjustment operations. Can do.

  Also, in order to balance the volume of the audio signal to be played back, the volume of the main part is reduced by lowering the volume in parts other than the main part, increasing the volume in the main part, and in some cases, increasing and lowering the volume. Adjustment operation can be eliminated.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of an apparatus, a method, and a program according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the first and second embodiments described below, the present invention is applied to a hard disk recorder as an example. As a third embodiment, the present invention is called a chasing playback. A case where the present invention is applied to a possible reproducing apparatus will be described as an example.

[First Embodiment]
[Outline of configuration]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the hard disk recorder of the first embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining a scene section processing unit 17 of the first hard disk recorder. The hard disk recorder of the first embodiment can record received and selected television broadcast signals and video signals and audio signals supplied from external devices as content signals (content data) on the hard disk, The content signal recorded on the hard disk can be read and reproduced.

  The hard disk recorder according to the first embodiment is roughly composed of a recording system, a reproduction system, and a control system. The recording system includes a receiving antenna 11 for a terrestrial analog television broadcast signal (hereinafter simply referred to as a television broadcast signal), a tuner unit 12, and an analog video (image) signal input terminal (hereinafter simply referred to as a video input terminal). 13, an analog audio signal input terminal (hereinafter simply referred to as an audio input terminal) 14, a selector 15, a recording processing unit 16, and a scene section processing unit 17. As will be described later in detail, the recording scene section processing unit 17 includes a scene change point detection unit 171, a scene section detection unit 172, and a section type detection unit 173 as shown in FIG. It is.

  The reproduction system includes a reproduction location determination unit 31, a volume gain determination unit 32, a reproduction processing unit 33, a video processing unit 34, a video signal output terminal 35, an audio processing unit 36, and an audio signal output terminal 37. It is a part comprised by. The drive control unit 20 and the hard disk drive (hereinafter abbreviated as HDD) 21 are both used during recording and reproduction, and function as a part constituting a recording system during recording. Sometimes it functions as a part of the playback system.

  In the control system, the control unit 40 realizes the function. The control unit 40 is formed by connecting a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 41, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 42, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 43, and an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable ROM) 44 through a CPU bus 45. It is a microcomputer and controls each part of the hard disk recorder.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a clock circuit 51, an operation input unit 52, a section information holding unit 53, and a remote control signal light receiving unit 54 are connected to the control unit 40. Here, the clock circuit 51 provides the current time, has a calendar function, and can provide the current date and the current day of the week. The clock circuit 51 can also be used as a counter for measuring a predetermined period.

  The operation input unit 52 includes various operation keys such as a power on / off switch, a play key, a stop key, a pause key, a fast-forward key, and a fast-rewind key. An electric signal corresponding to the input can be supplied to the control unit 40. Thereby, the control part 40 can control each part according to the instruction | indication (operation input) from a user.

  As will be described in detail later, the section information holding unit 53 stores and holds section information about a content signal to be recorded, and uses a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory or an EEPROM. In addition, by providing a dedicated driver and connection terminal, the section information holding unit 53 can be used for various other types such as a hard disk, MD (Mini Disc (registered trademark)), memory card, USB (Universal Serial Bus) connected external memory, and the like. This recording medium can also be used.

  The remote control signal light receiving unit 54 can receive an infrared remote control signal from the remote control 60 of the hard disk recorder, convert it into an electrical signal, and supply it to the control unit 40. Thus, the control unit 40 can control each unit of the hard disk recorder in response to an operation input from the user received through the remote control 60 and the remote control signal light receiving unit 54.

  As with the operation input unit 52, the remote controller 60 includes various operation keys such as a power on / off key, a playback key, a stop key, a pause key, a fast forward key, and a fast reverse key. For example, an infrared remote control signal can be formed and transmitted. In addition, various settings and recording reservations can be performed through the remote controller 60 and the operation input unit 52.

[Operation of hard disk recorder]
Next, the operation of the hard disk recorder of the first embodiment will be described in detail based on the configuration. In the following, the operation during recording and the operation during reproduction will be described separately.

[Operation (processing) during recording]
First, the operation during recording will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the hard disk recorder of the first embodiment has two systems of input terminals, that is, a television broadcast signal receiving antenna 11 and a tuner unit 12, a video input terminal 13 and an audio input terminal 14. I have. Then, in response to the operation input from the user received through the operation input unit 52 or the remote controller 60, the television broadcast signal received and selected through the receiving antenna 11 and the tuner unit 12, and the video input terminal 13 and the audio input terminal 14 are received. One of the content signals composed of the video signal and the audio signal can be recorded on the hard disk of the HDD 21.

  Various television broadcast signals received through the receiving antenna 11 are supplied to the tuner unit 12. The tuner unit 12 outputs a target television broadcast signal based on a channel selection control signal corresponding to an operation input from a user supplied from the control unit 40 among various television broadcast signals received by the receiving antenna 11. Select a station.

  Then, the tuner unit 12 demodulates the selected television broadcast signal, separates it into a video signal V1 and an audio signal A1, and supplies them to the selector 15. On the other hand, the video signal V 2 received through the video input terminal 13 and the audio signal A 2 received through the audio input terminal 14 are also supplied to the selector 15.

  The selector 15 outputs the video signal V1 and the audio signal A1 from the tuner unit 12 based on the switching control signal corresponding to the operation input from the user supplied from the control unit 40, or the external input terminals 13, 14 To switch whether to output the video signal V2 and the audio signal A2 received through. The video signal Vd and audio signal Au output from the selector 15 are supplied to the recording processing unit 16.

  The video recording processing unit 16 is controlled by the control unit 40, and A / D (Analog / Digital) conversion is performed on the video signal and the audio signal supplied thereto to form video data and audio data which are digital data. These are supplied to the scene section processing unit 17 and are compressed by a predetermined data compression method, for example, MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) method. Then, the recording processing unit 16 packetizes the compressed video data and audio data, generates necessary control data and packetizes the data, and converts the packetized video data, audio data, and control data to time. A program stream to be divided and multiplexed and recorded on the hard disk is formed and supplied to the drive control unit 20.

  The drive processing unit 20 is controlled by the control unit 20 and controls the HDD 21 at the time of recording to perform processing for recording the program stream from the recording processing unit 16 in an empty area of the hard disk of the HDD 21. In this way, the video signal and audio signal from the selector 15 are recorded (recorded) on the hard disk of the HDD 21.

  On the other hand, in parallel with the recording of the content signal on the HDD 21, the scene section processing unit 17 detects various scene sections in the content signal to be recorded, specifies their positions, and determines the type of the specified scene section. Then, data in which the position of the scene section and the type of the scene section are associated is recorded in the section information holding unit 53 through the control unit 40.

  Here, a scene refers to each part of a series of content signals that can be distinguished by the characteristics and characteristics of video and audio signals, such as a CM part, a program opening part, a program main part, and a program ending part. . Of course, each scene in the main part of the program is also a scene. In the series of content signals, each scene occupies each scene section. The type of scene section is information indicating what type of scene each scene section is, such as CM, program opening, main program, and program ending.

  Hereinafter, the processing in the scene section processing unit 17 will be specifically described. As shown in FIG. 2, the scene section processing unit 17 according to the first embodiment includes a scene change point detection unit 171, a scene section detection unit 172, and a section type detection unit 173. The video data and audio data from the recording processing unit 16 are supplied to the scene change point detection unit 171 of the scene section processing unit 17.

  The scene change point detection unit 171 performs processing for detecting a scene change point using one or both of video data and audio data from the recording processing unit 16. Here, the process of detecting the scene change point can be performed using various methods. For example, when a scene change point is detected using video data, a difference is calculated between video data between adjacent frames, and a scene change point is determined when the calculated difference is greater than a predetermined value. can do.

  As another method, for example, the luminance component and the color component of video data are analyzed on a frame basis, and the similarity between adjacent frames is determined based on the analysis result. The scene change point can be determined. When audio data is used, frequency analysis is performed in units of a predetermined section, such as for each section corresponding to a frame of video data, and the similarity between adjacent sections is obtained. When the degree of similarity is smaller than the predetermined similarity, it can be determined that the scene change point.

  Of course, the scene change point may be detected for each of the video data and the audio data, and the portion detected as the scene change point in both may be determined as the scene conversion point. In this case, it is necessary to make the detection processing unit the same for the video data and the audio data. For example, the detection processing may be performed in units of video data frames. .

  The detection result in the scene change point detection unit 171 is supplied to the scene section detection unit 172. Based on the detection result from the scene change point detector 171, the scene section detector 172 detects a section sandwiched between the scene change point and the scene change point as a scene section. For example, when a scene change point is detected for each frame of video data, the temporally previous frame is the end point of the immediately preceding scene section between the two frames that are the scene change points, and the subsequent frame Becomes the start point of the next scene section, and the position of the scene section can be specified by the frame number.

  In this case, the first frame of the content signal to be detected is the start point of the scene section, and the last frame is the end point of the scene section. In addition, the scene section detection unit 172 can grasp the total number of frames constituting the scene section in each detected scene section, or can grasp the playback time of the scene section according to the total number of frames. . Therefore, each scene section can be specified using the start point, the total number of frames, and the time required for playback.

  The detection result from the scene section detection unit 172 is supplied to the section type detection unit 173. The section type detection unit 173 detects the type of each scene section based on the detection result from the scene section detection unit 172. Specifically, using the fact that the CM section has a time length of a multiple of about 15 seconds, based on the time length of each scene section (the length of playback time), whether each scene section is a CM part The other main part is detected.

  That is, the section type detection unit 173 performs, for each scene section in a portion where a plurality of scene sections having a time length that is a multiple of 15 seconds, such as 15 seconds, 30 seconds, and 45 seconds, continuously exist. Each scene section is detected as a CM section, and the other sections are detected as main sections.

  Then, the detection output from the section type detection unit 173 is supplied to the section information holding unit 53 through the control unit 40 to be stored and held. Here, the detection output from the section type detection unit 173 is specified by information indicating the start point of each scene section detected by the scene section detection unit 172, information indicating the end point, and the start point and end point. Information indicating the section type of the scene section.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of the section information database formed in the section information holding unit 53 based on the detection output from the section type detection unit 173 of the scene section processing unit 17 in the hard disk recorder of the first embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating. As shown in FIG. 3, in the hard disk recorder of the first embodiment, a section information database including a content ID, a scene section, and a section type is formed.

  Here, the content ID is a so-called file name for identifying the content signal recorded on the hard disk of the HDD 21 and is given each time the content signal is recorded. Normally, information input by the user is used as the content ID. When the content ID is not input by the user, the content ID is automatically generated and assigned by the hard disk recorder of the first embodiment.

  The scene section includes a start point and an end point of the scene. As described above, the start point and end point of the scene section detected by the scene section detection unit 172 of the scene section processing unit 17 are set. Used. In this case, the start point and end point of each scene section can be uniquely specified by the frame number or the like as described above.

  Further, as described above, the information detected by the section type detection unit 173 of the scene section processing unit 17 is used as the section type, and as shown in FIG. 3, each detected scene section is a CM part. The main part can be distinguished. Actually, the main section is digitized and managed such as “0” and the CM section “1”.

  As described above, when a content signal (television broadcast program) provided by a television broadcast signal and a content signal such as a video signal or an audio signal supplied from an external device through the external input terminals 13 and 14 are recorded on the hard disk of the HDD 21. First, scene change point detection, scene section detection, and scene section type detection are sequentially performed on the content signal to be recorded. Based on the detection results, section information is stored as shown in FIG. The section 53 is configured to form a section information database. With this section information database, the position and length (reproduction time) of each scene section in a series of content signals can be grasped.

  Here, although the description has been given assuming that the start point and end point of each scene section can be specified by the frame number of the video data, for example, the present invention is not limited to this. The field number may be used for identification. Further, a time stamp based on the beginning of the content signal to be recorded may be attached, and the start point and end point of each scene section may be specified using this time stamp. Of course, the start point may be specified by the field number or time stamp, and the end point of the scene section may be specified by the number of fields, the number of frames, or the time required for reproduction.

  In the hard disk recorder of the first embodiment, the scene section processing unit 17 uses the video data and audio data from the recording processing unit 16, but the present invention is not limited to this. The above-described processing in the scene section processing unit 17 can be performed using video data and audio data after data compression.

  Since it is usually unthinkable that a scene changes in units of several frames, if video data or audio data is data compressed by, for example, the MPEG2 system, image classification processing is performed based on I-picture frame data. It is also possible to detect scene change points.

  For example, frame data of an I picture is divided into a plurality of image areas, and a DCT (Discrete Cosine Transform) of Y component (luminance component), Cb component (blue color difference component), and Cr component (red color difference component) in each image area. ) Three-order vectors Ay (luminance vector), Ab (blue color difference vector), and Ar (red color difference vector) having the average value of DC coefficients of the coefficients as components, and generating the vector data The scene change point may be detected by classifying the similar image and the dissimilar image based on the distance from the vector data of the frame data of the other I picture.

  Note that a method for determining a similar section and a dissimilar section using video data compressed in the MPEG2 format is described in detail in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-219348.

  Further, in the hard disk recorder of the first embodiment, it is sufficient that at least the CM section and the main section can be accurately distinguished. Therefore, the scene change point can be determined using other characteristics of the video data and the audio data. It is also possible to detect the section type, identify the scene section, and detect the section type.

  For example, in the case of a Japanese TV broadcast signal, as described above, the CM section has a time length of a multiple of approximately 15 seconds, and the CM sections are between the end point of the main section and the start point of the CM section. In the meantime, a silent section is provided between the end point of the CM section and the start point of the main section. For this reason, it is possible to detect and specify a section in which the time interval in which the silent section appears is a multiple of 15 seconds as a series of CM sections.

  In the case of a US television broadcast signal, the CM section is approximately an integral multiple of 15 seconds in length, which is the same as in Japan, but the CM section cannot be detected correctly only by detecting the silent section. It is known that there are a plurality of field sections whose luminance signal level is almost a black level at the start point and the end point of the CM section of a television broadcast program. Therefore, an interval in which the luminance signal level is substantially the black level is detected, and when this detection cycle has a multiple relationship of approximately 15 seconds, it can be specified as the CM interval of that interval.

  Thus, based on the detection period of the silent section and the detection period of the black level section, the CM section and the other main section are accurately detected, and for each detected section, which section is the CM section at the same time. Thus, it is possible to specify which section is the main section.

[Operation (processing) during playback]
Next, as described above, an operation (process) in the case of reproducing the content signal recorded on the hard disk of the HDD 21 will be described. When an operation input for reproducing the content signal recorded in the HDD 21 is performed through the operation input unit 52 or the remote controller 60, the control unit 40 controls each part of the reproduction system, and the purpose recorded in the HDD 21 is as follows. The reproduction processing of the content signal (program stream) to be started is started.

  First, the control unit 40 controls the drive control unit 20, reads the target content signal by controlling the HDD 21, and supplies it to the reproduction location determination unit 31. The playback location determination unit 31 supplies the content signal supplied thereto to the audio processing unit 33, specifies the playback location of the supplied content signal, and sets the information indicating the specified playback location to the volume gain control unit 32. To supply.

  The reproduction processing unit 33 separates the content signal into video data, audio data, and control data, and performs compression / decompression processing on the video data and audio data to obtain the original video data and audio data before data compression. To restore. Then, the reproduction processing unit 33 performs D / A (Digital / Analog) conversion on each of the restored video data and audio data to form an analog video signal and an analog audio signal, and for the analog video signal, the video processing unit The analog audio signal is supplied to the audio processing unit 36.

  Then, the video processing unit 34 forms an analog video signal to be output from the analog video signal supplied thereto, and outputs the analog video signal through the video output terminal 35 to be supplied to the video monitor device. In this case, the video processing unit 34 can adjust image quality and the like in accordance with control from the control unit 40.

  The audio processing unit 36 forms an analog audio signal that is output from the analog audio signal supplied thereto, and outputs the analog audio signal through the audio output terminal 37 to be supplied to the speaker. In this case, the sound processing unit 36 can control the gain of the reproduced sound and adjust the volume (volume level) of the reproduced sound in accordance with the control from the control unit 40 or the gain determining unit 32. ing.

  On the other hand, the volume gain determination unit 33 acquires necessary information from the section information database stored and held in the section information holding unit 53 via the control unit 40 based on the information indicating the playback part from the playback part determination unit 31. In response to the supply, it is determined whether the scene section to which the playback location belongs is a CM section or any other section.

  Then, the volume gain determination unit 32 determines whether it is necessary to control the gain of the reproduced sound in order to adjust the volume of the reproduced sound in consideration of the current determination result and the previous determination result. When it is determined that control is necessary, a control signal for controlling the gain of the reproduced sound is formed and supplied to the sound processing unit 36.

  Specifically, the volume gain determination unit 32 operates as follows. When the volume gain determination unit 32 determines that the previous playback location is the main segment (main scene segment) and that the current playback segment is the CM segment, the playback location starts from the main segment (main scene segment). It is determined that the CM section has been entered, and a control signal for controlling the gain with respect to the volume of the reproduced audio is formed so as to lower the volume of the reproduced audio by a certain amount, and this is supplied to the audio processing unit 36.

  Further, when the volume gain determination unit 32 determines that the previous playback location is the CM section and the current playback location is the main section, the volume gain determination unit 32 determines that the playback section has entered the main section from the CM section, and plays the playback audio. A control signal for controlling the gain with respect to the volume of the reproduced sound is formed so as to increase the volume of the sound, and this is supplied to the sound processing unit 36.

  Further, the volume gain determination unit 32 moves to a scene section of a different type when both the previous playback position and the current playback position are CM sections or the main section. If it is determined that there is not, the playback volume is maintained as it is. Therefore, since it is not necessary to change the gain of the reproduced sound, a control signal for gain control is not formed.

  As described above, when the hard disk recorder according to the first embodiment records the content signal on the HDD 21, it detects the scene section for the content signal and detects the type of each scene section to detect these. The stored information can also be stored and held in association with each other.

  When the content signal recorded on the HDD 21 is played back, the playback location is specified. When the specified playback location is in the CM section, the playback audio level is lowered by a certain amount. The volume of the reproduced sound can be automatically controlled according to the type of the scene section to which the reproduction portion belongs so that the level of the reproduced sound adjusted by the above is maintained.

  As a result, it is possible to prevent the volume of the playback sound from suddenly increasing when the playback part enters the CM section from the main section. Further, in the main section, the volume of the reproduced sound is kept at the original volume instructed by the user. That is, when the playback location moves from the CM section to the main section, the volume of the playback audio is controlled to be the same level as the volume in the previous main section.

  In the main section, the volume is not automatically adjusted even if a scene section in which the volume of the reproduced sound increases is generated. That is, the playback sound itself of the content such as a TV broadcast program to be played back is not automatically adjusted in a scene section that is not intended by the user, so that playback of the content in the original mode is not hindered.

[Summary of operations (processing) during recording and playback]
Next, the recording operation and reproduction operation of the hard disk recorder of the first embodiment will be summarized with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. First, the operation during recording will be summarized.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation at the time of recording (during recording) of the hard disk recorder of the first embodiment. The process shown in FIG. 4 is performed when an operation input instructing to perform a recording (recording) process is received from the user via the operation input unit 52 or the remote controller 60, or when a so-called recording reservation is made and the reserved time is When it arrives, it is mainly performed in each part of the scene section processing unit 17.

  When an operation input for starting recording is received or when a scheduled recording time arrives, the control unit 40 controls the tuner unit 12, the selector 15, the recording processing unit 16, and the drive control unit 20 to receive the receiving antenna 11 and the tuner unit. 12 starts the recording (recording) processing of the content signal of the television broadcast program received and selected through 12 or the content signal from the external device received through the external input terminals 13 and 14 to the hard disk of the HDD 21 (step S101).

  Then, the control unit 40 controls the scene section processing unit 17 to specify each scene section for the content signal to be recorded and detect the type of each scene section to form a section information database. To do. That is, the scene change point detection unit 171 of the scene section processing unit 17 starts a process of detecting a scene change point according to the control of the control unit 40 (step S102).

  Then, the scene section detection unit 172 of the scene section processing unit 17 determines whether or not a scene change point has been detected based on the detection result from the scene change point detection unit 171 (step S103) and has not detected it. If it is determined, the scene section detection unit 172 repeats the processing from step S103.

  When it is determined in the determination process of step S103 that a scene change point has been detected, the scene section detection unit 172 determines whether or not there are a plurality of scene change points (step S104). The scene section detection unit 172 repeats the processing from step S103.

  If it is determined in step S104 that there are a plurality of scene change points, the scene section detection unit 172 performs processing to detect a section between scene change points as a scene section (step S105). Then, the section type detection unit 173 determines the section type based on the detection result from the scene section detection unit 173 (step S106).

  Then, the section type detection unit 173 stores the detection result in the section information holding unit 53 through the control unit 40 (step S107). By the processing in step S107, the section information database shown in FIG. 3 is formed. Thereafter, the control unit 40 determines whether or not the recording process has ended (step S108). In this case, the control unit 40 determines that the recording has ended when an operation input for instructing the end of recording has been received or when the end time of the recording reservation has arrived, otherwise the recording ends. Judge that it is not.

  If it is determined in step S108 that the recording process has not ended, the control unit 40 controls the scene section processing unit 17 to repeat the process from step S103. If it is determined in step S108 that the recording process has ended, the process shown in FIG. 4 ends.

  As described above, the hard disk recorder of this embodiment forms the section information database shown in FIG. 3 in the section information holding unit 52 for the content signal to be recorded in parallel with the recording of the content signal on the hard disk.

  Next, the operation during playback will be summarized. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation at the time of reproduction of the hard disk recorder of the first embodiment. The process shown in FIG. 4 is mainly performed when the operation input instructing the user to perform the reproduction process is received through the operation input unit 52 or the remote controller 60, and the reproduction location determination unit 31 and the volume gain determination unit 32 are mainly performed. This is performed in the voice processing unit 36.

  Upon receiving an operation input for starting reproduction, the control unit 40 controls the drive control unit 20, the determination location determination unit 32, the reproduction processing unit 33, the video processing unit 34, and the audio processing unit 36 to be recorded on the hard disk of the HDD 21. The process of reading out and reproducing the target content signal is started (step S201).

  Then, the playback location determination unit 31 starts operation under the control of the control unit 40, receives the supply of the content signal read from the hard disk of the HDD 21 by the drive control unit 20, and determines the playback location of the content signal. The determination result is notified to the volume gain determination unit 32 (step S202).

  Based on the playback location determination result from the playback location determination unit 31, the volume gain determination unit 32 acquires the type of scene segment including the playback location from the interval information holding unit 53 through the control unit 40 (step S203). . Then, the volume gain determination unit 32 also considers the type acquired last time, and determines whether or not the type of the scene section to which the playback location belongs is different from the type of the scene zone to which the previous playback location belongs (step S204). ).

  If it is determined in step S204 that the scene section type is different, a gain for the volume of the reproduced sound is set according to the type (step S205). That is, when entering the CM section from a section whose type is not a CM section, the gain for the volume is set so that the volume is lowered by a certain amount, and when entering the main section from the CM section, the volume is restored. In order to achieve this, a certain amount of gain is set for the volume.

  After the gain setting process for the volume in step S205, audio and video are reproduced (step S206). In this case, the volume is adjusted according to the gain for the volume set in step S205, and the volume is lowered or increased by a certain amount according to the gain for the set volume. Become.

  If it is determined in step S204 that the type of the scene section has not changed, it is not necessary to adjust the volume, so the gain setting for the volume is maintained and the process in step S206 is performed. In this case, a new gain setting for the volume is not performed, and the volume is not adjusted, so that the volume of the reproduced sound is maintained.

  Then, after the process of step S206, the control unit 40 determines whether or not the reproduction process has ended (step S207). In this case, the control unit 40 determines that the playback has ended when an operation input instructing the end of playback has been received, or when playback of the content signal to be played back has ended. Is determined not to end.

  When it is determined in step S207 that the reproduction process has not ended, the control unit 40 controls the reproduction point determination unit 31, the volume gain determination unit 32, and the like to repeat the processing from step S202. To do. If it is determined in step S207 that the reproduction process has ended, the process shown in FIG. 5 ends.

  In the processing shown in FIG. 5, the volume gain determination unit 32 holds the type of the scene section to which the previous playback location belongs, thereby determining whether or not the type of the scene zone to which the playback location belongs has changed. To be able to. For this reason, although not shown in the processing shown in FIG. 5, in the first stage when the processing shown in FIG. 5 is executed, the corresponding area of the register or work memory that holds the type of the scene section to which the previous playback location belongs Is initialized.

  As a result, when the content signal of the target TV broadcast program is recorded from the CM section, it can be detected that the section type has changed to the CM section, so that the gain with respect to the volume is lowered by a certain amount. It becomes possible to do. In addition, when recording from the main section, there is no need to increase or decrease the gain with respect to the volume. In this case, by controlling so that the gain setting with respect to the volume is not changed, Even when playback is started from a type of scene section, the volume of playback audio can be adjusted appropriately.

  In the first embodiment, the scene change point detector 171 investigates the content to be recorded during recording, and determines the scene change point from the content screen (video) or the audio information of the content. A function as a change point detecting means for detecting is realized. In addition, the scene section detection unit 172 realizes a function as section specifying means for detecting and specifying a scene section sandwiched between scene change points based on scene change points. Further, the section type detection unit 173 implements a function as a type determination unit that detects a type indicating what kind of scene section each detected scene section is. Further, the section information holding unit 53 realizes a function as section information holding means for holding information for specifying the position and type of each scene section.

  The playback location determination unit 31 realizes the function of a determination unit that determines the playback location of the content signal when the content signal recorded on the recording medium is played back. Further, the volume gain determination unit 32 realizes a function as a gain determination unit that determines the gain of the audio signal in the scene section including the reproduction portion. Further, the audio processing unit 36 realizes a function as an adjusting unit that adjusts the gain of the audio signal to be reproduced in accordance with the information from the volume gain determination unit 32.

[Modification of First Embodiment]
In the first embodiment described above, whether each of the detected scene sections is a CM section or any other section is detected. However, it is considered that there may be a case where the time for the reserved recording is wrong and the recording is started before the start of the broadcast itself, or the recording is continued even after the end of the broadcast. Even before the start of broadcasting or after the end of broadcasting, when recording is performed, the hard disk recorder performs the recording process faithfully.

  Before and after the start of the broadcast program, the television broadcast signal itself does not exist. Therefore, a so-called sandstorm or the like image that changes slightly and the sound “Zar” are recorded. Also, before transmission of a broadcast signal for providing a television broadcast program or before complete transmission of a television broadcast signal, a still image that does not change, such as a so-called color pattern image, and a test sound “Pi” may be broadcast. .

  In this way, if an image or sound that is meaningless to the user has been recorded, the user can adjust the volume if the volume of the playback sound can be kept low even in the meaningless image or sound section. This is convenient because it is not necessary to perform the operation.

  Therefore, at the time of recording, for example, the scene section detection unit 17 is provided with a means for detecting a no-signal section and a means for detecting a predetermined pattern section in which video and audio of a predetermined pattern are continuous. A pattern section is detected and specified, and a section information database can be formed from information indicating the position of a no-signal section or a predetermined pattern section and information indicating its type.

  The no-signal section can be detected based on whether or not there is a received signal of a certain level or more, and whether or not the signal from the recording processing unit 16 is a signal without change. Can be done. Also, in the case of an image having no change such as a color pattern image, it is detected whether the signal from the recording processing unit 16 is a signal having no change, or it is known that the image pattern has already been determined. In many cases, it is determined whether or not the video matches the pattern, for example, with one frame image or with a part of one frame image with a known image pattern. It can be detected by pattern matching.

  By performing such detection, it is possible to specify the type of the section simultaneously with the detection of the no-signal section and the predetermined pattern section, so that the section information database having the format shown in FIG. 3 can be formed. The

  At the time of playback, when the playback location is a no-signal section or a predetermined pattern section, the playback audio level is set in the CM section by setting the playback audio gain so as to lower the playback audio level by a certain amount. As in the case where the control is automatically performed so as to reduce the playback level, the playback sound level can be automatically adjusted.

  When the playback location moves from the no-signal section or the predetermined pattern section to the CM section, the playback audio level has already been lowered, so it is possible not to make it lower or to make it lower. Alternatively, it is possible to set the gain of the reproduced sound in order to make it slightly higher.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, the hard disk recorder of the second embodiment will be described. The hard disk recorder of the second embodiment described below basically has the same configuration as the hard disk recorder of the first embodiment shown in FIG. However, the configuration of the scene section processing unit 17 is different.

  For this reason, the entire configuration of the hard disk recorder is omitted because it overlaps with the description of the hard disk recorder of the first embodiment, and the configuration of the scene section processing unit 17 different from that of the hard disk recorder of the first embodiment. The operation and the control of the gain with respect to the volume of the reproduced sound during reproduction will be described in detail. In the description of the gain control with respect to the volume of the reproduced audio during reproduction, the block diagram shown in FIG. 1 is also referred to as necessary.

  Further, in the scene section processing unit 17 included in the hard disk recorder of the second embodiment, there is a part configured similarly to the scene section processing unit 17 shown in FIG. 2 of the hard disk recorder of the first embodiment. The same reference numerals are assigned, and the description of the parts is simplified.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram for explaining the scene section processing unit 17 of the hard disk recorder of the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, the scene section processing unit 17 of the hard disk recorder according to the second embodiment includes a volume representative value in addition to the scene change point detection unit 171, the scene section detection unit 172, and the section type detection unit 173. A generation unit 174 is provided. In this second embodiment, the volume representative value generation unit 174 includes a CM interval volume representative value generation unit 741 and a CM interval volume representative value generation unit 742.

  In the scene section processing unit 17 of the hard disk recorder of the second embodiment, the function of the scene change point detection unit 171 is similar to the scene section processing unit 17 of the hard disk recorder of the first embodiment. A scene change point in the content signal to be recorded is detected, and based on the detection output from the scene change point detection unit 171, the scene interval detection unit 172 detects and specifies the scene interval in the content signal to be recorded, and the scene Based on the detection output of the section detection unit 172, the section type detection unit 173 detects the type of each specified scene section.

  Furthermore, in the scene section processing unit 17 of the hard disk recorder according to the second embodiment, the volume representative value generation is performed based on the detection output from the scene section detection unit 172 and the detection output from the section type detection unit 173. The unit 174 generates a volume representative value that represents the volume for each scene section. Specifically, the volume representative value generation unit 741 within the CM section generates a volume representative value for the CM section, and the volume representative value generation unit 742 outside the CM section generates a volume for the main section that is a section other than the CM section. Generate a representative value.

  That is, for each scene section detected and specified by the scene section detection unit 172 and detected as a CM section by the section type detection unit 173, the intra-CM section volume representative value generation unit 741 A sound volume representative value in the CM section is generated. In addition, for each of the scene sections detected and specified by the scene section detection unit 172 and detected by the section type detection unit 173 as a section other than the CM section, the volume outside the CM section representative value generation unit 742 is detected. Generates a representative sound volume value in the scene section.

  Here, as the volume representative value, for example, an average value of the volume of each scene section is used. Therefore, at each predetermined timing in each scene section, the volume (value indicating the gain of the volume) is acquired, and these are sequentially added to obtain the total value of the volume, and the total value of the volume is obtained as the volume. By dividing by the number of times performed, the volume representative value (volume average value) of the scene section can be obtained.

  Then, as the section information database including the scene section detected by the function of the scene section detection unit 17, the type of each scene section, and the volume representative value of each scene section, the section information holding the volume representative value data connected to the control unit 40 is held. Form in part 53.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a representative volume value database formed in the section information holding unit 53 by the function of the scene section detection unit 17 in the hard disk recorder of the second embodiment. In FIG. 7, each of the content ID, the scene section, and the section type is formed in the same manner as the corresponding information in the section information database shown in FIG. 3 formed in the hard disk recorder of the first embodiment. is there.

  That is, the content ID is for identifying the content signal recorded on the hard disk of the HDD 21 and is given each time the content signal is recorded. The scene section information includes a scene start point and an end point, and the scene section start point and end point detected by the scene section detection unit 172 of the scene section processing unit 17 are used. In this case, the start point and end point of each scene section can be uniquely specified by the frame number or the like as described above.

  In addition, as described above, the information detected by the section type detection unit 173 of the scene section processing unit 17 is used as the section type. As shown in FIG. 7, each detected scene section is a CM part. The main part can be distinguished.

  The volume representative value in FIG. 7 is generated for each section by the functions of the volume representative value generating unit 741 in the CM section and the volume representative value generating unit 742 outside the CM section of the volume representative value generating unit 174 shown in FIG. In the second embodiment, the volume representative value is an average value of the volume gain for the audio signal in each scene section.

  As described above, the scene section processing unit 17 of the second embodiment stores a volume representative value database including the scene section, the type of the scene section, and the volume representative value of the scene section for the content signal to be recorded. It can be formed.

  In the hard disk recorder of the second embodiment as well, when reproducing the content signal recorded on the hard disk of the HDD 21, the playback location determination unit is the same as in the case of the hard disk recorder of the first embodiment. 31 determines the playback location of the content signal to be played back, refers to the stored information in the section information holding unit 53 by the function of the volume gain determination unit 32, and according to the scene section to which the playback location belongs, Controls the playback audio gain.

  In the first hard disk recorder described above, it is determined whether or not it is necessary to control the gain of the playback audio in consideration of the type of the scene section to which the playback location belongs and the type of the scene section immediately before it. In response to this, the volume of the reproduced sound is automatically adjusted by lowering or increasing the gain of the reproduced sound by a certain amount.

  However, the volume can be automatically adjusted more naturally if the volume of the reproduced sound can be controlled according to the actual volume of the audio signal in the content signal to be reproduced. Therefore, in the hard disk decoder of the second embodiment, the type and volume representative value of the scene section to which the playback location belongs, and the type and volume representative value of one or both of the scene sections before and after the scene section. Based on the above, the control signal for controlling the gain of the reproduced sound can be dynamically calculated.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the control of the gain of the reproduced sound when the content signal is reproduced in the hard disk recorder of the second embodiment. Assume that a television broadcast program composed of a main section and a CM section as shown in FIG. 8A is recorded on the hard disk of the HDD 21 by using the hard disk recorder of the second embodiment.

  As described above, in the hard disk recorder of the second embodiment, the position and length of the main section and the scene section are detected and specified by the function of the scene section processing unit 17 when the content signal is recorded. . The recording of the content signal itself is processed so as to faithfully record the content signal to be recorded.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 8B, it is assumed that the gain of the audio signal in the CM section is higher than the gain of the audio signal in the main part. When this is played back as before, the gain of the reproduced voice in the CM section is larger than that in the main section, so that the volume power of the reproduced voice in the CM section becomes larger.

  Therefore, in the hard disk recorder of the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8C, when the playback location moves from the main section to the CM section, the volume power of the playback voice is the volume of the playback voice in the main section. Control is performed so as to lower the gain of the reproduced sound in the CM section so as to be about the same as the power. As a result, the power of the playback audio that is actually played back can be set to the same level in the main section and the CM section as shown in FIG. 8D.

  When the playback location moves from the CM segment to the main segment, the playback audio gain is determined based on the volume representative value of the previous CM segment and the volume representative value of the main segment including the playback segment. Control is performed so that the gain of the audio signal in the main section including the original signal is restored. This eliminates the need for the user to adjust the volume every time the playback location moves from the CM section to the main section.

  Note that there are at least the following three methods for calculating the control amount of the reproduction audio gain in the CM section. (1) Based on the volume representative value of the main section immediately before the CM section and the volume representative value of the CM section, the gain adjustment amount of the reproduced sound in the CM section is obtained. (2) Based on the volume representative value of the main section immediately after the CM section and the volume representative value of the CM section, the gain adjustment amount of the reproduced sound in the CM section is obtained. (3) Based on the volume representative value of the main section immediately before the CM section, the volume representative value of the main section immediately after the CM section, and the volume representative value of the CM section, the reproduction sound gain of the CM section is determined. Find the adjustment amount.

  When the method (1) is used, even when the CM section is played back, it can be controlled so that the playback sound does not increase. Therefore, even when the CM section playback is started. It is possible to ensure that the user does not feel uncomfortable. Further, when the method (2) is used, it can be expected that the user will not feel uncomfortable even when the playback of the CM section is started, and the playback of the CM section is completed. When the reproduction of the main section is resumed, the reproduced sound can be provided to the user more naturally. Further, when the method (3) is used, it is possible to prevent the user from feeling uncomfortable as in the case (1), and the reproduction of the CM section is completed and the reproduction of the main section is completed. When resumed, the playback sound can be provided to the user more naturally.

[Summary of operations (processing) during recording and playback]
Next, the recording operation and reproduction operation of the hard disk recorder of the second embodiment will be summarized with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. First, the operation during recording will be summarized.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the operation at the time of recording (recording) of the hard disk recorder of the second embodiment. The process shown in FIG. 9 is performed when an operation input instructing to perform a recording (recording) process is received from the user via the operation input unit 52 or the remote controller 60, or when a so-called recording reservation is made and the reserved time is When it arrives, it is mainly performed in each part of the scene section processing unit 17.

  When an operation input for starting recording is received or when a scheduled recording time arrives, the control unit 40 controls the tuner unit 12, the selector 15, the recording processing unit 16, and the drive control unit 20 to receive the receiving antenna 11 and the tuner unit. 12 starts the recording (recording) processing of the content signal of the television broadcast program received and selected through 12 or the content signal from the external device received through the external input terminals 13 and 14 to the hard disk of the HDD 21 (step S301).

  Then, the control unit 40 controls the scene section processing unit 17 to specify each scene section for the content signal to be recorded and detect the type of each scene section to form a section information database. To do. That is, the scene change point detection unit 171 of the scene section processing unit 17 starts a process of detecting a scene change point according to the control of the control unit 40 (step S302).

  Then, the scene section detection unit 172 of the scene section processing unit 17 determines whether or not a scene change point has been detected based on the detection result from the scene change point detection unit 171 (step S303) and has not detected it. If it is determined, the scene section detection unit 172 repeats the processing from step S303.

  When it is determined in the determination process of step S303 that a scene change point has been detected, the scene section detection unit 172 determines whether or not there are a plurality of scene change points (step S304). The scene section detection unit 172 repeats the processing from step S303.

  If it is determined in step S304 that there are a plurality of scene change points, the scene section detection unit 172 performs processing for detecting a section sandwiched between scene change points as a scene section (step S305). Then, the section type detection unit 173 determines the section type based on the detection result from the scene section detection unit 173 (step S306).

  Then, the volume representative value generation unit 741 within the CM section of the volume representative value generation unit 174 generates a volume representative value for the CM section, and the volume representative value generation unit 742 outside the CM section generates a volume representative value for the main section (step) S307). Thereafter, the section type detection unit 173 and the volume representative value generation unit 174 store the detection result in the section information holding unit 53 through the control unit 40 (step S308). The section information database shown in FIG. 3 is formed by the processing in step S308.

  Thereafter, the control unit 40 determines whether or not the recording process has ended (step S309). In this case, the control unit 40 determines that the recording has ended when an operation input for instructing the end of recording has been received or when the end time of the recording reservation has arrived, otherwise the recording ends. Judge that it is not.

  When it is determined in the determination process in step S309 that the recording process has not ended, the control unit 40 controls the scene section processing unit 17 to repeat the process from step S303. If it is determined in step S309 that the recording process has ended, the process shown in FIG. 9 ends.

  As described above, the hard disk recorder of the second embodiment uses the volume representative value data as the section information database shown in FIG. 7 for the content signal to be recorded in parallel with the recording of the content signal on the hard disk. The section information holding unit 52 can be formed.

  Next, the operation during playback will be summarized. FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining the operation at the time of reproduction of the hard disk recorder of the second embodiment. The processing shown in FIG. 10 is mainly performed when the operation input instructing to perform the reproduction processing is received from the user through the operation input unit 52 or the remote controller 60, and the reproduction location determination unit 31 and the volume gain determination unit 32. This is performed in the voice processing unit 36.

  Upon receiving an operation input for starting reproduction, the control unit 40 controls the drive control unit 20, the determination location determination unit 32, the reproduction processing unit 33, the video processing unit 34, and the audio processing unit 36 to be recorded on the hard disk of the HDD 21. The process of reading out and reproducing the target content signal is started (step S401).

  Then, the playback location determination unit 31 starts operation under the control of the control unit 40, receives the supply of the content signal read from the hard disk of the HDD 21 by the drive control unit 20, and determines the playback location of the content signal. The determination result is notified to the volume gain determination unit 32 (step S402).

  Based on the playback location determination result from the playback location determination section 31, the volume gain determination portion 32 determines the type of scene segment including the playback location, the representative volume value, and one of the immediately preceding segment and the immediately following segment. Alternatively, both types and volume representative values are acquired from the section information holding unit 53 through the control unit 40 (step S403). Then, the volume gain determination unit 32 determines whether or not the type of the scene section to which the playback location belongs is different from the type of the scene section to which the previous playback location belongs (step S404).

  If it is determined in step S404 that the scene segment types are different, a gain for the volume of the reproduced sound is calculated and set using the volume representative value acquired in step S403 (step S405).

  That is, in step S405, when the type enters the CM section from a section that is not a CM section, the volume representative value of the CM section, the main section immediately before the CM section, and the main section immediately after the CM section as described above. Using the volume representative value of one or both of the sections, a gain with respect to the volume of the reproduced sound in the CM section is obtained, and as shown in FIG. 8D, the sound of the CM section can be reproduced at the same level as the main section. To do.

  In step S405, when the main section is entered from the CM section, the gain for the volume is set to be restored. Even in this case, the gain for the volume of the reproduced audio in the main section to which the reproduction portion belongs is calculated using the representative volume in the previous CM section and the representative volume in one or both of the main sections that sandwich the CM section. You may do it.

  After the gain setting processing for the volume of the reproduced audio in step S405, audio and video are reproduced (step S406). In this case, the volume is adjusted according to the gain for the volume set in step S405, and the volume is lowered or increased according to the gain for the set volume.

  If it is determined in step S404 that the type of scene section has not changed, it is not necessary to adjust the volume, so that the gain setting for the volume is maintained and the process in step S406 is performed. In this case, a new gain setting for the volume is not performed, and the volume is not adjusted, so that the volume of the reproduced sound is maintained.

  Then, after the process of step S406, the control unit 40 determines whether or not the reproduction process has ended (step S407). In this case, the control unit 40 determines that the playback has ended when an operation input instructing the end of playback has been received, or when playback of the content signal to be played back has ended. Is determined not to end.

  When it is determined in step S407 that the reproduction process has not ended, the control unit 40 controls the reproduction point determination unit 31, the volume gain determination unit 32, and the like so as to repeat the process from step S402. To do. If it is determined in step S407 that the reproduction process has ended, the process shown in FIG. 10 ends.

  In the first embodiment, the intra-CM section volume representative value generation unit 741 and the non-CM section volume representative value generation unit 742 function as representative value generation means for generating the volume representative value of each section. The section information holding unit 53 realizes a function as section information holding means for holding information indicating the position of each scene section, its type, and the representative volume value.

  Further, the volume gain determination unit 32 realizes a function as a gain determination unit that calculates the gain of the audio signal in the scene section including the reproduction portion. The scene change point detection unit 171 implements a function as a change point detection unit that detects a scene change point, and the scene segment detection unit 172 implements a function as a segment identification unit, and a segment type detection unit 173. However, the point of realizing the function as the type discrimination means is the same as in the case of the hard disk recorder of the first embodiment.

  Further, the playback location determination unit 31 realizes a function of determination means for determining the playback location of the content signal, and the audio processing unit 36 determines the gain of the audio signal to be played back according to the information from the volume gain determination unit 32. The point that realizes the function as the adjusting means for adjusting is the same as that of the hard disk recorder of the first embodiment.

[Modification of Second Embodiment]
As in the case of the first embodiment described above, the reserved recording time is wrong, and recording starts before the broadcast itself starts, or recording continues even after the broadcast ends. It is thought that there may be. Even before the start of broadcasting or after the end of broadcasting, when recording is performed, the hard disk recorder performs the recording process faithfully.

  Before and after the start of the broadcast program, the television broadcast signal itself does not exist. Therefore, a so-called sandstorm or the like image that changes slightly and the sound “Zar” are recorded. Also, before transmission of a broadcast signal for providing a television broadcast program or before complete transmission of a television broadcast signal, a still image that does not change, such as a so-called color pattern image, and a test sound “Pi” may be broadcast. .

  Therefore, as in the case of the hard disk recorder of the first embodiment, at the time of recording, for example, the scene section detection unit 17 detects a predetermined pattern section in which a non-signal section detecting means and a predetermined pattern of video and audio are continuous. Means for detecting can be provided to detect and specify a no-signal section or a predetermined pattern section as a scene section, and volume representative value data can be formed from information indicating the position of the no-signal section or the predetermined pattern section and information indicating its type. You may do it.

  During playback, even when the playback location is a no-signal section or a predetermined pattern section, the gain for the volume of the playback audio is controlled, and the volume of the harsh playback audio is automatically reduced. Is started to be reproduced, the reproduced sound can be reproduced with a normal gain.

  When the playback location moves from the no-signal section or the predetermined pattern section to the CM section, the playback audio level has already been lowered, so it is possible not to make it lower or to make it lower. Alternatively, it is possible to set the gain of the reproduced sound in order to make it slightly higher.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, a case where the present invention is applied to a playback apparatus such as a television receiver capable of so-called chasing playback will be described. The TV receiver has a relatively large buffer memory, digitizes the TV broadcast signal received and selected, writes it in the buffer memory, and sequentially reads and reproduces the digital signals written in the buffer memory. Things are offered.

  In such a playback device, when receiving and selecting a TV broadcast program for playback and viewing, for example, even when standing in the toilet, playback is paused, Although the reproduction itself can be temporarily stopped, the process of writing the television broadcast signal into the buffer memory is continued without interruption.

  As a result, at least as much as the storage capacity of the buffer memory, the television broadcast program is stored in the buffer memory, and the reproduction is resumed, so that the data stored in the buffer memory is read and reproduced from the point of suspension. This makes it possible to view the television broadcast program whose viewing has been paused without interruption.

  The television receiver as the playback apparatus of the third embodiment also includes a buffer memory having a relatively large storage capacity and can provide the so-called chasing playback function as described above. FIG. 11 is a block diagram for explaining the television receiver of the third embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the television receiver of the third embodiment includes a receiving antenna 101, a tuner unit 102, a writing unit 103, a buffer memory (hereinafter simply referred to as a buffer 104, a reading unit 105, and a reproduction processing unit. 106, video processing unit 107, connection end 108 with the display device unit, audio processing unit 109, connection end 110 with the speaker, scene section processing unit 111, playback location determination unit 112, volume gain determination unit 113, control unit 120, A clock circuit 131, a section information holding unit 133, a remote control signal light receiving unit 134, and a remote control 140 are provided.

  The control unit 120 controls each part of the television receiver according to the third embodiment, and has a microcomputer configuration in which a CPU 121, a ROM 122, a RAM 123, and an EEPROM 124 are connected through a CPU bus 125. It is a thing. Note that each of the clock circuit 131, the operation input unit 132, the section information holding unit 133, the remote control signal light receiving unit 134, and the remote control 140 connected to the control unit 120 is connected to the control unit 40 in the hard disk recorder shown in FIG. The clock circuit 51, the operation input unit 52, the section information holding unit 53, the remote control signal light receiving unit 54, and the remote control 60 are configured in the same manner as the corresponding units and realize the same functions.

  Various television broadcast signals received through the receiving antenna 101 are supplied to the tuner unit 102. The tuner unit 102 selects an instructed television broadcast signal based on a channel selection control signal from the control unit 120 in response to a channel selection instruction (operation input) from a user received through the operation input unit 132 or the remote controller 140. The selected television broadcast signal is demodulated and separated into a video signal and an audio signal, which are supplied to the writing unit 103. The writing unit 103 is controlled by the control unit 120, A / D converts the video signal and audio signal from the tuner unit to form video data and audio data, multiplexes these and writes them in the buffer 104, These are supplied to the scene section processing unit 111.

  The scene section processing unit 111 has the same configuration as the scene section processing unit 17 of the hard disk recorder of the first embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, for example, so that the section information database illustrated in FIG. It can be formed in the section information holding unit 133 connected to. Further, the scene section processing unit 111 has the same configuration as the scene section processing unit 17 of the hard disk recorder according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 6, so that the volume representative value data shown in FIG. The section information holding unit 133 connected to 120 can be formed.

  The reading unit 105 is controlled by the control unit 120 and reads out the video data and audio data written in the buffer 104 by a first-in-first-out method, and these are read out, and the reproduction processing unit 106 and the reproduction location determination unit. 112. The reproduction processing unit 106 is controlled by the control unit 120, separates the video data and the audio data from the data supplied thereto, and D / A converts each to form an analog video signal and an analog audio signal, The analog video signal is supplied to the video processing unit 107 and the analog audio signal is supplied to the audio processing unit 109.

  The video processing unit 107 forms an analog video signal to be output from the analog video signal supplied thereto, and outputs the analog video signal through the video output terminal 35 to be supplied to the video monitor device. In this case, the video processing unit 34 can adjust image quality and the like in accordance with control from the control unit 40.

  The audio processing unit 36 forms an analog audio signal to be output from the analog audio signal supplied thereto, and outputs the analog audio signal through the audio output terminal 37 to be supplied to the speaker. In this case, the sound processing unit 36 can control the gain of the reproduced sound and adjust the sound level of the reproduced sound in accordance with the control from the control unit 40 or the gain determining unit 32.

  Further, the playback location determination unit 112 determines a playback location in the content signal to be played based on the video data and audio data from the reading unit 105, and supplies the determination result to the volume gain determination unit 113. The volume gain determination unit 113 acquires necessary information from the section holding unit 113 through the control unit 120 based on the determination result of the playback location from the playback location determination unit 112 and supplies the playback audio to the audio processing unit 109. A control signal for controlling the gain with respect to the volume is formed and supplied to the audio processing unit 109. As a result, the audio processing unit 109 can adjust the gain with respect to the volume of the reproduced audio in accordance with the control signal from the volume gain determination unit 113.

  As described above, when the scene section processing unit 111 is configured in the same manner as the hard disk recorder according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the section information connected to the control unit 120 is retained. Since the section information database shown in FIG. 3 is formed in the unit 133, the volume gain determination unit 113 functions in the same manner as the volume gain determination unit 32 of the hard disk recorder of the first embodiment.

  That is, in this case, when the volume gain determination unit 113 determines that the previous playback location is a main segment (main scene segment) and the current playback location is a CM segment, the playback location is the main segment (main segment). From the scene section), a control signal for controlling the gain of the reproduced sound is formed so as to lower the volume of the reproduced sound by a certain amount, and this is supplied to the sound processing unit 109.

  When the volume gain determination unit 113 determines that the previous playback location is the CM section and the current playback location is the main section, the volume gain determination unit 113 determines that the playback section has entered the main section from the CM section, and plays the playback audio. A control signal for controlling the gain of the reproduced sound is formed so as to increase the volume of the sound, and this is supplied to the sound processing unit 109.

  The volume gain determination unit 113 also moves the playback location to a scene segment of a different type if both the previous playback location and the current playback location are CM sections or the main section. If it is determined that there is not, the playback volume is maintained as it is. Therefore, since it is not necessary to change the gain of the reproduced sound, a control signal for gain control is not formed.

  In addition, as described above, when the scene section processing unit 111 is configured in the same manner as the hard disk recorder of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the section information connected to the control unit 120 is retained. Since the volume representative value database shown in FIG. 7 is formed in the unit 133, the volume gain determination unit 113 functions in the same manner as the volume gain determination unit 32 of the hard disk recorder of the second embodiment.

  That is, in this case, if the volume gain determination unit 113 determines that the playback location has moved from the main section to the CM section based on the volume representative value database of the section information holding unit 133, the volume power of the playback audio is set to the main section. Control is performed so that the gain of the reproduced sound in the CM section is lowered so as to be approximately equal to the volume power of the reproduced sound in the section. If it is determined that the playback location has moved from the commercial section to the main section, the playback audio gain is reproduced based on the representative volume value of the previous commercial section and the representative volume level of the main section including the playback section. Control is performed so that the gain of the audio signal in the main section including the part is restored to the original state.

  As described above, one of the following (1) to (3) is used as a method for calculating the gain with respect to the volume of the reproduced sound in this case. (1) Based on the volume representative value of the main section immediately before the CM section and the volume representative value of the CM section, the gain adjustment amount of the reproduced sound in the CM section is obtained. (2) Based on the volume representative value of the main section immediately after the CM section and the volume representative value of the CM section, the gain adjustment amount of the reproduced sound in the CM section is obtained. (3) Based on the volume representative value of the main section immediately before the CM section, the volume representative value of the main section immediately after the CM section, and the volume representative value of the CM section, the reproduction sound gain of the CM section is determined. Find the adjustment amount.

  The operation of the scene section processing unit 111 at the time of writing data to the buffer 104 is the same as the operation described using the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 when the scene section processing unit 111 has the configuration shown in FIG. When the scene section processing unit 111 has the configuration shown in FIG. 6, the operation is the same as that described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  The operation of the playback location determination unit 112 and the volume gain determination unit 113 when reading data from the buffer 104 has the configuration shown in FIG. 2 by the scene section processing unit 111, and the section information database shown in FIG. 5 is operated in the same manner as described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 5, and the scene section processing unit 111 has the configuration shown in FIG. 6, and the volume representative value database shown in FIG. When forming, the operation is the same as described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  Thus, the present invention can be applied to a playback apparatus such as a television receiver having a chasing playback function. Further, the present invention can be applied not only to a television receiver but also to a tuner device for a television broadcast signal.

[Modification of Third Embodiment]
A television receiver as a playback device may be turned on before or after the start of a broadcast program. Before and after the start of the broadcast program, as described above, since there is no TV broadcast signal itself, a so-called sandstorm or other image that changes slightly and the sound "Zar" are reproduced. It will be. Also, before transmission of a broadcast signal for providing a television broadcast program or before complete transmission of a television broadcast signal, a still image that does not change, such as a so-called color pattern image, and a test sound “Pi” may be broadcast. .

  Therefore, in the same way as in the first and second embodiments described above, at the time of writing (recording) a television broadcast signal in the buffer 104, for example, in the scene section detection unit 111, no-signal section detection means, A means for detecting a predetermined pattern section in which video and audio of a predetermined pattern are continuous is provided, and a no-signal section and a predetermined pattern section are detected and specified as a scene section, and information indicating the position of the no-signal section and the predetermined pattern section The section information database and the volume representative value database may be formed from the information indicating the type.

  At the time of reading data from the buffer 104 (reproduction), even when the reproduction location is a no-signal section or a predetermined pattern section, the gain with respect to the reproduction sound volume is controlled, and the volume of the unpleasant reproduction sound is reduced. It is also possible to automatically reduce the volume or to reproduce the reproduced sound with a normal gain when the main part starts to be reproduced.

  When the playback location moves from the no-signal section or the predetermined pattern section to the CM section, the playback audio level has already been lowered, so it is possible not to make it lower or to make it lower. Alternatively, it is possible to set the gain of the reproduced sound in order to make it slightly higher.

  In the above-described embodiment, the scene section detection unit 172 detects the scene section mainly on the condition that the scene section is sandwiched between the scene change points. However, the present invention is not limited to this. In addition to the condition that the scene change point is sandwiched, the section length may be detected in consideration of other conditions such as a multiple of a specific time.

  Further, in the second and third embodiments described above, the gains with respect to the volume of the reproduced sound are adjusted using the methods (1) to (3), but the present invention is not limited to this. In brief, first, the current playback location is determined, and it is determined whether the scene section to which the playback location belongs is within the CM section or outside the CM section. Next, in the CM section, the volume representative value database scene of the section information holding unit is referred to, and the gain corresponding to the corresponding CM section is acquired. By setting the acquired gain in the audio processing unit and playing it back, it is possible to control the volume in a specific scene section.

  Further, through the CM section and the main section, the gain for the volume of the reproduced audio as a whole of the content signal to be reproduced is adjusted to the volume of the immediately preceding main section, or the entire reproduced sound of the content signal to be reproduced is set to a predetermined value. It is also possible to control the sound volume to be within the range.

  In addition, the playback location detectors 31 and 112 may be configured to detect the playback location at a predetermined timing such as every several frames to several tens of frames. When it is desired to detect the seek interval with high accuracy, the detection timing of the reproduction portion may be increased, or the detection timing may be set according to the frequency of scene change. When data compressed by MPEG2 or the like is targeted, for example, a playback location is detected at a GOP (Group Of Picture) unit, that is, at a rate of once every 15 frames as the I picture generation timing. It is also possible to do so.

  In the second embodiment described above, the average value of the volume of each scene section is used as the volume representative value. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in each scene section, the maximum value of the volume is set as a representative value, the volume with the highest frequency of volume obtained by sampling at a predetermined timing is set as the representative value of the volume, or the first playback sound of each signal is reproduced. Of course, the detected volume may be used as the representative volume value.

  In the above-described embodiment, the television broadcast signal has been described as an analog terrestrial broadcast. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention can also be applied to a case where a conventional digital satellite broadcast or a broadcast signal of a digital terrestrial broadcast started in earnest from 2011 AD is to be recorded.

  In the case of digital television broadcasting, a plurality of television broadcasting programs can be multiplexed and broadcast on a television broadcasting signal for one channel, and a broadcasting program to be viewed or recorded is selected. For example, similarly to the case described in the first to third embodiments, the section information database shown in FIG. 3 and the volume representative value database shown in FIG. 7 are formed and used at the time of reproduction. In each scene section, it is possible to appropriately control the gain with respect to the volume of the reproduced sound.

  Also, the functions of the respective sections of the scene section processing unit 17 shown in FIG. 2, the functions of the respective sections of the scene section processing unit 17 shown in FIG. 6, the playback location determination section 31 and the volume gain determination section 32 shown in FIG. Each function, the function of each part of the scene section processing block 111 shown in FIG. 11, the function of the playback position determination unit 112, and the volume gain determination unit 113 is executed by a program (software) that can be executed by the control unit 40, the control unit 120, or the like. It can also be realized.

  In addition, the present invention can be applied to various recording / playback devices such as personal computers, DVD recording / playback devices, CD / MD recording / playback devices, video tape recorders, etc. As described above, the present invention can be applied to a television receiver and a tuner.

Also, it does not handle both video signals and audio signals, but a recording / playback device or playback device that handles only one of video signals and audio signals, such as a hard disk recorder or IC recorder with a radio tuner, or an MD with a radio tuner. It can also be applied to a recorder, a tape recorder with a radio tuner, and the like. When only the audio signal is to be recorded, the CM section and the main section may be detected and specified based on the generation period of the silent section.

It is a block diagram for demonstrating the hard disk recorder to which one embodiment of this invention was applied. It is a block diagram for demonstrating the structural example of the scene area process part of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the area information database formed in the area information holding part in 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the process at the time of the recording of 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the process at the time of reproduction | regeneration of 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram for demonstrating the structural example of the scene area process part of 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the volume representative value database formed in the area information holding part in 2nd Embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram for describing gain control of reproduced audio when a content signal is reproduced in the second embodiment. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the process at the time of the recording of 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the process at the time of reproduction | regeneration of 2nd Embodiment. It is a block diagram for demonstrating the television receiver which is a reproducing | regenerating apparatus with which one Embodiment of this invention was applied.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 17 ... Scene section process part, 171 ... Scene change point detection part, 172 ... Scene section detection part, 173 ... Section type detection part, 174 ... Volume representative value generation part, 741 ... CM section volume representative value generation part, 742 ... CM section volume representative value generation unit, 31... Playback location determination unit, 32... Volume gain determination unit, 53 .. segment information holding unit, 111 .. scene segment processing unit, 112. 133 ... Section information holding unit

Claims (18)

Recording / reproduction comprising a recording system for performing processing for recording a content signal including an audio signal having a section with a different volume on a recording medium, and a reproducing system for reproducing and using the content signal recorded on the recording medium A device,
The recording system is
Change point detecting means for detecting a change point of the content signal to be recorded;
Section specifying means for specifying a section sandwiched between change points detected by the change point detecting means;
For each section specified by the section specifying means, type determining means for determining the type of section;
Section information holding means for storing and holding information indicating the section specified by the section specifying means and information indicating the type of the section determined by the type determining means;
The regeneration system is
Reading means for reading out a content signal to be reproduced from the recording medium;
Determining means for determining a reproduction location for the content signal to be reproduced read by the reading means;
Based on the playback location determined by the determination means, the information held in the section information holding means is referred to, and the gain of the audio signal to be played back is determined based on the type of the section including the playback location. Gain determination means;
A recording / reproducing apparatus comprising: adjusting means for adjusting the gain of the audio signal to be reproduced according to the gain determined by the gain determining means. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1,
The recording system includes a representative value generating unit that generates a representative value of the volume of the audio signal for each section specified by the section specifying unit,
The section information holding means of the recording system is generated by the representative value generating means, information indicating the section specified by the section specifying means, information indicating the type of the section determined by the type determining means, and In association with the representative value of the volume, it is stored and retained,
The gain determination means of the reproduction system refers to information held in the representative value holding means based on the reproduction location determined by the determination means, and shows information indicating the representative value of the volume of each section. The recording / reproducing apparatus, wherein the gain of the audio signal to be reproduced is determined in consideration of the above. A recording / reproducing apparatus comprising a recording system for performing processing for recording a content signal including an audio signal on a recording medium, and a reproducing system for reproducing and using the content signal recorded on the recording medium,
The recording system is
At the time of recording, a detecting means for detecting one or both of a no-signal section and a predetermined pattern section in which a signal of a predetermined pattern continues,
Section information holding means for storing and holding information indicating no-signal sections or predetermined pattern sections detected by the detection means and information indicating types of those sections;
The regeneration system is
Reading means for reading out a content signal to be reproduced from the recording medium;
Determining means for determining a reproduction location for the content signal to be reproduced read by the reading means;
Based on the playback location determined by the determination means, the information held in the section information holding means is referred to, and the gain of the audio signal to be played back is determined based on the type of the section including the playback location. Gain determination means;
A recording / reproducing apparatus comprising: adjusting means for adjusting the gain of the audio signal to be reproduced according to the gain determined by the gain determining means. A playback device that receives supply of a content signal including an audio signal, writes the content signal to a buffer memory, reads the content signal written to the buffer memory, and plays back the content signal.
Writing means for writing a content signal to be reproduced into the buffer memory;
Change point detection means for receiving a supply of the content signal written to the buffer memory and detecting a change point of the content signal;
Section specifying means for specifying a section sandwiched between change points detected by the change point detecting means;
For each section specified by the section specifying means, type determining means for determining the type of section;
Section information holding means for storing and holding information indicating the section specified by the section specifying means and information indicating the type of the section determined by the type determining means;
Reading means for reading the content data written in the buffer memory;
Determining means for determining a playback location for the content signal read by the reading means;
Based on the playback location determined by the determination means, the information held in the section information holding means is referred to, and the gain of the audio signal to be played back is determined based on the type of the section including the playback location. Gain determination means;
And a adjusting unit that adjusts the gain of the audio signal to be reproduced according to the gain determined by the gain determining unit. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 4,
For each section specified by the section specifying means, the representative value generating means for generating a representative value of the volume of the audio signal,
The section information holding unit includes information indicating the section specified by the section specifying unit, information indicating the type of the section determined by the type determining unit, and the volume generated by the representative value generating unit. A representative value is associated and stored,
The gain determining means refers to the information held in the representative value holding means based on the reproduction location determined by the determining means, and also considers information indicating the representative value of the volume of each section. A recording / reproducing apparatus characterized by determining a gain of an audio signal to be reproduced. A playback device that receives supply of a content signal including an audio signal, writes the content signal to a buffer memory, reads the content signal written to the buffer memory, and plays back the content signal.
Detecting means for detecting one or both of a no-signal section and a predetermined pattern section in which a signal of a predetermined pattern continues at the time of recording the content signal in the buffer memory;
Section information holding means for storing and holding information indicating no-signal sections or predetermined pattern sections detected by the detection means and information indicating types of those sections;
Reading means for reading out a content signal to be reproduced from the recording medium;
Determining means for determining a reproduction location for the content signal to be reproduced read by the reading means;
Based on the playback location determined by the determination means, the information held in the section information holding means is referred to, and the gain of the audio signal to be played back is determined based on the type of the section including the playback location. Gain determination means;
And a adjusting unit that adjusts the gain of the audio signal to be reproduced according to the gain determined by the gain determining unit. Recording / reproduction comprising a recording system for performing processing for recording a content signal including an audio signal having a section with a different volume on a recording medium, and a reproducing system for reproducing and using the content signal recorded on the recording medium A volume automatic adjustment method in an apparatus,
During the recording process,
A change point detecting step of detecting a change point of the content signal to be recorded;
A section specifying step for specifying a section sandwiched between change points detected in the change point detecting step;
For each section specified in the section specifying step, a type determining step for determining the type of section,
Performing an interval information holding step of associating information indicating the interval specified in the interval specifying step with information indicating the type of the interval determined in the type determining step and recording it in the interval information holding means;
During playback processing,
A reading step of reading a content signal to be reproduced from the recording medium;
A determination step of determining a playback location for the content signal to be played read in the reading step;
Based on the playback location determined in the determination step, the gain stored in the section information holding means is referred to, and the gain of the audio signal to be played back is determined based on the type of the section including the playback location. A determination process;
An automatic volume adjustment method comprising: performing an adjustment step of adjusting a gain of an audio signal to be reproduced according to the gain determined in the gain determination step. The volume automatic adjustment method according to claim 7,
At the time of the recording process, for each section specified in the section specifying step, a representative value generating step for generating a representative value of the volume for the audio signal is executed.
In the section information holding step executed at the time of recording processing, information indicating the section specified in the section specifying step, information indicating the type of the section determined in the type determining step, and generated in the representative value generating step In association with the representative value of the volume, it is stored and retained,
In the gain determination step executed at the time of the reproduction process, information indicating the representative value of the volume of each section with reference to the information held in the representative value holding unit based on the reproduction position determined in the determination step A method for automatically adjusting the volume, wherein the gain of the audio signal to be reproduced is determined in consideration of the above. Volume automatic adjustment in a recording / reproducing apparatus comprising a recording system for performing processing for recording a content signal including an audio signal on a recording medium, and a reproducing system for reproducing and using the content signal recorded on the recording medium A method,
During the recording process,
A detection step of detecting one or both of a no-signal section and a predetermined pattern section in which a signal of a predetermined pattern continues;
Performing an interval information holding step for storing and holding information indicating the no-signal interval or the predetermined pattern interval detected in the detection step and information indicating the type of the interval;
During playback processing,
A reading step of reading a content signal to be reproduced from the recording medium;
A determination step of determining a playback location for the content signal to be played read in the reading step;
Based on the playback location determined in the determination step, the gain stored in the section information holding means is referred to, and the gain of the audio signal to be played back is determined based on the type of the section including the playback location. A determination process;
And an adjusting step of adjusting the gain of the audio signal to be reproduced according to the gain determined in the gain determining step. A volume automatic adjustment method in a playback device that receives supply of a content signal including an audio signal, writes the content signal to a buffer memory, and reads and reproduces the content signal written to the buffer memory,
A writing step of writing a content signal to be reproduced into the buffer memory;
A change point detecting step of detecting a change point of the content signal written to the buffer memory;
A section specifying step for specifying a section sandwiched between change points detected in the change point detecting step;
For each section specified in the section specifying step, a type determining step for determining the type of section,
A section information holding step for associating information indicating the section specified in the section specifying step with information indicating the type of the section determined in the type determining step in a section information holding unit;
A reading step of reading the content data written in the buffer memory;
A determination step of determining a playback location for the content signal read in the reading step;
Based on the playback location determined in the determination step, the gain stored in the section information holding means is referred to, and the gain of the audio signal to be played back is determined based on the type of the section including the playback location. A determination process;
An automatic volume adjustment method comprising: performing an adjustment step of adjusting a gain of an audio signal to be reproduced according to the gain determined in the gain determination step. It is the volume automatic adjustment method of Claim 10, Comprising:
For each section specified in the section specifying step, a representative value generating step for generating a representative value of the volume for the audio signal,
In the section information holding step, information indicating the section specified in the section specifying step, information indicating the type of the section determined in the type determining step, and the representative value of the volume generated in the representative value generating step And keep it in memory,
In the gain determination step, the information stored in the representative value holding unit is referred to based on the reproduction location determined in the determination step, and information indicating the representative value of the volume of each section is also taken into consideration. A method for automatically adjusting a volume, characterized by determining a gain of an audio signal to be reproduced. A volume automatic adjustment method in a playback device that receives supply of a content signal including an audio signal, writes the content signal to a buffer memory, and reads and reproduces the content signal written to the buffer memory,
A detection step of detecting one or both of a no-signal section and a predetermined pattern section in which a signal of a predetermined pattern continues at the time of recording the content signal in the buffer memory;
A section information holding step of associating information indicating a no-signal section or a predetermined pattern section detected in the detection step with information indicating a type of the section and storing the information in a section information holding unit;
A reading step of reading a content signal to be reproduced from the recording medium;
A determination step of determining a playback location for the content signal to be played read in the reading step;
Based on the playback location determined in the determination step, the gain stored in the section information holding means is referred to, and the gain of the audio signal to be played back is determined based on the type of the section including the playback location. A determination process;
An automatic volume adjustment method comprising: performing an adjustment step of adjusting a gain of an audio signal to be reproduced according to the gain determined in the gain determination step. Recording / reproduction comprising a recording system for performing processing for recording a content signal including an audio signal having a section with a different volume on a recording medium, and a reproducing system for reproducing and using the content signal recorded on the recording medium When recording on the computer of the device,
A change point detecting step for detecting a change point of the content signal to be recorded;
An interval specifying step for specifying an interval between change points detected in the change point detecting step;
For each section specified in the section specifying step, a type determining step for determining the type of section,
The section information holding step of associating the information indicating the section specified in the section specifying step with the information indicating the type of the section determined in the type determining step and recording it in the section information holding means is executed.
During playback processing,
A reading step of reading a content signal to be reproduced from the recording medium;
A determination step of determining a reproduction location for the content signal to be reproduced read in the reading step;
A gain for determining the gain of the audio signal to be reproduced based on the type of the section including the reproduction part by referring to the information held in the section information holding unit based on the reproduction part determined in the determination step A determination step;
An automatic volume adjustment program that executes an adjustment step of adjusting a gain of an audio signal to be reproduced according to the gain determined in the gain determination step. The volume automatic adjustment program according to claim 13,
At the time of the recording process, for each section specified in the section specifying step, a representative value generation step for generating a representative value of a volume for the audio signal is executed,
In the section information holding step executed during the recording process, information indicating the section specified in the section specifying step, information indicating the type of the section determined in the type determining step, and generated in the representative value generating step In association with the representative value of the volume, it is stored and retained,
In the gain determination step executed at the time of reproduction processing, information indicating the representative value of the volume of each section with reference to the information held in the representative value holding unit based on the reproduction location determined in the determination step A volume automatic adjustment program for determining the gain of an audio signal to be reproduced in consideration of In a computer of a recording / reproducing apparatus comprising a recording system for performing processing for recording a content signal including an audio signal on a recording medium, and a reproducing system for reproducing and using the content signal recorded on the recording medium,
During the recording process,
A detection step of detecting one or both of a no-signal section and a predetermined pattern section in which a signal of a predetermined pattern continues;
Performing an interval information holding step of storing and holding information indicating the no-signal interval or the predetermined pattern interval detected in the detection step and information indicating the type of those intervals;
During playback processing,
A reading step of reading a content signal to be reproduced from the recording medium;
A determination step of determining a reproduction location for the content signal to be reproduced read in the reading step;
A gain for determining the gain of the audio signal to be reproduced based on the type of the section including the reproduction part by referring to the information held in the section information holding unit based on the reproduction part determined in the determination step A determination step;
An audio automatic adjustment program, comprising: executing an adjustment step of adjusting a gain of an audio signal to be reproduced according to the gain determined in the gain determination step. In response to the supply of the content signal including the audio signal, the content signal is written to the buffer memory, and the content signal written to the buffer memory is read and played back to the computer of the playback device.
A writing step of writing a content signal to be reproduced into the buffer memory;
A change point detecting step of detecting a change point of the content signal written to the buffer memory;
An interval specifying step for specifying an interval between change points detected in the change point detecting step;
For each section specified in the section specifying step, a type determining step for determining the type of section,
A section information holding step for associating information indicating the section specified in the section specifying step with information indicating the type of the section determined in the type determining step in a section information holding unit;
A reading step of reading the content data written in the buffer memory;
A determination step of determining a playback location for the content signal read in the reading step;
A gain for determining the gain of the audio signal to be reproduced based on the type of the section including the reproduction part by referring to the information held in the section information holding unit based on the reproduction part determined in the determination step A determination step;
An automatic volume adjustment program that executes an adjustment step of adjusting a gain of an audio signal to be reproduced according to the gain determined in the gain determination step. The volume automatic adjustment program according to claim 16,
For each section specified in the section specifying step, a representative value generating step for generating a representative value of a volume for the audio signal is executed,
In the section information holding step, information indicating the section specified in the section specifying step, information indicating the type of the section determined in the type determining step, and the representative value of the volume generated in the representative value generating step And keep it in memory,
In the gain determination step, the information held in the representative value holding means is referred to based on the reproduction location determined in the determination step, and information indicating the representative value of the volume in each section is also taken into consideration. A volume automatic adjustment program characterized by determining a gain of an audio signal to be reproduced. In response to the supply of the content signal including the audio signal, the content signal is written to the buffer memory, and the content signal written to the buffer memory is read and played back to the computer of the playback device.
A detection step of detecting one or both of a no-signal section and a predetermined pattern section in which a signal of a predetermined pattern continues at the time of recording the content signal in the buffer memory;
A section information holding step for associating information indicating the no-signal section or the predetermined pattern section detected in the detection step with information indicating the type of the section and recording it in the section information holding means,
A reading step of reading a content signal to be reproduced from the recording medium;
A determination step of determining a reproduction location for the content signal to be reproduced read in the reading step;
A gain for determining the gain of the audio signal to be reproduced based on the type of the section including the reproduction part by referring to the information held in the section information holding unit based on the reproduction part determined in the determination step A determination step;
An automatic volume adjustment program that executes an adjustment step of adjusting a gain of an audio signal to be reproduced according to the gain determined in the gain determination step.

Images