JP2007221401A - Reproducer, program, and network type content reproducing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a situation where a selected content cannot be reproduced as much as possible. <P>SOLUTION: In a network type content reproducing system, when a content client device cannot reproduce supplied content, the device notifies a content server of the version of a used codec (step 38), the content server transmits data for upgrading the version of the codec to the content client device (steps 41, 42), and the content client device upgrades the version of the codec (step 43) using the data. Alternatively, the content server downgrades the version of the content having not been reproduced and re-supplies the downgraded content, and the content client device reproduces the re-supplied content. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a playback device that receives content from a server device, a program that causes a computer to function as the playback device, and a network-type content playback method that uses the server device and the playback device.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a network type content reproduction system in which contents such as video, music, and photos are supplied from a server and reproduced by a client is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 7 shows an example of such a system. This system is configured by connecting a client 71 and a content server 72 via a router 73. The client 71 obtains and displays the content list from the content server 72, and requests the content server 72 to distribute the content in the content list selected by the user, thereby receiving the content distribution. Yes. The client 71 includes an up / down key for moving the cursor on the displayed content list and selecting a content, and an enter key or play key for confirming the selection of the content. When the selection is confirmed, the content selected at that time is selected as a reproduction target.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a part of the operation of the client 71. When the processing is started, the client 71 first displays the content list acquired from the content server 72 in step 91. Next, in steps 92 and 94, it waits for the up / down key, the enter key or the play key to be operated. When the up / down key is operated, the process proceeds from step 92 to step 93, and the display is updated so that the cursor indicates the newly selected content. Therefore, the user can move the cursor up or down in the content list and position the desired content by continuously pressing the up / down key or intermittently pressing the key.

  On the other hand, if the enter key or the play key is operated, the process proceeds from step 94 to 95 to set a reproduction error timer. Then, in steps 96 and 97, it is determined whether or not the reproduction is started before the reproduction error timer times a predetermined time. When playback is started before the predetermined time is counted, a playback video is displayed instead of displaying the content list. In this case, the process proceeds from step 96 to 98 to wait for the reproduction to end. When the reproduction ends, the process returns to step 91. If the reproduction is not started before the predetermined time is counted, the process returns from step 97 to step 91 immediately.

  Although this example shows the case where the content is video content, if the content is content such as music or photos, when playback is impossible, playback is interrupted without returning to the content list display, and the next content is displayed. In some cases, the process may be shifted to content reproduction.

JP-A-2005-157800

  However, according to the above-described conventional technology, if the provided content cannot be reproduced for a certain period of time, the reproduction operation is only stopped or interrupted. May be selected. When such selection is repeated, useless reproduction operation is performed, and the reproduction operation is repeatedly stopped or interrupted.

  An object of the present invention is to prevent, as much as possible, a situation in which a selected content cannot be played back in a network type playback system in view of the problems of the prior art.

  According to a first aspect of the invention for achieving the above object, a content requesting unit that requests a predetermined server device to supply content to be reproduced, and the content requested by the content requesting unit are received from the server device. The present invention relates to a playback device including playback means. Then, when the reproducing unit cannot reproduce the requested content, the reproducing device notifies the server device or a predetermined Web server of the version of the reproducing program used by the reproducing unit for reproduction. Data request means for requesting version upgrade data for the program for use, receiving means for receiving the upgrade data for the reproduction program transferred in response to the request from the data request means, and the upgrade data received by the receiving means And an upgrade means for upgrading the playback program.

  Here, the content corresponds to, for example, video content, music content, and still image content. As the reproduction program, for example, a codec, a program for decompressing data (decompressor), a program for decoding (decoder), and the like, and a program constituted by them are applicable. The version upgrade data includes, for example, a higher version program, its installer, updater, and patch.

  In this configuration, when the playback device requests the server device to supply content to be played back, the server device supplies the content in response to the request, so the playback device starts its playback operation. The reproduction operation may be based on stream reproduction performed while receiving content data. At this time, when the supplied content cannot be played back, the playback device notifies the server device or a predetermined Web server of the version of the playback program used for playback. Then, the content server device or Web server that has received this notification transmits the upgrade data to the playback device, so that the playback device receives this and uses this to upgrade the playback program. it can. After this, the playback apparatus can have the content that could not be played back supplied again and play it back. In addition, it is possible to reproduce the content of the file of the same version in the same format as the content.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a playback apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein, when the upgrade data for the playback program requested by the data requesting unit is not in the server device or the predetermined Web server, the content requesting unit Is configured to request a predetermined server device to supply a content to be played back corresponding to a lower version playback program of the playback program used for playback.

  The playback device according to a third aspect of the present invention is the playback device according to the first aspect, wherein the content requesting means does not play back the content requested by the content requesting means even when the playback program upgraded by the version upgrade means is used. The means requests a predetermined server device to supply the content to be reproduced corresponding to the reproduction program of the lower version of the reproduction program after the upgrade used for reproduction.

  A program according to a fourth invention causes a computer to function as each means in any one of the first to third playback devices.

  In the network-type content playback method according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when the playback device cannot play back the content supplied from the server device, the version of the playback program used for playback is set to the server device or the predetermined content. A procedure for notifying the Web server, a procedure for receiving the upgrade data for the playback program transmitted from the server device or the Web server by the notification, and the version received by the playback device And a procedure for upgrading the playback program using the up data.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a network-type content playback method in which, when the playback device cannot play back the playback target content supplied from the server device, that fact and the playback program used for playback. The server device includes a procedure for notifying the server device of a version and a procedure for supplying the playback target content corresponding to a playback program of a lower version of the playback program related to the notification.

  According to the present invention, when the playback device cannot play back the playback target content supplied from the server device, the upgrade device supplies the upgrade data for the playback program from the server device or a predetermined Web server. Since the playback program is upgraded, it is possible to play back the playback target content. In addition, the possibility of being able to reproduce other contents can be improved by upgrading the reproduction program.

  In addition, when there is no version upgrade data of the playback program in the server device or a predetermined Web server, or when the playback target content cannot be played back using the upgraded playback program, the playback target content Since the server device is requested to have a lower version of the content, it is possible to reproduce the content to be reproduced by receiving the supply of the lower version.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a network type content reproduction system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the same figure, 1 is a content server that stores and distributes content files, 100 is a client that receives distribution of content from the server 1, and 2 is a client that plays back the distributed content, 2 is connected to the client 100, and A monitor that outputs video, 3 is a router interposed between the server 1 and the client 100, and 4 is a speaker that converts audio signals from the client 100 into sound waves and outputs audio of content.

  The client 100 decodes the content data distributed from the server 1 and outputs the obtained audio signal and video signal. The client control IC 101 and the LAN controller 102 functioning as an interface between the client control IC 101 and the LAN, and the LAN controller 102 A LAN connector 103 for connection to the router 3; a digital audio signal from the client control IC 101; a digital interface receiver 104 that functions as a digital interface; and a digital audio signal from the digital interface receiver 104; An audio DSP (digital signal processor) 105 that outputs an analog audio signal in a predetermined format, and amplifies the audio signal from the audio DSP 105 to the speaker 4 Amplifier 106, a video control unit 107 that displays video on the monitor 2 based on video data from the client control IC 101, a system microcomputer 108 that controls each part of the client 100, and an operation for giving a command to the system microcomputer 108 109, a display unit 110 that displays an image based on image data from the system microcomputer 108, and a display control microcomputer 111 that controls display of the display unit 110 based on an instruction from the system microcomputer 108.

  The operation unit 109 includes up / down keys for selecting content, and an enter key or play key for confirming the selection. The content server 1 stores content files that can be distributed to the client 100, and supplies a list of content storing the files and a specified content file to the client 100 in response to a request from the client. can do. As shown in FIG. 2, the content server 1 can communicate with the Web server 22 via the Internet 21 to receive a predetermined service or provide predetermined information. It has become.

  3 and 4 are flowcharts showing the content reproduction processing by the system microcomputer 108 in the system of FIG. This process is performed according to a predetermined program. That is, the system microcomputer 108 first displays a content list in step 31. The content list data to be used is obtained from the content server 1 when the power is turned on.

  Next, in step 32, when any content in the content list is selected, the system waits for an instruction to start playback of the content (hereinafter referred to as “selected content”). When reproduction start is instructed, it is determined in step 33 whether there is an error record for the selected content. The error recording is recorded in step 83 of FIG. 6 to be described later. In the error recording, content that could not be reproduced even if selected by the client is recorded.

  If it is determined in step 33 that there is an error record, the process proceeds to step 59, an error message indicating that the selected content cannot be reproduced is displayed, and the content reproduction process is terminated. If it is determined that there is no error record, the process proceeds to step 34, where a playback error timer is set. In steps 35 and 37, playback of the selected content is started before the playback error timer counts a predetermined time. Wait for.

  If the reproduction is started before the predetermined time is counted, the process proceeds from step 35 to step 36 to wait for the reproduction to end. When the reproduction ends, the process returns to step 31. When the predetermined time is counted without starting the reproduction, the process proceeds from step 37 to step 38. In steps 38 and 39, the information regarding the selected content and the codec used for the reproduction process is transferred to the content server. When the transfer is completed, it is determined in step 40 whether or not a notification indicating that version upgrade data for the used codec exists is received from the content server. This notification is made in step 71 of FIG. 5 described later. If it is determined that the notification has not been received, the process proceeds to step 50.

  If it is determined in step 40 that a notification that version upgrade data exists is received, version upgrade data is received from the content server in steps 41 and 42. Next, in step 43, the codec is upgraded with the received upgrade data, the selected content is supplied again, and the reproduction process is started using the upgraded codec. Thereafter, a playback error timer is set in step 44, and in steps 45 and 47, the system waits for playback to start.

  If the reproduction is started before the reproduction error timer counts the predetermined time, the process proceeds from step 45 to step 46, waits for the completion of the reproduction, and returns to step 31. If the error timer counts the predetermined time without starting reproduction, the process proceeds from step 47 to step 48. In steps 48 and 49, the information related to the selected content is transferred to the content server, and the process proceeds to step 50. Unlike the case of step 38, the information transferred in this case does not include information regarding the codec.

  In step 50, it is determined whether or not the content server has notified that content conversion is to be performed. Content conversion means that the selected content file to which the information has been transferred in step 48 is downgraded in the content server. When content conversion is performed, the downgraded content is supplied to the client again. The notification of content conversion is performed in step 78 of FIG. If it is determined that there is no notification of content conversion, the process proceeds to step 59, an error message indicating that the selected content cannot be reproduced is displayed, and the content reproduction process is terminated.

  If it is determined in step 50 that there has been a notification of content conversion, the process waits for the completion of content conversion in step 51 and then proceeds to step 52 to receive supply of selected content after version down again. Start the playback process. Thereafter, after setting the reproduction error timer in step 53, in steps 54 and 56, the process waits for the reproduction to start.

  If playback is started before the playback error timer counts the predetermined time, the process proceeds from step 54 to step 55, waits for the playback to end, and then returns to step 31. If the predetermined time has been counted without starting reproduction, the process proceeds from step 56 to 57, and in steps 57 and 58, information relating to the content that could not be reproduced is transferred to the content server. Unlike the case of step 38, this transfer information does not include information on the codec. When the transfer is completed, the process proceeds to step 59, an error message indicating that the selected content cannot be reproduced is displayed, and the content reproduction process is terminated.

  5 and 6 are flowcharts showing the content supply processing in the content server 1. This process is performed according to a predetermined program. When the process is started, the content server first waits for a reproduction request from the client in step 61. The reproduction request is a request for supply of selected content selected by the client, and may be made in steps 32, 43, or 52 of FIG.

  When the reproduction request is received, the process proceeds to step 62, and it is determined whether or not the above-described error record exists for the selected content. If it is determined that the selected content exists, there is no way to allow the selected content to be played back by the client, so the process proceeds to steps 83 and 84 to notify the client that the selected content cannot be played back.

  If it is determined in step 62 that there is no error record, the selected content is supplied in steps 63 to 65 by transferring the selected content file to the client. During this time, if an error message indicating that the content being transferred could not be reproduced was received from the client in step 64, the transfer is stopped and the process proceeds to step 66 to receive information on the selected content. This information is sent from the client in step 38, 48 or 57 of FIG. Further, in step 67, the information regarding the received content is analyzed regarding whether or not the information regarding the codec is included.

  Next, in step 68, it is determined whether or not connection to the Web server 22 is possible. If connection is possible and the received information includes codec information, in steps 69 and 70, whether or not version upgrade data for the codec exists for the Web server 22 is determined. Inquire about. If version upgrade data exists, the client is notified in step 71 and the version upgrade data is downloaded from the Web server 22 in steps 72 and 73. Further, the downloaded upgrade data is transferred to the client in steps 74 and 75. When the transfer is completed, the client is notified in step 76 and the process returns to step 61.

  If it is determined in step 68 that connection to the Web server 22 is impossible, and if the content information received in step 66 does not include codec information, the process proceeds to step 77, where the selected content is downgraded. Determine whether it is possible. If it is determined that the version can be downgraded, in step 78, the above-described content conversion notification is sent to the client. Further, in steps 79 and 80, based on the file associated with the content, a file obtained by converting the file into a lower version is created. In step 81, the file association with the selected content is created. Change to a file. As a result, the version down of the selected content is completed, so that the client is notified in step 82. Thereafter, the process returns to step 61.

  If it is determined in step 77 that the content cannot be downgraded, the process proceeds to step 83 to add the selected content to the error record. Thereafter, in step 84, the client is notified that the selected content cannot be reproduced, and the process returns to step 61.

  According to the present embodiment, when the selected content cannot be played back on the client, the content server checks whether there is version upgrade data for the codec used for playback by the client, and if possible, for upgrade Since the data is provided to the client, the codec can be upgraded in the client. As a result, it is possible to prevent a situation in which content cannot be reproduced due to the old version of the codec. In addition, since the client requested the supply of the selected content again after the version upgrade was completed and started the playback operation, the problem that playback cannot be performed due to the old codec version was solved immediately. The selected content can be played back.

  In addition, when the content server cannot acquire the codec version upgrade data used by the client to play the selected content, or after the codec version upgrade is completed, the client cannot play the selected content. In this case, since the content server downgrades the selected content file and supplies the selected content again, the selected content version is newer than the codec version used to play the selected content. The problem that playback cannot be performed due to the problem can be solved immediately, and the selected content can be played back.

  In addition, when the selected content cannot be reproduced even after the above codec version upgrade or content version down, an error message indicating that the selected content cannot be reproduced is displayed. The client can know that the selected content is not supported by the client.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately modified and viewed. For example, in the above description, the client notifies the content server 1 of the version of the codec used for reproduction, so that the upgrade data is provided from the content server 1. The codec version used may be notified to a predetermined codec distribution server, and the upgrade data may be provided from this server.

  Also, in the above, when the codec was upgraded, we did not mention what to do with the old codec. However, the old codec may be left as it is and used as needed. Good.

  In the above description, the version of the selected content after the downgrading when the content server performs the downgrading of the selected content is not particularly mentioned, but the codec used by the client for the reproduction operation (the codec in step 43). In the case of version upgrade, a request is made to supply the selected content of the version corresponding to the codec of the lower version of the codec after the upgrade), and in response to this, the selected content is selected so that the content server becomes the version. The version may be downgraded and supplied to the client.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the network type content reproduction | regeneration system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows a mode that the content server in the system of FIG. 1 connects with a predetermined | prescribed Web server via the internet. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing content reproduction processing by the client in the system of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the process following the process of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the content supply process by the content server in the system of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the process following the process of FIG. It is a figure which shows the network type content reproduction system which concerns on a prior art example. It is a flowchart which shows the process by the client in the system of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1, 72: Content server, 2: Monitor, 3, 73: Router, 4: Speaker, 21: Internet, 22: Web server, 71, 100: Client, 101: Client control IC, 102: LAN controller, 103: LAN Connector: 104: Digital interface receiver, 105: Audio DSP, 106: Amplifier, 107: Video control unit, 108: System microcomputer, 109: Operation unit, 110: Display unit, 111: Display control microcomputer

Claims (6)

Content request means for requesting a predetermined server device to supply content to be reproduced;
Playback means for receiving and playing back the content requested by the content requesting means from the server device;
If the reproduction unit cannot reproduce the requested content, the reproduction unit notifies the version of the reproduction program used for reproduction to the server device or a predetermined Web server, and the reproduction program Data requesting means for requesting version upgrade data;
Receiving means for receiving upgrade data for the reproduction program transferred in response to a request from the data requesting means;
A playback apparatus comprising: upgrade means for upgrading the playback program using the upgrade data received by the receiving means.   When the upgrade data of the reproduction program requested by the data requesting unit is not in the server device or a predetermined Web server, the content requesting unit subordinates the reproduction program used for reproduction by the reproducing unit. 2. The playback apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the playback apparatus requests a predetermined server apparatus to supply the content to be played back corresponding to the version of the playback program.   If the content requested by the content requesting unit cannot be reproduced using the reproduction program upgraded by the version upgrading unit, the content requesting unit performs reproduction after the upgrade used by the reproducing unit for reproduction. 2. The playback apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the playback apparatus requests a predetermined server device to supply the content to be played back corresponding to a playback program of a lower version of the playback program.   A program that causes a computer to function as each means in the playback apparatus according to claim 1. A procedure for notifying the server device or a predetermined Web server of the version of the reproduction program used for reproduction when the reproduction device cannot reproduce the content supplied from the server device;
A procedure for receiving, by the playback device, version upgrade data for the playback program transmitted from the server device or the Web server by the notification;
A network-type content playback method, characterized in that the playback device comprises a procedure for upgrading the playback program using the received upgrade data. When the playback device has failed to play back the playback target content supplied from the server device, a procedure for notifying the server device of the fact and the version of the playback program used for playback;
A server apparatus comprising: a procedure for supplying the reproduction target content corresponding to a reproduction program of a lower version of the reproduction program according to the notification.

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