JP2009267455A - Video image reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To promptly inform a user of that downloading of a content is completed when it takes a long time to download the content. <P>SOLUTION: A video image reproducing terminal includes a downloading means of downloading contents. A communication means for a cellular phone is provided and it is made possible to receive an electronic mail address from the cellular phone and then store it. A transmitting means for electronic mail is provided to make it possible to send electronic mail showing that the downloading of the content is completed to the stored electronic mail address when the downloading of the content is completed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The technical field relates to a video playback apparatus having a function of downloading content by communication.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for downloading content from a content server and playing it back.

JP 2005-159703 A

  The content processing device disclosed in Patent Literature 1 downloads content from a content distribution device. In recent years, the size of content has increased with the improvement of video quality, and downloading has also become time consuming. In Patent Document 1, the user is notified on the screen of the content processing apparatus that the download has been completed. In this case, there is a problem that the user cannot know whether or not the download has been completed unless in front of the content processing apparatus.

  Therefore, in the present application, for example, when it takes a long time to download, a video playback apparatus having a download function that can notify the user that the download has been completed relatively quickly even if the user is not in front of the terminal that is downloading I will provide a.

  Specifically, the video playback apparatus is provided with a means for communicating with the content server, and is provided with a content download means for downloading content from the content server via this communication means. In addition, means for communicating with a mobile phone is provided so that an e-mail address can be received from the mobile phone. Further, the received e-mail address can be stored by the e-mail management means.

  Then, an e-mail transmission unit is provided so that, when the content download is completed, an e-mail including the content download completion can be transmitted to the e-mail address stored by the e-mail management unit. Yes.

  According to the above means, for example, even when the user is away from the video playback device when it takes a long time to download the content, the user can know that the download has been completed.

  Hereinafter, an example (example) of an embodiment suitable for the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

  First, a configuration example of the system will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the figure, reference numeral 100 denotes a video playback device. The video playback device 100 is, for example, a digital television or a hard disk recorder. In the present invention, the video playback apparatus 100 will be described using an example of a digital television. Reference numeral 110 denotes a content server. The content server 110 provides video content such as movies and dramas to the video playback device 100. Also, the video playback device 100 downloads video content from the content server 110 and plays back the downloaded video. 120 is a mail server. The mail server 120 receives an e-mail transmission request and transmits the e-mail. Reference numeral 130 denotes a mobile phone. A mobile phone 130 (also referred to as a mobile terminal as well as a telephone) is assigned a mail address for receiving electronic mail. 140 is the Internet. The video playback device 100 communicates with the content server 110 and the mail server 120 via the Internet 140. Reference numeral 150 denotes a mobile phone network. The cellular phone network is used for communication between the cellular phone 130 and the mail server 120. Reference numeral 160 denotes local communication. The local communication 160 is a short-range communication means such as infrared or Bluetooth. The video playback device 100 and the mobile phone 130 transmit and receive data via the local communication 160.

  In this embodiment, when the video playback device 100 downloads content from the content server 110, when the download is completed, the video playback device 100 transmits an e-mail to the mobile phone 130 via the mail server 120, and the download is completed. Notify that it has been done. Thereby, the user can know that the download has been completed even if he / she does not always look at the video reproduction device 100.

  Next, the hardware configuration of the video reproduction apparatus 100 will be described using the block diagram of FIG.

  The control unit 101 includes a microprocessor unit and the like, and controls the operation of the entire video reproduction apparatus 100 and executes various processes.

  The TV function unit 102 includes a demultiplexer, a decoder, and the like, and plays back digital television broadcasts and content downloaded from the content server 110.

  The storage unit 103 stores various data. For example, the storage unit 103 stores an operation control program for the control unit 101. The storage unit 103 may be configured with either a built-in memory or a removable external memory.

  The input unit 104 receives an operation from the user and inputs an operation signal to the control unit 101. For example, a remote controller and a remote control signal receiver.

  The display unit 105 includes a display panel and a driver circuit, and displays images and the like on the display panel under the control of the control unit 101.

  The network control unit 106 includes, for example, an Ethernet (registered trademark) (registered trademark) (trademark) interface and a driver circuit, and the content server 110 and the mail server 120 via the Internet 140 under the control of the control unit 101. Send and receive data.

  The HDD 107 is, for example, a hard disk device. The content downloaded from the content server 110 is stored. The HDD 107 may be composed of either a built-in hard disk or a removable hard disk.

  The local communication 108 is short-range communication means such as infrared or Bluetooth. The video reproduction apparatus 100 transmits / receives data to / from the mobile phone 130 at a short distance (several meters) using the local communication 108.

  The bus 109 connects the constituent blocks from the control unit 101 to the local communication 108.

  Next, a content management table for managing the content download state and the e-mail transmission destination will be described with reference to FIG. The content management table is stored in the storage unit 103.

  In the figure, 210 is a content management table. The content management table 210 is composed of a plurality of content management records 220. The content management record 220 includes an ID 221, content information 222, a status 223, and a mail address 224.

  ID 221 is an identifier for identifying the content management record. The content information 222 includes a content title, a reproduction time, a storage location in the HDD 107, and the like. The status 223 indicates the download status, and is, for example, “not started”, “downloading”, “download completed”, or the like. The e-mail address 224 is an e-mail transmission destination when the download is completed.

  Next, a processing sequence example will be described with reference to the sequence diagram of FIG.

  The video playback device 100 first transmits a content download request to the content server 110 (step 300). Receiving the content download request, the content server 110 transmits the requested content to the video playback device (step 350). The video playback device 100 receives content from the content server 110 and stores it in the HDD 107.

  The mobile phone 130 transmits its e-mail address to the video playback device 100 while the video playback device 100 is downloading content (step 370). When receiving the electronic mail address from the mobile phone 130, the video reproduction device 100 registers the received mail address in the content management record 220 of the content management table 210 (step 320). When the download of the content is completed, the video playback device transmits an e-mail to the e-mail address 224 of the content management record 220 of the downloaded content via the mail server 120 (step 330). The mail server 120 transmits an e-mail to the mobile phone 130 (step 360). The cellular phone 130 receives an email from the mail server 120 (step 380).

  As described above, by performing the processing of steps 300, 310, 320, and 330 in the video reproduction device 100, it is possible to notify the mobile phone 130 that the download has been completed. Details of these steps will be described below.

  A detailed description of the processing in the content server 110, the mail server 120, and the mobile phone 130 is omitted.

  First, details of step 300 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In step 300, first, a new content management record 220 is added to the content management table 210 (step 301). At this time, for example, the serial number of the content management record 220 is entered in the ID 221 of the content management record 220. The content information 222 stores information such as a content title, a content identifier, and a storage location in the HDD 107. “Downloading” is set in the status 223, and “not set” is set in the mail address 224.

  Next, a content download request is transmitted to the content server 110 (step 302). The content download request is made by, for example, transmitting an HTTP request message including information specifying content to be downloaded to the content server 110.

  Next, details of step 320 will be described with reference to FIG. The process of step 320 is executed when an e-mail address is received from the mobile phone 130 via the local communication 108.

  In step 320, first, an e-mail address is received from the mobile phone 130 (step 321). Next, the content management records 220a to 220n managed by the content management table 210 are identified with the status “downloading” (step 322). When there are a plurality of content management records 220 identified in step 322, a selection screen is displayed to allow the user to select which content is to be notified by email when downloading is completed (step 323).

  FIG. 7 shows an example of the selection screen. In the figure, 250a to 250c are examples when content titles are extracted from the content information 222 of the content management record 220 whose status is “downloading” and displayed in a list format. Using such a screen, the user selects content that the user wants to be notified when the download is completed.

  The mail received at step 321 is sent to the mail address 224 of the content management record 220 when there is one “downloading” content management record 220, and the mail address 224 of the content management record 220 selected at step 323 when there is more than one. An address is set (step 324).

  Next, details of step 310 and step 330 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In step 310, first, content data is received from the content server 110 (step 311). The content data is normally transmitted from the content server 110 to the video reproduction device 100 as an HTTP response message corresponding to the HTTP request message transmitted in step 302. If the content data is large, the content data is usually divided into a plurality of pieces and transmitted. Next, the content data received in step 311 is stored in the HDD 107 (step 312). Then, it is checked whether or not all content data has been received (step 313). If all the content data has not been received, the process returns to step 311. If all have been received, the process proceeds to step 330.

  In step 330, first, the status 223 of the content management record 220 of the content that has been received is changed to “download completed” (step 331). Next, it is checked whether a valid mail address is registered in the mail address 224 of the content management record 220 (step 332). If a valid mail address is registered, the mail is transmitted to the mail address 224 via the mail server 130 (step 333). If a valid email address is not registered, the process ends without doing anything.

FIG. 9 shows an example of the mail transmitted at step 333. In the figure, 500a is an example of an e-mail transmitted to the mobile phone 130 in step 333. Information such as a title managed by the content information 222 of the content management record 220 can be included in the e-mail 500a to make it easy to understand which content has been downloaded (501 in the figure).
Also, 510a shows an example of a display screen when the mobile phone 130 receives the e-mail 500a.

  Through the above processing, when downloading the content from the content server 110, the video playback device 100 transmits an e-mail to the mobile phone 130 via the mail server 120 when the download is completed, indicating that the download is complete. You can be notified. Thereby, the user can know that the download has been completed even if the video playback device 100 is not constantly monitored.

  In the above embodiment, only the notification that the download is completed is only notified by e-mail. However, when the download is completed, the content is reproduced by the mobile phone 130 in the e-mail that the video reproduction device 100 transmits to the mobile phone 130. Therefore, it is possible to view the information on the mobile phone 130 simply and promptly after downloading. Examples thereof will be described below.

  FIG. 10 shows an example in which information for reproducing a video is included in an e-mail notifying completion of download. In the figure, reference numeral 500b denotes an e-mail including reproduction information 502 for viewing the content on the mobile phone 130. When transmitting the e-mail in step 333, the video playback device 100 generates playback information 502 from the network information such as the storage location of the content managed by the content information 222 and the IP address managed by the network control unit 106. For example, it is embedded in an electronic mail in HTML format.

  When the mobile phone 130 receives the e-mail 500b, it displays it on the screen, for example, 510b. When the user selects link 511 on screen 510b, mobile phone 130 acquires content to be played back on video playback device 130 according to playback information 502 embedded in the ionization mail in HTML format, and plays back the video (screen 520). ).

  A sequence of the above processing is shown in FIG. In the figure, steps 400 to 420 indicate processing for reproducing content on the mobile phone 130.

  The mobile phone 130 requests content from the video playback device 100 in accordance with the playback information 502 embedded in the e-mail 500b (step 400). The content request is made by, for example, an HTTP request message. When receiving the request for content from the mobile phone 130, the video reproduction device 100 sequentially transmits the requested content to the mobile phone 130 (step 420). The content transmission from the video reproduction device 100 to the mobile phone 130 is performed using, for example, an HTTP response message. The mobile phone 130 sequentially reproduces the received content (step 420).

  In this manner, by adding a function of receiving a content request from the mobile phone 130 and transmitting the requested content to the video playback device 100, the mobile phone 130 that has received the content download completion notification receives the content from the mobile phone 130. It can be played easily.

  In the above description, the e-mail transmission destination can be set for each content, but it is also possible to set the e-mail transmission destination to one. In that case, the content management record 220 does not hold the e-mail address 224 individually, but the storage unit 103 holds one e-mail address. Then, when the e-mail is transmitted in step 333, the e-mail is transmitted to the e-mail address. This eliminates the need for the user to set a notification destination each time a download is made.

An example of a system configuration is shown. 2 shows a configuration example of a video reproduction device 100. The structural example of a content management table is shown. An example of a processing sequence in the system is shown. The processing example of step 300 is shown. The processing example of step 320 is shown. The display example of the selection screen in step 323 is shown. A processing example of steps 310 and 330 will be described. An example of e-mail text in step 333 and a display example of a mobile phone screen in step 380 are shown. An example of e-mail text in step 333 and a display example of a mobile phone screen in step 380 are shown. (Example 2) An example of a processing sequence in the system is shown. (Example 2)

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Video reproduction apparatus, 110 ... Content server, 120 ... Mail server, 130 ... Mobile phone

Claims (4)

Content download means for downloading content from a content server;
Destination storage means for storing the destination of the e-mail;
E-mail sending means for sending e-mail,
A video reproduction apparatus that, when content download by a content download unit is completed, transmits an e-mail to the effect that the download has been completed by the e-mail transmission unit to a transmission destination of the e-mail stored by the destination storage unit. Content download means for downloading content from a content server;
An email address receiving means for receiving an email destination from a mobile terminal;
Destination storage means for storing the destination of the email received by the mail address receiving means;
E-mail sending means for sending e-mail,
A video reproduction apparatus that, when content download by a content download unit is completed, transmits an e-mail to the effect that the download has been completed by the e-mail transmission unit to a transmission destination of the e-mail stored by the destination storage unit. Content download means for downloading content from a content server;
Download status management means for managing the download status of the content;
An email address receiving means for receiving an email destination from a mobile terminal;
A destination storage means for storing the transmission destination of the e-mail received by the mail address receiving means in a one-to-one correspondence with the content being downloaded when the download state management means determines that the content is being downloaded;
E-mail sending means for sending e-mail,
When the content download by the content download means is completed, an e-mail indicating that the download has been completed by the e-mail transmission means is sent to the e-mail destination corresponding to the downloaded content stored in the destination storage means Video playback device. The video playback apparatus according to claim 3, wherein
When there is a plurality of contents being downloaded managed by the download state management means when the e-mail destination is received by the e-mail address receiving means, a selection means is provided for selecting the content to send the e-mail when the download is completed. ,
A video reproduction apparatus for storing a transmission destination received by a mail address reception unit at a destination corresponding to the content selected by the selection unit among the transmission destinations managed by the destination storage unit.

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