JP2009301615A - Content recording and reproducing system, content recording and reproducing device, and its program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a content recording and reproducing system in which a time required for finishing to transfer music data to a HDD recorder from a PC is shortened, also music data recorded in a PC with a content form which is not reproduced by the HDD recorder is reproduced by the HDD recorder. <P>SOLUTION: Reproducible music data by the HDD recorder and reproduction disable music data are transferred to the HDD recorder from the PC without executing conversion processing for a reproducible content form by the HDD recorder. When reproduction disable music data by the HDD recorder is selected as music data to be reproduced, music data is transmitted to the HDD recorder from the PC with a stream form and a content form being reproducible by the HDD recorder. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a content recording / playback system for transferring and recording content from a first content recording / playback device to a second content recording / playback device.

  The music data read from the CD is recorded on a PC (personal computer), and the music data recorded on the PC is played back, or the data is read from the CD to an HDD recorder which is an audio device equipped with an HDD (Hard Disk Drive). The music data recorded is recorded and the music data recorded on the HDD is reproduced. Since recent PCs are equipped with a CPU with high processing capability, CD music data can be recorded at high speed. Therefore, by transferring the song data recorded on the PC to the HDD recorder via a network, for example, the song data can be recorded on the HDD recorder easily and quickly. However, although it is possible to play music data in many content formats (including content formats such as MP3 and WMA, and bit rates such as 128 kbps and 256 kbps) on a PC, HDD recorders are not many In general, it is not possible to play content-format song data. For example, it is assumed that the PC can reproduce the music data in the content formats A, B, C, D, E, and F, and the HDD recorder can reproduce the music data only in the content formats A and B. In this case, when music data of content formats C, D, E, and F is transferred to the HDD recorder and recorded, it is necessary for the PC to execute conversion processing to the music format A or B that can be reproduced by the HDD recorder. There is. Therefore, there is a problem that it takes a lot of time for the conversion process, and it takes time to complete the recording of all the music data in the HDD recorder and start the reproduction.

JP2006-11757

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described conventional problems, and the object thereof is to reduce the time until the content is completely transferred from the first content recording / playback apparatus to the second content recording / playback apparatus, and To provide a content recording / playback system capable of playing back content recorded in the first content recording / playback device in a content format that cannot be played back by the second content recording / playback device.

  A content recording / playback system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a first content recording / playback device and a second content recording / playback device connectable to the first content recording / playback device. Regardless of whether the second content recording / playback apparatus is in a content format that can be played back by the second content storage unit for recording a plurality of contents and the second content recording / playback apparatus, the second content Recording means for acquiring the content recorded by the first content recording / playback device and recording it in the second content storage unit without executing conversion processing into a content format that can be played back by the recording / playback device; (2) Reproducibility management means for managing whether or not the content format of the content recorded in the content storage unit is a content format that can be reproduced by the second content recording / reproducing apparatus, and for reproducing according to a user operation Selection means for selecting the content to be selected, and the content format of the content selected by the selection means are the second copy. Reproducibility determining means for determining whether or not the content recording / playback apparatus is a reproducible content format based on the management content of the reproducibility management means, and the content format of the content selected by the selection means A stream request means for requesting the first content recording / playback apparatus to transmit the selected content in a stream format when it is determined that the content recording / playback apparatus is not in a playable content format; Reproducing means for receiving and reproducing the selected content in a stream format from the reproducing apparatus. Content that can be played back by the second content recording / playback apparatus with the first content storage / playback device for recording a plurality of content by the first content recording / playback device and the content recorded in the first content storage unit A content transfer means for transferring to the second content recording / playback apparatus without executing the conversion process to the format; and the selected content is sent to the second content recording / playback apparatus in response to a request from the stream request means. And a stream transmission means for decoding the content into a stream-format content and transmitting it to the second content recording / playback apparatus.

  Content that can be reproduced by the second content recording / reproducing device and content that cannot be reproduced are transferred from the first content recording / reproducing device to the second content recording / reproducing device to a content format that can be reproduced by the second content recording / reproducing device. The conversion process is not executed, but is transferred and recorded. Therefore, since the content format conversion process is not executed in the first content recording / playback apparatus, it is possible to reduce the time until the content transfer is completed. When a content that cannot be played back by the second content recording / playback device is selected as content to be played back, the second content recording / playback device has a stream format and is transferred from the first content recording / playback device to the second content recording / playback device. Content is transmitted in a reproducible content format. Therefore, even if a content that cannot be played back by the second content recording / playback apparatus is selected as a content to be played back, the second content recording / playback apparatus can play back the content.

  In a preferred embodiment, the second content recording / playback apparatus is selected when it is determined that the content format of the content selected by the selection means is not a content format that can be played back by the second content recording / playback apparatus. Download request means for requesting the first content recording / playback apparatus to transmit the downloaded content in a download format, and the first content recording / playback apparatus is selected in response to a request from the download request means. The content further includes a download transmission means for converting the content into a content in a format that can be reproduced by the second content recording / reproducing apparatus and transmitting the content to the second content recording / reproducing apparatus, and the recording means Select from the first content recording / playback apparatus The received content is received in the download format and recorded in the second content storage unit, and the content that is received in the download format and recorded in the second content storage unit by the playback permission management unit is the second content recording unit The management content is updated so as to indicate that playback is possible by the playback device.

  In this case, the content selected as the content to be reproduced can be recorded in the second content storage unit in a content format that can be reproduced by the second content recording / reproducing apparatus. Accordingly, when the same content is selected from the next time onward, the content can be read from the second storage unit and played back, thereby simplifying the playback process and reducing the time until playback starts. Can do.

  In a preferred embodiment, the second content recording / playback apparatus is selected when it is determined that the content format of the content selected by the selection means is not a content format that can be played back by the second content recording / playback apparatus. Inquiry means for inquiring of the first content recording / reproducing apparatus whether or not the recorded content is recorded in the first content storage unit, and the first content recording / reproducing apparatus is selected in response to the inquiry. Response means for transmitting to the second content recording / reproducing apparatus an answer as to whether or not the recorded content is recorded in the first content storage unit, and the second content recording / reproducing apparatus selects the answer. Selected content is not recorded in the first content storage unit. A second content transfer means for reading out the read content from the second content storage unit and transferring it to the first content recording / playback apparatus, wherein the stream transmission means is selected from the second content recording / playback apparatus When the content is received, the received content is converted into content in a content format that can be reproduced by the second content recording / reproducing device and in a stream format, and transmitted to the second content recording / reproducing device.

  In this case, if the content selected as the content to be played back is not recorded in the first content recording / playback device, the content is transferred from the second content recording / playback device to the first content recording / playback device. The one content recording / reproducing device converts the received content into a stream format and a content format that can be reproduced by the second content recording / reproducing device, and returns the converted content to the second content recording / reproducing device. Therefore, the second content recording / playback apparatus can play back the received content.

  A content recording / playback system according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a first content recording / playback device and a second content recording / playback device connectable to the first content recording / playback device. A second content storage unit for recording a plurality of contents in the second content recording / reproducing apparatus; a list receiving unit for receiving a content list relating to contents recorded by the first content recording / reproducing apparatus; and the first contents. Among the contents recorded by the recording / reproducing device, only the content in a content format that can be reproduced by the second content recording / reproducing device is acquired and recorded in the second content storage unit; Recording presence / absence management means for managing whether or not the contained content is recorded in the second content storage unit; and selection means for selecting content to be reproduced from the content list in response to a user operation; , The content selected by the selection means is the second content description. A recording presence / absence determining unit that determines whether or not the content is recorded based on the management content of the recording presence / absence management unit, and determining that the content selected by the selection unit is not recorded in the second content storage unit If so, the stream request means for requesting the first content recording / playback apparatus to transmit the selected content in the stream format and the selected content in the stream format are received from the second content recording / playback apparatus. And reproducing means for reproducing. A first content storage unit capable of recording a plurality of contents; a list transmission means for transmitting a content list relating to contents recorded by the first content recording / reproducing apparatus; and the first content recording unit. Among the contents recorded by the playback device, content transfer means for transferring only content in a content format that can be played back by the second content recording / playback device to the second content recording / playback device, and a request from the stream request means And a stream transmission means for decoding the selected content into a content in a format that can be reproduced by the second content recording / reproducing device and transmitting the content to the second content recording / reproducing device. Have.

  Only content that can be played back by the second content recording / playback device is transferred from the first content recording / playback device to the second content storage / playback device for recording. Therefore, since the content format conversion process is not executed in the first content recording / playback apparatus, it is possible to reduce the time until the content transfer is completed. When content not recorded in the second content storage unit is selected as content to be played back, the second content recording / playback device plays back the stream format from the first content recording / playback device to the second content recording / playback device. Content is sent in a possible content format. Therefore, even if content not recorded in the second content storage unit is selected as content to be played back, the second content recording / playback apparatus can play back the content.

  In a preferred embodiment, when the second content recording / playback apparatus determines that the content selected by the selection means is not recorded in the second content storage unit, the selected content is transmitted in a download format. Download request means for requesting the first content recording / playback apparatus to send the selected content to the second content in response to a request from the download requesting means. The recording / playback apparatus further includes download transmission means for converting the content format into a downloadable content and transmitting the content to the second content recording / playback apparatus, wherein the recording means is configured to record and play back the first content. Receive selected content from the device in download form That the content recorded in the second content storage unit and recorded in the second content storage unit by the recording presence / absence management means in the download format is recorded in the second content storage unit. Update the management content as shown.

  In this case, the content selected as the content to be reproduced can be recorded in the second content storage unit in a content format that can be reproduced by the second content recording / reproducing apparatus. Accordingly, when the same content is selected from the next time onward, the content can be read from the second storage unit and played back, thereby simplifying the playback process and reducing the time until playback starts. Can do.

  Content that can be reproduced by the second content recording / reproducing device and content that cannot be reproduced are transferred from the first content recording / reproducing device to the second content recording / reproducing device to a content format that can be reproduced by the second content recording / reproducing device. The conversion process is not executed, but is transferred and recorded. Therefore, since the content format conversion process is not executed in the first content recording / playback apparatus, it is possible to reduce the time until the content transfer is completed. When a content that cannot be played back by the second content recording / playback device is selected as content to be played back, the second content recording / playback device has a stream format and is transferred from the first content recording / playback device to the second content recording / playback device. Content is transmitted in a reproducible content format. Therefore, even if a content that cannot be played back by the second content recording / playback apparatus is selected as a content to be played back, the second content recording / playback apparatus can play back the content.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a content recording / playback system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The content recording / playback system includes a first content recording / playback device 100 and a second content recording / playback device 200. The first content recording / reproducing apparatus 100 can typically be a PC (personal computer) or the like (hereinafter referred to as the PC 100). The second content recording / reproducing apparatus 200 can typically be an audio device such as an HDD recorder (hereinafter referred to as the HDD recorder 200). The PC 100 and the HDD recorder 200 can be connected to each other via a network such as a LAN or the Internet or an arbitrary interface such as USB, IEEE 1394, or HDMI (in this example, they are connected via a LAN). “Content” is a general term for video data, music (music, audio) data, still image data, and the like, and in this example is music data. The “content format” refers to a format for recording content such as a content format and a bit rate.

[Configuration of PC 100]
The PC 100 includes a control unit 11 such as a CPU, a memory 12, a storage unit 13 such as a hard disk drive (HDD), a communication unit 14, an optical disk drive 15, a reproduction processing unit 16, a display unit 18, and an operation unit. 19 are connected to each other by a bus or the like. The PC 100 may further include a speaker (not shown) connected to the reproduction processing unit 16 as necessary. The communication unit 14 is connected to the HDD recorder 200 via a LAN cable, for example.

  When an external recording medium such as a CD is inserted, the optical disk drive 15 reads a plurality of music data in the inserted CD. The HDD 13 converts a plurality of pieces of music data read by the optical disk drive 15 into a format and bit rate set by the control unit 11 and records them. Moreover, you may record the some music transmitted from the other computer apparatus which is connected with the communication part 14 (not shown). As shown in FIG. 2, the PC 100 can record and reproduce song data in, for example, seven content formats of A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. One content format is represented by a combination of a format and a bit rate, for example, MP3 and 128 kbps.

  The HDD 13 or the memory 12 stores a music list. The song list includes content ID and content information (metadata, for example, song name, artist name, album name, etc.) and content format related to song data stored in the HDD 13. The content ID is identification information for identifying song data, and is represented by an arbitrary character string such as a numeral or alphabet. The content information is acquired from an external server via the Internet, for example, by a normal method.

  The control unit 11 controls the entire PC 100 based on the operation program of the PC 100 stored in the memory 12 or the HDD 13. The control unit 11 controls each unit to transmit the selected song data to the HDD recorder 200 in a download format. Further, the control unit 11 controls each unit so as to transmit the selected song data to the HDD recorder 200 in a streaming format.

  In response to the stream playback request, the playback processing unit 16 decodes the song data recorded in the HDD 13 when transmitting the song data to the HDD recorder 200 in a streaming format, and the content format (which can be played back by the HDD recorder 200) For example, PCM format). The song data converted into the PCM format is transmitted to the HDD recorder 200 via the communication unit 14.

  In response to the download transmission request, the playback processing unit 16 converts the song data recorded in the HDD 13 into a content format that can be played back by the HDD recorder 200 when transmitting the song data to the HDD recorder 200 in a download format. . The converted music data is transmitted to the HDD recorder 200 via the communication unit 14.

[Configuration of HDD recorder 200]
The HDD recorder 200 includes a control unit 21 such as a microcomputer, a memory 22, a storage unit 23 such as a hard disk drive (HDD), a communication unit 24, a reproduction processing unit 26, a display unit 28, and an operation unit 29. These are connected to each other by a bus or the like. The HDD recorder 200 may further include an optical disk drive (not shown) and a speaker (not shown) connected to the reproduction processing unit 26 as necessary. The communication unit 24 is connected to the PC 100 via, for example, a LAN.

  The HDD 23 records music data transferred from the PC 100. The content formats that can be played back by the HDD recorder 200 are only the content formats A and B as shown in FIG. However, the HDD 23 can record the music data in the content formats C, D, E, F, and G transferred from the PC 100. Therefore, the music data transferred from the PC 100 is recorded in the HDD 23 regardless of whether or not the HDD recorder 200 can be reproduced. The song data in the content format that cannot be reproduced is recorded in the HDD 23 when the song data selected as the song data to be reproduced has already been deleted from the HDD 13 of the PC 100 to the PC 100. This is for transferring song data.

  A song list is stored in the HDD 23 or the memory 22. The song list is received from the PC 100 and shows a list of song data recorded by the PC 100. As described above, the song list includes metadata such as content ID, song name, artist name, album name, and content format.

  The HDD 23 or the memory 22 manages the playability table shown in FIG. The playability table is a table indicating whether or not the content format of the song data recorded in the HDD 23 is a content format that can be played back by the HDD recorder 200. The reproduction availability table is associated with the content ID “ID”, an item “Can” indicating whether reproduction is possible, a content format “Format”, and information on the location of the PC 100 on which the song data is recorded (for example, URL) “url”. In “Can”, “TRUE” is registered for a reproducible content format, and “FALSE” is registered for a non-reproducible content format.

  A conversion table shown in FIG. 4 is recorded in the HDD 23 or the memory 22. The conversion table indicates to which content format the HDD recorder 200 can reproduce the content format that cannot be reproduced by the HDD recorder 200 when the download transmission request is transmitted. In the conversion table, a content format that cannot be played back by the HDD recorder 200 is registered as a content format before conversion, and a content format that can be played back by the HDD recorder 200 is registered as a content format after conversion. In the case of FIG. 4, the content formats C, D, and E are converted to the content format B, and the content formats F and G are converted to the content format A. The conversion table may be registered in advance by the manufacturer or may be changed by a user operation.

  The control unit 21 controls the entire HDD recorder 200 based on the operation program of the HDD recorder 200 stored in the memory 22 or the HDD 23.

  The reproduction processing unit 26 reproduces the music data selected by the control unit 21 (including digital-analog conversion, amplification processing, and the like). The speaker receives the audio signal output from the reproduction processing unit 26 and outputs the audio signal to the outside. The display unit 28 displays a song list to allow the user to select song data, and is an LCD (liquid crystal display), an FL tube, or the like. The operation unit 29 receives user operations and is an operation button, a remote controller, or the like.

  The operation of the content recording / playback system of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. First, with reference to FIG. 5, a process for transferring music data of the PC 100 to the HDD recorder 200 and recording it on the HDD recorder 200 will be described. In response to the user operation, the control unit 21 of the HDD recorder 200 transmits a song list request command to the PC 100 (S1). At this time, a song list limited by metadata such as artist name and album name may be requested, or a song list related to all song data recorded in the PC 100 may be requested.

  When receiving the song list request command, the control unit 11 of the PC 100 reads the song list from the HDD 13 or generates a song list and returns it to the HDD recorder 200 (S11). The song list includes information such as the content ID, metadata, and content format of the song data. The HDD recorder 200 receives the song list from the PC 100 and records it in the memory 22 (S1).

  The control unit 23 of the HDD recorder 200 displays the acquired song list on the display unit 28 (S2). At this time, since the song list includes the content format, each piece of information of the song data whose content format cannot be played back by the HDD recorder 200 is played back, for example, grayed out. It is displayed in a mode different from the possible music data (S3).

  The control unit 21 of the HDD recorder 200 transmits a song data transfer request to the PC 100 so as to transfer all the song data in the song list to the HDD recorder 200 regardless of whether the song data can be reproduced by the HDD recorder 200 or not. (S4). At this time, the song data to be transferred to the HDD recorder 200 and recorded from the song data in the song list may be selected by the user operation.

  Upon receiving the song data transfer request, the PC 100 reads the designated song data from the HDD 13 and executes the conversion process into a content format that can be reproduced by the HDD recorder 200 (that is, the content recorded in the HDD 13). The data is transferred to the HDD recorder 200 in the download format (S12). Even when the music data in the content format that cannot be reproduced by the HDD recorder 200 is transferred to the HDD recorder 200 without executing the decoding process or the conversion process, the time until the music data is completely transferred to the HDD recorder 200 Can be shortened.

  When the song data is received from the PC 100 in the download format, the HDD recorder 200 records the received song data on the HDD 23 regardless of whether the HDD recorder 200 can be played back (S5). Then, the control unit 21 of the HDD recorder 200 registers each piece of information regarding the song data recorded in the HDD 23 in the playability table shown in FIG. More specifically, the control unit 21 registers the content ID and content format of the song data recorded in the HDD 23 in the playback availability table. If the content format is A or B that can be played back by the HDD recorder 200, “Can” "TRUE" is registered in "", and if the content format is C, D, E, F, G that cannot be reproduced by the HDD recorder 200, "FALSE" is registered in "Can", and "url" The URL of the PC 100 is registered. In FIG. 3, as a representative example, only six pieces of music data with content IDs AAA to FFF are shown. Since only the song data whose content ID is FFF is the content format A that can be reproduced by the HDD recorder 200, “True” is registered in the item “Can”. Since all the other five song data are in a content format that cannot be reproduced by the HDD recorder 200, “FALSE” is registered in the item “Can”.

  As described above, even music data in a content format that cannot be played back by the HDD recorder 200 is transferred as it is to the HDD recorder 200 without performing conversion processing into a content format that can be played back by the HDD recorder in the PC 100. Therefore, it is possible to shorten the time until the music data is transferred to the HDD recorder 200 and recorded. Therefore, it is possible to immediately shift to the music data reproduction operation.

  Next, processing when reproducing song data in the HDD recorder 200 will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 6, the control unit 21 of the HDD recorder 200 displays a song list on the display unit 28 and allows the user to select song data to be reproduced. When song data is selected by a user operation (S21), the control unit 21 determines whether or not the content format of the selected song data is a content format that can be reproduced by the HDD recorder 200 (S22). Specifically, the content ID of the selected music data is specified, and the reproduction availability table is referred to determine whether or not the item “Can” corresponding to the content ID is “TRUE”.

  For example, if song data whose content ID is FFF in FIG. 3 is selected and the item “Can” is “TRUE” and the song data can be played back (YES in S22), the process proceeds to S32. The HDD recorder 200 reads the music data “FFF” from the HDD 23 and reproduces it as usual.

  For example, if the item “Can” is “FALSE” and playback is impossible (NO in S22) because the song data with the content ID AAA is selected in FIG. 3, the playback unit 21 is selected. An inquiry as to whether or not the recorded music data is recorded on the PC 100 is sent to the PC 100 (S23). This inquiry includes, for example, a music data content ID “AAA”. Note that the destination of the PC that transmits the inquiry (the same applies to the subsequent processes) is managed in the reproduction availability table in association with the content ID.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the control unit 11 of the PC 100 determines whether or not an inquiry as to whether or not song data is recorded is received from the HDD recorder 200 (S41), and when the inquiry is received (in S41) YES), it is determined whether or not the song data specified by the content ID “AAA” included in the inquiry is recorded in the HDD 13 (S42). If song data is recorded (YES in S42), an answer to the effect that song data “AAA” is recorded is sent to HDD recorder 200 (S43). On the other hand, if the song data “AAA” is not recorded on the HDD 13 due to deletion or the like (NO in S42), an answer to the effect that no song data is recorded is transmitted to the HDD recorder 200 (S44). Then, it waits until the song data “AAA” is received from the HDD recorder 200 (S45).

  As shown in FIG. 6, when receiving a response from the PC 100, the control unit 21 of the HDD recorder 200 determines whether the selected song data “AAA” is recorded on the PC 100 based on the result of the response. (S24).

  When the selected song data “AAA” is recorded in the PC 100 (YES in S24), the control unit 21 transmits a stream transmission request for song data to the PC 100. This stream transmission request includes the content ID “AAA” of the selected song data.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the control unit 11 of the PC 100 determines whether or not a stream transmission request has been received from the HDD recorder 200 (S46), and if received (YES in S46), is included in the stream transmission request. Each unit is controlled to transmit the music data specified by the content ID “AAA” to the HDD recorder 200 in a stream format (S47). That is, the playback control unit 16 reads and decodes the song data with the content ID “AAA” from the HDD 13, and converts the content format C that cannot be played back by the HDD recorder 200 into the PCM format that can be played back by the HDD recorder 200. Then, the data is transmitted in a stream format to the HDD recorder 200 via the communication unit 14. The reason for converting to the PCM format is that the PCM format can be reproduced on a general HDD recorder. Instead of the PCM format, the content format A or B that can be reproduced by the HDD recorder 200 may be converted and transmitted to the HDD recorder 200.

  As shown in FIG. 6, when receiving the song data with the content ID “AAA” from the PC 100, the control unit 21 of the HDD recorder 200 causes the playback control unit 26 to play back the received song data (S27).

  On the other hand, if the selected song data is not recorded on the PC 100 in S24 of FIG. 6 (NO in S24), the control unit 21 of the HDD recorder 200 reads the song data “AAA” from the HDD 23, and transmits the communication unit. It transmits to PC100 via 24 (S25). This is because the HDD recorder 200 cannot reproduce this song data, so the PC 100 converts it into the PCM format and sends it back.

  As shown in FIG. 7, when the PC 100 receives the song data with the content ID “AAA” (YES in S45), the PC 100 decodes the received song data and converts the content format C that cannot be played back by the HDD recorder 200 into the PCM format. Then, it is transmitted to the HDD recorder 200 in a stream format (S47). As shown in FIG. 6, when receiving the song data with the content ID “AAA” from the PC 100, the control unit 21 of the HDD recorder 200 causes the playback control unit 26 to play back the received song data (S27).

  Subsequently, the control unit 21 transmits a download transmission request for music data of the selected content ID “AAA” to the PC 100 (S28). The download transmission request includes the content ID “AAA” of the selected song data and the converted content format. The content format after conversion is determined with reference to the conversion table of FIG. For example, since the content format of the song data with the content ID “AAA” is C, the converted content format is determined to be B.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the control unit 11 of the PC 100 determines whether or not a download transmission request has been received (S48). When received (YES in S48), the PC 100 reads the song data of the content ID “AAA” included in the download transmission request from the HDD 13 and converts it into the converted content format B included in the download transmission request. Then, it is transmitted to the HDD recorder 200 in a download format (S49).

  As shown in FIG. 6, when the HDD recorder 200 receives the song data of the content ID “AAA” in the download format, the HDD recorder 200 deletes the song data of the content format C already recorded in the HDD 23 and newly receives it. The music data of the content format B is recorded in the HDD 23 (S29). Then, the control unit 21 updates the reproduction availability table as shown in FIG. 8 (S30). That is, the item “Can” corresponding to the content ID “AAA” is changed to “True”, “Format” is changed to “B”, and “url” is deleted. Subsequently, the control unit 21 changes the display mode of the song data of the content ID “AAA” in the song list from grayout to normal display indicating that playback is possible (S31). As a result, when the song data with the content ID “AAA” is selected as the song data to be reproduced from the next time onward, it is determined YES in S22, and the song data is read from the HDD 23 and reproduced.

  As described above, when the song data selected for playback is recorded in the HDD 23 in a content format that cannot be played back by the HDD recorder 200, the PC 100 decodes the stream data to a PCM format that can be played back by the HDD recorder 200, and streams Since the song data is transferred in the format, the HDD recorder 200 can receive and play the song data in the stream format. Therefore, the HDD recorder 200 can reproduce the song data more quickly. Also, after the song data is transferred in the stream format, the song data is converted by the PC 100 into a content format that can be played back by the HDD recorder 200 and transferred to the HDD recorder 200 in the download format. The song data can be recorded in the HDD 23 in a possible content format. Therefore, when the song data is selected from the next time onward, the song data recorded on the HDD 23 is played back, so that it can be played back more quickly.

[Second Embodiment]
In this embodiment, when music data is first downloaded and recorded from the PC 100 to the HDD recorder 200, music data that cannot be reproduced by the HDD recorder 200 is not recorded in the HDD recorder 200. As a result, the song list includes song data not recorded in the HDD 23, and the song data not recorded is grayed out.

  In the HDD 23 or the memory 22, a recording presence / absence table shown in FIG. 9 is managed instead of the reproduction availability table. The record presence / absence table is a table indicating whether or not song data in the song list is recorded in the HDD 23. The recording presence / absence table is associated with the content ID “ID”, an item “Exist” indicating whether or not recording is performed, a content format “Format”, and information on the location of the PC 100 on which the song data is recorded ( For example, URL) “url”. In “Exist”, “TRUE” is registered when it is recorded in the HDD 23, and “FALSE” is registered when it is not recorded in the HDD 23.

  The operation of this example will be described with reference to FIGS. First, with reference to FIG. 10, processing when transferring music data of the PC 100 to the HDD recorder 200 and recording it on the HDD recorder 200 will be described. The processing of S1 to S3 and S11 is the same as the processing of FIG.

  Here, the control unit 21 of the HDD recorder 200 designates only the song data that can be reproduced by the HDD recorder 200 among the song data in the song list, and transmits a song data transfer request to the PC 100 to transfer the song data to the HDD recorder 200. (S51). That is, it requests the PC 100 to transfer only the music data with the content format A or B to the HDD recorder 200.

  Upon receiving the song data transfer request, the PC 100 reads the designated song data from the HDD 13 and performs the download format without executing the decoding process or the conversion process (that is, the content format recorded in the HDD 13). Is transmitted to the HDD recorder 200 (S61).

  When the song data is received from the PC 100 in the download format, the HDD recorder 200 records the received song data in the HDD 23 (S52). Then, the control unit 21 of the HDD recorder 200 registers each piece of information regarding the song data in the song list acquired in S1 in each item of the recording presence / absence table shown in FIG. Specifically, the control unit 21 registers the content ID and content format of the song data in the song list in the recording presence / absence table, and obtains the song data acquired from the PC 100 and recorded in the HDD 23 (that is, the content format is the HDD recorder 200). In the case of A and B that can be played back with “”, “TRUE” is registered in “Exist”. On the other hand, if the song data has not yet been acquired from the PC 100 (that is, if the content format is C, D, E, F, G that cannot be reproduced by the HDD recorder 200), “FALSE” is registered in “Exist”. In addition, the URL of the PC 100 is registered in “url”.

  In FIG. 9, as a representative example, only six pieces of music data whose content IDs are AAA to FFF are shown. Since only the song data with the content ID of FFF is the content format A that can be reproduced by the HDD recorder 200 and has been acquired from the PC 100, “True” is registered in “Exist”. All other song data is in a content format that cannot be played back by the HDD recorder 200 and has not been acquired from the PC 100, and therefore “FALSE” is registered in “Exist”.

  As described above, music data in a content format that cannot be played back by the HDD recorder 200 is not transferred from the PC 100 to the HDD recorder 200, thereby shortening the time required to transfer the music data to the HDD recorder 200 and finish recording. can do.

  Next, processing when reproducing song data in the HDD recorder 200 will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 11, the control unit 21 of the HDD recorder 200 displays a song list on the display unit 28 and allows the user to select song data to be reproduced. When song data is selected by a user operation (S71), the control unit 21 determines whether or not the HDD recorder 200 records the selected song data (S72). Specifically, the content ID of the selected song data is specified, and the recording presence / absence table is referred to, and it is determined whether or not the item “Exist” corresponding to the content ID is “TRUE”.

  For example, if the item “Exist” is “TRUE” and recorded in the HDD 23 (YES in S72) because the song data whose content ID is FFF in FIG. 9 is selected, the process proceeds to S79, and the HDD The recorder 200 reads the song data with the content ID “FFF” from the HDD 23 as usual, and reproduces the song data (S79).

  For example, if the item “Exist” is “FALSE” and not recorded in the HDD 23 (NO in S72) because the song data with the content ID AAA is selected in FIG. A stream transmission request for song data is transmitted to This stream transmission request includes the content ID “AAA” of the selected song data. The destination of the PC that transmits the stream transmission request can be identified by referring to “url” of the recording presence / absence table for the content ID corresponding to the selected music piece data.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the control unit 11 of the PC 100 determines whether or not a stream transmission request has been received from the HDD recorder 200 (S81), and if received (YES in S81), is included in the stream transmission request. Each unit is controlled to transmit the song data specified by the content ID “AAA” to the HDD recorder 200 in a stream format (S82). In other words, the playback control unit 16 reads out the song data with the content ID “AAA” from the HDD 13, decodes it, converts it from the content format C into, for example, the PCM format, and transmits it to the HDD recorder 200 in the stream format via the communication unit 14. .

  As shown in FIG. 11, when the song data with the content ID “AAA” is received from the PC 100 in the stream format, the control unit 21 of the HDD recorder 200 causes the reproduction control unit 26 to reproduce the received song data (S74).

  Subsequently, the control unit 21 transmits a download transmission request for music data of the selected content ID “AAA” to the PC 100 (S75). The download transmission request includes the content ID “AAA” of the selected song data and the converted content format. The content format after conversion is determined with reference to the conversion table of FIG. 4, and the content format of the song data with the content ID “AAA” is C, so that the content format after conversion is determined as B.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the control unit 11 of the PC 100 determines whether or not a download transmission request has been received (S83). When received (YES in S83), the PC 100 reads the song data of the content ID “AAA” included in the download transmission request from the HDD 13 and converts it into the converted content format B included in the download transmission request. Then, it is transmitted to the HDD recorder 200 in a download format (S84).

  As shown in FIG. 11, when the HDD recorder 200 receives the song data with the content ID “AAA” in the download format, the HDD recorder 200 records the received song data “AAA” with the content format B on the HDD 23 (S76). Then, the control unit 21 updates the recording presence / absence table as shown in FIG. 13 (S77). That is, the item “Exist” corresponding to the content ID “AAA” is changed to “True”, “Format” is changed to “B”, and “url” is deleted. Subsequently, the control unit 21 changes the display mode of the song data of the content ID “AAA” in the song list from grayout to normal display indicating that playback is possible (S78). As a result, when the song data having the content ID “AAA” is selected as the song data to be reproduced next time, YES is determined in S72, and the song data is read from the HDD 23 and reproduced.

  As described above, when the song data selected for reproduction is not recorded in the HDD recorder 200, the song data is decoded from the PC 100 into, for example, the PCM format that can be reproduced by the HDD recorder 200, and the song data is transferred in the stream format. Therefore, the HDD recorder 200 can receive and reproduce the song data in the stream format. Accordingly, the song data can be quickly transmitted to the HDD recorder 200. Also, after the song data is transferred in the stream format, the song data is converted by the PC 100 into a content format that can be played back by the HDD recorder 200 and transferred to the HDD recorder 200 in a download format. Music data in a possible content format can be recorded on the HDD 23.

  As mentioned above, although preferable embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to these embodiment. For example, the PC 100 may correspond to the second content recording / playback apparatus of the present invention, and the HDD recorder 200 may correspond to the first content recording / playback apparatus of the present invention. Further, both the PC 100 and the HDD recorder 200 may have both functions of the first content recording / playback apparatus and the second content recording / playback apparatus. The present invention may be provided in the form of a computer program for operating the PC 100 and the HDD recorder 200 or a recording medium on which the computer program is recorded.

  The present invention can be suitably applied to audio devices such as PCs and HDD recorders.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a content recording / playback system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a content format that can be reproduced by each of a PC 100 and an HDD recorder 200. FIG. It is a figure which shows the reproduction | regeneration availability table. It is a figure which shows a conversion table. It is a flowchart which shows the process which transfers music data from PC100 to HDD recorder. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the HDD recorder in a reproduction | regeneration process. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of PC in a reproduction | regeneration process. It is a figure which shows the reproduction | regeneration availability table. It is a figure which shows a recording presence / absence table. It is a flowchart which shows the process which transfers music data from PC100 to HDD recorder. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the HDD recorder in a reproduction | regeneration process. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of PC in a reproduction | regeneration process. It is a figure which shows a recording presence / absence table.

Explanation of symbols

100 First content recording / reproducing apparatus 200 Second content recording / reproducing apparatus

Claims (11)

A first content recording / playback device; and a second content recording / playback device connectable to the first content recording / playback device;
The second content recording / playback apparatus is
A second content storage unit for recording a plurality of contents;
Regardless of whether or not the second content recording / playback apparatus is in a reproducible content format, the first content is not converted into a content format that can be played back by the second content recording / playback apparatus. Recording means for acquiring content to be recorded by the recording / playback apparatus and recording it in the second content storage unit;
Reproducibility management means for managing whether or not the content format of the content recorded in the second content storage unit is a content format reproducible by the second content recording / reproducing apparatus;
Selection means for selecting content to be played in response to a user operation;
Reproducibility determining means for determining whether the content format of the content selected by the selecting means is a content format reproducible by the second content recording / reproducing apparatus, based on the management content of the reproducibility management means; ,
When it is determined that the content format of the content selected by the selection means is not a content format that can be played back by the second content recording / playback apparatus, the first content recording is performed so that the selected content is transmitted in a stream format. Stream request means for requesting the playback device;
Reproducing means for receiving and reproducing the selected content in a stream format from the second content recording / reproducing device,
A first content storage unit for recording a plurality of contents by the first content recording / playback device;
Content transfer means for transferring the content recorded in the first content storage unit to the second content recording / playback device without executing a conversion process into a content format that can be played back by the second content recording / playback device When,
In response to a request from the stream request unit, the selected content is decoded into a content in a format that can be reproduced by the second content recording / playback apparatus and is streamed to the second content recording / playback apparatus. A content recording / playback system, comprising: a stream transmission means for transmitting. If the second content recording / playback apparatus determines that the content format of the content selected by the selection unit is not a content format that can be played back by the second content recording / playback apparatus, the selected content is downloaded in a download format. Download request means for requesting the first content recording / playback apparatus to transmit,
In response to a request from the download request unit, the first content recording / playback device converts the selected content into a content format that can be played back by the second content recording / playback device, and a content in download format. Download transmission means for transmitting to the second content recording / playback apparatus,
The recording means receives the selected content from the first content recording / playback apparatus in a download format and records it in the second content storage unit,
The reproducibility management means updates management contents so as to indicate that the content received in the download format and recorded in the second content storage unit can be replayed by the second content recording / playback device. 2. The content recording / playback system according to 1. When the second content recording / playback apparatus determines that the content format of the content selected by the selection unit is not a content format that can be played back by the second content recording / playback apparatus, the selected content is the first content Inquiry means for inquiring to the first content recording / playback apparatus whether or not it is recorded in the content storage unit,
In response to the inquiry, the first content recording / reproducing apparatus further includes an answering unit that transmits an answer as to whether or not the selected content is recorded in the first content storage unit to the second content recording / reproducing apparatus. Have
The second content recording / playback apparatus reads the selected content from the second content storage unit when the content selected as the answer is not recorded in the first content storage unit, and A second content transfer means for transferring to the first content recording / playback apparatus;
When the stream transmission means receives the content selected from the second content recording / playback apparatus, the received content is converted into a stream format content that can be played back by the second content recording / playback apparatus. Then, the content recording / playback system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the content recording / playback system transmits to the second content recording / playback device. A first content recording / playback device; and a second content recording / playback device connectable to the first content recording / playback device;
The second content recording / playback apparatus is
A second content storage unit for recording a plurality of contents;
List receiving means for receiving a content list related to the content recorded by the first content recording / playback device;
Recording means for acquiring only content in a content format reproducible by the second content recording / reproducing apparatus from among contents recorded by the first content recording / reproducing apparatus, and recording the content in the second content storage unit;
Recording presence / absence management means for managing whether or not the content included in the received content list is recorded in the second content storage unit;
A selection means for selecting content to be reproduced from the content list in response to a user operation;
Recording presence / absence determination means for determining whether or not the content selected by the selection means is recorded in the second content storage unit based on the management content of the recording presence / absence management means;
A stream request for requesting the first content recording / playback apparatus to transmit the selected content in a stream format when it is determined that the content selected by the selection means is not recorded in the second content storage unit Means,
Reproducing means for receiving and reproducing the selected content in a stream format from the second content recording / reproducing device,
A first content storage unit capable of recording a plurality of contents;
List transmitting means for transmitting a content list related to the content recorded by the first content recording / playback device;
Content transfer means for transferring, to the second content recording / playback device, only the content in a content format that can be played back by the second content recording / playback device among the content recorded by the first content recording / playback device;
In response to a request from the stream request unit, the selected content is decoded into a content in a format that can be reproduced by the second content recording / playback apparatus and is streamed to the second content recording / playback apparatus. A content recording / playback system, comprising: a stream transmission means for transmitting. When the second content recording / playback apparatus determines that the content selected by the selection unit is not recorded in the second content storage unit, the first content recording / playback device transmits the selected content in a download format. A download request means for requesting the content recording / playback apparatus;
In response to a request from the download request unit, the first content recording / playback device converts the selected content into a content format that can be played back by the second content recording / playback device, and a content in download format. Download transmission means for transmitting to the second content recording / playback apparatus,
The recording means receives the selected content from the first content recording / playback apparatus in a download format and records it in the second content storage unit,
5. The management content is updated so that the recording presence / absence management means indicates that the content received in the download format and recorded in the second content storage unit is recorded in the second content storage unit. The content recording / reproducing system described in 1. The second content recording / playback apparatus used in the content recording / playback system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A second content storage unit for recording a plurality of contents;
Regardless of whether or not the second content recording / playback apparatus is in a reproducible content format, the first content is not converted into a content format that can be played back by the second content recording / playback apparatus. Recording means for acquiring content to be recorded by the recording / playback apparatus and recording it in the second content storage unit;
Reproducibility management means for managing whether or not the content format of the content recorded in the second content storage unit is a content format reproducible by the second content recording / reproducing apparatus;
Selection means for selecting content to be played in response to a user operation;
Reproducibility determining means for determining whether the content format of the content selected by the selecting means is a content format reproducible by the second content recording / reproducing apparatus, based on the management content of the reproducibility management means; ,
When it is determined that the content format of the content selected by the selection means is not a content format that can be played back by the second content recording / playback apparatus, the first content recording is performed so that the selected content is transmitted in a stream format. Stream request means for requesting the playback device;
A second content recording / playback apparatus comprising: playback means for receiving and playing back the selected content in a stream format from the second content recording / playback apparatus. The second content recording / playback apparatus used in the content recording / playback system according to claim 4 or 5,
A second content storage unit for recording a plurality of contents;
List receiving means for receiving a content list related to the content recorded by the first content recording / playback device;
Recording means for acquiring only content in a content format reproducible by the second content recording / reproducing apparatus from among contents recorded by the first content recording / reproducing apparatus, and recording the content in the second content storage unit;
Recording presence / absence management means for managing whether or not the content included in the received content list is recorded in the second content storage unit;
A selection means for selecting content to be reproduced from the content list in response to a user operation;
Recording presence / absence determination means for determining whether or not the content selected by the selection means is recorded in the second content storage unit based on the management content of the recording presence / absence management means;
A stream request for requesting the first content recording / playback apparatus to transmit the selected content in a stream format when it is determined that the content selected by the selection means is not recorded in the second content storage unit Means,
A second content recording / playback apparatus comprising: playback means for receiving and playing back the selected content in a stream format from the second content recording / playback apparatus.   An operation program for a second content recording / reproducing apparatus, which causes a computer to execute each means in the second content recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 6 or 7. A first content recording / playback apparatus used in the content recording / playback system according to claim 1,
A first content storage unit capable of recording a plurality of contents;
Content transfer means for transferring the content recorded in the first content storage unit to the second content recording / playback device without executing a conversion process into a content format that can be played back by the second content recording / playback device When,
In response to a request from the stream request unit, the selected content is decoded into a content in a format that can be reproduced by the second content recording / playback apparatus and is streamed to the second content recording / playback apparatus. A first content recording / reproducing apparatus comprising: a stream transmitting unit for transmitting. A first content recording / playback apparatus used in the content recording / playback system according to claim 4 or 5,
A first content storage unit capable of recording a plurality of contents;
List transmitting means for transmitting a content list related to the content recorded by the first content recording / playback device;
Content transfer means for transferring, to the second content recording / playback device, only the content in a content format that can be played back by the second content recording / playback device among the content recorded by the first content recording / playback device;
In response to a request from the stream request unit, the selected content is decoded into a content in a format that can be reproduced by the second content recording / playback apparatus and is streamed to the second content recording / playback apparatus. A first content recording / reproducing apparatus comprising: a stream transmitting unit for transmitting.   11. An operation program for a first content recording / playback apparatus, which causes a computer to execute each means in the first content recording / playback apparatus according to claim 9 or 10.

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