JP2011082777A - Image recording and reproducing apparatus, and image recording and reproducing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus that can keep a reproduction module available for contents estimated to be one a user wants to view in the case where an occupation capacity in a built-in recording device is to be reduced. <P>SOLUTION: A title 2 is a figure showing a display example in the case where image recording contents has certain consecutiveness and relativeness. If it is specified that any image recording contents having certain consecutiveness and relativeness with an image recording contents for this broadcasting is already preserved, display is performed from a menu corresponding to reproduction of an image recording contents determined to be the preceding story or subsequent story. In an operation menu display 98, there is displayed a prompting operation menu for determining whether the preceding story or subsequent story of the title 2 should be reproduced. Preceding story reproduction 98a or subsequent story reproduction 98b can be selected. In addition, if there is a program to be broadcasted every week, then a part broadcasted last week corresponds to the preceding story, and a part to be broadcasted next week corresponds to the subsequent story. However, even if there is image recording contents of the story before the last or the story after the next, menu display is not performed in consideration of consecutiveness of the contents. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording / playback technique, and more particularly, to a technique for storing and erasing content and displaying a content list in a recording / playback apparatus.

With the increase in the number of channels in digital broadcasting and the diversification of program content, VOD content, etc., the storage capacity of a built-in recording device such as a hard disk in a recording / playback device that records and plays back content has increased. There is a restriction to increase the capacity from the surface.
In addition, when a large amount of content can be recorded in the built-in recording device, a user interface for selecting which content to play back is becoming more complicated.

  In the technique described in Patent Document 1 below, in the recording / reproducing apparatus, means for inputting the update interval is provided in the reserved recording data input means. Then, at the time of reserved recording execution, the automatic update target management data including the reservation ID and the next update date is updated for the recorded program. When the next recording is executed, the automatic update target management data is referred to. When it is determined that the automatic update target program exists on the recording medium and the current date and time has reached the next update date, the update target program is automatically deleted. Then, this scheduled program is recorded. On the other hand, if there is an automatic update target program but the current date and time has not reached the update date, the current program is recorded without deleting the update target.

  In the recording / playback apparatus described in Patent Document 2 below, the erasable period is designated as the number of days, hours, or date / time after recording, or the number of recordings of the same program thereafter in a continuous program broadcast every day or weekly. Scheduled recording setting means that can be set, an erasable period management means for changing the erasability setting of the recorded program to erasable when the non-erasable period has passed, and an empty area for managing the free area of the recording medium When there is a shortage of management area, deletion target program selection means for selecting a deletion target program from recorded programs that can be deleted from the recording medium free space and the area required for reserved recording, It has been proposed to provide a program recording / playback apparatus comprising a recording control means for erasing the program to be erased and securing a free space.

JP 2004-180061 A JP 2007-235904 A

  However, the technique described in Patent Document 1 is a proposal related to a method for automatically erasing a program recorded by the previous recording execution when the set update date is reached. Not proposed. That is, once deleted, the program cannot be viewed.

  In addition, the technique described in Patent Document 2 is a proposal regarding a method for automatically erasing a program that has passed a set non-erasable period (number of days or number of broadcasts). Not proposed.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus that can leave a reproduction means for content estimated to be viewed by a user when the occupied capacity in an internal recording apparatus is reduced.

  The present invention is characterized by erasing unrelated programs, leaving programs presumed to be necessary for the user, and enabling reproduction processing only from the associated menu. In the recording / playback device, TV broadcast continuous programs and band programs are recorded sequentially for each broadcast time by a method such as a reservation setting for weekly reservations or daily reservations, and the user can watch the continuous program contents that have been reserved for recording. If the recorded content of a broadcast program with a continuous program is deleted by a user operation, the recorded title list will not be displayed even if the usage method is erased in a timely manner. The stored entity data is not erased immediately but is stored for a certain period. The recorded contents of the broadcast times subjected to the erasure operation are displayed as reproducible previous broadcast contents from the next broadcast content reproduction menu, and can be reproduced when the user selects reproduction as the previous broadcast contents. .

  According to one aspect of the present invention, a content recording / playback apparatus that records and plays back content, a content recording unit that stores recorded content, a content relevance determination unit that determines relevance between content, An operation accepting unit that receives an instruction for an erasing operation, a recorded content list display processing unit that performs list display processing of recorded content, a data recording / erasing processing unit that performs recording and erasing processing of a recorded program, And the recorded content list display processing unit prevents the recorded content from being displayed as a title list of the erased recorded content, and the data recording / erasing is performed. The processing unit is a recorded content in which the content relevance determination unit is stored in the content recording unit. When it is determined that there is a relationship with the erased recorded content, a content recording / playback apparatus is provided that performs processing for storing the recorded entity data for at least a certain period of time. .

  In the recording / playback device, the relevance of TV broadcasts (continuous programs and band programs) is recorded by the user (respectively recorded for each broadcast time by a method such as reservation recording setting for weekly reservation or daily reservation). If the recorded content of a broadcast program with a continuous program is deleted by a user operation, the recorded title list is not displayed when the usage method is such that the program is erased in a timely manner after viewing the continuous program content. However, the recorded entity data is stored for a certain period without being immediately deleted.

  Control for displaying a related content playback interface for playing back the erased content when a user interface capable of playing back the recorded content related to the erased recorded content is displayed. It is preferable to include a related content reproduction interface display control unit to perform.

  The recorded contents of the broadcast times subjected to the erasure operation are displayed as reproducible previous broadcast contents from the next broadcast content reproduction menu, and can be reproduced when the user selects reproduction as the previous broadcast contents. .

  A content recording / playback apparatus that records and plays back content, and that receives a content recording unit that stores recorded content, a content relevance determination unit that determines relevance between content, and an instruction to delete content An operation receiving unit, a recorded content list display processing unit for performing a list display process of recorded content, and a data recording / erasing processing unit for recording and erasing a recorded program; When the content relevance determining unit determines that the recorded content stored in the content recording unit and the erased recorded content are related, the / removal processing unit A process of storing data for at least a certain period is performed, and the recording content erased by the data recording / erasing processing unit is performed. And displaying a related content playback interface for playing back the erased content when a user interface capable of playing back the recorded content that is related by the content relevance determination unit is displayed. There is provided a content recording / playback apparatus comprising a related content playback interface display control unit for controlling the above. It is preferable that the recorded content list display processing unit is not displayed as a title list of the deleted recorded content when the operation receiving unit performs an operation of deleting the recorded content.

  A content recording / playback apparatus that records and plays back content, and that receives a content recording unit that stores recorded content, a content relevance determination unit that determines relevance between content, and an instruction to delete content An operation reception unit; a recorded content list display processing unit that performs a list display process of the recorded content; and a data recording / deletion processing unit that performs a recording and deletion process of the recorded program. When the recorded content is erased in the recording unit, the recorded content list display processing unit is not displayed as a title list of the erased recorded content, and the recording recorded by the data recording / erasing processing unit is deleted. Playback of recorded content that is related to content by the content relevance determination unit A related content playback interface display control unit that performs control for displaying a related content playback interface for playing back the erased content when a user interface that can be performed is displayed is provided. A content recording / playback apparatus is provided. The data recording / deleting processing unit is recorded when the content relevance determining unit determines that the recorded content stored in the content recording unit is related to the deleted recorded content. It is preferable to perform processing for storing the entity data for at least a certain period.

  A storage capacity monitoring unit for monitoring the storage capacity of the content recording unit; considering the remaining capacity of the storage capacity by the storage capacity monitoring unit; if the remaining capacity is large, the retention period is lengthened; It is preferable to perform control such as shortening the period. It is preferable that the content relevance determination unit determines that the content is related when the reservation recording is a weekly reservation in which a program of the same channel in the same time zone is reserved for a weekly recording or a daily reservation for a daily reservation. Further, it is preferable that the content relevance determination unit further estimates content having a high degree of matching of titles as highly relevant content based on the title information of the content.

  The content relevance determination unit preferably prioritizes determination based on the title information when the recorded content is based on direct recording. The content relevance determination unit re-determines whether the content is a continuous program or a band program when a program content that may have continuity or relevance with the recorded content is recorded after the relevance is determined. It is preferable to carry out the treatment. The related content playback interface display control unit performs control to display on the playback menu of the recorded content of the broadcast times before and after the erased broadcast times that the erased broadcast times are reproducible. Also good. The related content reproduction interface display control unit may perform control to display an interface for reproducing at least one of the previous story and the next story of the recorded content related to the erased recorded content. good. The related content reproduction interface display control unit preferably performs control to display that the erased broadcast times can be reproduced during reproduction of the recorded content related to the erased recorded content.

  Preferably, the data recording / erasing processing unit determines whether or not to erase the recorded content based on the elapsed time from the recording date and time of the recorded content of the broadcast times for which the erasure operation has been performed. Preferably, the data recording / erasing processing unit determines whether or not to erase based on the actual recording date and time and the elapsed time from the broadcasting date and time of the recorded content of the broadcast times that have been erased. The data recording / erasing processing unit estimates a broadcast date / time that is supposed to be recorded when a part of a related program is recorded from rebroadcast, and uses the estimated broadcast date / time as the original recording date / time. Compare the temporarily set recording date and time information with the current date and time, and if the specified time has passed, the recorded data corresponding to the recorded content of the corresponding broadcast times is actually deleted. Good. The data recording / erasing processing unit actually erases recorded data based on the elapsed time from the recording date and time estimated to have been recorded when a related program is recorded by a method having a different broadcasting format. You may make it determine whether it performs. Estimate that the content of older recording date and time as a series of recorded content such as continuous programs and band programs is relatively unlikely to be re-viewed by the user, and delete the recorded content that is less likely to be re-viewed .

  The data recording / erasing processing unit may determine whether or not to erase based on the elapsed time from the last viewing date and time of the recorded content of the broadcast times for which the erasing operation has been performed. The data recording / deleting processing unit may determine whether or not to delete based on the number of times of viewing of the recorded content of the broadcast times for which the erasing operation has been performed. In addition, the data recording / deleting processing unit may determine whether or not to delete the data based on the number of viewings of the broadcast times before and after the broadcast content that has been erased. In addition, the data recording / deleting processing unit may determine whether or not to delete based on whether or not the genre of the recorded content is high in continuity and relevance in the program content at each broadcast time. Also good. For example, in the case of a program genre that is less relevant to the program content at each broadcast time, such as news, news programs, weather forecasts, sports, information / wide shows, etc., after the deletion operation by the user, It is considered that the recorded content is unlikely to be viewed again. In such a case, the entity data recorded as described above may not be immediately deleted and not stored for a certain period, or the storage period may be set for each program genre such as a relatively short storage period. You may make it set.

  The data recording / erasing processing unit also takes into consideration the remaining capacity of the storage capacity by the storage capacity monitoring unit that monitors the storage capacity, and if the remaining capacity is large, the retention period is lengthened, and if the remaining capacity is reduced, the retention period is increased. It is preferable to perform control such as shortening.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a content playback method in a content recording / playback apparatus for recording and playing back content, wherein the content recording step for storing the recorded content and the content relevance determination for determining the relevance between the contents A step of accepting an instruction to erase the content, a recorded content list display processing step of performing a list display process of the recorded content, and a data recording / recording process of recording and erasing the recorded program And when the recorded content is erased in the operation receiving unit, the recorded content list display processing step is configured not to display the title list of the recorded content that has been erased. The data recording / erasing process step includes: In the content relevance determining step, when it is determined that there is a relevance between the recorded content stored in the content recording step and the erased recorded content, the recorded entity data is stored for at least a certain period. There is provided a content reproduction method characterized by performing the processing described above. Control for displaying a related content playback interface for playing back the erased content when a user interface capable of playing back the recorded content related to the erased recorded content is displayed. Preferably, a related content reproduction interface display control step is performed. The present invention may be a program for causing a computer to execute the content reproduction method described above, or a computer-readable recording medium for recording the program. The program may be obtained by a transmission medium such as the Internet.

  As described above, in a recording / playback apparatus that reserves recording of a continuous program, even if the recorded content of a broadcast program with a continuous program is deleted by a user operation, the recorded entity data is not deleted immediately but constant. If the user wants to confirm the relationship with the recorded content of the subsequent broadcast times later, the recorded content of the broadcast times of the continuous program that has been erased once can be viewed. , You can check the contents.

  In addition, by making it invisible from the recording title list, it is possible to easily search for a recording title desired by the user without displaying it as an unnecessary recording title when there are a large number of recording titles.

  In addition, content that has been erased can be displayed as reproducible content from a menu of content that has continuity and relevance, and can be replayed so that content that has been erased can be If the content is related to the content, it can be played back in a form having a relationship with other content, so that the operability for the user can be improved.

It is a functional block diagram which shows the example of 1 structure of the video recording / reproducing apparatus by one embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a reservation list. It is a flowchart figure which shows the flow of a process which determines whether it is an associated program, such as a continuous program and a belt program. It is a flowchart figure which shows the flow of the process which determines whether it is a continuous program or a belt program. It is a flowchart figure which shows the flow of the determination process regarding whether it is a continuous program and a band program by combined use with the determination method of said 1), and the determination method of 2). It is a flowchart figure which shows the flow of the determination process in the case of using together weekly reservation, daily reservation, date designation reservation, program schedule reservation, and direct recording. It is a figure which shows an example of a display of a recording list. It is a figure which shows an example of the display of the content reproduction menu transferred from the video recording content list. It is a figure which shows another example of the display of the reproduction | regeneration menu transferred from the video recording content list. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a flow of a recorded content deletion determination process for determining whether to delete based on “elapsed time from the recording date and time of broadcast recorded content deleted by a user operation”. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a flow of a recorded content deletion determination process for determining whether to delete based on “elapsed time from the recording date and time of broadcast recorded content deleted by a user operation”. It is a figure which shows the mode of recording of the recording content of a continuous program or a belt program. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a process flow of a method for determining whether to delete based on “the number of times of viewing of broadcast content recorded in an erase process by a user operation”. It is a flowchart figure which shows the flow of the deletion determination process of the recorded content which determines whether it deletes the recorded content of the broadcast time after the deletion process based on whether the viewing frequency of the broadcast time before and after is small. It is a flowchart figure which shows the example which changes the reference | standard of preservation | save depending on the genre of a program.

  Hereinafter, a recording / reproducing apparatus (recording / reproducing apparatus) according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration example of a recording / playback apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The recording / playback apparatus A according to the present embodiment includes a tuner unit 1 that selects a broadcast wave received from an antenna (not shown), a reception processing unit 3 that performs reception processing of a program selected by the tuner unit 1, and a reception A content reproduction processing unit 5 that performs processing for reproducing the program (content), a reproduction output unit 7 that outputs the processed content, a control unit 11, and a recording medium (HDD) 31 that records content data And an external IF unit 33 that forms an interface with the outside. The program content output from the reproduction output unit 7 can be sent to, for example, the digital television receiver B and displayed on the TV monitor (display unit) 37.

  The control unit 11 controls viewing history (operation history) information related to what programs are recorded and played, in addition to each control unit that controls processing related to general recording and the like. A history information management unit 15, an erasure information management unit 17 that manages program erasure information regarding which program was erased, and the like; a content relevance determination unit 18 that determines relevance (continuity) between programs; Reservation information management unit 21 that manages program reservation information relating to which programs are reserved for recording, operation accepting unit 23 that receives operation instructions from an external control device such as remote control device 35, and recording as described later A recording list display processing unit 25 for performing a recording list display process of the recorded program, a related content playback interface display control unit 25a, and recording and erasing of the recorded program It has a data recording / erasing section 27 for performing management, the. The control unit 11 is also connected to a built-in recording medium (HDD or the like) 31 and a general memory (for example, storing a control program), and a storage capacity monitoring unit 27a for monitoring the storage capacity is also provided. It has been. The program information can be extracted based on EPG information (SI information) in broadcast waves, for example. Based on this, an EPG can be created.

  Hereinafter, a method for erasing and playing back content of a continuous program in the recording / playback apparatus A will be described. In the following description, the description will focus on programs that have been reserved and recorded as an embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to programs that have been reserved and recorded, and it goes without saying that directly recorded programs and the like are also included. . That is, even when at least one direct recording is performed at the time of recording each broadcast, information for determining relevance such as whether the recorded program is a part of a continuous program (for example, “title information”). ") Is available, the recording method is not limited.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a reservation list. The reservation list 51 shown in FIG. 2 is displayed on the display unit 37 of the TV. In the reserved list 51, a plurality of reserved programs are displayed in a list (57). In the reservation list display 57, for example, eight programs are displayed in the example shown in the figure, and numbers indicating the order of the reserved programs such as broadcast date and time (generally in ascending order) and actual reservations are displayed. Broadcast date (such as date, every Tuesday, Monday to Friday, daily), and the reserved program broadcast time zone (from 7 pm to 8 pm, etc.) 57a and the broadcast channel (digital ( D) 081 etc.) 57b, program name (title) 57c, recording destination (HDD etc.) 57d, and image quality 57e to be recorded are displayed. For example, in the bottom region 58, operation guidance is shown. Further, the area 53 displays detailed information of the program (title 2 in the figure) in the focused line in the reservation list display 57. Extension: On is an on / off setting that automatically extends the weekly power for scheduled recording when the end time of the program is extended according to the original schedule based on information from the program guide on digital broadcasting. Yes, in this display example, “On” is set. The focus position in the list can be moved by operating the up and down keys of the remote control device.

(1) Pre-processing First, the content relevance determination unit 18 determines whether a recorded program (or a program scheduled to be recorded) is a viewing request such as a continuous program (continuity) or a band program (relevance). It is determined whether the program has relevance / continuity with the program. First, a method for determining whether a program has relevance / continuity, which is the first feature of the present invention, will be described below.

(Judgment method)
1) Determination Method Based on Scheduled Recording Setting Information FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing in the content relevance determination unit 18 for determining whether or not the program is an associated program such as a continuous program or a band program. FIG. When the process is started (step S1), the scheduled recording setting information is read (step S2). Next, in step S3, it is determined based on the reserved recording setting information whether the scheduled recording is a weekly reservation or a daily reservation. If it is a reserved recording (YES), the process proceeds to step S4, and if it is not a reserved recording (NO), the process proceeds to step S5. In step S4, it is determined whether or not the input source of the scheduled recording target video can be specified. If YES, the process proceeds to step S6, and if NO, the process proceeds to step S5. In step S4, for example, when the video to be reserved for recording is an external analog input, it is NO because it cannot be confirmed whether the video is from the same video source (same channel if TV broadcast).

  In step S5, it is determined that the recorded content by this reserved recording has no continuity or relevance, and the process ends in step S7. In step S6, it is determined that the recorded content by the reserved recording has continuity / relevance such as a continuous program or a band program, and the process proceeds to step S7.

  As described above, the reservation recording is a weekly reservation for reserving a program of the same channel in the same time zone or a daily reservation for daily reservation, and the input source of the video to be recorded is an external input (RCA terminal (pin terminal), S terminal) If it is a TV broadcast tuner output built in the recording / playback apparatus, rather than an input from an external device via the above, etc., it is a reserved recording in which a digital TV broadcast channel is designated, and from the channel information included in the reserved recording setting information It can be determined whether the program is a continuous program or a band program of a specific TV broadcast channel (step S6).

  When the connection method between the recording / playback apparatus and the video output apparatus is i.LINK connection or HDMI connection, content related information including title information can be exchanged between devices. It can be determined whether it is a continuous program or a band program as in the case of.

2) Determination Method Based on Title Information of Recorded Program (or Program to be Recorded) The content relevance determination unit 18 refers to the title information recorded together with the video in the recorded content, It can also be determined whether the program is a band program. As the acquisition source of the title information, when the recorded content is a Japanese digital broadcast, the AR included in the broadcast data, SI (program arrangement information) defined by the IB standard, and PSI (program specific information) Etc. These pieces of information are recorded in the memory, title information relating to the contents is extracted from the stored information, and it is determined whether or not the program is a continuous program or a band program. In addition, since the specific extraction location and its processing method are well-known methods, the description about the detail is abbreviate | omitted.

  The connection method between the recording / playback apparatus and the video output apparatus is HDMI connection, and the inter-device control function based on CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) defined in the HDMI standard (version 1.2a or later) is connected by HDMI. Installed on both the recording and playback device and the video output device, and when various information related to the content can be exchanged in the inter-device cooperation operation, when various information is available via the video output device Depending on the information obtained through the video output device, it may be determined whether the program is a continuous program or a band program.

(Continuity / relevance judgment method)
Next, a method for determining whether the content relevance determination unit 18 is a continuous program or a band program based on the title information will be described. If the recorded content is a continuous program or a band program, since there is the same or similar point in the title information, it is determined whether it is a continuous program or a band program using this as a determination material.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing for determining whether the program is a continuous program or a band program. As shown in FIG. 4, first, when the process is started (step S11: start), the title information of each recorded content is read in step S12. In step S13, two recorded contents are selected and the title information is compared. Next, in step S14, it is determined whether or not the title information is a complete match or a forward match. If either of them matches (YES: in this case, it is determined that the program is related), the process proceeds to step S16, and the two recorded contents are a continuous program, a band program, and the like. It is determined that there is sex / relevance. On the other hand, if none of them match in step S14 (NO), the process proceeds to step S15, and it is determined that the two recorded contents are not continuous or related. In step S17, it is determined whether the title information of all the recorded contents has been compared. If NO, the process returns to step S13, and if YES, the determination process ends (step S18).

  Thus, for example, when the content is a continuous program or a band program, the title information includes the program name + the number of broadcasts (the number of times of broadcasting, etc.) and the program name + the broadcast date and time. Therefore, it is determined whether the program name is a continuous program or a band program based on the whole program name or a part of the program name (for example, whether or not there is a forward match, or a match equal to or greater than the match determination setting value (for example, 80%)) can do.

  More specifically, when the title information of the recorded content is “XXX (program name) 1st”, “XXX (program name) 2nd”,. Therefore, it can be determined as a continuous program or a band program. In particular, when the content recording method is direct recording rather than scheduled recording, there is no scheduled recording setting information itself, and determination based on the scheduled recording setting information is not possible, so determination is performed based on title information of the recorded content. It is preferable.

  Also, in TV broadcasting, the same content may be broadcast with different broadcast date and time and broadcast format. For example, when a content originally broadcast by terrestrial digital broadcasting is to be rebroadcasted, it may be broadcast by the same terrestrial digital broadcasting station or by a BS digital broadcasting station of the same series. When such a broadcast is recorded together, it is actually a continuous program or a band program, but if it is determined whether it is a continuous program or a band program based on the reserved recording setting information, the continuous program or the band program is determined. There is a high possibility that the judgment result is not a program. Even in such a case, it is useful to make a determination based on the title information of the recorded content. In this determination, the information on whether or not the content is broadcast from the same affiliated station is also used as the determination material, so that the determination accuracy as to whether it is a continuous program or a band program can be improved. When the title information of the recorded content includes broadcast times information such as “XXX (program name) 2nd”, it is also possible to determine the context of the recorded content.

3) Combined use of the determination method of 1) and the determination method of 2) (for example, in the case of reserved recording by a date designation reservation or program guide reservation as an example)
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of determination processing regarding whether or not the program is a continuous program or a band program by the combined use of the determination method 1) and the determination method 2). As shown in FIG. 5, the process is started (started) in step S21, and the reserved recording setting information is read in step S22. In step S23, it is determined whether there is a recorded content other than weekly reservation or daily reservation. If NO in step S23, the process proceeds to step S4 (FIG. 3). In the case of YES in step S23, the process proceeds to step S24, and a search is performed from the recording date and time information of each recorded content to see if there is a recorded content recorded in the same time zone every week or every day. Alternatively, it is determined whether or not there is recorded content recorded in the same time zone every day. If it is determined that there is no content (NO), the process proceeds to step S31. If it is determined that there is content (YES), in step S26, the corresponding recorded content is a continuity program or a band program.・ Provisionally determine that there is a relationship. In step S27, the corresponding recorded content is selected and the title information is compared. In step S28, it is determined whether the title information matches completely or matches forward. If the title information matches completely or matches the front (YES), it is determined in step S30 that the corresponding recorded content is a continuity / relevance such as a continuous program or a band program. If the title information does not match completely or does not match forward (NO), it is determined in step S29 that the corresponding recorded content is a continuity / relevance such as a continuous program or a band program. Next, in step S31, it is determined whether or not all recorded contents have been searched. If NO, the process proceeds to step S24, and if YES, the process proceeds to step S32 and ends.

  In this way, instead of (1) (Reserved recording setting by weekly reservation or daily reservation), in the case of reserved recording by date and time reservation reservation, program schedule reservation every broadcast time, or direct recording by user's recording start operation In this case, it cannot be determined whether the program is a continuous program or a band program based on the reserved recording setting information. In such a case, in addition to the reserved recording setting information, the recording date and time of the recorded content and the title information are also used as determination materials to determine whether the program is a continuous program or a band program.

  For example, when the recorded content is a TV program, broadcast date (= date and time when the content was recorded) information can be used as the determination material. As an example, even when the title information of the recorded content is simply “XXX (program name)”, “XXX (program name)”,..., The broadcast date and time of the recorded content (= the date and time when the content was recorded) Based on the information, after confirming the context (whether it is the preceding content), it is determined that the program is a continuous program or a band program. If it is a TV drama program that is broadcast every week, it is broadcast repeatedly on the same day of the week, the same time zone, and the same length of time, and the broadcast date and time of the recorded content (= the content was recorded) If the above-mentioned repetition condition is satisfied by the (date / time) information, it is determined as a continuous program.

  Also, if it is a band program broadcast from Monday to Friday, it is broadcast repeatedly from Monday to Friday in the same time zone and with the same length of time. Based on the broadcast date / time of the content (= the date and time when the content was recorded), it is determined as a band program. In the above example, when the broadcast date / time of a continuous program or a band program is not changed, it is a method of determining based on a repetition condition that the same time period and the same time length are used. It is not limited.

  In actual TV broadcasting, broadcast times of some broadcast times may be changed before and after, extension of the broadcast time, replacement of special programs that are not original continuous programs or band programs, including emergency cases, etc. There is also. In such a case, the determination cannot be made based on the repetition condition that the same time length is the same time length as described above. In such a case, for example, a program such as a TV drama that is broadcast every week is the same day of the week, and a band program that is broadcast every Monday to Friday is within a period of two hours before or after the scheduled recording setting. It may be determined whether the program is a continuous program or a band program based on whether the program title information is similar.

  For example, if a scheduled recording is set for a continuous program every week, and a program with a program name that is completely different from the program name set for the scheduled recording is broadcast during a certain broadcast time zone, It is determined that the program is not a continuous program because it is highly likely that the content is not a continuous program that is scheduled to be recorded but a different content such as a special program.

  In addition, a recording / playback apparatus capable of recording a digital broadcast has a function of automatically responding to extension or change of the broadcast time of a broadcast program based on the program guide information of the digital broadcast in the reservation recording of the digital broadcast. However, in a recording / playback apparatus having such a function, the function corresponding to the extension or change of the broadcast time may be used to determine whether the present program is a continuous program or a band program. By utilizing this function, it is possible to ensure that the scheduled recording desired by the user is performed, and even if the recorded content of a broadcast program with a continuous program is deleted as in this case, the recorded entity data is immediately Can be stored for a certain period of time without being erased (the function corresponding to the extension or change of the broadcast time is an existing technology and will not be described). In the above description, the method for determining whether the program is a continuous program or a band program is switched depending on whether it is a scheduled recording by weekly reservation or daily reservation, a reservation recording by date designation reservation, a reservation recording by a program guide, or direct recording. However, the present invention is not limited to this. As a recording method actually performed by the user, when a continuous program or a band program is reserved and recorded, weekly reservations or daily reservations, date and time reservation reservations, program schedule reservations, and direct recording may be used in combination. In such a case, it may be determined whether the program is a continuous program or a band program by combining the above determination methods.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of such determination processing. As shown in FIG. 6, the process is first started in step S41, and the reserved recording setting information is read in step S42. Next, in step S43, it is determined whether there is recorded content other than weekly reservation or daily reservation. If NO, the process proceeds to step S4 (FIG. 3). In the case of YES, the process proceeds to step S44, and it is searched from the recording date and time information of each recorded content whether there is a recorded content recorded in the same time zone every week or every day. Next, in step S45, if it is determined that there is recorded content recorded in the same time zone every week or day (YES), the process proceeds to step S46, and if it is determined that there is no recorded content (NO), Proceed to step S53. In step S46, it is provisionally determined that the corresponding recorded content has continuity / relevance in a continuous program or a band program. In step S47, the corresponding recorded content is selected and the title information is compared. In step S48, it is determined whether the title information matches completely or forwards. In the case of NO, the process proceeds to step S49, where it is determined that the broadcast recorded content has no continuity / relevance, and the process proceeds to step S53. If YES in step S48, the process proceeds to step S50, and the corresponding recorded content is a continuous program, a band program, or the like, and is determined to have continuity / relevance. In step S51, it is determined whether or not the corresponding recorded content has continuity with the recorded content group by weekly reservation or daily reservation. It is assumed that the continuity / relevance of the recorded content by weekly reservation or daily reservation in the content group has been determined by the determination process shown in FIG. 3, for example. If no, the process proceeds to step S53. In the case of YES, the process proceeds to step S52, where it is determined that there is continuity / relevance including a weekly reservation or a recorded content group by daily reservation, and the process proceeds to step S53. In step S53, it is determined whether all recorded contents have been searched. If NO, the process returns to step S44. If YES, the determination process is terminated in step S54.

  For example, it may be considered as a normal method of use that scheduled recording by date and time reservation or program schedule reservation is performed several times at the beginning, and scheduled recording is performed by weekly reservation or daily reservation from the next broadcast. In such a case, it is possible to improve the determination accuracy regarding whether the program is a continuous program or a band program by performing a determination by combining the determination methods. Even after it is determined whether the program is a continuous program or a band program, the program content that may have continuity or relevance with the recorded content is recorded after the determination, that is, recorded in the same time zone. When program content that may be a continuation program as a continuous program or a band program is recorded, a re-determination process for determining whether the program content is a continuous program or a band program may be performed.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a recording list display. First, a method for displaying broadcast-recorded content that has been erased by a user operation will be described. In the display method according to the present embodiment, even if an operation for erasing the recorded content of a broadcast time with a continuous program or a band program is performed by a user operation, the recorded content list display and the recording for displaying the content summary information thereof are performed. In the title list display, content that has been erased should not be displayed, but the recorded entity data should not be erased immediately after being operated and should be stored for at least a certain period of time. Two features.

  FIG. 7A shows an example in which eight recording titles are displayed as a recording list on one screen. As shown in FIG. 7A, a recording list 61 in the HDD is displayed on the display unit 37. As in FIG. 2, the recording list 61 includes an HDD remaining time 65, an operation guidance 68, and a plurality of recordings. A list display (67) of programs is made. In the recording list display 67, for example, in the example shown in the figure, eight programs from the 43rd (sequential number) program to the 50th program are displayed, and the program title name 67b, recording date 67c, recording time 67d. The recorded image quality 67e is displayed, and the user can view the list by scrolling.

  However, as described above, when there are a large number of recording titles recorded in the recording / playback apparatus, the user needs to search for a desired recording title while scrolling the screen of the recording list. There is a problem that the search performance is lowered as the number increases.

  The display example of the recording list shown in FIG. 7A is an example in which one piece of recorded content (recorded content of the focused title 44) is being deleted. Similarly, when there are a large number of recorded contents to be deleted, it is possible to focus and delete the recorded contents by the user operation. By this erasure process, the recorded content of the title 44 is not displayed from the recording list as shown in FIG. In FIG. 7B, the reference numerals are shown by adding 10 to FIG. 7A. Since the title 44 is erased, the focus position corresponds to the recorded content of the title 45, and the recorded content of the title 51 is newly displayed. The number 77a is reassigned to the title 45 and later.

  Although the title 44 is not displayed from the recorded content list, if it is determined that the title 44 is related content by the above processing, the actual data of the content (title 44) in the HDD Is kept. Therefore, the remaining HDD time 75 is the same as the remaining time 65 in FIG. Even in the case of saving, when the recording mode is changed or when the CM is cut, the data amount of the recorded content changes and the HDD calculation time 75 may change.

  In this way, even when there are a large number of recording titles, only the recorded content that has not been erased by the user operation is displayed in the recording list, so that the searchability as a recording list is improved and deleted. When the relevance / continuity of the recorded content with other recorded content is found, the recorded entity data is continuously stored in the internal HDD for at least a certain period of time, so that the user can The recorded content can be viewed again.

  In this way, when the erase operation is performed, it is hidden from the recording title list display, so that it is not displayed as an unnecessary recording title when there are a large number of recording titles, and in the case of general usage Can easily search for the desired recording title by reducing the number of titles.

  FIG. 7C is a diagram showing a recorded content display example different from that in FIG. In this recorded content display 200, a title (recording list) 201 and content title groups 203-1 to 15-15 displayed as thumbnails in a matrix are displayed, and the recorded content 203-7 is deleted by a user operation. . Then, similarly to the above, the recorded content 203-7 is not displayed in the thumbnail display. However, if the recorded content 203-7 has relevance or continuity with other recorded content groups, the actual content is similar to the above. Keep the data. The concept is the same regardless of the display method. From this display, a recorded content can be selected and content other than the erased content can be reproduced.

  Next, a GUI display method when the broadcast times erased by a user operation is reproducible, which is the third feature of the present invention, will be described. When the recording list display processing unit 25 displays a user interface capable of playing back the content related to the content deleted by the above processing, the related content playback for playing back the deleted content is displayed. A related content playback interface display control unit 25a is provided for performing control for displaying the interface. The related content reproduction interface display control unit 25a performs the following display.

1) A method for displaying that the broadcast times that have been erased are reproducible on the “playback menu of recorded content of previous and next broadcast times” of the broadcast times that have been erased (FIGS. 8B and 9A) )reference)
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a content playback menu display that has been transferred from the recorded content list. In the recorded content list shown in FIG. 7, it is not possible to select content for which an erasure operation has been performed, but it is necessary to have a mechanism for playing back recorded content that has substance data remaining only for a certain period. In short, such a need may be because there is a request to view the recorded content that has been erased and the related / continuous recorded content and see the recorded content related to it. .

  As shown in FIG. 8A, in the content reproduction menu display displayed on the display unit 37, a display 81 indicating that the content is a list of recorded content, a detailed information display 83 such as a title of the recorded content, and a function menu. A display 87, an operation menu display 88 relating to reproduction processing, and a guidance display 89 are displayed. The function menu 87 includes function menus such as title 1 reproduction, content description, editing, title name change, group setting, title protection setting in FIG. Further, in the operation menu display 88, since the reproduction is focused on the function menu, a display prompting the user to select whether or not to reproduce the title is displayed. For example, a button 88a to reproduce from the beginning and a button 88b to reproduce from the beginning are displayed. It is displayed. With these buttons, the recorded content can be played back.

  As shown in FIG. 8B, in the content playback menu display displayed on the display unit 37, a display 91 indicating that the content is a list of recorded content and a detailed information display 93 such as a title of the recorded content (in this case) , Title 2), a function menu display 97, an operation menu display 98 relating to reproduction processing, and a guidance display 99 are displayed. Title 2 is a diagram showing a display example when the recorded content has continuity / relevance. When it is specified that the recorded content having continuity / relevance to the recorded content of the broadcast time is stored, the recorded content is displayed from the menu corresponding to the recorded content reproduction determined to be the previous story / next story. That is, when it is specified that recorded content having continuity / relevance with the recorded content of the broadcast time is stored, the previous / next story playback 97a is newly displayed in the function menu display 97, When the focus is on, the operation menu display 98 displays a menu for prompting an operation as to whether or not to reproduce the previous story / next story of the title (2). Here, the previous story playback 98a and the next story playback 98b can be selected.

  Also, if there is a program broadcast every week, the previous week broadcast corresponds to the previous episode and the next week broadcast corresponds to the next episode. However, here, even if the recorded content of the previous story or the next story is stored, the menu is not displayed in consideration of the continuity of the content.

  FIG. 8C is a recording list 101 in the case where the recorded content has relevance / continuity as in FIG. 8B (the reference numeral is indicated by a number added by 10 to FIG. 8B). It is a figure which shows the example of a display. The following points are different from FIG.

  For example, when there is no recorded content presumed to be the next episode, when the previous episode / next episode reproduction 107a is focused, the next episode reproduction button is not displayed on the operation menu display 108, and the previous episode reproduction 108a button is displayed. Only displayed. Examples of such cases include 1) the case where the broadcast has not yet been recorded because the next episode has not been broadcast, and 2) the recorded content corresponding to the next episode has already been viewed by the user, or And the actual data of the recorded content corresponding to the next story is not stored.

  Thus, for example, only the “play previous story” icon is displayed in the “playback menu of the recorded content of the next broadcast” of “the broadcast time of the recorded content that has been erased”. Conversely, only the “next episode playback” icon is displayed in the “playback menu of the recorded content of the previous broadcast” of the “erasure process broadcast times”.

2) During playback of “erased before and after broadcast times” of the erased broadcast times, a pop-up menu is displayed based on the playback status to indicate that the erased broadcast times can be played back. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing another example of the display of the playback menu migrated from the recorded content list. As shown in FIG. 9A, in the content playback menu display displayed on the display unit 37, a display 111 indicating that the content is a list of recorded content, a detailed information display 113 such as a title of the recorded content, and a function menu. A display 117, an operation menu display 118 relating to the reproduction process, and a guidance display 119 are displayed. Except for the operation menu display 118 relating to the reproduction process, the display example is the same as the display example shown in FIG. In this display example, “previous story playback” and “next story playback” are always displayed on the same screen in the normal menu display so that they can be selected. Which one to select can be operated with, for example, a direction key and a determination key on the remote controller. In the operation menu display 118, the “From the beginning” button 118 a and the “Continue” button 118 b together with the guidance “Play this title.” And “Play the previous and next episodes of this title” are further displayed. A “previous story playback” button 118c and a “next story playback” button 118d are provided together with guidance such as “.”.

  As shown in FIG. 9B, for example, the recorded content 121 of a certain broadcast time is viewed, and when the viewing is almost completed, the pop-up menu 123 is displayed, and the next story can be reproduced together with the button 123a. You can be notified. In particular, it is preferable to notify the user that the next episode can be reproduced when the number of times the next episode is viewed (reproduced) as compared with the number of views of the “recorded content at a certain broadcast time”. Of course, it may be displayed when the next episode has not been viewed.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 9C, when the recorded content is played back from the beginning by the user's remote control operation, the pop-up menu 135 is displayed, and the foreplay can be played back by the foreplay playback button 135a. You may make it notify. The user's remote control operation is, for example, 1) When “play from the beginning” is selected in the playback menu of recorded content at a certain broadcast time, and 2) when viewing the recorded content at a certain broadcast time, The case of jumping to the beginning of the recorded content by the remote control operation is possible.

  That is, even if the user has already watched this “recorded content of a certain broadcast time”, the user has selected “play from the beginning” because the watched user simply re-views this recorded content because he likes this broadcast time. In addition to viewing from the beginning because it has passed since the last viewing, there may be a case where a different user from the viewed user first views, and this viewing user wants to check the contents of the previous episode It is estimated that In such a case, a pop-up menu is displayed to notify that the previous story can be reproduced.

Next, a description will be given of a method for storing broadcast-recorded content that has been erased by a user operation. In the present embodiment, the recorded content that has been erased by the user operation is not displayed on the recorded title list, but the recorded substance data is continuously stored for at least a certain period without being erased. Is. As a method for storing the entity data, the following method can be considered.
1) A method in which entity data is left as it is in the original recording mode.
2) A method of transcoding to a high-compression recording mode or re-encoding to leave entity data.
3) A method of simply leaving only a part of the original recording mode. For example, a method of leaving only the first half or the second half, or leaving only the last 10 minutes may be considered. It is preferable to determine the portion to be left in consideration of how the recorded content that has been erased is viewed.
4) The original recording mode remains unchanged, but remains after executing CM cut or the like.
5) Change to a digest video instead of a normal video and leave it.

The advantages related to the above storage methods 1) to 5) will be described.
Advantages of the above 1): Since the process after the erasure process is only made invisible from the recording list, the process of leaving it as it is is the simplest and does not require the power required for the process. It can be processed even during operation. However, the recording capacity reserved in the actual data remains the same capacity.

  Regarding the advantages of 2) above: The points to be invisible from the recording list are the same in the above 1) to 4), but in 2) the original recording content is used by converting to the high compression recording mode. There is an advantage that a part of the recording area of the recording medium is released and can be used for another recording.

  As an example of conversion to the high-compression recording mode, content encoded in MPEG2 is H.264. A known method such as a method of transcoding to H.264 or a method of re-encoding with a lower conversion rate of MPEG2 can be used (however, transcoding or re-encoding may require a heavy conversion process) Therefore, it is necessary to perform conversion processing when the user is not using the recording / playback device (standby state or when the power is turned off), and there is a problem in immediacy. This method can be applied if there is no problem even if the conversion processing is performed in a time zone in which there is a high possibility that the playback apparatus is not used.

  Regarding the advantages of 3) above: Since only a part is caused, the content editing process is comparatively light, and a part of the recording area of the recording medium in which the originally recorded content is secured is released for recording another content. There is an advantage that it can be used. Note that the content editing method is an existing technology and will not be described.

  For example, if the user confirms the previous broadcast before viewing the recorded content for a certain broadcast, it is not necessary to confirm the entire previous broadcast, and it is sufficient to be able to confirm a part of it. Conceivable. In such a case, only a part of the recorded content of the broadcast times that has been erased is left, and the recording area in which the actual data is erased is released.

  Regarding the advantages of 4) above: It is difficult for the user to bother to re-view the CM part in the recorded content once erased, and to cut the CM confirms the program content that is the original re-viewing purpose. It is useful for. Note that the CM cut execution method is an existing technology, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  Regarding the advantage of the above 5): When the user only has to confirm the summary of the recorded content for the previous broadcast, it is useful to change to the digest moving image.

  However, which part of the content remains as a digest is a problem. For example, as a method for creating a simple digest moving image, there is a method in which videos are extracted and gathered for several minutes at equal intervals to form a digest moving image. is there. For example, the recorded content is extracted from the recorded content for 1 minute at 10-minute intervals and displayed in sequence to form a digest moving image, or the recorded content is divided into 28 equal parts on the time axis and 1 minute video from each part. For example, there is a method in which a thumbnail image divided into 28 after being extracted is used as a digest moving image.

  Note that the above methods 2) to 5) may be applied individually or in combination as a method of storing recorded contents of broadcast times erased by a user operation.

  Next, a description will be given of a method of changing the method for saving broadcast content recorded by erasure by user operation. Although the above-described 1) to 5) have been described as examples of the method for storing the recorded content of the broadcast times erased by the user operation, it is not limited to the application of the storage method once applied as it is.

  For example, as an initial storage method, after any one of the above 1) to 5) is applied alone, it is assumed that the recording capacity of the recording / playback apparatus is reduced, and the subsequent recording operation is hindered. In this case, for the purpose of increasing the free recording capacity of the recording / playback apparatus, the above methods 2) to 4) are applied again as a method for storing the recorded content of the broadcast times erased by the user operation. May be. As an example, recorded contents of broadcast times that have been erased by a user operation are stored in DR mode (recording mode for recording digital TV broadcasts with broadcast image quality), XP mode, SP mode, 3 Conversion to a double mode or a five-fold mode (high-compression recording mode with high-definition image quality according to H.264) can be mentioned.

  For example, the recording rate of a typical recording mode among the recording modes in the recording / playback apparatus is about 24 Mbps in the DR mode, about 11 Mbps in the XP mode, and about 6 Mbps in the SP mode. In such a recording / playback apparatus with a set recording rate, when the recorded content recorded in the DR mode is converted to the SP mode, the recording capacity necessary for recording and saving the recorded content in the recording / playback apparatus is increased. , Approximately 1/4 (= 6 Mbps ÷ 24 Mbps). By changing the recording rate of such recorded content, even if the recorded content of a broadcast program with a continuous program is erased by a user operation in a recording / playback apparatus recording a continuous program, the recorded entity data is immediately Can be stored for a certain period of time without being erased, and the necessary recording capacity can be increased.

Next, an erasing method after saving the recorded content of broadcast times erased by a user operation will be described below.
As described above, even if the recorded content of a broadcast program with a continuous program is erased by a user operation, the recorded entity data is not immediately erased and stored for a certain period. Since the recording capacity necessary for recording and storing the recorded content in the recording / playback apparatus is not released, there will be a problem of insufficient recording capacity. Therefore, in order to solve such a problem of insufficient recording capacity, a method for determining whether or not to actually delete the recorded contents of the broadcast times that have been erased by the user operation as recording data after being once saved is described below. explain. Examples of this determination method include the following methods.

1) Method for Determining whether to Erase Based on “Elapsed Time from Recording Date and Time of Recorded Content of Broadcast Time Erased by User Operation” FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of recorded content erasure judgment processing It is. As shown in FIG. 10, first, the process is started (step S61), and in step S62, it is determined whether or not the recorded data is continuously stored in the erased recorded content. If NO, the process ends at step S68. If YES, in step S63, an erasure candidate is set from the stored recorded content data. Next, in step S64, the elapsed time from the recording date and time and the current date and time of the erasure candidate recording data is calculated. Next, in step S65, the elapsed time is compared with the set value. If the elapsed time is longer than the set value (YES), in step S66, the erasure candidate recording data is erased, and the process proceeds to step S67. In step S65, the elapsed time is compared with the set value. If the elapsed time is shorter than or equal to the set value (NO), step S66 is skipped and the process proceeds to step S67. In step S67, it is determined whether or not all stored recorded content data has been set as deletion candidates. In the case of NO, since setting has not been completed, the process returns to step S63 to perform setting. If YES, the process ends at step S68.

  In this way, the recording date / time information of the recorded content is compared with the current date / time, and if the specified time has passed, the recorded data corresponding to the recorded content of the corresponding broadcast time is actually deleted. For example, the recorded data for which a sufficient storage period has passed, such as six months or more from the recording date and time, is deleted from the recorded data. In other words, it is considered that the content with the older recording date and time is relatively less likely to be replayed by the user. By erasing recorded content that is less likely to be viewed again, it is possible to free up the recording area reserved for the recorded content that is estimated to be unnecessary in the future, and to increase the free recording capacity of the recording / playback device. .

2) Method for determining whether to delete based on “elapsed time from the recording date and time of the recorded content of broadcast times deleted by user operation” (2)
Alternatively, it is determined whether or not to delete based on “the actual recording date and time of the broadcast content that has been erased by the user operation and the elapsed time from the broadcasting date and time (the recording date and time that is supposed to be originally recorded)” Is also possible. In other words, when the recorded content has been broadcast multiple times so far, not the recording date / time information when the recorded content was actually recorded, the current date / time is compared with the broadcast date / time information of this content, If the time has passed, a method of actually erasing recorded data corresponding to the recorded content of the corresponding broadcast times can be used.

  Next, in TV broadcasting, when re-broadcasting content originally broadcast by terrestrial digital broadcasting, broadcasting from the same terrestrial digital broadcasting station, broadcasting from affiliated BS digital broadcasting stations, CS broadcasting stations with genre-specific channels In some cases, the same content is broadcast with different broadcast date / time and broadcast form, such as broadcasting at a local local station.

  When such a broadcast content is recorded as a continuous program or a band program by a user, the broadcast content may not necessarily be recorded in time series. For example, if the continuous program or band program you want to record is broadcasted (the first broadcast), and you try to record some broadcast content, the user simply forgets to record, or for some reason If this is not possible, the partially broadcast content may be rebroadcast (and re-broadcast again), or the same content broadcast from another station at a different date may be recorded. When recording is performed in such a manner that different broadcasting forms are mixed, it is determined whether the program is a continuous program or a band program based on the reserved recording setting information even though it is actually a continuous program or a band program. There is a high possibility that the determination result is not a program or a band program.

  Even in such a case, it is useful to make a determination based on the title information of the recorded content. Further, in this determination, not only the title information included in the content but also additional information may be obtained via a network from this content-related server or the like, and whether or not the content is broadcast from the same affiliated station. By using information as a determination material, it is possible to improve the determination accuracy of whether it is a continuous program or a band program.

  As described above, when a part of a continuous program or band program is recorded from rebroadcast, the continuous program or band program is determined, and the broadcast date and time that is supposed to have been recorded is estimated. Temporarily set the broadcast date and time as the original recording date and time, compare the temporarily set recording date and time information with the current date and time, and if the specified time has passed, the recording corresponding to the recording content of the corresponding broadcast time Actually erase the data.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the flow of the recorded content deletion determination process as described above. As shown in FIG. 11, the process is started (started) in step S71, and in step S72, it is determined whether or not there is any recorded content that has been stored in the erased recorded content. Here, in the case of NO, the process ends in step S80. If YES, an erasure candidate is set from the stored recording data in step S73. Next, in step S74, it is determined whether or not the recorded content that has been erased is set to be recorded on the main broadcast date and time. If NO, the process proceeds to step S75, where the main broadcast date / time of the erasure candidate recording data is provisionally set as the recording date / time, and the process proceeds to step S76. In the case of YES, step S75 is skipped and the process proceeds to step S76. In step S76, the elapsed time is calculated from the recording date and time of the erasure candidate recording data. In step S77, the magnitude relationship between the elapsed time and the set value is determined, and the process proceeds to step S79. If the elapsed time is greater than the set value (YES), the process proceeds to step S78, and the recording data of the deletion candidate is deleted. In the case of NO, step S78 is skipped and the process proceeds to step S79.

  In step S79, it is determined whether all stored recording data has been set as deletion candidates. In the case of YES, the process which progresses to step S80 is complete | finished, and in the case of NO, it returns to step S73. As described above, when the recorded content that has been erased in step S74 is subjected to a process of determining whether or not the recording content is set to be recorded at the main broadcast date and time, the recorded content has been broadcast a plurality of times so far. Processing including the broadcast date and time information of this content can be performed.

  In FIG. 11, “broadcast date / time (recorded date / time estimated to be originally recorded)” is described as “main broadcast”. In FIG. 11, when recording a continuous program or a band program, all the broadcast content should have been recorded in the main broadcast (initial broadcast), but at least the broadcast times that were later erased by the user operation were recorded. This is an example of a determination flow when the recorded content is recorded by re-broadcasting instead of the main broadcast.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a state of recording the recorded content of a continuous program or a band program. For example, this series of recorded contents is a band program, and the 9th and 11th broadcasts are recorded on 6/1 and 6/3 of the main broadcast 141a (143a and 147a), respectively, and the 10th broadcast is broadcast. When the 10th broadcast is recorded by the user operation when it is recorded on the 6/9 broadcast 153b on the rebroadcast date 141b instead of the 6/2 broadcast 145b of the main broadcast, Whether or not the recorded data corresponding to the recorded content corresponding to the first broadcast is actually deleted is determined not to be 6/9 of the actual recording date but to the one recorded on 6/2 of the main broadcast (145b). Then, based on the elapsed time from 6/2, it is determined whether or not to delete the recorded content (143c, 145c, and 147c) of the broadcast times that has been erased by the user operation.

  Here, when this series of recorded content is, for example, a continuous program broadcasted on the same day of the week, the recorded dates for the 10th broadcast are indicated between the 9th and 11th broadcasts. The same determination may be made after temporarily setting the same day of week.

  In the determination flow of FIG. 11, the description has been made based on the main broadcast and the rebroadcast, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when recording a continuous program or a band program, if the recorded broadcast is mainly a rebroadcast, even if the recorded content of the broadcast times erased by the user operation is a rebroadcast, the main broadcast Is also included. Further, although it is the main broadcast, the same content broadcast from different broadcast stations may be recorded.

  As described above, when a series of contents such as a continuous program or a band program is recorded, when a part of the content is recorded by a method having a different broadcasting form, for example, when a part is recorded in a rebroadcast, It is unlikely that broadcast content recorded at different recording dates will be stored for a longer time than other broadcast content, or conversely deleted early. In such a case, a series of programs such as a continuous program and a band program can be determined by determining whether or not to actually delete the recorded data based on the elapsed time from the recording date and time estimated to have been recorded. As the recorded content, it is estimated that the content with the old recording date and time is relatively low that the user desires to re-view, and the recorded content with the low possibility of re-viewing is deleted. As a result, there is an advantage that the recording area reserved for the recording content that is estimated to be unnecessary in the future can be released and the free recording capacity of the recording / playback apparatus can be increased.

3) A method for determining whether to delete based on “elapsed time from the last viewing date and time of recorded content of broadcast times erased by user operation” Depending on the user, not the broadcast date and time (recorded date and time) of the recorded content It is also conceivable to determine whether or not the recorded content is necessary in the future based on the elapsed time since viewing the recorded content. For example, it is conceivable that the user does not watch a TV program in real time but views various recorded TV programs by reserved recording, and then watches the recorded content that has been reserved and recorded at a later time. In such a case, a determination is made based on the “elapsed time from the last viewing date / time” instead of the “elapsed time from the recording date / time” of the recorded content of the broadcast times as described above, and the specified time has passed. Then, the recorded data corresponding to the recorded content of the corresponding broadcast times is actually deleted.

  For example, for recorded content that has passed three months or more from the last viewing date and time, the recorded data is deleted. In addition, as a storage location of viewing history information such as the last viewing date and time, an internal memory of the control unit or an external memory that can be referred to from the control unit can be used.

  According to the above method, in accordance with the viewing style of the user, it is possible to secure the recorded content that is estimated to be unnecessary in the future by deleting the actual data of the recorded content that is less likely to be replayed by the user. It is possible to increase the free recording capacity of the recording / playback apparatus by releasing the recording area that has been used.

4) A method for determining whether to delete based on the “number of times of viewing of recorded contents of broadcast times erased by user operation” From the recording of the recorded contents of broadcast times erased by user operation to the present It may be determined whether or not to delete based on the number of viewings by the user during the period. If the number of times of viewing is large, it is estimated that the recorded content of this broadcast time matches the user's preference and that there is a high possibility that it will be viewed again in the future.

  For example, if the judgment is made based on “viewing the number of times broadcast content is recorded” and the viewer has watched more than the specified number of times, the recorded data corresponding to the recorded content of the corresponding broadcast time is not deleted and stored as it is. Alternatively, in the determination based on the “elapsed time from the recording date and time” and the “elapsed time from the last viewing date and time” as described above, the specified time for determination is set to a long time. May be.

  For example, when the number of times of viewing by the user is 3 times or more, it is estimated that the user may continue to view in the future, and in such a case, the prescribed standard in the examples in 1) and 2) above (Set value) is changed from “Elapsed time since broadcast date” or “Last viewing date” to 3 months instead of the elapsed time, for example, 6 months. It may be determined whether to delete the recorded content. The threshold value based on the number of viewing times may be settable, or may be automatically set by changing according to the tendency of the user.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the process flow of the method for determining whether to delete based on “the number of times of viewing of the broadcast recorded content that has been deleted by a user operation”. In step S81, the process is started, and in step S82, it is determined whether or not there is recorded content that has been stored in the recorded content that has been erased. If “NO” in the step S82, the process proceeds to a step S92 to end the process. If “YES” in the step S82, the process proceeds to a step S83 to set a deletion candidate from the stored recording data. In step S84, the number-of-views information of the recorded content in the erasure area is read. In step S85, the number of views is compared with the set value A. If the number of views is larger than the set value A (YES), the process proceeds to step S86, and the set value B for elapsed time comparison is set as the set value B1. When the number of viewing times is smaller than or equal to the set value A (NO), the process proceeds to step S87, and the set value B for elapsed time comparison is set to “set value B2.” However, B1> B2. In either case, the process proceeds to step S88, and the elapsed time from the recording date and time of the recording data of the erasure candidate is calculated. Next, in step S89, the elapsed time is compared with the set value B. If the elapsed time is larger than the set value B as a result of the comparison between the elapsed time and the set value B (YES), the process proceeds to step S90, the recorded data in the erase area is erased, and the process proceeds to step S91. If the elapsed time is smaller than or equal to the set value B as a result of the comparison between the elapsed time and the set value B in step S89 (NO), step S90 is skipped and the process proceeds to step S91. In step S91, it is determined whether or not all stored recording data has been set as deletion candidates. If NO, the process returns to step S83. In the case of YES, it progresses to step S91 and complete | finishes a process.

  According to this example, in consideration of the user's viewing history, the recorded content that the user may re-view is controlled to remain for a long period of time, and the recorded entity data is not immediately erased for a certain period of time. By saving the content, the user can have an opportunity to re-view the corresponding recorded content with respect to the content that has been inadvertently erased.

5) A method for determining whether to delete based on “the number of times of viewing of broadcast times before and after broadcast content that has been erased by a user operation” Not the recorded content of broadcast times that have been erased by a user operation It may be determined whether or not to delete the recorded content before and after the broadcast based on the number of times of viewing by the user in the period from the recording to the present.

  When a user views a continuous program or a band program, it is not always viewed in the order of broadcast times (recorded order). For example, the number of times of viewing the recorded content of the previous and next broadcast times is 0, that is, not viewed In some cases, after the user watches the recorded content of the previous and next broadcast times, the content is deleted to confirm the continuity and relevance of the content with the recorded content of the broadcast times deleted by the corresponding user operation. It can be estimated that there is a possibility of re-viewing the recorded content of the broadcast times.

  In such a case, based on the fact that the number of viewing times of the previous and next broadcast times is small, it may be determined whether to delete the recorded content of the broadcast times that have been deleted. FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the flow of such recorded content deletion determination processing. As shown in FIG. 14, the process is started (step S101: start), and in step S102, it is determined whether or not there is recorded data that has been continuously stored in the recorded content that has been erased. In the case of NO, the process proceeds to step S108, and this process ends. If YES, in step S103, an erasure candidate is determined from the stored recording data. In step S104, the number-of-views information of the recorded content for the previous and next broadcast times of the recorded content that is a candidate for erasure is read. Next, in step S105, it is determined whether at least one of the recorded contents for the previous and subsequent broadcast times has not been viewed. If NO, the candidate recording data is erased in step S106, and the process proceeds to step S107. In the case of YES, step S106 is skipped and the process proceeds to step S107. In step S107, it is determined whether or not all recorded video data has been set as deletion candidates. If NO, the process returns to step S103. If YES, the process ends in step S108.

  In addition, including the determination flow example of FIG. 14, the preceding and following broadcast times are described as the broadcast times immediately before and immediately after the broadcast times erased by the user operation, but are not limited thereto. is not. For example, it may be determined whether or not to delete based on the number of times of viewing from the previous time to the next time. As a feature of a certain user's viewing, when re-viewing multiple times consecutively, when the recording / playback device is used by multiple users, and the timing of viewing each broadcast time differs among these users, etc. For example, when there is a continuity / relevance characteristic between the recorded contents, such as when the broadcast content of the same theme is divided into multiple broadcasts, viewing only the immediately preceding broadcast times and the immediately following broadcast times By determining not only the number of times but also the number of viewing times of the previous and next broadcast times, it is possible to more accurately estimate whether or not to keep the recorded content that may be re-viewed by the user, Therefore, the possibility of re-viewing by the user can be effectively secured.

  Further, in the above example, the description has been given by taking the case of not viewing as a criterion for determination. However, of course, the present invention is not limited to this. A determination may be made. In particular, when the number of viewing times of the recorded content of the previous and next broadcast times is extremely small compared to the number of times of viewing the recorded content of the broadcast times erased by the user operation, the recorded content of the previous and next broadcast times is recorded by a certain user A. May have been viewed, but another user B may not have watched, and after another user B views the recorded content of the previous and subsequent broadcast times, the recorded content of the broadcast times deleted by a user operation In order to confirm the continuity and relevance of the contents, it can be estimated that there is a possibility that the recorded contents of the broadcast times that have been erased may be viewed again.

  In such a case, the recorded contents of the broadcast times that have been erased may be left. Here, it is estimated that the user who has performed the erasing process by the user operation is likely to be the user A, who is the most recent major user, but the user who performed the erasing operation is the user A in particular. It is not limited, and the user A may be other users including the user B as well as the user A.

  Further, the determination is not limited to the determination based on the number of viewing times of both the previous and next broadcast times. Based on the number of times of viewing of the recorded content of one of the previous and next broadcast times, for example, based on only the number of times of viewing of the recorded content of the next broadcast time of the recorded content of the broadcast time erased by the user operation You may do it.

  According to the above processing, considering the fact that the viewing history of the user, particularly the viewing history of the recorded content of the previous and subsequent broadcast times is small, the recorded content of the broadcast times that the user may re-view is retained for a long period of time. By controlling in this way and storing the inadvertently recorded entity data without erasing it immediately, the user can have an opportunity to re-view the recorded content of the corresponding broadcast times.

  Of course, in the above 1) to 5), the recorded contents of the broadcast times erased by the user's operation are temporarily stored and then combined as a method for determining whether to actually erase the recorded data as recorded data. May be applied. For example, by changing the combination of judgment criteria according to the user's usage status of the recording / playback device, the judgment can be made based on a method considered to be more appropriate according to the user's usage method, and the user's re-viewing Possible recording content can be saved.

  Next, the change of the content storage method depending on the program genre will be described. If the genre of a TV program series or band program that has been reserved and recorded is not highly continuous or relevant to the program content of each broadcast such as a drama, for example, news, news program, weather forecast, sports, information / In the case of a program genre that has a low relevance to the program content of each broadcast such as a wide show, it is considered unlikely that the recorded content of that broadcast will be re-viewed after the user performs an erasure operation. . In such a case, the entity data recorded as described above may not be immediately deleted and not stored for a certain period, or the storage period may be set for each program genre such as a relatively short storage period. You may make it set. Considering the remaining capacity of the storage capacity by the storage capacity monitoring unit 27a that monitors the storage capacity, the storage period is extended if the remaining capacity is large, and the storage period is shortened if the remaining capacity is reduced. (This control is also effective in other cases).

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an example of the determination process related to FIG. 10 and changing the storage criteria depending on the genre of the program as described above. As shown in FIG. 15, reference numeral 200 indicates a major classification of program genres determined by the standard. The following processing will be described based on such a genre.

  The process is started (step S111), and in step S112, it is determined whether or not the recorded data is continuously stored in the erased recorded content. If NO, the process proceeds to step S124 and the process is terminated. If YES, the process proceeds to step S113, and deletion candidates are set from the stored recording data. In step S114, the elapsed time is calculated from the recording date and time of the erasure candidate recording data. In step S115, the erasure candidate program genre is determined from the program information. The determination result is a genre 3. In the case of a drama, the process proceeds to step S116, and the set value C for elapsed time comparison is set as the set value C1. The determination result is genre5. In the case of variety, the process proceeds to step S117, and the set value C for elapsed time comparison is set as the set value C2. The judgment result is genre 6. In the case of a movie, the process proceeds to step S118, and the set value C for elapsed time comparison is set to the set value C3. The determination result is genre7. In the case of animation / special effects, the process proceeds to step S119, and the set value C for elapsed time comparison is set as the set value C4. If the determination result is any other genre, the process proceeds to step S120, and the set value C for elapsed time comparison is set to the set value C5.

  Next, the elapsed time is compared with the set value C in step S121. If the elapsed time is greater than the set value (YES), the process proceeds to step S122, the erasure candidate recording data is erased, and then the process proceeds to step S123. In the case of NO, step S122 is skipped and the process proceeds to step S123. In step S123, it is determined whether or not all stored recording data has been set as deletion candidates. If NO, the process returns to step S113. If YES, the process ends in step S124. In FIG. 15, the relevance determination process is not described, but the above relevance determination process can be used.

  Even if the program genre is variety, it may be less relevant to the program content at each broadcast time, but since it may be broadcast in multiple broadcast times, it is based on title information as shown in FIG. After determining whether there is continuity or relevance, if it is determined that the relevance is low, the recorded entity data is not immediately deleted, but is not stored for a certain period, and the retention period is compared You may make it perform the process which makes it short.

  The genre information may be automatically set based on information transmitted from a digital broadcasting station or the like. The genre information is stored in an EIT (event information table) in SI (program arrangement information) defined by the ARIB standard included in broadcast data when the recorded content is Japanese digital broadcasting. An electronic program guide and metadata information distributed by various methods can be considered. Also, it may be set by the user when information is not transmitted from the broadcasting station such as an analog method, or when the user wants to individually classify the genre.

  In the above embodiment, contents that are unlikely to be re-viewed by the user are inadvertently stored by determining whether to store for a certain period of time after the erasure operation or how to set the storage period according to the program genre. Therefore, it is possible to avoid wasting the recording capacity of the recording / playback apparatus.

  In addition, in the recording / playback apparatus, in the scheduled recording setting for daily / weekly scheduled recording, in addition to the general scheduled recording setting in which additional recording is performed without erasing the recorded content, the old program content is deleted and a new program is deleted. Some have a setting function for overwriting recording of content, but even in this reserved recording setting, the content that is overwritten and deleted when overwritten recording becomes an erasure candidate, so the same concept can be made.

  In the above embodiment, the description has been given by taking the recorded content of a digital TV broadcast continuous program or a band program as an example, but the target of the content is not limited to the recorded content of the TV program, of course. It is also possible to download recorded series of distribution contents distributed from a distribution server that can be connected via a network such as the Internet line, and to record the recorded contents.

  In the description of the TV program, the determination is made based on the title information of the recorded content obtained from the program guide or the like. However, in the case of distribution content, information included in the distribution content itself may be used. Information included in the related information of the distribution content available from the distribution server may be used.

  In addition, some of the distribution contents are distributed for a limited time. When such a limited time content is to be recorded, locations such as the main broadcast, rebroadcast, and rebroadcast in the description of the TV broadcast described above The present invention can be implemented in the same manner by replacing the initial delivery, re-delivery, and re-redelivery.

  As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, in a recording / playback apparatus that reserves a continuous program, even if the recorded content of a broadcast program with a continuous program is deleted by a user operation, the recording is performed. However, if the user wants to confirm the relationship with the recorded content of the subsequent broadcast times, the user erases it once. It is possible to check the contents by watching the recorded content of the broadcast times of the continuous program.

  In addition, by making the content invisible from the recording title list, when there are a large number of recording titles, it is easy to search for the recording title that the user wants without displaying it as an unnecessary recording title. Can do.

  In addition, content that has been erased can be displayed as reproducible content from a menu of content that has continuity and relevance, and can be replayed so that content that has been erased can be If the content is related to the content, it can be played back in a form having a relationship with other content, so that the operability for the user can be improved.

  The program that operates in the apparatus according to the present invention may be a program that controls a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or the like (a program that causes a computer to function) so as to realize the functions of the above-described embodiments related to the present invention. Information handled by these devices is temporarily stored in RAM (Random Access Memory) during the processing, and then stored in various ROMs such as Flash ROM (Read Only Memory) and HDD (Hard Disk Drive). Reading, correction, and writing are performed by the CPU as necessary.

  1 is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded on the recording medium is read into a computer system and executed, whereby processing of each unit is performed. May be performed. Here, the “computer system” includes an OS and hardware such as peripheral devices.

  The “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a portable medium such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, and a CD-ROM, and a storage device such as a hard disk built in the computer system. Furthermore, the “computer-readable recording medium” dynamically holds a program for a short time like a communication line when transmitting a program via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line. In this case, a volatile memory in a computer system serving as a server or a client in that case is also used to hold a program for a certain period of time. The program may be a program for realizing a part of the functions described above, and may be a program capable of realizing the functions described above in combination with a program already recorded in a computer system.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and the invention is a design change or the like without departing from the gist of the present invention. Is also included.

  The present invention is applicable to a content recording / playback apparatus.

A ... Recording / reproducing apparatus, 1 ... tuner unit, 3 ... reception processing unit, 5 ... content reproduction processing unit, 7 ... reproduction output unit, 11 ... control unit, 15 ... viewing history information management unit, 17 ... erase information management unit, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 21 ... Reservation information management part, 23 ... Operation reception part, 25 ... Recording list display process part, 27 ... Data recording / deletion process part, 31 ... Recording medium (HDD), 33 ... External IF part, 35 ... Remote control apparatus, 37 ... TV monitor (display unit).

Claims (26)

A content recording / playback apparatus for recording and playing back content,
A content recording unit for storing recorded content;
A content relevance determination unit for determining relevance between content;
An operation accepting unit that accepts an instruction to erase the content;
A recorded content list display processing unit for performing a list display process of the recorded content;
A data recording / erasing processing unit for recording and erasing recorded programs,
When the recorded content is erased in the operation accepting unit, the recorded content list display processing unit is not displayed as a title list of the erased recorded content,
The data recording / deleting processing unit is recorded when the content relevance determining unit determines that the recorded content stored in the content recording unit is related to the deleted recorded content. A content recording / playback apparatus for performing processing for storing entity data for at least a certain period.   Control for displaying a related content playback interface for playing back the erased content when a user interface capable of playing back the recorded content related to the erased recorded content is displayed. The content recording / playback apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a related content playback interface display control unit. A content recording / playback apparatus for recording and playing back content,
A content recording unit for storing recorded content;
A content relevance determination unit for determining relevance between content;
An operation accepting unit that accepts an instruction to erase the content;
A recorded content list display processing unit for performing a list display process of the recorded content;
A data recording / erasing processing unit for recording and erasing recorded programs,
The data recording / deleting processing unit is recorded when the content relevance determining unit determines that the recorded content stored in the content recording unit is related to the deleted recorded content. Perform processing to save the entity data for at least a certain period,
When the recorded content deleted by the data recording / erasing processing unit and the user interface capable of reproducing the recorded content related by the content relevance determining unit are displayed, the deleted content is reproduced. What is claimed is: 1. A content recording / playback apparatus comprising a related content playback interface display control unit that performs control for displaying an interface for playback of related content to be performed.   4. The recorded content list display processing unit is configured not to be displayed as a title list of deleted recorded content when an operation for deleting recorded content is performed in the operation accepting unit. The content recording / playback apparatus described. A content recording / playback apparatus for recording and playing back content,
A content recording unit for storing recorded content;
A content relevance determination unit for determining relevance between content;
An operation accepting unit that accepts an instruction to erase the content;
A recorded content list display processing unit for performing a list display process of the recorded content;
A data recording / erasing processing unit for recording and erasing recorded programs,
When the recorded content is erased in the operation accepting unit, the recorded content list display processing unit is not displayed as a title list of the erased recorded content,
When the recorded content deleted by the data recording / erasing processing unit and the user interface capable of reproducing the recorded content related by the content relevance determining unit are displayed, the deleted content is reproduced. What is claimed is: 1. A content recording / playback apparatus comprising a related content playback interface display control unit that performs control for displaying an interface for playback of related content to be performed.   The data recording / erasing processing unit is recorded when the content relevance determining unit determines that the recorded content stored in the content recording unit is related to the erased recorded content. 6. The content recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a process of storing the entity data for at least a certain period is performed. A storage capacity monitoring unit for monitoring the storage capacity of the content recording unit;
The storage capacity monitoring unit performs control such as taking into consideration the remaining capacity of the storage capacity and extending the storage period if the remaining capacity is large, and shortening the storage period if the remaining capacity decreases. 7. The content recording / playback apparatus according to any one of 1 to 6.   The content relevance determination unit determines that the content is related when the reserved recording is a weekly reservation for reserving a program of the same channel in the same time zone and a daily reservation for daily reservation. The content recording / playback apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7.   The content relevance determination unit further estimates content having a high degree of matching of titles as content having high relevance based on the title information of the content. The content recording / playback apparatus according to claim 1.   The content recording / playback apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the content relevance determination unit prioritizes determination based on the title information when the recorded content is direct recording.   The content relevance determination unit re-determines whether the content is a continuous program or a band program when a program content that may have continuity or relevance with the recorded content is recorded after the relevance determination. The content recording / playback apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein processing is performed.   The related content playback interface display control unit performs control to display on the playback menu of the recorded content of the broadcast times before and after the erased broadcast times that the erased broadcast times are reproducible. The content recording / playback apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 11.   The related content reproduction interface display control unit performs control to display an interface for reproducing at least one of the previous story and the next story of the recorded content related to the deleted recorded content. The content recording / playback apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 11.   The related content playback interface display control unit performs a control to display that the erased broadcast times can be played back during playback of the recorded content related to the deleted recorded content. The content recording / playback apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 11.   15. The data recording / deleting processing unit determines whether or not to delete the recorded content based on the elapsed time from the recording date and time of the recorded content of the broadcast time that has been deleted. The content recording / playback apparatus according to any one of the above.   15. The data recording / deleting processing unit determines whether or not to delete based on an actual recording date / time and an elapsed time from the broadcasting date / time of the recorded contents of the broadcast times subjected to the erasing operation. The content recording / playback apparatus according to any one of the above.   The data recording / erasing processing unit estimates a broadcast date / time that is supposed to be recorded when a part of a related program is recorded from rebroadcast, and uses the estimated broadcast date / time as the original recording date / time. Tentatively, the provisional recording date and time information is compared with the current date and time, and if the specified time has elapsed, the recorded data corresponding to the recording content of the corresponding broadcast times is actually deleted. 15. The content recording / playback apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the content recording / playback apparatus is characterized in that:   The data recording / erasing processing unit actually erases recorded data based on the elapsed time from the recording date and time estimated to have been recorded when a related program is recorded by a method having a different broadcasting form. The content recording / playback apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein it is determined whether or not to perform.   15. The data recording / deleting processing unit determines whether or not to delete based on an elapsed time from the last viewing date and time of the recorded content of the broadcast times subjected to the erasing operation. The content recording / playback apparatus according to any one of the above.   15. The data recording / deleting processing unit determines whether or not to delete based on the number of times of viewing of the recorded content of the broadcast that has been deleted. The content recording / playback apparatus according to claim 1.   15. The data recording / deleting processing unit determines whether or not to delete the data based on the number of viewings of the broadcast times before and after the broadcast content that has been erased. The content recording / playback apparatus according to claim 1.   The data recording / deleting processing unit determines whether or not to delete based on whether or not the genre of the recorded content is high in continuity or relevance in the program content at each broadcast time. The content recording / playback apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 14.   The data recording / erasing processing unit considers the remaining capacity of the storage capacity by the storage capacity monitoring unit that monitors the storage capacity, and lengthens the storage period if the remaining capacity is large, and shortens the storage period if the remaining capacity decreases. The content recording / playback apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the content recording / playback apparatus performs control such as performing A content playback method in a content recording / playback apparatus for recording and playing back content,
A content recording step for storing recorded content, a content relevance determining step for determining relevance between content, an operation accepting step for receiving an instruction to delete the content, and a recording for displaying a list of recorded content A content list display processing step, and a data recording / erasing processing step for recording and erasing a recorded program,
When the recorded content is erased in the operation accepting step, the recorded content list display processing step is not displayed as a title list of the erased recorded content, and the data recording / erasing processing step includes: In the content relevance determining step, if it is determined that there is a relevance between the recorded content stored in the content recording step and the erased recorded content, the recorded entity data is stored for at least a certain period. A content reproduction method characterized by performing a process of saving.   Control for displaying a related content playback interface for playing back the erased content when a user interface capable of playing back the recorded content related to the erased recorded content is displayed. The content reproduction method according to claim 24, further comprising a related content reproduction interface display control step for performing.   A program for causing a computer to execute the content reproduction method according to claim 24 or 25.

Images