JP3807418B2 - AV system control method and AV system control apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an AV system control method and AV system capable of performing scheduled recording of a plurality of AV (audio / visual) information recording / reproducing apparatuses, notifying a user of the reserved media (program) and easily reproducing the same. The present invention relates to a control device.

In recent years, VTR (video tape recorder) devices have become widespread, and there are many situations where a plurality of VTR devices are connected to one television.
When two or more VTRs are connected in this way, the user can perform dubbing, editing, and recording of different programs being broadcast at the same time.
However, handling a plurality of AV information recording / reproducing devices at the same time is complicated and difficult to operate as the user desires.

Therefore, in order to handle such a system more easily, a control device that integrates and manages a plurality of AV information recording / reproducing devices such as a VTR device has been considered and commercialized.
This conventional control apparatus not only collects the inputs and outputs of a plurality of AV information recording / reproducing apparatuses, but also controls the switching of the inputs and outputs of each AV information recording / reproducing apparatus using a control terminal or the like. By introducing this control device, it is possible to integrate a plurality of AV information recording / reproducing devices into one system, which can be operated more conveniently and easily.

Further, in Patent Document 1, a system is provided in which a control device is provided with a timer function so that a plurality of AV information recording / reproducing devices can be operated by timer control. Operations can now be performed using the timer function.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-14583

  However, in the system using the conventional control device as described above, when the user performs reserved recording, it is necessary to remember which program is reserved by which VTR device. If this was forgotten, it was necessary to rewind and play back each VTR device in order to find out where the program to be viewed was recorded. Furthermore, when a plurality of programs are recorded with the same VTR device, it is necessary to remember the recording order, and it is much more difficult to search. This is a very troublesome work for the user and a time-consuming work.

  In addition, when a user makes a reservation, a VTR device that performs recording must be selected from a plurality of VTR devices. However, when it is desired to schedule recording of a plurality of programs, the user has to allocate the reservation contents to the plurality of VTR devices while calculating the recordable time of the magnetic tape (recording medium). At this time, when the recording start time overlaps, or when the recording start time of another program comes during recording of a certain program, it becomes more complicated.

  Therefore, the present invention solves the above problems by providing an AV system control apparatus provided with a function for notifying a user of a recorded program and a function for automatically selecting a VTR for recording. For the purpose.

  As means for achieving the above object, the following AV system control method and AV system control apparatus are to be provided.

1. A AV system control method AV system control device to control braking a plurality of information recording and reproducing apparatus having respective recording medium, the AV system control device, the reservation information concerning reservation recording of the program inputted by the user The information is stored in the AV system control device , and information about the operation status of the information recording / reproducing device and the remaining recordable amount of the recording medium included in the information recording / reproducing device is stored for each information recording / reproducing device. Requesting and determining an information recording / reproducing apparatus for recording the program designated in the stored reservation information based on the response to the request, and determining the program start time and program end time of the program based on the reservation information Seki and identification information of the start and is terminated, the recorded program identification information and the determined information recording and reproducing apparatus records the program in Give one to be accumulated in the AV system control apparatus as the related information, in the reproduction of the program to each of the plurality of information recording and reproducing apparatus is recorded on a recording medium having, of the program which is the recording is displayed on the basis of the list to the related information, by outputting a reproduction control signal to the user by the selected program in which the information recording and reproducing apparatus having a recording medium which is recorded from the list, the information An AV system control method characterized in that the selected program is reproduced from a recording / reproducing apparatus .

2. A AV system control apparatus for controlling a plurality of information recording and reproducing apparatus having respective recording medium, the reservation information storing means for storing reservation information concerning reservation recording of the program which is input by a user, each of the information recording reproducing A request is made to the device for information on the operating state of the information recording / reproducing device and the remaining recordable amount of the recording medium of the information recording / reproducing device, and the stored reservation information is based on a response to this request. And an information recording / reproducing apparatus selecting means for determining an information recording / reproducing apparatus for recording the program designated by the program, and starting recording of the program at the program start time and program end time based on the reservation information a program recording control means and terminate control to record the program on the recording medium of the determined information recording and reproducing apparatus, the recorded program Playback of a program in association with identification information of the identification information and the determined information recording and reproducing apparatus and storage means for storing as the related information, each of the plurality of information recording and reproducing apparatus is recorded in it is a recording medium which has Sometimes, display control means for displaying a list of programs recorded on a recording medium included in each of the plurality of information recording / reproducing apparatuses based on the related information, and a program selected by the user from the list is recorded. by outputting the reproduced control signal to be that the information recording and reproducing apparatus having a recording medium that is, that a playback apparatus control means for reproducing the selected program from the information recording and reproducing apparatus A featured AV system control device.

  The AV system control method and AV system control apparatus according to the present invention relates to the AV system control apparatus as related information by associating the identification information of the program with the identification information of the information recording / reproducing apparatus that has performed the recording when the program is recorded. Therefore, when recording a program, it is not necessary to remember to which information recording / reproducing apparatus the recorded program was recorded.

  Also, when viewing a program, it is only necessary to select the program from the media list, and it is not necessary to search for information in each information recording / reproducing apparatus, and there is no difficulty in starting the program. Furthermore, since the recorded program is registered in the media list and displayed as a list, viewing this program has the effect of not forgetting each recorded program.

  An embodiment of the AV system control method and AV system control apparatus of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Here, in order to simplify the description, the monitor is assumed to be a TV (television).

  The AV system control method of the present invention is connected in the form as shown in FIGS. 1 (A) and 1 (B). FIG. 2A shows an example in which a monitor 2 and information recording / reproducing apparatuses 3a to 3n are connected to the AV system control apparatus 1, and FIG. 1B shows each apparatus 1, 2, 3a to 3n. This is an example of connection via a home bus or a home LAN (local area network). In any case, the AV system control device 1 is connected so that the information recording / reproducing devices 3a to 3n can be turned on / off and start / stop recording. The monitor 2 is also connected so that operations such as power on / off and input switching can be performed. The monitor 2 and the information recording / reproducing apparatuses 3a to 3n are provided with control signal transmitting / receiving means (not shown) for transmitting and receiving control signals in order to be operated by the AV system control apparatus 1.

A schematic configuration diagram of the information recording / reproducing apparatuses (hereinafter also referred to as AV apparatuses) 3, 3a to 3n is shown in FIG. 7 and will be described below.
The AV apparatus 3 includes a recording / reproducing unit 31, a state detecting unit 32, a control unit 33, and a tuner 34. The recording / reproducing means 31 is means for recording and reproducing the contents of the program received by the tuner 34 on a recording medium such as a magnetic tape or a magnetic disk. It is means for detecting the state of operation and the like. The control means 33 is means for controlling operations such as recording / reproduction by the recording / reproducing means 31.

  In the AV apparatus 3 having such a configuration, when the status report message is received from the AV system control apparatus 1, the status of the recording / reproducing means 31 is detected by the status detecting means 32. Here, the state of the recording / reproducing means 31 means that a recording medium such as a magnetic tape is currently loaded and is in a recordable state, an operation state such as recording / reproducing / stopping, and the remaining recordable time of the recording medium. Etc. are shown. Then, the state signal detected by the state detection unit 32 is output to the AV system control device 1.

Further, when a control message such as recording start / end or playback start / stop is received from the AV system control apparatus 1, the control means 33 controls the operation of the recording / playback means 31, and the result is AV system control. Notify the device 1.
The configuration of the main part of the AV system control apparatus 1 is shown mainly in FIG.

  As shown in the figure, the AV system control device 1 includes a program reservation unit 11 including a program reservation unit 11a, a program reservation list 11b, and a timer 11c, and an AV device control unit including an AV device control unit 12a and an AV device list 12b. 12, media selection means 13 comprising a media selection section 13a and a media list 13b, and display means 14 having a display section 14a.

The program reservation list 11b of the program reservation unit 11 stores data necessary for making a recording reservation, and the program reservation unit 11a registers, updates, and deletes data in the program reservation list 11b. The timer 11c can count the current time, and refers to the data in the program reservation list 11b to send a recording start / end message to the AV apparatus control unit 12a when the reservation start / end time is reached. Output.

  The AV device list 12b of the AV device control means 12 stores the data of the currently connected AV device 3, and the current state is written from the AV device 3. The AV device control unit 12a receives a recording start / end message from the timer 11c, and selects an AV device 3 suitable for operation with reference to the AV device list 12b. Then, a control message such as recording start / stop is output to the AV apparatus 3, and program data is registered in the media list 13b after the recording ends. Also, it receives a playback start / end message from the media selection unit 13a, selects the AV device 3 on which the program is recorded, and outputs a control message such as playback start / stop.

  In the media list 13b of the media selection means 13, a list of media that can be viewed at present is registered. Then, the media selection unit 13a receives information on the media (program) that the user 4 wants to view from the user 4, and outputs a playback start / end message to the AV device control unit 12a with reference to the program data registered in the media list 13b. To do. In addition, program data registered in the media list 13b can be deleted by an operation from the user 4.

The data of the program reservation list 11b and the media list 13b can be displayed on the display unit 14a of the display means 14.
A method for recording and reproducing program reservations using the AV system control apparatus 1 having such a configuration will be described in detail below.

<Program reservation>
The user 4 schedules the program recording with respect to the AV system control apparatus 1 by the same method as that conventionally performed by the AV information recording / reproducing apparatus 3. That is, when a user makes a program recording reservation, the user inputs data related to the program such as the program channel, broadcast date (day of the week), recording start / end time, recording mode, etc. A program recording is reserved by inputting a called number and converting it into data related to the program.

  This program recording reservation is performed by operating the program reservation unit 11a of the program reservation means 11, and data related to the program is registered in the program reservation list 11b. In addition, data related to programs registered in the program reservation list 11b (hereinafter also referred to as program data) includes a channel, a broadcast date, a start time, an end time, a program category (necessary) for a program ID provided in each program. Etc.) are registered.

  The program ID is a number provided for convenience of processing. The program ID has a one-to-one correspondence with the program data, and the program ID does not take the same value in all two different program data. The program category is a type of program such as news, drama, or sports, and is registered by the user 4 at the time of program recording reservation.

  A plurality of program data can be registered in the program reservation list 11b, and the program reservation unit 11a has a function of registering / updating / deleting individual program data in the program reservation list 11b. 4 performs the operation of these functions while confirming the contents of the program reservation list 11b by the display unit 14a. Hereinafter, each function will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

[Program data registration term]
When the user 4 makes a program recording reservation (step 101 → yes), it becomes a program data registration term, and the program reservation unit 11a requests the user 4 to input program data. When the user 4 inputs program data such as a channel, a broadcast date, a start time, an end time, and a program category (step 102), the program reservation unit 11a assigns a program ID so as not to overlap with other program data and media data described later. The program data thus set is registered in the program reservation list 11b (step 103).

[Program data update term]
When the user 4 selects to update the program data (step 104 → yes), the program reservation list 11b is displayed on the display unit 14a, and the user 4 is allowed to select the program data to be updated (step 105).
When the user 4 selects program data to be updated (step 106), the program reservation unit 11a requests the user to input update data for the data selected by the user 4. When the user 4 finishes inputting the update data (step 107), the program reservation unit 11a registers the update data in place of the previous program data registered in the program reservation list 11b (step 108).

[Program data deletion term]
When the user 4 selects to delete the program data (step 109 → yes), the program reservation list 11b is displayed on the display unit 14a and the user 4 selects the program data to be deleted (step 110).
When the user 4 selects program data to be deleted (step 111), the program reservation unit 11a deletes the selected program data from the program reservation list 11b (step 112).

  The above is the procedure for registering / updating / deleting program data. The program reservation unit 11a displays the program reservation list 11a in advance on the display unit 14a, and then registers / updates / deletes the program data. You may make it make the user 4 select. In this case, when the user 4 selects program data on the program reservation list 11a, the user 4 may select whether to update or delete the program, and may proceed to processing related to update / deletion.

<Reserved recording>
Recording of a reserved program (hereinafter also referred to as reservation recording) is performed while the AV device control unit 12a receives a message from the timer 11c and refers to the AV device list 12b. The AV device data registered in the AV device list 12b includes a device ID assigned in a one-to-one correspondence with the AV information recording / reproducing device 3 such as a connected VTR device, and the AV information recording / reproducing device 3 It consists of State that indicates the state. The device ID does not take the same value in all the two different AV information recording / reproducing devices 3. State is a value that changes according to a state signal sent from the AV information recording / reproducing apparatus 3 when a state inquiry is received from the AV apparatus control unit 12a.

[Recording start term]
The timer 11c always counts the time and compares it with the start time and end time of the program data registered in the program reservation list 11b. Then, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4, when the start time of certain program data is reached (step 113 → yes), the timer 11c transmits a recording start message with the program data added to the AV apparatus control unit 12a (step 114).

  As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5, the AV device control unit 12a that has received the recording start message (step 121) first searches all AV devices 3 to search for AV devices 3 that are currently recordable. A message is output to report the current state (step 122). The AV device 3 that has received the message records its current state in the State of its own data corresponding to the AV device data stored in the AV device list 12b. Here, it is described as if the AV apparatus 3 is directly writing data, but the writing means for receiving the state of each AV apparatus 3 on the AV system control apparatus 1 side and writing it in the AV apparatus list 12b. May be provided. In this case, the AV device 3 needs the ability to report its state, but does not need the ability to write to the AV device list 12b. The status signal transmitted from the AV apparatus 3 not only indicates that a recording medium such as a magnetic tape is currently loaded and is in a recordable state, and indicates the current operation state such as recording / reproducing / stopping. The signal includes the counter position of the recording medium, the remaining recordable time, and the like.

  After all AV devices 3 have been written or a certain amount of time has elapsed, the AV device control unit 12a refers to the AV device list 12b and selects an AV device 3 that can be recorded at present (step 123). . Here, if there is no AV apparatus 3 to be selected, the process is interrupted.

Then, the AV device control unit 12a outputs a recording start signal to the selected AV device 3 (step 124). Upon receiving the recording start signal, the AV apparatus 3 starts recording, and notifies the AV apparatus control unit 12a of a counter (hereinafter referred to as a start counter) at the time of starting (step 125).
At this time, the AV apparatus control unit 12a holds the data obtained by adding the apparatus ID of the AV apparatus 3 that performs recording and the start counter to the program data until the recording is completed (step 126).

  If the above procedure takes a considerable amount of time, the timer 11c first transmits a recording start message to the AV device control unit 12a before the start time, and the AV device control unit 12a starts recording to the AV device 3. The processing until the signal is output is terminated before the start time, the timer 11c outputs a recording start time message at the start time, and the AV device control unit 12a outputs a recording start signal to the AV device 3. You may carry out with the process procedure.

[Recording Term]
When the end time of the program data being recorded comes (step 115 → yes), the timer 11c outputs a recording end message to which the program ID of the program data is added to the AV device control unit 12a (step 116) ( (See FIG. 4).
When the AV apparatus control unit 12a receives the recording end message (step 131 → yes), the AV apparatus control unit 12a compares the data held at the time of the recording start term, and the program data corresponding to the recording end message and the apparatus of the AV apparatus 3 that performs the recording An ID is acquired (step 132). Then, the AV apparatus control unit 12a transmits a recording stop signal to the AV apparatus 3 indicated by the apparatus ID (step 133).

  Receiving the recording stop signal, the AV apparatus 3 stops the recording of the current program. Then, the AV device control unit 12a is notified of whether or not the video recording has ended normally. When the recording ends normally, a counter at the time of completion (hereinafter referred to as an end counter) is sent to the AV device control unit 12a. Notice.

When the AV device control unit 12a receives a notification from the AV device 3 that the program recording has ended normally (step 134 → yes), the data obtained by adding the device ID of the AV device 3 that has recorded the program and the start counter to the program data. The end counter (step 135) notified from the AV apparatus 3 is added to the media list 13b (step 136) (the details of the media list 13b will be described later).
When the AV apparatus control unit 12a receives a notice of abnormal end of program recording from the AV apparatus 3 (step 134 → no), the process ends on the spot. If the recording is not normally performed in this recording start / end term, the fact is displayed on the display unit 14a to inform the user 4.

<Media viewing>
Data relating to a program (hereinafter, also referred to as media) recorded by reserved recording is obtained by adding a device ID, a start counter, and an end counter to program data (hereinafter referred to as media data) as described above. The list 13b is interpreted as a set of media data. Further, the user 4 can display and view the media data registered in the media list 13b on the display unit 14a. Note that the media data displayed on the display unit 14a is displayed in an easy-to-view manner for the user 4, such as by color classification for each category with reference to the program category.

The media selection unit 13a can refer to the media (media data) registered in the media list 13b to reproduce or delete. The user 4 operates the media selection unit 13a.
Hereinafter, each term will be described with reference to the flowcharts of the AV apparatus control unit 12a shown in FIG. 5 and the media selection unit 13a shown in FIG.

[Media viewing term]
When the user 4 operates the media selection unit 13a to select media viewing (step 161 → yes), the media selection unit 13a selects the media to be viewed from the media list 13b (step 162). Then, the media selection unit 13a outputs a playback start message to which the media data to be played is added to the AV device control unit 12a (step 163).

  When receiving the reproduction start message (step 141 → yes), the AV device control unit 12a transmits a message to notify the AV device 3 indicated by the device ID of the media data (steps 142 and 143). Upon receiving the notification, the AV device 3 writes the current state in the AV device list 12b. Thereafter, the AV device control unit 12a refers to the AV device list 12b and confirms the state of the AV device 3. If the corresponding AV device 3 cannot be played back (step 144 → no), this is notified to the user 4 and the process is terminated.

  If playback is possible (step 144 → yes), a message is output to the corresponding AV device 3 so that playback is performed from the start counter portion to the end counter portion (step 145). At the same time, the AV apparatus control unit 12a outputs a message for instructing to switch the image / audio input of the monitor 2 to the corresponding AV apparatus 3. Upon receiving the message, the AV apparatus 3 seeks the start counter portion and starts reproduction, and ends reproduction at the end counter portion.

[Interruption of media viewing]
When the user 4 wants to interrupt the media viewing during the media viewing, the media playback can be suspended by operating the media selection unit 13a.
When the media selection unit 13a receives an instruction to interrupt media viewing from the user 4 (step 164 → yes), the media selection unit 13a outputs a playback end message to which the media data being viewed is added to the AV device control unit 12a (step 165). .

When receiving the reproduction end message (step 151 → yes), the AV apparatus control unit 12a transmits a stop signal to the AV apparatus 3 indicated by the apparatus ID included in the media data (step 152). Then, the AV device 3 that has received the stop signal stops the reproduction and puts it into the stop state, and ends the processing.
At this time, the AV device control unit 12a is notified of the counter at the time of stopping (interrupted) from the AV device 3 (step 153), and added to the media data in the media list 13b and stored, the next time it is viewed. It can be seen from where it was interrupted, improving operability.

[Media data deletion term]
In addition, the user 4 can delete media data such as the watched media.
When the user 4 performs an operation of deleting media data (step 166 → yes), the media selection unit 13a causes the user 4 to select media data of the media to be deleted (step 167), and the selected media data is stored in the media list. It is deleted from 13b (step 168).
Note that the processing related to deletion may be performed by selecting deletion of media data after the user 4 selects media data on the media list 13b displayed in advance on the display unit 14a.

It is a block diagram for demonstrating one Example of the AV system control method of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows one Example of the AV system control apparatus of this invention. It is a flowchart figure which shows operation | movement of a program reservation part. It is a flowchart figure which shows operation | movement of a timer. It is a flowchart figure which shows operation | movement of AV apparatus control part. It is a flowchart figure which shows operation | movement of a media selection part. It is a schematic block diagram which shows one Example of the information recording / reproducing apparatus of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 AV system control apparatus 2 Monitor 3, 3a-3n AV apparatus (information recording / reproducing apparatus)
4 User 11 Program reservation unit 11a Program reservation unit 11b Program reservation list 11c Timer 12 AV device control unit 12a AV device control unit 12b AV device list 13 Media selection unit 13a Media selection unit 13b Media list 14 Display unit 14a Display unit 31 Recording / playback Means 32 State detection means 33 Control means 34 Tuner

Claims (2)

A AV system control method AV system control device to control braking a plurality of information recording and reproducing apparatus having respective recording medium,
The AV system control device comprises:
Reservation information on reservation recording of the program inputted by the user leave accumulated in the AV system control the apparatus,
Requesting each information recording / reproducing apparatus for information on the operation state of the information recording / reproducing apparatus and the remaining recordable amount of the recording medium included in the information recording / reproducing apparatus,
Based on the response to this request, determine an information recording / reproducing apparatus for recording the program specified in the stored reservation information,
Based on the reservation information, start and end the recording of the program the program start time and program end time of the program,
While previously accumulated in the AV system control apparatus as the related information in association with identification information of the recorded program identification information and the determined information recording and reproducing apparatus,
In reproduction of a program recorded on a recording medium possessed by each of the plurality of information recording / reproducing devices ,
Displaying a list of the recorded programs based on the related information;
By outputting a reproduction control signal to an information recording / reproducing apparatus having a recording medium on which the program selected by the user from the list is recorded, the selected program is selected from the information recording / reproducing apparatus. An AV system control method characterized by being reproduced . A AV system control apparatus for controlling a plurality of information recording and reproducing apparatus having respective recording medium,
Reservation information accumulating means for accumulating reservation information related to a reservation record of a program input by a user;
Requesting each information recording / reproducing apparatus for information on the operating state of the information recording / reproducing apparatus and the remaining recordable amount of the recording medium included in the information recording / reproducing apparatus, and based on a response to the request, Information recording / reproducing apparatus selection means for determining an information recording / reproducing apparatus for recording the program specified in the stored reservation information;
Based on the reservation information, program recording is controlled such that recording of the program starts and ends at the program start time and program end time of the program, and the program is recorded on the recording medium of the determined information recording / reproducing apparatus. Control means;
Means for storing the relevant information in association with identification information of the recorded program identification information and the determined information recording and reproducing apparatus,
During playback of the program recorded on the recording medium each of the plurality of information recording and reproducing apparatus has the list of programs each of the plurality of information recording and reproducing apparatus is recorded on a recording medium having Display control means for displaying based on related information;
By outputting a reproduction control signal to an information recording / reproducing apparatus having a recording medium on which the program selected by the user from the list is recorded, the selected program is selected from the information recording / reproducing apparatus. AV system control apparatus characterized by comprising a reproduction apparatus control means for reproducing.

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