JP3825589B2 - Multimedia terminal equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a multimedia terminal device that receives a plurality of types of content, and more particularly to a multimedia terminal device that receives digital broadcasts and can be connected to the Internet.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, digital technology has been developed, and multimedia terminal devices such as personal computers that can play received digital broadcast images on a monitor have been proposed. One such multimedia terminal device has a role as a computer terminal and a role as an AV (Audio Visual) device. Therefore, it is not necessary to separately have a computer terminal for performing the Internet and an AV device for receiving video broadcasts as in the prior art.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in such a multimedia terminal device, when there is only one speaker system that outputs audio, when receiving a plurality of types of content composed of audio signals and video signals such as digital TV programs and homepages, the respective contents are received. Cannot be output simultaneously. Further, it is necessary for the user to select and select one sound from such a plurality of contents based on the program contents of the contents. Furthermore, when a plurality of content sounds are mixed and output from this speaker system, there is a problem that spoken words such as lines cannot be heard.
[0004]
In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a multimedia terminal device capable of receiving a plurality of types of content and automatically selecting and outputting one of the plurality of content audio signals. The purpose is to provide.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the multimedia terminal device according to claim 1 includes a plurality of decoding units that respectively decode a plurality of types of content including an audio signal and a video signal, and a video signal of each content. In a multimedia terminal device having display means for displaying video, an audio output means for outputting audio from the audio signal of the content, and an audio signal output from the audio output means from the audio signals of the plurality of types of content A selection means for selecting one;
Corresponding to the program genre included in the program information of each content, program information determination means for giving priority to the audio signal of each content ,
A plurality of videos are simultaneously displayed on the display unit from the video signals of the plurality of types of content decoded by the plurality of decoding units, and each of the plurality of decoding units is decoded by the selection unit in the selection unit. A high-priority audio signal given by the program information determination unit is selected from the audio signals of the contents, and the audio output unit outputs the audio signal as audio .
[0006]
In a multimedia terminal device having such a configuration, when a plurality of types of content decoded by a plurality of decoding means are processed at the same time, the program information determining means determines the program genre included in the program information of the content. The priority is given to the audio signal of the content, and in the selection means, the high-priority audio given by the program information determination means from the audio signals of the contents respectively decoded by the plurality of decoding means A signal can be selected and output from the audio output means.
[0007]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, when the program information determining means determines that the program genre included in the program information of the content is a music program, a high priority is given to the audio signal of the content. Then, the selecting means selects the audio signal of the content whose program genre is a music program from the audio signals of the respective contents decoded by the plurality of decoding means, and outputs them from the audio output means Can do.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of the multimedia terminal device of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the multimedia terminal device of FIG.
[0015]
The multimedia terminal device 1 shown in FIG. 1 has an antenna 2 that receives a digital broadcast signal, a demodulator of the broadcast signal transmitted from the antenna 2, and demultiplexes the broadcast signal to demultiplex the broadcast content or EPG. (Electronic Program Guide) A tuner 3 for acquiring information and a network control means 5 for acquiring contents such as a home page selected by the user via a network 4 such as the Internet.
[0016]
The multimedia terminal device 1 includes a decoding unit 6 that decodes the video signal and the audio signal from the content acquired by the tuner 3, and a decoding unit 7 that decodes the video signal and the audio signal from the content acquired by the network control unit 5. And a display device 8 for displaying video based on the video signals decoded by the decoding means 6 and 7. In the display device 8, a window for displaying each content is opened, and by displaying the video of each content on the window, it is possible to display simultaneously.
[0017]
The multimedia terminal device 1 sends one of the audio signals decoded by the decoding means 6 and 7 to the speaker 11 for reproducing the audio and converts the other audio signal into a character. A voice signal selection means 9 to be sent to the voice / character conversion means 10; a voice / character conversion means 10 for creating a text file obtained by converting the voice signal into a character signal and giving the text file to the display device 8; Is provided. Furthermore, a program genre acquisition unit 12 that provides a control signal for controlling the audio signal selection unit 9, an audio property analysis unit 13, and a user instruction acquisition unit 14, a keyboard for the user to operate the multimedia terminal device 1, Input means 15 such as a mouse is provided.
[0018]
The program genre acquisition unit 12 acquires the program genre of the content of the channel selected by the user from the EPG information obtained by the tuner 3 or the program guide site acquired by the network control unit 5, and stores it together with the priority of each program genre. . Further, the voice property analyzing means 13 judges whether or not the voice signals decoded by the decoding means 6 and 7 contain many low level signals which become silent parts, and there are many silent parts. The audio signal is determined to be a spoken language audio signal, and its priority is lowered. Conversely, an audio signal with few interruptions that becomes a silent portion is determined as a musical audio signal, and the priority is increased. Further, the user instruction acquisition unit 14 stores the output format of each content input by the user through the input unit 15.
[0019]
That is, in the program genre acquisition unit 12, the audio property analysis unit 13, and the user instruction acquisition unit 14, the priority and output format of the audio signal of each content are determined as follows. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the priority according to the program genre is “3” for music programs, “2” for variety programs and dramas, “1” for sports and weather forecasts, and “0” for news. It is stored in the means 12.
[0020]
This priority is output preferentially to the speaker 11 as the program genre has a larger number. The program genre acquisition unit 12 stores the program genre of each content in advance by storing EPG information periodically received from the antenna 2 and program information acquired by connecting to the program guide site via the network 4. To do. Further, the program genre can be identified from the data signal that is the program information attached to the content received via the network 4.
[0021]
Further, the voice property analyzing means 13 measures the ratio of the voice signal whose level of the voice signal transmitted from the decoding means 6 and 7 is lower than the threshold level, and when the ratio of the voice signal having the low threshold level is large, It is determined that there are many silent parts, and the priority of the voice signal is lowered as a spoken voice signal. On the other hand, an audio signal having a low percentage of audio signals with a low threshold level is judged to have few interruptions, and the priority of the audio signal is increased as a musical audio signal. Further, when the user operates the input means 15 such as an input key, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, the content A is “speaker output”, the content B is “text output”, and the content C is “automatic”. The output format of the content is stored in the user instruction acquisition unit 14.
[0022]
The operation of the multimedia terminal device 1 will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Now, the video of the content a received from the network 4 by the network control means 5 is displayed on the window of the display device 8, and when the audio is output from the speaker 11, the digital broadcast of the digital broadcast is performed by the tuner 3 via the antenna 2. It is assumed that reception of content b has started (STEP 1). First, the output format of the content a is determined by the user instruction acquisition unit 14 (STEP 2 and STEP 3). At this time, when the output format of the content a is not “automatic” (No), the process proceeds to STEP 3, and when the output format of the content a is “automatic” (Yes), the process proceeds to STEP 4 (STEP 2).
[0023]
In STEP 3, it is determined whether or not the output format of the content a is “speaker output”. At this time, when the output format of the content a is “speaker output” (Yes), the content a is output from the speaker 11 at STEP 9 and the content b is converted into a text file by the voice / character conversion means 10. The character string is displayed on the display device 8 based on the text file. On the contrary, when the output format of the content a is “text output” (No), the content b is output from the speaker 11 in STEP 10 and the content a is converted into characters by the voice / character converting means 10 to be a text file. The character string is displayed on the display device 8 based on the text file.
[0024]
Next, the output format of the content b is determined by the user instruction acquisition unit 14 (STEP 4 and STEP 5). At this time, when the output format of the content b is not “automatic” (No), the process proceeds to STEP5, and when the output format of the content b is “automatic” (Yes), the process proceeds to STEP6 (STEP4).
[0025]
In STEP 5, it is determined whether or not the output format of the content b is “speaker output”. At this time, when the output format of the content b is “speaker output” (Yes), the content b is output from the speaker 11 in STEP 10 and the content a is converted into a text file by the voice / character conversion means 10. The character string is displayed on the display device 8 based on the text file. On the contrary, when the output format of the content b is “text output” (No), the content a is output from the speaker 11 at STEP 9 and the content b is converted into a text file by the voice / character converting means 10. The character string is displayed on the display device 8 based on the text file.
[0026]
In STEP 6, the program genre acquiring unit 12 determines the program genre of the content b from the EPG information stored in advance, and the program genre of the content a from the program information stored in the program guide site or the data signal accompanying the content a. Determine. Then, the priorities of the program genres stored in advance are compared with the program genres of the contents a and b, the priorities of the contents a and b are compared, and if they are not equal (No), the process proceeds to STEP 7 and is equal ( If yes), go to STEP8.
[0027]
In STEP 7, the priorities of the contents a and b obtained by the program genre acquisition means 12 are compared according to the program genre. When the priority of the contents a is high (Yes), the contents a are output from the speaker 11 in STEP 9, and the contents Characters b are converted into a text file by the voice / character converting means 10, and the character string is displayed on the display device 8 based on the text file. On the other hand, when the priority of the content b is high (No), the content b is output from the speaker 11 at STEP 10 and the content a is converted into a text file by the voice / character converting means 10 to be a text file. The character string is displayed on the display device 8 based on the above.
[0028]
In STEP 8, the priorities obtained from the audio signal properties of the contents a and b determined by the audio property analysis means 13 are compared, and the priority of the content a is high, that is, the ratio of the silent part of the content a is small (Yes ) When the content a is output from the speaker 11 at STEP 9, the content b is converted into a text file by the voice / character conversion means 10, and the character string is displayed on the display device 8 based on the text file. On the other hand, when the priority of the content b is high, that is, the ratio of the silent part of the content b is small (No), the content b is output from the speaker 11 at STEP 10 and the content a is converted into the voice / character converting means 10. The character is converted into a text file, and the character string is displayed on the display device 8 based on the text file.
[0029]
In the flowchart of FIG. 2, it is assumed that the digital broadcast content b is newly started to be received by the tuner via the antenna 2 in STEP 1. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Is output from the display device 8 and the speaker 11, and the same operation as described above is performed when the content a is received. If the program genres of the contents a and b cannot be acquired, the process may be shifted from STEP 6 to STEP 8 and selected according to the priority based on the ratio of the respective audio parts.
[0030]
Furthermore, the silent part ratio determining means and the program information determining means in the claims correspond to the sound property analyzing means and the program genre acquiring means in the present embodiment, respectively. The operation means in the claims corresponds to the input means and the user instruction acquisition means in the present embodiment.
[0031]
The multimedia terminal device according to the present embodiment detects the signal level of the signal using the audio signal decoded by the decoding unit. By acquiring the information of the signal level of the audio data from the scale factor, the audio signal property of each content may be determined by the audio property analysis means.
[0032]
In the multimedia terminal device of the present embodiment, the user determines the output format of each content by the input means, and stores the output format of each instructed content in the user instruction acquisition means. The user designates a window displaying a video of each content on the display device by an input means such as a mouse, and inputs the output format of one of the currently processed contents. An audio signal may be selected and output from a speaker. Further, at this time, the audio signal of other content not instructed by the input means can be automatically converted by the voice / character converting means and displayed as a character string on the display device as described above. It doesn't matter.
[0033]
Further, in the present embodiment, the content is content received from digital broadcasting or the Internet. However, the content is not limited to content obtained by receiving via such a network. For example, a recording medium such as a magnetic disk or an optical disk is used. It may be content that can be obtained by reproduction. Whether the content obtained from such a recording medium is a content having a spoken speech signal such as a musical content or a dialogue in which movies are recorded from the data recorded on the recording medium, is a program genre acquisition means Can be judged. Also, the sound property analysis means can determine whether the sound signal is musical or spoken language by examining the signal level of the sound signal of the content.
[0034]
Furthermore, although the multimedia terminal device of this embodiment has three means of program genre acquisition means, audio property analysis means, and user instruction acquisition means, it is limited to such multimedia terminal equipment. Instead, it may be a multimedia terminal device having only one of program genre acquisition means, audio property analysis means, and user instruction acquisition means. Further, it may be a multimedia terminal device having any two means of program genre acquisition means, audio property analysis means, and user instruction acquisition means.
[0035]
【The invention's effect】
According to the multimedia terminal device of the present invention, when processing a plurality of contents composed of video signals and audio signals, one decoded audio signal is selected and output from the audio output means. And not. Even if there is no audio output means corresponding to the number of decrypted contents, the audio signals can be effectively output without being mixed and output. Further, since the voice signal not selected by the selection means is converted into a character signal and can be displayed on the display means as a character string, the user can read the voice signal that has not been output from the voice output means from the character string on the display means. Can read and understand.
[0036]
In addition, by providing silence ratio determination means and program information determination means, when processing content with a lot of musical sound and content with a lot of spoken speech, it is automatically expressed as a character string. The audio signal of the content with a lot of difficult musical sound can be output by the audio output means, and the audio signal of the content with a lot of spoken speech can be displayed on the display means as a character string. Thus, the user is freed from selecting the audio signal of each content, and can concentrate on viewing the content.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an internal structure of a multimedia terminal device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation of the multimedia terminal device of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 shows an example of priorities according to program genres.
FIG. 4 shows an example of an output format according to a user instruction.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Multimedia terminal device 2 Antenna 3 Tuner 4 Network 5 Network control means 6, 7 Decoding means 8 Display device 9 Audio signal selection means 10 Voice / character conversion means 11 Speaker 12 Program genre acquisition means 13 Audio property analysis means 14 User instruction acquisition Means 15 Input means

Claims (2)

In a multimedia terminal device comprising a plurality of decoding means for decoding each of a plurality of types of content comprising an audio signal and a video signal, and a display means for displaying a video from the video signal of each content,
Audio output means for outputting audio from the audio signal of the content;
Selecting means for selecting one audio signal to be output from the audio output means from the audio signals of the plurality of types of content;
Corresponding to the program genre included in the program information of each content, program information determination means for giving priority to the audio signal of each content ,
A plurality of videos are simultaneously displayed on the display unit from the video signals of the plurality of types of content decoded by the plurality of decoding units, and each of the plurality of decoding units is decoded by the selection unit in the selection unit. A multimedia terminal device , wherein an audio signal having a high priority given by the program information determining means is selected from the audio signals of the respective contents and outputted as audio by the audio output means . 2. The multimedia terminal device according to claim 1, wherein when the program genre included in the program information of the content is a music program, the program information determination unit gives a high priority to the audio signal of the content. .

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