KR20090116076A - Display device and method of controlling the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A display device and a method of controlling the same are provided to integrally reproduce files according to a kind of a file selected by a user, thereby providing visually effective information to the user. CONSTITUTION: A display device includes a media interface unit(100), a search screen generating unit(180), a display unit(150), and a key input unit(110). The media interface unit communicates with at least one storage medium storing data. The search screen generating unit generates a search screen of data existing in the storage medium. The display unit displays the search screen. A user inputs a request command to the key input unit.

Description

DISPLAY DEVICE AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a display device, and more particularly, to a display device and a control method thereof that enable to integrally reproduce data of different types stored in a storage medium.

In recent years, accessibility and provision of information and content such as TV programs, video clips, music, e-mail, and e-books have exploded.

Today, information and content can be provided from many different sources, and thus the availability of content is increasing significantly.

For example, the number of available television channels in most countries has increased significantly over the last few years, and viewers can receive tens or hundreds of different TV channels. TV channels are also provided from different broadcast stations and sources and are communicated via various media including terrestrial radio broadcasts, cable distribution or satellite broadcasts.

Similarly, the number of available radio channels is exploding and is provided via different media such as satellite broadcasts, digital terrestrial broadcasts, cable distribution, or the Internet. In addition, available content can be provided in real time format, for example, via broadcasts.

The content may also be provided from non-broadcast related storage devices such as CD (CD-DA), Video CD, DVD-Video, In addition, the increase in electronic communications has increased the distribution and exchange of electronic content such as e-books, e-mails, documents, audio files, and the like.

On the other hand, as the digitalization and compression technology has recently been developed, multimedia functions and performance are greatly improved. Multimedia is a function that efficiently transmits information using multiple media. That is, it is a function to transmit information by using various media such as text, sound, and video. Accordingly, a user using a display device is demanding a variety of multimedia functions in terms of audiovisual.

However, the conventional display device fails to meet the user's expectation because it can not provide more effective information through audio-visual information transmission using the multimedia function as described above.

Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem [8] Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a user interface for searching for a content more effectively in an image display device for reproducing multimedia (moving image, MP3, .

It is another object of the present invention to sort and organize the detailed files stored in the storage medium into respective media types.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a play list for a file selected by a user more effectively.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of reproducing a plurality of files integrally according to a type of a file selected by the user, thereby providing more effective information to the user in terms of audiovisual.

A display device according to the present invention includes: a media interface unit for performing communication with at least one storage medium in which data is stored; A search screen generating unit for generating a search screen of data existing in the storage medium; A display unit for displaying a search screen generated through the search screen generating unit; A key input unit for receiving a request command from a user; And generating first and second reproduction lists by grasping the types of data selected through the key input unit on the search screen, thereby generating independent reproduction of the first reproduction list or integration of first and second reproduction lists And controlling the reproduction to be performed.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of controlling a display device, including: displaying a search screen of data existing in a currently connected storage medium; Receiving a selection signal of at least one data on the search screen to be displayed; Generating first and second playlists based on the type of the selected data; And performing independent reproduction of the generated first reproduction list or integrated reproduction of the first and second reproduction lists according to the type of data currently being reproduced.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The display device and method according to the present invention can provide consistency and convenience of a user interface for data search by classifying data stored in a storage medium according to types in an image display device for reproducing multimedia, There is an effect that a user can easily search / execute a specific file stored in the storage medium.

In addition, by providing a play list to a user more efficiently and reproducing different kinds of data integrally according to the play list, the satisfaction of the user can be improved, and instantaneous sound quality change due to reproduction of various kinds of data mixed can be compensated So that the user's emotional discomfort can be alleviated.

Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the scope of the present invention to the embodiment shown, and that other embodiments falling within the scope of the present invention may be easily devised by adding, Can be proposed.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a display apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a data classification method according to the present invention. FIGS. 4A to 4C are views for explaining a reproduction list provided according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a view for explaining a sound quality compensation method of a display apparatus according to the present invention FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the data classification method of the display device according to the present invention in steps; FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining a method of providing a search screen of a display device according to the present invention, FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the data reproducing method of the display device according to the present invention step by step.

1, the display apparatus includes a media interface unit 100 for data communication with a storage medium in which data is stored, a key input unit 110 for receiving a request command from a user, A speaker 130 for outputting the processed voice signal, a speaker 130 for outputting a video signal input through the media interface 100, A display unit 150 for displaying the processed video signal, and a display unit 150 for analyzing data existing in the storage medium according to a command input through the key input unit 110, And a virtual folder is generated for each of the identified types to classify the data, (170) for controlling the independent reproduction of the first reproduction list or the integrated reproduction of the first and second reproduction lists according to the generated first and second reproduction lists, A memory unit 170 for storing information for signal processing of the virtual folder 170 and a search screen generating unit 180 for generating a search screen classified into data types based on the virtual folder in accordance with the control signal of the controller 160 ).

The operation of the display device according to the present invention will now be described.

The media interface unit 100 interfaces with a storage medium (MMC, SD, MS, SMC, CF, etc.) to extract data from a currently connected storage medium and transmits the data to the controller 160. Here, the storage medium is, for example, a portable digital data storage device in which image data photographed using a digital camera, moving images, or specific music data are stored.

In addition, the storage medium may include an external hard disk and an internal hard disk, or may be a server storing specific data.

Accordingly, the media interface unit 100 may include a USB interface (not shown), a LAN interface (not shown), and an HDD interface (not shown).

The key input unit 110 includes means such as a remote controller, a local key, a mouse, and a touch pen as means for receiving a request command for use.

The audio signal processing unit 120 receives the audio data input through the media interface unit 100 and processes the received audio data to be output through the speaker 130. [

In this case, the audio signal processing unit 120 includes an audio decoder for decoding and decoding the input compressed audio data, a DAC (Digital Analog Converter) for converting the decoded audio data into an analog type audio signal Time).

The video signal processing unit 140 receives the video data input through the media interface unit 100 and processes the received video data to be displayed through the display unit 150.

The video signal processor 140 includes a video decoder for decoding and decoding the provided compressed video data, a scaler for converting the video data to a vertical frequency, a resolution, an aspect ratio, etc., (Not shown).

The display unit 150 may be applied to various types of display modules such as a digital light processing (DLP), a liquid crystal display (LCD), and a plasma display panel (PDP).

When the user selects a specific storage medium among the storage media connected to the media interface unit 100, the control unit 160 analyzes the data stored in the selected storage medium to determine the type of each data, And classifies the data by type.

That is, when the user selects a specific storage medium, the controller 160 analyzes information on the header portion of the data stored in the selected storage medium, and grasps the types of each data.

In other words, as shown in FIG. 2, if all the data stored in the currently connected storage medium is stored in one folder (Hong Kil Dong), the header part information of each data stored in the folder is analyzed, The music data 220, the still image data 210, or the moving image data 200. [

division Types of extensions Video data  WVV, VBS, AVI, MPV, DAT, VOB, MPG etc. Still image data JPG, JPE, etc. Music data WAV, MP3, MMP, AC3, DTS, DMC, ABX, MPA, WMA, ASF etc.

In addition, as shown in Table 1, a moving picture file is recorded in the form of '* .mpg', a still picture file such as a picture is recorded in a format of '* .jpg', music data such as a song is recorded in a format of '* .wav' The type of each file can be grasped.

In addition, the controller 160 generates virtual folders for each type of the detected data, and classifies and stores the data in the virtual folder based on the type of the detected data.

That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the moving image data 200, the still image data 210, and the music data 220 exist in the data stored in the currently connected storage medium. Accordingly, virtual folders for classifying the three kinds of data are generated, and the data is classified and stored in the generated virtual folder.

Accordingly, all the data existing in the currently connected storage medium can be classified into categories by using the virtual folder.

The search screen generating unit 180 generates a search screen of data classified by type using the virtual folder according to a control signal of the controller 160. [

That is, as shown in FIG. 3A, the search screen includes a first area 300 in which information of a storage medium selected by a current user is displayed, a second area 300 in which a virtual folder item according to the type of data existing in the storage medium is displayed, A third area 320 in which a specific type of data preview image existing in a specific virtual folder in which the current search cursor is located is displayed on the second area 320, And a fourth area 330 for inputting various control commands.

Information of all storage media currently connected to the first area 300 can be displayed, and highlighted and displayed on a specific storage medium currently selected by the user.

In the second area 310, a virtual folder item 312 classified by data stored in the storage medium selected by the user and a folder item 314 actually present in the selected storage medium are displayed.

That is, search of data stored in the storage medium may be performed for each actual file or folder according to user selection, or may be performed for each virtual folder classified by the type.

At this time, there are picure (still image data), Movie (moving image data) and MP3 (music data) in the virtual folder item displayed in the second area 310, Folder items may grow more or less.

A preview image of a specific type of data existing in a specific virtual folder currently selected by the user or in a specific virtual folder where the current search cursor is located is displayed in the third area 320.

That is, when the user selects the current picture (still image data) virtual folder or the current search cursor is located in the picture (still image data) virtual folder, the third area 320 stores data Preview image of only the still image file is displayed.

3B, if the user selects the current Movie (video data) virtual folder or if the current search cursor is located in the Movie (video data) virtual folder, A preview image of only the moving image file (movie file) among the data stored in the storage medium is displayed.

3C, when the user selects the current MP3 (music data) virtual folder or if the current search cursor is located in the MP3 (music data) virtual folder, the third area 350 is displayed in the third area 350 A preview image of only a music file (MP3 file) among the data stored in the storage medium is displayed.

The fourth area 330 is an area for inputting user control commands such as move, selection, menu, show, browser and cancellation. The fourth area 330 is a region for allowing a user to search for and execute a specific file It is an area for input.

At this time, the data classified and stored in the virtual folder items is not a real file but is a classification for files in a specific storage medium or a top-level folder selected on the first area 300, It is a link list of the location where the corresponding file exists in order to execute.

Therefore, the virtual folder displayed in the second area is always configured by referring to the contents in the parent folder.

If the current navigation cursor is located in the actual folder item 314 instead of the virtual folder, or if the user selects an actual folder item, the third region is displayed in a preview image of a file stored in the specific virtual folder, In the third area, information about subfolders and / or files existing in the actual folder items selected by the user is displayed.

That is, as shown in FIG. 3D, the number of files and the number of folders existing in the specific real folder item currently selected by the user are displayed in the third area 360.

In addition, only the number information of the file and the folder may be displayed as described above, and the number information of each type may be displayed separately for each type of the file, which may be variously implemented according to the embodiment.

On the other hand, when the user selects a file to be reproduced through the key input unit 110 on the search screen, the controller 160 grasps the type of the selected data and generates first and second play lists , Thereby controlling independent reproduction of the first reproduction list or integrated reproduction of the first and second reproduction lists.

Here, the reproduction list is not a list of actual data but a link list providing a path of corresponding data selected by the user among currently connected reproduction media.

That is, as shown in FIG. 4A, the user can select P4140455.JPG, P4140456.JPG, P4140457.JPG, P4140461.JPG, Fantasy.avi, Fantasy_white.avi, Xcanvas_20fps. avi, [Melon] 07. Il - Because Of You .mp3, [Melon] 08. Mp3, melon 08. If the user chooses the song "good faith .mp3", the controller 160 reads the data of the selected data And generates a reproduction data list classified into moving picture data, still picture data and music data, respectively.

The first reproduction list is generated based on the moving image data and the music data on the reproduction data list thus generated, and the second reproduction list is generated based on the still image data. As another example, the first reproduction list may be generated based on the moving image data and the still image data, and the second reproduction list may be generated based on the music data.

In other words, the data in which the audio signal exists is added to the first reproduction list, and the data in which there is no audio signal but only the video signal is added to the second reproduction list.

That is, as shown in FIG. 4B, the music data and the moving picture data selected by the user are added to the first playlist 400, the still picture data is added to the second playlist 410, Respectively.

At this time, the controller 160 arranges the data added on the first and second play lists based on the condition preset by the user, and determines the play order.

In other words, before the user reproduces the data, a condition for determining the reproduction order of the data selected by the user can be set. The condition includes a data name, a data creation date, and a random condition.

Accordingly, the controller 160 arranges the data selected by the user on the basis of the condition preset by the user, and determines the reproduction order.

The controller 160 controls the data selected by the user based on the first reproduction list and the second reproduction list generated as described above to be sequentially reproduced according to the preset conditions.

At this time, the controller 160 reproduces data existing in the corresponding list on the basis of the first reproduction list, and integrally reproduces data existing in the second reproduction list according to the type of the reproduced data.

In other words, the controller 160 controls reproduction of the corresponding data based on the generated first reproduction list as shown in FIG. 4C. When the type of data to be reproduced at present is moving picture data, If the type of data to be reproduced is music data, the music data and still image data existing in the second reproduction list are reproduced together.

At this time, the user can set the still image data to be reproduced integrally with the music data to be currently reproduced, and the controller 160 sets the predetermined still image data to the currently reproduced music data among the still image data existing on the second reproduction list And extracts and reproduces the image data.

Also, the control unit 160 reproduces or reproduces still image data existing in the second reproduction list at predetermined time intervals on the basis of the reproduction time of the currently reproduced music data.

In other words, if the reproduction time of the current music data is one minute and the number of still image data to be reproduced together with the music data is four, the still image data may be sequentially reproduced in a slide form at intervals of 25 seconds, Is repeatedly reproduced in a slide form at a specific time interval (for example, 2 seconds) until the end of the reproduction of the music data.

In addition, as described above, music data existing in the second reproduction list can be sequentially reproduced on the basis of the still image data existing in the first reproduction list.

In other words, according to the present invention, the still image data can be reproduced sequentially or repeatedly at predetermined time intervals during the reproduction of music data, so that more effective information can be conveyed audibly and visually to the user without adding a separate device.

In addition, the controller 160 compensates for a change in sound quality caused by a change in the type of the data currently being played back and the data to be played back thereafter.

That is, the reproduction list according to the present invention can give a user an emotional discomfort due to a change in sound quality instantaneously as the music data, the moving image data, and the still image data are mixed and reproduced.

Accordingly, the controller 160 selectively adjusts the volume level according to the type of the currently reproduced data and the data to be reproduced in the future, thereby compensating for the change in sound quality according to the type of the data.

5, if the current data to be reproduced is motion picture data and the next data to be reproduced is music data, the volume level is gradually decreased at the reproduction end point of the motion picture data, and when the reproduction of the music data starts, And increases the reduced volume level again to a predetermined level.

As described above, the display apparatus and method according to the present invention can provide consistency and convenience of the user interface for data search by classifying the data stored in the storage medium by the type in the video display device reproducing the multimedia Alternatively, the user can provide a function for easily searching / executing a specific file stored in the storage medium.

In addition, by providing a play list to a user more efficiently and reproducing different kinds of data integrally according to the play list, the satisfaction of the user can be improved, and instantaneous sound quality change due to reproduction of various kinds of data mixed can be compensated So that the user's emotional discomfort can be alleviated.

As shown in FIG. 6, the data classification method of the display apparatus according to the present invention selects a specific storage medium among currently connected storage media (S100).

Subsequently, data existing in the selected specific storage medium is searched (S110).

Then, information of the retrieved data is analyzed (S120). That is, the header information of the data is analyzed to determine the type of the searched data.

Subsequently, it is determined whether moving picture data among the types of the detected data exists (S130).

If it is determined in operation S130 that the moving picture data exists, the moving picture virtual folder for storing the moving picture type data is generated and all the detected moving picture type data is stored in operation S140.

Subsequently, it is determined whether there is photo data among the types of the detected data (S150).

If it is determined in step S150 that the photo data exists, a photo virtual folder for storing the photo data of the photo type is created and the data of all the photo types identified are stored in step S160.

Then, it is determined whether music data among the types of the detected data exists (S170).

If the music data exists (S170), the music virtual folder for storing the music type data is generated and the data of all the music types detected are stored (S180).

Then, a data search screen classified into the data types is generated (S190). That is, as shown in FIG. 3A, a first area 300 in which information of a storage medium selected by a current user is displayed, a second area 310 in which a virtual folder item by type of data existing in the storage medium is displayed, A third area 320 in which a specific type of data preview image existing in a specific virtual folder in which the current search cursor is located is displayed on the second area 320 and various control commands such as selection, And a fourth area 330 for inputting a data search screen.

In addition, the data search method on the search screen generated as above displays the search screen generated as described above with reference to FIG. 7 (S200).

Next, the position of the current search cursor is determined (S210).

Then, it is determined whether the determined position of the search cursor exists on the virtual folder (S220).

If the location of the search cursor is present on the virtual folder, a preview image of data existing in the virtual folder is displayed (S230).

That is, when the current search cursor is located in the picture (still image data) virtual folder, a preview image of only the still image file among the data stored in the storage medium selected by the user is displayed in the third area 320, (Movie file) of the data stored in the storage medium selected by the user is displayed in the third area 340. If the current search cursor is an MP3 Music data) If the music file is located in the virtual folder, the third area 350 displays a preview image of only the music file (MP3 file) stored in the storage medium selected by the user.

If the location of the search cursor is not on the virtual folder but on the actual folder item, the information of the file / folder existing in the actual folder where the search cursor is located is displayed (S240).

That is, as shown in FIG. 4D, the number of files and the number of folders existing in the specific real folder item currently selected by the user are respectively displayed.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 8, the data reproducing method of the display apparatus according to the present invention displays a data search screen according to a command input from the outside (S300). At this time, the data search screen may be a search screen that has been generally provided, or may be a search screen for each kind of data provided by the present invention.

Then, it is determined whether a selection signal for specific reproduction data is input on the search screen displayed as described above (S310).

If the selection signal of the reproduction data is input from the outside of the determination result (S310), the type of the selected reproduction data is determined (S320). That is, the header part information of each data is analyzed to determine whether the data is music data, still image data, or moving image data, or the type of each data is determined by using the extension information of the data.

Subsequently, the first reproduction list and the second reproduction list are generated based on the kind of the reproduced data identified (S330). That is, as described above, the first reproduction list is generated based on the music data and the moving picture data among the types of the reproduced data, and the second reproduction list is generated based on the still image data.

In addition, the first reproduction list may be generated based on the still image data and the moving picture data among the types of the reproduction data identified, and the reproduction 2 reproduction list may be generated based on the music data.

Then, it is determined whether the data to be currently reproduced on the first reproduction list is moving image data (S340).

If it is determined in operation S340 that the current data to be reproduced is moving image data, the moving image data to be reproduced is extracted and only the moving image data is independently reproduced in operation S350.

If the data to be reproduced is not moving picture data (music data), the music data of the first reproduction list to be reproduced and the still image data existing in the second reproduction list are collectively reproduced together (S340) do.

That is, as described above, when the reproduction time of the music data to be reproduced is one minute and the still image data to be reproduced together with the music data is four, the still image data is sequentially reproduced in the form of a slide at intervals of 25 seconds, The still image data is repeatedly reproduced in a slide form at a specific time interval (for example, 2 seconds) until the reproduction of the music data ends.

Subsequently, the type of data to be reproduced is determined (S370).

Then, it is determined whether the type of the reproduction data has changed based on the type of the reproduction data after the determination (S380).

If it is determined that the type of the reproduction data has changed (S380), the volume level currently set at the type of the currently reproduced data is adjusted (S390).

That is, if the currently reproduced data is motion picture data and the next data to be reproduced is music data, the volume level is gradually decreased at the end point of the reproduction of the motion picture data, and when the reproduction of the music data starts, And gradually increases to a predetermined level.

Then, it is determined whether or not a reproduction end command is inputted from the outside (S400).

If it is determined in step S400 that the playback end command has been input from the outside, the process is terminated. Otherwise, the process returns to step S340.

As described above, the display apparatus and method according to the present invention can provide consistency and convenience of the user interface for data search by classifying the data stored in the storage medium by the type in the video display device reproducing the multimedia Alternatively, the user can provide a function for easily searching / executing a specific file stored in the storage medium.

In addition, by providing a play list to a user more efficiently and reproducing different kinds of data integrally according to the play list, the satisfaction of the user can be improved, and instantaneous sound quality change due to reproduction of various kinds of data mixed can be compensated So that the user's emotional discomfort can be alleviated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a view showing a configuration of a display device according to the present invention;

2 is a diagram for explaining a data classification method according to the present invention;

3A to 3D are diagrams illustrating a data search interface for searching by data type according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4A to 4C illustrate a reproduction list provided according to an embodiment of the present invention;

5 is a view for explaining a sound quality compensation method of a display apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of classifying data in a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing a search screen of a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining a data reproducing method of a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG.

DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS

100: media interface unit 110: key input unit

120: audio signal processing unit 130: speaker

140: video signal processor 150:

160: control unit 170: memory unit

180: Search screen generating unit

Claims (16)

A media interface for communicating with at least one storage medium on which data is stored; A search screen generating unit for generating a search screen of data existing in the storage medium; A display unit for displaying a search screen generated through the search screen generating unit; A key input unit for receiving a request command from a user; And The first and second reproduction lists are generated by grasping the kind of data selected through the key input unit on the search screen, thereby performing independent reproduction of the first reproduction list or integrated reproduction of the first and second reproduction lists And a control unit for controlling the display unit so as to control the display unit. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the control unit determines a reproduction order by sorting data existing in the first and second reproduction lists based on any one of a data name, a data generation date, and a random condition. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the data includes music data, still image data, and moving picture data. The method of claim 3, Wherein the controller generates a first reproduction list based on the selected music data and / or moving picture data, and generates a second reproduction list based on the selected still image data. 5. The method of claim 4, Wherein the controller controls the still image data present in the second reproduction list to be reproduced integrally when the music data existing in the first reproduction list is reproduced. 5. The method of claim 4, Wherein the control unit controls the specific still image data preset through the key input unit among the still image data existing in the second reproduction list to be reproduced when the music data existing in the first reproduction list is reproduced Device. 6. The method of claim 5, Wherein the control unit controls the still image data present in the second reproduction list to be reproduced at a predetermined time interval or repeatedly based on the reproduction time of the currently reproduced music data. 5. The method of claim 4, Wherein the control unit reduces the volume level to a predetermined level or lower at the end of the currently reproduced data according to the type of data to be reproduced subsequently. Displaying a search screen of data present in a currently connected storage medium; Receiving at least one data selection signal on the displayed search screen; Generating first and second playlists based on the type of the selected data; And And performing independent reproduction of the generated first reproduction list or integrated reproduction of the first and second reproduction lists. 10. The method of claim 9, Further comprising: sorting data existing in the first and second reproduction lists based on one of a data name, a data generation date, and a random condition to determine a reproduction order. 10. The method of claim 9, Wherein the data includes music data, still image data, and moving picture data. 12. The method of claim 11, Wherein the generating the first playlist and the second playlist comprises: Generating a first playlist based on music data and / or moving picture data selected on the search screen, And generating a second reproduction list based on the still image data selected on the search screen. 13. The method of claim 12, The step of performing the independent reproduction of the generated first reproduction list or the integrated reproduction of the first and second reproduction lists Reproducing the moving picture data independently if the data to be currently reproduced on the first reproduction list is moving picture data, And reproducing the music data and still image data existing on the second playlist, if the data to be currently reproduced on the first playlist is music data. 14. The method of claim 13, The step of integrally reproducing the music data and the still image data Wherein the step (c) is a step of integrally reproducing specific still image data preset in the music data to be reproduced from the still image data existing on the second reproduction list. 14. The method of claim 13, The step of integrally reproducing the music data and the still image data And reproducing the still picture data existing in the second play list at a predetermined time interval or repeatedly based on the play time of the currently played music data. 14. The method of claim 13, Further comprising the step of reducing the volume level to a predetermined level or less at an ending point of the data currently being reproduced according to whether the type of data to be reproduced subsequently changes or not.

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