WO2007105265A1

WO2007105265A1 - Reproduction device, reproduction device control method, program, and computer-readable recording medium

Info

Publication number: WO2007105265A1
Application number: PCT/JP2006/304717
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yumiko Nakamura; Masatoshi Kimura; Kanako Ariya
Original assignee: Fujitsu Limited
Priority date: 2006-03-10
Filing date: 2006-03-10
Publication date: 2007-09-20

Abstract

A reproduction device receives setting of a reproduction method of a plurality of accumulated information and executes automatic reproduction of the accumulated information according to the reproduction method of the accumulated information which has been set.

Description

Specification

REPRODUCTION DEVICE, REPRODUCTION DEVICE CONTROL METHOD, PROGRAM, AND COMPUTER-READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM

Technical field

The present invention relates to a playback device, a playback device control method, a program, and a computer-readable recording medium, and in particular, a playback device having a configuration capable of simplifying operations related to playback of stored information, and control of the playback device The present invention relates to a method, a program, and a computer-readable recording medium.

Background art

As a playback device that plays back stored information, for example, there is a device that records a television program and plays it back.

[0003] As a method of using such a playback apparatus, for example, there are cases where a user plays back and watches many contents that are reserved and recorded during the week on a weekend or the like. In such a case, among many recorded contents, content other than the content that has already been viewed is viewed. However, when there are many recorded content, it is possible to search for content other than the content that has already been reproduced. It can be difficult.

[0004] A method of identifying unviewed content by erasing content that has already been viewed or by marking the content by some method is conceivable. However, when a single playback device is commonly used by a plurality of users as in the case of a home playback device, unviewed content may differ from user to user. In such a case, it is expected that there will be a problem that one user's power deletes the already viewed content or marks it even if the other user has not yet viewed it.

[0005] For example, Patent Document 1 is intended for a plurality of users, and for recording users, viewing users, and scheduled viewing users, recording / reproducing history including presence / absence of each content, restriction thereof, and the like. A recording / playback apparatus that manages information and plays back unviewed content for each user is disclosed.

[0006] According to this technique, each user refers to his / her playback history information, You can know unviewed content. However, in the case of such a configuration, each user needs to call this playback history information at the time of content playback and refer to it to check the unviewed content.

On the other hand, considering the case where a large amount of recorded content is viewed at a time, it may be desirable to omit the switch operation related to playback. In other words, it may be desirable to automatically play back recorded content in the order in which it was recorded.

Here, the recorded content is considered to have various attributes. For example, a television program that is regularly broadcast such as a so-called continuous drama may be continuously played back and viewed even if there is other recorded content during that time period.

[0009] Even in such a case, if the images are automatically reproduced in a uniform drawing order, other programs are inserted and reproduced between the programs when viewed continuously.

Patent Document 1: JP 2004-199741 A

Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-36861

Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-235771

Patent Document 4: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-182035

Patent Document 5: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-157821

Patent Document 6: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-298686

Patent Document 7: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-162884

Patent Document 8: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-309792

Non-Patent Document 1: 111¾ ^: 111: 77 FMWORLD. Net / biz / fmv / product / hard / security / fmsec 101 / authenticate .html, FMWORLD "," Advanced fingerprint authentication technology "(January 26, 2006) )

Disclosure of the invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

[0010] In view of the above, the present invention provides a playback apparatus that can play back unplayed information with fewer operations and can specify a playback method in a mode according to the attribute of stored information. For the purpose.

Means for solving the problem [0011] According to the playback method of the present invention, a plurality of stored information playback methods are set, and the stored information is automatically played back in accordance with the set stored information playback methods. I made it.

The invention's effect

[0012] According to such a configuration, the user can set a reproduction method for a plurality of stored information in advance, so that the stored information can be automatically reproduced in accordance with the plurality of stored information reproduction methods thus set. Executed. Therefore, a playback operation for each stored information is not required during playback / viewing.

[0013] In addition, since the user can set a plurality of stored information playback methods in advance, it is possible to set a playback method for stored information related to periodic provision of, for example, a series drama in advance. Is possible. Therefore, the user can perform playback / viewing in the manner according to the initially set method without having to set the playback method for each playback / viewing. Therefore, convenience can be improved.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is an external view of a personal computer applicable as a playback apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an internal block diagram of the personal computer shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of a playback apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of reproduction management information for each user in the reproduction apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5A is a diagram showing an operation flow chart (part 1) relating to user registration in the playback apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5B is a diagram showing an example of a screen showing a registrant list displaying users registered by the user registration of FIG. 5A.

FIG. 5C is an operation flowchart (part 2) relating to user registration in the playback apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an operational flowchart relating to setting of a playback method for unviewed content in the playback apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a flowchart of the reproducing operation in the reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of an unviewed content playback method setting screen that can be applied in the flowchart of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the content of a record of stored content in the playback device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an operation flowchart relating to an operation of reproducing the actual stored content in accordance with the setting of the method for reproducing unviewed content in the playback device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of an accumulation situation for explaining the reproducing operation in the reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining a playback mode corresponding to the accumulation situation example of FIG. 11.

Explanation of symbols

[0015] 100 Playback Manager

110 User Registration Department

120 Playback method setting section

130 Logon 咅

140 Playback unit

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, a playback apparatus and a playback apparatus control method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the appearance of a personal computer applicable as a playback apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an internal block diagram of the personal computer.

The personal computer as shown in FIG. 1 is provided with a main body 50, a display 40, a keyboard 21, a mouse 22, and a remote 23.

The main body 50 of the personal computer shown in FIG. 2 includes a CPU 1, a memory 4, a node disk device 5, a DVD / CD combined drive 6, a modem 7 and a tuner 9. Furthermore, the personal computer includes a display 3 corresponding to the display 40 described above.

The operation unit 2 and the fingerprint authentication device 10 (not shown in FIG. 1) corresponding to the keyboard 21, mouse 22 and remote controller 23 are included.

[0021] These units are connected to each other via a bus so that they can communicate with each other. The tuner 9 and the fingerprint authentication device 10 are connected to the bus via a necessary interface (not shown).

The fingerprint authentication device 10 has a configuration in which the user detects the fingerprint information by sliding his / her finger on the sensor unit.

[0023] Further, the personal computer is provided with a tuner 9 so that a television program can be received and viewed. The received TV program information (hereinafter simply referred to as “content”) is stored in the DVD 6A (hereinafter simply referred to as “hard disk device 5 etc.”) via the node disk device 5 or DVDZCD combined drive 6 and later played back. It is possible to do.

[0024] When content is received and viewed by the personal computer, the tuner 9 is operated after the tuner 9 is connected to a predetermined receiving antenna.

[0025] By operating the remote controller 23, the user can view the received content or the reproduced content on the display 40 (3) of the personal computer by the same operation as in the case of a normal television receiver.

The fingerprint authentication device 10 is used as a functional device for identifying and authenticating the user of the personal computer as will be described later.

[0027] Receiving content in the personal computer Z playback The constituent elements related to functions other than the Z viewing-related function are the same as those of a known personal computer, and a detailed description thereof is omitted here.

Next, FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIGS. 5A to 5C and FIGS. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 10, and 12 show a playback apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. A control method will be described.

The playback device control method described here is realized as the function of the personal computer described above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, which is applied as a playback device in this embodiment.

[0030] That is, a control method for a playback apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is a personal computer. Create a control program consisting of instructions to be executed by the CPUl. The same program is stored in, for example, a CD-ROM 6A as a portable recording medium. Further, this is loaded into the hard disk device 5 of the personal computer via the DV D / CD combined drive 6. The CPU 1 loads the program from the hard disk device 5 to the memory 4 and executes the instructions sequentially, thereby executing the playback device control method.

[0031] It should be noted that loading of the control program to the personal computer is not limited to a method using a portable recording medium in this way. For example, it is possible to download the program from an external sano using a modem 7 via a communication network 8 such as the Internet.

Specifically, according to the instructions of the program, the CPU 1 uses the display 3, the memory 4, the hard disk device 5, the DVDZCD combined drive 6 and the like as appropriate to execute the control method of the playback device.

As shown in FIG. 3, the execution function of the control method of the playback device as a function of the control program realized by the execution of the CPU 1 includes a user registration unit 110, a playback method setting unit 120, It consists of a logon unit, a playback management unit 100, and a playback unit 140.

The playback management unit 100 manages playback management information as illustrated in FIG. In other words, the “viewed information” and “reproduction method” information registered for each user by the user registration unit 110 is managed.

[0035] Here, "viewed information" refers to the user among the contents of the TV program received by the tuner 9 shown in FIG. 2 and stored (ie, recorded) in the hard disk device 5 or the like. Shows identification information indicating what has already been reproduced and viewed.

[0036] The "playback method" refers to the content playback method (specifically, "unviewed content playback method") set for each registered user by the playback method setting unit 120. Information. In other words, the personal computer as a playback device according to an embodiment of the present invention automatically stores a plurality of stored contents when each user plays back and views the content of the television program stored in the hard disk device 5 or the like as described above. It has a configuration that can specify the playback method for playback.

[0037] The specific contents of this method for playing back unviewed content are as shown in FIG. The following methods are possible.

[0038] 1) “Consecutive drama is played continuously”, that is, it is broadcast regularly, and TV programs whose contents are continuous in time series are continuous in time series. And how to play

2) `` Even if a drama is a continuous drama, it will not be played continuously but will be played back in the order in which it was recorded, including other programs. '' Replaying in the order in which they are accumulated, including other programs accumulated during that time;

3) “Play in order from oldest”, that is, a method to play back in order of accumulation; and

4) “Play in order from newest”, that is, reverse to the order of storage, ie, in the order of the most recently recorded content.

The logon unit 130 in FIG. 3 is a functional unit that manages user logon to the personal computer as the playback device. That is, the user who has logged on to the personal computer is recognized, and the operator of the personal computer is recognized as a logon user.

[0040] The playback unit 140 shown in FIG. 3 actually applies information related to the logged-on user in the playback management information shown in FIG. That is, content stored in the hard disk device 5 other than the content recorded in the “viewed information” for the user (that is, unviewed content) is set as the “playback method” information. Playback automatically according to the playback method.

As described above, in one embodiment of the present invention, the user sets a “playback method” in advance, so that the stored content is automatically played back according to the “playback method” during actual playback / viewing. . Therefore, when viewing the stored content, the user can simply log on to the personal computer as the playback device and then press the button for starting the playback operation. The stored content can be played automatically according to the following. Therefore, the operability can be effectively improved.

[0042] Hereinafter, the content of the control method of the playback apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail. FIGS. 5A to 5C are flowcharts for explaining the flow of user registration operation by the user registration unit 110.

FIG. 5A shows an example of user registration by “number”, and FIG. 5C shows an example of user registration by fingerprint information.

In FIG. 5A, in step S 1, first, the user registration unit 110 as a function of the control program executed by the CPU 1 displays a predetermined registration screen on the display 3. According to the guidance, the user selects one of the numbers 1 to N as his / her own number (step S2). Further, the user's own name is registered (step S3), and an identification mark such as an icon that is visually easy to identify is selected (step S4).

As a result, the user is registered as a user of a personal computer as the playback device. At the same time, it is set as a record in the reproduction management information (see FIG. 4) managed by the reproduction management unit 100 as a function of the control program executed by the CPU 1 as described above.

[0047] From the viewpoint of security, the user registration here may be configured such that "user name" is registered instead of "registration number" and "password" is registered. In that case, the user must enter the “user name” and “password” at logon as well. That is, user authentication is performed.

FIG. 5B is an example of a screen that displays a list of each user registered in this way. As a result of the user registration operation described with reference to FIG. 5A shown on the same screen, icons A to D are registered along with their registration numbers 01 to 04 for each user A to D.

In the case of FIG. 5C as well, when a predetermined registration screen is displayed on the display 3 in step S5, the user registers his / her fingerprint information via the fingerprint authentication device 10 according to the guidance. (Step S6). Further, the self name is registered (step S7), and an identification mark such as an icon is selected (step S8).

As a result, the user is registered as a user of the personal computer as the playback device. In this case as well, it is set as a record in the reproduction management information (see FIG. 4) managed by the reproduction management unit 100 as a function of the control program executed by the CPU 1 as described above. Here, the registration of fingerprint information in step S6 will be described. In this embodiment, the applicant's original fingerprint information is acquired via the fingerprint recognition device 10 and the fingerprint verification processing at the time of automatic playback of content using the fingerprint information of each user acquired and registered in this way. Apply fingerprint authentication technology.

[0052] This employs a unique “feature correlation method” that collates the correlation between feature points, such as the direction and positional relationship of feature points (end points and branch points of ridges) included in the fingerprint pattern. . According to this technology, the acceptance rate of the principal is 99% or more and the acceptance rate of others is 0.002% or less, and high-accuracy fingerprint identification capability can be realized. Furthermore, since it can be collated with a relatively small amount of fingerprint data with an average of about 300 bytes per finger, high-speed collation is possible. In addition, according to this technology, the fingerprint data is irreversible data and cannot be restored to an actual fingerprint image, so privacy protection can be ensured (see Non-Patent Document 1).

By applying this fingerprint authentication technology, each user slides his / her finger on the sensor unit of the fingerprint recognition device 10 during playback / viewing of the content, and the detected fingerprint information is stored in advance as described above. The fingerprint information acquired and registered as described above is verified. As a result, the user is logged on. Therefore, in this case, the user registration unit 110 has a fingerprint information acquisition function, and the logon unit 130 has a fingerprint information matching function.

[0054] By applying the fingerprint authentication technology in this way, the user includes user authentication that does not undergo key-in operations such as "user name" and "password" at each stage of user registration and logon. It is possible to obtain an automatic playback viewing function.

[0055] It is to be noted that a publicly known one can be used as such a fingerprint authentication technique, and the detailed description thereof is omitted here.

Next, with reference to FIG. 6, the flow of the reproduction method setting operation by the reproduction method setting unit 120 as a function of the control program executed by the CPU 1 will be described.

When the personal computer as the playback apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is turned on (step S11), a logon screen as shown in step S12 is displayed on the display 3 by the function of the logon unit 130.

[0058] On the other hand, the user selects his / her name (step S13). In this case, if the above-described user registration using fingerprint information is applied together with FIG. 5C, the logon stage ( In steps S12 and S13), the user simply slides the finger on the sensor unit of the fingerprint authentication device 10. As a result, the logon of the corresponding user is automatically executed by the above-described fingerprint verification function.

Next, when the user presses the “SET” button displayed on the display 3 by the reproduction method setting unit 120 as a function of the control program executed by the CPU 1 (step S14), the reproduction method setting unit 120 With this function, a predetermined playback method setting screen as shown in FIG. 8 is displayed on the display 3 (step S15). The user selects an item of his / her desired playback method (playback method of unviewed content) in the display items (step S16).

Next, in conjunction with FIG. 7, the user actually plays back / views the unviewed content by automatic playback according to the playback method set for each user by the function of the playback method setting unit 120 in this way. The flow of the operation will be described.

When the personal computer as an embodiment of the present invention is turned on (step S 21), a logon screen as shown in step S 22 is displayed on the display 3 by the function of the logon unit 130 as described above. In response, the user selects his name (step S23).

[0062] In this case as well, when the user registration based on the fingerprint information described above with reference to FIG. 5C is applied, the user simply goes on the sensor unit of the fingerprint authentication device 10 in the logon phase (steps S22 and S23). Just slide your finger. As a result, the logon of the corresponding user is automatically executed by the above-described fingerprint verification function.

Next, the user clicks the “play” button displayed on the display 3 by the function of the playback unit 140 as a function of the control program executed by the CPU 1 (step S 24). As a result, according to the playback method (playback method of unviewed content) registered in advance as the playback management information described above with reference to FIG. The stored content other than the information that has been viewed in the information is automatically played back in sequence (step S25).

In this example, it is assumed that the stored content is related to the logged-on user at the time of the recording reservation. As a result, at the time of automatic playback in step S25, only the stored content related to the user's own recording reservation is automatically played back. [0065] In addition, when the user clicks the "Next" button displayed on the display 3 by the function of the playback unit 140 during the automatic playback, the playback of the currently played content is stopped. . Then, the reproduction of the next content in the order according to the above reproduction method (reproduction method of unviewed content) is automatically started. Also, by repeating the operation of the “Next” button, the user can skip the sequence according to the above playback method one after another and play back only the content that he / she wants to see. Yes (step S26).

FIG. 9 shows a configuration example of a record in which information related to each stored content stored in the hard disk device 5 or the like (that is, recorded content of a TV program) is recorded. This record is also written in a predetermined area of the hard disk device 5 or the like by a storage unit (not shown) as a function of the control program executed by the CPU 1 when the corresponding stored content is stored (that is, during recording).

[0067] The stored content record is appropriately referred to by the playback unit 140 when the actual stored content is played back. When the playback unit 140 performs automatic playback of stored content according to the playback method (playback method of unviewed content) managed for each user by the playback management unit 100, the stored content is stored in the “continuous drama”. The information recorded in the same record is used when determining whether or not. That is, a series of stored contents having the same “recording channel”, “recording start time”, and “recording end time” in the same record are determined as belonging to one “continuous drama”.

As described above, according to the control method of the playback device according to the embodiment of the present invention, the playback management information (see FIG. 4) is set for each user, so that each user has not yet viewed content ( Save yourself the trouble of searching for (unviewed content) yourself.

That is to say, in the reproduction management information in FIG. 4, information on the viewed content (“viewed information”) is recorded for each user. Then, in step S25 in FIG. 7, the playback unit 140 refers to the viewed information in the playback management information in FIG. 4 managed by the playback management unit 100, thereby storing stored content other than the viewed content. Play automatically. Therefore, the stored content that has not been viewed by the user is automatically and sequentially played back simply by a simple operation such as simply clicking the “play” button. [0070] Therefore, even if the playback device is a home recording / playback device and the recorded content is shared with the family, the viewed content is managed independently for each member of the family. Will be. Therefore, each member can view only the unviewed content by automatic playback without being affected by the viewing situation of the shared content by other members.

Next, referring to FIGS. 10, 11 and 12, a specific example of the reproduction operation of the unviewed content by the reproduction unit 140 in the method for controlling the reproduction apparatus according to the embodiment of the present application will be described.

FIG. 10 is an operation flowchart for explaining the flow of the automatic playback operation for unviewed content executed by the playback unit 140 in step S25 in FIG.

[0073] The playback unit 140 refers to the playback management information of FIG. 4 managed by the playback management unit 100, and in the playback method for the user who has logged on in step S23 (simply referred to as “logon user”), Is automatically reproduced, that is, whether or not the item “Continuous drama is reproduced continuously” shown in FIG. 8 is selected is determined (step S51).

As a result, in the case of Yes, the reproduction management information in FIG. 4 is further referred to, and the item of “accumulation order”, that is, “reproduce in chronological order” shown in FIG. It is determined whether or not the force is present (step S52). If the result is Yes, it is determined that “Method 1” is selected.

Here, “method 1” indicates a playback method of playback in the order of accumulation (step S54). However, in this case, with regard to the regularly received content, that is, “continuous drama”, those that are determined to belong to one continuous drama are grouped together. Then, the storage (recording) date and time of the earliest (that is, oldest) storage (ie, recording) in the group is treated as the representative storage date and time of the group. The playback order during actual automatic playback is based on the representative storage date and time of this group for regular reception content, and the other storage content (referred to as “single storage content”) is based on the individual storage date and time. As determined.

On the other hand, if the result of determination in step S52 is No, that is, if the item “Play in order of newest” in FIG. 8 has been selected, it is determined that “Method 2” has been selected.

[0077] Here, "Method 2" refers to the reverse order of the above accumulation order, that is, from the latest recorded video. A playback method for sequentially playing back is shown (step S55).

[0078] In this case as well, as described above, the periodical content received is grouped with those that are determined to belong to one continuous drama, and the latest (that is, newly) stored content is recorded (recorded) date and time. , It is treated as the representative accumulation date and time of the group. The actual playback order for automatic playback is determined based on the representative storage date and time of this group for regular received content, and the individual storage date and time for single storage content.

[0079] If the determination result in step S51 is No, that is, in FIG. 8, the item "Play in the order in which it was recorded, including other programs, without playing continuously, even in a continuous drama" is selected. 4, with reference to the reproduction management information in FIG. 4, it is determined whether or not the “accumulation order” in the reproduction method related to the logged-on user, that is, the “play in the oldest order” item shown in FIG. Step S53). If the result is Yes, it is determined that “Method 3” is selected.

[0080] Here, "Method 3" means that unviewed stored content is uniformly related to whether or not it is the above-mentioned regularly received content (continuous dramas). In other words, it shows how to automatically play in order.

On the other hand, if the determination result in step S53 is No, that is, if the item “Play in order of newest” in FIG. 8 is selected, it is determined that “Method 4” has been selected.

[0082] Here, "Method 4" refers to the reverse of the accumulation order based on the individual accumulation date and time, regardless of whether or not the unviewed accumulated content is regularly received content (continuous drama) as described above. In other words, the playback method of playing back in order, that is, newest first (step S57).

FIG. 11 shows an example of unviewed and stored content stored in the hard disk device 5 or the like. In the figure, the horizontal axis indicates the storage time (that is, recording date and time) of each stored content. The one on the left indicates that it was stored (recorded) earlier (older).

[0084] In the figure, Al, A2, A3, and A4 belong to the above "one drama series" and are broadcast every day at the same broadcast station at the same time and recorded each time. B, C, and D are recorded contents (single stored contents) of general programs that do not belong to the category of “drama series”.

FIG. 12 shows the reproduction order when these stored contents are automatically reproduced by the automatic reproduction operation by the control method of the reproduction apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention described above together with FIG. First, in the case of method 1 of step S54 in FIG. 10 (that is, the uppermost stage in FIG. 12), the left side force in FIG. 11 is also automatically reproduced in order. However, the serial dramas Al, A2, A3, and A4 as described above are grouped, and the order of automatic playback is determined based on the recording date of the oldest A1.

[0087] As a result, since the recording date and time of A1 as a representative of the series dramas A1 to A4 is the oldest, the series dramas A1 to A4 are played continuously (A1 → A2 → A3 in the top row of FIG. 12). → A4). Thereafter, the remaining stored contents B, C, and D are automatically played back in the order in which they are stored.

Similarly, in the case of method 2 in step S55 in FIG. 10 (that is, the second stage in FIG. 12), automatic reproduction is performed in the reverse order of the accumulation order, that is, in order from the right side in FIG. However, as mentioned above, the serial dramas Al, A2, A3, and A4 are grouped together, and the latest recording date and time of A4 is used as the standard. That is, in the case of Fig. 11, the order of automatic playback is determined based on the recording date and time of A4.

[0089] As a result, since the recording date and time of the single stored content D is the newest, it is played back first. Since the recording date and time of A4 as the representative of the serial dramas A1 to A4 is the next newest, the continuous dramas A1 to A4 are then played back continuously (in the second row of Fig. 12, A1 → A2 → A3 ). After that, the remaining stored contents C, B force are automatically played back in the reverse order of the storage order.

On the other hand, in the case of method 3 (the third row in FIG. 12), automatic reproduction is performed uniformly in the order of accumulation (step S56 in FIG. 10). That is, automatic playback is performed in the order of Al, B, A2, A3, C, A4, D from the left in FIG.

In the case of method 4 (the lowest stage in FIG. 12), automatic reproduction is performed uniformly in the reverse order of the accumulation order (step S57 in FIG. 10). That is, automatic playback is performed in the order of D, A4, C, A3, A2, B, A1 from the right in FIG.

As described above, according to the control method of the playback device according to the embodiment of the present invention, the non-viewing storage contenter is referred to the record (see FIG. 9), and thus the periodic reception content (continuous drama) as described above. ) Or not, and automatic playback is performed according to the result. The playback order is automatically determined. Therefore, a user who desires continuous playback viewing of a continuous drama can perform playback viewing in a desired mode by registering the playback method (method 1 or method 2 shown in FIG. 10) in the manner shown in FIG. It becomes possible. Therefore, the convenience of the playback device is effectively improved.

Note that the target of automatic playback of unviewed content in the present invention is not limited to content related to a television program as in the above-described embodiment, and may include various information such as other content, document information, and program information. Is possible.

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] A playback device for playing back stored information,

A reproduction method setting means for setting a reproduction method of a plurality of stored information;

A reproduction apparatus comprising reproduction means for executing automatic reproduction of stored information in accordance with a plurality of stored information reproduction methods set by a reproduction method setting means.

[2] The playback device according to claim 1, wherein the playback method of the plurality of stored information is configured such that a different playback method can be set for each predetermined attribute of the stored information.

[3] The playback device according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined attribute is related to whether or not the stored information is periodically received.

[4] The setting of the reproduction method of the plurality of stored information includes a method of automatically reproducing continuously when the stored information corresponds to content that is periodically received, and in such a case, 4. The playback device according to claim 3, comprising: selecting any one of the methods for playing back the content in a predetermined order including the content.

[5] The plurality of stored information playback methods are set according to a storage order playback method in which stored information is automatically played back sequentially in the stored order, and a reverse order playback method in which the stored information is automatically played back in the reverse order. Consisting of selecting either method

4. The configuration according to claim 3, wherein even when the reverse playback method is selected, when the stored information includes content that is periodically received, the content is automatically played back in the storage order. Playback device.

[6] The stored information consists of TV program content,

And further comprising means for recognizing the content having the same broadcast station, broadcast start time, and broadcast end time as the content that is received periodically.

4. The playback device according to claim 3, wherein the playback method according to the attribute is applied to the stored information recognized as content that is received periodically.

7. The playback device according to claim 1, wherein the playback method of the plurality of stored information is configured to be set for each user.

8. The playback device according to claim 7, wherein a user identification means for identifying a user based on the fingerprint information of the user is applied when setting a plurality of stored information playback methods for each user.

[9] The operation according to claim 1, further comprising operating means for stopping the reproduction operation of the information currently being reproduced during the automatic reproduction of the stored information and automatically starting the reproduction of the information to be reproduced next. Playback device.

[10] A control method of a playback device for playing back stored information,

A playback method setting stage for setting a playback method of a plurality of stored information;

A control method for a playback apparatus comprising a playback stage for performing automatic playback of stored information in accordance with a playback method for a plurality of stored information set by a playback method setting means.

11. The playback apparatus control method according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of stored information playback methods are configured such that different playback methods can be set for each predetermined attribute of the stored information.

12. The playback apparatus control method according to claim 11, wherein the predetermined attribute is related to whether or not the stored information is periodically received.

[13] The method for reproducing the plurality of stored information includes a method of automatically playing back continuously when the stored information corresponds to content that is periodically received, and even in such a case, 13. The method for controlling a playback device according to claim 12, comprising selecting one of a method for playing back content in a predetermined order including content.

[14] The setting of the plurality of stored information playback methods includes: a storage order playback method that automatically plays back stored information in the order in which they are stored; and a reverse order playback method that automatically plays back in the reverse order. Consisting of selecting one of the methods

13. The configuration according to claim 12, wherein even when the reverse playback method is selected, when the stored information includes contents that are periodically received, they are automatically played back in the storage order. Method for controlling the playback apparatus.

[15] The stored information consists of TV program content,

Recognizing content that has the same broadcast station, broadcast start time, and broadcast end time as the content that is regularly received,

13. The method for controlling a playback device according to claim 12, wherein the playback method according to the attribute is applied to stored information recognized as content that is received periodically.

[16] The method of reproducing the plurality of stored information is configured to be set for each user. Item 11. A control method for a playback device according to Item 10.

17. The playback device according to claim 16, wherein when a plurality of stored information playback methods are set for each user, a user identification step of performing user identification based on the user's fingerprint information is executed. Control method.

[18] The reproduction according to claim 10, further comprising an operation step for stopping the reproduction operation of the information currently being reproduced during the automatic reproduction of the stored information and automatically starting the reproduction of the information to be reproduced next. Control method of the device.

[19] A program comprising instructions for causing a computer to execute a control method of a playback device for playing back stored information,

A program comprising instructions for causing a computer to execute a reproduction stage for executing automatic reproduction of stored information in accordance with a reproduction method for a plurality of stored information set by a reproduction method setting means.

20. The program according to claim 19, wherein the plurality of stored information playback methods can be configured to set different playback methods for each predetermined attribute of the stored information.

21. The program according to claim 20, wherein the predetermined attribute is related to whether or not the stored information is periodically received.

[22] The setting of the method for reproducing the plurality of stored information includes a method of automatically reproducing the stored information when the stored information corresponds to content that is regularly received, and even in such a case. 23. The program according to claim 21, further comprising selecting one of a method of reproducing in a predetermined order including other contents.

[23] The plurality of stored information playback methods may be set to any one of a stored order playback method that automatically plays back stored information sequentially in the order of storage, and a reverse order playback method that automatically plays back the stored information sequentially in the reverse order. To choose the method,

Even when the reverse playback method is selected, if the stored information includes contents that are periodically received, they are automatically played back according to the stored order. The program according to claim 21.

[24] The accumulated information consists of TV program content, And further comprising a command for causing the computer to execute a step of recognizing the content having the same broadcast station, broadcast start time and broadcast end time as the content received periodically.

23. The program according to claim 21, wherein the reproduction method according to the attribute is applied to the stored information recognized as content that is periodically received.

25. The program according to claim 19, wherein the method for reproducing the plurality of stored information is configured to be set for each user.

26. The program according to claim 25, comprising a command for causing a computer to execute a user identification step of identifying a user based on the fingerprint information of the user when setting a plurality of stored information reproduction methods for each user.

[27] A command for causing the computer to execute an operation step for stopping the reproduction operation of the information currently being reproduced during the automatic reproduction of the stored information and automatically starting the reproduction of the information to be reproduced next. The program according to claim 19, further comprising:

[28] A computer-readable recording medium storing the program according to claim 19.

[29] A computer-readable recording medium storing the program according to claim 20.

[30] A computer-readable recording medium storing the program according to claim 21.

[31] A computer-readable recording medium storing the program according to claim 22.

[32] A computer-readable recording medium storing the program according to claim 23.

[33] A computer-readable recording medium storing the program according to claim 24.

[34] A computer-readable recording medium storing the program according to claim 25.

[35] A computer-readable recording medium storing the program according to claim 26.

[36] A computer-readable recording medium storing the program according to claim 27.