WO2013128695A1

WO2013128695A1 - Playback device, television receiver, playback method, playback program and recording medium

Info

Publication number: WO2013128695A1
Application number: PCT/JP2012/073731
Authority: WO
Inventors: 浅尾　和央; 各務　雅保; 毅則佐藤
Original assignee: シャープ株式会社
Priority date: 2012-02-27
Filing date: 2012-09-14
Publication date: 2013-09-06
Also published as: JP5350506B2; JP2013176025A

Abstract

A thumbnail image extraction unit (140) generates thumbnail images by selecting image frames from groups of image frames constituting a video for sub-periods defined by dividing a period up to a current recording constituting a video that has been recorded in a video storage unit (130). A display control unit (150) displays a thumbnail image for each sub-period. A video playback processing unit (151) begins time-shifted playback of a sub-period that includes an image frame corresponding to a thumbnail image specified by a user.

Description

REPRODUCTION DEVICE, TELEVISION RECEIVER, REPRODUCTION METHOD, REPRODUCTION PROGRAM, AND RECORDING MEDIUM

The present invention mainly relates to a playback apparatus, a television receiver, and a playback method for playing back video. The present invention also relates to a reproduction program for causing a computer to function as such a reproduction apparatus, and a computer-readable recording medium on which such a reproduction program is recorded.

Recently, digital TVs and recorders that are on the market generally support various functions such as a recording function and a time shift playback function.

In a recording / playback apparatus having a recording function, a large number of thumbnail images are automatically generated from recorded moving images and displayed on a display screen, and moving images are displayed from a scene corresponding to the thumbnail image selected by the user. Some of them have a playback function. The apparatuses disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 correspond to such a recording / playback apparatus.

In such a recording / playback apparatus, a user who wants to view a recorded moving image can quickly view a desired scene by searching for and selecting a thumbnail image close to the desired scene.

Japanese Patent Publication “JP 2007-116472 A (published on May 10, 2007)” Japanese Patent Publication “Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-205217 (published on October 13, 2011)”

However, with the conventional configuration described above, it is not easy for the viewer to quickly find a desired scene such as a missed scene or a scene that he / she wants to see again regarding the currently broadcast program by time-shift playback. This is because the viewer needs to find a desired scene using only operations such as fast forward, rewind, and skip.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and its main purpose is to prompt a user who wants to view a desired scene such as a missed scene or a scene that he / she wants to see again by time-shift playback. An object of the present invention is to realize a playback device that can be searched.

In order to solve the above-described problem, a playback device according to an aspect of the present invention is a moving image that configures the program content during the real-time playback of the program content, and a moving image up to the current time recorded in the storage unit. In a reproducing apparatus capable of time-shifting reproduction of an image, defining means for defining a plurality of sub-periods by dividing a period in which the moving image is recorded, and an image constituting the moving image for each of the plurality of sub-periods Display control means for selecting an image frame recorded within the sub-period from the frame group and displaying a thumbnail image obtained by reducing the image frame on the display unit, and an image frame corresponding to the thumbnail image designated by the user And reproducing means for performing time-shifted reproduction in the sub-periods including it.

According to the above configuration, the playback device according to one aspect of the present invention is a thumbnail of a scene that a user who is trying to view a desired scene such as a missing scene or a scene that he / she wants to see again by time-shift playback is familiar. When searching for and specifying an image, time-shift playback of that scene is performed. Further, even when a thumbnail image of a scene just before the user is absent is specified, the playback device according to one aspect of the present invention performs time-shift playback of a desired scene such as a missed scene or a scene that the user wants to see again. It will be.

Therefore, the playback device according to one aspect of the present invention has an effect of allowing a user to quickly find a desired scene such as a scene missed or a scene desired to be viewed again.

In order to solve the above-described problem, a playback method according to an aspect of the present invention is a video up to the current time recorded in a storage unit that is a moving image constituting the program content during real-time playback of the program content. In a reproduction method for time-shifting reproduction of an image, a defining step for defining a plurality of sub-periods by dividing a period in which the moving image is recorded, and forming the moving image for each of the plurality of sub-periods A display control step of selecting an image frame recorded within the sub-period from the image frame group and displaying a thumbnail image obtained by reducing the image frame on the display unit, and an image frame corresponding to the thumbnail image designated by the user And a playback step for performing time-shifted playback in a sub-period including.

According to the above configuration, the reproduction method according to one aspect of the present invention has the same effects as the reproduction apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention.

In addition, a program for operating a computer as a playback device according to one embodiment of the present invention, which is a program that causes a computer to function as each of the above-described units, and which is recorded by the computer and read by the computer Possible recording media are also included in the scope of the present invention.

As described above, the playback device according to one embodiment of the present invention allows a user who wants to browse a desired scene such as a missed scene or a scene that he / she wants to see again by time-shift playback to quickly find the scene. There is an effect that can be done.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a recorder according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a time shift reproduction screen displayed by the recorder of FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a time shift playback screen in the preview mode and a time shift screen in the full screen mode. FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing thumbnail images displayed during time-shifted reproduction at the time when the elapsed time has elapsed since the start of reception of program content. FIG. 5 shows, for each elapsed time from the start of reception of program content, moving image data of the program content recorded in the video storage unit at the elapsed time and recorded in the thumbnail storage unit at that time. It is the figure which showed the thumbnail image data typically. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a time shift playback screen according to a modification. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a time shift playback screen according to a modification. FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically illustrating a thumbnail image display area in the time-shifted playback screen until 30 minutes have elapsed from the start of program content reception.

A recorder (playback apparatus) according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The recorder according to the present embodiment supports a time shift playback function.

<Configuration of recorder 100>
First, the configuration of the recorder 100 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the recorder 100. As shown in FIG. 1, the recorder 100 includes a program receiving unit 110, a program recording processing unit 120, a video storage unit 130, a thumbnail image extraction unit 140, a display control unit 150, a thumbnail storage unit 160, and an instruction receiving unit 170. Yes.

(Program receiving unit 110)
The program receiving unit 110 is a tuner that receives program content that has been carried by broadcast waves.

(Program recording processing unit 120)
The program recording processing unit 120 records the program content being received by the program receiving unit 110 in the video storage unit 130 for time shift reproduction. Specifically, the program recording processing unit 120 controls the video storage unit 130 to record a moving image of the program content being received in a ring buffer format for a maximum of 90 minutes. That is, when 90 minutes have passed since the start of recording of program content, the program recording processing unit 120 overwrites the oldest image frame in the moving image recorded in the video storage unit 130 with the image frame newly received by the program receiving unit 110. To do. Note that the program recording processing unit 120 deletes the entire moving image of the other program content that has been received from the video storage unit 130 when reception of new program content starts.

(Video storage unit 130)
The video storage unit 130 is a large-capacity storage medium that holds program content. A broadcast program recording database 135 is created in the video storage unit 130, and a moving image of the program content is recorded in the broadcast program recording database 135 for a maximum of 90 minutes.

(Thumbnail image extraction unit 140)
The thumbnail image extraction unit 140 extracts up to seven thumbnail images from the moving images recorded in the broadcast program recording database 135. Specifically, each time the elapsed time from the start of receiving the program content reaches a predetermined time (for example, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes,...), The thumbnail image extraction unit 140 The operation of b) is performed. That is, a) The period from the reception start time (90 minutes before the current time if it exceeds 90 minutes from the reception start time) to the current time is divided into a maximum of seven sub-periods. More specifically, if the period up to the current time is 5 × k minutes (k: an integer from 1 to 5), it is divided into k + 1 (corresponding to “i” claims) sub-periods. If the period up to the current time is 30 minutes or more (corresponding to “predetermined length” in the claims), the period is divided into seven sub periods. Then, b) the image frame recorded at the start time of each sub-period and the image frame at the current time are extracted from the moving images in the broadcast program recording database 135.

Then, the thumbnail image extraction unit 140 creates a thumbnail image of the image frame for each extracted image frame and records it in the thumbnail storage unit 160.

The thumbnail image extraction unit 140 deletes all thumbnail images of other program contents that have been received from the thumbnail storage unit 160 when reception of new program content starts.

(Display control unit 150)
The display control unit 150 controls display on an external display (display unit) (not shown) connected to the recorder 100. The display control unit 150 includes a video reproduction processing unit 151 and a thumbnail display control unit 152.

The video playback processing unit 151 plays back the program content being received in real time in response to a user operation. In addition, the video reproduction processing unit 151 reads out a moving image of program content registered in the broadcast program recording database 135 in accordance with a user operation, and performs time-shifted reproduction of the moving image.

The thumbnail display control unit 152 reads out each recorded thumbnail image from the thumbnail storage unit 160 every time the thumbnail image extraction unit 140 finishes recording the thumbnail image in the thumbnail storage unit 160 during display of the time shift playback screen.

In response to a user operation, the display control unit 150 generates a time-shifted playback screen including a moving image played back by the video playback processing unit 151 and each thumbnail image read out by the thumbnail display control unit 152, and displays the video signal. Output to.

(Thumbnail storage unit 160)
The thumbnail storage unit 160 is a volatile memory that holds thumbnail images. A thumbnail database 165 is created in the thumbnail storage unit 160, and each thumbnail image is recorded in the thumbnail database 165.

(Instruction reception unit 170)
The instruction receiving unit 170 is an operation button that receives a user operation.

In the foregoing, the configuration of the main part of the recorder 100 has been described. Next, details of the time shift reproduction screen generated by the display control unit 150 will be described with reference to FIGS.

(Time shift playback screen)
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a time-shift playback screen in the preview mode. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a time-shift playback screen in preview mode and a time-shift playback screen in full screen mode.

As shown in FIG. 2, the preview mode time shift playback screen 5 is provided with a confirmation screen 5g for time shift playback preview. At the lower end of the time shift playback screen 5, up to seven thumbnail images 5a recorded in the thumbnail database 165 are displayed in a horizontal row. A thumbnail image 5a having a relatively old time when the corresponding image frame is recorded is displayed on the left side. On the further right side of the thumbnail image group, a real-time video viewing button 5c is displayed.

Further, a time bar 5d is displayed above the thumbnail image group displayed in a horizontal row, and an arrow 5e is displayed during time shift reproduction. As time-shift playback progresses, arrow 5e (corresponding to “object” in claims) stays on the spot, and time bar 5d (corresponds to “object” in claims) scrolls to the left.

Further, a cursor 5b is displayed at the position of the thumbnail image 5a. The user can position the cursor 5b on the desired thumbnail image 5a or the real-time video viewing button 5c by performing an operation of moving the cursor 5b to the left or right.

The operation of the recorder 100 when the user moves the cursor will be described below.

Each time the user moves the cursor onto the adjacent thumbnail image 5a, the video reproduction processing unit 151 accesses the broadcast program recording database 135, and starts the image frame corresponding to the thumbnail image 5a where the moved cursor 5b is located. Start time-shifted playback of moving images as frames. The display control unit 150 displays a moving image during time-shift reproduction on the confirmation screen 5g. As shown in FIG. 2, the time bar 5d is composed of seven regions. The display control unit 150 displays an arrow 5e at a position indicating the upper left corner of the area above the thumbnail image 5a where the cursor 5b is located at the start of time shift playback, and the time bar 5d is moved to the left as time shift playback progresses. Scroll. Further, the display control unit 150 displays a counter 5f indicating the time difference between the playback position during time shift playback and the current time on the right side of the confirmation screen 5g, and updates the display of the counter 5f as time shift playback progresses. .

On the other hand, when the user performs an operation of moving the cursor 5b onto the real-time video viewing button 5c, the video playback processing unit 151 starts real-time playback of the program received by the program receiving unit 110, and the display control unit 150 The real-time video is displayed on the confirmation screen 5g.

Note that the user can freely switch between preview mode and full-screen mode during time-shift playback. The display control unit 150 displays the upper time shift reproduction screen 5 in FIG. 3 in the preview mode, and displays the lower time shift reproduction screen 5 ′ in FIG. 3 in the full screen mode. Similarly, the user can freely switch between the time-shift playback mode and the real-time playback mode. The display control unit 150 displays the real-time video on the entire display in the real-time playback mode, and displays the time-shift playback screen 5 or the time-shift playback screen 5 ′ on the display in the time-shift playback mode.

(About thumbnail display)
Through the operations of the thumbnail image extraction unit 140 and the thumbnail display control unit 152 described above, the thumbnail display in the time shift playback screen 5 is repeatedly updated. In the following, what kind of thumbnail group is displayed as time passes will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing a thumbnail image 5a displayed during time-shifted reproduction at the elapsed time from the start of program content reception.

As shown in FIG. 4, the thumbnail image extraction unit 140 records the thumbnail image 5a of the first frame of the program content in the thumbnail database 165 immediately after the start of reception of the program content. Then, the display control unit 150 displays the thumbnail image 5a read out from the thumbnail database 165 by the thumbnail display control unit 152 on the leftmost side in the thumbnail display area.

After that, the thumbnail display is updated every 5 minutes until 30 minutes have passed since the start of reception.

For example, when 15 minutes have elapsed from the start of reception of program content, thumbnail images 5a corresponding to the first frame, 5 minutes later frame, 10 minutes later frame, and 15 minutes later frame of the program content are displayed as thumbnails. Are displayed in order from the left side in the work area. Specifically, the thumbnail image extraction unit 140 performs a period from immediately after the start of reception to 5 minutes, a period from 5 to 10 minutes after the start of reception, a period from 10 to 15 minutes after the start of reception, and 15 minutes after the start of reception. The thumbnail image 5a of the first frame of the target period is recorded in the thumbnail database 165 in order of the period up to the current time. The thumbnail display control unit 152 reads the four thumbnail images 5a in the order recorded in the thumbnail database 165, and the display control unit 150 reads the four thumbnail images 5a from the left side to the right side in the thumbnail display area in the reading order. Is displayed.

[Thumbnail display is updated every 10 minutes from the start of reception until 30 minutes have passed. For example, when 40 minutes have elapsed from the start of reception of program content, the thumbnail image extraction unit 140 performs a period from immediately after the start of reception to 10 minutes, a period from 10 to 15 minutes after the start of reception, and from 15 to 20 minutes after the start of reception. The period from 20 minutes to 25 minutes after the start of reception, the period from 25 minutes to 30 minutes after the start of reception, the period from 30 minutes to 40 minutes after the start of reception, and the period from 40 minutes after the start of reception to the current time, The thumbnail image 5a of the first frame in the target period is recorded in the thumbnail database 165. Then, the thumbnail display control unit 152 reads the seven thumbnail images 5a in the order recorded in the thumbnail database 165, and the display control unit 150 reads the seven thumbnail images 5a from the left side to the right side in the thumbnail display area in the reading order. Is displayed.

・ After 60 minutes from the start of reception, the thumbnail display is updated every 15 minutes. For example, when 75 minutes have elapsed from the start of reception of program content, the thumbnail image extraction unit 140 performs a period from immediately after the start of reception to 15 minutes, a period from 15 to 30 minutes after the start of reception, and from 30 to 40 minutes after the start of reception. Target period, 40 to 50 minutes after the start of reception, 50 to 60 minutes after the start of reception, 60 to 75 minutes after the start of reception, and 75 to 75 minutes after the start of reception. The thumbnail image 5a of the first frame in the period is recorded in the thumbnail database 165. Then, the thumbnail display control unit 152 reads the seven thumbnail images 5a in the order recorded in the thumbnail database 165, and the display control unit 150 reads the seven thumbnail images 5a from the left side to the right side in the thumbnail display area in the reading order. Is displayed.

Similarly, for example, when 105 minutes have elapsed from the start of reception of program content, the thumbnail image extraction unit 140 performs a period from 15 minutes to 30 minutes after the start of reception, a period from 30 minutes to 45 minutes after the start of reception, and 45 minutes after the start of reception. From 60 minutes to 60 minutes, from 60 minutes to 75 minutes after the start of reception, from 75 minutes to 90 minutes after the start of reception, from 90 minutes to 105 minutes after the start of reception, and from 105 minutes to the current time after the start of reception In the order of the period, the thumbnail image 5a of the first frame of the target period is recorded in the thumbnail database 165. Then, the thumbnail display control unit 152 reads the seven thumbnail images 5a in the order recorded in the thumbnail database 165, and the display control unit 150 reads the seven thumbnail images 5a from the left side to the right side in the thumbnail display area in the reading order. Is displayed.

As can be seen from the above description and FIG. 4, the thumbnail image extraction unit 140 performs the maximum so that the maximum and minimum difference between the lengths of the sub-periods is within 15 minutes (corresponding to “within a predetermined range” in the claims). Seven sub-periods are defined, and a thumbnail image 5a of the first frame is generated for each sub-period. Therefore, when the user continuously moves the cursor 5b, the time shift reproduction start position moves at substantially equal intervals. Thereby, the user can quickly move the reproduction start position of the time shift reproduction to the vicinity of the scene to be viewed.

(Advantages of the recorder 100)
As described above, the recorder 100 is a device capable of time-shifting playback of moving images up to the current time recorded in the broadcast program recording database 135 during real-time playback of program content.

The thumbnail image extraction unit 140 divides the period during which the moving image is recorded in the broadcast program recording database 135 into a maximum of seven and defines a maximum of seven sub periods.

The thumbnail image extraction unit 140 reads the first frame of each defined sub-period from the image frame group constituting the moving image recorded in the broadcast program recording database 135, and generates a thumbnail image of each first frame. . The display control unit 150 displays a thumbnail image corresponding to each head frame on the display.

The video reproduction processing unit 151 accesses the broadcast program recording database 135 and starts time-shift reproduction of the moving image with the image frame corresponding to the thumbnail image on which the user has positioned the cursor 5b as the first frame.

According to the above-described configuration, when a user who wants to browse a desired scene such as a missed scene missed or a scene that he / she wants to see again by time-shift playback searches for and specifies a thumbnail image of a familiar scene, the recorder 100 Then, time shift playback starts from that scene. In particular, when a thumbnail image just before the user is absent is specified, the recorder 100 starts time-shifted reproduction slightly before the desired scene.

Therefore, the recorder has an effect that the user can quickly find a desired scene.

(Appendix 1)
The video storage unit 130 may have a capacity capable of holding up to 30 minutes of moving images for time-shift playback. In addition, the thumbnail image extraction unit 140 periodically performs a sub-period every 5 minutes from the reception start time (30 minutes before the current time if it exceeds 30 minutes from the reception time) to the current time (for example, The thumbnail image 5a of the first frame of each period may be generated.

FIG. 5 shows, for each elapsed time from the start of reception of program content, moving image data of the program content recorded in the video storage unit at the elapsed time and recorded in the thumbnail storage unit at that time. It is the figure which showed the thumbnail image data typically.

In the above example, as shown in FIG. 5A, nothing is recorded in the video storage unit 130 or the thumbnail storage unit 160 before the reception of the program content. On the other hand, 10 minutes after the start of reception, as shown in FIG. 5B, a 10-minute moving image is recorded in the video storage unit 130, immediately after the start of reception, 5 minutes after the start of reception, and 10 minutes after the start of reception. The thumbnail image 5a obtained by reducing each image frame is recorded in the thumbnail storage unit 160. Further, as shown in FIG. 5C, in the period from 10 minutes after the start of reception to 30 minutes after the start of reception, another 20 minutes of moving images are recorded in the video storage unit 130. At the same time, thumbnail images 5a obtained by reducing each of the four image frames received 15 minutes, 20 minutes, 25 minutes, and 30 minutes after the start of reception are added to the thumbnail storage unit 160.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5D, in the period from 30 minutes after the start of reception until 40 minutes after the start of reception, another 10 minutes of moving images are recorded, and a moving image of 10 minutes after the start of reception is recorded. Is overwritten in the recorded area. At the same time, thumbnail images 5a obtained by reducing the two image frames received 35 minutes and 40 minutes after the start of reception are recorded, and thumbnail images 5a obtained by reducing the image frames immediately after the start of reception and 5 minutes after the start of reception are recorded. Is overwritten in the existing area.

(Appendix 2)
The display control unit 150 may be configured to display the time shift reproduction screen 5A illustrated in FIG. 6 instead of the time shift reproduction screen 5 illustrated in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 6, the time shift playback screen 5A is provided with a live screen 5h. While displaying the time shift playback screen 5A, the display control unit 150 always causes the video playback processing unit 151 to play back the program being received by the program receiving unit 110 in real time, and displays the real time video on the live screen 5h. Also good. In this case, when the user moves the cursor 5b onto the thumbnail image 5a, the video reproduction processing unit 151 performs time shift reproduction and real time reproduction at the same time. Then, the display control unit 150 displays the time-shifted video on the confirmation screen 5g and displays the real-time video on the live screen 5h.

It should be noted that a guidance display area 5i is provided on the time shift playback screen 5A. In the guidance display area 5i, an explanation of the operation method of the time shift reproduction screen 5A is described. The user can easily grasp an operation necessary for using a desired function by reading the description of the guidance display area 5i.

Note that the display control unit 150 may be configured to display the time shift reproduction screen 5B shown in FIG. 7 instead of the time shift reproduction screen 5A shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 7, the time shift reproduction screen 5B is provided with a program information display screen 5j. The display control unit 150 may display program information related to the program content on the program information display screen 5j while performing time-shift playback or real-time playback of the moving image of the program content.

(Appendix 3)
The display control unit 150 may display program information related to the program content in a portion where the thumbnail image 5a in the thumbnail display area is not displayed until 30 minutes have elapsed since the start of reception of the program content. .

FIG. 8 is a diagram exemplifying display contents of the thumbnail display area at each time point when the program content starts to be received, 5 minutes after the start of reception, 10 minutes after the start of reception, and 30 minutes after the start of reception.

As shown in FIGS. 8A to 8C, the display control unit 150 displays the thumbnail image 5a in the thumbnail display area until 30 minutes have elapsed from the start of reception of the program content. Program information may be displayed in a portion that is not. Then, as shown in FIG. 8D, the display control unit 150 deletes the program information 30 minutes after the start of receiving the program content and displays the seventh thumbnail image 5a. Good.

Note that the display control unit 150 increases the information amount of the program information to be displayed in the thumbnail display area as the number of thumbnail images 5a to be displayed increases until 30 minutes elapse from the start of reception of the program content. It may be gradually reduced. For example, as can be seen by comparing (b) and (c) in FIG. 8, the display control unit 150 displays the program title, channel, start / end time, and program information as program information 5 minutes after the start of reception of the program content. Supplementary information may be displayed, and the program title, channel, and start / end time may be displayed as program information 10 minutes after the start of reception.

(Appendix 4)
There is no particular upper limit to the number of thumbnail images 5a recorded in the thumbnail storage unit 160, and the time-shift playback screen is configured so that each thumbnail image 5a in the thumbnail image display area can be scrolled left and right. Good. In this case, the thumbnail image extraction unit 140 may extract the image frame at the current time periodically and add the thumbnail image 5a of the image frame to the thumbnail database 165 periodically (for example, every second). The user scrolls the thumbnail image 5a to the left and right to display the desired thumbnail image 5a, and then positions the cursor 5b on the thumbnail image 5a, so that the recorder 100 can time-play the desired scene. .

(Appendix 5)
The program receiving unit 110 may be a single tuner or a multi-tuner.

When the program receiving unit 110 is configured as a multi-tuner, the program receiving unit 110 may simultaneously receive program contents of various channels being broadcast and record moving images of the respective program contents in the broadcast program recording database 135. Further, the thumbnail image extraction unit 140 may generate a thumbnail image group for the program content of each channel from the moving image of the program content, and record the thumbnail image group in the thumbnail database 165 for each channel. The thumbnail display control unit 152 may read the thumbnail image group from the thumbnail database 165 every time the thumbnail image group of the channel being played back in real time is recorded in the thumbnail database 165. Further, the display control unit 150 may display the read thumbnail image group in the thumbnail display area.

(Appendix 6)
In the above embodiment, the program recording processing unit 120 records a moving image of up to 90 minutes, but it goes without saying that the time of “90 minutes” is only an example. Similarly, the thumbnail image extraction unit 140 divides the period from the reception start time to the current time into a maximum of seven sub-periods and generates a maximum of seven thumbnail images 5a. It goes without saying that (corresponding to “N” in the claims) is merely an example.

In the above embodiment, the recorder which is an embodiment of the present invention has been described, but the present invention is not limited to the recorder. That is, the present invention can be realized as a television receiver including the program receiving unit 110 to the instruction receiving unit 170 and the display screen. When the present invention is implemented as a recorder or a television receiver, the recorder or the television receiver uses one or both of the broadcast program recording database 135 and the thumbnail database 165 in an external storage device connected to the own apparatus. It may be recorded. Therefore, the video storage unit 130 and the thumbnail storage unit 160 may not be incorporated in the recorder and the television receiver.

(Appendix 7)
In the above embodiment, the thumbnail image extraction unit 140 divides the period up to the current time into a maximum of seven sub-periods, and the display control unit 150 reduces the first frame of each sub-period to the thumbnail image 5a and the image at the current time. A maximum of seven thumbnail images 5a including thumbnail images 5a with reduced frames are displayed. The present invention is not limited to this, and the display control unit 150 may not display the thumbnail image 5a corresponding to the image frame at the current time. That is, the thumbnail image extraction unit 140 divides the period up to the current time into a maximum of N sub-periods, and the display control unit 150 displays a maximum of N thumbnail images composed of thumbnail images 5a obtained by reducing the top frame of each sub-period. 5a may be displayed.

Further, the thumbnail image extraction unit 140 generates a thumbnail image 5a of the center image frame or the end image frame of each sub-period instead of the first frame of each divided sub-period, and the display control unit 150 extracts the thumbnail image. The thumbnail image 5a of each sub period generated by the unit 140 may be displayed.

(Appendix 8)
The video reproduction processing unit 151 may start time-shifted reproduction of a moving image with an image frame slightly before or slightly after the image frame corresponding to the thumbnail image as the first frame.

(Summary)
As described above, the playback apparatus (recorder 100) according to one aspect of the present invention is a moving image that configures the program content and is recorded in the storage unit (video storage unit 130) during real-time playback of the program content. In a playback apparatus capable of time-shifting playback of moving images up to the current time, a defining means (thumbnail image extracting unit 140) for defining a plurality of sub-periods by dividing a period in which the moving images are recorded, For each of the sub-periods, a thumbnail image obtained by selecting an image frame recorded in the sub-period from the image frame group constituting the moving image and reducing the image frame is displayed on the display unit (external display). Display control means (thumbnail image extraction unit 140, display control unit 150, thumbnail display control unit 152) to be displayed, and a thumbnail specified by the user Reproducing means for performing a time shift reproduction of the sub-period including the image frame corresponding to the yl image and (video playback processing section 151), it is characterized in that it comprises a.

According to the above configuration, the playback device according to one aspect of the present invention is a thumbnail of a scene that a user who is trying to view a desired scene such as a missed scene missed or a scene desired to be viewed again by time-shift playback is familiar. When searching for and specifying an image, time-shift playback of that scene is performed. Further, even when a thumbnail image of a scene just before the user is absent is specified, the playback device according to one aspect of the present invention performs time-shift playback of a desired scene such as a missed scene or a scene that the user wants to see again. It will be.

As described above, in the playback method according to one aspect of the present invention, during the real-time playback of the program content, the video up to the current time recorded in the storage unit that is the moving image constituting the program content is timed. In a reproduction method for shift reproduction, a defining step for defining a plurality of sub-periods by dividing a period in which the moving image is recorded, and an image frame group constituting the moving image for each of the plurality of sub-periods A display control step of selecting an image frame recorded within the sub-period and displaying a thumbnail image obtained by reducing the image frame on the display unit, and a sub including an image frame corresponding to the thumbnail image designated by the user And a reproduction step for performing time-shift reproduction of the period.

The playback apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention is configured such that the defining unit repeatedly defines the plurality of sub-periods, and the display control unit includes a plurality of sub subs defined most recently by the defining unit. For each period, it is desirable to select an image frame recorded in the sub-period from the image frame group and display a thumbnail image corresponding to the image frame on the display unit. . In addition, in the playback device according to one aspect of the present invention, when the specifying unit has a recording period length that is a period during which the moving image is recorded being equal to or longer than a predetermined length, the recording period length is increased. Regardless, it is preferably configured to define a predetermined N sub-periods. Furthermore, in the playback device according to an aspect of the present invention, the defining unit includes i (i: i) corresponding to the length of the recording period as long as the length of the recording period is less than the predetermined length. The display control means is configured so that the length of the recording period is the predetermined length. If it is less than this, it is desirable to display the thumbnail image of the first image frame constituting the moving image on the display unit.

The playback device according to one aspect of the present invention is configured such that the display control means displays the image frames of each sub period as thumbnails in the thumbnail display area in the display unit, and the display control means As long as the length of the recording period is less than the predetermined length, it is desirable that the program information regarding the program content is displayed in the thumbnail display area.

According to the above configuration, the reproduction apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention has an additional effect that the program information can be notified to the user without separately providing an area for displaying the program information.

The playback apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention is configured such that the defining means defines the plurality of sub-periods such that the maximum and minimum difference in length of each sub-period is within a predetermined range. It is desirable.

The playback apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention is configured such that the display control unit simultaneously displays a moving image displayed in time-shifted playback and a moving image displayed in real-time playback on the display unit. Is desirable.

According to the above configuration, the playback device according to one aspect of the present invention allows a user to simultaneously view a moving image (time-shifted video) displayed by time-shifted playback and a moving image (real-time video) displayed by real-time playback. There is an effect that can be.

Note that in the playback device according to one aspect of the present invention, the display control unit displays an object (time bar 5d, arrow 5e) for receiving the playback instruction for real-time playback on the display unit together with the thumbnail image. It is desirable that the playback unit is configured to start the real-time playback when the object is designated by the user.

In the playback apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the display control unit is configured to display an object indicating a playback position during time-shift playback on the display unit.

According to the above configuration, the playback device according to one aspect of the present invention has the further advantage that the user can grasp at a glance the playback position during the time-shift playback.

The reproduction apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention can be realized as a television receiver including the above-described units of the reproduction apparatus.

(Program, recording medium)
Finally, each block included in the recorder 100 may be configured by hardware logic. Alternatively, it may be realized by software using a CPU (Central Processing Unit) as follows.

That is, the program code (execution format program, intermediate code program, source program) of the control program for realizing each function of the recorder 100 may be recorded so as to be readable by the computer. The recorder 100 (or CPU or MPU) may read and execute the program code recorded on the supplied recording medium.

The recording medium for supplying the program code to the recorder 100 is, for example, a tape system such as a magnetic tape or a cassette tape, a magnetic disk such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk / hard disk, or a CD-ROM / MO / MD / DVD / CD-R. Or a card system such as an IC card (including a memory card) / optical card or a semiconductor memory system such as a mask ROM / EPROM / EEPROM (registered trademark) / flash ROM.

Even if the recorder 100 is configured to be connectable to a communication network, the object of the present invention can be achieved. In this case, the program code is supplied to the recorder 100 via a communication network. The communication network is not limited to a specific type or form as long as it can supply the program code to the recorder 100. For example, the Internet, intranet, extranet, LAN, ISDN, VAN, CATV communication network, mobile communication network, satellite communication network, etc. may be used.

The transmission medium constituting the communication network may be any medium that can transmit the program code, and is not limited to a specific configuration or type. For example, wired communication such as IEEE 1394, USB (Universal Serial Bus), power line carrier, cable TV line, telephone line, ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) line, infrared such as IrDA or remote control, Bluetooth (registered trademark), 802. 11 wireless, HDR, mobile phone network, satellite line, terrestrial digital network, etc. can also be used. The present invention can also be realized in the form of a computer data signal embedded in a carrier wave in which the program code is embodied by electronic transmission.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope shown in the claims, and embodiments obtained by appropriately combining technical means disclosed in different embodiments. Is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope indicated in the claims. That is, embodiments obtained by combining technical means appropriately modified within the scope of the claims are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

The present invention can be widely applied to playback devices such as recorders and television receivers.

100 recorder (playback device)
110 Program receiving unit 120 Program recording processing unit 130 Video storage unit (storage unit)
135 Broadcast program recording database 140 Thumbnail image extraction unit (regulation means, display control means)
150 Display control unit (display control means)
151 Video reproduction processing unit (reproduction means)
152 Thumbnail display control unit (display control means)
160 Thumbnail storage unit 170 Instruction reception unit

Claims

In a playback apparatus capable of time-shifting playback of a moving image constituting the program content up to the current time recorded in the storage unit during real-time playback of the program content,
Defining means for defining a plurality of sub-periods by dividing a period until the current time when the moving image is recorded;
For each of the plurality of sub-periods, an image frame recorded in the sub-period is selected from the image frame group constituting the moving image, and a thumbnail image obtained by reducing the image frame is displayed on the display unit. Control means;
And a playback unit that performs time-shift playback in a sub-period including an image frame corresponding to a thumbnail image designated by a user.
The defining means is configured to repeatedly define the plurality of sub-periods,
The display control means selects an image frame recorded in the sub-period from the image frame group for each of the plurality of sub-periods most recently defined by the defining means, and corresponds to the image frame The playback apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the playback apparatus is configured to display a thumbnail image on a display unit.
If the length of the recording period, which is the period during which the moving image is recorded, is equal to or longer than the predetermined length, the defining means sets the predetermined N sub-periods regardless of the length of the recording period. The playback apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the playback apparatus is configured to be defined.
As long as the length of the recording period is less than the predetermined length, the defining means includes i (i: one or more that increases stepwise as the recording period becomes longer). N−1 or less integer) sub-periods,
The display control means displays a thumbnail image of the first image frame constituting the moving image on a display unit when the length of the recording period is less than the predetermined length. The playback apparatus according to claim 3.
The display control means is configured to display thumbnails of the image frames of each sub-period in the thumbnail display area in the display unit,
The display control means is configured to display program information related to the program content in the thumbnail display area while the length of the recording period is less than the predetermined length. The playback apparatus according to claim 4.
The said defining means is comprised so that the said several sub period may be prescribed | regulated so that the maximum and minimum difference of the length of each sub period may be settled in a predetermined range, The 1st to 5th description characterized by the above-mentioned. The playback apparatus according to any one of the above.
7. The display control unit according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit is configured to simultaneously display a moving image displayed by time-shifted reproduction and a moving image displayed by real-time reproduction on the display unit. The playback apparatus according to claim 1.
The display control means is configured to display an object for receiving a reproduction instruction for the real-time reproduction on the display unit together with the thumbnail image,
8. The playback apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the playback means is configured to start the real-time playback when the object is designated by a user.
9. The playback apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit is configured to display an object indicating a playback position during time-shift playback on the display unit. 10. .
A television receiver comprising the respective units of the playback device according to any one of claims 1 to 9.
In a playback method for time-shifting playback of moving images up to the current time recorded in the storage unit, which are moving images constituting the program content during real-time playback of the program content,
A defining step of defining a plurality of sub-periods by dividing a period until the current time when the moving image is recorded;
For each of the plurality of sub-periods, an image frame recorded in the sub-period is selected from the image frame group constituting the moving image, and a thumbnail image obtained by reducing the image frame is displayed on the display unit. Control steps;
And a playback step for performing time-shift playback in a sub-period including an image frame corresponding to a thumbnail image designated by a user.
A reproduction program for causing a computer to operate as the reproduction apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the reproduction function causes the computer to function as each of the above means.
A computer-readable recording medium on which the reproduction program according to claim 12 is recorded.