JP2000155998A - Picture recording/reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily specify and reconfirm a reservation image and to reduce the load for image coincidence comparison processing by converting an input image in a program being broadcast to information for indicating the features of the image, comparing it with information for indicating the features of the image to be reserved, and storing and displaying the features of the image to be reserved when they coincide. SOLUTION: An image is converted into a reservation image feature dictionary for indicating the features of the image by a reservation image conversion means 109 and then is stored at a storage medium 102 temporarily or is used for comparison with a program input image. A program input image being broadcast is converted into an input image feature dictionary information for indicating the features of the image by an image feature dictionary comparison means 107, and is compared with a reservation image feature dictionary that is the output of a conversion means 109. If they coincide each other, a guidance for urging user information input is displayed on a guidance display means 104. Therefore, for example, when the first broadcast program of a continuous drama or the like is recorded, the attached information can be easily referred to at the succeeding reservation recording/reproduction.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for recording and reproducing an image, and more particularly to an apparatus for performing automatic recording or automatic reproduction of a reservation by comparing a user-specified arbitrary image with a received image of a television broadcast and a control thereof. About the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-56362 discloses an example of a prior art relating to automatic recording of appointment by comparing and comparing images.
A method is described in which, while playing back a recorded video, a scene for which recording is desired to be found is registered as a reserved image, the reserved image is compared with a received image of a television broadcast, and recording is started from a point in time when the images match. ing.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-56386 discloses a method in which several images of a start portion and an end portion of a program to be reserved for recording are registered in advance, and both recording start and recording end are performed by matching images. Is described.

[0004] On the other hand, there is no description of the embodiment in the above two prior arts for the automatic reservation reproduction.

[0005]

In the method shown in the above-mentioned prior art, first, in order to register a reserved image for starting recording, a recorded program is reproduced once, and operations such as fast forward and rewind are performed. Since it is necessary to find a target scene while making full use of the content, there is a problem that a user who does not fully understand the recorded contents may give a troublesome impression. Further, once a reserved image is registered, the reserved image is stored in an internal memory that cannot be visually referred to by a user, so that there is a problem that the reserved image cannot be confirmed again later.

[0006] Further, in the coincidence comparison between the scheduled recording image and the received image of the television broadcast, the comparison must be made for all the screens and all the pixels of the program screen, so that the load of the signal processing becomes heavy (or the configuration scale of the hardware becomes small). Problem). Further, in the prior art, the response when the reserved video does not actually appear remains unresolved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an operation interface capable of easily designating and reconfirming a desired reserved video, and an implementation capable of greatly reducing the processing load in video coincidence comparison. Provide a way,
In addition, information such as the broadcast date and time of the desired program, the day of the week, the channel, etc., the time margin for the start time and the end time of the program, and the video of an arbitrary part of the already recorded program are registered as the reservation information, thereby making the reservation. It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording / reproducing apparatus which can start recording or reproduction from a point in time when a video of the same scene as the reproduced video flows.

[0008]

A recording and playback apparatus according to the present invention includes a video input interface including a TV tuner for inputting a received signal of a television broadcast, a video output interface connected to a TV monitor or the like, and a television broadcast. Recording control means for controlling the start and end of recording of a program, a representative image creating means for creating a list of representative images consisting of a set of video cuts simultaneously with the recording of the program, and a program reproduced or recorded in a television broadcast Control means for controlling the reproduction of the video, a reproduction position specifying interface for visually determining the reproduction position of the recorded video using the representative image list, and a date, time, channel, reservation video, etc. specified by the user. A program reservation interface that reserves the start and end of recording and playback of a program according to the information, and the user designates for reservation recording using video A reserved video converting means for converting a video of a predetermined time length into information representing the characteristics of the video using a predetermined method, and an input video of a program currently being broadcast in real time using a predetermined method; A video feature dictionary comparing unit that compares the information with the information representing the feature of the reserved video while converting the information into the feature representing information, and notifies the CPU when both match, and temporarily stores the information representing the feature of the reserved video. Storage means for storing the recorded video and its associated information, representative image, recording or reproduction reservation information, reserved video feature dictionary, and the like; It is composed of guidance display means for displaying an operation screen of the present apparatus, and a CPU for controlling the whole.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a recording / playback apparatus 1 according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a 00. Video input interface 1
Reference numeral 05 denotes a unit that includes a TV tuner for inputting a received video (including audio) of the television broadcast 115 and takes in a video of a program into the apparatus. Recording control means 111
Controls the start and end of recording of a program. The reproduction control unit 112 controls reproduction of a broadcasted program or reproduction of a recorded program. Playback video is video output interface 1
06 to the monitor 116 or the like connected to the apparatus. The representative image creating unit 113 creates a plurality of representative images each including a set of video cut transitions and representative image management information for managing them in groups for each program simultaneously with recording of the program.

[0010] The created representative images are displayed in a list so that the recorded program contents can be easily grasped.
The reproduction position designation interface 117 associates each representative image with the reproduction start position of the program,
This is a means for visually determining a temporal reproduction position by selecting one of the displayed representative images during reproduction.

Program reservation (video selection) interface 11
0 indicates that the user inputs or selects information such as date, time, channel, reserved video, etc.
The end is reserved. In particular, when performing automatic recording or automatic reproduction using a reserved video, a list of representative images of a recorded program is displayed, and the user is allowed to select any one of the representative images. The reserved video converting means 109 converts a video of a certain time length from a reproduction position of a representative image designated by the user for the reserved recording using the video by using a predetermined method to represent information representing the characteristics of the video (hereinafter, reserved video data). (Referred to as a video feature dictionary).

The converted reserved video feature dictionary 108 is temporarily stored in the storage medium 102 depending on conditions such as a reserved time or is used immediately for comparison with a program input video. Timer 1 determines whether the current time has reached the reserved time.
03 is monitored. The video feature dictionary comparing means 107 converts the input video of the program currently being broadcasted into information (hereinafter, input video feature dictionary) representing video features in real time using a predetermined method, Compared with the dictionary 109, when both are determined to be equal, the CPU 101 is notified that the images match. The storage medium 102 stores the recorded video and its associated information, representative images, recording or reproduction reservation information, the reservation video feature dictionary 102, and the like, and the type of the storage medium is not particularly limited.

The guidance display means 104 is used for display of a control panel at the time of reproduction, display of a list of representative images, or guidance for prompting a user to input information at the time of recording reservation or the like. Although not shown, means for the user to input information to the apparatus include a keyboard, a mouse, a tablet,
Input devices such as touch panels can be used,
Although the type is not particularly limited, in the following description, it is assumed that a keyboard and a mouse are used as input devices. The CPU 101 is used to control each unit constituting the apparatus.

FIG. 2A is a diagram showing a video reservation screen 200 for allowing a user to specify a video to be a comparison dictionary for video reservation or video reproduction. This screen is displayed on the guidance display means. A list of representative images of programs that have already been recorded is used to specify a video to be a dictionary. The representative image is obtained by capturing the image of the scene at the transition of the video cut simultaneously with the recording of the program. By arranging these representative images 203 in the representative image display frame 202 in chronological order together with the time 204 at which the images were captured (or the time from the beginning of the recorded program), the user can display the approximate contents of the recorded program. It can be grasped instantly.

The number of representative images to be arranged on the screen should be considered depending on the size and resolution of the guidance display means. However, the resolution of each representative image itself does not need to be particularly high quality, so that, for example, as shown in FIG. No problem.

The number of the representative images 203 is the representative image display frame 20.
2, the forward image button 202, the backward button 207, etc. are operated to display the representative image display frame 202.
Is virtually slid to switch the representative image to be displayed.

The designation of the reserved video designates one of the representative images displayed on the screen. The designation can be made by simply pressing an arbitrary representative image directly with a mouse. The selected representative image 209 informs the user that the selected representative image 209 has been provisionally selected by, for example, changing the display color.

To register the selected representative image 209 as a reserved video, the user operates a confirm button 205. The reserved video feature dictionary 108 creates information representing video features of a certain length of time from the scene registered by the confirm button 205. As shown in FIG.
The video of the corresponding portion may be displayed in the reserved video display frame 210 as shown in FIG. The attached information display frame 201 displays attached information relating to the recorded program for which the representative image has been created, such as the title of the program, the date of recording, the start time and end time of the program, and the like. In the case of canceling the reservation video selection process itself, the stop button 206 is operated.

[0019] Scheduled video recording and scheduled playback are effective when making a reservation for a program in which the same video title is inserted at the beginning of a program (serial drama, news, sports broadcast, etc.). Further, when the start time of the program is changed due to the broadcast station side after the reservation registration, the effect can be particularly exhibited.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the structure of the attached information 300 of the recorded video. The attached information 300 is managed in association with each recorded program stored in the storage medium 102. For example, if recorded video of 10 titles is stored, 10
Attachment information 300 is stored for each title. The attached information 300 manages a program title 303, a recorded date 304, a recording start time 305 and a recording end time 306, a channel 307, a location 308 (address) of a recorded video in the storage medium 102, and a representative image in a group. 309 (address) of representative image management information, and other auxiliary information 310 such as comments input by the user to make the contents of the recorded video easier to understand.

When the first program such as a serial drama is recorded once by the present apparatus, the recording date (or day of the week), the start time and the end of the program in the next and subsequent video reservation recording or video reservation reproduction of the drama. The user does not need to input the time and channel information again because the above-mentioned attached information can be referred to.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the structure of the representative image management information 400. The representative image management information 400 is information for group managing the representative images for each program, and is managed in association with each recorded program stored in the storage medium 102 in the same manner as the attached information of the recorded video. A case where there are n representative screens of a certain recorded video will be described as an example. First, in the header information 401 corresponding to the head of the main information, the number of registered representative images, the location of the recorded video associated with the main information, and the like are recorded. Subsequently, for each representative image (402 to
The frame number 407 on the recorded video associated with the representative image and the location 408 (address) of the representative image are recorded in 406). This information is referred to when a representative image list is displayed on the reserved image selection screen in video recording reservation and video reproduction reservation, or when a representative image list is displayed to visually specify a reproduction start position during reproduction. Things.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a reservation content confirmation screen 500 when executing video reservation video recording and video reservation reproduction. FIG. 5A is a diagram showing the entire reservation content confirmation screen 500. This screen is displayed on the guidance display unit 104.

The reservation information is displayed in a reservation information display frame 501, and FIG. 5A shows an example in which four pieces of reservation information are collectively displayed on one screen. When there are four or more pieces of reservation information, the reservation information display frame 501 is virtually slid by operating the forward button 504, the backward button 505, and the like to switch the reservation information to be displayed. If there is no problem in the reservation information, the confirmation button 502 is operated. When canceling the reservation, the user selects the reservation information display frame 501 on which the reservation information to be canceled is displayed, and operates the cancel button 503. As a selection method, it is only necessary to directly press an arbitrary reservation information display frame 501 with a mouse. Selected reservation information display frame 50
1 informs the user that the display is temporarily selected by means such as a change in display color.

FIG. 5B is a diagram showing details of the reservation information display frame 501. A reserved image is displayed in the representative image frame 506. In the title 507, the user can arbitrarily input text such as a program name. Channel 50
8, date 509, start time 510, end time 511
Can be directly set by the user, but the content of the attached information 300 associated with the recorded video referred to when the reserved image is selected is set as a default value.

The recording start / end margin 512 specifies how long before and after the video coincidence comparison is to be performed using the recording start time as a reference time. For example, if the margin value is ± 30 minutes, the start time 51
The video match comparison is started 30 minutes before 0, and if no matched video appears due to a sudden program change or the like, it means that the video match comparison is stopped 30 minutes after the start time 510. The recording start / end margin 512 may be divided into a start margin and an end margin and set individually.

In the recording / reproduction type 513, the main reservation information includes reserved video recording, reserved video playback, reserved video recording without using reserved video (normal reserved recording by specifying date and time), and reserved video reproduction without using reserved video ( One of the following types is set. Auxiliary information display frame 51
Reference numeral 4 denotes a part for inputting a comment or the like as necessary for the user to easily understand the contents of the reservation. Of course, there is no problem even if it is blank if unnecessary.

When the reservation information is registered by operating the confirmation button 502, the storage medium 102 is used as the reservation information.
Is stored in

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the structure of the reservation information 600 stored in the storage medium 102. One reservation information 60
Item 1 is title 603, date 604, start time 6
05, end time 606, channel 607, recording start /
End margin 608, type of recording / playback 609, output destination 610 of recorded video (address on storage medium 102), location 611 of reserved video dictionary (address on storage medium 102), location 612 of recorded video attached information (storage) Medium 102
Upper address), the first frame number 612 of the reserved video,
It consists of other auxiliary information 613.

In this apparatus, when one or more pieces of reservation information 600 are registered, the current time of the timer 103 and the start time 605 are constantly compared, and the current time is set to the start time 6.
From the time point 05 has been reached, scheduled recording or scheduled playback is executed according to the setting contents of the scheduled information 600. In addition,
In the case of scheduled video recording or scheduled video playback, start time 6
Needless to say, the time at which the set value of the recording start / end margin 608 is considered at 05 and the current time of the timer 103 are compared.

Hereinafter, the procedure will be described with reference to a flowchart, taking as an example the case of performing video reservation recording in the present apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a procedure for registering a video reservation recording using the video reservation screen 200 and the reservation content confirmation screen 500. First, a created representative image related to a program (for example, a serial drama or the like) for which recording reservation is desired is read and displayed on the guidance display unit 104 in the form of a video reservation screen 200 (700).

Next, one scene for which recording is to be started is selected from the representative images (701). For example, a drama title scene or the like can be easily imagined, but is not limited to this. Thereafter, when the interruption of the reservation processing is selected by the user's operation, the main reservation screen is ended. When continuing, it is determined whether or not the selected reserved video scene is confirmed (703). If not confirmed, the processes 701 to 703 of FIG. When the reserved video scene is determined, a reserved video feature dictionary is created (704),
The recording reservation information is created and displayed with reference to the attached information of the recorded video associated with the representative image (705), (7).
06). The recording reservation information 600 is displayed on the reservation content confirmation screen 50.
Displayed using 0.

Here, the user can edit the contents of the displayed reservation information if necessary (not shown). When the cancellation of the reservation information is operated, the corresponding recording reservation information is deleted from the storage medium 102 (70).
7), (711). When the recording reservation information is determined, the recording reservation information 600 is stored in the storage medium 102 (709), and monitoring of the reservation start time by the timer is activated (71).
0).

A specific method of creating the reserved video feature dictionary 108 uses the method described in Japanese Patent Application No. 9-126704, but the outline thereof will be briefly described below.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the concept of a method of creating the reserved video feature dictionary 108. First, as shown in FIG. 8A, a feature amount 807 is extracted from each of the screens 800 constituting the reserved video. The feature amount 807 at this time uses the color average of the image. The color average is obtained for each component of the RGB color system, and a set of these three is used as a feature amount 807 of one image.

Next, data compression by run length compression (808 to 81) is performed on the sequence of the extracted feature amount 807.
Perform 1). The video has very high temporal redundancy,
In particular, when the color average as described above is used as the feature amount 807, almost the same value continues. Sections (812 to 815) in which the feature values 807 that can be regarded as the same value are continuous are combined into one, and the feature value is assigned to each section number 817 (specifically, 812 to 815) as shown in FIG. 818 and the first frame number 819 (specifically, 801 and 804,
805, 806).

The characteristic amount A 'in FIG.
It is shown that the feature amount can be regarded as the same as the feature amount A of. The same applies to the relationship between the characteristic amounts B and B 'and C and C' in the figure. The determination as to whether the feature amounts can be regarded as the same is based on the fact that the absolute value of the difference is within a threshold value set separately for all three values of the color average RGB of the image.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure from a reservation standby state to a video recording start in video reservation video recording. In the example of the figure, it is assumed that the reservation information 600 of the existing video reservation recording has been registered. First, by referring to the information registered in the reservation information 600, it is determined whether or not the current time of the timer 103 has reached the comparison start time of the video feature dictionary. The determination is repeated until it becomes (900).

At this time, if the user selects to interrupt the scheduled recording, the time monitoring by the timer 103 is interrupted, and the process exits from the video scheduled recording process (901). Timer 1
If the current time of 03 has reached the comparison start time of the video feature dictionary, the input video feature dictionary is initialized (902), and the reserved video feature dictionary is read (903). At this point, recording has not been started yet, and the input image is captured (904), the input video feature dictionary is created (905), and the input video feature dictionary and the reserved video feature dictionary are compared using the method described with reference to FIG. 906). The two video feature dictionaries are compared and determined (907), and processing 904 is performed until the video feature dictionaries match.
To 907 are repeated.

However, if the current time of the timer 103 exceeds the reserved recording start time + recording start / end margin, the reserved video recording processing is interrupted (914), (91).
5). If both video feature dictionaries match, it is determined that the input video of the television broadcast matches the reserved video, and recording is started from that point (908), and at the same time, creation of a representative image is started (909). . Thereafter, the recording and the representative image creation are continued until the recording end time (910). When the end time is reached, the recording and the creation of the representative image are stopped (91).
1), (912). Finally, the attached information 300 of the recorded video is stored in the storage medium 102. In the present flowchart, the example of the reserved video recording has been described. However, even in the case of the reserved video reproduction, the procedure of the processing is the same except that the recording processing replaces the reproduction processing.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the recording / playback apparatus of the present invention. The recording / reproducing apparatus 1000 (100) itself uses a personal computer (PC) including a hard disk, a CRT, a keyboard, a mouse, and the like. The recording / reproducing device 1000 (100) has an IRD 100
7 (Integrated Receiver Decoder) and connected to a digital TV broadcast 1006, a terrestrial TV broadcast 1008, and the like.
To watch. Also, it is connected to a DVD-RAM drive 1004 or the like having a large storage capacity as a removable external storage medium that can withstand long-time video recording. The external storage medium can also be used for a user to save some recorded videos as an original library.

Further, the user accesses a home page on which information such as a TV program guide is posted via a network 1002 such as the Internet, and acquires a time table of the TV program. By taking the information of the taken time table into this apparatus, it can be used as a database for program search. For example, in the conventional time table program search for magazines and the like, the broadcast date and time of the program was an important keyword. However, the present apparatus searches for programs that can use the keywords imagined by the user, such as the program title and drama performers, as they are. A method can be provided.

[0044]

According to the present invention, there is provided a program reservation interface for easily designating and reconfirming a desired reserved video, and an implementation method capable of greatly reducing the processing load in video coincidence comparison. By registering the video of any part of the already recorded program as the reservation information, in addition to the information such as the date and time, day of the week, channel, etc. of the program to be recorded, the video is recorded from the time when the video of the same scene as the reserved video flows Alternatively, a device that can start playback can be provided.

Further, by providing a time margin between the start time and the end time of the reservation as the reservation information, even if the reserved video does not appear, it is possible to lead to the automatic interruption of the video comparison processing. Further, it is not necessary to always perform the comparison processing between the reserved video and the actual broadcast video, which can contribute to power saving of the apparatus.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a recording / playback apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a video reservation screen for allowing a user to specify a reservation video.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a structure of information attached to a recorded video.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the structure of representative image management information.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a reservation content confirmation screen when executing video reservation recording and video reservation reproduction.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the structure of reservation information.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a registration procedure of video reservation recording.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the concept of a method for creating a reserved video feature dictionary.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a procedure from a standby state of video reservation recording to a start of recording.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a recording / playback apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

100: recording / playback apparatus, 101: CPU, 102: storage medium, 103: timer, 104: guidance display means,
105: video input interface, 106: video output interface, 107: video feature dictionary comparison means, 108
... reserved video feature dictionary, 109 ... reserved video conversion means, 11
0: program reservation interface, 111: recording control means,
112: playback control means, 113: representative image creation means, 1
14: data bus, 115: television broadcast, 116: monitor, 117: reproduction position designation interface.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Takashi Hasegawa 1-280 Higashi Koikekubo, Kokubunji-shi, Tokyo Inside the Central Research Laboratory of Hitachi, Ltd. Central Research Laboratory (72) Inventor Akira Nagasaka 1-280 Higashi Koikekubo, Kokubunji-shi, Tokyo F-term (reference) 5C018 AA02 AB01 AB02 AB09 AB12 AC08 HA05 HA09 HA14 5C052 AA01 AB03 AB04 AC08 CC06 DD04 5C053 FA14 FA20 FA24 GA20 GB06 HA29 JA21 KA24 LA06 LA11 LA14 5D102 AC01 AF06 GA02 GA08 GA37 GA46 GA47 GA48 GA51 GA64

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A T for inputting a received signal of a television broadcast.
A video input interface including a V tuner, a video output interface connected to a TV monitor or the like, a recording control means for controlling start and end of recording of a television broadcast program, and a set of video cut transitions simultaneously with recording of the program Representative image creation means for creating a list of representative images consisting of:
Reproduction control means for controlling reproduction of a television broadcast or reproduction of a recorded program; a reproduction position specifying interface for visually determining a reproduction position of a recorded video using a representative image list; Time, channel,
A program reservation interface for reserving the start and end of recording and playback of a program according to information such as a reserved video, and a video having a predetermined time length specified by the user for reserved video recording using a predetermined method. Reserved video converting means for converting the video into information representing the characteristics of the video, and converting the input video of the program currently being broadcast into information representing the characteristics of the video in real time using a predetermined method. Video feature dictionary comparison means for comparing the information with the information representing the reserved video, and a reserved video feature information storage means for temporarily storing information indicating the characteristics of the reserved video;
Storage means for recording the recorded video and its associated information, representative image, recording or reproduction reservation information, reserved video feature dictionary, and the like; and a display unit for displaying an operation screen of the apparatus such as a representative image list display. A recording / reproducing apparatus comprising: guidance display means; and a CPU for controlling the whole. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording and the reproduction by the reservation are performed together with information such as a broadcast date, a day of the week, a program start time, a program end time, and a channel of a desired program. Register the time margin for the time and end time and the video of any part of the already recorded program as reservation information, and start recording or starting playback from the time when the video of the same scene as the reserved video flows And a recording / reproducing apparatus. 3. The broadcast date of a desired program according to claim 2,
A recording / reproducing apparatus, wherein information such as a day of the week, a program start time, a program end time, and a channel is information obtained by referring to reservation information recorded at the time of the previous program recording. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the comparison between the reserved video and the actual video of the broadcast is started from a time as far back as a start time margin based on a preset broadcast start time of the program. A recording / playback apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the end of the recording or the reproduction by the reservation is determined from the program start time and the program end time of the reservation information recorded at the time of the previous recording of the program from the time at which the recording was actually started. A recording / reproducing apparatus, which is executed at a time point when a time corresponding to the length of a guided program time has elapsed. 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the comparison between the reserved video and the actual broadcast video is interrupted when the user intentionally releases the reservation or based on a preset broadcast end time of the program. A recording / reproducing apparatus which is executed when the time has elapsed by the end time margin. 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an image of the scene is created as a representative image by detecting at least one transition of a scene constituting the program at the same time as the recording operation of the program. And a temporal recording position of the recorded program together with information associated therewith. 8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a reproduction position designation interface for selecting any one of the representative images of the recorded video stored in the storage medium, wherein the reproduction position designation interface is associated with the representative image. A recording / reproducing apparatus capable of starting reproduction from a reproduction position of a recorded video. 9. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a program reservation interface for selecting any one of the representative images of the programs stored in the storage medium, wherein the program reservation interface is provided for a predetermined time from the scene of the selected representative image. A video recording / reproducing apparatus, wherein a continuous video up to a subsequent scene is a reserved video for recording start or reproduction start. 10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the video feature dictionary comparing means converts the color information of each frame image constituting the reserved video into numerical values as image feature values by using a predetermined algorithm. Then, the information obtained by compressing the extracted feature values in a certain time series unit is compared with the compressed information of the feature values extracted in real time using the same method for each frame image constituting the program being broadcast. Recording / playback apparatus characterized in that the control is performed in such a manner. 11. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a personal computer including a hard disk, a CRT, a keyboard, a mouse, and the like is configured as a core. 12. A system centered on the device according to claim 7, wherein the system is connected to digital TV broadcasting, terrestrial TV broadcasting, etc. via an IRD (Integrated Receiver Decoder), and further includes a TV program guide and a time table for programs. A recording / reproducing apparatus, which is connected to a network such as the Internet for acquiring information, and includes a television monitor for viewing images and a DVD-RAM drive as a large-capacity external storage medium.