JP2000195233A - Reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve operability as audio equipment by enabling a user to easily comprehend a track (music) to be reproduced next, and enabling the user to skip the track (music) to be reproduced next during a reproduction period of a certain track. SOLUTION: This reproducing device presents to a user the track will be next reproduced is by displaying the reproduction situation of a track being reproduced at present and also displaying the next track to be reproduced. When a skip key is operated during the reproduction of the present track, the device alters the setting of the track to be reproduced next, and makes displays so that the altered/set tracks is shown as the track to be reproduced next.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a reproducing apparatus capable of reproducing audio data managed on a program basis.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, digital audio systems capable of reproducing audio data of music and the like have been widely used, including audio equipment corresponding to CDs (Compact Discs) and so-called mini disks.

[0003] In such an audio system, audio data recorded on a medium is usually managed on a program basis for each music piece, for example. Therefore, for example, in the case of normal reproduction, audio data is reproduced sequentially according to the program number order. Hereinafter, in the present specification, the program is also referred to as a track.

[0004]

By the way, in the case where the tracks are sequentially reproduced as described above, for example, since the user does not like a music piece as a track to be reproduced next, skip (forward) the music. The need to go and not play back is of course conceivable.

However, for example, during normal reproduction, the next reproduced track number can be known by looking at the currently reproduced track number displayed on the display unit of the audio device. However,
In order to skip only the next track to be played, when the playback of the currently playing track is finished and the playback of this next track is started, a cueing operation for the next track is performed. There is a need to do. That is, when a certain track is currently being reproduced, it is impossible to skip only the next track to be reproduced.

Therefore, various audio devices are provided with a so-called program reproduction function. This program playback function enables, for example, an arbitrary number of tracks to be selected from all the tracks recorded on a certain recording medium in accordance with a desired track order that the user wants to play back. It is. However, in general,
The program setting as described above is performed at a stage before the reproduction, and the program contents cannot be changed while the reproduction according to the set program contents is performed. Here, for example, even during program playback, even if the user wants to skip the next track to be played due to the user's mood at that time, for example, to skip this track, as described above, hand,
After the reproduction of the currently reproduced track is completed, it is necessary to perform an operation for searching for the next track.

[0007] Such audio equipment also has a so-called shuffle reproduction function. In the shuffle reproduction, a random track order is determined by, for example, appropriately generating random numbers on the device side, and track reproduction is performed. In the case of such a shuffle reproduction, a track to be reproduced next is not presented to the outside by, for example, display, and therefore, the user cannot grasp the next music (track). Therefore, in the case of the shuffle reproduction, even if the user wants to skip the music to be reproduced next as described above, in this case, the user can know the music to be reproduced next in advance. Will not be. Therefore, in this case, when the reproduction of a certain track is started, it is possible to know for the first time that the user does not like this music,
After all, at this stage, you can only search for the next track and expect that the next track is your favorite song.

[0008]

In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention makes it possible for a user to easily understand at least a track (song) to be reproduced next, and that a certain track is currently available. An object of the present invention is to enable an operation for skipping a track (song) to be reproduced next during a period during which reproduction is being performed.

For this reason, at least, as a reproducing apparatus capable of performing reproduction corresponding to a predetermined recording medium in which audio data managed by a unit as a program is recorded, the reproduction apparatus is provided next to the program currently being reproduced. Next program determining means for determining the next program to be reproduced, and presenting the next program determined by the next program determining means to the outside so as to be recognizable as a program to be reproduced next to the currently reproduced program. And a skip operation means. Then, when an operation is performed on the skip operation means during the reproduction of a certain program, the next program determination means cancels the determination on the current next program and the next program after the determination is canceled. It is configured to execute a skip setting process of determining a program to be reproduced and setting the determined program as a new next program.

According to the above configuration, the program (next program) to be reproduced next to the currently reproduced program (track) is presented so that the user can recognize it. Then, when an operation is performed on the skip operation means during the reproduction of a certain program, the current determination as the next program is canceled, and the next program is newly determined. by this,
Even while a certain program is currently playing,
The program presented as the next program when the skip operation is performed is set so as not to be reproduced after the program currently being reproduced.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. In the present embodiment, a recording / reproducing apparatus capable of recording and reproducing at least audio data corresponding to a predetermined disk-shaped recording medium (or a solid-state memory element such as a flash memory) is used. The following description will be made in the following order. 1. Recording / reproducing device 2. 2. Data content recorded on the disc 3. Skip operation Processing operation

1. Recording / Reproducing Apparatus The block diagram of FIG. 1 shows an example of a configuration as the recording / reproducing apparatus of the present embodiment. In the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 shown in this figure, a disk driver 5 is provided. The disk driver 5 has a configuration in which data can be read from and written to a predetermined disk-shaped recording medium (hereinafter, simply referred to as a disk) 20. Also,
In the present embodiment, audio data can be recorded on the disk 20, and this audio data is recorded and managed on a track-by-track basis for each piece of music, for example. In the present embodiment, the disk 20 to which the disk driver 5 corresponds is not particularly limited as long as it is at least a format in which audio data can be recorded or reproduced. However, in the present embodiment, as will be described later, a character information file and an image file (hereinafter referred to as “audio-related data”) which are assumed to be associated with each audio data as a track can be recorded and reproduced. .

As an example of the type of the disk 20, a magneto-optical disk such as a mini disk may be used.
The disc may be a disc on which various data can be recorded or reproduced according to the CD system or the DVD system. Furthermore, a hard disk or the like is also conceivable. In the following description,
The description will be made on the assumption that a disk medium is used, but a configuration may be adopted in which a memory driver capable of recording and reproducing data corresponding to a solid-state memory such as a flash memory is used instead of the disk driver 5.

The audio audio data processor 9 includes:
At the time of recording, the input audio data is subjected to necessary signal processing such as, for example, data compression processing according to a required system, addition processing of an error correction code, and encoding processing adapted to the disk 20. Then, the data is supplied to the disk driver 5 via the data bus 30 as recording data. At the time of reproduction, the audio data read from the disk 20 by the disk driver 5 is fetched via the data bus 30 and subjected to demodulation processing, data expansion processing, error correction processing, etc. according to a required system. Output as playback audio data.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 1, there are two systems for inputting recording data to the audio audio data processor 9. One is a signal system for inputting audio data supplied from the A / D converter 12. In this case, the microphone audio signal supplied from the microphone terminal T1 is input to the A / D converter 12 via the microphone amplifier 13. Further, a line input terminal T2 to which an analog audio signal is input is also connected to the A / D converter 12. The other is a signal system for inputting audio data transmitted from an external device from the connector 11 via the data interface 10 via the data bus 30.

In this case, the reproduced audio data output from the audio audio data processor 9 is:
The audio signal is converted into an analog audio signal by the D / A converter 14, and the signal is converted to a speaker 16 or a headphone terminal (or a line output terminal) T3 via the amplifier 15.
Is output to Further, it is also possible to output the digital audio signal from the audio audio data processor 9 to an external device via the data bus 30 and the data interface 10-connector 11 as it is.

In this embodiment, data other than audio data can be transmitted via the data interface 10. For example, first, disk 20
It is also possible to take in audio-related data (character data file or image data file) via the data interface 10 and record it on the disc 20.

The display unit 8 is, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crysta).
l), and display is performed by being driven by the display driver 7. The operation of the display driver 7 is controlled by the CPU 2 according to required display contents. In the present embodiment, as will be described later, files such as text and images are recorded on the disk 20 after being managed as related information (audio related data) accompanying the audio data as tracks. It is possible. In the present embodiment, for example, when audio data is reproduced as a track, display of these audio-related data can be performed on the display unit 8 as described later. .

The operation unit 6 is provided with various operators operated by a user in order to execute required operations in the recording / reproducing apparatus 1. The operation unit 6 transmits an operation information signal corresponding to the operation performed on the operation element to the CPU 2. The CPU 2 executes a required control process in response to the operation information signal transmitted from the operation unit 6. Thereby, the operation of the device according to the operation on the operation unit 6 is obtained. Further, in this figure, among the operators in the operation unit 6, particularly, those related to the present embodiment include a reproduction key 21, a shuffle key 22, and a skip key 23. The reproduction key 21 is an operator for starting reproduction of audio data as a track recorded on the disc. Further, the shuffle key 22 is an operation element for setting a shuffle mode as a playback mode for playing audio data as a track. The shuffle mode will be described later. Skip key 23
Is an operator for skipping a track to be reproduced next to a currently reproduced track in various reproduction modes, as described later. In the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, a program mode is also provided as a track reproducing mode. In brief, the program mode is a mode for reproducing tracks arbitrarily selected by the user from the tracks recorded on the disc 20 in a desired reproduction order. Although not shown, the operation unit 6 is also provided with an operation element for the user to set the contents of the program according to a predetermined operation procedure.

Although not shown here, for example, a remote controller capable of performing an operation equivalent to that of the operation unit 6 is provided, and in accordance with an operation performed on the remote controller, required recording / reproducing device 1 is required. The configuration may be such that the operation is executed.

The CPU 2 controls each functional circuit unit and executes internal arithmetic processing and the like in order to realize required operations in the recording / reproducing apparatus 1. ROM3 contains C
Various programs to be executed by the PU 2 and the CPU 2
Various kinds of data required for the processing are stored. The RAM 4 is a ROM that the CPU 2 should use.
In addition to holding the program read from
2 is a memory for holding data obtained by various control processes and arithmetic processes executed by the CPU 2. Here, it is assumed that a program setting area 4a in which information on the program reproduction order registered by the user is stored in the RAM 4 corresponding to a program reproduction mode described later.

The configuration shown in FIG. 1 is merely an example, and the configuration of a device to which the present invention is applied is not limited to this, and various changes can be made.

2. Content of Data Recorded on Disk Here, for confirmation, FIG. 2 briefly shows a logical structure of data recorded on the disk 20. FIG. 2 (a)
As described above, audio data is recorded on the disc 20 in units of tracks corresponding to each piece of music, for example. For example, tracks are managed such that track numbers are assigned to the tracks as shown in the figure, such as tracks # 1 to #N. Then, as shown in FIG. 2B, audio-related data (character data file or image data file) which is attached to each track is recorded. As shown in the figure, the audio-related data is also recorded so as to be managed in association with the tracks # 1 to #N. It can be done.

With respect to the disk 20 on which data is recorded in this manner, in addition to reproducing and outputting the audio data recorded on the disk 20, the audio-related data is reproduced and output at a required timing. It can be displayed and output. Here, the audio-related data is, for example, information related to a song as a track. If the data is a character data file, for example, the title of the track, the title of an album in which the track is included, the track , The name of the player who is playing the music, the profile of the player, and the lyrics. The image data file may be an album jacket corresponding to the track, a photograph of the player, or a moving image like a video clip. These various types of file data are managed in such a manner that, for example, the type contents can be identified and associated with the track.

3. Skip Operation In the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, at least three normal modes, a shuffle mode, and a program mode are provided as reproduction modes for reproducing tracks (audio data).

The normal mode is a mode in which tracks are sequentially reproduced in accordance with the order of all the track numbers managed and recorded as one album, for example. When the reproduction key 21 of the operation unit 6 is operated, the track reproduction in the normal mode is started.

The shuffle mode is a mode in which, for example, all tracks managed and recorded as one album on the disc 20 are sequentially reproduced in random track order. That is, when the shuffle mode is selected and the reproduction is performed, the user can enjoy the reproduction of the reproduced sound in a different track reproduction order every time.

As a reproduction procedure for setting the shuffle mode, for example, the user operates the shuffle key 22 of the operation unit 6 while the reproduction is stopped. As a result, the shuffle mode is set as the reproduction mode. The fact that the shuffle mode has been set is notified to the user, for example, by displaying on the display screen of the display unit 8. Then, when the reproduction key 21 is operated thereafter, the reproduction in the shuffle mode is performed.

In the program mode, for example, from among all the tracks managed and recorded as one album, one or more tracks arbitrarily selected by the user are reproduced by designating an arbitrary reproduction order. It is a mode that can be done. As an operation for this, for example, a predetermined key operation for setting the operation unit 6 to the program mode is performed in a state where the reproduction is stopped. As a result, a track for program reproduction can be selected, and the user operates a numeric key or the like provided on the operation unit 6 to specify a track number to be reproduced by the program in a desired reproduction order. I will do it. Then, an operation for registration is performed by a predetermined operation. As a result, the reproduction order of the tracks designated by the operations so far is stored in the program setting area 4a of the RAM 4. Then, after this, if the play key 21 is operated,
Track reproduction is performed sequentially according to the registered contents stored in the program setting area 4a. That is, program reproduction is performed.

In this embodiment, when a track is being reproduced in each of the above-mentioned reproduction modes, a display as shown in FIG. Here, an example of a display state during shuffle reproduction is shown.

FIG. 3A shows a current track display area 40 in which information on a currently reproduced track is displayed. In the current track display area 40, the number of the track currently being played, the playback time, and the title of the track music are shown. Here, track # 6 is being played, the current playing time is 3 minutes and 30 seconds, and the track title is "NO PLA".
CE LIKE HOME ... ". Here, as described above, the title of the music piece of the track is obtained by reproducing, from the disk, a character data file managed as a title in the audio data related information corresponding to track # 6. Things. In the current track display area 40, a reproduction mode display indicating the current reproduction mode is also performed. Here, the character "Shuffle" indicating the shuffle mode is displayed.

Below the current track display area 40, a next track display area 41 is shown. The next track display area 41 is a display area for notifying a user of a track to be reproduced next to the currently reproduced track (next track) and notifying the user. Normal,
For example, in the related art, when performing playback in the shuffle mode, the next track is not notified, but in the present embodiment, it is necessary to consider that a skip operation described later is also supported. The next track is displayed. Here, the display form of the next track display area 41 includes a track number (track # 2) and its title (DO YOU KNOW.
・)) Is indicated.

As described above, in the present embodiment, since information indicating the track to be reproduced next to the currently reproduced track is displayed on the display section 8, the user can display the information. , It is possible to grasp what the music to be reproduced next is.

Here, for example, during reproduction of track # 6, the user looks at the next track display area 41 shown in FIG. 3A, and the next track shown here is not the user's preference, but the user's preference. Wants to skip this song without playing it. In such a case, the user operates the skip key 23 on the operation unit 6.

When the skip key 23 is operated, FIG.
In the next track display area 41 shown in (a), the setting of the track # 2 titled "DO YOU KNOW ..." is canceled as the next track. Then, as shown in FIG. 3B, another track is newly set as the next track, and the display of the next track display area 41 is changed. Here, as a new next track, "DID YOU KN
A state is shown in which track # 4 titled "OW ..." is displayed.

For example, if the skip key 22 is further operated from the state shown in FIG.
Track # titled "You Know ..."
4 is further skipped and another track is newly selected as the next track and is displayed in the next track display area 41.

The display modes of the current track display area 40 and the next track display area 41 are almost the same in the normal mode and the program mode. However, in the reproduction mode display 42, the display is changed to a content indicating the normal mode (or non-display) in the case of the normal mode, and to the content of the program mode in the case of the program mode. Then, even in the normal mode and the program mode, the operation of the skip key 23 skips the previous next track, and a new next track is displayed in the next track display area 41.

In this embodiment, when the skip key 23 is operated as described above, a track that has already been reproduced is excluded from candidates for a track to be newly selected as a next track. Shall be performed.
This is the same not only in the shuffle mode but also in the normal mode and the program mode. Therefore, if a skip operation is performed during reproduction in the normal mode, the track number next to the skipped track number is set as the next track. Also, when a skip operation is performed during reproduction in the program mode, a track registered to be reproduced next to the skipped track is newly selected as the next track.

In the shuffle mode, a track skipped (skipped) by the operation of the skip key 23 is handled. One of them is that the track is treated as already played and the subsequent shuffle playback is performed. May not be reproduced. Also, as one, when skipping is performed and the next track is changed after the skip operation is performed and the next track is determined, the skipped track is included in the next track candidate. It can be considered.

As described above, in the present embodiment, it is possible to skip the next track by operating the skip key. For example, conventionally, in order to allow a user to skip a track as a certain music so as not to be played back, regardless of the playback mode, when playback of a track to be skipped is started, for example, , It was necessary to perform a cueing selection operation to send one track. In other words, during the period in which the track before the track to be skipped is being reproduced, there is no operation function for previously skipping the track to be skipped. On the other hand, if the next track can be skipped as in the present embodiment, it is not necessary to wait until the reproduction of the currently reproduced track ends and the reproduction of the next track starts. Thus, the usability for the user is improved. In particular, regarding the shuffle playback mode, conventionally, the next track has not been presented to the user, and accordingly,
The user could not know the track to be reproduced next in advance. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, in the shuffle mode, the next track is displayed as described with reference to FIG. 3 and the skip operation can be performed. Even so, at least the track to be reproduced next can be known, and if the user does not like the operation, an operation for skipping the reproduction of the next track can be performed.

The display form of the next track display area 41 is not limited to that shown in FIG. For example, if there is room in the display area and an image data file such as an album jacket is recorded as audio-related data on the disc 20, such an image data file can be displayed. is there.

Conversely, for example, if only the track number is displayed as information indicating the next track, the user can know the music of the track to which the track number is assigned. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the minimum necessary information for indicating the next track is the track number. However, as shown in FIG. 3, if information other than the track number such as the album title is presented, it is possible to more easily grasp what kind of music the next track is. .

4. Processing Operation Next, a processing operation for realizing a track skipping operation according to the skipping operation in each of the above-described reproduction modes will be described with reference to flowcharts of FIGS. This processing operation is executed by the CPU 2. Further, as a processing operation to be described below, it is assumed that, in an earlier stage, the reproduction mode is selected by the above-described predetermined operation procedure.

First, the CPU 2 executes step S shown in FIG.
At 101, the operation waits for the operation of the reproduction key 21. If it is determined that the operation of the reproduction key 21 has been performed, the process proceeds to step S102. In step S102, the currently set playback mode is determined. And if it is normal mode,
The process proceeds to step S501 in FIG. In the case of the program mode, step S7 in FIG.
01. In the case of the shuffle mode, the process proceeds to step S103 in FIG. 4, and thereafter, track reproduction in the shuffle mode is performed.

In step S103, n = 1 (that is, first) is set for a variable n indicating the reproduction order of tracks reproduced in the subsequent shuffle mode. Then, in the next step S104, this 1 (n =
1) A process for determining a track #a to be reproduced first is executed. As a process of the CPU 2 at this time, for example, on the disk 20, random numbers are generated with track numbers of all tracks managed as one album as candidates. If it is assumed that all the track numbers are in the tracks # 1 to # 10, in step S104, random numbers are generated with integers of 1 to 10 as candidates, and the integers of 1 to 10 obtained here are generated. Is determined as the track number #a.

When the track #a is selected as described above, the CPU 2 proceeds to step S105, and executes a control process for starting reproduction of the n-th track #a. That is, the CPU 2 reads out audio data as the track #a recorded on the disk 20, performs necessary signal processing as described above with reference to FIG. 1, and performs analog or digital audio signal processing. Output as

In the subsequent step S105, a control process for displaying the reproduction status of the track #a on the display unit 8 is executed. That is, regarding the track #a, for example, the current track display area 40 of FIG.
The control for the display driver 7 is performed so that the display mode as described above is obtained. At this time, the current track display area 4
The track number at 0 is based on management information on the disk 20 that manages audio data in track units. In addition, it is conceivable that the reproduction time is displayed by using time information obtained by extracting a subcode or the like inserted into the audio data, for example.
For the character as the title of the music, the title character data file as the audio-related data of the track #a is read from the disk 20, and control is performed so that the character display according to the title character data file is performed. Thus, the display is realized.

In the following step S107, the variable n
Is determined to be the same as the maximum track number. That is, it is determined whether or not the currently reproduced track is the last track to be reproduced. Here, if a positive result is obtained, step S112
To wait for the reproduction of the currently reproduced track #a to end. If the reproduction of the track #a ends, the reproduction of the audio data is stopped in step S113 to exit this routine. Is done.

On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step S107, it is determined that a track to be reproduced still remains, and the process proceeds to step S108. In step S108, a process for determining the track #b to be reproduced at the (n + 1) th position is executed. In other words, a process for selecting the track number of the next track to be reproduced next to the currently reproduced track is executed. In this case, the CPU 2 excludes the track numbers of the reproduced tracks (including the currently reproduced track) from the candidates, and generates a random number with the remaining track numbers as candidates. Then, the value obtained here is determined as the track #b.

Then, in the subsequent step S109, the track #b determined in the above step S108
The control processing is performed so that the next track display area 42 is displayed as shown in FIG.
By the processing so far, a display state of the display unit 8 as shown in FIG. 3A in, for example, the shuffle mode is obtained.

In the following step S110, the process waits for the reproduction of the track #a (that is, the track currently being reproduced) to be completed.
Proceed to 1. In step S111, the variable n is incremented to n + 1. Also, track number management is performed so that track #b, which has been treated as the next track, is treated as track #a that is currently being reproduced. Note that the value of the track #a earlier than this is treated as a reproduced track number. Then, Step S105
Is returned to the processing of

By executing such processing, track reproduction (that is, shuffle reproduction) is performed in a random reproduction order that does not follow the track number, and as shown in FIG. As shown in a), the reproduction status display (current track display area 40) and the display indicating the next track (next track display area 41) for the currently reproduced track are performed.

If the operation of the skip key 23 is performed during the processing for shuffle reproduction shown as steps S103 to S113 in FIG. 4, the interruption processing shown in FIG. The execution skips the next track as shown as the transition from FIG. 3A to FIG. 3B.

The processing shown in FIG.
At 201, the operation waits for the operation of the skip key 23. If it is determined that the operation of the skip key 23 has been performed, the process proceeds to step S202. In step S202, a process for changing the track #b which is the track number of the currently determined next track is executed. Note that this processing is actually processing included in step S108 of FIG.

The processing in step S202 is as shown in FIG. 6, for example. In FIG. 6, first, in step S30
In step 1, the current track #b is set as a track #c indicating the track number of the skipped track. Then, in the following step S302, a setting process for excluding the track #c from the candidate track numbers for determining the next track is executed. In the following step S303, it is set that the reproduced track number is also excluded from the candidate track numbers for determining the next track. As a result, as the candidates for the next track determination, the track number of the track to be skipped and the track number of the reproduced track are excluded.

Then, in step S304, a new track #b (ie, the next track) is determined by generating random numbers for the track numbers remaining as candidates by the processing in steps S302 and S303.

Here, following the above-mentioned step S305, as a process of step S306, the track #c which has been skipped by the process of the previous step S301 and has been temporarily excluded from the next track determination candidate.
Is set to be included in the candidate track number for determining the next track from the next time. The setting of the candidate track number for the determination of the next track is performed using a predetermined area of the RAM 4, for example.

When it is determined that the processing up to this point has been completed, the system controller proceeds to step S203 in FIG. This step S203
Actually overlaps with the processing in step S109 shown in FIG. As a result, the next track display area 41 of the display unit 8 switches to the display of track #b, which is the next track newly determined in step S304.
The state transition of the display shown in FIG. 3B is obtained from FIG.

In this case, in the process shown in FIG. 6, the process of step S305 is executed,
In the subsequent processing for determining the next track, the track to be skipped is treated as a candidate for shuffle reproduction. That is, the skip is performed only when the skip operation is performed, and there is a possibility that the reproduction will be performed in the subsequent shuffle reproduction.

On the other hand, in step S202 in FIG. 5, instead of the processing shown in FIG. 6, the processing as shown in FIG. 7 is performed, so that the once skipped track is shuffled. It is also possible not to do so. In FIG. 7, first, in step S401, the track # that is currently determined as the next track
b is included as a reproduced track. Then, a setting is made so that the reproduced track number is excluded from the track numbers of the next track determination candidates.

Then, in the following step S402,
A random number is generated by the next track candidate set in step S401, and processing for determining a new track #b is executed. Then, the process proceeds to step S203 in FIG.

In the processing shown in FIG. 6, since the track to be skipped is reproduced in the subsequent shuffle reproduction, for example, the shuffle reproduction is performed according to the user's request in accordance with the reproduction music order. It is considered to be suitable when the flow or atmosphere is important. In other words, if the user does not want to play back the next track after the currently played tune (track), but wants to play back the next track after a certain tune, Becomes effective. In contrast, FIG.
In the process shown in (1), the track once skipped will not be shuffled thereafter, so for example,
This is suitable for a case where the user does not want to listen to music (track) during the shuffle reproduction in the album. Then, step S in FIG.
6 or 7 may be set in advance in the device in consideration of the actual usability of the user. Alternatively, it is also conceivable that the user can arbitrarily select by a predetermined operation.

The operation in the shuffle mode has been described so far. In contrast, step S in FIG.
If it is determined in step 102 that the mode is the normal mode, the process proceeds to step S501 in FIG. Step S50
1, the variable N indicating the track number is N
= 1 and the process proceeds to step S502. Step S5
In 02, reproduction of track #N is started. Therefore, when the process first moves to step S502,
Playback of track # 1 is started.

In the following step S503, display control is performed on the track #N so that the current track display area 40 in FIG. 3 is displayed. And
In the following step S504, it is determined whether or not N = the maximum track number for the variable N. That is, it is determined whether or not the currently reproduced track is the last track. If a positive result is obtained in step S504, the process proceeds to step S509,
The process waits until the reproduction of the currently reproduced track #N ends, and when the reproduction of the track #N ends, the subsequent step S
At 510, the reproduction of the audio data is stopped. Then, the process exits from this routine.

On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step S504 and it is determined that the reproduction of all the tracks has not been completed, the process proceeds to step S505. In step S505, the track # N + 1 having the track number following the currently reproduced track #N is set as the track #M indicating the track number as the next track, and the process proceeds to step S506.

In step S506, display control is performed so that the track set as track #M is displayed in the next track display area as shown in FIG. 3A.

Then, in a succeeding step S507,
It waits until the reproduction of the currently reproduced track #N ends. Then, when it is determined that the reproduction of the track #N has been completed, in the following step S508, a setting is made so that the track #M that has been set as the next track is treated as the track #N to be reproduced at present. The process returns to step S502.

When the skip key 23 is operated during the reproduction process in the normal mode as shown in FIG. 8, the process shown in FIG. 9 is executed to execute the process shown in FIG. A skip is performed.

In FIG. 9, first, at step S601
Waits for the operation of the skip key 23, and if the skip key 23 is operated here, the process proceeds to step S602. In step S602,
The track #M set as the next track at present (when the skip key is operated) is processed as having been reproduced. Then, in the subsequent step S603, the track (# M + 1) with the number next to the track #M treated as reproduced is treated as a new track #M. Then, as a process of the next step S604, a new track #M is set in the above-mentioned step S604.
The display control is executed so that the track set as is displayed as the next track display area 41. This is essentially a transition to the process of step S506 in FIG.

By executing such processing, track reproduction is performed in the normal mode in accordance with the track number order. In addition, even during the reproduction in the normal mode, the display of the current track display area 40 and the next track display area 41 as shown in FIG. In response to the operation of the skip key 23, when a certain track is being reproduced, the next track can be skipped, and a track with a subsequent track number can be set as the next track. In response to this, the display content of the display unit 8 is also changed from FIG.
It is changed as described according to (b).

Next, the processing operation corresponding to the program mode will be described. Step S shown in FIG.
If it is determined in step 102 that the program mode is set, the process proceeds to step S701 in FIG. 10 to execute a process for reproducing the program mode.

In FIG. 10, first, at step S701
In the above, n = 1 (first) for a variable n indicating the reproduction order of tracks reproduced in the program mode thereafter
Set. Then, in step S702, processing for identifying the track (#a) to be reproduced first (n = 1) is executed. At this stage, as can be seen from the above-described operation procedure, the information of the program reproduction order registered by the user is already stored in the program setting area 4a of the RAM 4 by the program setting operation before operating the reproduction key 21. It is stored. In the process of step S702, the CPU 2 identifies the track number as the track #a by referring to the information content stored in the program setting area 4a.

In the following step S703, control processing for starting reproduction of the nth track #a is executed. Then, in the subsequent step S704,
Along with the reproduction of the track #a, display control is performed on the track #a so that the display mode as the current track display area 40 in FIG. 3 is obtained.

In the following step S705, the variable n
Is determined to be equal to the number of tracks registered in the program. That is, also here, it is determined whether or not the currently reproduced track is the last track to be reproduced. Here, if an affirmative result is obtained, the process proceeds to step S709 to wait for the end of the reproduction of the currently reproduced track #a. If the reproduction of the track #a ends, the process proceeds to step S710. The reproduction of the audio data is stopped, and the process exits from this routine.

On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step S705, it is determined that a track to be reproduced still remains, and the flow advances to step S706. In step S706, referring to the program setting area 4a of the RAM 4, the track #b to be reproduced at the (n + 1) th position
Is executed. In other words, a process for selecting the track number of the next track to be reproduced next to the currently reproduced track is executed. In this case, CP
U2 treats, in principle, the track currently being played back and the track played back before this as a track that has been played back, and among tracks that have not yet been programmed to play back, The track registered to be reproduced is determined as track #b.

Then, in the subsequent step S707, the track #b determined in step S706 is used.
The next track display area 42 shown in FIG.
The control process is performed so that is displayed. By the processing up to this point, the display state of the display unit 8 as shown in FIG. 3A can be obtained even when the track is reproduced in the program mode, for example.

In the subsequent step S708, the process waits for the reproduction of the track #a (the currently reproduced track) to be completed. When the reproduction is completed, the process proceeds to step S711. In step S711, for the variable n,
Increment to n + 1. In addition, a numerical value replacement process is performed so that track #b, which has been treated as the next track, is treated as track #a that is currently being reproduced. Note that the value of the track #a earlier than this is treated as a reproduced track number. Then, the process returns to step S703.

By the above-described processing, program reproduction is performed, and the display shown in FIG. 3A is performed as the track reproduction progresses.

The skip processing when the skip key 23 is operated during the track reproduction in the program mode is the same as the skip processing in the shuffle mode shown in FIG. . However, in program playback, the track playback order is determined according to the registered contents.
It is considered that there is no particular need to include the skipped track as a candidate for determining the next track to be executed thereafter. Therefore, step S in FIG.
The processing of 202 may be configured to execute the processing operation shown in FIG.

[0080]

As described above, according to the present invention, for example, when a track (program) as a certain music piece is reproduced, the next track to be reproduced next is presented to the user. Will be. Then, for example, the user grasps the presented next track, and if he does not want to listen to the next track, skips the next track to be reproduced even if the previous track is being reproduced.
An operation for setting a different track as the next track can be performed. For example, conventionally, in order to skip the next track and not listen,
The user skips the track by performing a cueing operation in the feed direction after the reproduction of the previous track is completed and the reproduction of the next track is started, for example. That is, when the previous track is being reproduced, the next track cannot be skipped, and the user must wait until the reproduction of the previous track is completed. On the other hand, in the present invention, the next track can be skipped while the track is being reproduced, so that the user does not have to wait for the end of the reproduction of the track as described above, thereby improving the usability for the user. Is what is done.

In particular, at the time of shuffle reproduction, conventionally, the track to be reproduced next has not been presented, so that the user does not know the music content until the reproduction of the next track is started. It was what was.
Therefore, for example, if the present invention is applied at the time of the shuffle reproduction, at least the next music (track) is presented to the user, and as described above, without waiting for the end of the currently reproduced track. This is particularly useful because the next track can be skipped.

According to the present invention, a track that has been skipped, that is, a track for which the determination as the next track has been canceled by the skip processing, is not treated as having been reproduced, and the next track is determined from the next time. Or the skipped track can be treated as played and not included in the candidate for the next track determination from the next time. In particular, in the case of shuffle reproduction in which the reproduction order is random without being determined in advance, a variation in track reproduction accompanying a skip operation is obtained, and the added value is increased.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a recording / reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing data contents recorded on a disc of the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a display mode of a display unit during track reproduction according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing operation for realizing track reproduction (shuffle mode) as the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a skip process in a shuffle mode.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a next track change process (first example) in the skip process in the shuffle mode.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a next track change process (second example) in the skip process in the shuffle mode.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing operation for realizing track reproduction (normal mode) as the present embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating skip processing in a normal mode.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing operation for implementing track reproduction (program mode) as the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Recording / reproducing device, 2 CPU, 3 ROM, 4 RA
M, 4a program setting area, 5 disk driver, 6 operation section, 7 display driver, 8 display section, 9
Audio audio data processor, 10 data interface, 11 connectors, 20 disks, 30
Data bus, 40 current track display area, 41 next track display area, 42 playback mode display,

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A playback device capable of playing back at least a predetermined recording medium on which audio data managed by a unit as a program is recorded. A next program determining means for determining a next program to be performed; and presenting the next program determined by the next program determining means to the outside so as to be recognizable as a program to be reproduced next to the currently reproduced program. The next program presenting means, and a skip operating means, wherein when an operation is performed on the skip operating means while a certain program is being played, the next program determining means determines whether the current next program is present. And play next to the program for which this determination was cancelled. To determine the program to be a can, to set the determination program as a new next program reproducing apparatus characterized by being configured to execute the skip setting process. 2. The next program judging means judges the next program without including a reproduced program which has been reproduced so far as a candidate for the judgment of the next program. A program for which the determination as the next program has been canceled by the skip setting process is not treated as a reproduced program, so that it is included in a candidate for determination of the next program after the skip setting process. The playback device according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The next program determining means determines the next program without including a reproduced program that has been reproduced so far as a candidate for the next program determination. 2. The reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the program for which the determination as the next program has been canceled by the skip setting process is treated as a reproduced program.