JP2002010183A - Apparatus and method for controlling media - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a problem not capable of knowing a list of stored contents if recording media of a digital video equipment or the like are not inserted into a drive. SOLUTION: A method for controlling the media comprises the steps of displaying content information previously stored in a hard disk 105, comparing an identifier of the media for storing contents selected by a user from the content information with an identifier read via a bar code at an outside of the media, and displays a compared result on a display device 100.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a media control apparatus capable of easily retrieving and reproducing contents to be reproduced from a large number of media by using, for example, a rewritable digital video disk or digital video tape. And a content recording / reproducing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a recording / reproducing apparatus using a recording medium such as a digital video disk is used, in order to search for and reproduce necessary content from a large number of media, it is necessary to use each medium. The table of contents information recorded on each medium is read with the contents described on the paper label as a clue or with the recording medium itself inserted into the recording / reproducing apparatus.

For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-258535 discloses a method for managing a recording medium of a mass storage device.
It describes a method of creating a table of storage medium information based on a number read from a barcode label on a recording medium in a single device. JP-A-6-309849
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H11-216, describes a technique of storing information such as identification number information detected from an identification mark of a magazine in a RAM in a microcomputer and displaying a list in an information reading method in a magazine-compatible disk device.

[0004]

As described above, for example, in a conventional home digital video disc reproducing apparatus, in order to search for and reproduce necessary content from a large number of media, The user had to judge the contents of the media from the paper label of each media.

In the method of managing a storage medium of a large-capacity storage device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-258535, the number of the storage medium using a bar code label is used. Otherwise, information on data recorded on the recording medium could not be obtained. Further, an accessor for taking the recording medium into and out of the drive device is required, and it has been difficult to reduce the size of the household product.

On the other hand, in the information reading method in a magazine-compatible disk device described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-309849, a magazine for storing a plurality of disks is used, and an identifier of the magazine and a disk in the magazine are used. The TOC (Table of Content)
s) Since information is stored and used, the user cannot know the contents of each disk unless the disk is once stored in a magazine and the magazine is inserted into a disk device. Furthermore, since the TOC information of each disk is stored in a RAM (Random Access Memory) of a microcomputer circuit, the storage capacity is small, and only simple information such as a title of a content can be stored.

A recording / reproducing apparatus using a fixed storage device such as a hard disk can store contents and table of contents information together, but has a limited storage capacity and stores a large number of contents all. It was impossible to keep it.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a media control device according to the present invention is a media control device for controlling reproduction of information stored in an information storage medium, provided outside the information storage medium. Identifier reading means for reading the information storage medium identifier, storage means for storing information relating to the contents of the information storage medium, connection means for inputting and outputting information to and from the video display means and storage medium storage and reproduction means, Control means for controlling each means, the control means reads out the content list information of the information storage medium from the storage means, causes the video display means to display the content list information via the connection means, and is registered in the content information list The identifier of the storage medium to be selected is specified from the storage medium content information, and the storage medium read by the identifier reading means is specified. And and breakfasts identifier, compares the identifier of the storage medium to be the selection, the message corresponding to the comparison result, characterized in that is displayed on the image display unit via the connecting means.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention, and is a block diagram including a media control device of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes a digital television device, 101 denotes a media control device, 102 denotes a connection circuit,
03 is an optical disk recording / reproducing device, 104 is a control circuit, 1
05 is a hard disk device, 106 is a bar code reading circuit, and 107 is a bar code reading element.

Hereinafter, description will be given with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 shows a configuration in a case where a user connects and uses a digital television device 100, a media control device 101, and an optical disk recording / reproducing device 103. The digital television set 100 can receive and display, for example, MPEG2 format video data, a program list, and the like. On the other hand, the optical disc recording / reproducing device 103
It is a device capable of recording and reproducing video and audio data using a replaceable medium such as a D (Digital Video Disk) drive. Digital television device 100, media control device 101, and optical disk recording / reproducing device 10
3 are connected to each other according to, for example, the IEEE1394 interface standard. In the present embodiment, a description will be given of a case of a media control device 101 having a built-in hard disk device 105.

A medium (optical disk) used in the optical disk recording / reproducing device 103 has a media identifier for identifying each medium. In the present embodiment, a barcode label is used as a media identifier. In addition, the hard disk device 105 pre-records the table of contents information of the content recorded on a large number of optical disk media owned by the user. Here, the table of contents information includes, for each medium used in the optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus 103, media type information indicating the type of the media and media identifier information (media ID) unique to the media.

The control circuit 104 includes the hard disk drive 1
The table of contents information is read out from the electronic circuit device 05 and transmitted to the digital television apparatus 100 via the connection circuit 102. The digital television apparatus 100 displays a list of contents on the screen from the table of contents information.

The user selects contents to be viewed from the list display using input means such as a digital television apparatus main body and a remote control device attached thereto. The resulting content selection information is transmitted to the control circuit 1 via the connection circuit 102 of the media control device 101.
04. The control circuit 104 stores the media type information and the media identifier information corresponding to the selected content indicated by the content selection information in the hard disk drive 1
Read from 05. In this specification, the type of media required for content reproduction corresponding to such user-selected content is referred to as a requested media type, and the required media identifier is also referred to as a requested media identifier.

When the user brings the optical disk medium close to the barcode reading element 107 of the media control device 101, the signal read by the barcode reading element 107 is converted into barcode information by the barcode reading circuit 106. The barcode attached to the optical disk medium is an identifier unique to each medium, and the barcode information includes the identifier information of the medium. In this specification, the media type detected from the actual media is referred to as a detected media type, and the media identifier detected from the actual media is referred to as a detected media identifier.

The control circuit 104 compares the requested media identifier with the detected media identifier. As a result, if they match, a message requesting the user to insert the medium into the optical disk recording / reproducing apparatus 103 is displayed on the digital television apparatus 100 via the connection circuit 102. The control circuit 104
A request is sent to the optical disc recording / reproducing device 103 via the connection circuit 102 for media type matching information indicating whether or not a reproducible medium indicated by the media type is inserted into the optical disc recording / reproducing device 103.

The optical disk recording / reproducing apparatus 103 into which the medium is inserted recognizes the type of the medium inserted therein, compares the requested media type with the detected media type, and compares the obtained media type matching information. Send to media control device. The control circuit 104 recognizes the media type matching information transmitted via the connection circuit 102, and when a necessary medium is inserted, the control circuit 104 transmits the information to the optical disc recording / reproducing device 103 via the connection circuit 102. Request the media identifier information of the media inserted in the optical disc recording / reproducing device 103. The optical disc recording / reproducing device 103 reads the media identifier detected from the media, and
01 is transmitted.

The control circuit 104 compares the requested media identifier with the detected media identifier. If they match, the control circuit 104 sends the reproduction start information of the content selected by the user by the above-described method via the connection circuit 102. To the optical disc recording / reproducing device 103. The optical disk recording / reproducing device 103 reads out the content from the inserted medium based on the reproduction start information, and transmits content data such as video and audio to the digital television device 100. The digital television device 100 decodes the content data and displays it on the screen.

The control circuit 104 compares the requested media identifier with the detected media identifier. If they do not match, the control circuit 104 sends a message requesting the user for another correct media. The image is displayed on the digital television device 100 via the connection circuit 102.

FIG. 6 shows the connection and use of the media control device of this embodiment and its peripheral devices. FIG.
601 is a digital television device, 602
And 603, an IEEE1394 connection cable, 604, an optical disk recording / reproducing device, 605, a barcode reading element, 6
06 is a barcode media identifier, 607 is a media control device, and 608 is an optical disk medium. The present embodiment has a feature that the media control device 607 includes a barcode reading circuit.

With the above-described configuration, the media control device of the present embodiment, when using a device capable of reproducing exchangeable media such as an optical disc recording / reproducing device, does not require that the media to be reproduced be inserted into the optical disc recording / reproducing device. In both cases, it is possible to display a list of contents in each medium, select contents from the list, and reproduce the required medium.

Further, in the present embodiment, since a hard disk device is provided as a storage device for the table of contents information, not only the title and position information of the content recorded on the optical disk medium, but also a moving image or a cut-out part of the content itself. In addition, information requiring a large storage capacity, such as a still image at the head of each scene serving as a table of contents, can be recorded together with the table of contents information. For this reason, the user not only has the media inserted into the optical disc recording / reproducing device 103,
The contents recorded on the media that is not inserted can also be reproduced by searching for necessary contents in an easily viewable display such as accompanied by a sample still image.

In this embodiment, each circuit in FIG. 1 is described as a separate circuit, but a plurality of these circuits may be mounted on a single semiconductor chip. Further, in this embodiment, an optical disk recording / reproducing device is used as a storage device capable of exchanging media. However, a semiconductor memory device such as a video tape deck, a flash ROM, a solid-state storage device such as a crystal, a magnetic disk drive The device may be a storage device using an optical code pattern. In this embodiment, a barcode is used as a media identifier. However, a noncontact identifier transmission circuit using an IC chip, a resonant tag, a printed two-dimensional code pattern, a digital watermark, or the like may be used. Good. Further, a plurality of the digital television device 100, the media control device 101, and the optical disc recording / reproducing device 103 of the present embodiment may be integrated. Further, functions equivalent to those of the circuits described above may be realized by software processing, chemical reaction, or biological reaction.

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, and is a block diagram including a digital broadcast receiving apparatus of the present invention. 2, reference numeral 100 denotes a digital television device, 102 denotes a connection circuit, 104 denotes a control circuit, 105 denotes a hard disk device, 201 denotes a media control device, and 208 denotes a media control device.
Is a remote control receiving circuit, 209 is a remote control receiving element, 21
0 is a remote control transmission element, 211 is a remote control transmission circuit, 2
12 is a bar code reading circuit, 213 is a control circuit, 2
14 is a keyboard, 215 is a remote control device, 216 is a barcode reading element, and 103 is an optical disk recording / reproducing device.

The operation will be described below with reference to FIG. As in the first embodiment, the optical disc is provided with a barcode indicating the media identifier of each disc. In this embodiment, the remote control device 215 includes a barcode reading element 216 and a barcode reading circuit 212. The barcode reading element 216 reads a media identifier and inputs the medium identifier to the control circuit 213. Further, the media identifier is converted into a signal that can be transmitted by the remote control transmission circuit 211 and transmitted by the remote control transmission element 210 as infrared light.

On the other hand, the remote control receiving element 209 receives infrared rays and converts them into electric signals. Further, the media identifier information is decoded by the remote control receiving circuit 208 and input to the control circuit 104. Other operations are the same as those in FIG.

In the present embodiment, in addition to the effects shown in the first embodiment, it is possible to read a media identifier at a place away from the main body of the media control device 201.

FIG. 8 shows the connection and use of the media control device of this embodiment and its peripheral devices. FIG.
601 is a digital television device, 60
2, 603 is an IEEE1394 connection cable, 807 is a media control device, 804 is an optical disk recording / reproducing device, 808 is a remote control light receiving element, 809 is an infrared ray, 810 is a remote control device, 606 is a barcode media identifier, and 608 is an optical disk medium.

As shown in FIG. 8, in the present embodiment, the remote control device 810 is moved to
, It is possible to read the media identifier while many optical disc media are stored in the case, for example.

FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. In FIG.
00 is a digital television device, 301 is a hard disk index storage device, 302 is a media control device, 303
Is a connection circuit, 304 is an optical disk recording / reproducing device, 305
306 is a control circuit, 306 is a bar code reading circuit, 307
Is a bar code reading element.

The media control device shown in FIG. 3 includes an optical disk recording / reproducing device 304, and further includes a barcode reading element 307 and a barcode reading circuit 306 for reading a media identifier. In the case of the present embodiment, the table of contents information of each medium is recorded in the hard disk table of contents storage device 301. Control circuit 305
Reads and writes table of contents information from the hard disk table of contents storage device 301 via the connection circuit 303. Also, since the optical disk recording / reproducing device 304 is provided inside the media control device 302, it is not necessary to read / write the contents of the optical disk recording / reproducing device 304 via the connection circuit 102 as in the first embodiment. Absent. Other operations are the same as those in the first embodiment.
The same effect as in the case of is obtained.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a media control method according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, description will be made with reference to FIG. Step 40
In 2, the control circuit reads the table of contents information from the hard disk device. In step 403, the table of contents information is transmitted to and displayed on the digital television device via the control circuit. In step 404, the media type information and the media identifier (requested media identifier) of the content selected by the user are acquired using the digital television device. In step 405, the barcode reading circuit reads the media identifier of the media. Step 4
At 06, it is determined whether the requested media identifier matches the detected media identifier. If the result of the determination is that they do not match, step 40
In step 407, a message requesting the media indicated by the requested media identifier is displayed on the television device via the connection device. Further, step 405 and subsequent steps are executed again.

On the other hand, if the result of the determination in step 406 is that the requested media identifier is equal to the detected media identifier, the flow branches to step 408. In step 408, the control circuit causes the television apparatus to display a message requesting insertion of the medium into the drive because the correct medium indicated by the requested medium identifier has been detected, via the connection circuit.

Subsequently, in step 409, a drive for searching for an actual medium is determined based on the medium type information. In step 410, it is confirmed that the medium of the target drive is indicated by the requested medium identifier, and the content selected in step 404 in the medium is reproduced.

According to the media control method of the present embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

The above-mentioned receiving method is executed as software in the control circuits shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 centering on, for example, a microprocessor or the like. However, hardware such as an electronic circuit or a chemical or biological It may be performed by means.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a media control method according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, description will be given with reference to FIG. Step 50
In 1, an identifier (detected media identifier) of a media presented by a user is read by a barcode reader. In step 502, the hard disk device is requested via the connection circuit for table of contents information corresponding to the detected media identifier. In step 504, if the table of contents information does not exist in the hard disk device, the process branches to step 503, and a message indicating that the table of contents information for the medium presented by the user is not in the hard disk device is sent to the television device via the connection device. Send to and display.

On the other hand, if the requested table of contents information is obtained in step 504, the flow branches to step 505 to obtain the table of contents information from the hard disk device via the connection circuit. In step 506, the table of contents information is converted into a format that can be displayed on the screen, and transmitted to the television device via the connection circuit.

According to the media control method of the present embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

The above-mentioned receiving method is executed as software in the control circuits shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 centering on, for example, a microprocessor or the like. However, hardware such as an electronic circuit or a chemical or biological It may be performed by means.

FIG. 9 is an external view showing a television apparatus with a media control device and a media identifier reading device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 9, reference numeral 901 denotes a television device; 602 and 603, IEEE 1394 connection cables;
Denotes an optical disk recording / reproducing device, 907 denotes a media control device, 706 denotes a barcode media descriptor, 708 denotes an optical disk medium, and 905 denotes a barcode media identifier reading device. The television device 901 includes a barcode media identifier reading device 905.

When the user brings the barcode media descriptor attached to the optical disc medium 708 closer to the barcode media identifier reading device 905,
The television device 901 acquires the media identifier of the media. The media control device 907 receives media identifier information from the television device 901. According to the present embodiment, by bringing the optical disk medium closer to the television device, it becomes possible to display the table of contents information of the content recorded in the medium on the television device.

[0046]

As described above, according to the media control device and the media control method of the present invention, when a device capable of reproducing exchangeable media such as an optical disk recording / reproducing device is used, the media to be reproduced is recorded on the optical disk. Even if it is not inserted in the playback device, it is possible to display a list of contents in each medium, select a content therefrom, and play back the required media.

Since a hard disk device is provided as a storage device for the table of contents information, not only the title and position information of the content recorded on the optical disk medium, but also
Information that requires a large storage capacity, such as a moving image obtained by cutting a part of the content itself or a still image at the beginning of each scene serving as a table of contents, can be recorded together with the table of contents information.
For this reason, the user can search not only the media inserted in the optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus 103 but also the content recorded on the non-inserted media by searching for the necessary content in an easily viewable display such as accompanied by a sample still image. And can be reproduced.

As described above, the present invention provides a media control device capable of easily searching for and reproducing desired contents from a large number of recording media on which contents such as digital video and audio are recorded. This is a very effective technology that can be used.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a media control device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a media control device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a media control device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a media control method according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a media control method according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an external view showing a use mode of the media control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an external view showing a use mode of a media control device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an external view showing a use mode of the media control device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an external view showing a usage mode of a media control device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Digital television apparatus 101 ... Media control apparatus 103 ... Optical disk recording / reproducing apparatus 104 ... Control circuit 105 ... Hard disk drive 106 ... Barcode reading circuit 107 ... Barcode reading element

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification FI FI Theme Court ゛ (Reference) H04N 5/76 H04N 5/781 510L (72) Inventor Morikage Akiyama 292 Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Hitachi, Ltd. Digital Media Development Division (72) Inventor Yuji Yamamoto 292, Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Hitachi Media Digital Media Development Division (72) Inventor Masaru Nanki Totsuka, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture 292, Yoshida-cho, Ward Hitachi, Ltd. Digital Media Development Division (72) Inventor Toshiyuki Nemoto 292, Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Pref. Digital Media Development Division, Hitachi, Ltd. F-term (reference) DD04 5D077 AA22 CA02 DC01 DC08 DC39 DE05 EA33 EA34 HA07 HC12 HD04 5D110 AA 13 AA14 DA01 DA11 DB03 DC05 DC06 DE04

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A media control device for controlling reproduction of information stored in an information storage medium, comprising: an identifier reading means for reading a media identifier provided with a storage material different from a storage material of a main storage portion of the information storage medium. And storage means for storing information relating to the contents of the information storage medium, connection means for inputting and outputting information to and from video display means and storage medium storage and reproduction means, and control means for controlling the above means, The control means reads out the content list information of the information storage medium from the storage means, causes the video display means to display the content list information via a connection means, and selects from the storage medium content information registered in the content information list. The identifier of the storage medium to be identified, and the identifier of the storage medium read by the identifier reading means. Compares the identifier of the storage medium to be the selection, media control device, characterized in that to be displayed on the image display means a message in accordance with the comparison result via the connection means. 2. A medium control device for controlling reproduction of information stored in an information storage medium, comprising: an identifier reading means for reading a medium identifier provided in a storage material different from a storage material of a main storage portion of the information storage medium. And storage means for storing information relating to the contents of the information storage medium, connection means for inputting and outputting information to and from video display means and storage medium storage and reproduction means, and control means for controlling the above means, The media control device, wherein the control means reads out the content list information of the medium corresponding to the media identifier from the storage means and transmits the information to the video display means via the connection means. 3. The media control device according to claim 1, wherein said media identifier reading means comprises:
A media control device mounted on a remote control device separated from the media control device main body, wherein the remote control device transmits the read media identifier information to the media control device main body by wireless communication means. 4. A content list information of an information storage medium is read out from a storage means, displayed on a video display means via a connection means, and a storage medium to be selected from the storage medium content information registered in the content information list. An identifier is specified, a media identifier provided with a storage material different from a storage material of a main storage portion of the information storage medium read by the identifier reading means is compared with an identifier of the storage medium to be selected, and according to the comparison result, A media control method characterized by displaying a message displayed on a video display means. 5. A medium identifier provided in a storage material different from a storage material of a main storage portion of an information storage medium, and storage medium content information corresponding to the media identifier is read from a storage medium content information storage device. A media control method characterized by displaying on a display means. 6. A television apparatus comprising a recording medium identifier reading means for reading a media identifier provided by a storage material different from a storage material of a main storage portion of an information storage medium.