JP2002044586A - Image recording and reproducing device and its method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image recording and reproducing method by which a user can view desired contents from a desired reproduction position. SOLUTION: A CPU decides whether or not a user depressed a bookmark addition button in a step S1. The CPU extracts information such as a reproduction position of contents designated through depression of the bookmark addition button in the step S1, generates bookmark information data and adds the information data to a bookmark list in steps S2, S3. When reproduction of the contents registered in the bookmark list is commanded, the contents are reproduced from the prescribed reproduction position.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image recording / reproducing apparatus and method, and more particularly, to generating bookmark information from a predetermined reproduction position of video content and adding the bookmark information to a bookmark list, thereby reproducing a predetermined content. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an image recording / reproducing apparatus and method capable of being easily viewed from a position.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, home video tape recorders (hereinafter referred to as VTRs) for recording television broadcasts, etc.
Recorder) has become widespread. Using a remote commander or the like, the user can mark the recording start position of a program (hereinafter, referred to as video content) recorded on a magnetic tape, or mark the video content while viewing it. it can.

[0003] However, since the mark itself has no information, the viewer finds a magnetic tape recording the program he wants to watch, reproduces the magnetic tape, and sequentially marks the tape by a fast-forward or rewind operation. Is checked to search for a specific position of the program to be watched.

[0004] In recent years, television broadcasting is being switched from conventional analog broadcasting to digital broadcasting, and accordingly, digital recording VTRs capable of recording digital broadcasting are becoming widespread.

A digital recording VTR (hereinafter referred to as DVTR (Dig)
ital VTR) includes random access storage (magnetic hard disk or writable DVD (Digit
al Versatile Disk) can be used to record video content in digital form.

[0006] In such a DVTR, a list of all recorded video contents or a category can be displayed on the screen. Therefore, the user can easily search for the video content desired to be viewed.

However, with the increase in the capacity of the magnetic hard disk, it is expected that a DVTR capable of recording video content for several hundred hours or even thousands of hours will be developed in the future.

Therefore, a function of searching a desired reproduction position of a desired video content quickly and easily from an enormous number of video contents recorded on a large-capacity magnetic hard disk is provided. desirable.

[0009]

However, from among the vast number of video contents recorded on such a large-capacity magnetic hard disk, where the video contents viewed up to the last time are recorded. ,
Further, there is a problem that it is difficult to find out how much the video content has been viewed.

[0010] Therefore, when the user continuously watches the video content that was being viewed halfway last time, it is necessary to memorize where the video content is recorded and how much the video content has been viewed. was there.

[0011] By the way, the DVD player can record the position information and the like of the video contents in the entire list or the category of the video contents similarly to the DVTR. However, since such position information disappears when the power is turned off, the DVD player also determines where in the video content the previously viewed video content was recorded halfway, and furthermore, There was a problem that it was difficult to find out how much the content was viewed.

The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and is intended to allow a desired content to be easily viewed from a desired reproduction position.

[0013]

An image recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention generates bookmark information including a reproduction position and identification information of a content when a predetermined reproduction position is designated among the reproduced contents. Generating means, registering means for registering the bookmark information generated by the generating means in the bookmark list, storing means for storing the bookmark information registered in the bookmark list by the registering means, and display control means for controlling the display of the bookmark list And, when predetermined bookmark information is selected from the bookmark list whose display is controlled by the display control unit, the content is specified based on the identification information of the content included in the selected bookmark information,
A reproduction unit that reproduces the content from the reproduction position included in the bookmark information.

In the image recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention, when the bookmark information stored in the storage means is not reproduced by the reproducing means for a predetermined period, a deletion means for deleting the bookmark information can be further provided. .

[0015] The generating means may select, from the plurality of contents,
It is possible to select a predetermined content and generate the head position of the selected content as bookmark information.

According to the image recording / reproducing method of the present invention, when a predetermined reproduction position is designated among the reproduced contents, a generation step of generating bookmark information including the reproduction position and identification information of the content; Registration step of registering bookmark information generated in the bookmark list in the bookmark list, storage control step of controlling storage of bookmark information added to the bookmark list by processing of the registration step, and display control of controlling display of the bookmark list. And when the predetermined bookmark information is selected from the bookmark list whose display is controlled by the processing of the display control step, the content is specified based on the identification information of the content included in the selected bookmark information. And a playback step of playing back the content from the playback position included in the bookmark information. And it features.

In the image recording / reproducing apparatus and method of the present invention, when a predetermined reproduction position of the content being reproduced is designated, bookmark information is generated, the generated bookmark information is registered in a bookmark list, and displayed. When predetermined bookmark information is selected from the bookmark list, the content is identified based on the identification information of the content included in the bookmark information, and the content is reproduced from the reproduction position included in the bookmark information. .

[0018]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of an internal configuration of a digital video recorder corresponding to analog broadcasting to which the present invention is applied.

In the case of recording and receiving, the tuner 1 extracts a signal of a program program desired by the user from signals of a plurality of program programs received by an antenna (not shown), and sends the signal to an MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) encoder 2. Output. In the case of normal reception, the tuner 1 outputs the audio signal and the video signal of the program program to the audio signal processing circuit 9 and the video signal processing circuit 11, respectively. Tuner 1 also adds EPG (Elect
If the information includes message information from a broadcast station, the program program is output to the multiplex data extraction circuit 3.

The MPEG encoder 2 encodes a program program signal supplied from the tuner 1 or an external video signal by performing compression processing based on the MPEG method or the like, and stores the encoded signal via the bus 20. 18 is stored.

The multiplexed data extracting circuit 3 includes a VBI (Vertical Bl) in the program program supplied from the tuner 1.
An EPG information multiplexed with the video signal of the program program or message data from a broadcasting station is extracted by the anking interval (anking interval) method, and the RAM (R)
andom Access Memory) 16 or the storage 18.

The modem 4 controls wired communication using a telephone line, a cable, or the like. For example, OS (Operation Syst
In the case of updating the em) and the control program, or transmitting data to a broadcasting station, data is transmitted and received by communicating with an external device via the modem 4. The above-described EPG information, message data from a broadcasting station, and the like can be obtained by communicating with an external device via the modem 4. In this case, the multiplex data extraction circuit 3 is omitted. However, tuner 1
The modem 4 may be omitted when receiving EPG information or message data from a broadcasting station via the Internet.

The MPEG decoder 5 reads out the data stream of the video content compressed by the MPEG system stored in the storage 18 via the bus 20 and decodes the data stream. The decoded audio signal and video signal are output to the audio signal processing circuit 9 and the video signal processing circuit 11, respectively.

When the user operates the remote commander 14, the additional sound generation circuit 6 generates an operation sound or an additional sound and outputs the generated operation sound or the additional sound to the audio signal processing circuit 9.

The video decoder 8 has a VRAM (Video RAM) 7
Read out the display image data stored in the
It is converted to a video signal. The converted video signal is supplied to the video signal processing circuit 11.

The audio signal processing circuit 9 includes the tuner 1 or
The audio data supplied from the MPEG decoder 5 is converted to D / A (Digit
al to Analig), and outputs the result to the speaker 10. However, when the additional sound is supplied from the additional sound generation circuit 6, the audio signal processing circuit 9 performs D / A conversion on the audio data supplied from the MPEG decoder 5, and then synthesizes the audio signal with the additional sound. , To the speaker 10.

The video signal processing circuit 11 performs D / A conversion on the video data supplied from the tuner 1 or the MPEG decoder 5 and outputs the data to the display 12. However, when the image data for display is supplied from the video decoder 8, the video signal processing circuit 11 combines the video data supplied from the tuner 1 or the MPEG decoder 5 with the image data for display, and then outputs the D / D A conversion is performed and output to the display 12.

The speaker 10 outputs the audio signal supplied from the audio signal processing circuit 9. The display 12
The video signal supplied from the video signal processing circuit 11 is displayed (reproduced).

When the remote commander 14 is operated by the user, the remote control light receiving section 13 receives the operation signal and outputs it to the CPU 15.

The CPU (Central Processing Unit) 15
When an operation signal (command) is input from the remote control light receiving unit 13, various processes are executed according to a program stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 16 or a storage 18. When the display processing program is executed, the CPU 15 generates image data for displaying a bookmark list, which will be described later, and stores the image data in the VRAM 7.

The RAM 16 is a ROM 17 or a storage 18
, The operating module, the OS, the application program, or the parameters appropriately changed in the execution thereof are temporarily stored.

The ROM 17 stores basic software modules for operating the CPU 15 and startup modules. The storage 18 is formed of, for example, a magnetic hard disk or a recordable DVD disk, and records video contents, data (metadata) related to the video contents, and bookmark information data described later.

The nonvolatile RAM 19 is composed of, for example, a memory card or a flash memory, and stores user authentication information, billing information, and preference information. Note that the bookmark information recorded in the storage 18 may be recorded in the nonvolatile RAM 19.

In the digital video recorder described above, the speaker 10 and the display 12 are integrated, but these may not be required and audio and video may be output to the outside.

FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of the external appearance of the remote commander 14.

In the example of FIG. 2, when the upper button 31 is pressed by the user, the selection cursor 64 (FIG. 5) is moved to the upper item, and when the lower button 32 is pressed, the selection cursor 64 is moved. When the item is moved to the lower item and the determination button 33 is pressed, the reproduction of the video content selected by the selection cursor 64 is determined (confirmed), and when the pause button 34 is pressed, the video being reproduced is pressed. Content is paused.

The bookmark display button 3 is provided by the user.
5 is pressed, the bookmark list 61 (FIG. 5) is displayed on the display 12, and when the bookmark addition button 36 is pressed, the bookmark information of the video content being viewed is added to the bookmark list 61, and the bookmark delete button is pressed. When the button 37 is pressed, of the video contents displayed in the bookmark list 61, the video content selected by the selection cursor 64 is deleted.

Instead of the upper button 31, the lower button 32, and the enter button 33, they may be integrated and a jog dial button may be used.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a configuration example of bookmark information data. In this example, the bookmark information data 51-
When the bookmark information data 51-1 to 51-n do not need to be individually distinguished, they are simply referred to as bookmark information data 51.
2, a playback start position 53, a bookmark type 54, a content icon 55, and other information 56.

In the content identification ID 52, a code for uniquely identifying one video content is recorded. The digital video recorder can access the data of the video content using the content identification ID 52. For example, when the video content and information (title, length, etc.) related to the video content are managed by a database (not shown), the record ID of the video content is set to the content identification ID 52.
Corresponds to. When a file system is used for the storage 18, the video file name corresponds to the content identification ID 52. Furthermore, in the case of video on demand (VDO), a program ID assigned to each program in a server (not shown) corresponds to the content identification ID 52.

At the reproduction start position 53, whether the relative time from the beginning (0:00) of the video content is recorded,
Alternatively, a frame number is recorded.

In the bookmark type 54, data indicating a bookmark information generation method and attributes is recorded. The method of generating the bookmark information will be described later.

In the content icon 55, image data indicating this video content is recorded. For example, a video image at the position indicated by the reproduction start position 53, an image arbitrarily extracted from video images, or an EP
If a video image is provided in the G information, it may be used.

In the other information 56, information other than the reproduction start position 53 indicating the video content, the bookmark type 54, and the content icon 55 are recorded.

Note that, of the content identification IDs 52 to other information 56, the bookmark types 54 to other information 56 are not indispensable.
2 and the reproduction start position 53.

As described above, the digital video recorder can generate a plurality of bookmark information data 51-1 to 51-n.
-1 to 51-n are collectively called a bookmark list. The bookmark list is a link list linked by an array of bookmark information data 51-1 to 51-n or a pointer. This bookmark list is stored as one file on the storage 18, stored in a dedicated recording area of the storage 18, or stored in the nonvolatile RAM 19.

Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG.
The bookmark adding process will be described. Note that this process
The remote commander 14 is operated by the user, and a command for reproducing predetermined video content is transmitted to the remote control light receiving unit 13.
Is started by being output to the CPU 15 via the.

In step S1, the CPU 15 determines whether or not the user has pressed the bookmark addition button 36 (FIG. 2), and waits until the bookmark addition button 36 is pressed. The CPU 15 plays back the video content specified by the user while continuing this process.

If it is determined in step S1 that the bookmark addition button 36 has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S2, where the CPU 15 determines in step S1 that the video content specified by pressing the bookmark addition button 36 has been pressed. The information such as the reproduction position is extracted to generate bookmark information data 51 (FIG. 3).

In step S3, the CPU 15 stores the bookmark information data 51 generated by the processing in step S2.
Add to bookmark list.

The above-described processing is a case where bookmark information is added (generated) in real time while viewing video content, and bookmark information can be generated by other methods. Hereinafter, another example of a bookmark information generating method will be described.

For example, when bookmark information is generated for a video content manually recorded by a user or a content reserved for recording, a head position (reproduction start position 53) of the video content is extracted and bookmark information data is generated. 51 is generated.

Also, for example, using the user's preference information obtained by analyzing the viewing history or the preference information obtained by the user's own input, a program matching the user's preference is found out from the EPG information and automatically. In the case of recording, the head position (reproduction start position 53) of all the automatically recorded video contents or a part of the video contents that best suits the user's preference is extracted, and the bookmark information data 51 is generated.

When automatically recording video content specially recommended by a broadcasting station, for example, the head position (reproduction start position 53) of the video content is extracted and bookmark information data 51 is generated.

As described above, the difference in the attribute of the bookmark information depending on the bookmark information generation method is indicated by the bookmark type 54.
Note that some types of digital video recorders cannot use the above-described bookmark information generation method, and in that case, only a part of the methods may be used.

Next, the bookmark display processing will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

In step S11, the CPU 15 determines whether or not the bookmark display button 35 (FIG. 2) is pressed by the user, and waits until the bookmark display button 35 is pressed. If it is determined in step S11 that the bookmark display button 35 has been pressed, a bookmark list is displayed on the display 12. Thereby, for example, as shown in FIG.
A bookmark list window 61 is displayed.

In the example of FIG. 7, the bookmark list window 61 displays a special bookmark information display area 62 and a bookmark information display area 63. In the content icon display area 65, a video image of the video content (program A in the example of FIG. 5) selected by the selection cursor 64 is displayed. Also, when the bookmark information data included in the bookmark list exceeds the number that can be displayed on the screen (5 in the example of FIG. 7) (that is, in the example of FIG. 5, when there are 6 or more bookmark information), One or both of a scroll mark 66 and a scroll mark 67 are displayed to indicate that scrolling is possible up and down.

In step S12, the CPU 15 extracts the channel information last viewed by the user. In step S13, the CPU 15 generates special bookmark information based on the channel information that was last viewed by the user and extracted in the process of step S12. In this case, the reproduction start position 53 is invalid data having no particular meaning, and the bookmark type 54 describes attribute data indicating the last channel.
5 describes a channel icon. The special bookmark information data relating to the last viewed channel need not be stored together with the other bookmark information data 51, and is automatically generated before the bookmark list 61 is displayed.

In step S14, the CPU 15 causes the bookmark display 12 to display the special bookmark information generated in step S13. As a result, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, the special bookmark information display area 62 of the bookmark list window 61 displays the channel information last viewed by the user (1CH in the example of FIG. 7).
Is displayed.

In step S15, the CPU 15 reads out the bookmark list data stored in the storage 18 or the nonvolatile RAM 19. In step S16, the CPU 15 causes the display 12 to display the bookmark list data read in the processing in step S15.
Thereby, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, the bookmark information display area 63 of the bookmark list window 61 includes
The bookmark information data 51 (in this case, programs A to E) is displayed.

In step S17, the CPU 15 causes the scroll marks 66 and 67 to be displayed correctly based on the number of displayable screens in the bookmark information display area 63 of the bookmark list window 61. In the case of the example of FIG. 7, the number of displayable screens of the bookmark information display area 63 of the bookmark list window 61 is five, so if the bookmark list includes six or more bookmark information data 51, the scroll mark 66 and the One or both of the scroll marks 67 are displayed. When scrolling up or down or up and down is not possible, one or both of the scroll mark 66 and the scroll mark 67 are not displayed or are lightly displayed.

In step S18, the CPU 15 determines whether or not the user has operated the remote commander 14, and waits while the bookmark display window 61 is being displayed on the display 12 until the remote commander 14 is operated.

If it is determined in step S18 that the remote commander 14 has been operated, the process proceeds to step S19, in which the CPU 15 determines that the button operated (pressed) by the user in step S18 is the determination button 3
3 is determined.

If it is determined in step S19 that the button pressed by the user is the enter button 33, the process proceeds to step S20, in which the CPU 15 performs a bookmark reproducing process.

Here, the bookmark reproducing process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In step S41, the CPU 15 extracts the bookmark information data 51 corresponding to the video content (in this case, program A) selected from the bookmark list by the user. In step S42, the CPU 15
Specifies the video content (program A) based on the content ID stored in the content identification ID 52 of the bookmark information data 51 extracted in the process of step S41.

In step S43, the CPU 15 reads out the video content (program A) specified in the processing in step S42 from the storage 18. Step S44
In step, the CPU 15 sets the video content read in the process of step S43 at the playback position (00:30 in this case) stored in the playback start position 51 of the bookmark information data 51, and from that position. The video content is reproduced, and the process returns to step S20 in FIG.

In step S20 of FIG. 6, when the reproduction processing of the video content is completed (in this case, program A
Becomes 02:30), the CPU 15 proceeds to step S13.
Based on the special bookmark information generated in the processing of (1), the channel that the user has watched last is reproduced. That is, in the example of FIG. 7, 1 CH is reproduced.

If it is determined in step S19 that the button operated by the user is not the determination button 33, the process proceeds to step S21, and the CPU 15 further determines whether the button operated by the user is the bookmark display button 35. Is determined.

If it is determined in step S 21 that the button operated by the user is the bookmark display button 35, the process proceeds to step S 22, where the CPU 15 causes the bookmark list window 6 displayed on the display 12 to be displayed.
1 is ended.

If it is determined in step S21 that the button operated by the user is not the bookmark display button 35, the process proceeds to step S23, and the CPU 15 further checks whether the button operated by the user is the bookmark delete button 36. Determine whether or not.

If it is determined in step S 23 that the button pressed by the user is the bookmark delete button 36, the process proceeds to step S 24, where the CPU 15 selects the selection cursor 6 displayed in the bookmark information display area 63.
After deleting the bookmark information data 51 and updating the bookmark list window 61 corresponding to the video content (program A in the example of FIG. 7) selected in step S4, the process proceeds to step S17.
And the above processing is repeated.

If it is determined in step S23 that the button operated by the user is not the bookmark delete button 36, the process proceeds to step S25, and the CPU 15 further determines whether the button operated by the user is the up button 31 or the down button 32. It is determined whether or not is pressed.

If it is determined in step S25 that the button pressed by the user is the up button 31 or the down button 32, the process proceeds to step S26, where the CPU 15
Moves the selection cursor 64 to the upper or lower item, returns to step S17, and repeats the above-described processing.

If it is determined in step S25 that the button pressed by the user is not the up button 31 or the down button 32, the process proceeds to step S27, where the CPU 1
No. 5 determines that the button pressed by the user is invalid, returns to step S18, and repeats the above-described processing.

As described above, when the bookmark delete button 37 is pressed by the user, the bookmark information data 51 is deleted from the bookmark list (that is, manually deleted by the user), but is automatically deleted. It is also possible.

For example, when a user reproduces a video content from a bookmark list, after the reproduction is completed, the bookmark information data 51 corresponding to the video content is deleted. In addition, for example, when the content is not viewed even after a certain period of time, the bookmark information data 51 is deleted. Furthermore, for example, when the video content is deleted, the bookmark information data 51 corresponding to the video content is deleted.

If the video content manually deleted by the user is automatically recorded based on the user's preference information, the user's preference information is modified according to a predetermined rule. As a result, even if video content similar to the deleted video content is automatically recorded, the priority of adding to the bookmark list is reduced.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of a digital video recorder compatible with digital broadcasting. In FIG. 9, parts corresponding to those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted as appropriate. In this example, the MPEG encoder 2 and the multiplexed data extraction circuit 3 become unnecessary, and the other configuration is the same as the example shown in FIG. Note that the tuner 1 is a tuner compatible with digital broadcasting.

In the case of the configuration example shown in FIG. 9, the tuner 1 generates an MPEG data stream from the received program program and stores it in the storage 18 via the bus 20 in the case of recording and receiving. In the case of normal reception, the tuner 1 outputs the data stream to the MPEG decoder 5. MPEG decoder 5
Decodes the data stream supplied from the tuner 1 and outputs an audio signal and a video signal to the audio signal processing circuit 9 and the video signal processing circuit 11, respectively.
EPG information or message data from a broadcasting station is also extracted by the tuner 1 and stored in the RAM 16 or the storage 18 via the bus 20.

As another example, the digital video recorder may not include the tuner 1 and may be provided with an external video signal input terminal.

As another example, the digital video recorder eliminates the need for the tuner 1, the MPEG encoder 2, and the multiplexed data extraction circuit 3, and is provided via a modem 4 from a content server (not shown) for providing video contents. Alternatively, a program (video content) to be viewed may be downloaded.

As another example, in a video-on-demand environment by the modem 4, the digital video recorder can make the storage 18 unnecessary.

As another example, a digital video player having no recording function may be used. in this case,
A non-rewritable medium (for example, DV
D) may be used, and the bookmark information may be stored in the rewritable nonvolatile RAM 19.

Further, as another example, the bookmark addition button 36 of the remote commander 14 can be made unnecessary. In this case, when the pause button 34 is pressed instead of the add button 36, bookmark information is added. That is, when the user presses the pause button 34 at a predetermined position of a program that has been viewed halfway, bookmark information is generated at the program and the stop position,
It is added to the bookmark list.

As described above, since the user can generate the bookmark information at the predetermined reproduction position of the video content, the following effects can be obtained. (1) The bookmark list function can assist the user's viewing operation, so that the user can efficiently watch a predetermined program from a predetermined reproduction position. For example, a user's explicit recording is automatically added to the bookmark list because it is likely to be viewed,
The user can play the video content from the bookmark added to the bookmark list without searching from all the video content. (2) Also, the user can easily find the program from the bookmarks registered in the bookmark list when he / she wants to continue viewing the next time by adding the program that he / she viewed halfway through to the bookmark list, and , And can be viewed from the previously stopped playback position. (3) Also, by adding important scenes to the bookmark list, the user can quickly view the scenes again when they want to watch them again, show them to a third party, or edit a video or create a digest. The user can easily and easily find a desired position of desired video content from the bookmark list. (4) Using the bookmark function, a program recommended from the user's preference or a program recommended specially by a broadcasting station is automatically recorded, and the bookmark information is automatically added to the bookmark list. Accordingly, the user can efficiently watch the program, and does not miss a favorite program or an important program. As a result, a program that the user wants to view can be easily selected from the bookmark list. (5) Since the last viewed channel is added to the bookmark list as special bookmark information, the user can easily return to the last viewed channel on the bookmark list display screen. Can be. (6) Even if the storage capacity is increased and, for example, all programs for one week can be recorded, it is possible to easily find a program that the user wants to view from the huge number of programs. Can be.

The series of processes described above can be executed by hardware, but can also be executed by software. When a series of processing is executed by software, a program constituting the software executes various functions by installing a computer built in dedicated hardware or installing various programs. For example, it is installed from a recording medium to a general-purpose personal computer or the like.

This recording medium is separate from the computer.
A magnetic disk (including a floppy disk) on which the program is recorded and an optical disk (CD-ROM (Compact Disk-Read O) distributed to provide the program to the user
nly Memory), DVD (including Digital Versatile Disk)),
In addition to a magneto-optical disk (including an MD (Mini-Disk)) or a package medium formed of a semiconductor memory, etc., a program provided to a user in a state of being incorporated in a computer in advance is recorded. ROM 17, storage 18, or non-volatile RAM 19
Etc.

In this specification, the step of describing a program recorded on a recording medium is not limited to processing performed in chronological order according to the described order, but is not necessarily performed in chronological order. This also includes processing executed in parallel or individually.

[0091]

As described above, according to the image recording / reproducing apparatus and method of the present invention, when a predetermined reproduction position of a reproduced content is designated, bookmark information is generated.
The generated bookmark information is registered in the bookmark list, and when predetermined bookmark information is selected from the displayed bookmark list, the content is specified based on the identification information of the content included in the bookmark information, and the bookmark is specified. Since the content is reproduced from the reproduction position included in the information, the desired content can be easily viewed from the desired reproduction position.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a digital video recorder to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an appearance of the video commander in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating bookmark information.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a bookmark adding process.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a bookmark display process.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart following FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a display example of a bookmark list.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a reproduction process.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of another example of a digital video recorder to which the present invention is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 tuner, 2 MPEG encoder, 3 multiplexed data extraction circuit, 4 modem, 5 MPEG decoder, 6
Additional sound generation circuit, 7 VRAM, 8 video decoder,
9 audio signal processing circuit, 10 speaker, 11
Video signal processing circuit, 12 display, 13 remote control light receiving unit, 14 remote commander, 15 CP
U, 16 RAM, 17 ROM, 18 storage,
19 nonvolatile RAM, 35 bookmark display button, 3
6 Add bookmark button, 37 Delete bookmark button, 51
-1 to 51-n bookmark information, 52 content ID, 53 playback start position, 54 bookmark type,
55 Contents icon, 56 Other information

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 5/91 H04N 5/91 L 5/92 5/92 H 5/93 5/93 Z (72) Invention Person Masaki Ishida 6-35, Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, Japan (72) Inventor Hideki Asatsu 6-35, Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo F-term in Sony Corporation (reference) 5C052 AB02 AB03 AC08 CC06 DD04 EE03 5C053 FA14 FA25 GB06 GB37 HA29 JA24 JA30 KA03 KA05 KA24 LA06 LA07 LA07 5D077 AA08 AA22 AA30 CA02 DC01 DC16 DC22 DE05 DE13 EA33 EA34 5D110 AA04 AA13 AA05 DC05 DC05

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An image recording / reproducing apparatus for recording or reproducing content, wherein when a predetermined reproduction position is designated among the reproduced contents, bookmark information including the reproduction position and identification information of the content is transmitted. Generating means for generating; registering means for registering the bookmark information generated by the generating means in a bookmark list; storage means for storing the bookmark information registered in the bookmark list by the registering means; and the bookmark list Display control means for controlling the display of, and, when predetermined bookmark information is selected from the bookmark list whose display is controlled by the display control means, the content of the content included in the selected bookmark information is selected. Based on the identification information, specify the content, from the playback position included in the bookmark information Image recording and reproducing apparatus comprising: a reproduction means for reproducing the serial content. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a deletion unit for deleting the bookmark information when the bookmark information stored in the storage unit is not reproduced by the reproduction unit for a predetermined period. An image recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the generation unit selects a predetermined content from a plurality of the contents, and generates a head position of the selected content as the bookmark information. The image recording / reproducing apparatus according to the above. 4. An image recording / reproducing method of an image recording / reproducing apparatus for recording or reproducing a content, wherein when a predetermined reproduction position is designated among the reproduced contents, the reproduction position and the identification information of the content are designated. A generating step of generating bookmark information including: a registration step of registering the bookmark information generated by the processing of the generating step in a bookmark list; and a registration step of the bookmark information registered in the bookmark list by the processing of the registration step. A storage control step of controlling storage, a display control step of controlling display of the bookmark list, and a predetermined bookmark information is selected from the bookmark list of which display is controlled by the processing of the display control step. In the case, the identification information of the content included in the selected bookmark information is Zui and identifies the content, image recording and reproducing method characterized by comprising a reproduction step of reproducing the content from the reproduction position included in the bookmark information.