JP2002123268A - Information processor, method and program storing medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reproduce a plurality of contents registered in a shortcut icon only by clicking the shortcut icon. SOLUTION: When a user click a shortcut icon 281 displayed on a display 20, a plurality of contents registered in the shortcut icon as a play list is reproduced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and method, and a program storage medium, and more particularly to an information processing apparatus which reproduces a plurality of contents registered as a playlist by simply clicking a shortcut icon. The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method, and a program storage medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An information processing apparatus such as a personal computer reads content such as music data from a CD (Compact Disc) or the like, records the read content on a recording medium such as a hard disk (records), and further records the content. The reproduced content can be reproduced.

[0003]

However, in order to reproduce the actual content, the user activates the application software, searches for the desired content from the registered content, designates the content, and then specifies the content. The content had to be played. When a plurality of contents are to be continuously reproduced, a plurality of contents are registered in advance in a so-called playlist, and after the user starts the application software, the registered playlist is searched. After that, the user has to perform the operation of reproducing the content included in the playlist. In each case,
The conventional information processing apparatus has a problem that a plurality of steps of processing are required to reproduce a content desired by a user.

The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and generates a shortcut icon storing a playlist ID corresponding to a playlist in which a plurality of contents are registered, and clicks the shortcut icon. With this configuration, a plurality of contents registered in a desired playlist can be reproduced.

[0005]

An information processing apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a playlist in which information of a plurality of contents is registered; a playlist generating means for generating a playlist ID for identifying the playlist; An icon display means for displaying an icon including the playlist ID information generated by the means, and a plurality of icons registered in the playlist corresponding to the playlist ID information included in the icon when the icon is clicked. And reproducing means for reproducing the content.

An information processing method according to the present invention is generated by a playlist in which information of a plurality of contents is registered, a playlist generating step for generating a playlist ID for identifying the playlist, and a playlist generating step. An icon display step of displaying an icon including the playlist ID information included in the playlist, and, when the icon is clicked, playing a plurality of contents registered in the playlist corresponding to the playlist ID information included in the icon And a reproducing step.

[0007] The program of the program storage medium according to the present invention comprises: a playlist in which information of a plurality of contents is registered; a playlist generation control step for controlling generation of a playlist ID for identifying the playlist; An icon display control step for controlling the display of an icon including the information of the playlist ID generated in the processing of the step, and a playlist corresponding to the information of the playlist ID included in the icon when the icon is clicked. And a reproduction control step of controlling reproduction of a plurality of contents registered in the.

According to the information processing apparatus and method of the present invention, a playlist in which information of a plurality of contents is registered, and a playlist ID for identifying the playlist are generated. Is displayed, and when the icon is clicked, a plurality of contents registered in the playlist corresponding to the playlist ID information included in the icon are reproduced.

[0009]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a content data management system according to the present invention. The personal computer 1 is connected to a network 2 including a local area network or the Internet. The personal computer 1
Tone data (hereinafter referred to as content) received from an EMD (Electrical Music Distribution) server 3 or read from a CD (Compact Disc) is recorded as it is, or a predetermined compression method (for example, ATRAC3)
(Trademark)) and DES (Data Encryption S)
tandard) and record it.

[0010] The personal computer 1 records right information indicating usage conditions of the content, corresponding to the content that has been encrypted and recorded.

The right information indicates, for example, the number of portable devices (Portable Devices (also referred to as PDs)) that can simultaneously use the content corresponding to the right information (the number of PDs that can be checked out, which will be described later). . Even when the number of contents indicated by the right information is checked out, the personal computer 1
Can play that content.

[0012] Alternatively, the right information indicates that the right can be copied. Transfer contents to portable device 5-
When copying the contents from 1 to 5-3, the personal computer 1 can reproduce the recorded content. The number of times that the content can be stored in the portable devices 5-1 to 5-3 may be limited. In this case, the number of times that copying can be performed does not increase.

[0013] Alternatively, the right information indicates whether or not transfer to another personal computer is possible. After the content is moved to the portable devices 5-1 to 5-3, the content recorded in the personal computer 1 cannot be used (the content is deleted or the usage conditions are changed and cannot be used).

The personal computer 1 stores the encrypted and recorded contents together with data (for example, song titles or reproduction conditions) related to the contents by USB.
(Universal Serial Bus) Stored in the connected portable device 5-1 via a cable and updates the right information corresponding to the stored content in response to the storage in the portable device 5-1. (Hereinafter, referred to as checkout). More specifically, when checking out, the number of times that the right information recorded in the personal computer 1 and corresponding to the content can be checked out is reduced by one. When the number of times that the user can check out is 0, the corresponding content cannot be checked out.

The personal computer 1 stores the encrypted and recorded contents together with the data relating to the contents in the connected portable device 5-2 via a USB cable, and stores the contents in the portable device 5-2. , The right information corresponding to the stored content is updated. The personal computer 1 stores the encrypted and recorded content together with the data related to the content via a USB cable connected to the portable device 5.
3 and updates the right information corresponding to the stored content in response to the storage in the portable device 5-3.

The personal computer 1 has a USB
The portable device 5-1 deletes (or disables) the content checked out by the personal computer 1 to the connected portable device 5-1 via the cable, and corresponds to the deleted content. Update right information (hereinafter referred to as check-in). More specifically, when you check in,
The number of times that the right information of the corresponding content recorded by the personal computer 1 can be checked out is 1
Increased.

The personal computer 1 is connected to a portable device 5-2 via a USB cable.
Then, the portable device 5-2 deletes (or disables) the content checked out by the personal computer 1, and updates the right information corresponding to the deleted content. The personal computer 1 transfers the content checked out by the personal computer 1 to the connected portable device 5-3 via the USB cable, and transfers the content to the portable device 5-3.
And the rights information corresponding to the deleted content is updated.

The personal computer 1 is a portable device 5-1 other than a personal computer (not shown).
I cannot check in content that has been checked out to. The personal computer 1 cannot check in the content checked out by another personal computer to the portable device 5-2. The personal computer 1 cannot check in content that another personal computer has checked out to the portable device 5-3.

The EMD server 3 responds to a request from the personal computer 1 via the network 2 together with data (for example, a song name (hereinafter also referred to as a title) or a playback restriction) related to the content. 1 to supply the content.

The contents supplied by the EMD server 3 are encoded by a predetermined encoding method and are encrypted by a predetermined encryption method.

A WWW (World WIDe Web) server 4 responds to a request from the personal computer 1 via a network 2 and outputs data (eg, CD album name or CD sales) corresponding to a CD whose content has been read. Company) and data corresponding to the content read from the CD (for example, a song title or a composer name (hereinafter also referred to as an artist name)).
To supply.

The portable device 5-1 stores the content (ie, the content supplied from the personal computer 1).
The checked-out content) is stored together with data related to the content (for example, a song title or a playback restriction). The portable device 5-1 reproduces the stored content based on the data related to the content, and outputs the content to headphones (not shown) or the like.

For example, when the portable device 5-1 attempts to reproduce the content exceeding the number of times of reproduction as a reproduction limit stored as data relating to the content,
Stop playing the corresponding content. As a playback restriction stored as data related to the content,
When the portable device 5-1 attempts to play back after the playback time limit has expired, the portable device 5-1 stops playing back the corresponding content.

The user removes the portable device 5-1 storing the content from the personal computer 1, carries it around, plays back the stored content, and plays music corresponding to the content using headphones (not shown) or the like. You can listen.

The portable device 5-2 stores the content supplied from the personal computer 1 together with data relating to the content. The portable device 5-2 is configured to, based on the data related to the content,
The stored content is reproduced and output to a headphone (not shown) or the like. The user can remove the portable device 5-2 storing the content from the personal computer 1, carry it around, play back the stored content, and listen to music or the like corresponding to the content using headphones or the like (not shown). it can.

The portable device 5-3 stores the content supplied from the personal computer 1 together with data relating to the content. The portable device 5-3 is configured to, based on data related to the content,
The stored content is reproduced and output to a headphone (not shown) or the like. The user can remove the portable device 5-3 storing the content from the personal computer 1, carry it around, play back the stored content, and listen to music corresponding to the content using headphones or the like.

Hereinafter, the portable devices 5-1 to 5-
When it is not necessary to distinguish the 3 individually, it is simply referred to as a portable device 5.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the personal computer 1. CPU (Central Processing Unit)
Numeral 11 actually executes various application programs for realizing functions to be described later and an OS (Operating System). The ROM (Read-only Memory) 12 generally stores basically fixed data of programs used by the CPU 11 and calculation parameters. RAM (Ran
The dom-Access Memory 13 stores a program used in the execution of the CPU 11 and parameters that change as appropriate in the execution. These are interconnected by a host bus 14 composed of a CPU bus and the like.

The host bus 14 is connected to a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect / Interfac
e) It is connected to an external bus 16 such as a bus.

The keyboard 18 is operated by the user when inputting various commands to the CPU 11. Mouse 19
Is operated by the user when pointing or selecting a point on the screen of the display 20. Display 2
Numeral 0 is composed of a liquid crystal display device or a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), and displays various information as text or images. An HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 21 drives a hard disk and records or reproduces a program or information executed by the CPU 11 on the hard disk.

The drive 22 reads data or a program recorded on the mounted magnetic disk 41, optical disk 42 (including CD), magneto-optical disk 43, or semiconductor memory 44, and reads the data or program. The data is supplied to the RAM 13 connected via the interface 17, the external bus 16, the bridge 15, and the host bus 14.

The portable device 5-1 is connected to the USB port 23-1 via a USB cable. The USB port 23-1 is connected to the interface 17, the external bus 1
6, HD via the bridge 15 or the host bus 14
D21, data supplied from the CPU 11 or the RAM 13 (for example, content or portable device 5-1)
Is output to the portable device 5-1.

A portable device 5-2 is connected to the USB port 23-2 via a USB cable. The USB port 23-2 is connected to the interface 17, the external bus 1
6, HD via the bridge 15 or the host bus 14
D21, data supplied from the CPU 11 or the RAM 13 (for example, content or portable device 5-2)
Is output to the portable device 5-2.

The portable device 5-3 is connected to the USB port 23-3 via a USB cable. The USB port 23-3 is connected to the interface 17, the external bus 1
6, HD via the bridge 15 or the host bus 14
D21, data supplied from the CPU 11 or the RAM 13 (for example, content or portable device 5-3)
Is output to the portable device 5-3.

The speaker 24 outputs a predetermined sound corresponding to the content based on the sound signal supplied from the interface 17.

The keyboard 18 to the speaker 24
Is connected to the interface 17, and the interface 17 is connected to the CPU 11 via the external bus 16, the bridge 15, and the host bus 14.

The communication unit 25 is connected to the network 2, stores data (for example, a content transmission request, etc.) supplied from the CPU 11 or the HDD 21 in a packet of a predetermined format, and While transmitting, the data (for example, content) stored in the received packet via the network 2 is transmitted.
Output to CPU11, RAM13, or HDD21.

The communication unit 25 includes the external bus 16 and the bridge 1
5 and the CPU 11 via the host bus 14.

Hereinafter, when it is not necessary to distinguish the USB ports 23-1 to 23-3 individually, the USB ports 23-1 to 23-3 are simply referred to as the USB ports 23-1 to 23-3.
Called.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating functions of the personal computer 1 realized by the CPU 11 executing a content management program (application program).

GUI (Graphical User Interface) unit 10
0 supplies a song name corresponding to the content desired by the user or a file name of a file storing the content to the song management unit 104 in response to the operation of the keyboard 18 or the mouse 19 by the user. At the same time, it requests registration of data corresponding to the content in the database 107.

The GUI unit 100 acquires data corresponding to the content, for example, data such as a song ID, a song name, or an artist name from the song management unit 104, and displays the song ID, the song name, the artist name, or the like. 20 is displayed.

When the reproduction of the content is requested by the user's operation, the GUI unit 100 supplies the music ID corresponding to the content requested to be reproduced to the content management processing unit 102 and controls the reproduction of the content. Request to the processing unit 102.

When a transfer (checkout, copy, move, etc.) of a content is requested by a user's operation, the GUI unit 100 supplies a song ID corresponding to the requested content to the transfer processing unit 103. At the same time, it requests the transfer processing unit 103 to transfer the content.

The GUI section 100 stores contents recorded on a CD (corresponding to the optical disk 42) mounted on the drive 22 by the operation of the user by the user to store the music file storage sections 108-1 and 108-2 (HDD 21). ) Is supplied to the recording management unit 101, and the recording of the content is recorded in the recording management unit 101.
Request to. Further, the GUI unit 100 causes the display 20 to display a playlist in which the song IDs and file names of the content corresponding to the playlist ID are listed.

The recording management unit 101 executes a recording process when a recording of a content is requested by the GUI unit 100. When a CD to be recorded is loaded into the drive 22, the recording management unit 101 sets the TOC (Table of
Contents) is read out, and media unique identification information is generated from information such as the number of contents included therein and the recording time.

When recording a content from a CD or the like to the music file storage unit 108, the recording management unit 101 generates recording history information indicating the number of times of recording (recording) for each track of the CD, or Update (when the recording history information has already been generated) and store it in the built-in memory. When the same CD is mounted on the drive 22 again, the recording management unit 101 reads the recording history information, outputs information on the number of recordings of each track to the GUI unit 100, and causes the display 20 to display the information. Also, the recording management unit 101
When recording the CD for the first time,
Then, it accesses the WWW server 4 or the like via the network 2, downloads the title information of each content, and stores the title information of the downloaded content and the media-specific identification information in a built-in memory as title storage information. Also, the recording management unit 101
A playlist ID is generated as an index for integrating a plurality of contents recorded in the recording process, and is output to the music management unit 104 together with the contents, and is recorded in the music file storage unit 108. The title storage information will be described later with reference to FIG. Also, the recording management unit 101
Can also record contents distributed from the EMD server 3 via the network 2 and the communication unit 25.

The content management processing unit 102 is a GUI unit 1
When the reproduction of the content is requested from 00, the music management unit 104 requests the music I corresponding to the content requested to be reproduced.
D or the song ID corresponding to the content included in the playlist requested to be reproduced (the song ID of the content recorded together with the playlist ID corresponding to the playlist requested to be reproduced), and Request the corresponding file name. Content management processing unit 102
When the file name is acquired from the song management unit 104, the content is acquired from the song file storage unit 108-1 or 108-2 via the song management unit 104, the file search unit 106, and the database 107.

The content management processing unit 102 converts the acquired content into a PC (Protected Content) plug-in 10.
9-1 or 109-2.

When the content is supplied from the content management processing unit 102 and the content is not encrypted, the PC plug-in 109-1 decodes the encoded content and outputs the audio data to the audio output unit. 110-
Feed to 1. When the content is supplied from the content management processing unit 102 and the content is encrypted, the PC plug-in 109-1 decodes the encrypted content and decodes the encoded content. Then, the audio data is supplied to the audio output unit 110-1. The audio output unit 110-1 generates an audio signal based on the audio data, and causes the speaker 24 to output audio.

When the content is supplied from the content management processing unit 102 and the content is not encrypted, the PC plug-in 109-2 decodes the encoded content and outputs the audio data to the audio output unit. 110-
Feed to 2. When the content is supplied from the content management processing unit 102 and the content is encrypted, the PC plug-in 109-2 decrypts the encrypted content and decrypts the encoded content. Then, the audio data is supplied to the audio output unit 110-2. The audio output unit 110-2 generates an audio signal based on the audio data, and causes the speaker 24 to output audio.

The user can further install a PC plug-in.

Hereinafter, when it is not necessary to distinguish the PC plug-in 109-1 or the PC plug-in 109-2 individually,
Simply referred to as PC plug-in 109.

When the transfer of the content is requested from the GUI unit 100, the transfer processing unit 103 supplies the song ID corresponding to the content requested to be transferred to the song management unit 104 and sets the file name corresponding to the content. Request. When the transfer processing unit 103 acquires the file name from the song management unit 104, the song management unit 104, the file search unit 106,
Then, the content corresponding to the file name is acquired from the music file storage unit 108-1 or 108-2 via the database 107.

The transfer processing unit 103 supplies the acquired content to the PD plug-in 111-1 or 111-2.

When transferring the content to the portable device 5-1, the PD plug-in 111-1 performs mutual authentication with the portable device 5-1. When the mutual authentication has not been performed, the PD plug-in 111-1 does not transfer the content to the portable device 5-1.

The PD plug-in 111-1 is a transfer processing unit 1
When the content is supplied from 03 and the content is encrypted, the content is supplied to the portable device 5-1 together with data related to the content.
When the content is supplied from the transfer processing unit 103 and the content is not encrypted, the PD plug-in 111-1 encrypts the content and transmits the encrypted content together with the data related to the content to the portable device 5. -1. The process of mutual authentication is
The portable device 5-1 is the personal computer 1
May be executed when connected to the server.

When transferring the content to the portable device 5-2, the PD plug-in 111-2 performs mutual authentication with the portable device 5-2. When the mutual authentication has not been performed, the PD plug-in 111-2 does not transfer the content to the portable device 5-2.

The PD plug-in 111-2 is a transfer processing unit 1
When the content is supplied from 03, if the content is encrypted, the content is supplied to the portable device 5-2 together with data related to the content.
When the content is supplied from the transfer processing unit 103, if the content is not encrypted, the PD plug-in 111-2 encrypts the content, and transmits the encrypted content together with data related to the content to the portable device 5. -2. The process of mutual authentication is
The portable device 5-2 is a personal computer 1
May be executed when connected to the server.

The user can additionally install a PD plug-in.

Hereinafter, when it is not necessary to distinguish the PD plug-in 111-1 or the PD plug-in 111-2 individually,
It is simply referred to as PD plug-in 111.

The music management unit 104 includes a database 107
, The song name or file name corresponding to the content,
And media-specific identification information corresponding to the content,
In addition, data such as a playlist ID is recorded, and a specified song name or file name is read from the database 107. The song management unit 104 includes the GUI unit 1
When a song name or a file name is received from 00, a record is added to the database 107, a song name or a file name is recorded as an item of the record, and media unique identification information and a playlist ID are also added.

In response to the request from the GUI unit 100, the song management unit 104 reads out all song names and song IDs recorded in the database 107 from the database 107 and supplies them to the GUI unit 100. In addition, the music management unit 10
4, when the medium unique identification information is supplied from the recording management unit 101, the music ID and the file name corresponding to the medium unique identification information are read from the database 107 and supplied to the GUI unit 100. Further, when the playlist ID is supplied from the recording management unit 101, the song management unit 104 transmits the song ID and the file name corresponding to the playlist ID to the GUI unit 100.
To supply.

When the music ID is supplied from the content management processing unit 102, the music management unit 104 reads the file name corresponding to the music ID from the database 107 and supplies the read file name to the content management processing unit 102. . When the song ID is supplied from the transfer processing unit 103, the song management unit 104 reads a file name corresponding to the song ID from the database 107, and supplies the read file name to the transfer processing unit 103.

The file search unit 106 is a music management unit 104
Music file storage unit 108-1 or 1 based on the file name acquired from the database 107 in response to the request
A file corresponding to the file name is searched from 08-2. The file search unit 106 includes a music file storage unit 108
-1 or 108-2 is supplied to the song management unit 104, or the file name of the file is changed, and the file with the changed file name is sent to the song management unit 1.
04.

The music management unit 104 includes a file search unit 106
The file in which the content is stored is supplied from the content management processing unit 102 or the transfer processing unit 103.
To supply.

The database 107 records data related to contents, for example, song IDs, song titles, file names, media-specific identification information, playlist IDs, and other attributes. The database 107 is stored in the HDD 21.

Next, referring to FIG.
The title storage information stored in the built-in memory will be described. The title storage information is information recorded in a memory built in the recording management unit 101, and includes media-specific identification information of a recorded CD, a CD album name, a title name of each content, an artist name, and a title of each content. URL of the server that provides the information (Universal Resource Lo
cater). Further, the title storage information is read by the GUI unit 100 and also holds information as display data when executing a recording process or the like.

In this case, the first line in FIG.
= 55444322 ", and media-specific identification information is recorded. The media unique identification information is
A value obtained from the number of contents (number of songs) recorded in the TOC of the CD and the total recording time (in this case, 5544332
2), and the CD is identified by the media unique identification information.

In the second line, "DTITLE = KING / RIDING"
The title of this CD is "KING / RIDI
"NG" is registered. The third to tenth lines include “TTITLE0 = riding”, “TT
ITLE1 = Ten Long ”,“ TTITLE2 = Key ”,“ TTIT
LE3 = Marie, TTITLE4 = Three, TTITLE5 =
Help ”,“ TTITLE6 = eye ”, and“ TTITLE7 =
"Worried" is shown, and the title of the recorded content is recorded for each track.
In this case, the contents (1
It is shown that the title of the content (the content of the song) is “Riding” and the title of the content corresponding to the track number 1 (the content of the second song) is “Ten Long”. Are recorded as "Key", "Mary", "Three", "Help", "Eye", and "Worried". In this case, the titles with the track numbers 8 and 9 shown on the eleventh and twelfth lines are blank.

In the thirteenth line, “EXTD = ARTIST: KING”
And that the artist name is "KING". In the 14th and 15th lines, "EXTD
= URL1: Artist discography http: www.cd
new.co.jp./artist.asp.artistID=1122 "," EXTD = URL
2: CDNEW JAPAN home http: www.cdnew.co.jp./index.a
The information of the WWW server 4 that has obtained the information of the first to thirteenth lines is recorded. "Artist discography",
“CDNEW JAPAN home” is the name of the WWW server 4 and is below “http: www.cdnew.co.jp./artist.asp.a”
rtistID = 1122 "," http: www.cdnew.co.jp./index.as
"p" indicates each URL.

Next, referring to FIG. 5, when a CD (corresponding to optical disk 42 in FIG. 2) is mounted on drive 22, a command from recording management unit 101 of the content management program (application program) is issued. On the basis of,
A display example of a window displayed on the display 20 by the GUI unit 100 will be described. CD on the window
Tab 201, import tab 202, playlist tab 203, check-in / check-out tab 204, device media tab 205, and internet tab 2
06 is provided, and when each tab is activated by clicking the tab, the respective display screen is displayed on the field 231. In this case, CD
The tab 201 is in an active state, and information about the CD is displayed in the field 231.

Under the CD tab 201, an eject button 2
11 is displayed, and when clicked, the drive 22 is displayed.
The CD mounted on the is taken out. Extract button 211
A recording stop button 212 and a recording start button 213 are displayed on the right side of, and when the recording start button 213 is clicked, the designated C
Recording of the D content to the HDD 21 is started, and if the recording stop button 212 is clicked during recording, the recording process is stopped.

On the right side of the recording start button 213, a bit rate display field 214 is displayed. When clicked, various bit rates are displayed as a drop-down list, and a recording bit rate can be selected by a pointer. On the right side of the bit rate display field 214, a drive display field 215 is displayed, and the drive on which the CD to be recorded is mounted is displayed. By clicking, a drive name that can be selected as a drop-down list is displayed. It is displayed and can be selected with the pointer. Further, a recording destination display column 216 is displayed on the right side of the drive display column 215, and when clicked, a drop-down list is displayed, and the HDD 21 and the portable devices 5-1 to 5-3 are displayed as recording destinations. ,
Can be selected by pointer.

A task bar 217 is displayed above each tab. A stop button 217 is displayed on the task bar 217.
a, a play button 217b, and other operation buttons are displayed, and various operations such as reproduction and stop of the content designated on the field 231 can be performed. An album name display field 217c is displayed above the stop button 217a. In this case, "Riding" is displayed as the album name.

Below the eject button 211, an album name display field 211 is displayed, and the album name of the inserted CD is displayed. In this case,
"Riding" is displayed. An artist name display field 222 is displayed on the right side of the album name display field 221. In this case, "King" is displayed as the artist name. On the right side of the artist name display field 222, a genre name display field 223 is displayed.
In this case, "Lock" is displayed.

The field 231 shows the contents of the inserted CD, and is displayed in the order of the CD track numbers from the top. From the right for each content, CD
The track number, title name, artist name, genre, playing time, capacity, and recording status are displayed. In the column in which the CD track number is displayed, check boxes 224a to 224h and a reproducible code (in this case, a treble clef) are displayed from the left, in addition to the CD track number. When the check boxes 224a to 224h are clicked, a check mark is displayed. When the check boxes are clicked again, the check marks are hidden. The checked (checkmarked) contents of the check boxes 224a to 224h are recorded from the CD. In this case, since the check boxes 224a to 224h of all the contents are checked, if the recording start button 213 is clicked in this state, all the contents are transferred from the CD to the HDD 21.
Will be recorded. The sign indicated by the treble clef is a display indicating that the reproduction is possible at present, and when the reproduction is not possible, the display changes to, for example, a rest (FIG. 9).

Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG.
A process when a CD is loaded when recording the contents of a CD of the personal computer 1 will be described. When a CD is loaded into the drive 22, in step S1, the recording management unit 101 determines that the loaded CD is an audio CD.
It is determined whether or not it is a (CD on which music content is recorded), and if it is determined that it is an audio CD, the process proceeds to step S2.

In step S2, the recording management unit 101
Is the TOC (Table of Content) recorded in the CD
The information of s) is read, and media unique identification information is generated from the number of contents, the total recording time of the CD, and the like.

In step S3, the recording management unit 101
Sends the media unique identification information to the music management unit 104 and inquires whether a playlist ID corresponding to the same media unique identification information registered in the past exists. If it is determined that the same media unique identification information does not exist and the corresponding playlist ID does not exist, the process proceeds to step S4.

In step S4, the recording management unit 101
Searches the recording history information existing in the memory built in itself, and determines whether or not the recording history of each track of the mounted CD exists. When it is determined that the recording history information of each track of the CD exists, the recording management unit 101 totals the number of times of recording of the content from the searched recording history information and displays the number on the display 20 in step S5. At this time, for example, the field 231
"Recorded" is displayed in the upper recording state column (FIG. 9). Further, for example, when the number of histories is two, the recording state display field displays the right side of the “recorded” display,
[2] is displayed as the number of histories (FIG. 11).

At step S6, the recording management unit 101
Causes the GUI unit 100 to check the check box of the unrecorded track and display it on the display. For example, if not all content has been recorded,
Check box 22 for all tracks as shown in
4a to 224h will be checked.

In step S7, the record management unit 101
Retrieves title storage information stored in a built-in memory based on the generated media unique identification information.
In step S8, the recording management unit 101 determines whether or not title storage information including the media unique identification information generated in the built-in memory exists. If it is determined that the title storage information exists, the process proceeds to step S9.

In step S9, the recording management unit 101
Acquires the information on the title of each content stored in the retrieved title storage information, outputs the acquired information to the GUI unit 100, and causes the display 20 to display it. For example, FIG.
Is acquired, the title name and artist name of each content are displayed on the field 231 as shown in FIG.

In step S10, the recording management unit 10
1 registers the album name as a new playlist, transfers it to the music management unit 104 together with the corresponding playlist ID, and stores it. For example, in the case shown in FIG. 5, "Riding" is registered as a playlist.

In step S11, the recording management unit 10
1 determines whether or not the recording start button 213 has been clicked, and if it is determined that the recording start button 213 has been clicked, step S
At 12, the recording management unit 101 executes a recording process.

Here, the recording process will be described with reference to FIG. In step S31, the recording management unit 10
1 inquires the GUI and reads the selected content from the CD. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, check boxes 224a, 224b, 224e, 224g
Is checked and the recording start button 213 is clicked, the contents of the track numbers 1, 2, 5, and 7 are read from the CD.

At step S32, the recording management unit 10
1 compresses the content read from the CD by a predetermined method, encrypts the content, and outputs it to the music management unit 104. In step S33, the music management unit 104 stores the rights information in the rights storage unit 105 and registers the encrypted content in the database 107.

In step S34, the music management unit 104
Stores the encrypted content in the music file storage unit 108.

While the processes of steps S31 to S34 are being performed, the GUI unit 100, as shown in FIG.
A recording status display column 241 is displayed on the window, and a recording status display bar 241a and a remaining time display column 241 are displayed therein.
b is displayed. The recording time display bar 241a shows the entire time required to record all the selected contents, and as the processing proceeds, a bar of a predetermined color indicating the rate of the processing end is shown in the figure. It is displayed from the left. When all the processing is finally completed, a bar of a predetermined color is displayed on the entire recording state display bar 241a. Further, for the content whose recording has been completed, for example, the content of the track numbers 1 and 2 shown in FIG. 9, "recorded" is displayed in the recording status display column. The progress of the recording process is displayed as 100%. In this case, track number 5
"4%" is displayed in the display field of the recording status of the content No. 5, indicating that 4% of the entire content of the track No. 5 has been recorded.

In step S35, the recording management unit 10
1 updates recording history information that records the number of recordings of each track. Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the GUI unit 100 displays, on the display 20, a playlist in which the playlist tab 203 is activated. FIG.
In the playlist window shown in
At 31 is displayed a list of recorded contents. A field 252 is displayed on the left side of the field 231, and a playlist display field 25
1 is displayed. In this case, the playlist display field 251
Indicates "Riding".

A field 252 displays a plurality of playlists in a tree diagram. That is,
At the top of the field 252, two playlists, "paint" and "riding", are displayed as branches in the column labeled "all playlists". In this case, in field 252, since “riding” is activated, field 231
Indicates that the content displayed in the playlist is included in the playlist of “riding”.

[0093] Under "all playlists", a branch for categorizing and displaying each content by "album name", "artist name" and "genre name" is provided.

Here, the description returns to the flowchart of FIG.

If it is determined in step S1 that the CD is not an audio CD, the recording management unit 101 causes the GUI unit 100 to display on the display 20 that a CD other than an audio CD is mounted in step S13.

If it is determined in step S3 that the playlist ID corresponding to the media unique identification information has been searched, in step S14, the GUI unit 101 corresponds to the searched playlist ID as shown in FIG. The content included in the playlist is displayed in the window in which the CD tab 201 is activated, and further, a dialog box 261 indicating a playlist selection is displayed, and the recording of the CD is added to the existing playlist.
Alternatively, a window for inquiring whether to generate a new playlist is displayed.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 11, a dialog box 261 displays a button 262a which is clicked when selecting a new playlist, and a button 262b which is selected when adding to an existing playlist. Is done. When button 262a is clicked, button 2
62 a is checked (a black circle is displayed), and a new playlist (name) can be input in the field 264. When 262b is clicked, button 262 is clicked.
b is checked (in this case), and the playlist registered in the field 265 is displayed. The playlist in the field 265 can be newly overwritten and registered.

[0098] A recording start button 263a is displayed below the field 265, and when clicked, starts recording. A cancel button 263b is displayed on the right side of the recording start button 263a, and when clicked, the processing is canceled and the cancel button 263b is displayed.
A help button 263c is displayed on the right side of, and when clicked, a help screen is displayed.

Here, the description returns to the flowchart of FIG.

In step S15, the recording management unit 10
1 determines whether a new playlist has been selected and the recording start button 263a has been clicked,
If 2a is clicked, a new playlist is selected, and the recording start button 263a is clicked, the process proceeds to step S4, and the subsequent processes are repeated.

In step S15, when it is determined that the new playlist is not selected and the recording start button 263a is clicked, that is, as shown in FIG. 11, the button 262b is clicked, and the existing playlist is selected. If the recording start button 263a is clicked in the state of being pressed, the processing proceeds to step S12,
The above recording process is executed.

If it is determined in step S4 that the recording history information of each track does not exist, step S5
In, the recording history information aggregation process was skipped,
The process proceeds to Step S6.

If it is determined in step S8 that the title storage information does not exist, in step S16, the recording management unit 101 accesses the WWW server 4 via the communication unit 25 and the network 2, and Is searched for the title information of the content included in the CD inserted in the.

At step S17, the recording management unit 10
1 determines whether or not the title information has been searched, and when it is determined that the title information has been searched, the processing includes:
Proceeding to step S9, the subsequent processing is repeated.
If it is determined in step S17 that the title information has not been searched, in step S18 the GUI
As shown in FIG. 12, the unit 100 displays "untitled" in the column of the title name of each content displayed in the field 231, and displays "Unknown" in the column of the artist name and genre name. I do. At this time, the user can input a title name, an artist name, and a genre name as necessary.

By the above processing, the CD to be recorded
When the content is loaded into the drive 22, the user can record the content if the CD has been recorded in the past without being conscious of whether the CD was recorded in the past. Since information such as the number of times and the bit rate is displayed, it is possible to avoid recording the same content by mistake a plurality of times, so that the storage area of the HDD 21 is not wasted. For example, when trying to record the same content at a different bit rate, if the CD to be recorded is mounted on the drive 22, information of the content recorded in the past is searched for and displayed. The user can specify only the bit rate of the content to be newly recorded without executing the search process.

Further, the content information is searched for and displayed in units of playlists recorded in the past by the above-described processing, so that, in the past recording process, for example, a plurality of contents registered in the playlist are retrieved. If the process was terminated halfway because all of the data could not be recorded, the same CD
By simply loading the content into the drive 22, only unrecorded content can be continuously recorded, and at this time, processing such as searching for a new title name and editing can be omitted.

Next, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 13, the storage processing of the title storage information will be described. In step S41, the recording management unit 101
When it is determined whether or not the audio CD mounted on the drive 22 has been ejected (e.g., whether or not the ejection process has been performed) by, for example, clicking the eject button 211, and it is determined that the audio CD has not been ejected. , The process proceeds to step S42.

In step S42, the recording management unit 10
For example, when the CD drive indication field 215 is clicked, a drop-down list is displayed, and it is determined whether or not the drive has been switched to another drive. If it is determined that the CD drive has not been switched, The process proceeds to step S43.

At step S43, the recording management unit 10
1 determines whether or not the recording process has been completed, that is, for example, whether or not the recording process for a plurality of contents set as a playlist has been completed, and determines that the content recording process has not been completed. The process returns to the process of step S41, and the subsequent processes are repeated.

In step S41, the audio CD
If it is determined that has been ejected, step S4
2, if it is determined that the CD drive has been switched, and if it is determined in step S43 that the recording process has been completed, the recording management unit 101 determines in step S44 that the album name of the current CD and The title information is saved (overwritten) in the built-in memory as title save information.

That is, while the application software is running, the recording management unit 101 constantly monitors the removal of the CD, the change of the drive, and the end of the recording process. Rewrite saved information.

By the above processing, for example, a desired content can be selected on the window shown in FIG. 10 and reproduced by clicking the reproduction button 217b. By simply clicking a predetermined icon, a desired play list can be reproduced on a single device.

Next, a shortcut icon corresponding to the recorded playlist is generated, and the shortcut icon is clicked from a state where the above-mentioned window does not rise (a state where the application software is not started). A description will now be given of a process in which a plurality of contents registered in a playlist are reproduced by one device.

For example, by dragging the playlist name display section 252a displayed as "Riding" in FIG.
Screens other than application software windows (for example, desktop screens on Windows98 (trademark))
By dropping the icon on the top, a shortcut icon 281 as shown in FIG. 14 in which a playlist ID corresponding to “riding” is registered is generated and displayed on the display 20.

Here, the reproduction process using the shortcut icon 281 will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

In step S51, the OS executed by the CPU 11 of the personal computer 1 determines whether or not the shortcut icon has been clicked.
This process is repeated until clicked, and when clicked, the process proceeds to step S52.

In step S52, the OS activates application software of the content management program. In step S53, the GUI unit 100 of the started content management program displays a predetermined window. In this case, the shortcut icon 281
Is displayed as "riding", a window in which the playlist tab 203 is active is displayed as shown in FIG. 10, for example. Of course, other windows may be set to be displayed.

In step S 54, the content management unit 102 stores the content having the playlist ID registered in the shortcut icon 281 into the music management unit 10.
Request 4 In this case, the shortcut icon 28
No. 1 is displayed as “Riding”, and the content of the playlist ID corresponding to the “Riding” of the playlist is “Riding”, “Ten Long”,
The contents of “three” and “eye” are requested from the music management unit 104.

At step S55, the music management unit 104
Causes the file search unit 106 to search the database 107 for content corresponding to the requested playlist ID, read out the song file storage unit 108, and send it to the content management unit 102. That is, in this case, the music management unit 104 sequentially sends the content of “riding”, “ten long”, “three”, and “eye” to the content management unit 102.

In step 56, the content management section 102 executes the PC plug-in 109 and the audio output section 1
A predetermined content is reproduced from the speaker 24 via the speaker 10. In this case, the audio output unit 110 causes the speaker 24 to sequentially output the contents of “riding”, “ten long”, “three”, and “eye”.

Thus, the shortcut icon 281
Is generated and displayed on the display, the user can use this shortcut icon 28
By simply clicking one, a plurality of contents registered in a desired playlist can be reproduced.

In the processing in step S53, the window displayed on the display 20 by the GUI unit 100 may be, for example, a window in which the playlist tab 203 is active as shown in FIG. Other tabs may be active windows, for example, as shown in FIG.
The GUI unit 100 may be configured to display only the task bar 217 called a simple mode window. Further, the window displayed by the GUI unit 100 on the display 20 may be set so as to display the window that was displayed last (when the application software was terminated) in the previous activation of the application software. Good. Further, in the processing in step S53, the GUI unit 100 can set the window displayed on the display 20 to be minimized, that is, set so that only the content is reproduced from the speaker 24 so as not to be displayed on the display. You may do so.

Further, the shortcut icon 281
For example, when the playlist is composed of album contents of a predetermined CD, an image serving as a jacket of the CD may be displayed.

The above series of processing 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 can execute various functions by installing a computer built into dedicated hardware or installing various programs. It is installed from a program storage medium to a possible general-purpose personal computer or the like.

As shown in FIG. 2, a program storage medium for storing a program installed in a computer and made executable by the computer includes a magnetic disk 41 (including a floppy disk) and an optical disk 42 (CD-ROM ( Compact Disc-Read Only Memory), DV
D (including a Digital Versatile Disc)), a magneto-optical disk 43 (including an MD (MinIDisc)), or a semiconductor memory 4
4 or a ROM 12 in which a program is temporarily or permanently stored,
It is composed of DD21 and the like. The storage of the program in the program storage medium is performed using a wired or wireless communication medium such as a local area network or the network 2 such as the Internet, or a digital satellite broadcast via an interface such as the communication unit 25 as necessary. Will be

In this specification, the step of describing a program stored in a program storage medium is not limited to processing performed in a chronological order in the described order, but is not necessarily performed in chronological order. , And processing executed in parallel or individually.

In this specification, a system is
It represents the entire device composed of a plurality of devices.

[0128]

According to the information processing apparatus and method and the program storage medium of the present invention, a playlist in which information of a plurality of contents is registered and a playlist ID for identifying the playlist are generated, and the generated playlist is generated. An icon containing the list ID information is displayed, and when the icon is clicked, a plurality of contents registered in the playlist corresponding to the playlist ID information contained in the icon are reproduced. The user can reproduce a plurality of contents registered in the play list simply by clicking the displayed shortcut icon.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a music data management system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a personal computer 1.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the personal computer 1 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating title storage information.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a display example of a window when a CD tab is active.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing when a CD is inserted.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a recording process.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a display example of a window when a CD tab is active.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a display example of a window when a CD tab is active.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a window when a playlist tab is active.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a display example of a playlist selection dialog box displayed on a window when a CD tab is active.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a display example of a window when a CD tab is active.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a process of storing title storage information.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a shortcut icon.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a shortcut icon playback process.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a window displayed on a display during a shortcut icon reproduction process.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 personal computer, 2 network,
3 EMD server, 4 WWW server, 5-1 to 5
-3 Portable device, 21 HDD, 24
Speaker, 25 communication unit, 100 GUI unit, 10
1 Recording management section, 102 Content management section, 10
3 Transfer processing unit, 104 music management unit, 105 rights storage unit, 106 file search unit, 107 database, 108-1, 108-2 music file storage unit, 201 CD tab, 203 playlist tab, 211 takeout button, 212 recording Stop button, 213 Recording start button, 221 Album name display field, 222 Artist name display field, 223 Genre name display field, 224a to 224h check box, 231 field, 241 Recording status display field, 241a Recording status display bar, 241b Remaining time Display column, 251 Playlist display column, 252
Field, 252a playlist display section, 2
61 Dialog box, 281 Shortcut icon

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus having a function of reproducing content recorded on a recording medium, wherein the playlist in which information of a plurality of the contents is registered and a playlist ID for identifying the playlist are generated. A playlist generation unit, an icon display unit for displaying an icon including the information of the playlist ID generated by the playlist generation unit, and the playlist included in the icon when the icon is clicked. An information processing apparatus comprising: a reproducing unit configured to reproduce a plurality of the contents registered in the playlist corresponding to ID information. 2. An information processing method for an information processing apparatus having a function of reproducing content recorded on a recording medium, wherein: the playlist in which information of a plurality of the contents is registered; and a playlist for identifying the playlist. A playlist generating step of generating an ID, an icon displaying step of displaying an icon including information of the playlist ID generated in the processing of the playlist generating step, and when the icon is clicked, the icon is displayed. A reproducing step of reproducing a plurality of the contents registered in the playlist corresponding to the information of the included playlist ID. 3. A program for controlling an information processing apparatus having a function of reproducing content recorded on a recording medium, wherein the program identifies a playlist in which a plurality of pieces of information of the content are registered, and the playlist. A playlist generation control step of controlling generation of a playlist ID, an icon display control step of controlling display of an icon including the playlist ID information generated in the processing of the playlist generation control step, and the icon Is clicked, the reproduction control step of controlling the reproduction of a plurality of the content registered in the playlist corresponding to the information of the playlist ID included in the icon, A program storage medium on which a readable program is recorded.