JP2002202978A - Movie retrieval device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a movie retrieval device allowing a person to confirm a movie by image in the retrieval of movie. SOLUTION: In a digital mini theater, a server device 2 supplies an image signal to a plurality of showing devices 5 set on a plurality of booths 3. A retrieval device 6 performs the retrieval of the films accumulated in the server device 2 with a condition such as genre, cast actor or the like, and when a corresponding movie is present, a part of the film can be previewed. As the image to be previewed, a preview is used when present, and the main film is partially edited and regenerated as the preview when no preview is present. When the film is showing in any booth, the image is displayed and introduced also in the retrieval device for a prescribed time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a movie search device used in a digital mini theater or the like.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The distribution of movies using digital media, such as DVDs, is replacing the distribution of movies on roll films. Compared to roll film, digital media is easier to process automatically, such as auto-change of discs, and is cheaper, so it has multiple movie media and has been selected by users at multiple small booths. A digital mini theater has been proposed in which each movie is shown separately.

[0003]

In the above-mentioned digital mini theater, a user can select a desired movie, but not all users can immediately select a desired movie. For example, when searching for a movie to be rented in a rental video store, the user usually searches by a method such as selecting an appropriate one from a favorite genre and a shelf of a favorite actor. Further, even if a search could be performed by genre or actor, it was not possible to know what kind of movie the movie actually was from only the title.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a movie search apparatus which can search for a movie based on a favorite genre or actor and preview the movie.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided a video data storage means for storing video data of a plurality of movies, a search means for searching for the movies based on search conditions such as a title and a genre, Preview means for previewing video data of a movie for a predetermined time. According to the present invention, in the above invention, the video data storage means includes:
A movie trailer is stored, and the preview means reproduces the searched movie trailer. According to the present invention, in the above invention, the video data storage means includes:
A main part of the movie is stored, and the preview means reproduces a part of the main part of the searched movie. According to the present invention, in the above invention, the video data storage means stores a main part or a trailer of the movie, and the previewing means reproduces the trailer when the trailer of the searched movie is stored. If the main part of the searched movie is stored, a part of the main part is reproduced. The present invention according to the above invention, further comprising storage means for storing reproduction point designation data for designating a reproduction point of the main part, wherein the preview means comprises a part of the retrieved main part of the movie which is designated by the reproduction point specification data. Is reproduced.

In the present invention, the search means searches for a movie that satisfies search conditions such as, for example, the title, genre, and cast of the movie. In general, search conditions input or specified by a user are used. Then, when a movie corresponding to the search condition is searched, the video of the movie is reproduced for preview. For the preview video, if the trailer video data is present, the trailer may be reproduced, and if the main video data is present, a part thereof may be reproduced. If there is playback location designation data that determines which part of the main part is played back as a notice, by playing that location,
The same effect as the trailer can be obtained.

[0007]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a digital mini theater system to which the present invention is applied. The digital mini theater system is a system in which a plurality of booths 3 for a small number of people to enter and a movie selected by a user in each booth 3 can be shown. Screening equipment 5 in each booth 3
Is installed, and a video signal of the selected movie is transmitted from the server device 2 to each screening device 5. A search device 6 for the user to select a movie before entering the booth 3
Is set in front of the booth. The server device 2, the screening device 5, and the search device are connected by a CATV cable 4. As shown in FIG. 2, the server device 2 stores a plurality of digital video discs (DVDs) on which main parts of a movie are recorded, and stores DVDs corresponding to the booths 3 (the screening device 5) and the search device 6. A deck 11 (see FIG. 2) is provided, and a DVD of a movie selected by a user is set on a DVD deck 12 for a predetermined booth and played. The reproduced video signal is transmitted to each screening device 5 as a UHF signal television signal. Each screening device 5
A signal for itself is selected by frequency, and a video signal superimposed on the UHF signal is demodulated and displayed.

In FIG. 2, a rack 11 stores a plurality of DVDs each recording a main movie. A plurality of DVD decks 12 (12-1, 2,..., N, n + 1) are connected to the rack 11. Each DVD deck 12
The corresponding CATV transmission circuits 13 (13-1, 13-1)
2,..., N, n + 1). Each DVD deck 12 (12-1, 2,..., N, n + 1) and CAT
The V transmission circuit 13 (13-1, 2,..., N, n + 1)
The booth 3 corresponds to the screening device 5 (5-1, 2,..., N) and the search device 6, respectively, and the DVD deck 12-1 reproduces the signal and the CATV transmission circuit 13-1 modulates the UHF signal. The video signal is received by the screening device 5-1 and is displayed at the booth 3-1. Similarly, the DVD deck 12-
n is reproduced by the CATV transmission circuit 13-n and is modulated by the UHF signal into the UHF signal.
-N. The video signal reproduced by the DVD deck 12-n + 1 and modulated by the CATV transmission circuit 13-n + 1 into a UHF signal is received by the search device 6 and only the video is displayed. That is, each of the CATV transmission circuits 13-1 to 13-n
+1 and the CATV tuner 30 of each of the screening devices 5-1 to n.
(See FIG. 3) and the CATV tuner 22 of the search device 6
Are set so that their reception frequencies (reception channels) match.

The rack 11 and the plurality of DVD decks 12 constitute a DVD multichanger.
The control unit 10 instructs which DVD main movie is to be reproduced on the VD deck 12. The control unit 10 is a cable modem 1
The DVD player 12 communicates with the search device 6 and each screening device 5 via the DVD 5 and determines a DVD to be played on each DVD deck 12. In the multichanger, a predetermined DVD is set from the rack 11 to the DVD deck 12 in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 10, and
The DVD that has been played is transferred from the DVD deck 12 to the rack 11
Housed in

The control unit 10 connects the hard disk 14 and the communication control unit 16, and stores various data downloaded from the distribution center 1 via the communication control unit 16 on the hard disk 14. From the distribution center 1, video data of a movie trailer, video data of a main movie (DVD)
When using as a trailer, preview edit data for designating which part should be reproduced, a search database for searching for a movie, and the like are downloaded. This notice editing data corresponds to the reproduction location designation data of the present invention. The trailer data may be distributed on a medium such as a DVD. Further, in the hard disk 14, a DVD management table that stores the usage status of each DVD and a booth management table that stores the usage status of each booth are set.

FIG. 3 is set on the hard disk 14. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a search database, notice editing data, a DVD management table, and a booth management table.
FIG. 1A is a diagram showing a search database. The search database contains, for each movie, the title, DV
Information such as a D number, a genre, an actor, a director, and a production year is stored as a record. Each time a new movie is added, a record about the movie is added from the distribution center.

FIG. 1B is a diagram showing preview editing data. The notice editing data stores the corresponding DVD number and the absolute time of the start position and the end position of the reproduction position (reproduction time from the movie start position) for each reproduction position.

FIG. 1C shows a DVD management table. The DVD management table contains, for each DVD,
Information such as a DVD number, a storage slot in the rack 11, whether the data is stored in the slot or being reproduced on the DVD deck, and if the reproduction is being performed, the scheduled reproduction end time is recorded.

FIG. 1D shows a booth management table. The booth management table records, for each booth (screening device), whether or not a movie is currently being screened, and if a movie is being screened, the DVD number, the scheduled end time of the screen, and the like.

In this embodiment, the hard disk 14 is used as a storage device for storing such data. However, the hard disk 14 is not limited to a hard disk as long as it is a readable / writable large-capacity storage device.

In FIG. 1, a search device 6 communicating with the server device 2 includes a control unit 20, a cable modem 21,
An ATV tuner 22, a display device 23, and an input device 24 are provided. The control unit 20 is configured by a computer and communicates with the control unit 10 of the server device 2 via the cable modem 21 and the CATV cable 4. Further, the tuner 22 receives the UHF video signal transmitted via the CATV line 4 of the CATV transmission circuit 13-n + 1, demodulates the UHF video signal, and inputs the demodulated signal to the display device 23. The display device 23 has a CRT or LCD display, and displays the video signal or the computer image input from the control unit 20. The control unit 20 switches the input of the display device 23 to either the CATV tuner 22 or the control unit 20. When the control unit 20 is switching to the control unit 20 side, the control unit 20 controls the display device 23 with a computer as shown in FIGS. Enter an image.

The search device 6 displays a movie search screen as shown in FIG. 8A. When a user inputs search conditions in accordance with the movie search screen, the search conditions are transmitted to the server device 2. To display search results. When the user wants to preview the movie, the preview video of the movie is displayed on the display device 23 for a predetermined time, and when the user selects to watch the main part of the movie, the server device 2 It is a device that reserves a booth for watching the movie.

5 to 7 and FIGS.
The operation of the search device 6 and the server device 2 will be described with reference to the screen display example of FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the search device. The search device 6 and the server device 2 are designed to communicate with each other using, for example, the HTTP protocol. The search device 6 first receives a search screen as shown in FIG. 8A from the server device 2 and displays it on the display device 23 (s1). On this screen, the user can enter a search condition such as a title, a genre, an actor, a director, and a production year to search for a corresponding movie.

As shown in FIG. 8B, the search condition is input by selecting an item selected from the menu for the genre and the production year. In addition, a representative name is written in the menu for the director name and the actor name, and when the name is other than that, the name is manually input. The movie title is manually input.

When the user operates the input device 24 to input the above search conditions (s2), the search conditions are transmitted to the server device 2 (s3). The server device 2 searches the search database with the search conditions and returns a search result on the screen. The server device 2 obtains and displays the search result (s
4). The search result screen is, for example, as shown in FIG. The user performs input corresponding to this screen. That is, the user turns on one of the buttons of “view main program”, “preview”, and “do not watch” in FIG. 9A. When this button operation is detected (s6), the corresponding operation is executed.

When the user turns on the "view main part" button, a main part screening request is transmitted to the server apparatus 2 (s7), and a guide screen from the server apparatus 2 corresponding thereto is acquired and displayed (s8). ). The guidance screen is shown in FIG.
This is as shown in FIG. FIG. 7A is a guide screen when the main program can be immediately shown. FIG. 2B is a screen displayed when the main disc (DVD) is currently being shown to another user or when the booth is full. When the guidance screen is displayed, the operation of the search device ends, and the operation shifts to the operation of the playback device in the booth.

On the other hand, when the user turns on the "preview" button on the screen shown in FIG. 9A, a preview request is transmitted to the server device 2 (s9). In response to this, the server device 2 transmits a preview video signal, and switches the display device 23 to the CATV tuner 22 side to display the preview video image on a display. Note that this video signal is a signal obtained by synthesizing the video and the audio. The display device 23 displays only the video and does not output the audio so that the quality of the preview is limited to the time when the main part is shown. You may.

When the preview is completed (s11), since a confirmation screen is sent from the server device 2, the input of the display device 23 is switched to the control unit 20 side to display this (s12). This confirmation screen is as shown in FIG. 9 (B). On this screen, the user sees
When the button is turned on, the process jumps to s7 and proceeds to the main movie screening operation. On the other hand, if the "not see" button is turned on on the screen of FIG. 9A or 9B, the search operation is terminated and the process returns to s1.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are flowcharts showing the operation of the server device 2. First, the search screen of FIG. 8A is transmitted in response to a request from the search device 6 (s20). Since the search condition input in response to the search screen is sent from the search device 6, the search condition is received (s21), and the search database is accessed using the search condition to search for the corresponding movie (s22). ). Then, a search result screen is formed and transmitted to the search device 6 (s23). This search result screen is as shown in FIG. 9A, and the search device 6 returns a telegraphic request, preview request, or search result abandonment message (s24). The content of this message is determined (s25), and the corresponding process is executed.

When the main program screening request is returned,
A search is made as to whether the DVD in which the main part is recorded is in the stocker 11 (s26). This search is performed on the DVD management table. If the disk is in the stocker 11, (s2
7), search whether there is an empty booth (s28). This search is performed on the booth management table. If there is a vacant booth, specify the vacant booth and specify it as shown in FIG.
And sends it to the search device 6 (s
30). Then, the DVD on which the main part is recorded is set on the DVD deck 12 corresponding to the designated booth (s3
1) After waiting for 5 minutes, the main program recorded on the DVD is started (s32). On the other hand, D
When VD is in use on another deck and cannot be used (s2
7) or when the booth is full (s29),
The reservation guide screen of (B) is constructed and transmitted to the search device (s33).

When the preview request message is transmitted in s24, the operation proceeds to s40 and subsequent steps in FIG. When the video data of the trailer of this movie is stored on the hard disk 14 or when the DVD for the trailer is set in the stocker 11, the trailer is set to be playable (s41), and the search device 6 Is instructed to switch the input of the display device 23 to the CATV tuner 22, and then the trailer is reproduced (s43).
When the video data for the trailer is recorded on the hard disk 14, the DVD deck 12-n +
1 functions only as a MEPG decoder. When the reproduction of the trailer ends (s44), the display device 23 is displayed on the search device 6.
To the control unit 20 again (s4
5), constructing and transmitting the guidance screen of FIG. 9B (s4)
6). If the reply to the guide screen is a main movie screening request (s63), the process jumps to s26. When the reply of the search result abandonment is returned, the search processing ends.

If there is no trailer of the movie requested to be previewed in the server device 2, a search is made as to where the DVD recording the main part is (s48). One of the booths (D
When the main program is being shown on the VD deck 12), the search device 6 is instructed to switch the reception channel of the CATV tuner 22 to the channel corresponding to the booth being shown (s49), and the display device is also displayed. It instructs to switch the input of 23 to the CATV tuner 22 side (s50). Thereby, the display device 2 of the search device 6
3, the video of the main program currently being shown at any booth is displayed as it is. Predetermined time (about several minutes)
Is elapsed (s51), the search device 6 is instructed to switch the display device 23 to the control unit 20 again, and the display of the main video being shown on the display device 23 is interrupted (s51).
52), instruct the CATV tuner 22 to return to the original receiving channel (the channel assigned to the search device) (s53). Next, the guide screen shown in FIG. 9B is constructed and transmitted (s54). If the reply to the guide screen is a main program screening request (s63), the process jumps to s26. When the reply of the search result abandonment is returned, the search processing ends. The operations of the search device 6 corresponding to the operations of the server device described above are all performed in s10 and s11.

On the other hand, if there is no trailer of the movie requested to be previewed in the server device, and the DVD recording the main part is not shown in any booth and is still stored in the stocker 11, this DVD is retrieved by the retrieval device. It is set on the DVD deck 12-n + 1 for 6 (s56). Then, the notice editing data is read from the hard disk 14 (s5).
7). CAT input to display device 23 for search device 6
It is instructed to switch to the V tuner 22 side (s5
9) The part specified by the notice editing data is reproduced from the DVD set in the DVD deck 12-n + 1 (s59). When the reproduction of the edited portion is completed (s6
0), instruct the search device 6 to switch the display device 23 to the control unit 20 again (s61), construct and transmit the guidance screen of FIG. 9B (s62). If the reply to the guide screen is a main program screening request (s63), the process jumps to s26. When the reply of the search result abandonment is returned, the search processing ends. The operations of the search device 6 corresponding to the operations of the server device described above are all s10 and s11.
Done in

As described above, when the preview is designated by the search device, if there is video data of the trailer, it is reproduced, and if not, a part of the main video is reproduced. In this case, if the main part is being screened at some booth, it is diverted and copied to the search device for previewing for a predetermined time, and if not being edited, a part of the main part is edited as a trailer and edited indicate. As a result, it is possible to determine whether or not the movie searched by the user is displayed by checking the movie.

Here, the screening apparatus 5 installed in each booth will be described with reference to FIG. Screening device 5
It has a CATV tuner 20, an analog AV circuit 21, a projector 22, and a speaker 23. The CATV tuner 20 includes a DVD deck 12 corresponding to the exhibition device 5 (booth 3) of the server device 2, a CATV transmission circuit 1
3 receives the UHF signal transmitted on a predetermined channel and demodulates the video signal. The analog AV circuit 21 amplifies the demodulated video signal and
And the speaker 23 is driven. Further, the screening device 5 also has a control unit 25 including a personal computer, a cable modem 26, and an input device 27, and can operate the search function of the search device 6.

The search device 6 of this embodiment is connected to the server device 2 to access the database and reproduce the preview video in the server device 2, but these are integrated. It can also be configured as a stand-alone device.

In the above embodiment, the transmission channel of each DVD deck 12-CARV transmission circuit 13 is fixedly associated with the reception channel of the exhibition device 5 of each booth. You may make an assignment each time a movie is shown. If this is applied for general use, CAT can be used for general cable TV systems.
A telephone line can be connected to the V tuner to provide an on-demand pay-per-view service.

[0033]

As described above, according to the present invention, the searched movie can be confirmed by video, so that the user can confirm the movie he wants to watch in a digital mini theater or the like, and then play the movie. Can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a digital mini theater system and a search device to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a server device of the digital mini theater system.

FIG. 3 is a view for explaining the configuration of various data stored in the server device.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a playback device of the digital mini theater system.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the search device.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the server device.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the server device.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a search screen of the search device.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a guidance screen of the search device.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a guidance screen of the search device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... distribution center, 2 ... server device, 3 ... booth, 4 ... C
ATV line, 5 playback device, 6 search device, 7 telephone line, 10 control unit, 11 DVD stocker, 12 D
VD deck, 13 CATV transmission circuit, 14 hard disk, 15 cable modem, 16 communication control unit, 2
0: control unit, 21: cable modem, 22: CATV tuner, 23: display device, 24: input device 30: CATV tuner, 31: analog AV circuit, 3
2 Projector, 33 Speaker, 35 Controller, 3
6 Cable modem 37 Input device

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A video data storage unit that stores video data of a plurality of movies, a search unit that searches the movies based on search conditions such as a title and a genre, and previews video data of the searched movies for a predetermined time. And a movie search device comprising: 2. The movie search device according to claim 1, wherein the video data storage means stores a movie trailer, and the previewing means reproduces the searched movie trailer. 3. The movie search device according to claim 1, wherein the video data storage means stores a main part of the movie, and the previewing means reproduces a part of the main part of the searched movie. 4. The video data storage means stores a main part or a trailer of a movie, and the previewing means reproduces the trailer when the trailer of the searched movie is stored, and searches the trailer. 2. The movie search device according to claim 1, wherein when a main part of the selected movie is stored, a part of the main part is reproduced. 5. A storage means for storing reproduction point designation data for designating a reproduction point of the main part, wherein the preview means reproduces a part of the retrieved main part of the movie specified by the reproduction point specification data. The movie search device according to claim 3 or 4.