JP2003050810A - Digest providing system for multimedia content reproducing device with communication function, digest providing server for multimedia content reproducing device with communication function, index preparation terminal, multimedia content reproducing device with communication function, digest providing method for multimedia content reproducing device with communication function, preference information registration method, program therefor and storage medium with the program stored - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digest providing system for a portable telephone set providing summarized multimedia contents, a digest providing server for the portable telephone set, an index preparation terminal, the portable telephone set, a digest providing method for the portable telephone set, a preference information registration method, the program and a storage medium storing the program. SOLUTION: To the multimedia contents acquired (10) by being photographed/sound- recorded, an index is added (20). Prescribed parts are extracted from the multimedia contents and the index, they are combined and a digest is prepared (30). The digest is provided (60) for the portable telephone set on a user side through a mobile object communication network or the Internet.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a digest providing system for mobile phones, a digest providing server for mobile phones, an index creating terminal, a mobile phone, a digest providing method for mobile phones, a preference information registration method,
The present invention relates to the program and a storage medium storing the program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, various services have come to be provided using the Internet or the like. For example,
There are many sites on the network that provide multimedia data such as video and audio.

These sites download files created in a predetermined format to the user using a protocol such as FTP (File Transfer Protocol), and the files provided in this way are terminals on the user side. Played using the application built into.

With the improvement in the performance of mobile phones, sites that provide such services to mobile phones have begun to exist.

[0005]

However, generally, since multimedia content data such as video and audio is large, there is a problem that it takes a lot of time and communication cost to download.

In the case of a mobile phone,
Due to the problem of terminal performance, there is some limitation on the size of data of multimedia contents provided. Therefore, in order to include a lot of information in it, it is necessary to aggregate multimedia contents.

Further, since the multimedia contents provided in the above service are created based on the contents decided by the providing side, only the part requested by the user is not provided.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a digest providing system for mobile phones, a digest providing server for mobile phones, an index creating terminal, a mobile phone, and a mobile phone that provide integrated multimedia content. A digest providing method, a preference information registration method, a program therefor, and a storage medium storing the program are provided.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 extracts a predetermined scene from multimedia contents to which an index is added to create a digest, and the digest is networked. A digest providing system for a mobile phone which provides the mobile phone via an index creating means for creating the index, and the predetermined scene in the multimedia content to which the index is added, which is associated with the index. A scene extracting means for extracting based on a keyword; a digest creating means for creating a digest based on the one or more predetermined scenes extracted by the scene extracting means; and the digest created by the digest creating means. The network Is characterized by having a digest transmitting means for transmitting to said mobile telephone via.

As a result, in the invention described in claim 1, it is possible to provide the aggregated multimedia content to the mobile phone.

The invention according to claim 2 is a digest for a mobile phone, which extracts a predetermined scene from multimedia contents to which an index is added to create a digest and provides the digest to the mobile phone via a network. A providing server, a scene extracting means for extracting the predetermined scene in the multimedia content to which the index is added based on a keyword corresponding to the index, and one or more extracted by the scene extracting means A digest creating means for creating a digest based on the predetermined scene, and a digest sending means for sending the digest created by the digest creating means to the mobile phone via the network, There is.

Thus, according to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide the integrated multimedia content to the mobile phone.

Further, the invention according to claim 3 is characterized by further comprising keyword acquisition means for acquiring the keyword from the portable telephone via the network.

As a result, in the invention according to the third aspect, the multimedia contents to be provided can be integrated according to the taste of the user.

Furthermore, the invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that the scene extracting means extracts the predetermined scene when the digest request is made from the mobile phone.

Thus, according to the invention of claim 4, it is possible to provide the multimedia content aggregated based on the information registered in advance by the user, which saves the user the trouble of inputting the preference each time. It becomes possible to omit.

Further, in the invention according to a fifth aspect, the index includes a degree of importance of a part or all of the predetermined scene, and the digest creating means has a digest that is closest to a predetermined time length. To be a long time
It is characterized in that the digest is created by excluding parts of low importance in the one or more scenes.

As a result, in the invention described in claim 5, it becomes possible to further aggregate the multimedia contents while leaving necessary information, and the data amount of the aggregated multimedia contents to be provided becomes too large. It becomes possible to prevent it.

The invention according to claim 6 is an index creation terminal for creating an index to be added to a scene in multimedia content, wherein index candidate holding means for holding index candidates and the multimedia content are reproduced. Playback means, index candidate display means for reading the index candidates from the index candidate holding means and displaying them as a list, and index candidates selected from the index candidate list displayed on the index candidate display means. And an index creating unit for creating an index to be added to the scene including the part being reproduced by the reproducing unit.

Thus, in the invention according to claim 6, it is possible to easily and accurately add an index to the multimedia content, and since the index to be added is limited, the multimedia content can be accurately aggregated. It becomes possible to do.

Further, the invention according to claim 7 is provided with a reproduction position display means for displaying the position reproduced by the reproduction means on an axis for displaying the time length of the multimedia content, and an index. A scene distribution display means for displaying a scene based on the axis and an additional index display means for displaying an index added to the scene including the portion being reproduced, It is characterized in that the portion being reproduced is changed based on the above.

Thus, in the invention according to the seventh aspect, it becomes possible to add the index to the multimedia content more easily and accurately, and it is possible to correct the added index easily and accurately.

Further, the invention according to claim 8 is characterized by further comprising importance adding means for including in the index the importance for a part or all of a scene including a portion being reproduced by the reproducing means.

Thus, according to the invention described in claim 8, it is possible to further aggregate the multimedia contents while leaving necessary information, and it is possible to provide an excessively large amount of data of the aggregated multimedia contents to be provided. It is possible to prevent it.

The invention according to claim 9 is a mobile phone for downloading the digest from a digest providing system for creating a digest by extracting a scene from a multimedia content to which an index is added based on a predetermined keyword. A preference information transmitting unit that transmits the predetermined keyword as preference information to the digest providing system, a digest acquisition unit that downloads a digest created based on the preference information, and a digest reproducing unit that reproduces the digest. Is characterized by having.

As a result, in the invention described in claim 9, it becomes possible to provide a mobile phone for utilizing the multimedia contents aggregated based on the preference information.

Further, the invention according to claim 10 is a mobile phone for transmitting preference information to a digest providing system for a mobile phone for extracting a predetermined scene from multimedia contents to which an index is added to create a digest. A keyword list acquisition unit that acquires a list of keywords included in the preference information from the digest providing system, a keyword list display unit that displays a list of the keywords acquired by the keyword list acquisition unit, and the displayed keywords The preference information transmitting means for transmitting the keyword selected from the list as the preference information to the digest providing system.

As a result, according to the invention of claim 10,
It is possible to set accurate preference information via the mobile phone.

Further, in the invention according to claim 11, the keywords are classified according to genres for classifying the multimedia contents, and the keyword list acquiring means is
It is characterized in that the genre designation is transmitted to the digest providing system, and a list of keywords corresponding to the designated genre is acquired.

As a result, according to the invention of claim 11,
The preference information can be set based on the keywords classified into genres, and the preference information can be set more accurately and easily.

The invention according to claim 12 is a digest for a mobile phone, which extracts a predetermined scene from multimedia contents to which an index is added to create a digest, and distributes the digest to the mobile phone via a network. A method for providing a digest for a mobile phone in a providing system, comprising: a scene extraction step of extracting the predetermined scene in the multimedia content based on a keyword corresponding to the index; and one extracted in the scene extraction step. It is characterized by comprising a digest creating step of creating a digest based on the above-mentioned predetermined scene and a digest sending step of sending the digest created in the digest creating step to a mobile phone.

As a result, according to the invention of claim 12,
It is possible to provide the aggregated multimedia content to the mobile phone.

Further, the invention according to claim 13 is characterized by comprising a keyword acquisition step of acquiring the keyword from the portable telephone.

As a result, according to the invention of claim 13,
It is possible to aggregate the provided multimedia contents according to the taste of the user.

Further, in the invention according to claim 14, the index includes the degree of importance for part or all of the predetermined scene, and in the digest creating step, the created digest is closest to a predetermined time length. It is characterized in that the digest is created by excluding parts of low importance in the one or more scenes so that the time becomes longer.

As a result, according to the invention of claim 14,
It is possible to further aggregate multimedia contents while leaving necessary information, and it is possible to prevent the amount of data of aggregated multimedia contents to be provided from becoming too large.

Further, the invention according to claim 15 is such that the preference information in the mobile telephone for transmitting the preference information to the digest providing system for the mobile telephone which extracts a predetermined scene from the multimedia content to which the index is added to create the digest. A registration method, a keyword list acquisition step of acquiring a list of keywords included in the preference information from the digest providing system, and a keyword list display step of displaying a list of the keywords acquired in the keyword list acquisition step. And a preference information transmitting step of transmitting a keyword selected from the displayed list of keywords to the digest providing system as preference information.

As a result, according to the invention of claim 15,
It is possible to set accurate preference information via the mobile phone.

Further, in the invention according to claim 16, the keywords are classified according to genres for classifying the multimedia contents, and the keyword list obtaining step includes:
It is characterized in that the genre designation is transmitted to the digest providing system, and a list of keywords corresponding to the designated genre is acquired.

As a result, according to the invention of claim 16,
The preference information can be set based on the keywords classified into genres, and the preference information can be set more accurately and easily.

Further, the invention according to claim 17 creates a digest by extracting a predetermined scene from the multimedia content to which the index is added, and makes a computer which provides the digest to a mobile phone via a network. And a scene extraction process for extracting a predetermined scene in the multimedia content to which the index is added based on a keyword corresponding to the index, and one or more scene extraction processes extracted by the scene extraction process. The computer is caused to execute a digest creating process for creating a digest based on the predetermined scene, and a digest sending process for sending the digest created by the digest creating process to the mobile phone via the network.

As a result, according to the invention of claim 17,
The computer can be made to function to provide the aggregated multimedia content to the mobile phone.

Further, the invention according to claim 18 causes the computer to execute a keyword acquiring process for acquiring the keyword from the portable telephone via the network.

As a result, according to the invention of claim 18,
It is possible to operate the computer so that the provided multimedia contents are aggregated according to the taste of the user.

Further, the invention according to claim 19 is characterized in that the scene extracting process extracts the predetermined scene when the digest request is made from the portable telephone.

As a result, according to the invention of claim 19,
The computer can be made to function so as to provide the multimedia content aggregated based on the information registered in advance by the user, and the user can save the time and effort of inputting the preference each time.

Further, in the invention according to claim 20, the index includes the importance of a part or all of the predetermined scene, and in the digest creating process, the created digest is closest to a predetermined time length. It is characterized in that the digest is created by excluding parts of low importance in the one or more scenes so that the time becomes longer.

Accordingly, in the invention of claim 20,
It becomes possible to operate the computer so as to aggregate more multimedia content while leaving necessary information, and it is possible to prevent the amount of data of the aggregated multimedia content to be provided from becoming too large.

[0049] The invention according to claim 21 is a program for causing a computer to create an index to be added to a scene in multimedia content, comprising a reproduction process for reproducing the multimedia content and an index candidate. Based on the index candidates selected from the index candidate display process of reading the index candidates from a predetermined database holding, displaying as a list and the index candidate display process displayed by the index candidate display process, The computer is caused to execute an index creating process for creating an index to be added to a scene including a portion being reproduced by the reproducing process.

As a result, according to the invention of claim 21,
It is possible to operate the computer so that it is possible to add indexes to multimedia contents easily and accurately, and because the indexes to be added are limited, it is possible to aggregate multimedia contents accurately. Becomes

Further, the invention according to claim 22 is provided with a reproduction position display process for displaying a position being reproduced in the reproduction process on an axis for displaying the time length of the multimedia content, and an index is added. Based on the scene distribution display processing for displaying the scene based on the axis, the additional index display processing for displaying the index added to the scene including the portion being reproduced, and the reproduction portion display processing, The computer is caused to execute a reproduction part changing process for changing a part being reproduced.

Accordingly, in the invention of claim 22,
It becomes possible to make a computer function so as to add an index to multimedia content more easily and accurately, and to make a computer function so that an added index can be easily and accurately modified. It becomes possible.

Further, the invention according to claim 23 causes the computer to execute the importance addition processing for including in the index the importance for part or all of the scene including the portion reproduced by the reproduction processing.

As a result, in the invention of claim 23,
It is possible to operate the computer so that multimedia contents can be aggregated more while leaving necessary information, and it is possible to prevent the amount of data of the aggregated multimedia contents to be provided from becoming too large. It will be possible.

Further, the invention according to claim 24 makes a computer function which extracts a predetermined scene from multimedia contents to which an index is added to create a digest and provides the digest to a mobile phone via a network. And a scene extraction process for extracting a predetermined scene in the multimedia content to which the index is added based on a keyword corresponding to the index, and one or more scene extraction processes extracted by the scene extraction process. A process for causing the computer to execute a digest creating process for creating a digest based on the predetermined scene and a digest sending process for sending the digest created by the digest creating process to the mobile phone via the network. Gram, or, the keyword,
A program that causes the computer to execute a keyword acquisition process that is acquired from the mobile phone via the network, or the scene extraction process extracts the predetermined scene when the mobile phone requests the digest. The program characterized in that, or, the index includes a degree of importance of a part or all of the predetermined scene, the digest creating process, the created digest is a time length closest to a predetermined time length and As described above, a program characterized by creating the digest by excluding the less important parts in the one or more scenes, or a computer creating an index to be added to the scene in the multimedia content A program for A playback process for playing media content, an index candidate display process for reading the index candidates from a predetermined database holding index candidates and displaying them as a list, and an index candidate display process performed by the index candidate display process. A program for causing the computer to execute an index creating process for creating an index to be added to a scene including a part being reproduced by the reproducing process based on an index candidate selected from a list, or the reproducing process. A playback location display process for displaying a location being played back on an axis displaying the time length of the multimedia content; a scene distribution display processing for displaying an indexed scene based on the axis; Including the part being played A program for causing the computer to execute an additional index display process for displaying an index added to a scene and a reproduction part changing process for changing the part being reproduced on the basis of the reproduction part display process, or A storage medium stores a program that causes the computer to execute importance addition processing that includes, in the index, the importance of part or all of the scene including the part being reproduced by the reproduction processing.

As a result, according to the invention of claim 20,
Operating a computer to provide aggregated multimedia content, or operating a computer to aggregate provided multimedia content according to the user's taste, or based on information registered in advance by the user By making the computer function to provide the multimedia content that has been aggregated by the user, it is possible to save the user the trouble of inputting the preference each time downloading, or to aggregate the multimedia content while leaving necessary information. By operating the computer, it is possible to prevent the amount of data of the aggregated multimedia content to be provided from becoming too large, or to enable the computer to easily and accurately add an index to the multimedia content. Make it work, In addition, since the indexes to be added are limited, the computer is made to function so that the multimedia contents can be accurately aggregated, or the indexes can be added to the multimedia contents more easily and accurately, and The computer can be operated so that the added index can be easily and accurately modified.

[0057]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION [Characteristics of the Present Invention] In describing preferred embodiments of the present invention, the characteristics of the present invention will be touched first.

According to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, metadata (also referred to as meta content) is used as an index for multimedia contents (video / audio data) obtained (10) by shooting / recording. Add (20). A predetermined part is extracted from the multimedia contents and index created in this way by referring to the index, and this is combined to create a new multimedia content (hereinafter referred to as digest) (30). . Also, the created digest is provided (60) to the user's mobile phone via the communication network (Internet or mobile communication network).

Even if the digest is created on the basis of a keyword or the like prepared in advance by the provider of the digest, the keyword or the like designated by the user (hereinafter, referred to as
It may be created based on preference information). Also,
The multimedia content targeted when creating the digest may be a single content or a plurality of content.

Each embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

First Embodiment First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However,
In the present embodiment, a case will be described in which a digest is created and provided based on preference information registered by a user.

(Structure of the First Embodiment) FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the digest providing system according to the present embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 2, the digest providing system according to the present embodiment has a program production station 100 for producing multimedia contents, and an index production station 200 for producing indexes for the multimedia contents produced by the program production station 100. And indexed multimedia content and user 400
Composed of a digest providing station 300 that creates a digest based on the preference information registered from the user and provides the digest via a communication network (Internet or mobile communication network) 1, and a user 400 who uses and views the digest. Has been done.

Program Production Station 100 In this configuration, the program production station 100 produces multimedia contents such as video and audio by using a camera, a microphone 101 and the like. However, it is assumed that the produced multimedia contents include a time code indicating time information of each frame or scene.

Further, the produced multimedia contents are subjected to a predetermined compression method (MEP) in the encoder 102 composed of a computer or the like in the program production station 100.
In addition to being encoded by G2, MPEG4, etc., it is transmitted to the index production station 200.

Also, the multimedia contents coded by the encoder 102 are stored in the multimedia contents database 311 in the digest providing station 300 via a predetermined network. The network is not particularly limited, and any network, whether wired or wireless, can be applied without departing from the spirit of the present embodiment.

Index Production Station 200 In the index production station 200, an index for the multimedia content received from the program production station 100 is created in the index production terminal 200 composed of a computer or the like. The index in this description is added to the multimedia content by using, for example, MPEG7 (formal name “description interface of multimedia content”). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and as long as it is possible to extract an arbitrary time point or a data area in multimedia content based on predetermined information such as metadata (keyword), the gist of the present invention is achieved. Various modifications can be made without departing from the above.

The index created in this way is transmitted to the digest providing station 300 via a predetermined network, like the multimedia contents.
It is stored in the multimedia content data 311.

Digest providing station 300 At the digest providing station 300, a digest for each user is created based on the preference information for each user registered by the user 400, and the digest is created in the mobile phone 401 of the user 400 via the communication network 1. Provided.

To this end, the digest providing station 300 has a multimedia content database 311 for storing multimedia contents, and a user 40.
A user-specific preference information database 312 for storing preference information input from 0 is provided. In addition to this, a keyword database 3 that stores information such as keywords and genres used when creating indexes
13 may also be configured.

Further, the digest providing station 400 is provided with a digest creating server 301 and a digest distribution server 302 connected to each database.

Digest creating server 301 The digest creating server 301 includes the multimedia contents stored in the multimedia contents database 311, the corresponding indexes, and the users stored in the user preference information database 312. It is a server that creates a digest for each user based on the preference information of. In the present embodiment, the operation of creating a digest by the digest creating server 301 is performed by the user 400 by the digest distribution server 302.
A description will be given of a case in which it is configured to be executed when a digest delivery request is made to. However, in the present embodiment, the digest distribution request from the user 400 is
Since the digest delivery server 302 receives the digest, the digest is created by the digest delivery server 3.
02 is configured to request the digest creation server 301.

The digest creating server 301 according to this embodiment may be composed of a single computer or plural computers.

Further, the digest creating server 301
Digest distribution server 302 to the created digest
Output to. At this time, the information for specifying the target user (for example, the user ID, etc.) also includes the digest distribution server 3
Output to 02.

Digest distribution server 302 The digest distribution server 302 communicates the digest received from the digest creation server 301 to the mobile phone 401 that has requested the digest (eg, the Internet or a mobile communication network).
Deliver via 1.

Further, the digest distribution server 302 is
The preference information received from the user 400 via the network is stored in the user-specific preference information database 312 for each user.
Store to.

Further, the communication line connecting each server and each database on the digest providing side 300 may be a LAN using Ethernet (registered trademark), a wireless line or the like, or a dedicated line using a serial line or the like.

Further, the network connecting the digest providing station 300 and the user 400 in this embodiment is configured to correspond to the mobile phone 401 of the user 400. Therefore, the Internet or mobile communication network can be applied as this network. Further, if the mobile phone 401 is a portable phone such as a handheld mobile phone (PHS) that is capable of reproducing multimedia contents, a network suitable for this is applied.

Further, in this embodiment, the digest distribution server 302 may be composed of a single computer or the like, or may be composed of a plurality of computers or the like. Furthermore, the digest creation server 301 and the digest distribution server 302 may be realized by using different computers (one or more) or the same computer.

Next, an example of the data structure of each of the databases listed above will be described. However, the database according to this embodiment may be configured in a normal file format or a relational database.

.. multimedia content database 311 FIG. 3 shows the data structure of the multimedia content database 311 according to the present embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 3, the multimedia content database 311 stores the multimedia content received from the program production station 100 and the index created by the index production station 200 corresponding to the multimedia content in the same record. ing. These correspond to the time axis of each frame or scene by the time code.

User-Specific Preference Information Database 312 Next, FIG. 4 shows the data structure of the user-specific preference information database 312 according to the present embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 4, the user-specific preference information database 312 includes user IDs and passwords assigned to uniquely identify each user, and each user's name (name) or address (whereabouts). User information including information such as e-mail addresses and contract contents of individual users and preference information input by the user 400 are stored in the same record. Here, the user ID may be a telephone number assigned to the mobile phone 401, for example. If the user ID is a telephone number, the password item may be deleted.

In addition to this, information on how many digests each user has downloaded for a predetermined period or from user registration to the present time (counter information) and information on charging to the user (charging information) are also stored. It may be configured as follows.

.. keyword database 313 Next, the keyword database 313 according to the present embodiment.
The data structure of is shown in FIG. The keyword database 313 has a configuration used to limit words (keywords) used when creating an index or registering preference information. However, the present invention does not necessarily have to limit the keywords used for the index and the preference information. In this description, when index creation or preference information registration, keyword candidates are given as options, and each is created based on this, so that index and preference information can be created more quickly and accurately, and efficiently. In order to make it possible to create a digest, a configuration using the keyword database 313 will be described as an example.

Referring to FIG. 5, the keyword database 313 stores items of genre, category, and keyword in the same record.

Here, the genre is a genre to which the contents of the target multimedia content belong, and is a multi-genre such as "professional baseball", "professional soccer", "news", "kayokyoku", "movie", etc. It classifies the contents of media content. This genre is determined by the digest providing station 300 or the index production station 200.

The keyword is metadata added to the multimedia content as an index. For example, if the keyword belongs to the genre of "professional baseball", it may be the name of a team, the name of a player, or "home run". These are names and terms used in the genre, such as ",""hit,""struckout," and "theft. This keyword is also determined by the digest providing station 300 or the index production station 200.

Further, the classification is a classification for easily selecting the above keywords. For example, for a team name, a category of "designated team" is given, and for a set of player names, a category of "designated player" is given.
In this way, by assigning a category to each keyword,
It is possible to easily narrow down the keyword list by the user 400 or the operator of the index production station 200 and easily set the target keyword.

Further, each database according to the present embodiment stores the above items, so that the digest creating server 301 creates a digest for each user,
It becomes possible for the digest distribution server 302 to transmit this to the mobile phone 401 of the target user 400. Further, each of the databases listed above is only an example for realizing the present embodiment, and various modifications can be implemented as long as they store information required in the present embodiment.

User 400 Further, in the present embodiment, a mobile phone 401 capable of reproducing multimedia contents is exemplified as a terminal provided for the user 400 for browsing and reproducing digests.

This mobile telephone 401 is, for example, JAVA.
The applet created by the (registered trademark) program is configured to be executable, and a mobile phone or the like provided by each maker in recent years is applied.

However, the present invention is not limited to this, and as long as it does not deviate from the gist of the present invention, any one can be applied as long as it has a function of playing multimedia contents and connecting to a network. Is.

Relationship between multimedia content, index, and digest Next, it is created based on the multimedia content in the present embodiment, the index created for it, and the multimedia content, the index, and the preference information. The relationship between the digest and the digest will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 6A is a diagram showing indexes added to multimedia contents, and FIG. 6B is a diagram showing multimedia contents. Each of these has a horizontal direction as a time axis.

The index according to the present embodiment is for dividing the multimedia content produced by the program production station 100 in the time axis direction. The divided multimedia content is referred to as a content clip in the following description.

In order to realize such division, “IN” information is added to the head of the content clip and “OUT” information is added to the tail of the index according to the present embodiment. This can be realized by using, for example, MPEG-7 (description interface of multimedia content).

In the present embodiment, of the content clips created by dividing as described above, the content clips corresponding to the preference information registered by the user 400 are extracted, these are combined, and the ( Create a digest as shown in c).

As described above, the process of creating a digest using the index and multimedia content stored in the multimedia content database 311, and the preference information stored in the user-specific preference information database 312 is performed by the digest creation. Server 30
1 is executed.

Index Production Support Next, an example of the index production terminal 201 having a function of supporting index production will be described. This function is to create an index quickly and accurately.

.. Index production support function block FIG. 7 shows the index production terminal 201 according to the present embodiment.
3 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of FIG.

With reference to FIG. 7, the index production terminal 201 according to the present embodiment receives the multimedia content (including the time code) received from the program production station 100.
Content storage means 211 for temporarily storing the content, content reproduction means 212 for converting the multimedia content stored in the content storage means 211 into a reproduction signal according to a time code, and a display for reproducing video / audio based on the reproduction signal. And means 216. With this configuration, the multimedia content received from the program production station 100 is displayed on the display or the like of the index production terminal 201. Further, the content reproduction means 212 executes processing such as reproduction, stop, pause, rewind, fast forward, etc. of multimedia content according to the instruction input from the input means 215.

The keyword database 214 (31) is provided outside or inside the index production terminal 201.
3) is provided. This keyword database 2
14 (313) has the same data structure as the keyword database 313 in the digest providing station 300. Therefore, the index production station 200 may be separately provided or the digest provision station 300 may be used. However, in the latter case, the index production terminal 201 may access the keyword database 313 provided on the digest providing station 300 side as required by a predetermined network (Internet, public line, dedicated line, etc.).
Access via.

Further, the keyword specifying means 213 first specifies the candidate of the corresponding section from the keyword candidate database 214 based on the designation of the genre input by the operator via the input means 215. Further, the candidates of the identified section are displayed on the display unit 216 as a list. However, the categories listed in this list are GU
It may be configured so that it also functions as an option by the input unit 215 configured by I.

Further, based on the display on the display means 216, when the selection of the section is input from the input means 215,
The input selection information is the keyword specifying means 213.
The keyword candidates corresponding to the selected category are specified by the keyword database 214 (313). The keyword specifying unit 213 also displays the specified keyword candidates on the display unit 216 as a list. However, the keywords in this list are G
It may be configured so that it also functions as an option by the input unit 215 configured by a UI.

Further, from the input means 215, selection of a keyword to be added to the multimedia content or "IN".
An instruction to add information or “OUT” information is input. The input selection information and instruction information are output to the index creating means 217.

The index creating means 217 is currently
The position on the time axis of the video or audio being reproduced / displayed on the display unit 216 (how many hours, minutes, and seconds from the beginning of the multimedia content: this is hereinafter referred to as scene information) is always or It is input from the content reproduction means 212 as needed.

Therefore, the index creating means 217
Selection information or instruction information input from the input unit 215,
Based on the scene information input from the content reproduction means 212, an index including "IN" information, "OUT" information, a keyword, etc. is added to the corresponding portion in the multimedia content. The index created in this way is temporarily stored in the index storage unit 218, then transmitted to the digest providing station 300, and stored in the multimedia content database 311.

Here, the input means 215 is assumed to be composed of a GUI (graphical user interface). Further, when the keyword database 214 (313) is configured on the digest providing station 300 side, the index production terminal 201 collectively reads out the category corresponding to the genre designated at the time of index production and the keyword corresponding to this category, Either store this in a storage device such as a hard disk that is connected to itself internally or via a serial line or a dedicated line such as IEEE 1394, or R
It may be configured to be cached in AM or the like.

.. Index production support screen Also, in the present embodiment, the index production terminal 201
8 shows an example of a screen (index production support screen) displayed on the display means 216 of FIG.

Referring to FIG. 8, the index production support screen exemplified in this embodiment is configured to include a content display area, a keyword display area, and an additional keyword display area for each hour.

In the above structure, the content display area is an area for displaying and reproducing multimedia content. Further, the keyword display area displays the section specified from the keyword candidate database 214 (313), and when any one of the sections is selected, the keywords classified into this section are displayed as a list. Area. Further, when the keyword is displayed, it is preferable to provide a button (“display of category”) for returning to the display of category.

The additional keyword display area for each hour is
This is an area showing the position on the time axis of the scene currently displayed / reproduced with respect to the target multimedia content. In addition to this, an area indicating how the multimedia content is divided, a scene currently being displayed / played, or which part of the multimedia content is associated with which keyword. It is advisable to provide an area or the like that indicates whether or not is added.

On this index production support screen,
When "IN" is selected by clicking, etc., the input means 21
This information is input to the index creating means 217 from No. 5. In the index creating means 217, the scene information input from the content reproducing means 212 and the input "I" are input.
An index indicating "IN" is generated for a given scene based on the N "information.

When a keyword in the keyword display area is clicked, the selected keyword is input to the index creating means 217, and this keyword is added to the scenes after the "IN" information is added. However, a plurality of keywords may be added.

After that, when "OUT" is selected by clicking on the index production support screen, this information is input to the index creating means 217 from the input means 215. The index creating means 217 creates an index indicating "OUT" for a predetermined scene based on the scene information input from the content reproducing means 212 and the input "OUT" information.

By operating in this way, an index that associates the selected keyword with the area selected by the operator in 2 "IN" and "OUT" is created.

The area selected by "IN" and "OUT" can be changed in the hourly additional keyword display area (this is realized by the bar graph in FIG. 8). . This may be realized by moving the boundaries of each area (displayed by lines) in the time axis direction with a mouse or the like. Here, the information regarding the position on the time axis of the movement destination of the boundary line is configured to be determined by the content reproducing unit 212 based on the information input from the input unit 215. In addition, the determination result is input to the index reproducing means 217 and the input means 21.
From 5, information regarding the target boundary line is input. The index creating unit 217 changes the index regarding the boundary based on the information thus input.

Further, it is preferable that the keyword can be added to the area delimited by the "IN" information and the "OUT" information.

[Preference Information Registration Support] Next, in the present embodiment, a configuration for supporting the registration of the preference information in the digest providing station 300 by the user 400 will be described below.

This configuration is realized by transmitting a predetermined input screen (preference information registration support screen) from the digest providing station 300 to the mobile phone 401 of the user 400. FIG. 9 shows an example of the preference information registration support screen according to this embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 9, in the present embodiment, first, a screen for selecting a genre ((a) in FIG. 9) is provided to the mobile phone 401 as a first preference information registration support screen. This may be configured to be provided from the digest distribution server 302 in FIG. 2, for example. Further, when any genre is selected by the user on this screen, this selection information is transmitted to the digest distribution server 302.

As a method for supporting the subsequent preference information registration, two methods will be exemplified in this description.

.. Providing Keyword Options First, as a first example, the digest providing station 30
The keyword registered in the keyword database 313 of 0 is provided as an option.
This is a method of causing 0 to select a desired keyword. Hereinafter, this method will be described with reference to FIGS. However, it is assumed that the keywords are classified into each category.

In this method, when the user 400 selects a desired genre from the screen of FIG. 9A, the category stored in association with this genre is specified from the keyword database 313 shown in FIG. The mobile phone 4 displays a list screen ((b) of FIG. 9) with this category as an option.
Send to 01.

When any one of the categories is selected on the mobile phone 401, this selection information is transmitted to the digest distribution server 302. Digest distribution server 302
When the category selection information is notified, next, the keyword database 313 stores the keywords stored in association with the selected category (combination of genre and category).
Then, the list screen ((c) of FIG. 9) in which this keyword is selected as an option is transmitted to the mobile phone 401.

Therefore, the user 400 selects a desired keyword on the screen shown in FIG. 9C and registers it as user preference information in the user preference information database 312 in the digest providing station 300. However, when registering a plurality of keywords, the user 400 selects the “add” button on the screen shown in FIG. 9C,
Send this. The digest distribution server 302 that has received the selection information of this button transmits the screen of FIG. 9B again, and thereafter executes the same operation as above.

The user who has selected all the keywords selects the "completion" button in FIG. 9 and sends it. The digest distribution server 302 that has received the selection information of this button sets the user ID in the user-specific preference information database 312 or the user ID in the preference information database 312 using the genre and the keyword selected in the series of flow from FIG. Register in the same record as other information.

.. Word Input Next, a second example is a method of causing the user 400 to input a word to be used as a keyword. In this case, since the word input by the user 400 may not be used as a keyword as it is, in the digest providing station 300, a keyword corresponding to or similar to the input word (the keyword database 313 ′ of the digest providing station 300 in advance is stored in the keyword database 313 ′). (Registered) is searched from the keyword database 313 ′, and if there is a corresponding one, it is necessary to allow the registration as preference information. The method will be described below with reference to FIGS. 9 (e), 9 (f) and 9 (d). Here, the keyword database 313 'in this description is as shown in FIG.
In the data structure shown in (1), the classification item (attribute) may be deleted.

In this method, when the user 400 selects a desired genre from the screen shown in FIG. 9A, the digest distribution server 302 then transmits the screen shown in FIG. 9E to the mobile phone 401. To do.

The user 400 inputs a desired word on the screen shown in (e) of FIG. 9 displayed on the mobile phone 401 and selects the “confirm” button to input the input word to the digest distribution server 302. Send to.

The digest distribution server 302 searches the keyword database 313 based on the selection of the genre and the word received above, and confirms whether or not the corresponding keyword exists. Here, the digest distribution server 302 may be configured to perform a search that identifies even similar words.

The keywords specified by such a search are transmitted to the mobile phone 401 as a list as shown in (f) of FIG. This list also serves as an option. Therefore, the user 400 is
In the screen shown in (f), when the desired keyword is present, the "add" button or the "complete" button is selected. That is, to add more keywords, select the "Add" button to return to the screen in (e) of FIG. 9. If all keywords have been selected, select the "Complete" button and send. The selected preference information (information on the selected genre and keyword) is confirmed ((d) of FIG. 9). If the desired keyword does not exist in the list, the user 400 "corrects" in (f) of FIG.
Select the button and enter the word again. However,
It is assumed that the word when “correction” is selected is canceled in the digest distribution server 302.

By such a method, the preference information for each user 400 is registered in the user-specific preference information database 312.

(Operation of First Embodiment) Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

The operation of this embodiment is made up of the following steps. (1) Multimedia content production process (2) Index production process (3) Preference information registration process (4) Digest production (distribution) process ・ (1) Multimedia content production process First, in the multimedia content production process, index production The multimedia content is created in the station 100 and is transmitted to the index production station 200 and the digest providing station 300 via a predetermined network (Internet, public line, wireless line, etc.).

Here, the multimedia content can be transmitted to the index production station 200 not only by transmitting it as a file but also by using, for example, analog broadcasting or digital broadcasting.

[0139] Further, the transmission of multimedia contents to the digest providing station 300 is performed by MPEG2 or MPEG.
It is also possible to arrange to transmit the coded data according to No. 4 or other technology.

When transmitting the multimedia content, the time code required for reproducing the content is also transmitted. This may be configured to be multiplexed with multimedia content and transmitted by time division or week number division or code division.

(2) Index Production Step The index production station 200 that has received the multimedia content transmitted as described above produces an index for this multimedia content. This can use a technique such as MPEG7 as described above.

The operation when creating the index is mentioned in the above description of FIG.
The description is omitted here.

(3) Preference Information Registration Step Next, the user 400 digests the preference information into the digest providing station 3
The operation at the time of registering 00 will be described below.

The flow of this operation is shown in the sequence of FIG. In FIG. 10, when the mobile phone 401 and the digest distribution server 302 establish a line, the mobile phone 4
01 first requests its user registration from the digest distribution server 302 (Y1 → D1). this is,
This is realized by the mobile phone 401 accessing a predetermined site (page or the like) provided from the digest distribution server 302 and inputting / selecting an instruction requesting registration.

Upon receiving the user registration request, the digest distribution server 302 first requests user information from the mobile phone 401 (D2 → Y2). The information requested here includes user information such as the name (name) and address (whereabouts) of the user 400, e-mail address, and what kind of contract content, and the designation of the user ID and password used for authentication. is there. However, the user ID may be the telephone number of the mobile phone 401. Also,
The password may be omitted and configured.

The request for the user information is realized by transmitting a predetermined page or the like to the mobile phone 401 and requesting it to input a predetermined item. Further, the user 400 transmits the user information input on the predetermined page to the digest distribution server 302 (Y3 → D).
3).

As described above, the digest distribution server 302 that has received the user information confirms the user information (D4), creates a new record in the user preference information database 312, and registers this user information ( D
5).

After that, the digest distribution server 302
Transmits various items (contract details, etc.) for the contract designation included in the user information to the mobile phone 401 (D6 → Y).
4) Have the user 400 confirm the contract content.

When the contract content is confirmed by the user 400 (Y5), the mobile phone 401 transmits the confirmation (confirmation notification) to the digest distribution server 302 (Y6 → D7).

[0150] The digest distribution server 302 that has received this confirmation notification then transmits a preference information registration screen (Fig. 9) to the mobile phone 401 (D8 → Y7). On the other hand, the user 400 inputs genre designation, category selection, keyword selection, etc. (preference information) based on the preference information registration screen displayed on the mobile phone 401 (Y8),
This is transmitted to the digest distribution server 302 (Y9
→ D9).

The digest distribution server 302 that has received the preference information in this way changes the received preference information to the above-mentioned D5.
It is stored as an item of preference information in the record created in (D10). As a result, the preference information received from the user 400 is registered in the digest providing station 300.
Managed.

(4) Digest Creation (Distribution) Step Next, the operation of creating a digest according to a request from the user 400 and distributing it will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 11 is a sequence showing this operation. However, this operation is executed when the distribution of the digest is requested from the mobile phone 401 to the digest distribution server 302.

Referring to FIG. 11, in this operation, first, the portable telephone 401 and the digest distribution server 302
And establish the line. After that, the mobile phone 401 requests a digest from the digest distribution server 311 (Y11 → D11). At this time, the mobile phone 401
Will send a password if required. Also,
The user ID is the digest distribution server 3 when the line is established.
11 detects.

Upon receipt of the digest request, the digest distribution server 302 receives the requesting user 400.
(D12), and if the authentication is established, the mobile phone 401 is requested to specify the multimedia content (D13 → Y12). At this time, the digest distribution server 302 may be configured to specify the multimedia content based on the screen (multimedia content specification screen) illustrated in FIG.

The screen shown in FIG. 12 is created based on the preference information registered by the user 400. That is, when the digest distribution server 302 receives a digest request from the user 400, after establishing user authentication, the preference information is identified by referring to the user-specific preference information database 312, and based on this preference information, the From the media content database 311, the multimedia content and index matching the preference information are specified. Based on the identified multimedia contents and index, a screen considered to be optimal in each genre is created and provided to the mobile phone 401. However, the screen may be created by storing the specified multimedia content and index information at a predetermined position in the source document prepared for each genre in advance.

When the authentication of the user 400 cannot be established at D12, the digest distribution server 30
2 may notify the mobile phone 401 of this and disconnect the line or request authentication information (password) again.

After the user authentication is established, the user 400 who is requested to specify the multimedia content inputs a predetermined item (designation of the multimedia content) on the multimedia content specification screen, and the digest distribution server 302 To (Y13 → D14).

Upon receiving the designation of the multimedia content, the digest distribution server 302 transmits the designation of the multimedia content and the user ID (or preference information) to the digest creating server 301 (D15 → M).
11).

Upon receiving the designation of the multimedia content and the user ID (or the preference information), the digest creation server 301 specifies the preference information based on the user ID when the user ID is received, and also determines the multimedia content. The multimedia content and the index are specified based on the designation (M12). Then, a digest is created based on the identified multimedia content, index, and preference information (M1
3).

The digest creating server 301 uses the digest created by the digest distribution server 3
02 (M14 → D16), and the digest delivery server 302 transmits it to the mobile phone 401 (D17 →
Y14).

After that, the line between the mobile phone 401 and the digest distribution server 302 is disconnected, and the mobile phone 401
The digest received at is reproduced (Y1
5).

The operation of the mobile phone 401 or each server in this embodiment described above can be realized by using a program for executing each processing. This program is used inside each device or serial line or I
It is stored in a storage device such as a hard disk connected through a line such as EEE1394, and if necessary, CP
It shall be read out and executed by U or the like.

The program that causes the index production terminal 201 and each server to function in this embodiment is C
The computer may be configured to be able to function as the above-mentioned terminal or server by storing it in a removable storage medium such as a D-R or FD and incorporating it in an arbitrary computer.

Further, in this embodiment, in order to reduce the processing amount required for the digest creating server 301 at the time of creating the digest, it is preferable to cache the created digest in a memory or the like for a predetermined period.

(Billing in the First Embodiment) Further, the digest providing station 300 charges the user who uses the service for delivering the digest according to the present embodiment (hereinafter referred to as the preference digest delivery service). It is also possible to configure.

As the charging method, there are days, weeks, months, years,
Alternatively, for example, in sports or the like, it may be configured such that a uniform fee is charged in units of a period in which a league match or the like is held, so that a predetermined amount is charged for one use (digest download). It is also possible to configure.

When the digest providing station 300 uses multimedia content such as a program provided by the program producing station 100, or when using the index provided by the index producing station 200, the program producing station 1
00 or index production station 200 is configured to pay a predetermined amount. However, the digest production station 200
This does not apply when the program production station 100 is included in the same company as the digest providing station 300.

In addition to the above, by incorporating an advertisement in the digest, it is possible to reduce the charge for the user 400 or make it free. This is a method to display the advertisement at the same time when the digest is played, such as a banner advertisement, or a method to reduce or free the fee of the user registered as the target of the advertisement by e-mail such as direct mail advertisement. Can be considered. However, from the side (advertiser) who provides these advertisements, the digest providing station 300
Is paid a predetermined advertising agency fee.

In addition, in the method of registering as an object of advertisement by e-mail, not only the fee of the registered user is reduced or free, but also when one e-mail advertisement is received,
A method of making one digest download free of charge is also conceivable. In this case, the advertiser may be configured to pay a predetermined advertisement agency fee to the digest providing station for each direct mail advertisement delivery, or may be configured to pay the predetermined advertisement fee in units of a predetermined period. It is also possible.

Second Embodiment Next, in the above-described first embodiment, the case where the digest created by the digest creating server 301 is configured to approach a predetermined time length will be described as a second embodiment. Will be described below.

To realize the above configuration, in this embodiment, "IN" information and "OU" in the index are used.
The content clip divided by the T "information is further divided into the importance levels in the scene.
FIG. 13 shows the relationship between the content clip and the index thus configured.

Referring to FIG. 13, in the index according to the present embodiment, the content clip divided by the "IN" information and the "OUT" information is further divided by importance. In this embodiment, A to D are exemplified as the importance levels,
A is the highest and D is the lowest.

The assignment of importance to such content clips is added at the index production terminal 201 in the index production station 200. Further, in order to support the addition of the degree of importance, the index production support screen displayed on the index production terminal 201 may be provided with an area for selecting and inputting the degree of importance in the screen shown in FIG. This is realized by displaying the degree of importance as an option by the input unit 215 configured by GUI or the like.

The digest creation server 301 is shown in FIG.
In M13, if the created digest is longer than a preset time length (hereinafter, referred to as desired time length), the content clip is not included in the less important part and the digest is operated. .

This will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 14. For example, there are five content clips 1 to 5 adapted to the preference information of the user 400, and the desired length of digest is shown in FIG. If the time length is about the same, the digest creation server 301 uses this content clip to calculate the time length for each importance level of the digest created for each importance level.

In the example shown in FIG. 14, for example, the time length of the digest created by including the data up to the importance D ((d) in FIG. 14) and the data up to the importance C (data of the importance D is The time length of a digest created by including (exclusion) ((c) in FIG. 14) and the time length of a digest created by including data up to importance B (data of importance D and C are excluded) ( The digest creation server 301 calculates (b) of FIG. 14) and the length of time of the digest created with data of only the importance A ((a) of FIG. 14), and determines the most desired time length among these. Create a digest by selecting the ones that are close in time. That is, in the example shown in FIG. 14, the digest is created including the data up to the importance B.

Since the first embodiment can be applied to the configuration other than the above, the description thereof will be omitted in this embodiment.

In the above description, the importance to be included is selected so as to be close to the desired time length, but it is also possible to select the importance so as to be equal to or shorter than the predetermined time length.

With the above configuration, in the present embodiment, it is possible to control the time length of the importance to be created, and the contents including the contents of high viewing value are included as the multimedia contents, and the data amount is It is possible to reduce the number as needed and provide it to the user.

[Third Embodiment] In the first embodiment, the preference information is registered in the digest providing station 300 in advance, but in the present embodiment, the user 4
A case where 00 is configured to input preference information when downloading a digest will be described as an example.

In the case of the present embodiment, the preference information item of the user-specific preference information database 312 in the first embodiment is deleted, and (3) the preference information registration step is performed as shown in FIG.
Only the operations of Y1 to Y6 and D1 to D7 of 0 are performed.
Also, D in the (4) digest creation (distribution) process
In the operation of 13 → Y12 and Y13 → D14, FIG.
The operations of Y7 to Y9 and D8 to D9 at 0 are also performed. Thereby, in the present embodiment, the preference information is input when the digest is downloaded. This makes it possible to provide a digest created in accordance with the current preference of the user 400.

[Fourth Embodiment] Further, in the above, after the multimedia content is completed in the program production station 100 or after the multimedia content is broadcast from the program production station 100, the content clip is generated based on the index. However, in the present embodiment, while the multimedia content is being broadcast from the program production station 100, indexes are sequentially added to create content clips, and the digests are sequentially completed. A case of configuring the system will be described.

The present embodiment is particularly effective for digests that are frequently requested by the user 400.
However, the digest providing station 300 registers the preference information for creating the digest in advance in, for example, its own storage device.

In the case of this embodiment, the index production station 2
At 00, an index is sequentially created for the broadcast multimedia contents, and the index is transmitted to the multimedia content database 311 in the digest providing station 300. Also, the digest providing station 30
At 0, the broadcast multimedia contents are sequentially stored in the multimedia content database 311. The digest providing station 300 also sequentially stores the indexes received from the index producing station 200 in the multimedia content database 311.

Further, the digest providing station 300 according to the present embodiment uses the multimedia content and index being broadcast and the above-mentioned digest creating server 30.
Content clips are sequentially created based on the preference information registered in 1, and these are sequentially connected. In addition, such a digest (hereinafter referred to as an incomplete digest) created based on the received index may be cached in the memory or the like of the digest creating server 301.

[0187] It is also possible to provide the incomplete digest created in this way to the user 400. This is provided as a digest of intermediate results.

Therefore, by using this embodiment, it is possible to promptly provide the user 400 with the intermediate results of, for example, a match of a professional baseball or a professional soccer.

[Summary] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to aggregate and provide multimedia content according to the taste of the user.

Further, in the above embodiment, the digest is distributed in response to the request from the user, that is, the pull type distribution system is configured, but it may be configured as the push type distribution system. In this case, it may be configured to deliver at a predetermined time (for example, ascends as preference information).

Further, each of the embodiments described above is merely an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the main purpose of the present invention is to aggregate multimedia contents in accordance with the taste of the user. As long as it can be provided, various modifications can be implemented.

[0192]

As described above, according to the invention described in claim 1, it is possible to provide aggregated multimedia contents to a mobile phone.

According to the invention described in claim 2, it is possible to provide the aggregated multimedia content to the mobile phone.

Further, according to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to aggregate the provided multimedia contents in accordance with the taste of the user.

Further, according to the invention described in claim 4, it becomes possible to provide the multimedia contents aggregated on the basis of the information registered in advance by the user, and it is troublesome for the user to input the taste each time the download is performed. Can be omitted.

Further, according to the invention described in claim 5, it is possible to further aggregate the multimedia contents while leaving necessary information, and the data amount of the aggregated multimedia contents to be provided becomes too large. Can be prevented.

According to the invention of claim 6, it is possible to add an index to the multimedia content easily and accurately, and since the index to be added is limited, the multimedia content can be accurately added. It is possible to aggregate.

Further, according to the invention described in claim 7, it becomes possible to add an index to the multimedia content more easily and appropriately, and it is possible to correct the added index easily and accurately. .

Further, according to the invention described in claim 8, it is possible to further aggregate the multimedia contents while leaving necessary information, and the data amount of the aggregated multimedia contents to be provided becomes too large. Can be prevented.

According to the ninth aspect of the invention, it is possible to provide a mobile phone for utilizing the multimedia contents aggregated based on the preference information.

According to the invention as set forth in claim 10, it is possible to set accurate preference information via the mobile phone.

Further, according to the invention as set forth in claim 11, it becomes possible to set the preference information based on the keywords classified into the genres, and the preference information can be set more accurately and easily. Become.

According to the twelfth aspect of the invention, it is possible to provide the aggregated multimedia content to the mobile phone.

Further, according to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the multimedia contents to be provided can be aggregated according to the taste of the user.

Further, according to the invention described in claim 14, it becomes possible to further aggregate the multimedia contents while leaving necessary information, and the data amount of the aggregated multimedia contents to be provided becomes too large. Can be prevented.

According to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to set accurate preference information via the mobile phone.

Further, according to the invention of claim 16, it becomes possible to set the preference information based on the keywords classified into the genres, and it is possible to set the preference information more accurately and easily. Become.

According to the seventeenth aspect of the invention, it is possible to cause the computer to function so as to provide the aggregated multimedia content to the mobile phone.

Furthermore, according to the eighteenth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to cause the computer to function so that the provided multimedia contents are aggregated in accordance with the taste of the user.

Further, according to the invention described in claim 19, it becomes possible to cause the computer to function so as to provide the multimedia contents aggregated based on the information registered in advance by the user, and the user can download the downloaded contents every time the user downloads it. It is possible to save the trouble of inputting the taste.

Further, according to the invention as set forth in claim 20, it becomes possible to operate the computer so as to further aggregate the multimedia contents while leaving necessary information, and to provide the aggregated multimedia content data amount. Can be prevented from becoming too large.

According to the twenty-first aspect of the invention, it becomes possible to cause the computer to function so as to easily and accurately add the index to the multimedia content, and to limit the index to be added. Therefore, it is possible to accurately aggregate the multimedia content.

Furthermore, according to the twenty-second aspect of the present invention, it becomes possible to cause the computer to function so as to allow the index to be added to the multimedia content more easily and accurately, and to add the added index easily. It also allows the computer to function so that it can be corrected exactly.

Further, according to the invention of claim 23, the computer can be made to function so that the multimedia contents can be further aggregated while leaving necessary information, and the aggregated multimedia contents to be provided can be provided. It is possible to prevent the data amount of the media content from becoming too large.

According to the invention as set forth in claim 24, the computer is caused to function so as to provide aggregated multimedia contents, or the provided multimedia contents are aggregated in accordance with the taste of the user. Function, or by causing the computer to function so as to provide multimedia content that is aggregated based on information registered in advance by the user, thereby saving the user the trouble of inputting preferences each time downloading, or By operating the computer so as to aggregate more multimedia content while leaving necessary information, it is possible to prevent the amount of data of the aggregated multimedia content to be provided from becoming too large, or to easily and accurately perform multimedia. Add index to media content To enable the computer to function and to limit the indexes to be added, so that the multimedia content can be accurately aggregated, or the index can be added to the multimedia content more easily and accurately. It is possible to operate the computer so as to enable the above, and to allow the computer to allow the added index to be easily and accurately modified.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining an outline of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a system configuration according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a table showing a data structure of a multimedia content database 311 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a table showing a data structure of a user preference information database 312 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a table showing a data structure of a keyword database 313 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a relationship among an index, multimedia contents, and a digest according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of an index production terminal 201 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of an index production support screen according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a preference information registration support screen according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a sequence showing an operation in a preference information registration step according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a sequence showing an operation in a digest creating (delivery) process according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a multimedia content designation screen according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a relationship between indexes and content clips according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a relationship between a time length for each importance level of a digest created in the second embodiment of the present invention and a desired time length.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 communication network 10 Shooting / Recording 20 Index input 30 Digest creation by user 40 Preference information input 50 User preference information registration 60 digest playback 100 Program Production Bureau 101 camera microphone 102 encoder 200 Index Production Bureau 201 Index production terminal 211 Content storage means 212 Content playback means 213 Keyword specifying means 214 keyword database 215 Input means 216 display means 217 Index creation means 218 Index storage means 300 digest service 301 Digest creation server 302 Digest distribution server 311 multimedia content database 312 User preference database 313 keyword database 400 users 401 mobile phone

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ───

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] September 26, 2002 (2002.9.2)
6)

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be amended] Title of invention

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Title of Invention] Multimedia contents with communication function
Digest providing system for raw equipment , communication function
Digest providing server for multimedia content playback device , indexing terminal, multimedia with communication function
Content playback device , multimedia console with communication function
Digest providing method for content playback device , preference information registration method, program thereof, and storage medium storing the program

[Procedure Amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be amended] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Claims]

[Procedure 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0009

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 extracts a predetermined scene from multimedia contents to which an index is added to create a digest, and the digest is networked. Multimedia content playback device with communication function to provide to multimedia content playback device with communication function via
A digest providing system for a device, comprising: an index creating unit that creates the index; and a scene extracting unit that extracts the predetermined scene in the multimedia content to which the index is added based on a keyword corresponding to the index. And a digest creating means for creating a digest based on the one or more predetermined scenes extracted by the scene extracting means, and the communication function of the digest created by the digest creating means via the network.
And a digest transmitting means for transmitting to the attached multimedia content reproducing apparatus .

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0010

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

As a result, according to the first aspect of the invention, the aggregated multimedia contents are transmitted to the multimedia with communication function.
It is possible to provide it to the media content playback device .

[Procedure Amendment 5]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0011

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

According to the second aspect of the invention, a predetermined scene is extracted from the multimedia content to which the index is added to create a digest, and the digest is transmitted via the network to the multimedia content with a communication function.
A multimedia copier with a communication function provided to the Tenz playback device .
A digest providing server for content playback device, wherein the predetermined scene in the multimedia content to which the index is added is extracted based on a keyword corresponding to the index, and is extracted by the scene extracting means. Digest creating means for creating a digest based on the one or more predetermined scenes that have been created, and the digest created by the digest creating means is transmitted to the multimedia content reproducing apparatus with communication function via the network. And a digest transmitting means.

[Procedure correction 6]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0012

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

As a result, according to the second aspect of the invention, the aggregated multimedia contents are transmitted to the multimedia with communication function.
It is possible to provide it to the media content playback device .

[Procedure Amendment 7]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0013

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

Further, in the invention according to claim 3, the keyword with the communication function is transmitted via the network .
It is characterized in that it has a keyword acquiring unit for acquiring from the multimedia contents reproducing apparatus .

[Procedure Amendment 8]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] 0015

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

Further, in the invention according to a fourth aspect, the scene extracting means is a multimedia content with a communication function.
When the playback device requests the digest,
It is characterized in that the predetermined scene is extracted.

[Procedure Amendment 9]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] 0025

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[0025] According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, a multi- function device with a communication function for downloading the digest from a digest providing system for extracting a scene from a multimedia content to which an index is added based on a predetermined keyword to create a digest . Media content
A tsu player, a preference information transmitting means for transmitting the predetermined keyword as preference information to the digest providing system, and a digest acquisition means for downloading a digest created based on the preference information,
Digest reproducing means for reproducing the digest,
It is characterized by having.

[Procedure Amendment 10]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0026

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

Thus, in the invention according to claim 9 , multimedia contents with a communication function for utilizing multimedia contents aggregated based on preference information
It is possible to provide a reproducing device .

[Procedure Amendment 11]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] 0027

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[0027] Further, the invention according to claim 10 is a communication function-equipped marker for extracting a predetermined scene from multimedia contents to which an index is added to create a digest .
Multimedia with communication function to send preference information to digest providing system for multimedia contents playback device
A content reproducing apparatus , which is a keyword list acquiring unit that acquires a list of keywords included in the preference information from the digest providing system, and a keyword list display that displays a list of the keywords acquired by the keyword list acquiring unit. Means and a preference information transmitting means for transmitting a keyword selected from the displayed list of keywords to the digest providing system as preference information.

[Procedure Amendment 12]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0028

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

As a result, according to the invention of claim 10,
It is possible to set accurate preference information via the multimedia contents reproducing apparatus with communication function .

[Procedure Amendment 13]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0031

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, a predetermined scene is extracted from the multimedia content to which the index is added to create a digest, and the digest is transmitted via the network to the multimedia copier with a communication function.
Multimedia with communication function for distribution to content playback devices
A digest providing method for multimedia content reproducing apparatus with communication function in a digest providing system for content reproducing apparatus , comprising: a scene extracting step of extracting the predetermined scene in the multimedia content based on a keyword corresponding to the index. , A digest creating step for creating a digest based on the one or more predetermined scenes extracted in the scene extracting step, and the digest with the communication function for creating the digest created in the digest creating step .
And a digest transmitting step of transmitting the digest content to the Dear contents reproducing apparatus .

[Procedure Amendment 14]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] 0032

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

As a result, according to the invention of claim 12,
Multi-function with communication function
It is possible to provide the media content reproducing apparatus .

[Procedure Amendment 15]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0033

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

Further, in the invention according to claim 13, the keyword is defined as the multimedia content with communication function.
It is characterized by having a keyword acquisition step of acquiring from a raw device .

[Procedure Amendment 16]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] 0037

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[0037] Further, the invention according to claim 15 is a communication function-equipped marker for extracting a predetermined scene from multimedia contents to which an index is added to create a digest .
Multimedia with communication function to send preference information to digest providing system for multimedia contents playback device
A method for registering preference information in a content reproduction apparatus , comprising a keyword list acquisition step of acquiring a list of keywords included in the preference information from the digest providing system, and a list of the keywords acquired in the keyword list acquisition step. It is characterized by including a keyword list display step of displaying and a preference information transmitting step of transmitting a keyword selected from the displayed list of keywords to the digest providing system as preference information.

[Procedure Amendment 17]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0038

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

As a result, according to the invention of claim 15,
It is possible to set accurate preference information via the multimedia contents reproducing apparatus with communication function .

[Procedure 18]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0041

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

According to the seventeenth aspect of the present invention, a predetermined scene is extracted from the multimedia content to which the index has been added to create a digest, and the digest is transmitted via the network to the multimedia copier with a communication function.
A scene extraction process for extracting a predetermined scene in the multimedia content to which the index is added, based on a keyword corresponding to the index, and a program for operating a computer provided to the content reproduction apparatus . A digest creation process for creating a digest based on the one or more predetermined scenes extracted by the extraction process, and the digest created by the digest creation process via the network for the multimedia copier with communication function.
Digest transmission processing to transmit to the content playback device ,
Is executed by the computer.

[Procedure Amendment 19]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0042

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

As a result, according to the invention of claim 17,
Multi-function with communication function
The computer can be made to function to provide the media content reproduction device .

[Procedure amendment 20]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0043

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

Further, in the invention according to claim 18, the keyword with the communication function is added to the keyword via the network .
The computer is made to execute the keyword acquisition processing to be acquired from the multimedia contents reproducing apparatus .

[Procedure correction 21]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] 0045

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

Further, in the invention according to claim 19, the scene extracting process is performed by the multimedia content with communication function.
The predetermined scene is extracted when the digest playback device requests the digest.

[Procedure correction 22]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0055

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

According to a twenty-fourth aspect of the present invention, a predetermined scene is extracted from the multimedia content to which the index is added to create a digest, and the digest is transmitted via the network to the multimedia co-worker with communication function.
A scene extraction process for extracting a predetermined scene in the multimedia content to which the index is added, based on a keyword corresponding to the index, and a program for operating a computer provided to the content reproduction apparatus . A digest creation process for creating a digest based on the one or more predetermined scenes extracted by the extraction process, and the digest created by the digest creation process via the network for the multimedia copier with communication function.
Digest transmission processing to transmit to the content playback device ,
The program that causes the computer to execute, or the keyword, the communication device via the network.
The program for causing the computer to execute the keyword acquisition process acquired from the capable multimedia content reproducing apparatus , or the scene extraction process is provided with the communication function.
A program characterized by extracting the predetermined scene when a request for the digest is made from a multimedia content reproducing apparatus , or the index includes the importance of a part or all of the predetermined scene. , The digest creating process excludes the less important parts of the one or more scenes to create the digest so that the created digest has a time length closest to a predetermined time length. A characteristic program or a program for operating a computer that creates an index to be added to a scene in multimedia content, which is a reproduction process for reproducing the multimedia content, and a predetermined database holding index candidates. Read the index candidates from Then, based on the index candidate display processing for displaying as a list and the index candidates selected from the list of index candidates displayed by the index candidate display processing, a scene including a portion reproduced by the reproduction processing. A program for causing the computer to execute an index creating process for creating an index to be added to the computer, or a playing place for displaying a place being played in the playing process on an axis displaying the time length of the multimedia content. A display process, a scene distribution display process for displaying an indexed scene based on the axis, an additional index display process for displaying an index added to the scene including the part being reproduced, Based on the playback location display process, A program for causing the computer to execute a reproduction part changing process for changing a part to be reproduced, or an importance adding process for including in the index the importance of part or all of a scene including a part being reproduced by the reproduction process. A program for causing the computer to execute is stored in a storage medium.

[Procedure amendment 23]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0094

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

However, the present invention is not limited to this, and as long as it does not deviate from the gist of the present invention, any one can be applied as long as it has a function of playing multimedia contents and connecting to a network. Is. Book
The statement will play multimedia content and
If you have a function to connect to the network,
It is called a multimedia content playback device.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) H04N 7/173 610 H04N 7/173 610Z (72) Inventor Toshio Shiina 1-3-3 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo No. 6 F-term in Ricoh Co., Ltd. (Reference) 5B075 ND16 NK02 NK21 PP13 PP22 PQ02 PQ46 PR08 5C064 BB10 BC18 BC23 BD03 BD08 (54) [Title of Invention] Digest providing system for multimedia content playback device with communication function, with communication function Digest providing server for multimedia content playback device, index creation terminal, multimedia content playback device with communication function, digest providing method for multimedia content playback device with communication function, preference information registration method, and its Grams, and a storage medium body which stores the program

Claims (24)

[Claims] 1. A digest providing system for a mobile phone, which extracts a predetermined scene from multimedia contents to which an index is added to create a digest and provides the digest to the mobile phone via a network, wherein the index An index creating unit for creating the index, a scene extracting unit for extracting the predetermined scene in the multimedia content to which the index is added, based on a keyword corresponding to the index, and 1 extracted by the scene extracting unit. A digest creating means for creating a digest based on one or more of the predetermined scenes; and a digest sending means for sending the digest created by the digest creating means to the mobile phone via the network. Mobile phones digest providing system characterized by Rukoto. 2. A digest providing server for a mobile phone, which extracts a predetermined scene from multimedia contents to which an index is added to create a digest and provides the digest to the mobile phone via a network, wherein the index Based on the one or more predetermined scenes extracted by the scene extracting means, the scene extracting means for extracting the predetermined scene in the multimedia content to which is added based on the keyword corresponding to the index. A digest providing means for producing a digest, and a digest transmitting means for transmitting the digest produced by the digest producing means to the mobile telephone via the network, the digest providing service for mobile telephones. Server. 3. The digest providing server for a mobile phone according to claim 2, further comprising keyword acquisition means for acquiring the keyword from the mobile phone via the network. 4. The digest providing server for a mobile phone according to claim 2, wherein the scene extracting means extracts the predetermined scene when the mobile phone requests the digest. . 5. The index includes a degree of importance of a part or all of the predetermined scene, and the digest creating unit sets the digest to have a time length closest to a predetermined time length. 1
Exclude less important parts of one or more scenes,
3. The digest is created.
5. The digest providing server for mobile phones according to any one of 1 to 4. 6. An index creating terminal for creating an index to be added to a scene in multimedia content, index candidate holding means for holding index candidates, playing means for playing the multimedia content, and the index candidates. Based on the index candidate display means for reading out the index candidates from the holding means and displaying them as a list, and the index candidates selected from the list of index candidates displayed on the index candidate display means, An index creating terminal, which creates an index to be added to a scene including a part being reproduced, and an index creating terminal. 7. The portion reproduced by the reproducing means is
Playback location display means for displaying the time length of the multimedia content on an axis, scene distribution display means for displaying indexed scenes based on the axis, and the playback location Additional index display means for displaying the index added to the scene,
The index production terminal according to claim 6, further comprising: changing the reproduced portion based on the reproduced portion display means. 8. The index production according to claim 6 or 7, further comprising: importance adding means for including, in the index, importance of a part or all of a scene including a part being reproduced by the reproducing means. Terminal. 9. A mobile phone for downloading the digest from a digest providing system for extracting a scene from an indexed multimedia content based on a predetermined keyword to create a digest, wherein the digest providing system includes: It has a preference information transmission means for transmitting a predetermined keyword as preference information, a digest acquisition means for downloading a digest created based on the preference information, and a digest reproduction means for reproducing the digest. Mobile phone. 10. A mobile phone for transmitting preference information to a digest providing system for a mobile phone, which extracts a predetermined scene from multimedia contents to which an index is added to create a digest, wherein the preference is provided from the digest providing system. A keyword list acquisition unit that acquires a list of keywords to be included in the information, a keyword list display unit that displays a list of the keywords acquired by the keyword list acquisition unit, and a keyword list that is selected from the displayed list of keywords. And a preference information transmitting unit that transmits a keyword as preference information to the digest providing system. 11. The keywords are classified for each genre into which the multimedia content is classified, and the keyword list acquisition means transmits a specification of a genre to the digest providing system, and a keyword corresponding to the specified genre is transmitted. The mobile phone according to claim 10, wherein a list is acquired. 12. A digest for a mobile phone in a digest providing system for a mobile phone for extracting a predetermined scene from multimedia contents to which an index is added to create a digest and delivering the digest to the mobile phone via a network. A method for extracting the predetermined scene in the multimedia content based on a keyword corresponding to the index; and a method for extracting one or more predetermined scenes extracted in the scene extracting step. A digest providing method for a mobile phone, comprising: a digest creating step of creating a digest using the digest; and a digest sending step of sending the digest created in the digest creating step to the mobile phone. 13. The digest providing method for a mobile phone according to claim 12, further comprising a keyword acquisition step of acquiring the keyword from the mobile phone. 14. The index includes importance for a part or all of the predetermined scene, and in the digest creating step, the digest is created to have a time length closest to a predetermined time length. 1
Exclude less important parts of one or more scenes,
The said digest is created, The claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned.
The method for providing a digest for a mobile phone according to 2 or 13. 15. A taste information registration method for a mobile phone, which transmits the taste information to a digest providing system for mobile phones, which extracts a predetermined scene from multimedia contents to which an index has been added to create a digest, the method comprising: A keyword list acquisition step of acquiring a list of keywords to be included in the preference information from a providing system; a keyword list display step of displaying a list of the keywords acquired in the keyword list acquisition step; A preference information transmitting step of transmitting a keyword selected from the above as preference information to the digest providing system, the preference information registration method. 16. The keywords are classified for each genre into which the multimedia content is classified, and the keyword list acquisition step transmits a specification of a genre to the digest providing system, and a keyword corresponding to the specified genre is transmitted. The preference information registration method according to claim 15, wherein a list is acquired. 17. A program for causing a computer to function, which extracts a predetermined scene from multimedia contents to which an index is added to create a digest and provides the digest to a mobile phone via a network, A scene extraction process for extracting a predetermined scene in the multimedia content to which an index is added based on the keyword corresponding to the index, and a digest based on the one or more predetermined scenes extracted by the scene extraction process. A program for causing the computer to execute a digest creating process for creating a digest, and a digest sending process for sending the digest created by the digest creating process to the mobile phone via the network. 18. The program according to claim 17, which causes the computer to execute a keyword acquisition process for acquiring the keyword from the mobile phone via the network. 19. The program according to claim 17, wherein the scene extraction processing extracts the predetermined scene when the digest request is made from the mobile phone. 20. The index includes a degree of importance of part or all of the predetermined scene, and the digest creating process is performed so that the created digest has a time length closest to a predetermined time length. 1
Exclude less important parts of one or more scenes,
The said digest is created, The claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned.
20. The program according to any one of 7 to 19. 21. A program for causing a computer to create an index to be added to a scene in multimedia content, comprising: a reproduction process for reproducing the multimedia content; and a predetermined database holding index candidates. Based on the index candidate display processing of reading out the index candidates and displaying them as a list, and the index candidates selected from the index candidate list displayed by the index candidate display processing, the reproduction processing is performed. A program for causing the computer to execute an index creation process for creating an index to be added to a scene including a part. 22. A reproduction part display process of displaying a part being reproduced in the reproduction process on an axis displaying the time length of the multimedia content, and a scene with an index based on the axis. A scene distribution display process for displaying, an additional index display process for displaying an index added to a scene including the replayed part, and a replayed part are changed based on the replayed part display process. 22. The program according to claim 21, which causes the computer to execute a reproduction portion changing process. 23. The program according to claim 21, for causing the computer to execute an importance addition process for including, in the index, the importance of a part or all of a scene including a part being reproduced by the reproduction process. . 24. A storage medium storing the program according to any one of claims 17 to 23.