JP2003153097A - Content reproducer and reproducing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that, as switching of an input signal, reproduction, stop, or making a program ready for viewing the program recorded in a storage medium is required, there are many different points in an operating method required for selecting programs during broadcasting and contents of record programs, and a complicated operation was necessary for selecting contents crossing both. SOLUTION: In a content reproducer, record contents are allocated to a channel not used for broadcasting as a virtual channel, whereby not only broadcasting programs but also programs stored in a storage medium can be reproduced by designating a channel number by a channel up/down key or a ten key. With this arrangement, a reproducing method is switched by an assortment of operations of channel selection.

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a program reproducing apparatus capable of reproducing a broadcast program and a television program recorded on a storage medium. In particular, by allocating a recorded program to a channel not used for broadcasting as a virtual channel, not only a broadcast program but also a storage program is stored in a storage medium by specifying a channel number using a channel up / down key or a numeric keypad. The present invention relates to a content reproducing apparatus capable of reproducing a program. [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art [0004] By improving the performance of a randomly accessible storage medium typified by a hard disk drive, a digital compressed video of tens of hours of a television broadcast program such as a terrestrial wave or a satellite broadcast can be stored in a large capacity. 2. Description of the Related Art Program recording / reproducing apparatuses capable of recording, storing, and reproducing on a medium have been put into practical use, and it is considered that a simple operation method for managing and viewing a large amount of data is important. [0004] In order to view a program recorded in a storage medium, operations such as input signal switching, cueing of a recorded program, reproduction, and stop are required. In order to easily perform these operations, information such as what programs are recorded in what order is stored in a required area of the storage medium, so that the user can easily select a desired recorded program. It has a function that can be found, and is generally called a navigation function or a library function. However, the operation feeling and operation system of the navigation function and the library function are greatly different from the channel selection operation of selecting a broadcast program represented by the channel up / down key and the numeric keypad. In the case where the switching is required, there are many differences in the operation method required for the selection of the contents, and a complicated operation is required. To solve the above problem, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-1002 discloses a technique for organizing virtual channels from recorded programs and handling them without distinguishing them from broadcast channels.
The technique described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 87 is known. In the above-mentioned technology, a broadcast program and a recorded program can be displayed and operated without distinction by treating a private channel including a recorded program as one channel in addition to the broadcast channel in the electronic program guide. [0007] However, a virtual channel is called a private channel and is still treated specially with respect to other channels and is not assigned a channel number. Further, a private channel can be designated only from the electronic program guide, and a private channel cannot be designated by a normal channel selection operation for selecting a broadcast program represented by a channel up / down key and a numeric keypad. . Therefore, only an inconvenient operation system can be provided. [0009] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a content reproducing apparatus comprising: a real channel list in which broadcast program extraction information necessary for extracting each broadcast program from a broadcast signal is described; Hereinafter, a real channel list extracting means for extracting a channel used for broadcasting, a real channel and a list of real channels as a real channel list, and an empty channel list (hereinafter, a list of channels not used for broadcasting) A channel not used for broadcasting, and a list of empty channels is referred to as an empty channel list) based on the actual channel list, and recorded program extraction information of each recorded program from a storage medium. Recorded program information list extracting means for extracting a recorded program information list in which A virtual channel list for creating a virtual channel list in which the recorded program information list is assigned to the channel list (hereinafter, a virtual channel in which a recorded program is assigned to an empty channel is called a virtual channel, and a list of virtual channels is called a virtual channel list) List creation means, channel list creation means for creating a channel list by combining the real channel list and virtual channel list, and channel list creation means for creating a channel list when a virtual channel is selected. A means for switching the reproduction method is provided. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration for realizing a content reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [0011] A real channel list 101 containing broadcast program extraction information necessary for extracting each broadcast program from a broadcast signal such as a satellite broadcast, a terrestrial broadcast, a cable broadcast, etc. Extract from Then, an empty channel list creating means 104
The empty channel list 103, which is a list of channels not used for broadcasting,
01. Next, a recorded program information list 105 in which recorded program extraction information necessary for extracting each recorded program from the storage medium 118 is extracted from the storage medium 118 by the recorded program information list extracting means 106. The virtual channel list creating means 10
According to 8, a virtual channel list 107 in which the recorded program information list 105 is assigned to the empty channel list 103 is created. After the above processing, the channel list creating means 1
10, a channel list 109 is created by combining the real channel list 101 and the virtual channel list 107, and a channel identifier for distinguishing the real channel from the virtual channel is added to the channel list 109. Here, in the channel list 109, channel identifiers, broadcast programs, recorded program extraction information, and the like are described as channel information for each channel. When a user specifies a channel,
Channel information 111 is extracted from the channel list 109 by the channel information extracting means 112. Then, based on the channel identifier in the channel information 111, the channel identifier determining unit 113 determines whether the extracted channel is a real channel or a virtual channel. If the extracted channel is a real channel, the broadcast program extraction information described in the channel list 109 is set in the broadcast program extraction means 115 by the broadcast program extraction control means 114 so that the corresponding broadcast program is extracted from the broadcast signal. Then, it is displayed on the program display means 119. On the other hand, if the extracted channel is a virtual channel, the recorded program extraction information described in the channel list 109 is set in the recorded program extraction means 117 by the recorded program extraction control means 116 so that the corresponding recorded program is stored in the storage medium. Extracted from 118 and displayed on the program display means 119. FIG. 2 shows an example of a remote controller used by a user to designate a channel or the like according to the embodiment of the present invention. On the remote controller, up / down / left / right cursor movement keys 130, an enter key 131, an up / down key 132, a ten key 133, a channel setting key 134, and a channel list key 135 are arranged. The use of the key will be described later. Next, the details and sequence of creating a channel list in the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The actual channel list 140 is created by the actual channel list extracting means 102. If the target is a digital broadcast, it is created with reference to the program information embedded in the broadcast signal. If the target is an analog signal, all channels that are determined to be usable for operation are sequentially received, and the real channel list 140 is created from the synchronized channels. The empty channel list 141 does not exist in the real channel list 140 extracted from the broadcast signal,
In addition, a list of channels determined to be usable for operation is registered. In FIG. 3, the channels that may be used for operation are 101 to 999. It is determined that a channel that has been suspended for broadcasting because it is used only outside broadcasting hours and on a temporary basis is used for broadcasting, and is not registered in the empty channel list 141. Here, when allocating the recorded program information list 142 to the empty channel list 141 and creating the virtual channel list 143, if the programs in the recorded program information list 142 can be allocated to all empty channels,
It is conceivable that the usability of the user is not good, for example, a real channel and a virtual channel alternately exist in the channel list 144. Therefore, when setting the television system, etc., channel candidates that can be assigned as virtual channels are
It is assumed that the user can select from the empty channel list 141. FIG. 4 shows an example of a screen for selecting a channel that may be used as a virtual channel from empty channels. Empty channels are displayed in the order of channel numbers on the left side of the screen. Cursor movement keys 130 and enter key 13
The user makes a selection on the screen using 1. The check box 150 on the right side of the selected channel is checked. The recorded program information list 142 extracted from the storage medium 118 describes the date and time when the program was recorded as information on each program. Virtual channel list 14
When creating the program 3, the programs in the recorded program information list 142 are assigned to the empty channels set by the user as assignable as virtual channels from the selection screen shown in FIG. Here, if the number of recorded programs is larger than the number of empty channels that can be assigned as virtual channels set by the user, the recorded programs with a lower date priority are not assigned to virtual channels. In FIG. 3, since the number of channels that can be assigned as virtual channels is four,
The recorded program E with the oldest recording date and time is not allocated to the virtual channel. Finally, the actual channel list 140
When the channel list 144 is created by combining the virtual channel list 143 with the channel identifier 143, the channel list 14 includes the channel identifier
5 is added. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation when updating the channel list 144. In order to avoid confusion of the user when the channel list 144 is updated while watching a certain channel, the channel list 144 is updated only when the power is turned on or when the channel is switched. . At the time of updating, it is determined whether or not the channel list 144 needs to be updated as follows. When a recorded program is newly added, when a recorded program is deleted, when a program used for broadcasting is no longer used for broadcasting, or when a program not used for broadcasting is newly broadcast. If used, it determines that it needs to be updated, and prompts the user to determine whether to update the channel list. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a screen display when the channel list 144 is updated. If the user permits the update of the channel list 144, the channel list is updated, and a new channel list 144 is shown to the user by displaying the channel list list screen shown in FIG. On the other hand, when the user enters the channel list 144
If the update is rejected, the channel list 144 is maintained, and even if the program deletion is requested, the program is not deleted and the process returns to the top of the operation flow and the same processing as described above is repeated. Next, a method of designating a selected channel by a user according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. The user can designate a channel by using the up / down key 132, the ten keys 133, and the channel setting key 134. Up / Up if virtual channels exist with consecutive channel numbers
By operating only the down key 132, the recorded program can be reproduced in a new order or an old order. Since a specific channel can be set in advance for each key of the ten keys 133,
For example, if the numeric keypad 0 is set to the minimum channel number of the virtual channel, the latest (oldest) recorded program can be instantaneously reproduced by pressing the key. Furthermore,
It is also possible to designate a selected channel by directly inputting a channel number using the numeric keypad 133 after pressing the channel setting key 134. By pressing the channel list key 135, the contents of the current channel list 144 can be displayed in a list on the program display means 119. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of the channel list list screen. On the left side of the screen, a channel type icon 1 indicating whether the channel is a real channel or a virtual channel along with the channel number
70 is displayed, and the program name is displayed on the right side of the screen. By selecting a program from the list with the cursor movement key 130 and pressing the enter key 131, a channel to be tuned can be specified. Next, a specific operation when the user designates a selected channel will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, when the user specifies a channel, if the specified channel is the same as the current channel, nothing is performed. When the designated channel is different from the current channel, if the currently viewed channel is a virtual channel, the time position of the program reproduction at that time is stored. At this time, a temporal position may be stored in the channel list as one of the channel information. If the designated channel is an actual channel, the corresponding broadcast program is reproduced. On the other hand, if the designated channel is a virtual channel, the recorded program is reproduced from the program reproduction position when the channel was last viewed. Regarding the method of playing the virtual channel at this time, it is possible to switch between the way of playing from the place where it was last watched and the way of playing from the beginning by a method of selecting a channel. For example, when a channel is selected by the up / down key 132 or the like, it is considered that the user is examining the contents of various channels. Even if the channel is selected again, it is not necessary to watch the same content. When the content is selected by the ten keys 133 or the like, or when the content is selected from the channel list, the content of the program may be consciously selected by the user. I have. Note that the switching of the reproduction method depending on the above-mentioned operation can be set for each operation. In addition, the user can customize the reproduction method of the virtual channel by switching the switching setting by the user. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a screen configuration while viewing a virtual channel. During viewing of the virtual channel, a virtual channel icon 180 is displayed so that the channel is a virtual channel, and the reproduction time, the date and time of recording, the program name 181 and the like are also displayed at the same time. If the recorded program is played back to the end while viewing the virtual channel, the program returns to the beginning of the program and continues playing. Here, “0:53:15” below the virtual channel icon 180 is the current recorded program reproduction time position 181, and the channel number 182, program name 183, The broadcast time 184 is displayed. In the above-described embodiment, the recording medium storing the recorded program exists in the main body of the program reproducing apparatus, but it is not always necessary. For example, a recorded program may be provided from a recording medium in another device such as a server via a network such as the Internet. In this embodiment, only a television program is taken as an example of a target to be assigned to a virtual channel. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, WEB
If the device is equipped with a browser, a specific URL may be assigned to a virtual channel. Also, Java
A specific application program can be assigned to a virtual channel as long as the device has a program execution environment such as a. Also, a system setting screen for frequently setting,
For example, an antenna reception level confirmation screen or the like may be assigned to a virtual channel so as to save the trouble of display. Furthermore, an input image from a home network connection device, such as an image of an intercom camera at the entrance, may be assigned to a virtual channel. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a channel list on the channel list screen when the virtual channel assignment target content is expanded. TV, java, we
The expanded virtual channel is displayed by changing the channel type icon 190 for each type of content, such as b or sys. It should be noted that the content reproducing apparatus to which the present invention is applied does not need to be a television, but may be a radio, a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a personal computer, or the like.
Any device having the necessary functions may be used. As described above, according to the content reproducing apparatus of the present invention, the reproduction method according to the operation is switched by switching the reproduction method of the recorded program depending on the operation method at the time of specifying the channel. Can be provided, and the operability can be further improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of a broadcast program and recorded program reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a broadcast program and recording according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a part of an example of a remote controller button of the program reproducing apparatus. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a sequence of creating a channel list of a broadcast program and a recorded program reproducing apparatus in the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a setting screen configuration of empty channels to which virtual channels of the broadcast program and recorded program reproducing device can be assigned in the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a channel list in the broadcast program and recorded program reproducing device in the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for updating. FIG. FIG. 7 is a view showing a display example of a channel list update confirmation screen in a display unit. FIG. 7 is a view showing a display example of a channel list display screen in a broadcast program and recorded program reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation when a user designates a channel in the broadcast program and recorded program reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 9 is viewing a virtual channel in the broadcast program and recorded program reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display example of a channel list display screen when content that can be assigned to a virtual channel is expanded in the broadcast program and recorded program reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention; EXPLANATION OF SIGNS 101 real channel list 102 real channel list extraction means 103 empty Channel list 104 Empty channel list creating means 105 Recorded program information list 106 Recorded program information list extracting means 107 Virtual channel list 108 Virtual channel list extracting means 109 Channel list 110 Channel list creating means 111 Channel information 112 Channel information extracting means 113 Channel identifier discrimination Means 114 Broadcast program extraction control means 115 Broadcast program extraction means 116 Recorded program extraction control means 117 Recorded program extraction means 118 Storage medium 119 Program display means 130 Cursor movement key 131 Enter key 132 Up / Down key 133 Numeric keypad 134 Channel setting key 135 Channel List key 140 Real channel list 141 Empty channel list 142 Recorded program information list 143 Virtual channel list 144 Yan'nerurisuto 145 channel identifier 150 checkbox 170 channel type icon 180 broadcast time 190 channel type icon of the virtual channel icon 181 recorded program reproduction time position 182 the channel number 183 program name 184 recorded program

   ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page    (72) Inventor Tomoyuki Saga             Matsu 1-1, Matsushita-cho, Ibaraki-shi, Osaka             Within Lower Avicy Technology (72) Inventor Naosumi Tanaka             Matsu 1-1, Matsushita-cho, Ibaraki-shi, Osaka             Within Lower Avicy Technology F-term (reference) 5C025 AA23 BA27 CA09 CB05 CB10                       DA08                 5C052 AB03 AC10 CC06 DD04 EE02

Claims (1)

[Claim 1] By allocating recorded content to a channel not used for broadcasting as a virtual channel, not only a broadcast program but also a channel number is designated by a channel up / down key or a numeric keypad. A content reproduction device capable of reproducing a program stored in a storage medium, wherein the reproduction method can be switched by a type of channel selection operation.